CURRANT CLEARWING 



interesting family here. The clear, transparent wings are 

 a characteristic feature. The imago takes at least a 

 couple of years to reach the perfect state, and the larvae 

 pass their time (and find their food) in the branches, 

 roots, and stems of various kinds of woody and other 

 plants. A most interesting point concerning these 

 Clearwing Moths is that it appears certain they all 

 emerge from the pupa during the forenoofi, and that the 

 influence of the sunshine has much to do with this 

 magical transformation. 



The Currant Clearwing, as its name indicates, is 

 partial — when in the larval state — to currant bushes, the 

 larva burrowing into the stem, and doing incalculable 

 damage. Having selected a branch to attack, the larva 

 works its way downwards consuming the pith as it pro- 

 ceeds, and until such time as it becomes quite full-fed, 

 when it makes its way towards the outer edge of the 

 branch, and then pupates. The reddish-brown pupa can 

 be found just beneath the bark of the plant, so that all 

 is ready for the final emergence when the great moment 

 arrives. It is a small moth, the outer margins of the 

 wings being bronze-coloured, caused by orange markings 

 situate between the veins. There are bands of yellow 

 on the dark body, and a tuft of black at the extremity 

 forms a kind of tail. The long legs of these moths, 

 as well as the curious open-work of the fore and hind- 

 wings, are worthy of note. 



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