THE DARK-SPOTTED SWIFT MOTH. 73 



CHAPTER LXXVIII. 



THE DARK-SPOTTED SWIFT MOTH. 



(^Porina jusco-maculata, Walk. ) 

 Order: Lepidoptera. Family: Hepialidce 



These moths, commonly known to collectors as 

 "Ghost Moths," or "Swifts," are brown, with spots or 

 blotches of a darker color upon their upper wings, the 

 lower wings being of a lighter brown and without the 

 markings. 



The common species of Porina is well known to most 

 of us as the beast which,, especially on hot, moist nights, 

 and indeed even in the winter, bangs against our 

 windows, evidently attracted by the lights within. 



The eggs of this moth are deposited in many ways ; 

 and, if held in the hand, the female moth will frequently 

 eject the eggs from her body, or in a box when in 

 confinement, as the case may be. The larvae feed upon 

 grass roots, and, Mr. G. Anderson says, upon the roots 

 of reeds as well, and they are not averse to making a 

 meal of any kind of root crop which they may come 

 across. The larvae of these moths feed below ground, 

 frequently in loose, damp soil, where they may tunnel 

 more easily. 



The perfect moths leave the chrysalid stage during 

 spring and early summer ; but, in the dry, hot Murray 

 districts, I have known them to emerge in March, 

 immediately after a thunder-storm being a favorite time 

 of theirs for escaping from the soil. 



Many of the Hepialidce are noted for the most remark- 

 able fungus growth (Cordyceps), which grows from the 

 head portion, or near to it, of the body of the larvae of 



