oTtee moth. 



13B 



are nearly an inch and a half or two inches long. When full- 

 fed they spin a web amongst the roots on which they have 

 been feeding, and in it they turn to stout, blunt, dark brown 

 pupfe with two rows of spines. 



Otter Moth : 1 and 2, eggs, nat. size and magnified ; 3, caterpillar ; 4, chrysalis ; 

 5, male ; 6, female. 



This change takes place in May, and the moths are common 

 in grassy places about the middle of June, especially in the 

 south of England. 



They are very peculiar in appearance, from the wings being 

 somewhat straight and narrow ; also there is not any great 

 difference in size between the front and the hinder pair. 



The male is about two inches in expanse of the wings, 

 which are white above ; the head, body, and abdomen are 

 pale tawny. The female is about three inches in expanse ; 

 the fore wings are yellow above, with orange markings ; the 

 hinder wings smoky, changing to bright tawny on the hinder 

 margin. 



Prevention and Kemedies. — The injuries occasioned by the 

 larvae of the Ghost or Otter Moth are recorded as being some- 

 times to a serious extent in foreign Hop-growing, but appear 

 to be less prevalent here. 



As the caterpillars feed amongst roots, the best remedy is 

 to examine these carefully, if the plants are found to be flag- 

 ging without obvious cause. From the large size of the cater- 

 pillars they are easily seen, and can be taken out by hand and 

 destroyed ; and if there is reason to suppose they are present, 



