114 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



of E. tithonm taken by Mr. Spindler iu Sussex in 1897 (Entom. xxx. 

 253, fig.). 



Note on Zeuzera eucalypti. — A little while since, on going into 

 my study, I was surprised to see, banging down from one end of the 

 table, what appeared at first sight to be a large spider's web, but on 

 closer examination proved to be a vast number of minute larvte of this 

 moth suspended by tbreads, which from their intermingling had 

 formed a web. I was at a loss for some time to account for the 

 strange occurrence, but on reflection remembered that there was a 

 female moth on a setting-board in the drymg-cage standing on the 

 table, which had laid a vast number of eggs before becoming quiescent. 

 The colour of the larvae was dark fawn, head black, with a few hairs 

 projecting along the sides, and a greater number on the anal segment. 

 Length, 2 mm. They were extremely active, both when making pro- 

 gress on a level surface, and when suspended over the edge of the table 

 and letting themselves down by threads. The larvae live for some 

 three years or more iu the trunks of the various species of Acacia 

 (wattles), and attain to a length of from four to six inches, and as 

 thick as one's thumb ; they are then of a rich cream-colour flushed 

 with pink. By many bushmen they are considered a delicacy when 

 roasted over a fire. It is unfortunate that eucalypti was chosen as the 

 specific name, as the larvae never tunnel in any species of Eucalyptus. 

 Their tunnels commence some distance up the trunk of a tree, and are 

 pushed down towards the roots. Sometimes they extend below the 

 surface of the ground. When a larva is ready to pupate, a large 

 cocoon covered with sawdust-like fragments of wood is formed. When 

 ready to emerge, the pupa works itself towards the opening of the 

 tunnel by means of its strong deflected spines, then pushes itself half 

 out of the burrow. The perfect insect then emerges, generally during 

 the night. The female perhaps remains on the tree-trunk until a 

 male comes along, when copulation takes place. The minute yellowish- 

 white eggs are thrust, by means of the female's long rigid ovipositor, 

 into nooks and crannies in the bark all over the tree. The damage 

 done to the timber of the various species of Acacia is something 

 enormous. It is hardly possible to find a tree that has outgrown the 

 sapling stage without one or more — most frequently more — tunnels 

 formed by the larvfe of this moth. The scarcity of natural enemies 

 accounts for the ravages of these larvae ; there are no woodpeckers to 

 lessen their numbers ; parasitic flies and natural causes are practically 

 the only enemies they have to contend against. Each female lays a 

 prodigious number of eggs. — Frank M. Littler; Launceston, Tas- 

 mania. 



Urticating Effects of Larval Hairs. — I have read with much 

 interest the notes that have appeared from time to time on this subject, 

 but have never until quite recently had any ill-effects from the very 

 many cocoons of all species of moths that I have handled. A few days 

 since I had occasion to move some two or three dozen cocoons of the 

 moth Dacala acuta (one of the Liparidae) from one box to another. 

 Not anticipating any ill-effects, I handled them as freely as is my 

 usual custom. Shortly after I had finished my forearms began to 

 smart and tingle ; on rolling back my sleeves I found them, from 



