The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-25
Scare OVER THE cur WORM.
~as APPEARED IN WASHINGTON,
OREGON. BRITISH COLUMBIA.
:. Attacking Fruits, Vegetables,
viewers and Foliage and May DO
Great DansGe-scientists' Opin-
ssa 81 the Insect and Remedies.

ma cut worm which has recently made
~ appearance In the Northwest is caus-
- no little anxiety not only to formers
snd horticuiturists, hut also TO those
I ,,ssrssted in private vegetable and flower
~rAens It's zone of operation seems TO
,r~Iude this state. Oregon and British CO.
Iruub,a. and all reports Indicate that its
r,vares are on the increase. Fruit in
scertors have been busy aseertaining in
rbaf localities the pest has appeared and
are doing their best to assist in stamping
. n out Prof. Piper. Of the state agricul-
rural college, has sent out communications
describing the habits of the insect and
spxgesting means for its destruction. Al
ready II has come TO be regarded as quite
serious evil and no efforts will be left
unfried 10 exterminate II before too much
innass has been done.
Tho Victoria Times says that the de-
spartment OF agriculture has received re-
ports from all parts Of the lower mainland
and islands showing that the pest has
appeared and IN doing destructive work.
II prints the following by Prof VI. v.
slingerland entomologfst Of Corresl uni
sersity. as something that will no soub,
prove useful In the present emergency.
sIinEeyIsnd's Views.
Cut worms are the caterpiflars Of GER
tain moths belonging to great family
moths Most of the moths Of "miilers'
nyinE into houses at night. attracted by
the lights. are members Of this family
Many Inherent kinds of grubs and cater.
pilMr nave a peculiar habit - often
cutting on their food plants near the sur
face OF the soil these were all common
Known az cut worms' to the earlier
WRITER'S on insects About seventy-n ave-
years ago writer's began TO restrict the
name to the caterpillar OF owlet- moths
hnd be tK..
habit OF concealing thems elves during the
Day. either beneath some object on the
ground or buried just beneath the sur
face, and or coming forth 20 feed only at
caterpillars with nocturnal, but not with
cutting, habits, have been ciassed with
cut worms they usually feed at night
same manner as tho day feeding cater
pillars All cut worms usually curl no
when disturbed. Several species cut or
me plants Mt the surface. others an inch
Or 20 above. while one cut worm uIad-
sna devsstatrix) rarely appears above
the surface, but works on the roots and
stems Just beneath. Sometimes cut worms
a. possible into their day retreats. where
they can continue their feast at leisure
Under ceetain conditions. however. cut
worms may change their usual habits.
worms tFeltia hrriils and Noctua fen
nica) have appeared in enormous num-
bers and have then assumed the army
worm habit OF travelling In hordes and
feeding by day. Many of tho species
also know how to get to the tender buds
~ fruit trees or grape-vines when there
. . scarcity OF their favorite food plants
70 cut on. But little is definitely known
81 the habits OF young tiess than half
CROWN cut worms: they are said 10 work
In similar manner az when nearly full
grown, but owing TO their small size do
little damage to tn. mass of vegetation
There known in 10 70
a. least thirty different kinds Of cut
worms. and as many more Noetuid
moths whose caterpiilars may have cut
worm habits; nothing IL yet known about
lars
In some species az least the young cut
worms before they shed their skiu thu
nrst time, are sent -loopers. that ts one
or Two pairs OF pro-ieEs have not yet APP
Feared and they loop" themselves along
~, ne maasur,ng worms During this stage
tho esRs al laid, but after tho first
mout they have the normal number ~
isws sixteen. and assume regular cut
The NOTES.-The parents of the cut
worms~-are also nocturnal In habits
They rest during tho DAY In sheltered
spots on trees fences and ether suitable
localities; often their coioring 40 closely
mimics their surroundings that they are
practically Invisible to the unframed eve
They feed upon the nectar Of flowers ana
other sweet exudaiions OF plants. and
are readily attracted to light A. a rule
They are 81 somber gray or brown color.
With their wings ohscurely mark ed
Their nocturnal habits and tho fact that
when often In ohsourity their eyes shine
very brightly. suggesting their common
name. owiet-moth
~ our knowledge of cut worms In.
,sss. ., ne more Difficult Il ia 70 record
racrs l. found 20 be great diversity
" ne hfe period 81 the different stages
y The method OF wintering and In eEg
ee discussed separately. The parent
metha % many OF the species appear dur.
". June july and August
ha' lst,le Is definitely known Of the egg
AsfnH habits OF the moths The oggs ~
some snecies have been found on the
leaves OF fruit and forest trees ono wpecies
sss been reared on eurrant from eEx
ssand on one OF the leaves. while com
TWICE 81 fruit irres Prof j. u smith
ssNs That they are also laid on grasses
tsfpst close 10 the stalk ON one ~ the
s'~sth, leaves and occasionally on stones
slAxie moth Will usually tay from 30
Y ~ sxgS" II 10 supposed that the YOUNG
~ wsrns which hatch from eggs laid on
sae leaves or bark az trees. feed tu the
ss~fss 90 the tire" fot only a short time,
AZ al, anG soon drop cT crawl 60 the
UAasee or other low vegetation below IN
sesna eases TIE egg~ are isti ia ridsurn.
ssst, aaa cut worms Matching theretrom
seeonae about hair grown before winter
~ hibernate tn that STACY IN sheltered
NAsss or IN the sell, Ono species tCAr.
sssass oeNroEaster, may hibernate IN
NE esg siase. while others tay their eggs
= INC spring when mN grown -ut
VEINS bury themselves Ia fhp soil and
y lsistlus the body about they form an
"a smooth cell within which they
woSntv to dark hrnwn c0aigNl pupar
s.nm thess puras the moths erwArge later
raeah1y seine ~ the species ~ cat
ssfes pass the winter as hair gtown
- PtAAft some species winter a.
L~esA ana others In the esd stace. wbiie
= see case iAgrutis ypsiiani the tnAtea-
..qss ate ihat the moth mar alternate
- ss lAsteE taxing gleee early Ga ths
sfiHG some ~ the species rasa through
w generations tn the course u the