40 DEATH'S HEAD MOTH. 



Of this Mr. Bairstow mentioned : " This butterfly is 

 common in gardens nearly all over Eastern Province. 

 The larva used to swarm in my garden at Uitenhage 

 (1880-1) on fennel, and the perfect insect was one of the 

 commonest butterflies. From the conspicuous character 

 and size of larva it is easily eradicated temporarily by 

 picking. It prefers fennel to orange." 



The following observation was also forwarded from 

 Mr. de Witt Meulen, of the Winterhoek : " The larvae 

 appear generally at the end of November or beginning 

 of December, on the leaves of orange trees. The spots 

 on their green bodies are modified by age. If touched 

 they emit an odour acrid and very pungent, withdrawing 

 their feelers at will. They are generally in greater 

 number on trees the lower branches of which are allowed 

 to trail on the ground, and if not disturbed may in that 

 case destroy all the leaves. 



" It is advisable to cut all branches of shrubs under 

 one foot above the ground ; to turn as often as possible 

 the soil within a circle of one foot from the trunk, 

 keeping it moist, and to watch for the grubs during the 

 summer season, inspecting the leaves daily when they 

 are attacked, and killing the pest before injury is done 

 to the tree." 



FAM. SPHINGID^E. 

 ACHKRONTIA ATROPOS, Linn. (Fig. 19.) 



Sphinx atropos, Linn. Syst. Nat. (x.) i. p. 490. 

 A. atropos, Ochs. Schmett. Eur. ii. 231. 



Moth injurious by stealing Honey, caterpillar by 

 feeding on various kinds of Leafage. 



Whilst these pages were going through press I received 

 a note from Mr. S. D. Bairstow, of Port Elizabeth, 

 suggesting that amongst the injurious insects of Cape 

 Colony it would be well to mention the " Death's Head 



