LEPIDOPTBRA (MOTHS). 



187 



bodies, are laid upon the currant leaves. The young larvae are 

 almost blaclc, and go on feeding until the foliage gets too dry, 

 when they repair to their win- 

 ter quarters, in the crevices of 

 walls, amongst the dead leaves 

 that collect at the forks of the 

 bushes, and other places ; they 

 are at this time about a quar- 

 ter of an inch long, and dark 

 in colour. As soon as the 

 currants show leaf in the 

 spring, they come forth and 

 commence to feed again, and 

 at this period they do most 

 harm. Eventually, about the 

 middle of June they reach an 

 inch and a quarter in length, 

 and are black and white, with 

 orange markings at the sides, 

 — -the pupal stage lasting until 

 July and August. 



Remedies. — Destruction of 

 winter shelter and early spraying with arsenites will keep this 

 pest well in hand. 



Fig. 85. — Life-history of Currant or 

 Magpie Moth {Abraxas grossulariata). 

 (Nicholson.) 



Microlepidoptera. 



The Microlepidoptera are all small moths, many very minute. 

 The antennae are thread -shaped. There are two chief sec- 

 tions : (i) Tortricina ; (ii) Tineina. There are several important 

 families, four at least containing some species of economic 

 importance — namely, the Tortricidce, Garpocapsidce, Plutellidm, 

 and TineidoB. The PyrcHidm are also included in this group ; 

 they have long and narrow wings, short palpi, and long-pointed 

 abdomen, reaching far beyond the wings. Their larvae are shiny, 



