14 Notes on Insects Damaging Sugar Cane in Queensland. 



brownish-yellow semi-circular patch bearing eight long yellow hairs. 

 Length of body, 16 mm. (about f of an inch). The caterpillars are 

 usuall}^ more or less in evidence during stripping or loading operations, 

 being forced at such times to explore the surface of defoliated canes in 

 search of congenial hiding-places. 



Description of Pupa. 



Light yellow suffused with reddish on dorsal surface. Abdominal 

 segments each with a transverse ridge near anterior margin, surmounted 

 by dark-brown spines. Ventral surface light yellow except on head-end 

 and anal segment, which are clouded with reddish, darkening towards 

 extremities. Legs and antenna^ distinctly outlined in light-red, the 

 latter meeting centrally on fifth and sixth segments and projecting 

 slightly beyond wings. Top of head prolonged into a somewhat conical 

 cap terminating ventrally in a short sharp spine. (Plate II., Fig. K.) 

 Eyes black. Anal segment provided with two short dark-red curved 

 spines situated dorsally and directly upwards. (Plate II., Fig. L.) 



Pupation takes place under a silken covering spun by the larva and 

 completely hidden under pellets of its excreta ingeniously fastened to 

 the outside. It is usually concealed between the leaf -sheath and cane- 

 stalk and attached near the base of the former or more rarely to rind 

 close to a node. 



The moth before emerging works the pupa partly out of its cocoon- 

 like covering, leaving half of the broken pupal shell protruding from 

 one end. 



Colouration of Moth. 



Female : — Fore-wings ochreous-yellow, with an elongate purple 

 blotch at base of costa and a large blotch of same colour on apical margin. 

 Hind-wings pale-yellow speckled with gray ; fringes light shining yellow. 

 First few joints of antenna?, upper surface of prothorax, and top of 

 head tliickly clothed with purple scales, which viewed with an ordinary 

 pocket lens are seen to flash with metallic crimson tints. A sort of comb- 

 like ruff of these beautiful scales occurs in front of the head, and they 

 are scattered also over a portion of the blotches on fore-wings. Abdomen 

 golden shaded with iridescent light green. Hind femora densely covered 

 with long golden hairs. Wing expanse, 16 mm. ; length of body, 640 

 mm. (about 14 of an inch) . 



The moth rests by day in a conspicuous position on leaves of sugar- 

 cane, etc., with its wings enfolding tlu^ body, and antennae laid flat on 

 the surface, projecting straight in fi'ont of its head in parallel lines that 

 appear to emerge from the sides of the thorax, this deception being due 

 to a curious disposition of the large, movable, flrst aiiteiiiial joint, which 



