Ll. Lloyd 



69 



fell (the west end being shaded by a grove of trees) while only 956 were 

 taken in the 12 traps on the northern side, which was darker at dusk. 

 In the trap in the south-west corner of the block 194 moths were caught, 

 a number which is more than double the average catch (80) of all the 

 traps exposed during the same period. 



The moth commences to lay eggs on the second or third day after 

 emergence from the pupa. Sometimes the eggs are laid singly, but 

 usually they are placed in large batches. The moth first lays a well- 

 ordered layer which is distinctly arranged in rows of four. On these a 

 second smaller layer is often placed, and sometimes a third layer is 

 added, when the patch of eggs appears to be a disordered heap. The 

 number of eggs laid in a batch varied up to a maximum of 325, the 

 average number in a hundred batches being about 66. They are almost 

 invariably placed on the lower surfaces of the leaves. On only one 

 occasion has a batch been found on the upper surface. 



The moth is long lived, especially if food is obtainable, and its egg 

 production is greatly increased by feeding. Both sexes feed eagerly on 

 the juice of broken ripe tomato fruit, and as these are carelessly left 

 to rot in many nurseries this food is of easy access to them. Even 

 without food however the moth is a prolific one, as the following experi- 

 ments show. 



Table 1. Showing the effect of supplying broken ripe tomato as food 

 to the moths in captivity. 



Number of moths employed 

 Number of males 



Average life 

 Number of females 



Average life 

 Total eggs laid 

 Average batches per female 

 Average eggs per batch 

 Average total eggs per female 



Moths fed 



22 



5 



21 days (12 to 28) 



17 



19 days (9 to 29) 



190 batches 



11-2 batches 



78 



872 



Moths not fed 



28 

 9 



10 days (5 to 15) 



19 



11 days (6 to 16) 



91 batches 



5-3 batches 

 55 

 263 



Moths were enclosed in two cages constructed of a frame-work of 

 wood, with three sides and the roof of muslin, and one side of glass; 

 the dimensions being about 18 in. x 18 in. x 2 ft. high. Tomato or 

 other plants in pots were placed in these. In one cage a broken ripe 

 tomato was supplied, and in the other a dish of water but no food. The 

 moths were placed in the cages on the day of their emergence, and the 

 length of life was found by noting the dates of their deaths. The number 



