66 



is the cocoon of Hemeroplnla abniptaria, a spindle-shaped silken 

 construction, usually placed at the junction of the branches of a 

 small tree or shrub, finished off to exactly match the colour, and so 

 placed as to give the idea of a thickening of the branch; as to be 

 quite an inconspicuous object even when the trees are bare of leaves 

 in winter. (See Plate V., fig. 4.) 



Most of the larger sphinges, a few bombyces, and many of the 

 Noctufe and Geometr^e pupate below the surface of the earth, but 

 whether all of them can be said to construct a habitation for the 

 pupa appears to be open to some doubt. Undoubtedly, in some 

 cases, the subterranean habitation is of substantial construction, as 

 in that of C. rerbofici already mentioned ; and if one carefully 

 unearths the pupa of some other species, as for instance Manwstra 

 l>ersicayi(7;, it will be found to be enclosed in a very complete earthen 

 cocoon, but of so frail a nature that it crumbles under very slight 

 pressure. But in the case of some others, such as AiiijiJiidasis 

 betalaria, one may remove the overlying earth Avith the utmost care 

 without being able to find the slightest trace of the cocoon. Yet, I 

 think if one could induce these species that appe'ar to have naked 

 pupie to make up in some visible position, Ave should find that the 

 larva fashions an earthern cell for the pupa, although perhaps of 

 such slight construction that any attempt to remove it would reduce 

 it to powder. 



The micro-lepidoptera provide many examples of highly 

 specialized pupal habitations. Frequently their construction is 

 commenced by the larva in its early life, and used by it during its 

 growth as a protecting envelope, in some cases being adapted, on the 

 larva becoming full-fed, for pupal purposes, while in others it 

 appears to be used without further preparation. Fsiiche rillnsella is 

 a good example. The larva constructs a silken case very early in its 

 existence, and at once adorns it with fragments of Avhatever it may 

 be feeding upon ; as it grows it enlarges its case by spinning more 

 silk and adding more fragments. Although it usually confines 

 itself to pieces of its foodplant, it does not appear to be at all par- 

 ticular as to what substances it works in, as is well illustrated by an 

 experiment carried out by the late Jenner Weir, which I have often 

 heard him refer to with great gusto. Wishing to note exactly how 

 the creature increased the size of the case when necessity caused it 

 to do so, be placed among the heather on which he had a number of 

 larvae feeding, several little torn up pieces of the cover of the 

 " Entomologist," and Avithin a feAv days he found that the lai'vae had 

 added silk to the feeding end of the case, and had Avorked in Avith it 

 several pieces of the paper along Avith bits of the heather, so that he 

 had cases adorned Avith a brilliant orange fringe. When the larva 

 is ready for pupation it attaches the feeding end of the case firmly 

 to the stem of the foodplant, or some other solid object, turns 

 round in the case, and spins a silken tube at Avhat was originally its 

 tail end. This tube closes the end of the case against attacks from 



