86 THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE GRASS-TRtES, 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



Aphomia latro, Zeller. 



Larva half an inch in length, dark brown to l)lack upon the 

 dorsal surface, with lighter parallel stripes down the centre of 

 back, and along each side; head large, smooth, shining, and 

 divided in the centre by a suture; prothorax rounded and large; 

 other thoracic segments uniform with the abdominal ones; legs 

 moderately stout, with small pointed tarsal claws; ventral surface 

 pale yellow. 



The larvje live in small communities, feeding upon the scape 

 of the flower stalk, gnawing up all the undeveloped Vjuds, which 

 become matted together with their loose web. They move about 

 very rapidly, and pupate on the flower head, forming elongate 

 white silken cocoons. 



Pupa long and slender, reddish-brown, with the wing-cases 

 curving round in front and covering the first five segments; a 

 raised ridge running down the centre of back; anal segment 

 armed with a number of short conical spines. 



Moth 1| inches across the wings, which are long and slender, 

 and rounded at the tips; creamy buff colour shot with fine black 

 spots, and divided down the centre with a broad parallel stripe 

 of white. Hind wings silvery grey, thickly fringed with long 

 semi-opaque hairs along the tips and lower margin; body slender, 

 apical segments darkest. 



Mr. Ernest Anderson, who identified this species for me, says 

 that it is common in Victoria, where it also feeds upon grass-trees 

 and stems of rushes. Bred in the Museum al)out the end of 

 October, from infested flowers received from the Curator. 



HOMOPTER.A.. 

 AsPlDlOTUS ROSSI, Mask. 



The foliage is often quite discoloured with the number of black 

 scales (adult females) infesting the leaves, often overlapping each 

 other like a lot of oyster shells. 



