THE VINE MOTH. 101 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



THE VINE MOTH. 



(Agarista glycine. Lewin.) 



Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Heterocera. Family: Agaristidce. 



This moth, whilst in the larval stage, is one of the 

 vigneron's greatest enemies. 



The eggs, which are deposited on vine stakes and on 

 the vine, and possibly on other small plants as well, are 

 small, but can be plainly seen with the naked eye. 



Professor McCoy, in one of his valuable " Decades," 

 states that there are two or three broods in a year (I 

 fancy there are the latter number at least), as the changes 

 from the egg to the larva and from this to the pupa and 

 perfect insect take but a comparatively short time. We 

 can always reckon on their first appearance when the vine 

 comes into leaf, near Melbourne, towards October; but, 

 in some localities, either earlier or later, according to 

 situation and elevation. 



The first brood generally make their appearance about, 

 as is stated, October, and, after a few weeks, enter the 

 pupa state about the beginning of December, the moth 

 coming out about the end of December, while the larvae 

 descended into the earth, formed their earth-covered 

 cocoons beneath the surface at the end of March, and, 

 according to the same writer, the perfect insect came out 

 on the 18th of May. It will thus be seen how rapidly 

 these insects increase, as the female is known to lay a 

 large number of eggs, and these in turn are hatched very 

 quickly, when they at once commence to tackle the vine 

 leaves, as shown at Fig. 1, feeding and increasing in size 

 with more than usual rapidity. 



The moth, however, may often be seen long before the 

 vines are in leaf, and Dr. Morrison, of East Melbourne, 



