Middletown transcript., 1907-07-20
THE ..ARMY WORM"
Brief Notes on the Life, History and
Habits Of this Insect

For some time past there have been
occasional reports from various sections
OF the State of rather serious injuries
caused by the "army worm" 1t is the
purpose of this article to give brief notes
on the life-history and habits of this in
sect and some Of the methods by which
it may be best controlled.
Life-History and Habits
Unlike most insects. the "army worm"
may winter in any one of three stages
as Iarva, ppua or adult. It is probable,
however that the majority pass the winter
as pupae in the ground.
The larya IA true caterpillar, but com
monty called worn" is too well known
to require detailed description. When
full-grown it measures from one and one
half to two inches in length. 1t is dark
gray in color and is striped with yellow;
the head is yellow, withfne, dark lines.
The adult is medium-sized, night
flying moth, with the front wings of a
fawn color; there are numerous fine
black specks scattered about upon them,
and near the middle of each wing there
is a small white dot. The hind wings are
of dull gray color.
The eggs are laid on grass and the larvae
begin to feed upon this as soon as hatch
ed. Says DR.. J. B. Smith: I'm ordinary
seasons, though the larvae may be quite
abundant, they are little noticed and do
no particular injury; but sometimes, by a
combination Of circumstances, the num-
Der of eggs deposited early becomes very
great and the resulting army of larvae SO
large that they make havoc when
they hatch. In this stage they are
noticed in wheat where it is heaviest
and thence the caterpillars spread in
every direction. They soon become full
grown, go short distance underground
to change to mahogany brown pupae
about three-fourths Of an inch in length
and shortly thereafter the moths appear.
They mate at once and lay another batch
of eggs, from which we have about mid
summer a second army much larger than
the first. These soon eat everything on
the ground first occupied by them, and
are then forced by hunger to begin those
marches which have given them their
common name, 'army-worm. "
When full-grown these larvae enter the
ground for pupation and part of them
may remain as pupae through the winter.
From other pupae the adults may emerge
which in turn deposit eggs for third
brood of caterpillars which appears late
in the season.
Remedies
When piece ofgrass land is found to
be infested with these larvae in large
numbers, it is best to cut the infested area
at once and destroy the crop, with the
larvae, by means OF fire. Or, if the vege.
tation on which the larvae are feeding
can be thoroughly covered with poison
spray, this will be found an effective
method of control. For this purpose ar
senate of lead or Paris green should be
used, the former at the rate of l pound
for 25 gallons of water, the latter at the
rate of pound to about l50 gallons.
In some cases it has been found adyis
able TO plow narrow strip in front o.
of the advancing army" and harrow
and roll this hard; then to crush the cat
erpillars by means Of roller as they pass
over this strip.
i a strong keTusgne emulsion Is III eHfee-
tive insecticide for these pests, but This
may seriously injure the vegetation. Il
this is to be used the stock emulsion con-
tanning about &C per cent. of oil should be
diluted about four times with water.
G. 0. HoUGHToN,
Entomologist to the Delaware Experiment
Station.