Lepidoptera observed in Mhow. 417 



BOTIDID^. 

 Botys molusalis, Walk. 



Mhow, September 5th, 1881. 



Larva feeds on a small nettle-like annual with a soft 

 serrated leaf. It is naked and " maggot-like," body soft 

 and translucent, of a delicate grass-green colour Head 

 black, and black marks on lateral margms ot front 

 thoracic segments. Legs 6, 8, 2. ,.•,., p . u 



The larva rolls over the leaf on which it feeds by 

 attaching cables to the edge of one side, and then to tiie 

 midrib ; on tightening these the half leaf is formed into 

 a tube, the whole operation being earned out m a rapid 

 and very interesting manner. The larva then goes 

 inside the roll, and completes the fortification under its 



^^The pupa is of a chestnut-colour, and is located inside 

 the roll last inhabited by the larva, attached by a caudal 

 ligature. No net is spun around it, nor is it enclosed in 

 any description of cocoon. 



Scopula strenualis, Walk. 



Mhow, August, 1881. 



The larvffi, which are abundant in some situations, 

 feed on the leaves of the common Bambu of India. They 

 bind the two edges of the long acuminate leaves 

 together, or sometimes several leaves m a bundle, thus 

 forming a long narrow cylinder, in which the larva lives 

 and eats. One end of this cylinder is after a time filled 

 with excrement; it is then deserted and a new one 

 made. The larvffi appear to devourthe inner parenchyma 

 and thus preserve the cylinder as a habitation while it 

 also affords food. They are "maggot-like" m appear- 

 ance, smooth, of a greenish yellow colour, and with 

 sienna-red heads. Legs 6, 8, 2. ., n<. t 



On searching many cases on the Bambu tree itself i 

 found two pupai inside one of the cylinders, under a fine 

 network of silk of open texture, and also iastened down 

 by the apex of abdomen. Eyes of pupa black ; body a 



pale chestnut. ■ -u i -i- 



On Sept 7th I removed a number of larvse inhabiting 

 fresh cylinders from the tree (without disturbing them 

 from their habitations), and placed the whole on the top 

 of soft earth, in a box covered with muslin to prevent 



