xxiv European Bvti^erflies axd Moths. 



Thus, tliose of the genus Epiicstia hvc on dried fruits, and those of Pyralis Fariiialis, Tinea 

 Graiiclla, Gdcdiia Ccrcaklla, and several others on corn, &c. Tiiat of the Tabby Moth {Aglossa 

 Pinguiiialis) Hves on fatty matters. The Clothes Moths, which chiefly belong to the genus Tinea, 

 infest our dwellings, and destroy textures of all kinds, both animal and vegetable, but chiefly the 

 former, such as cloth, horsehair, feathers, &c. There is one small family of moths, the GalleridcB, 

 whose larv.TE feed on wax, and often commit great ravages in bee-hives by devouring the combs. 



A few larvs are directly injurious to man. We have no European species which are furnished 

 with a regular stinging apparatus ; but the hairs of many larvse belonging to the Bonibyces, such as 

 those oi Lasiocainpa Rubi, and the Brown and Gold-tail Moths, are capable of giving rise to painful 

 itching and irritation on the human skin. But this is not to be compared with that caused by 

 the hairs of the Processionary larvae, which are very loosely attached and studded with exceedingly 

 fine and recurved hooks, and cause violent inflammation on the skin of rnen and animals, partly by 

 thus adliering to it, and partly in consequence of a fine dust with which they are covered. On this 

 account the neighbourhood of the nests of these larvae, which arc intermingled with these hairs, 

 is dangerous, for the surrounding air is filled with loose hairs and dust, which are liable to be 

 inhaled, and to give rise to internal inflammation and swellings, which have sometimes caused 

 death. The inflammation caused by the hairs of larvae may be relieved or averted by rubbing 

 the skin with oil. The larvae of Aglossa Pinguinalis, mentioned in the last paragraph, have 

 occasionally been swallowed, and have proved a highly injurious casual parasite. 



The enemies of Lepidoptera and their larvje are very numerous, and they are exposed to many 

 dangers. Insectivorous birds destroy immense numbers ; and one reason why our crops suffer 

 much less than those of the Continent from the attacks of insects is due to small birds being 

 more numerous with us than in countries where they are destroyed wholesale for food, as is 

 the case in Italy, for example. The mischief caused by birds to the farmer and gardener is 

 insignificant compared with the service which they render him in this manner. But Lepidoptera 

 have many enemies even among other insects. Spiders and dragon-flies prey upon them in the 

 perfect state, and the large carnivorous beetles devour their larvae. But there are many ichneumon 

 flies and two-winged flies which are still more destructive to them. These either lay their eggs 

 in the larvae of Lepidoptera by means of an ovipositor, or attach them to their skin. Some even 

 lay their eggs in those of butterflies or moths. When the parasitical larvae emerge from their 

 eggs they pierce the skin of their prey, if not already safely lodged beneath it, and begin to feed 

 upon the fatty portions, out of which the perfect insect is to be developed, avoiding the vital 

 portions of the larva, which either lives till it is about to assume the pupa state, and then dies, 

 or dies as a pupa. The parasites either change to pupae within the empty skin, or emerge from 

 it and spin their own small cocoons round it. Some of these parasites deposit but one c^^ in a 

 larva, while others lay a considerable number; and it sometimes happens that when a larva only 

 nourishes one or two of those of an ichneumon, which usually infests it in numbers, it may 

 nevertheless arrive at maturity, though more or less crippled. Thus, a case is on record where 

 a specimen of Pieris Brassicce was bred, with two of the small cocoons of an ichneumon fly rolled 

 up in its wings. Ichneumons are, however, not the only Hymenoptera which destroy the larvae 

 of butterflies and moths. Various species of sand wasps provision their nests with them, first 

 crippling them in such a manner with their sting as to render them unable to move, while they 

 continue to live in this torpid state till the eggs which have been deposited with them hatch, and 

 they are devoured by the larvae of the wasps. The countercheck of such enemies is usually 

 sufficient to keep the ravages of Lepidopterous larvae within boundsj and to set a limit to their 

 further increase whenever they become inordinately numerous. 



