816 
ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW YORK 
CUT-WORMS. NAME OP TRP, MOTII. DESTROYER OP THE CUT-WORMS. 
towards the outer side. The veins are not marked with dusky, except a 
spot or short streak upon each of them, forming a transverse row forward 
of the hind border, which row becomes obsolete towards the inner edge 
and towards the outer edge is confluent, forming a dusky band. The cen¬ 
tral crescent is more distinct than on the upper side, and on the hind edge 
is a row of slender black crescents. The fore wings are dusky, of the 
same shade with the border of the hind pair, becoming slightly paler 
towards their bases. They show an oblique black streak on the outer 
edge between the middle and the tip, and immediately beyond this is a very 
faint band crossing the wing parallel with the hind margin. 
The description now given makes it apparent, I think, that this moth is 
not essentially different from the species of Agrotis named nigricans by Lin¬ 
naeus, which species we have upon this continent with the same varieties 
described by authors as occurring in Europe. In this species the teliform 
stigma is marked by two parallel lines connected by a rounded mark at 
their ends. But in the examples which I bred from the Cut-worms of the 
corn, and all those which I captured that season a mere dot was the only 
remaining vestige of this stigma. Therefore to facilitate future references 
to this particular variety of which I have here treated, it may be well to 
separate it under a distinct name, which I have accordingly done. 
The larger Yellow-headed Cut-worm which came out as this was disap¬ 
pearing, produced as I expected, the same moth which was described in 
my Third Report, under the name Iladena amputatrix, the Amputating bro¬ 
cade moth. 
Thus it was the larvae of these two insects which were so numerous and 
did all the injury to our crops the past season, neither of these being the 
species which Mr. Brace describes as the insect which produces the Cut¬ 
worm. And it is therefore evident that in different years and at different 
localities, it is sometimes one sometimes another of the insects, of this 
group which becomes multiplied and injurious to us; whereby it will require 
a series of observations extending through several seasons to obtain a full 
acquaintance with them. 
Before leaving this subject I may advert to one of our most efficient na¬ 
tural destroyers of these Cut-worms, which correspondents are occasionally 
sending me, for information as to its name, its origin, &c. It is the larva 
of a large black beetle, (Plate 4, fig. 4), having rows of round dots upon 
its back resembling burnished gold, the brilliancy of which dots cause it 
to be frequently noticed as it is wandering about in plowed fields and pas¬ 
tures in search of food, the beetle as well as its larva subsisting upon these 
Cut-worms. It is the Bold Calosoma, Calosoma calidum, as it is named in 
scientific works, and pertains to the order Coleoptera and the family CarA- 
B1DJS. 
Its larva'(Plate 4, fig. 5,) is a flattened, black, worm-like creature, hav¬ 
ing six legs inserted upon its breast, and a pair of sharp hook-like jaws 
projecting in front of its head, giving it, in connection with the agility of 
its movements, a very ferocious and formidable appearance. It is curious 
to watch this little creature when it is upon a hunting excursion, in pursuit 
