88 
Cervical shield and anal plate but little darker than the general 
surface,—both with the median and subdorsal white lines distinct. 
All the other lines nearly or quite obsolete on the thoracic seg¬ 
ments. Head pale shining yellowish brown, with the two median 
longitudinal dark brown lines very broad and distinct, not meeting 
at the middle. Another pair of lines just above ocelli, and a 
variably distinct additional pair at the lower edge of the ocellar 
region. The remainder of the surface with regular reticulations of 
brown, except the frontal triangle, which is plain, or sometimes 
blotched with brown. Length one and one fourth inches. 
This cutworm is an early species, is evidently single-brooded, 
and hibernates about half grown,—the greater part of the brood 
being nearly full grown in very early seasons by April 1, in 
ordinary years by the middle of that month. The active life of 
belated larvae was practically over May 7, at which time prepara¬ 
tions for pupation were noticed. Imagos emerged from our spring 
larvae from July 24 to August 8. In the miscellaneous collections 
of the office the moth has occurred August 4, 12, 14, and 17, and 
September 2. 
Our specimens of this cutworm were obtained from pastures 
and meadows, and bred on grass. 
The Dingy Cutworm. 
(Agroiis subgofhica, Haw.) 
(Plate III., fig. 4.) 
This was the most abundant cutworm in Southern Illinois in 
1887; and, next to morrisoniana, the commonest and most destruc¬ 
tive throughout the State in 1888. Its principal injuries were done 
in meadows and clover fields, its preference for clover being quite 
decided, as shown both by observation and by breeding experi¬ 
ments. It was observed also to feed freely in the field on straw¬ 
berries, corn, wheat, sweet potatoes, and beans. Unlike its still 
more abundant companion species, its principal injuries were soon 
finished, the greater part of the brood having ceased their depre¬ 
dations by the first of June. 
In our collections, well grown larvae occurred as early as April I 
16; and by April 25 a greater part of a large collection were I 
three fourths to full grown. Preparations for pupation had begun I 
May 18, but a few in both field and laboratory continued to feed I 
until the 9th of June, and others were found under ground, as 
living larvae, July 19. Moths emerged in 1887 from August 19 to 
30. Some specimens less than half an inch long were found hiber- 
nating January 24. 
DESCRIPTION OF LARVA. 
This cutworm is characterized by a distinct buffy gray dorsal J 
area, mottled with dusky and marked with a faint herring-bone j 
pattern of V-shaped dusky shades, apex forward, one to each seg- I 
