664 TEOCEEDINGS OF THE TIIIED EKTOilOLOGICAL MEETING 



about 50 mm. in lengtli. The duration of the larval stage is about 

 45—50 days. 



Soon after it is full-grown the looper caterpillar goes down to the 

 ground and turns to a blackish pupa buried in the soil about a half or 

 one inch below the surface. This pupal stage is very long and this 

 species hibernates through the winter (from May to the next March) 

 as a pupa. The pupa is dark castaneous, the anal end being strongly 

 curved. The siurface is shining but with numerous fine dot-like sculp- 

 tures. The head bears two small processes below and two conspicuous 

 transverse processes above, which consist of seven tiny tubercles. The 

 wing-sheaths are rather small, reaching to the fourth abdominal segment, 

 the end being sharp. The anal segment bears many small roundish 

 tubercles of which the middle one is large and conspicuously long. It 

 is about 18 mm. long. 



During the day-time the moth sits with outstretched wings flat 

 against the trunk of any tree which may be around its feeding ground. 

 Acacia sp., being apparently preferred. On these the moths congre- 

 gate in crowds, accompanying the large egg-masses, and thousands 

 can thus, during a serious attack, be killed by simply smiting them while 

 in this position. There is only one brood per annum in Taihoku, the 

 caterpillars being active in April, though of course in March or May 

 some caterpillars can be found. 



This insect usually attacks Acacia sp., but it seems occasionally 

 to have attacked tea-plants in some tea-cUstricts. In the years, IHIO, 

 1911, and 1912, however, the damage to the tea-plant done by this 

 looper caterpillar was considerable at Kimpori. When a serious attack 

 commences, the whole of the leaves of the bushes are eaten off, and so 

 ravenous are the caterpillars that Mr. N. Onoda wTote saying that 

 he thought " about five caterpillars would strip a medium-sized bush 

 in a couple of days." They can in fact be heard feeding, when one is 

 standing near, when a bad attack is under way. 



The destruction of the moths or eggs is easy and a most efiicacious 

 remedy. 



No. 42. — Helervsiacedia, Lism. {Okinatva-Riirichirashi.) 

 This handsome moth is commonly foimd throughout the Island of 

 Formosa, but it was not known that the caterpillar attacks tea-plants 

 for a long time. In the year 1910, it was first found on the tea-bush, 

 by the author, and many moths were successfully bred from the cater- 

 pillars in the laboratory. 



