35 2 



UTILITARIAN ZOOLOGY 



Butterflies the Whites (Pierida) are only too familiar. They in- 

 clude, for example, the Large Garden White or Cabbage Butter- 

 fly (Pieris brassica), the Small White (P. rap<z\ and the Green- 

 veined White (P. napi). The leaves of cabbages, cauliflowers, 

 turnips, and other cruciferous plants are ravaged by the insatiable 



caterpillars. 



The larvae of many 

 species of Owlet Moths 

 (Noctuida)) under the name 

 of " surface caterpillars ", 

 are responsible for a large 

 amount of damage to various 

 cultivated plants. Notable 

 forms are the Turnip Moth 

 ( Agrotis segetum ), H eart- 

 and-Dart Moth (A. excla- 

 mationis), and Great Yellow Underwing ( Triphcena pronuba). 



Among other species of which the larvae are destructive to 

 ordinary crops may be mentioned Silver -Y Moth (Plusia 

 gamma), inimical to most cultivated herbs ; Cabbage Moth 

 (Mamestra brassica, fig. 1249); Pea Moth (Grapholitha nebri- 

 tana\ the caterpillars of which penetrate the young pods and 

 feed on the immature peas; Grass Moth (Charceas graminis], a 



Fig. 1249. Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicce). i, Adult 

 female, 2, larva; 3, pupa. 



Fig. 1250. Codlin Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella]. Adult female on left, larva in centre, pupa to right 

 (its actual size indicated by a line). 



pasture pest; and Diamond-back Moth (Plutella cruciferaruni), 

 destructive to various crucifers. 



Various trees of economic importance are liable to be attacked 

 by voracious caterpillars. What are known as " worm-eaten " 

 apples, for instance, commonly owe their condition to the larvae 

 of the Codlin Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella, fig. 1250). The large 

 caterpillars of the Goat Moth (Cossus ligniperda) bore great holes 

 in forest-trees, while the larvae of other species ravage their 



