CHAPTER VII 



THE ARBUTUS CATERPILLAR 



I HAVE not found many species of urtica- 

 ting caterpillars in the small corner of my 

 investigations. I know of two only : the Pine 

 Caterpillar and the Arbutus Caterpillar. The 

 latter belongs to the genus Liparis. His 

 Moth, who is a glorious snowy white, with 

 the last rings of the abdomen bright russet, 

 is very like Liparis auriflua, FAB., from whom 

 she differs not only in size she is smaller 

 but, above all, in the field of operations se- 

 lected by her caterpillar. Is the species class- 

 ified in our lists ? I do not know ; and really 

 it is hardly worth while to enquire. What 

 does a Latin name matter, when one cannot 

 mistake the insect? I shall be sparing of de- 

 tail concerning the Arbutus Caterpillar, for 

 he is far less interesting in his habits than the 

 Pine Processionary. Only his ravages and his 

 poison deserve serious attention. 



On the Serignan hills, sunny heights upon 

 which the Mediterranean vegetation comes 

 to an end, the arbutus, or strawberry-tree, 

 150 



