CHAP. CXIII. CONl^FER^. ^BlE^TINiE. 2145 



The caterpillars of Psilura monacha (or the black arches moth) occasion- 

 ally feed upon the old trees of Pinus sylvestris, according to Rossnmssler. 



In the family Lithosiida^, Lithosia aureola feeds upon the yi^bies excelsa 

 and on Pinus sylvestris ; P. complana, occasionally upon the latter ; P. de- 

 pressa, upon the same ; and P. quadra, occasionally on the fir. 



Amongst the jVoctuidce, the most destructive species is the Achatea spreta 

 Fahr. (i/octua piniperda Kob.), a species of considerable rarity in England, 

 which is recorded by the Continental writers as occasionally doing very great 

 injury in the pine forests. It is figured, both in the winged and larva state, 

 by Mr. Curtis {Brit. Ent., pi. 117.); who remarks that the caterpillars, "like 

 those of (Sphin.c pinastri, BupaUu piniarius, &c., are striped in a way to 

 resemble the leaves upon which they feed : they are full grown about the 

 end of June, when they descend into the earth, and become chrysalides ; and 

 the following March the fly appears. At this time multitudes, no doubt, are 

 destroyed by the inclemency of the season, thereby preventing the serious 

 consequences that occur when such a checK is withheld by the great Author 

 of nature, who has protected them with a clothing that has a greater resem- 

 blance to hair than scales, and, no doubt, is better adapted to their wants, 

 since we find the same in many other moths which make their appearance at 

 an early period of the year." Rossmassier gives the old trees of Pinus syl- 

 vestris as the habitat of this species. iVoctua (Dypterygia Steph.) pinastri 

 Lin7i. feeds on several species of Rumex. In the family Geometridae, the 

 Geometra (Bupalus Leach) piniaria Li7m. is a great pest ; and it is fortunate 

 that it is of considerable rarity in this country. The following report, ad- 

 dressed by the inspector of forests at Strasburg to the bureau of the admi- 

 nistration of woods and forests at Paris, and published in Silbermann's 

 Revue Entomologique, will show the extent of damage which this insect is 

 capable of committing: — " At the end of 1822, a malady occurred amongst the 

 fir trees in the Forest of Hagenau, one of very considerable extent, near 

 Strasburg, extending over 7000 hectares. The firs, covering a space of about 

 40 hectares, were at first observed to have their leaves of a yellow colour, 

 and to be dried in their appearance. The cause of this malady was sought 

 for in vain ; but, during the following year, it was so much increased, that 

 more minute researches were made ; and it was at length discovered that it 

 was owing to the attacks of the larva of the moth, which commenced its 

 ravages at the beginning of the month of May, passing from tree to tree, 

 until the mouth of October, when it descends into the ground to undergo 

 its transformations. The trees attacked in 1832 are now entirely destroyed, 

 without hope of future vegetation." Stephens gives ^^bies 

 excelsa and Pinus sylvestris as its habitats. {Illustr. Brit. 

 Ent., iii.p. 147.) Bouche states that the most advantageous 

 means of preventing its attacks is, to hunt for and destroy 

 the chrysalides in the winter, under the moss at the roots of 

 the attacked trees. The caterpillars of EUopia fasciaria 

 (Gedmetra Linn.) and Ther« variata also feed upon dif- 

 ferent species of Pinus ; the latter preferring Picea vulgaris 

 and ^^bies excelsa. De Geer (AThnoires, torn. ii. t. 9. f. 

 10 — 12. has figured the transformations of several small 

 moths, the caterpillars of which feed within the cone of the 

 fir. Phalae'na Pfnea pini Retz., ibid., fig. 14. (fig. 2016. 

 is a cone enclosing two caterpillars j a a representing 

 the excrement ejected from the cone) ; Phalse^na strobi- 

 lorum pini major Retz., ibid., fig. 15. ; Phalaj^na strobi- 

 lorum pini minor Retz., tom. i. pi. 22. fig. 27. ; Phalae'na 

 gemmarum pini Retz. There are several other small 

 moths which are also destructive to the young cones and 

 buds of the fir ; namely : Tortrix Buoliana {Ratzeburg and Rossnmssler) 

 and T. Turionana (genus Orthotae^nia Stephens). Mr. Curtis bred the 

 latter from caterpillars which feed on the shoots of the Scotch pine. Ortho- 



6 z 2 



