THE GUM EMPEROR MOTH. 115 



known, I believe, to have attacked fruit trees, but as it 

 has left its natural food for that of a ])ungent-flavoured 

 tree such as the pepper tree undoubtedly is it is hardly 

 likely to be particular in its choice of food. On small 

 trees hand-picking may be carried out with good results, 

 the caterpillar being, even when only partly grown, both 

 large and showy, and is thus easily detected. On the 

 leaves of the pepper tree the eggs are deposited in exactly 

 the same manner as on gum leaves, with this excep- 

 tion, that the leaves of the pepper tree being narrower 

 the eggs are deposited close together. In classifying 

 the Lepidoptera most people are aware that these are 

 divided into two sections, viz., Rhopalocera (butterflies) 

 and Heterocera (moths), so that further allusion on the 

 chapter page will be unnecessary. It is gratifying, how- 

 ever, to know that the larva of this moth has many 

 insect enemies, notably Ichneumons, Braconids, also 

 minute Hymenoptera, specimens of which may be seen 

 in the Museum of Economic Entomoloffv attached to the 

 office of the Government Entomologist. 



