NOCTUIDAE. 319 



pine-moth, are also useful, as many nun caterpillars spin 

 themselves down or crawl down to the ground. They have 

 such an objection to the grease bands that they sit below them 

 by thousands and die of starvation. 



The collection of eggs, caterpillars, and pupae gives good 

 results only at the beginning of an attack. When the insect 

 appears in swarms, the collection of moths and the use of 

 low grease bands are the most effective measures. High grease 

 bands cost too much. In the case of low grease bands, the 

 undergrowth must be cut and burned, the areas attacked 

 should be isolated by a sufficiently broad grease barrier, and 

 so should intact areas. 



Although the Scots pine is usually first attacked, it does not 

 suffer so much as the spruce, as the stem of the latter bears 

 eggs up to the top and the young caterpillars begin by eating 

 the yearling needles. In the Scots pine they commence lower 

 down with the old needles. The Scots pine is not therefore 

 killed, as long as the year's needles are spared, while the 

 spruce dies if 80 per cent, of the needles are eaten. 



Liparis dispar, L., the gypsey moth, which in Europe attacks 

 all broadleaved trees, was introduced into Massachusetts by a 

 person who wished to interbreed it with a silk-moth. This 

 pest increased in numbers over 350 sq. miles, and became so 

 destructive to trees and crops that the State had to organise 

 measures for its extermination on an immense and expensive 

 scale, 375,000 dollars being spent in 18901894. 



FAMILY IV. NOCTUIDAE (NIGHT MOTHS). 

 Description of Family. 



Moths with long, setaceous antennae, usually covered with 

 fine hairs, and sometimes pectinate in $ ; ocelli present; 

 proboscis long ; wings narrow, during repose roof-like or level ; 

 frenulum present. The markings of the fore- wings are usually 

 characteristic and take the form of three or four transverse 

 lines of which the second from the outer margin is elbowed, 

 and of three spots ; two are situated near the anterior margin, 

 the outer being kidney-shaped (reniform stigma), the inner 

 circular (orbicular stigma] ; the third is elongate, and is 



