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Painted Mamestra
This is one of the commonest species of the genus. The caterpillar is a conspicuous object, and in the fall of the year is generally very noticeable, feeding upon various herbaceous plants. It is a promiscuous feeder, and to enumerate all the vegetables which it attacks would almost be to provide a list of the plants of the United States. They manifest, however, a decided preference, when accessible, for the cruciferous plants, and do much damage in fields of cabbages and beets. There are two broods in the Middle States. The species does not occur on the Pacific coast, so far as is known to the writer. Its range is from the Atlantic to the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains.