New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-07-30
ARMY.WORN IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
A letter from New.Bedford, July %, says:


0Gr city is infested with them army -worm) and the
DeghLolDg country also; they to he found Of all
Sizes from the niest to the twonch length fellow,
that can race like q greyhound, almost.
They show special fondness for corn and cate, and
strange stories are spread to THEN increase.
Tie lady who writes the above asks:
"Can you give us a description Of the army
worm"
II it is the same that has swept the western
rraries for than thirty years ia darkgrayish
worn about an inch long, and Of average size as
large a big rye straw, with many legs but not use9
much for racing as for regular marches Henc6h 10
name Of "army worm" it marches forward into
country in quest of food, proceeding fast it
sumes whatever comes in it, way, always prefering
tender leaves Sometimes a wheaield is entirely d.
vested Of leaves without injury to the grain. The
march of the army can be arrested by the same
means that other armies are entertainments that
II cannot overcome; such az q deep furrow through
which a crushing weight Is dragged as fast as the
trencbment is filed with tie enemy We doubt about
the worm spoken Of Il inesting NeT-Decford being
the genuine army-worm Of the West: if 1t lie, we
think is its first appearance. For the comfort Of
those now alarmed at tie advance Of this rebel army,
we Will say that its ravaees not serious as many
other insects, and numerous as II il, il is moro easily
controlled. When field Of grain is invaded, the
worms climb the stalks and commence eating. If two
men with rope should drag the field, the frightened
worms drop 70 the ground. They easily scared
fom their prey birds. Speaking Of tirds the ad-
Of the worm army we have seen materially
checked by the birds aud the advance into Iassacbu
sets should teach every the mUchneeded Lesson,
"Spare the Bride"
The original, legitimate, scientific name Of this IN
sect If Leuc1nia Uaipunctq. 1t is North American
IL Il,
worm tie black skin Of which is specked with white
and the mouth il spoeked in the same way, 60 that It
received the common name in England of White
SpecS. b. which name writers refer 10 il.
Dr. Asa Fitch, the eniomologist says;
about asdozen New.York species Of this genus,
Icuc1Hia, are known 70 me. They are those White ard
pale yellow moths or uillrrs which 80 common in
our meadows and other grass lands, ana winch nit
aside in such numbers when the scylhe Of the mower
sweeps their coyeris from them. Ard the black
worm which, In this section OF our Union, sometime
shows the gregarous and migratory habits as the
army worm of the Western aud southern states,
now infer to be the larva Of some Of these moths
al have scarcely sufficient spare remaining 20 give
in Lis article such full aud particular description q
THE moth ought TO accompany tits announcement Of
its name, and viii enable every 10 Distinguish u
with certainty from other moths which resemble il.
1T is very plain al d unadOr.ed IN Is appearance
The eve, fret glancOg at IL only recognizes Il as
an ordinaTy-looking moth Of tarnkhed yellowish
drab color incning TO russet, with small white dot
near the center OF its forewlngs, and dusky obhqUe
treak st their tips. On coming 10 look a. II more par
tcularly pd IT TO be rather less than an nch long
the end OF its closed wings or II these are extended
II Is about all inch and three-quarers in width differ
eat specimens varying somewhat in their size. Its
fore-wiugs are spriuked with blackish atoms and q
81 rt distance forward Of their bind edge they
crossed by a row Of black dots, Oh OF the
veins Outside Of the middle of the wing this row Of
dots suddenly curves forward, and iron this curve
dJsky streGk 10 the Zip Of the wing, The ground
Ios, I'D 81. N.slla syua tha
outer side of this streak. IhOa Tive moths of some
other genera usually have similar streak, this Is tic
only species Of this genus 10 which this mark occurs
But character that win appear to common persons
more conspicuous and important, L. thai from when
Mr HawOth this species. Nearly IN the center
of the wing is milk white dot, placed upon the mid
vein. THIS dot is surrounded more or less by dusky
cloud and this duskiness is frequently extended for
ward upon the id-vdl 10 it, base, forming faint
darker streak along tie middle IF the Wing Contgu~
Gus 20 this dot on lie eide may be dicerned
rouudsh spot of slightly paler yellow color than tho
ground and "A very distance forward Of this Is
similar SPOT but smaller both Of these spots often
showing more tarni-hed center. On the hind part Of
the wing the veins marked by slender whitish lines,
and between their tips the hind esge Of he wing s
: row OF minute black dots.
'1he bind wings smoky brown, with purplish
gloss, and nearly trtnslaront, W u the veins
blscish. Tho fringe OF both pairs OF wings is pale
yelIoWish, with q dusky band on e middle
/" On the unoer side the wings much more glossy
and paer, opSlescent wLitish invardly, and smoky
gray toward their outer aud hind sides where they
are frecked with blacklist atOms Tie smoky color "
the bind wings has us anterior edge OF short
blackish lines, placed each the veins. and in
line with them the fore wings is faint dusky band,
Lecomiog more distinct toward its end OF some
times olly represented by dnsky dot on the outer
margin Tor ward o. the tip The yeils vhish, and
alo the bind edge on which is a row Of black d0ls
placed between the tips OF the veins. The hnd wngs
have also blaeksh shaped spot little for
ward Of their center.
The abdomen or hind body Is smoky gray above,
and on its under side ss gray, freckled with black
scales and usually showing row OF black dots along
each side.
although these moths are subject 10 some variety,
xlof yer has one of them in his hands viii tna II TO
coincide 80 exactly with most Of the particulars stated
In the above description, that ne viii be fully assured
II is thiginsect."
The Army Worm is producing fearful rayages In tho
vicinity of Fan River, destroying most Of The crops
wherever they appear. They feed principally on osts
corn wheat and barley Their march Is not straight
forward and frequently whole fields are lett amost IN
touched on their route These aecompll ns-
tace of three to five feet minutes ana collect IN mum
bers absolutely incalculabe. The destruction prodaee9
by them IN Fall River and s peis hborhoods eslnAteo
at S5O0,0O0 Mr.. Jaques, OF Boston, mas Deen " VIZ
eene of this destruction for the purpose OF notenk
the habits of the worm, and having ootalneu go
mens proposes 70 prosecute his researcher anu ss
mic Information shall be obtained which WIZ e"'
their ultimate extinction.
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The following is a List of Americans 'ee,'' ~ "a
4 o. = o. >, s,,aricar and Gener&l Agency, No ~