INSECTS INFESTING CLOVER AND ALFALFA. 



289 



CHAPTER CXCII. 



The Clover-hay Worm. 



[Asopia costaiis. — Fabricius.) 



Order, Lepidoptera ; Family, Pvkai.id.'e. 



[Living in silken tubes in clover-hay ; an olive-brown or 

 dull white sixteen legged-caterpillar.] 



When fully grown these caterpillars (Fig. 281, 1 and 2,) 

 measure about nine lines in length, and shortly afterward 

 assume the pupa form (Fig. 281, 4,)- There are probably two 

 broods in one season, and the last brood passes the Winter in 

 the larva state. In Europe the perfect moth (Fig. 281, 5 and 

 6',) is known as the "' golden fringe ; " it is of a liliaceous or 

 purplish color with a silky gloss ; the front wings are tinged 

 with gray and marked on the front edge with two large, bright, 

 golden-yellow spots, which are narrowed behind into a slender 

 line that extends across the wing ; the hind wings are lighter 

 than the front ones and are crossed by two light straw-colored 

 lines ; all of the wings are margined with deep orange ; 

 expands about ten lines. 



Fig. 281. — Clover-hay 

 Worm ; -/, back view of 

 one of the worms ; 2, side 

 vicAV of the same (both 

 suspended by silken 

 threads) — color, brown- 

 ish ; 7, a worm in its 

 silken tube ; 4, the pupa 

 — color, honey-yellow ; S, 

 the cocoon — color, whi- 

 tish ; 5, the moth with its 

 wings expanded ; 6, the 

 same with its wings closed — colors, gra^dsh purple and yellow. 



The larvae or caterpillars of this moth are sometimes very 

 destructive to clover-hay, especially to that which has stood in 

 the stack for several years. They are most abundant in the 

 bottom of the stack, where the infested hay will frequently 

 be found to be webbed together by the silken tubes which 

 they spin for a habitation in which to dwell. 



