22 



lobe is a blackish dot, and two or three more on each side near the base of the palpi ; 

 mandibles or jaws tipped with dark brown. 



The body above is greenish grey and semi transparent ; on the second segment or 

 ring there is a horny plate above, similar in colour to the head, slightly bordered behind 

 with dark brown. There is a dark greenif^h line down the middle of the back with a whitish 

 centre, the green colour becoming fainter and almost disappearing on the anterior portion 

 of the body. Along the sides, about half way down is a didl wliitish line, anil another of 

 the same colour just above the stigmata or breathing holes, while close to the under sur- 

 face the body is bordered with an irregular band of the .same hue. On each side of the 

 dorsal or central line above, is a small dark brown dot, on each ring or segment of the 

 body. Stigmata neai-ly round and of a deep black colour. 



The under surface is more transparent than the upper, especiallv on the anterior 

 and terminal segments ; the colour is dull yellowish with a greenish tinge, from the in- 

 ternal organs showing through. The feet and legs are yellowish and semi-transparent. 



In colour these caterpillars vary somewhat, some are of a deeper shade, becoming 

 greenish brown, with tlie whitish lines fainter ; in these the green in the band down the 

 back, can be seen alternately contracting and expanding when the larva is at rest, the 

 greater transparency of the skin showing the working of the internal organs tiirough it. 

 Many of them died in confinement, and only six or seven completed their various stages, 

 going into chrysalis early in July, and producing the moths late in August. 



The chrysalis is abo\it yjyths of an inch in length, and of a pale brown colour, and is 

 contained in a little oval chamber or cell of earth a few inches below the surface. 



The moth, when its wings are expanded measures about an inch and a half across. 

 The fore wings are pale brownish, streaked and spotted with grey ; the hind wings are of a 

 uniform pale brownish grey, with a white fringe around the margin. There is a whitish 

 grey band across the front just behind the head, the anterior portion of the body is dark 

 brownish grey, and the abdomen the same colour as the hind wings. 



Experience seems to indicate that these insects are much more numerous in light 

 sandy soils, than they are where the soil is heavier. 



Remedies. — This is a very difficult insect to cope with. In all probability the moths 

 which are attracted by light might be trapped, or poisoned by hanging about pieces of 

 cloth or flannel daubed with a mixture of molasses and a strong solution of arsenic, but 

 as they fly late in the season, when the sense of pressing danger is past, it would be diffi- 

 cult perhaps, to induce people generally to take much pains with them then. Hence the 

 battle must be fought with this insect while in the larva or caterpillar .stale, and then the 

 surest way of disposing of them is to catch and kill them. By searching around the 

 vines just under the surface of the ground during the day, many may be turned up and 

 destroyed, and by inspecting again at night when they are active and busy their ranks 

 may be s ill further thinned, and by continuing this treatment, day after day, they may no 

 doiibt be kept under. Probably dusting the vines with hellebore would poison them as 

 it does other leaf-feeding insects ; this measure is at least wortliy of a trial. 



8. The Measuring Worm (Angerona crocaotaria, Guenee). 



Fig. 12. This larva, which was described in last year's report aS 



injurious to the currant and gooseberry, has also been found 

 attacking the strawberry. The caterpillar is yellowish- 

 green, with longitudinal whitish lines, and is about an inch 

 and a half long. The moth, see Fig. 12, varies in colour 

 from a pale to a deep yellow, with dusky tpots and dots, in 

 some specimens few, in others quite numerous, and in the 

 latter case the larger ones are so arranged as to form an im- 

 perfect band across the wings. For further details re- 

 pecting the life-history of this insectjthe reader is referred to the report of the Entomo- 

 logical Society for 1872, page 37. 



