FIGURE-OF-8 MOTH. 17 



the middle of June, when they are very observable from their 

 comparatively large size, and are also remarkable for the 

 small head being of a bluish colour, with two round black 

 spots. The caterpillar is of various tints of green or smoky- 

 green above, and yellow-green below; one yellow stripe 

 (interrupted at distances) runs along the back, and one yellow 

 stripe along each side below the spiracles. The segments or 

 rings of the caterpillar are spotted with black (see figure, 

 p. 16), the one immediately behind the head has eight small 

 spots arranged (on the upper part) in a double transverse row, 

 and the two segments immediately behind have one row of 

 larger spots similarly placed. The following segments (till 

 near the tail) have four spots above. The three pairs of 

 claw-feet are also spotted with black, and the four pairs of 

 sucker-feet beneath the body have two black spots on each. 

 They are, however, very variable in colour ; the young speci- 

 mens being sometimes nearly white on the back, and when 

 old they may be of a bluish grey colour along the back. 

 There are also bluish green varieties. 



When full-fed the caterpillars spin cocoons formed of bits 

 of bark, or apparently anything that may be convenient, — on 

 twigs or stems, or even on neighbouring walls, — in which the 

 larva turns to a reddish brown chrysalis, out of which the 

 moth emerges about September, but also is to be found later 

 on, and in some cases appears in the following spring. 



Prevention and Eemedies. — It is stated by Dr. Taschenberg 

 that the caterpillars have such sHght hold that in case of a 

 storm occurring they fall off in great numbers. This fact of 

 their loose hold may be very serviceably turned to account 

 by shaking the trees well, and also by heavy washings, and 

 collecting and destroying the caterpillars that drop to the 

 ground. 



Amongst measures of prevention, scraping and cleaning the 

 bark of the trees and branches would be serviceable here as 

 with various other insect attacks, as thus some at least of the 

 cocoons which the blue-headed caterpillars form on the trees 

 would be got rid of. 



Catching the moths hij means of lamijs. — The moth may be 

 found from September onwards in the latter part of the year ; 

 and on November 18th Mr. C. D. Wise reported to me from 

 Toddington, "We have found and are now catching, by means 

 of the lamps, the Figure-of-8 Moth." The arrangement used 

 in this case was by placing a lighted lamp under an open 

 shed, the underneath part of the roof or boards being tarred 

 and greased. 



The various kinds of washes or sprayings used to destroy 



c 



