THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XVIIL] JUNE, 1885. [No. 265. 



LIFE-HISTORY OF LIOTHULA OMNIVORA. 

 By George Vernon Hudson. 



The larva of this motli may be found throughout the year on 

 the foliage of various trees, the favourite among the indigenous 

 kinds being the common manuka [Leptosperimim) . In cultivated 

 parts of the country, where a great many of the coniferous pines 

 (Cupressus macrocarjms, Pinus insignis, &c.) have been introduced, 

 it is to be found feeding on these quite as freely as on its original 

 food-plant ; it also shows great partiality for willows. When 

 very young, and probably immediately after leaving the egg, 

 this larva constructs a wide spindle-shaped case, principally 

 composed of silk, only a few small fragments of leaves, <fec., 

 being attached to its outside ; it has a large aperture in front, 

 through which the head and anterior portion of the larva are 

 projected,- and a much smaller one at the posterior extremity, 

 which allows the pellets of excrement to fall out of the case as 

 they are evacuated. The enclosed caterpillar is of a light 

 straw-colour, the head and first three segments being dark 

 brown and hardened, with their anterior margins shining 

 white ; legs brown. The abdominal segments are considerably 

 thickened near the middle of the insect, rudimentary prolegs 

 being present on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th segments of the 

 abdomen. The anal prolegs are very strong, and are furnished 

 with numerous sharp booklets, which retain the larva very 

 firmly in its case. As it grows it increases the length of its 

 domicile from the anterior, and causing it gradually to assume 



ENTOM. — JUNE, 1885. X 



