1900] PITH MOTH. 3 



Moth " caterpillars (those under consideration) work in the pith, but do 

 not iveb the hlossom-huds and leaves together ; and they turn to chrysalis 

 state either in the very short tunnels which they have hollowed out, 

 or at the tip of the workings, probably partly exposed. 



The dates of appearance of the moth of which I have notes from 

 observation in this country are the 8th of July and somewhat before 

 and after. 



The moth is only half an inch or hardly so much in expanse of the 

 fore wings. These are narrow, and to the naked eye appear merely of 

 a somewhat varied black or deep brown colour. When moderately 

 magnified, they will be seen to have a very irregular white streak 

 running along the inner edge of the wing from the base to the ex- 

 tremity, this being of various widths, or liaving two or three branches 

 diverging towards the middle of the wing. The dark part is more or 

 less varied with tawny, and the light with most minute specks of 

 black ; but the great variations of colouring make it almost impossible 

 to describe it serviceably.''' In three specimens which I especially 

 examined, the right and left fore wings varied from each other to some 

 degree in every instance, as seen by a two-inch object-glass. The 

 fringes are grey. The hinder wings are grey, with the fringes paler. 

 The head and face white ; the horns [antenna:) fuscous, with paler 

 rings. The specimens figured, natural size and magnified, at p. 1, are 

 from Pith Moths reared by Mr. 0. E. Janson, F.E.S., from infested 

 Apple twigs. 



In regard to the habits and appearance of the larvm, or caterpillars, 

 the following short note of method of infestation, taken from German 

 observations by Herr Miihling,t is that they hyberuate under the 

 bark of an Apple twig close by a bud. In May they bore onwards 

 into the young growing shoot, and feed on the pith (whence the 

 name of Pith Moth). They also eat iip the middle of the stem 

 beneath the bunch of flowers, and thus cause the budding blossoms 

 to wither and perish, even to the extent of the destruction of the 

 whole bunch. 



This description agrees excellently with the method of injury caused 

 by tunnelling up the soft terminal portion of the shoots, of which I 

 had a most plentiful supply of specimens sent me in the past season ; 

 and also the habit of the caterpillar of turning to chrysalis state either 

 in its burrow or partly exposed at the end of it. And from these 

 specimens I was able to secure a description of the larva, and likewise 



* For minute description of what is considered the ordinary marking, with 

 notes of some differences of colouring, see Stainton's ' Tineina,' pp. 239, 240. 



t See observations by Herr Miihling quoted in ' Praktische Insektenkunde ' of 

 Dr. E. L. Taschenberg, pt. iii. p. 287 ; and 'Die Pflanzenfeinde ' of Herr Kalten- 

 bach, p. 781. 



B 2 



