October 27, 1870. ] 



JOUBNAIi OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



327 



is, perhaps, tbe freest-rooting Apple known, and yet it does not 

 pay to strike it from cuttings in the usual way, especially by 

 truncheons. This last may be a good way for an amateur, but 

 •will not pay a nurseryman. — John Scott, Merriott Nurseries. 



OCTOBER CATERPILLARS. 



Not all of the caterpillars which hybernate in our oonntry 

 continue to feed as long as leaves remain on the plants or trees 

 to which they are attached. Some withdraw from their food 

 quite early — that is to say, during September, he the weather 

 what it may, and place themselves in the position whioh they 

 -intend to occupy until the face of Nature is again brightened 

 with new foliage. Amongst these is the caterpillar of the ele- 

 gant Geometer called the Grass Wave (Aspilates strigillaria), 

 a species occnrring on heaths in the south of England, and also 

 in Ireland. The eggs are deposited by the parent moth, which 

 is rather a rapid flyer, on or near the common Ling during July. 

 The young caterpillars grow slowly and hybernate before winter 

 arrives at the roots of their food-plant, feeding again in April. 

 When touched or alarmed, this caterpillar falls from its posi- 

 tion, and remains rigid as if dead. It is of a greyish-brown 

 colour, varying in shade, with paler longitudinal stripes faintly 

 marked. The whole body is covered with minute warts, whioh 

 emit bristles; there are two humps on the ninth segment, and 

 two of less size on the tenth ; on the last segment there are 

 two points, just above the anal claspers. The very handsome 

 caterpillar of the Grey Mountain Carpet (Larentia cte5iata) 

 might be found young in October by those who are still making 

 holiday in the north of England and in Scotland ; and as the 

 species is abundant where it occurs, the caterpillar should be 

 more frequently found by observers ; and the plant on which 

 it feeds is not of difficult growth. At this time they are small ; 

 •nor do they move until the spring, resting close to the roots of 

 the Whortleberry or Bilberry; in April they reasoend the twigs, 

 but rest in the day with the head downwards. At night they turn 

 round and feed, becoming soon mature. The body has a few 

 ■small warts on each segment ; the head is of an umber-brown, 

 the general colour being reddish-brown or olive-green, the skin 

 velvety; along the back there is a beautiful series of markings, 

 arranged on seven of the segments, these are in the shape of 

 ■the letter V, the point being towards the head ; on the sides 

 ■of this mark are four parallel lines on each segment ; a fawn- 

 coloured line runs through them all, the remainder of tbe V 

 mark being filled up with rose colour; the lines are pale; 

 there is a fold of the skin above the spiracles which is also 

 pale. The legs are semi-transparent and pinkish. The cocoon 

 is spun up amongst the twigs, and the moth comes forth at 

 midsummer. 



In October we fiud on the common Clematis (Traveller's Joy) 

 the adult caterpillar of the Small Waved Umber (Phibalapteryx 

 -vitalbata). This rests, when not feeding, in a stick-like position, 

 and might easily be passed by as an inanimate object ; but if 

 the plant be beaten into a net or umbrella, the caterpillar falls 

 with the head bent downwards. The whole body is freckled 

 over with warts, not apparently arranged in any method; the 

 head is grey, with two small black spots on the mouth, and 

 lines of the same oolour on the cheeks ; a narrow black stripe 

 extends from the head to the tail, which is interrupted at each 

 segment; the body generally is brown, getting paler towards 

 the tail ; along eaoh side there is a wrinkled fold of the skin, 

 lighter than the ground colour, and partially chequered with 

 ■dark brown spots. This caterpillar becomes a chrysalis ere 

 the winter sets in ; and the moth, whioh appears in June, may 

 be roused from the hedges by day if these be beaten near the 

 food-plant, flying out usually with great rapidity. At night it 

 visits the blossoms in Bearch of honey. Abundant in some 

 places, and scarce in others, is the moth known as the Clouded 

 Magpie (Abraxas ulmata), and the caterpillar is to be found 

 feeding until tbe end of autumn in woods on the yet remaining 

 leaves of the Wych Elm. It is exceedingly torpid in its move- 

 ments. Mr. Greene observes about its habits that " it does not' 

 appear to thrive in confinement. It seems to have the power 

 of prodocing an almost unlimited quantity of silk. When 

 disturbed it drops immediately. Give a tree where it occurs a 

 tap with your stick, and down comes a whole shower of larva?." 

 The head and legs of this creature are deep black ; down the 

 centre of the back runs a black line, edged on each Bide by yellow. 

 Beyond this is another broader stripe of black, then a white 

 line, then another black lioe, and this again repeated. All 

 these are distinctly defined. Just above the spiracles is a yellow 



stripe, enclosing two black spots on each segment. The claspera 

 and under surface of the body are dull yellow. The ohryBalls 

 is to be found sometimes by digging. Some of the small 

 " looper" oaterpillars, which produce the different species of 

 moths commonly called the " Pugs," are yet feeding, and may 

 even be found to the end of the month. All these caterpillars 

 have a general resemblance to each other in their style of 

 markiDg, though every species has its peculiarities, and the 

 genus is also remarkable for the bright hues displayed on the 

 chrysalis, especially as viewed by a moderate magnifying glass. 



What is known as the Edinburgh Pag (Eupitheoiahelveticata), 

 a species confined to Scotland, and unknown in England or Ire- 

 land, is produced from caterpillars which may be found full-fed 

 about this time on the common Juniper. These individuals 

 are rather Bhort and " stumpy," of a grass-green colour, the 

 dark line running down the centre of the back, which is tipped 

 with purple; below this, on eaoh tile, are other lines of a deep 

 green, someiimeB edged with purple ; just above the spiracles 

 there is a wavy line of pale yellow; the head, which is slightly 

 notched on the crown, is of a very deep purple. The moth is 

 on the wing in May, and is very elegantly marked, surpassing 

 many of itB brethren in its display of colours. The caterpillar 

 of the Pimpernel Pag (Eupithecia pimpinellata), dwells on the 

 Burnet Saxifrage, making havoc of the flowers and seeds of 

 this plant. There are two distinct varieties of this caterpillar, 

 which, unlike the last, is long and Blender. One form is green, 

 with three purple lines, two of which are very faint ; along the 

 spiracles a yellowish line, the head and claspers being purple. 

 Upon the back there are a few scattered tubercles. The other 

 variety is of a general purple, with two lines almost black pass- 

 ing along each side of the body from head to tail. Mr. Crewe 

 observes that these caterpillars seek thoBe plants in preference 

 which grow by the sides of hedges. He notes also that they 

 are so infested with parasitic enemies that hardly one in ten 

 attains itB proper growth and becomes a chrysalis. This is 

 placed beneath the surface of the earth. There appear to be 

 two broods produced yearly. 



The extraordinary caterpillar of the Lobster Moth (Stauropus 

 Fagi), though not of very large proportions, may fairly take 

 rank as the most singular in conformation of all British cater- 

 pillars known to collectors. The species derives its Latin name 

 from the Beeoh. yet it seems more particularly connected with 

 the Oak and Birch. It is rare, occurring only occasionally in the 

 south of England, where sometimes an entomologist, taking a 

 survey of the partially bare trees, chances to discover a 

 "Lobster," grotesquely perched on some twig, and is in rapture 

 with his prize, which dies, perhaps, on his hands thereafter, 

 since caterpillar-breeding knows many mishaps. When repos- 

 ing, this oaterpillar throws back the head, and raises the front 

 segments ; the hinder part of the body is also raised, and bent 

 towards the head. This is as large as the three segments 

 behind it ; each division of the segments shows very clearly, 

 and from the fifth to the tenth there are two humps on each 

 segment, decreasing in size towards the anal extremity; on the 

 la«t segment there are two erect rigid horns. The first pair of 

 legs are of average size, the second and third pair are of extra- 

 ordinary length. The colour of the body is a dull brown ; there 

 is a very narrow pale stripe down the centre of the back, with a 

 stripe on each side of it of a black hue ; there are numerous 

 points scattered over the surface, giving the caterpillar a 

 shagreened appearance. Allied to this species, as also belong- 

 ing to the family of the Cuspidates, is the Coxcomb Promi- 

 nent (Notodonta camelina) which feeds upon Oak, Birch, Nut, 

 and other trees. It usually reBts with the anal extremity 

 raised from the surface of the twig or leaf, and if alarmed, will 

 then throw back the head, and open its jaws, remaining in 

 this position for some time. At the tail of this caterpillar 

 are two warts or protuberances, with pink tips, and a little 

 elnster of brietles proceeding from them, and there are scattered 

 black bristles on other parts of the body The ground colour is 

 a pale green, almost white on each side of a stripe which 

 passes down the back from the third segment to the extremity 

 of the body, of a bluish tint, and slender. Near the spiracles 

 there is a series of white spots ; these are connected by a 

 number of very faint lines. The legs and claspers are pinkish. 

 The cocoon is Bpun upon the surface of the earth, composed of 

 a little silk, mixed with particles of earth or dried leaves. A 

 second brood of the Chinese Character (Cilex spinula), feeds 

 upon the Hawthorn in most of our hedges in September and 

 October. The caterpillar of the Pale Prominent (Pilodontis 

 palpina), which ocours full fed now on Willow, Sallow, and 

 Poplar, unlike many of its brethren, has no humps or hairs. 



