•481 



Cole (A. C.) & Imms (A. D.). Report on an Infestation of Larvae of 

 the Antler Moth {Charaeas graminis, L.) in the Peak District.— J^. 

 Bd. Afjric, London, xxiv, no. 5, August 1917, pp. 514-522. 



Caterpillars of the Noctuid, Charaeas graminis, L. (antler moth) 

 were found in June, 1917, infesting the hill pastures in the High Peak 

 District of Derbyshire. Previous outbreaks have been recorded at 

 some years' inter^'al, chiefly in the northern counties and Scotland, 

 while in Ireland the insect is universally common. During the month 

 of August, female moths may frequently be seen dropping the eggs 

 from their bodies whilst flying, and these fall among the grasses which 

 serve as food-plants for the larvae. Opinions are conflicting as to 

 whether hibernation occurs in the egg or yoimg larval stage, but the 

 caterpillars are generally noticeable about the end of May ; they feed 

 voraciously for about three weeks and then pupate beneath the soil 

 or under slabs of stone, the adults beginning to emerge in July and 

 flying until September. Information with regard to the food-plants 

 of this moth is scanty. In the present infestation the rough grasses 

 were chiefly attacked", though in certain districts better meadow land 

 and even an occasional corn crop was infested, while some of the 

 caterpillars penetrated into gardens. Nardus stricta (bent grass), 

 which forms much of the upland pastures at heights of 750 feet and 

 over, seemed to be the favourite food, while Eriophorum (cotton grass) 

 and other species suffered less severely. The infestation was noticeably 

 heavier as the altitude increased ; in fact, the presence of bent grass 

 and the altitude appeared to be distinct factors in the limitation of 

 the infestation ; the attacks were apparently confined to an altitude 

 ranging from 900 ft. to 1,700 ft. The finer and more succulent grasses 

 in many cases were left for coarser hill pastures adjacent. The 

 caterpillars exhibited no definite migratory instinct, though they 

 were observed to move with surprising rapidity, generally traveUing 

 do\\-nhill ; in some cases they seemed to be searching for fresh areas 

 of grass; in others, they moved through an abundance of suitable 

 grass without stopping to feed. 



Two efficient barriers were found to be water and stone walls : the 

 streams and roadside channels contained vast numbers of dro\\^ied 

 individuals, while the caterpillars seemed unable to chmb the vertical 

 faces of the stones forming the loosely-built walls that are a feature 

 of the district. 



All the natural conditions of the past season have been advantageous 

 to the pest. Plovers and starlings have both been exceptionally scarce, 

 while the unusually severe weather has in all probabihty caused a 

 certain reduction of bird life in general. The late snow on the hills 

 formed a protection to the young caterpillars, while the ground in the 

 spring was so frozen that the reduced flocks of birds could not gain 

 access to them. The burning of the coarser mountain pasture growth 

 has almost been abandoned during the past two years owing to the 

 prohibition of the exposure of lights, and there is little doubt that in 

 past years the custom of burning has been an important factor in 

 destroying the eggs or caterpiUars in March and Aprfl. The long spell 

 of dry weather which followed the emergence of the larvae undoubtedly 

 encouraged development, while the lack of moisture at the same time 

 emphasised the injury to the grasses. 



(CilG) Wt.P.5 131. 1,500. 11.17. B.&F.Ltd. Gp.11/3 a 



