LEPIDOPTERA. 



119 



second brood nourishes itself upon the excrement of the first brood, which seems 

 to differ in no way from the original wax itself. The moth appears on the wing 

 in May. An illustration of this insect, together with the larva, pupae, and the 

 waxen honeycomb on which it feeds, may be seen on p. 121. Another member 

 of the same family is the oak-tortrix (Tortrix viridana), figured in the annexed 

 illustration. This beautiful little moth, 

 bright green with shining grey hind- 

 wings, may be found flying about in June 

 in swarms in woods where oak - trees 

 abound. The larvae which feed on the 

 leaves, and roll themselves carefully within 

 the folded leaves, are sometimes so numer- 

 ous as to become a perfect pest. Acres 

 and acres of oak-plantation may be seen 

 completely stripped of the foliage, while 

 the green moths flutter about in countless 

 thousands. The pupal-state is passed in 

 a folded leaf or in the chinks of the bark 



or other suitable crevice. The larch-tortrix (Retina buolinana) is a bright, foxy 

 red moth with habits very similar to those of the last-named species. The moth 

 may be seen in July flying amongst the trees in young plantations, and laying 



OAK-TORTRIX IN VARIOUS STAGES OP DEVELOPMENT 



(nat. size). 



1, oak-gall tortrix ; 2, Pupa appearing from the resin-gall ; 3, Glypta resinance, ichneumon ; 4, the larch 

 tortrix ; 4 a, Pupa ; 5, Larva in a larch-bud ; 6, Pupa appearing from gall. (1 and 4a much enlarged.) 



its eggs amongst the buds at the tip of the shoots. The larvae are hatched in the 

 autumn, and commence to gnaw the buds, giving rise to the exudation of resin. 

 A figure of this moth, with its larva and pupa, will be found in the illustration 



