208 



LEPIDOPTERA (MOTHS). 



and banded with black and yellow ; we may see them in almost 

 any garden in July and August, flying lazily about over the 



currant-bushes at dusk. The 

 eggs, which are oblong yellow- 

 ish bodies, are laid upon the 

 leaves. The young larvae are 

 almost black, and go on feed- 

 ing until the foliage gets too 

 dry, when they repair to their 

 winter 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 

 quarter 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 arsenate of lead will keep this pest well in hand. 



Fic. 107.— Live-history of CuRRA^T or 

 Magpie Moth {Alyraxas grossulariaia). 



Microlepidoptera. 



The Microlepidoptera are all small moths, many very minute. 

 The antennfe are thread-shaped. There are two chief sections : 

 (i) Tortricina ; (ii) Tineina. There are several important families, 

 containing some species of economic importance, especially the 

 Tortricida; Carpocapsidn; PliifeJJidn', and Tineidw. The Pyr- 



