THE DARK-GREEN GRASS CATERPILLAR 103 



CHAPTER LXXXIV. 



THE DARK-GREEN GRASS CATERPILLAR. 

 {Oncoptera intricata, Walker. ) 



The larva of this moth is, without a doubt, the most 

 destructive of all grass-eating grubs known to myself. 

 The female moth (see Fig. V) is of a light brown color, 

 mottled with darker markings on the upper wings ; the 

 male (see Fig. IV) being much lighter in color than the 

 female. The larva, or grub, of this moth is of a dirty 

 sap-green color ; is an active beast, making spasmodic 

 jerks when handled. 



The eggs, which I have not seen, are described by 

 Mr. Lea, Government Entomologist of Tasmania, as 

 follows: u The eggs when first laid, and when in the 

 body of the mother, are of a creamy yellow, and briefly 

 elliptic in shape. The shell, under an ordinary 

 microscope, appears to be perfectly smooth. Some time 

 after being laid, they change to a deep glossy black, and 

 slightly diminish in size. So far as I have observed 

 personally, the eggs are laid when the moths are on the 

 ground ; they are laid closely together, in any position 

 where the moths can obtain shelter ; the eggs are in no 

 way joined together. 



The female seems to deposit her centre load in but 

 one or two places ; after the eggs are laid she dies, but 

 her abdomen remains more or less inflated. The 

 abdomen of the female seems to be entirely filled by the 

 eggs, and when full extends beyond the wings for some 

 distance. In the male it either just passes or scarcely 

 reaches the tips." 



In Tasmania the Rev. Mr Thompson states, " that 

 upon examination, one female was found to contain 332 

 eggs ; and the females lay from 500 to 700 eggs each ; 



