Army-Worm

the caterpillar of a dull brown nocturnal moth. The larvae take the name from a habit of marching from field to field in a host. The full grown caterpillar is about an inch and a half long, and is marked with green, black, and yellow stripes. It may be found almost anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains, but attracts attention only in years of unusual prevalence. If taken in time, a colony may be extinguished by spraying with paris green. About the only way to stop the army-worm when on the march is to dig a shallow ditch, steep on the far side, with pits here and there. The "worms" follow the steep edge seeking a chance to climb up, and fall into the pits, where they may be taken by the bushel. Instances are not uncommon of fields of grain and of orchards destroyed by army-worms, but birds and parasites prevent their becoming a dangerous pest. See Insect