INSECTS INJURING OAK-LEAVES. 173 
Var. roseicosta Gueu., with the wings of a clear yellow ocher, with the red lines 
more widely edged with yellow. The reniform is divided into two dots, and the 
orbicular is divided into two spots. Both pairs of wings bear a subterminal line of 
yellow spots. The female differs in having the costa tinted with clear rose, and there 
are no subterminal dots. (Guene'e.) 
236. Cosmia orina Guen. 
Order Lepidoptera j family Noctuid^e. 
Mr. W. Saunders, of London, Canada, has bred this moth from the 
oak. One specimen, which entered the chrysalis state on the 24th of 
June, produced the imago on the 18th of July. (Saunders.) 
Larva. — A smooth yellowish green larva nine tenths of an inch long, body cylin- 
drical, above pale yellowish-green, with a dorsal line of yellow, less distinct on the 
anterior segments, and covered with fine dots and short streaks of yellow, less nu- 
merous on the second and terminal segments. Head rather smooth, flattened in front, 
slightly bilobed, pale whitish-green. 
Moth. — Fore wings somewhat oblong, and rather rectangular than triangular ; of a 
fleshy gray mixed with blackish scales, and powdered on the veins with black scales ; 
with two fine median white lines disposed in a trapezium more open at the base 
than in trapezina ; median spots encircled with white ; the orbicular spot punctured 
with blackish ; the reniform spot straight, constricted in the middle ; punctured with 
black at each end. Hind wings whitish, grayish on their outer half, with a discal 
dot, plainer beneath. Male abdomen very slender and ended by a very large tuft of 
hairs. (Guene'e.) 
237. Climbing cut-worms. 
Agrotis saucia, etc. 
Order Lepidoptera ; family Noctdidje. 
Climbing cut-worms were a prominent feature of the entomological 
developments of the spring of 1886. These attacked the oaks, elms, and 
other shade trees, as well as apple, pear, and cherry trees aud a variety 
of vines and shrubs. Among the species detected in their work of de- 
struction were Agrotis saucia, A. scandens, A. alternata, and Homohadena 
badistriga. The grass under shade and fruit trees would often in the 
morning be thickly strewn with leaves and buds that had been severed 
during the night. This was especially noticeable under the various 
oaks and sweet cherries. On a large, isolated specimen of the latter, 
up which a trumpet vine had climbed, I took early in May a great num- 
ber of the larvse of Agrotis altemata. These mottled gray worms 
were found during the day extended longitudinally on the trunk, closely 
appressed to the stems of the trumpet vine, where, protected by their 
imitative coloring, it would be impossible for an unpracticed eye to de- 
tect them and where even birds failed to find them. When ready to 
transform they descended to the earth and inclosed themselves in an 
ample, tough, dingy-white cocoon, under any slight protection that 
might be convenient. I also took this species from crevices of oak- 
bark and occasionally found one feeding in a rose. (Miss Murtfeldt, 
Bull. Div. Ent, xiii, p. 60.) 
