221 
outer part; smoky at the base, and have rare colored fringes in fresh, 
specimens. The only lines that show plainly on the fore wings are 
the transverse shade and the subterminal line; the terminal space 
lighter than the rest of the wing. Male antennse pectinate, the 
female simple; anal tufts of the male ferruginous. The abdomen 
has very small dorsal tufts on its basal half. 
Gortyna cataphracta. —Grote. 
Of the larva of this species I know nothing except that it has 
been found as a borer in the thorns and thistles. The moth expands 
i little over an inch and a half, has the fore wing from the base 
:o the t. p. line bright yellow, spotted with yellow brown scales. The 
space beyond that line, except the yellow apex, is mouse gray speckled 
i little with yellow scales. The reniform, orbicular, and a spot below 
die orbicular are clear yellow spots, or with but dark scales. The 
lind wings and body are mouse gray. The moths are to be found in 
September. 
Gortyna nitela, Guen.—The Stalk-Borer Moth. 
This insect has been so numerous during the past few years as to at¬ 
tract a great deal of attention as well as do a great deal of damage, prin- 
:ipally to corn. As a corn insect its ravages have been, the past sea¬ 
son, confined to the northern half of the State. Besides the items 
dven bv Miss Smith in her article on this insect, I have the follow- 
ng in a letter from Mr. E. Hall, of Athens, Menard county. 
“A worm called here the ‘Heart Worm,’ has thinned the corn on 
lew lands and on foul fields to a considerable extent. We see a little 
)f this every year, but this year it has been quite destructive. Its 
labit is to find a lodgment, in the heart, so-called, of the stalk from 
he time it first appears above the ground until it is to the jointing 
tge. This is the worst enemy in the insect line we have this year 
or corn.” 
In regard to the fields most infested by them, E. R, Boardman, M. 
), of Elmira, Stark county, says: “They have done considerable in- 
ury to the corn crop in that section. They were worse on grounds 
hat had been in oats the previous year. Our oats crop proved a fail- 
ire and many did not cut them but plowed them under in the spring 
rnd on these lands they were the worst.” 
This insect not only bores into the stalks of growing corn, but 
nany other plants. The caterpillar is of a lived hue when young, 
vith light strips along the body, the one on the side being interrupted 
owards the head. When full grown it generally becomes lighter, 
vith the longitudinal lines broader. It becomes full grown some time 
n August, when it forms its chrysalis in the stalk. The moths issue 
he latter part of August or in September, and hibernate during the 
vinter to deposit their eggs the following spring upon the plants that 
