LEPIDOPTEEA. 



275 



When at rest, its wings are folded back one over the other like 

 a roof. Its flight is of short duration, contenting itself with 

 going from one vine stock to another. 



It is at sunset mostly that you see the moths of the pyralis 

 fluttering about. They remain quiet during the day, particularly 



Fig. 287. The Vine Pyralis. 



Fig. 288. -Caterpillar of the Vine 

 Pyralis. 



when the sun is at its hottest. They live on an average for ten 

 days. The females lay their eggs which are at first green, then 

 yellowish, then brown on the lower surface of the leaves. 



The caterpillar of the pyralis (Fig. 288) is called in vulgar 

 parlance, according to the different places it is met with, vine 

 worm, summer worm, vintage worm, shell. In the south of France 

 it is called in the patois of Languedoc, babota. Almost immediately 

 after they leave the eggs, the little caterpillars hide themselves in 

 the fissures of the vine stocks or the props which support them. 

 They spin for themselves a small 

 cocoon of a greyish silk, in which 

 they remain curled up till the month 

 of May. From the moment the leaves 

 begin to develop they throw out threads, 

 here and there, entangling all the Fi g- 289.-chrysaiis of the vine Pyralis. 

 young shoots of the vine, which gives a desolate appearance to 

 the vineyards. The leaves of the vine are their favourite food, 

 but they attack the seeds of the grape also. It is said that in 



T2 



