XVI 



INSECTA : LEPIDOPTERA 



237 



which to conceal itself ; there is also the Woollen Moth 

 (Tinea pellionella), which makes for itself a little case of 

 particles of the material on which it is living, thus rendering 

 its detection difficult until it moves. When full grown, these 

 larvae creep away into a corner, and the larva pupates inside 

 its case, the moth emerging in about three weeks. The first 

 moths of the year appear as 

 early as February, and several 

 successive broods are reared 

 before the winter. Naphtha- 

 lene will drive them away 

 from any material, and cold 

 storage, at about 40 F., will 

 protect furs from their 

 ravages. 



The Leaf -Miners burrow 

 into a leaf, living inside it 

 protected by the upper and 

 lower epidermis of the leaf. 

 The increase in size of the 

 burrow as the larva itself 

 grows can usually be traced. 

 Leaves marked in this way 

 (Fig. 166) are very common, 

 and usually the markings are 

 due to these small Tineids, 

 though they are sometimes 

 caused by certain small beetles 

 and flies. The larva finally 

 makes its way out of the leaf, 

 usually in autumn, and pu- 

 pates in a little cocoon close by (Fig. 166, B). From this 

 there emerges in time the minute moth, which, in the species 

 figured, has a yellowish-red head, bronze-coloured front wings, 

 and narrow fawn hind wings, both pairs of wings being 

 covered with long hairs (see Fig. 166, C). 



The Small Ermines (Hyponomeuta) are little moths with 

 silky white fore wings speckled with black dots, and greyish 

 hind wings. The caterpillars live in large companies pro- 

 tected by a common web, and different species are to be 

 found on many different plants, especially on the apple, 



FIG. 166. 



The serpentine mine of the oak miner 

 larva (Nepticula, ruficapitella) ; B, co- 

 coon ; C, the oak miner moth ; e, the 

 point at which the burrow begins. 



