36 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1907. 



excited his attention, and the following account of the life-history was 

 forwarded : 



u The specimen forwarded is the caterpillar of the Lappet Moth, 

 which has previously been found in the locality mentioned. 



The eggs are laid during July or early in August, on the underside 

 of the leaves of hawthorn, sloe, willow, blackthorn, apple, plum, etc., 

 in groups of twos, threes, and fours, or more. The larvae hatch out 

 in from twelve to fifteen days and feed for a short time. Early in 

 the autumn, however, they make their w r ay down to the lower stems, 

 where they winter. Specimens reared in confinement, measured about 

 an inch in length at this period. With the return of spring they 

 commence to feed again, and when full-fed are nearly four inches in 

 length. 



Pupation takes place from June to August, the dark blackish-brown 

 chrysalis being enclosed in a greyish-brown silky cocoon. In confine- 

 ment I have always observed that the cocoon is large and ill-fitting ; 

 but in nature it is said to be a tight-fitting one. 



The moths appear from June to August. 



Whilst there are cases on record of the larvae of this moth damaging 

 fruit trees, it is scarcely sufficiently common to constitute a pest." 



THE CURRANT OR MAGPIE MOTH. 



Abraxas grossulariata, Steph. 



Very few cases of a serious 

 nature have been reported during 

 the past season. Some few years 

 ago this looked like becoming a 

 very serious pest to gro\vers of 

 gooseberries and currants. Atten- 

 tion was repeatedly called to this 

 FIG. 9-THE CURRANT OR MAGPIE Mo- fact . and full particulars respect . 



ing preventive and remedial measures were sent out to a large number 

 of growers, urging upon them the importance of taking some action. 

 It is sincerely to be hoped that their efforts will not be relaxed 

 now that it has been lessened in numbers. I \vould also, in this con- 

 nection, draw the attention of owners of private gardens to this pest 

 which usually flourishes there. It is quite possible on small areas to 

 effectually eradicate it by hand-picking. 



THE WINTER MOTH. 



Cheimatobia bnnnata, Linn. 



Judging from the decrease in the number of inquiries respecting 

 this insect it would seem to have been less prevalent than in previous 

 seasons. This is no doubt accounted for by the fact that many growers 



