GREAT YELLOW UNDERWING MOTH. 31 



pillars as were straying about (besides slugs, &c.), and also 

 gave much additional ease of access to the plants. 



In the case of caterpillars that feed, like these, on many of 

 our commonest weeds, it is desirable to clear away all such 

 food-plants ; and if the grubs have been noticed in summer in 

 neglected corners, to turn over the ground in winter to see if 

 the chrysalids are there, and, if so, to destroy them, or 

 better still, trench down the ground, which will effectually get 

 rid of them, if the ground is left undisturbed until past the 

 right time for the moths to appear in the next year. — {' Farm 

 Insects,' and Ed.) 



Great Yellow Underwing Moth. 



NocUia {Tri/pJutua) proniiJm, Linn. 



Tryphccua pronuha : 1, caterpillar ; 2, chrysalis ; 3, Moth. 



The Yellow Underwings are much more observable than 

 the grey Cabbage or Turnip Moths, by reason of their 

 bright yellow under wings, banded with dark brown or black, 

 from which they take their name, and which makes them 

 very noticeable as they rise, towards the latter part of 

 summer, before the passing foot in recently-mown grass or 

 low-growing plants. Their chief time of flight is, however, in 

 the evening or night. They lay their eggs in some quantity 

 at the root of various kinds of plants about the middle of 

 summer. The caterpillars hatch in about a fortnight. By 

 day they lie hidden, rolled into a ring in the earth under 

 their food-plants, or sheltered under clods, stones, or the 

 like, and come out at night to feed. They have been found 

 with the caterpillars of the Heart and Dart Moth at the roots 

 of Turnips, and also at the roots of Lettuces, and have been 

 stated by various authors to feed on the roots of grass. The 

 lumps of dirt and gnawed leaves show their whereabouts. 



