218 
seventeen days the little flies hatch and are ready for an attack upon 
other worms. 
Prof. Riley also mentions another large, yellowish brown four¬ 
winged fly (. Paniscus geminatus , Say). This species deposits a single 
egg in each caterpillar, the maggot of which remains in the cater¬ 
pillar till it enters the ground to change to a chrysalis, when it suc¬ 
cumbs and the maggot spins its tough black cocoon. 
There are many species of insects that more speedily destroy cut¬ 
worms by attacking them from without. Among these may be men¬ 
tion the Spined Soldier-bug (Pod'isus spinosus , Dallas), that is a general 
cannibal, preying not only on cut-worms but several other species of 
insects. 
The Homely Geopinus ( Geopinus incrassatus, Deg.) is known to 
attack and destroy the climbing cut-worms. This is a beetle about 
half an inch long and of the color of thin glue. 
Another beetle, the Fiery Ground-beetle ( Calosoma calidum , Fabr. 
See Fig. 42.) in the grub or larva is so ferocious in its 
attacks on cut-worms as to obtain from Dr. Shimer the 
name of “ Cut-worm Lion.” These larvse are flattened, 
of a black color, have six legs near the head, and a pair 
of strong jaws extending in front. They will pursue 
the cut-worms to their underground retreat and seize 
them wherever they can find them, a Cut-worm Lion 
sometimes attacking and killing a cut-worm twice as 
large as itself. The beetle is black, about an inch long, 
with three rows of coppery spots on each wing case. It 
is probable that there other species of the ground beetles 
Calosoma calidum. that have a similar habit. 
I have also found a mite ( Uropoda Americana, Riley) preying on the 
Variegated Cut-worm. This is not a true insect but belongs to the 
group in which spiders are found. This little parasite is about the 
size of a small pin-head, broadly oval, depressed, the body in one 
piece, and yellowish brown in color. It attaches itself to the body of 
the worm by an appendage on the under side of the body for that pur¬ 
pose, and cannot easily be detached when once it has attached itself 
to the worm. Some kinds of spiders are also known to destroy cat- 
worms. Poultry are often efficient in destroying cut-worms and many 
other insects about a garden ; and birds generally are of service, but 
as cut-worms are mostly hid beneath the surface during the day, the 
amount of service done by them is limited. 
Artificial Remedies. —Without doubt the most effective means of des¬ 
troying cut-worms where the infected area is small, as a garden, is to 
hunt and kill them wherever their work indicates their presence. In 
fields this is impracticable, but the fall plowing, if there is any rea¬ 
son to suspect their presence, will do much towards ridding the 
ground of those species that pass the winter in a state of torpor, or 
even in the chrysalis state. To be effective this must be done after 
the cool fall weather has caused the worms to become torpid, or they 
will prepare for themselves a new shelter. If ground is covered pretty 
well with dead grass or weeds, burning this just before plowing in 
the spring, will destroy a great many as they hide under such material 
when at hand in preference to going into the ground, and the fire 
will kill them. 
