100 Butterflies and Moths [CH. 
a simple feeler, whereas that of the male is toothed. 
They are usually to be found in June, July and August. 
The eggs are laid on cultivated plants or weeds near 
the surface of the ground. The caterpillars are of a 
dull colour, either brown or greyish, and consequently 
are hard to find. They are cylindrical and apparently 
smooth, having, however, a few hairs which arise from 
small black spots on the body. When fully grown they 
are about an inch or more in length. They possess 
three pairs of jointed legs, four pairs of false legs in 
the middle of the body and a pair of false legs at the 
hind end. 
They usually live through the winter and continue 
to feed on roots except in cases of hard frost. At the 
end of the following spring they change into smooth 
brown pupae. These may be found in small oval 
spaces which the caterpillars make in the soil. The 
moths come out about a month after the pupae are 
formed. 
Remedial Measures. 
Our knowledge of the life history of this pest 
should help us in finding the best: means of keeping it 
under control. The pupae are formed in the soil 
when a crop is growing and consequently are not 
readily attacked except by the usual practice of hoeing. 
As the moths themselves are attracted by light it was 
thought that use might be made of trap lanterns. 
This however did not prove a success and is rather 
expensive as the period of hatching is long. We must 
then turn our attention to the destruction of the cater- 
pillars themselves. 
They are difficult foes to combat owing to their 
