Insects, etc., Injurious to the Strawberry. 447 



by the cold, which only seems to drive them deep into the soil. 

 Nearly every kind of plant is attacked by them (1). 



In 1896 damage caused by them to strawberries was reported 

 from Canterbury. In 1905 they were reported by Mr. Champion 

 as doing much damage to the same plants near Maidstone and also 

 again near Canterbury. In 1907 they were said by a correspondent 

 to be very plentiful in strawberry beds at Warlingham. They attack 

 this fruit plant, first of all, by eating the rootlets, and later they 

 tunnel right up the main roots (Fig. 289) and even into the crown. 

 By so doing they entirely destroy the plants. 



LlFE-HlSTOKY. 



The adult moth appears about mid May and continues through- 

 out June, and may even be found as late as mid July. 



The moth appears on the wing at dusk, especially over grass, 

 clover and herbs, and flies with a curious, pendulum-like movement, 

 especially the male. It darts about with great energy, hence the 

 name Swift Moth. 



The moth (Fig. 288) is very variable in size and colour. The 



[F. Edenden. 



FIG. 290. LARV.E OF GARDEN SWIFT MOTH. 



(Slightly enlarged.) 



length is about ^ inch, and the wing expanse from 1 to 1 inch. 

 The fore wings are pale fulvous brown, with a pale almost white 

 streak running from the base to the inner margin, and this is con- 

 tinued from the inner margin to near the apex ; hind wings pale 

 brown ; abdomen yellowish-brown. In some the white on the wings 

 is almost absent. 



The ova are dark coloured and are dropped by the females 

 during flight upon the ground and may hatch in nine days. The 



