White cutworm

Euxoa scandens

The occurrence of Lycophotia (Euxoascandens, Riley, in western Ontario appears to be confined to a type of soil consisting of fine, dark, grey-brown sand, acid in reaction, and containing a small proportion of organic and colloidal matter. In and around blow-holes in this sandy soil are ridges of lime-like material, which is strongly alkaline in reaction and contains practically no organic matter. Here the true soil has been eroded away by wind action, exposing the un-weathered substratum which is highly calcareous. Cultivated land was found to be the most suitable larval habitat, cutworms being seldom present in grass land. Oviposition is less frequent in potato fields than in maize fields, and sweet clover fields appear to be the most favoured. The eggs are found just below the surface of the soil from about the middle of July until the first week in August. Larvae can be found from the end of July; they hibernate, usually in the fifth or sixth instar, and resume feeding in spring. They feed at, or slightly above or below, the surface and have a wide range of food-plants, although they appear to prefer sweet clover. Pupae are present from about 20th June till 3rd July, and the moths are in flight from early July to the first week in August. 

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