.st October showed that the outer stalks of nearly every 
vere dead, although, owing to the recent rains, new leaves 
eing sent up from the center of the stool. The stand was 
pon the ground, but the owner reported that it had been ex- 
at first. On examination, the greater part of the dead stalks 
Dund to harbor the larvse of Meromyza about half grown, 
taken from the stalks these larvae traveled with considerable 
7 , using their mouthhooks to draw themselves forward. 
field of rye was sown unusually early (July 9) for pasture, 
entirely consistent with respect to the conditions favorable to 
by this pest. Late sowing remains the only preventive 
re against it. 
6. The Grass Worm or Fall Army Worm. 
(Lapliygma frugiperda, Guen.) 
Order Lepidoptera. Family Noctuiml 
(Plate V. Figs. 1 and 2.) 
ibundant southern insect well known in fields of cotton and 
i the Southern States, but rarely noted in Illinois, has twice 
ed in this latitude in numbers so extraordinary as to attract 
l attention and to do very considerable mischief in fields of 
winter wheat in autumn, and once in corn fields in midsum- 
It first appeared here fifteen years ago, and has since been 
nly by entomological collectors, until the autumn of the pres¬ 
ir. Its occurrence was first announced to me on the 2d Octo- 
Mr. H. C. Mclntire, of Topeka, Tazewell county, who wrote: 
ave this day mailed you a box containing specimens of a 
that is devastating wheat fields in this part of our county, 
latch on land that was in oats this last year, and they are 
the wheat clean. Hundred of acres in this part of the county 
clean at it is possible for land to be, not a green thing left, 
land that was in oats, they go to wheat that was in wheat 
iting it clean as they go.” 
days later, Mr. F. E. Buckley, of Tremont, wrote me: 
; ire is a worm working in the winter wheat in this section, 
I is causing much consternation among the farmers. Many 
* the army worm. In a field of wheat of twenty acres, visited 
writer this morning, this pest could be seen working in large 
rs. Throughout the entire field there were probably on an 
13 , from a dozen to a dozen and a half worms to the square 
rorms from one-fourth to one-half inch in length to full grown 
A full grown one is about one and a half inches in length, 
semed to have entered my wheat from an adjoining corn field 
north, and are working towards the south. In many places 
:s is quite thick, as the wheat was sown upon oats stubble, 
e worms do not touch the oats. They cut the wheat off close 
ground and eat it up clean, or else climb the spears and eat 
L" 
