58 



CORN AND GRASS. 



CORN AND GRASS. 



Antler Moth, or Grass Moth. Ckantas graminis, Limi. 



Antler Moth (Charceas graniinis) and caterpillars. 



The attacks of the caterpillars of the Antler Moth are 

 remarkable for only occurring occasionally, and especially in 

 mountainous districts, and for these appearances being in 

 such vast numbers, and over such a large extent of country, 

 as to be an amazement to all not acquainted with their 

 habits. Such an attack occurred in June of 1884, in the 

 mountainous part of Glamorganshire, extending over an 

 area of about ten miles of the country lying west of the 

 Ehondda Valey, and such an attack occurred again in the 

 summer of 1885 in Selkirkshire, N.B., destroying in its 

 course some of the hill pastures in Ettrick and Yarrow. 



The above figure gives the size and method of marking of 

 the Antler Moth and caterpillar. With regard to colour, the 

 moths are variable, but may be generally described as having 

 the fore wings of various tints of brown, with somewhat pale 

 or white antler-shaped markings, from which the moth takes 

 its name. The hind wings are brown or greyish brown. The 

 caterpillars are marked with dark brown, and pale streaks 

 running lengthwise ; the head is brown or yellowish. The 

 life-history is stated to be that the eggs are laid by the female 

 moths about the middle of summer ; these hatch in about 

 three weeks, and the caterpillars are then said to hide them- 

 selves by day and feed by night : they live through the 

 winter, and in spring again begin their destructive operations. 

 These continue till about June, when they go down into the 

 ground to turn to chrysalids, from which the moths come 

 out to lay the eggs, as above mentioned, in July and August. 



No detailed reports were forwarded as to the parts of the 

 grass which were devoured by the caterpillars in either of the 

 above attacks, beyond the general fact of the pasture being 

 devoured ; but, with regard to this important point, it is 

 stated, in Curtis's ' Farm Insects,' pp. 500, 507, that " they 



