328 



LEPIDOPTERA. 



within a folded leaf or any crevice, the moth appearing in three 

 weeks. We have raised a species of Tachina from the pupa. 

 The vine ghould be showered with a solution of whale oil, and 

 soapsuds, and the plants shaken to rid them of these pests. 

 Herminia differs from Hypena in its tufted fore legs ; the 

 larva is short, slender towards each end, covered with small 

 spots ; it has sixteen legs, and feeds concealed among dry 

 leaves, making a narrow cocoon among them. H. jucchusi- 

 alis Guenee is one of our most common species. 



Pyralis has narrow wings, the fore wings being oblong, with 

 distinct lines, and the palpi are short, ascending. The Meal 

 moth, P. farinalis Harris, is reddish gray at the base and hind 

 edge of the fore wings, becoming more reddish towards the tip, 



with two whitish cross 

 lines, the space between 

 being ochreous. The 

 larva is dull whitish, with 

 a reddish brown head, 

 and having reddish pro- 

 thoracic and anal plates. 

 It feeds on straw and 

 corn, and Mr. Riley has 

 found it feeding on clover. 

 The Clover worm, 

 or Asopia costalis Fabr. 

 (Fig. 251 ; 1, 2, larva in 

 different positions; 3, 7, cocoon; 4, pupa; 5, 6, moth), ac- 

 cording to Riley, " attacks and spoils clover for feeding pur- 

 poses, both in the stack and mow, by interweaving and 

 covering it with abundant white silken webs and black excre- 

 ment that much resembles coarse gunpowder. The parent of 

 these clover worms is a pretty little lilac-colored moth, with 

 wide golden fringes," and has been introduced from Europe. 

 The moths fly late in June and in July, and they creep into all 

 parts of the stack, as the larvae have been found eight feet from 

 the ground, though they are mostly found at the bottom. The 

 larva is three-fourths of an inch long and is dull dark brown, 

 with an olivaceous hue. Mr. Riley thinks there are several 

 broods through the year, and suggests as a preventative to 



