84 
about $10,000 from the attacks of the rose midge (Neocerata 
rhodophaga ) ; and when we think of the large number of other 
insect enemies of flowering plants which are present annually or 
at irregular intervals, it is evident that the control of noxious in¬ 
sects is of the utmost importance to the florist. 
The insects found most injurious to flowering and ornamental 
plants in Illinois greenhouses are discussed in the following pages*, 
together with a number of other troublesome or threatening species. 
As roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums are, in the order men¬ 
tioned, the three largest crops of the Illinois florist, their insect 
enemies have demanded special attention. Three greenhouse pests 
which do not belong to the class Insecta are briefly treated at the 
end of the paper. This report on life histories and remedies is 
largely based on investigations and experiments undertaken by 
the office of the State Entomologist; otherwise it is compiled from 
the published papers of other entomologists. 
Cutworms 
Every florist is familiar with cutworms, which are usually pres¬ 
ent in greenhouses, where they cause a loss of many thousands 
of dollars annually. 
The carnation is one of the favorite foods of the variegated 
cutworm, our commonest greenhouse species, which climbs the 
stem and eats into the flower-bud, thus spoiling the blossom. 
Chrysanthemums are also thus injured, while some other plants, 
sweet peas, for example, merely lose their leaves. Cutworms are 
also especially fond of the tender shoots of smilax and greenhouse 
asparagus ( Asparagus plumosns ), those of asparagus being eaten 
as soon as they appear above the ground. Other flowering plants 
are sometimes injured by them, but only those mentioned above 
’ have been found badly damaged in Illinois. Since cutworms are 
night feeders, they may be found by day in the soil near the base 
of the plant. With but a single exception, all the cutworms col¬ 
lected in the greenhouses at Chicago were of one species—the 
variegated cutworm ( Pcridroma margaritosa ). 
The Varikgated Cutworm 
Peridroma margaritosa Haw. 
(P. saucia, Agrotis saucia) 
The egg (Eig. i, e) from which this cutworm hatches, is about 
one fiftieth of an inch in diameter, dome-shaped, circular in trans¬ 
verse section, strongly ribbed, and, when first deposited, creamy 
*The most generally troublesome insect pest of the greenhouse, the onion 
thrips (Thrifts tabaci), is not treated here, since fit was "discussed in a separate 
article prepared for publication elsewhere. 
