CUT WORMS. (Agroticlidts.) The larva of the May-beetle, the White Grub Worm, and the larvae of the Click Beetles (Wire Worms) are, in connection with the true Cut Worms, very often incorrectly called Cut Worms in many parts of the United States. The true Cut Worms are smooth caterpillars, the larvae of moths. There are many species, all of them destructive, some species which eat the plant, severing it deep below the ground; others climbing fruit trees to feed on the tender buds; still others eat the plant just at, or above, where it enters the ground. The natural history of the most of the Cut Worms is given by Dr. Riley, in his First Missouri Report, from which we extract: The parent moth attaches her eggs to some substance near the ground, or deposits them on plants, mostly dur ing the latter part of summer, though occasion ally in the spring of the year. Those which are deposited during late summer, hatch early in the fa/1 and the young worms, crawling into the ground, feed upon the tender roots and shoots of herbaceous plants. At this time of the year, the worms being small and their food plentiful, the damage they do is seldom noticed. On the approach of winter they are usually about two thirds grown, when they descend deeper into the ground and, curling themselves up, remain in a torpid state till the following spring. When spring returns, they are quite ravenous, and their cutting propensities having fully developed, they ascend to the surface And attack the first green succulent vegetation that comes in their way.
When once full grown they descend deeper into the earth, and form for themselves oval chambers, in which they change to chrysalides. In this state they remain from two to four weeks, and finally come forth as moths, during the months of June, July and August, [in the North, Editor,] the chrysalis skin, being in most cases so thin, that it is impossible to preserve it. These moths in time lay eggs, and their progeny go through the same cycle of changes. Some species, how ever, are most likely two-brooded, while others pass through the winter in the chrysalis state. The only practical remedy against their depre dations is hunting for the caterpillars just at daylight in the morning. They will then be found feeding, or at rest, just beneath the sur face, and may be easily found by the cast or mark they leave at the surface of the ground. The group of cuts illustrating Cut Worms , shows, in Fig. 1, the moth of the Western Striped Cut Worm (Agrogis subgethica); Fig. 2 shows the Climbing or Dark-sided Cut Worm. (A,grotis Cork ranii) larva and moth; Fig. 3 shows the small, white, Bristly Cut Worm, (Celana renigera) larva and-moth. There are various other Cut Worms, one of which attacks corn, (Agrotis nigricaens, variety maizi); also the Wheat Cut Worm, and others. The illustrations given will suffice to give a fair comprehension of these destructive species.