the victorian naturalist. 67 



Fajvi. Geometrid^e. 



Mnesampela privata. 



Egg. — Dull white in colour ; nearly ovate, flattened slightly on 

 both sides. The mass contains from 50 to 60, agglutinated to 

 the under side of the leaf. I have frequently found these eggs 

 in May and June. 



Larva (full grown). — A very handsome caterpillar, with the 

 head small in comparison ; has 18 pure white tubercular 

 processes, and from the centre of these spring a small bunch of 

 longish white hairs. Body segments mottled with angular black 

 markings, so as nearly to obscure the ground colour, which is 

 yellowish red. From the base of the second segment to the 

 posterior margin of the eleventh run two somewhat broad sub- 

 dorsal red lines, gradually fading where they touch the posterior 

 part of each segment. On each of these two lines are two chalk- 

 white tubercles, bearing each a fine white hair. Segments 2, 3, 

 and 4 have each 12 tubercles, armed with long fine hairs, those 

 of the subdorsal region being the longest — twice as long as the 

 rest. Segments 5 to 10 have 10 tubercles, being placed so as to 

 form a triangle, in the centre of which are placed the spiracles, 

 which are black. On the sixth segment are two pure white eye- 

 like subdorsal spots. Anal segment and clasps pale yellowish, 

 feet and legs of a lighter tint. Length about 1^5 inch. 



These grubs are well known to be gregarious, living in 

 companies of from 10 to 15. They have a curious habit of 

 drawing the tender shoots of the tree together by the aid of 

 silken thread (produced by the larvae) in conjunction with the 

 gum of the tree, which forms their particular domicile. The 

 young larvae then put out threads to descend from branch to 

 branch. They often cause much damage to a plantation of 

 young gum trees, rarely feeding on them after the trees are about 

 three years old. Their "domiciles" would attract the eye of 

 the most casual observer. 



Pupa. — Reddish brown in colour. Abdomen darker. The 

 segmentation deep and prominently traced by a transverse band 

 of darker brown. The head is largely produced in front. 

 Mouth parts pitchy. Wing-covers smooth, distinctly showing 

 the course of the nervures. Antennal cases highly elevated, 

 transversely wrinkled, of a darker hue than the wing-covers ; eye 

 and tongue cases ample ; abdomen tapering, terminating in a 

 short, stiff seta. Each segment bears a transverse band of.serrated 

 teeth, radiating from the subdorsal region. Length about j% inch, 

 breadth T \ inch. I have not known this species to form a cocoon 

 any more than a few silken threads, and it spends about four months 

 in the pupa stage. Food plant, Eucalyptus globulus. 



