3^4 



CHARACTERS OF INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



Fig. 213. — ^Yellow Underwing [TripfuB^ia promtba) 

 I, Caterpillar; 2, chrysalis; 3, adult. 



bucephala); the Pale Tussock- Moth {Dasychira pudibundd); the 

 Lackey [Clisiocampa neustria); and the Oak Eggar [Lasiocampa 

 gziercus). Spinner Moths, however, are best known from the 

 Silkworm Moth {Bombyx mori), a native of China introduced into 

 many countries for the sake of its silk. 



Owlets form the largest group of the Lepidoptera, and include 

 dull-coloured species, with comparatively small fore-wings, each 



of which is characteristically 

 marked with a couple of spots, 

 one round and the other some- 

 what kidney -shaped. The 

 larvae of many species, as 

 "surface caterpillars ", do much 

 harm to crops, and the pupae 

 are found underground, en- 

 closed in earthen cocoons. 

 Common British species are: 

 the Common Wainscot Moth 

 iJLeucania pallens), Yellow 

 Underwing [Triphana pronuba, fig 213), the Heart-and-Dart 

 Moth {Agrotis exclamationis), and the Silver Y [Plusia gamma). 

 Loopers are moths of slender build, with broad thin wings and 

 small antennae. The caterpillar has but two pairs of pro-legs, 

 placed right at the posterior end of the body, and this necessitates 

 a curious mode of locomotion, which gives the name to the group. 

 The body is stretched out to its full length, and then, while holding 

 firmly by means of its three ordinary legs, the pro-legs are brought 

 up and fixed close behind them, the body being thus thrown into 

 a loop. Now, holding firmly by the pro-legs, the body is stretched 

 forwards, and the ordinary legs attach themselves again. By 

 repeating these manoeuvres the caterpillar can move rapidly along 

 in a curious looping fashion. When at rest the larva has a curious 

 habit of attaching itself by the pro-legs, and stretching out the 

 body at an angle to the surface of attachment, at the same time 

 stiffening itself. This position can be retained for hours, and 

 the caterpillar looks so like a short bare twig that it is rendered 

 extremely inconspicuous to its enemies. Common British species 

 are: the Brimstone Moth [Rumia cratcsgata), the Magpie or Cur- 

 rant Moth {Abraxas grossulariata), the Winter Moth {Cheimatobia 

 brumata), and the Chimney Sweeper {Tanagra chcerophyllata). 



