38 
tributed and cosmopolitan, although in the United States restricted to 
an area considerably west of the Mississippi Valley. 
Although this insect is obviously of foreign origin, there is proba- 
bility of its some time migrating in the same manner as did the 
Colorado potato beetle in the late sixties and early seventies; and it is 
nearly equally possible that this insect may become as great a foe to the 
culture of the sugar and garden beet, as well as to other vegetables, 
as the Colorado beetle has been to the potato, though this may not 
happen in the near future. It does not confine itself to foliage, but 
after devouring this eats off the crown of a plant and then the roots. 
DESCRIPTIVE. 
This species, as might be expected from their relationship, is similar 
to the fall arnry worm in all 
stages, but the resemblance is 
not close. 
The moth (fig. 8, a) resem- 
bles more nearly the plain gray 
form of L. frugiperda, but 
the fore-wings are broader and 
paler, the reniform and other 
spots as well as mottlings are 
more distinct, but the hind- 
wings differ very slightly, the 
veins, particularly the central 
ones, being a little more dis- 
tinct. The body is of similar 
color, but a little more slender. 
The wing expanse is less than 
an inch and one-fourth. 
A technical description is 
furnished by Hampson (Fauna of British India, Moths, Vol. II, p. 
259), which is quoted herewith: 
Pale ochreous brown. Fore-wing with the subbasal, ante-, and post-medial double 
lines indistinct; the orbicular small and round, pale or ochreous; the reniform usually 
less prominent, with ochreous or dark center; the submarginal line pale, angled below 
the costa, and with some slight dark streaks before it at middle; a marginal series of 
dark specks. Hind-wing semihyaline opalescent white; the veins and outer margin 
tinged with fuscous. 
The eggs are also similar, being ribbed as in the case of most Noctuid 
moths, but according to the figure and description furnished by 
Hofmann, they differ by being pyramidal, something unusual in the 
Noctuidre. The general appearance of the egg is shown in the illus- 
tration at e and f. It will be noticed that the upper third has the 
appearance of being surmounted by a cap, and this portion is separated 
from the lower two-thirds by a white ring. 
Fig. 8. — Laphygma exigua: a, moth; b, larva, lateral 
view; c, larva, dorsal view; d, head of larva; e, egg, 
viewed from above; /, egg, from side— all enlarged 
(a-d, original; c, f, after Hofmann). 
