MEAL AND TABBY MOTHS 115 



called the "Small Tabby" (A. cuprealis}. It is paler 

 than the common species, especially in the hind wings. 

 Its habits are very similar to those of the insect already 

 described, and it occurs in similar situations, where, like 

 its congener, it feeds on vegetable refuse. This must, 

 however, not be too dry, or the larvae become smaller and 

 appear half starved. Too much moisture, on the other 

 hand, would generate mildew, which would be equally 

 harmful to health. The duration of the life of this 

 insect is uncertain ; sometimes it completes all its 

 changes in a twelvemonth, but more frequently it pro- 

 longs them over a period of two years, the excess of time 

 in the latter instance being caused by a longer larval 

 existence, the egg and pupa stages lasting for the same 

 time in both cases. 



