32 



Insect Pests. 



Tonge. 



dark central depression, and are 

 readily seen on the shoots. About 

 the end of April they hatch out. 

 The young caterpillars are quite 

 dark at first and somewhat hairy. 

 Very soon they commence to form 

 a web of fine silk, enclosing a few 

 leaves, and beneath this they con- 

 tinue to feed for some time. As 

 they grow, the silken house is 

 enlarged until it may reach over a 

 foot in length. At first the larva 1 

 seem to feed entirely under the 

 tent, but as they grow they spread 

 out over the trees and feed upon 

 the foliage, returning to their web 



FIG. is. FEMALE AND MALE LACKEY MOTHS, at night and in dull wet weather. 



They become brilliant coloured 



as they grow, being bluish-grey, with two black spots on the 



segment next the head and also two on the bluish-grey head ; three 



orange -red stripes run 



along each side, and be- 



tween the two lowest of 



these is a broad blue 



stripe with little black 



specks, these brilliant 



lines being separated by 



black and black spotted 



with blue ; a pure white 



line runs down the back, 



with a narrow dark line 



on each side. The whole 



larva has upon it rather 



rusty hairs, which are 



darker above than at the 



sides. When full grown 



the caterpillar reaches 



1 inch in length. On 



warm days they may 



often be found in batches, 



several lying parallel to 



one another, either on 



[Horace Knight. 

 FIG. 19. CATERPILLAR OF LACKEY MOTH. 



(Xot quite full grown.) 



