INSECTS. 149 



insects are chiefly found on dry high-lying land, which 

 is consequently most liable to the attacks of their 

 larvse. After hybernation they feed on grass or the 

 leaves and stems of young grain-plants, and change in 

 the soil into stout, smooth, yellowish-brown pupae, 

 devoid of cocoon. Remedy : In case the caterpillars 

 have got into the crop, threshing should take place 

 as soon as possible, or, after hybernating, they will 

 continue to devour the grain in the barns. 



The Wheat-haulm Moth (Luperina didyma). 



Moth: Span ofwingl^ inches. Individual specimens 

 differ very much from one another : brownish, greyish 

 yellow to ochre yellow, with various dark and light 

 markings. Caterpillar : With sixteen legs, and over 

 an inch long in full-grown specimens (May) ; thin, 

 spindle-shaped ; stiff ; bright shining green, with two 

 broad dark red lines on the back. The caterpillars 

 live in the stalks of wheat-plants, and other gra- 

 mineous forms, hollowing them out ; they hybernate 

 when tolerably young. In spring they continue to 

 hollow out the wheat plants, going from one stalk to 

 another. The plants attacked quickly have their 

 leaves turned to a rusty colour, and they sicken or 

 even die. 



The Grass Moth {Charceas graviinis). 



Moth : Length | of an inch ; span of wings about 

 1^ inches. Antennae of the male comb-like. Fore wings 

 short, of a brownish-red, olive-brown, or dirty olive- 

 green ground colour, with three whitish patches, and 

 darker markings. Hind wings yellowish grey, brighter 

 at the roots. Caterpillar: With sixteen legs; If 

 inches long ; bronze grey, back more of a bronze brown, 

 with three narrow bright longitudinal streaks. Head 

 ochre yellow. The moth lays her some two hundred 



