24762 
ious and so sudden was the onslaught j 
that it was suggested that they might 
be the well known “army worm” of 
the eastern and southern states, but 
this was not the case. Thanks to the 
kindness ot Mr. Frere, facilities were 
afforded for a careful examination of 
a badly damaged crop, where the cat* 
erpiilars were still at work in immense 
numbers. They attacked the young 
alfalfa plants, spinning a web over the 
leaves, in which they li \ ed. They 
greedily devoured the young leaver, 
and not only this, but appeared to 
injure the whole plaht^-fttacked, so 
that it withered away, jr/^his wa y 
large tracts of wh^t mightTm* been 
excellent alfalfa were reducW^to a 
condition of complete worthlessness, 
and contrasted strongly with portions 
of the same field, which were as, yet 
untouched. These “web- worms” are 
somewhat under an inch in length, 
the head is pale olive brown, or some- 
times almost black, and the body dark 
grey, with three pale bands, one on 
the back and one on each side, while 
on each side of each segment there 
are three raised black spots, arranged 
triangularly. In some specimens the 
band on the back is split into two 
lines, while in others it is obsolete. 
When disturbed they are very restless, 
and crawl rapidly backwards or for- 
wards to escape. When full grown, 
these caterpillars turn to a chrysalis, 
which ultimately becomes a rather 
small moth with rather elongated 
wings, which in turn lays eggs which 
give rise to a fresh generation of cat- 
erpillars. This pest is very closely 
allied to, though apparently distinct 
from, the injurious “garden web* 
worm” (Eurycreon rantalis) which 
has been especially harmful to all 
kinds of garden and field produce in 
Kansas, Nebraska and Texas during 
1888, and was very destructive also 
in Colorado. Missouri and Indian 
Territory in 1885. 
The best remedy known for this lat- 
ter insect is an arsenical poison, such 
as London Purple and Paris Green, 
which may be applied dry if the area 
is limited, or in larger quantities and 
over big areas by mixing the poison 
in water, say a table-spoonful of Paris 
Green to half a gallon of warm water, 
and apply it by means of a nozzle. 
This, however, could scarcely be prac- 
ticed in the case of alfalfa, for although 
it would most certainly kill the alfalfa 
web-worm, it wcAiId be dangerous on 
a food crop of this^ind owing to its 
poisonous properties. The best plan, 
indeed, seems to be the one hit upon 
by Mr. Frere — abundant irrigation. 
It appears that this method at least 
diminished considerably the number 
- 
of caterpillars, and checked their rav- 
ages, while the damaged alfalfa plan® 
would begin gradually to recover cfl 
Z 
