400 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIV,No. 5 
and South Carolina, although it probably occurs throughout that section. 
There is a specimen in Doctor Barnes's collection from Digby, Nova 
Scotia. It has also been reported from California in a broad way, by 
various writers following Felt (4, p. gy) , but the writer has seen nothing 
to substantiate this record. There is a single specimen in the National 
Museum labeled “Arizona,” from Riley's collection. The accompanying 
map (fig. i) shows the points in the United States whence definite records 
have been obtained. Where no exact locality is given the State is marked 
with an interrogation point. 
FOOD PLANTS 
The striped sod webworm has never been recorded as feeding on any 
plant outside the grass family. In the field, larvae have been taken on 
blue grass, com, wheat, timothy, and once, at Nashville, Tenn., on small 
clumps of a wild grass which was not at the time in determinable con- 
PlG. x.->Map showing known distribution of Crambus mutabilis in North America. 
dition. In addition to the foregoing the writer has reared it in cages 
on crab grass {Syntherisma sanguinalis) ^ barley, and rye. Larvae were 
also offered oats and orchard grass {Dactylis glomeratus) and in the later 
stages fed freely. The young larvae, however, seemed to have trouble 
in subsisting on these grasses, and none were reared on them alone. 
Undoubtedly the larvae will thrive on many other grasses. 
ECONOMIC HISTORY 
Few cases of serious injury are definitely chargeable to Crambus 
mutabilis. This does not mean that it is not an injurious form, but 
merely that it has not been caught in the act. There is plenty of cir¬ 
cumstantial evidence to warrant an indictment aside from the estab¬ 
lished records. Bruner (2, p. 262) first mentions it as a grass insect 
attacking com following sod. Riley (jj, p. 36) says it occasionally 
attacks com. Webster (74, p, 86) intimates that this species may have 
had something to do with the destruction wrought in meadows and in 
