GEOMETRA PINIARIA. 



827 



Caterpillar 35 mm. long, with 4 prolegs, smooth, yellowish 

 green, with 3 white dorsal stripes, of which the middle one is 

 broadest, and two broad yellow stripes along the spiracles. 



Pupa&k first green, later bright brown, with sharply-pointed 

 tail. 



I). Life- history. 



The moth flies in May and June. The $ is fond of flying 

 about on sunny sultry days ; its flight is unsteady. The ? is 

 also very active. When resting, the moths have their wings 

 upright, or else half-raised. 



Fig. 166. Geometra piniaria, L. (Natural size.) 

 a Male, b Female, c Caterpillar, d Pupa. 



The smooth, somewhat flattened green eggs are laid in a 

 row (2 12) on Scots pine needles in the crowns of the trees. 

 The caterpillars hatch out at the end of June or the beginning 

 of July, arid are fully grown by October, when they let them- 

 selves down from the trees by threads. If the weather be 

 mild, caterpillars may even be found in December. Pupation 

 occurs in October and November under moss or other soil- 

 covering, or in the soil, usually under the cover of the trees 

 on which they have been feeding, 



The moth emerges in May or June. 



Generation annual. Very common, and widely distributed 

 in pine woods. 



