InsecA Pests. 



Befki'.ences. 

 ,1, C,u;,n,tcr, Ci. H. Injurious Insects, etc.. oljsei.ea in Ii-eland during the 



yes. 1906. Eco. Proc. lioyal Dal.Un Society, L, pt. 11, p. 438 (1907). 

 (2) KoIIar. Viiirnit. ■ A Treatise on Insects.' p. 200 (1840). 

 (H) TJnnhal,}, F. 1'. Report on Economic Zoolo-y for tlie year endmg 



April 1st. 1907. p. 2.5 (19071. 



THE DECEMBER MOTH. 



(I'nri/ordinpn jiojrn/i. Linn.) 



The. natural food plants of this insect in its caterpilhir stage are 

 pophir, lime, oak, ehn, birch, sallow, elder, ash, aspen and whitethorn. 

 Carpenter (1) records it on apple in Ireland, from Xewcastle, Co. Clare, 

 ^vhel■e it was very injnrious. 



The moth takes its name from its appearing in Deceurber. but a 

 few may (iften be found in the preceding month. It is a common and 

 widely distributed insect, especially in the :\Iidlands and the south 

 and west of England. 



LlFE-HlSTOIiY, HAlilTb, Kxc. 



The moth measures a little over li inch in wing expanse: the 

 fore wings are a dark |:)urple-red, brown to rusty brown, inclining to 



a brighter hue at the inner corner, 

 where it is followed by a wavy 

 buff line and another curved line 

 across the wing beyond the nriddle ; 

 the hind wings are \ialer and show 

 a still paler central stripe. 



In some specimens the ground 

 colour is blaekish-ljrown, and the 

 brighter markings are absent. The 

 thorax and body, as seen in the 

 photograj)!), are robust and hairy. 

 The nioths tly at night in lieceni- 

 ber, and are attracted to light, Jioing frequently found iir hiiuses and 

 village shops. 



The female apparently lays her eggs at night and they do not 

 hatch until the following March or April (Carpenter) [1 ). The cater- 

 pillar is very varialde ; lUickler (2) figures four (piite dilferent fiivms 

 after the last moult. The iK.iriiial ap]iearaiice i.^ as follo\\s : bluish- 

 grey witli a donlile mw of grey, lilack-edi^ed spots along the back.antl 

 a rii\\- of large Wack spots on each side, there are also dashes of 



