Marsh. 229 



still retains the Roman name, being called Cossus ligniperda 

 at the present time ; and that of Cerambyx heros. Which it 

 was we will not attempt to decide. To our modern taste 

 all three perhaps appear equally disgusting. 



Are there any other insects whose caterpillars do damage 

 in this way ? Yes, many. None in Britain are so large as 

 these, but many are even more destructive, owing to their 

 greater numbers. All the Clear-wing moths do damage to 

 trees when in their larval stages. One species bores into the 



FIG. 50. THE WOOD LEOPARD MOTH (Zeuzera pyrina), FEMALE. 



slender stems of our currant bushes, another into the birch, 

 while others attack the apple, pear, alder, oak, willow, 

 poplar, and several other trees. Then the caterpillar of the 

 Wood Leopard moth, whose almost transparent wings are 

 covered with bright metallic, greenish-black dots, does 

 immense damage to trees in our London parks. Almost all 

 the branches that come tumbling about our ears during a 

 high wind are snapped, owing to the damage done by this 

 dreadful scourge, whilst it has been estimated that one 



