EDWARD S. FARROW, Consulting Civil and Military Engineer.
the caterpillar of the moth Leucania unipunctata. The adult meas ures about one and a half inches across the expanded wings, which are dull brown, the anterior pair bearing near the centre a small white dot which has suggested the specific name. Like most moths, this species flies at night and, in seasons when they are specially abundant, are the most commonly captured insects at lights and baits of sugar or syrup, of which they are very fond. The eggs are usually con cealed on herbage in fields, especially where vegetation is luxuriant, as in wheat fields. Un less checked by enemies the caterpillars quickly reach maturity, pupate a short time under ground, emerge, pair and lay eggs from which a larger brood than the first is hatched. This brood, after devouring every green thing soft enough to eat, spread destruction as they march, army-like, from the place where they were hatched to fresh feeding grounds. When full grown these larvae pupate; some for only a short time, others until the following spring. The former lay eggs for a third brood of cater pillars which endeavor to pass the winter as i so that larva, pupa and adults may be fttM throughout the year. The caterpillars attain a length of about two inches, are dark gray, striped with light yellow and Though annually common east of the Mountains they are generally so well controlled naturally that their depredations are insignifi cant, and usually when they do become a pest their enemies so quickly master them that they very rarely are troublesome in the same locality two years in succession. The most important
of these enemies are fungous diseases and, especially, parasitic insects. Artificial controls are almost all mechanical. Occasionally the larvae of the first brood may be noticed in time to apply an insecticide (q.v.) such as Paris green mixed with soap-suds instead of water to make it more adhesive to the grass; but usually the safest plan is promptly to bury the crop by plowing, or to burn it. If migration has started a strip of land should be ploughed across the line of march, harrowed and rolled constantly to crush the worms, or kerosene emulsion, di luted only five times, must be sprayed upon the advancing worms and also upon their recent feeding ground. The name army-worm is given to other species of caterpillars, especially to Labhvana fruaiberda. which is better known as grass-worm. Consult 'Third Report) United States Entomological Commission (Washington 1883) ; 'Bulletin 133> Cornell Experiment Station.