Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1901 — Army Worms Are Abroad. [ARTICLE]

Army Worms Are Abroad.

Alf Donnelly brought to town Tuesday, a number of worms, each about an inch long and of a kind that are appearing in large numbers at his place, and eating up his growing millet. The worms are about an inoh long, and to anyone who has ever seen an invading file of army worms, they are readily recognized as old acquaintances. Our local scientist, Georgp E. Mitohell at once recognized them as the species of army worms known to naturalists as “Luciania unipuncta.” He says they are identified by three fine yellowish lines along the baok, more distinct towards the head; with a broade r dark line on each side and yellowish lines of the same width beneath these. Pine scattering bristles over the body, thicker near the head. They vary in length from less than 1 inoh to If inches. They are the larva of a night flying moth. They are very destructive critters when numerous enough but whether this present invasion is in numbers sufficient to do much damage, we are as yet unable to say.