HEPIALID.E. 157 



instances, casual specimens, ap]5arently of a second gene- 

 ration, have been found in September. 



Larva four-fiftlis of an inch long ; plump, with the skin 

 white and shining ; head and dorsal plate bright brown ; the 

 raised dots pale yellowish-brown, each with a short stiff black 

 hair; spiracles black. (Hellins.) Feeding under ground on the 

 roots of plants, probably grasses, and certainly on those of 

 ordinary meadow plants, burrowing from one to another. 

 July or August to April. 



Pupa cylindrical, of even thickness ; head-case sloping to 

 the mouth, with a small wedge-shaped projection above ; 

 antenna-cases short, prominent ; wing-cases short ; abdominal 

 segments deeply cleft, very movable, five of them having 

 transverse dorsal ridges of sharp projections, and four of them 

 similar ventral teeth. Glossy pale reddish-brown, or brownish- 

 ochreous, darkest on the head and wing-cases ; spiracles and 

 toothed ridges dark brown. In a long narrow cocoon or 

 tunnel, placed vertically or obliquely in the earth, up and 

 down which it travels freely, and rapidly when alarmed. 

 (Hellins.) Before emergence the pupa pushes itself out of 

 the cocoon, or tunnel, and projects above the surface of the 

 ground, and Mr. Fenn records that he has seen the pupte 

 sticking out, in hundreds, from turf, when cut and piled up. 



• An exceedingly swift and active species, flying at earlv 

 dusk, or very often before dusk, in meadows. The appearance 

 of the males is sometimes bewildering, as they thread their 

 way between the tallest grasses and plants at headlong speed. 

 Their time of flight, however, is very short, often not more 

 than a quai'ter of an hour. The female is much less active, 

 remaining, at first, hanging to a grass stem, afterwards flying 

 steadily over the grass and dropping her eggs — which are 

 like tiny globular seeds — as she flies. Both sexes when 

 captured, or frightened, immediately drop down and feign 

 death. 



