PINE OWLET-MOTH. 213 



of a few dirty yellow threads spun between bark-fissures on the lower part 

 of the stem, among foliage on branches and twigs, or on underwood and 

 brushwood. The moths fly late in July or early in August, and the 9 

 lays about 150 bronzy mother-of-pearl eggs in one or more clusters under 

 bark-scales, lichen, &c. Though fully formed in 4 weeks, the larva hiber- 

 nates within the shell, and hatches out in April or May, the young cater- 

 pillars remaining for several days in clusters, then scattering and ascend- 

 ing to feed on the foliage. Spruce foliage they devour entirely, but on Pine 

 they bite through the needle about half-way up, and eat only the remain- 

 ing lower part. The caterpillars moult 4 times, and until half -grown spin 

 gossamer threads to let themselves down to the ground. They feed till 

 late June or early July, when they descend in masses from the stems 

 to pupate under bark - scales, or on the undergrowth, &c. The most 

 efficient exterminative measure is therefore grease - banding stems with 

 patent tar (Fig. 36, p. 189). 



The Satin moth, Liparis salicis, has a wing-span of 2 in., white lustrous 

 wings, and legs ringed black and white. Caterpillar If in., grey, with 

 yellow- white dorsal spots, small red warts, and light-brown hairs. The 9 

 lays about 150 eggs in June and July on bark or leaves of Poplar and 

 Willow, and covers them with a white skin. Some caterpillars hatch out 

 in autumn, others in spring ; and they pupate in May or June loosely at- 

 tached to twigs or leaves. Vapourer moth, Orgyia antiqua, wing-span 

 1 to 1| in.; <J rusty -brown, with 2 dark transverse bands and a white 

 moon-spot on each fore-wing ; 9 yellowish-grey, with wings aborted into 

 white stumps. Caterpillar ashy-grey with yellowish hairs, velvety-black 

 head and carmine warts, with 2 long black hair-tufts behind its head, 

 and other 2 on fifth segment projecting at right angles from sides, and 

 1 erect on eleventh segment. Moth flies in August and September, and 

 lays about 200 eggs on the nest from which it has emerged. Some larvse 

 hatch out in autumn, but most in spring, when they feed on the buds and 

 foliage of Willow, Spruce, and Pine before pupating in June or July for 

 about 6 weeks. 



B. OWLET- or NIGHT-MOTHS (Noctuidce). 



* The Pine Beauty or Owlet-moth, Trachea piniperda, lives mostly in 

 Pine-woods 20 to 40 years old, and in warm dry weather may become a 

 very serious pest. 



The <J and 9 moths are about same size (wing-span If in.) and similarly 

 marked ; but antennae of <$ more feathered, and abdomen of 9 rather 

 thicker ; fore-wings and upper part of body brown-red spotted with white 

 or marbled with grey, and the large lower spot on each wing forms a 

 crescent pointing downwards when moth is at rest ; the hind-wings and 

 abdomen dark-grey brown, wings with lighter edge. Caterpillar 16-legged, 

 1^ in. long, with a brown head, has very few hairs, and is yellowish-green, 



