LEPIDOPTERA. 



279 



FlG. 329. — Diastictis ribearia. 



when full grown. It spins a rather dense, spindle-shaped 

 cocoon within a cluster of leaves. The moth (Fig. 328) is 

 ochre-yellow with a reddish tinge. The wings are shaded 

 towards the outer margin with brown, and are thickly spotted 

 with small brown dots. 



The Currant Span-worm, Diastictis ribearia (Di-as-tic'tis 

 rib-e-a'ri-a). — There are several species of insects that are 

 popularly known as currant- 

 worms. The most common 

 of these are larvae of saw- 

 flies, which can be easily 

 recognized by the large 

 number of prolegs with 

 which the abdomen is fur- 

 nished. In addition to the 

 saw-flies there is a yellow 



looper spotted with black, which often appears in such great 

 numbers on currant and gooseberry bushes as to suddenly 

 strip them of their foliage. This larva has been named the 

 Currant or Gooseberry Span-worm. When full grown it 

 measures about one inch in length, and is of a bright yellow 

 color, with white lines on the sides and with numerous black 

 spots and round dots. It has only four prolegs. There is 

 only a single brood; the larva matures in May or June; the 

 pupa state lasts about a fortnight ; the moth flies during the 

 summer months and oviposits on the twigs of the plants ; 



and the eggs remain un- 

 hatched till the following 

 spring. The moth (Fig. 

 329) is pale yellow, with 

 the wings marked by ir- 

 regular dusky spots, which 

 sometimes form one or two 

 indefinite bands across them. 

 f.g. ^.-ant-ma catenaria. The chain-dotted Geom- 



eter, Cingilia catenaria (Cin-gil'i-a cat-e-na'ri-a). — This moth 



