894 



CLOVER HAY-WORM. 



is purple, with a silken lustre. There are two bright yellow 

 spots on the primary wings. The posterior wings are lighter 

 in color than the primaries. All the wings are margined with 

 orange, which terminates with a glossy yellow fringe. They ex- 

 pand about 2 cm, or .8 of an inch. 



In Fig. 146, 1 and 2 shows 

 the larvae suspended by 

 threads ; 3 represents the 

 cocoon; 4 the chrysalis; 5 

 moth with wings spread ; 6 

 moth at rest; and 7 larva 

 concealed in a case of silk 

 which it has spun. 



These moths are attracted 

 by lights, and are often seen 

 about our lamps in mid-summer. The eggs are laid on clover. 

 The larvas work in a silken case, and so often fairly mat the hay in 

 one great mass. The larvae attract attention in summer working 

 upon the hay, but more usually in February and March, when 

 stacks and mows of clover may be fairly alive with Itu'vse. These 

 often crawl far into the stacks, where they are protected from 

 cold, and so are sometimes said to bear a zero temperature with- 

 out becoming dormant, though the truth is they have had a 

 warm nest. I have seen them drop from a mow suspended by a 

 silken thread, so thousands could be swej^t away by one stroke of 

 a rake. They often leave stack or mow and seek some concealed 

 place in which to pupate. 



It is probably true that leaving clover hay in mow or stack 

 year after year will promote the rapid increase of these pests. 

 Feeding out all the hay each winter would be a wise precaution, 

 or if any hay is to remain over let it be other than clover. 



Of the many other species mentioned at the beginning of this- 

 article none are as yet sufficiently important to demand full de- 



