338 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



against enemies. Some other geometer moths exactly resemble dry 

 twigs). In time the larva spins a thread by which it lets itself down to 

 the ground and passes into the pupa stage underground. 



Another very familiar geometer is the Currant Moth {Abraxas gros- 

 sidariata), also called "the harlequin" on account of its motley dress 

 of black, white and yellow. The caterpillar is similarly coloured, and 

 lives specially on gooseberry and currant bushes (hence name). 



B. MlCBOLBPIDOPTEKA. 



The Codlin Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella). 

 ■ (Breadth \ to J inch.) 



The " fruit maggot," which is the cause of apples and pears becoming 

 worm-eaten, is the larva of a small moth which flies in June and July. 

 In the daytime it cannot be seen among the scales of the bark owing to 

 its obscure coloration (fore-wings bluish-gray, with a dark gold-striped 

 spot on the outer surface ; hind-wings lustrous brown). In the evening, 

 however, the moth flies abroad and deposits its eggs — a single one on 

 each fruit — on apples and pears. The escaping larva (why is it neither 

 a maggot nor a worm ?) eats its way into the fruit, the pips of which 

 form its favourite food. At the time the fruit begins to ripen, the larvae 

 commence to spin a thread by which they let themselves down to the 

 ground, where they go in search of a suitable domicile — preferably 

 between the scales of the bark — for the winter. The cautious fruit- 

 grower, however, removes these scales and catches the larva as it climbs 

 up the tree, by rings of a sticky composition daubed round the trunks, 

 or under pieces of rags, in which the larvae are fond of hiding themselves. 



In stone fruits we meet with the larva of a closely- related insect, the 

 Plum Moth (Graptolitha funebrana), and in green peas that of another 

 species, the Pea Moth (G. dorsana), both of which resemble the codlin 

 moth in their mode of life. The Grape Moth (Conchylis ambiguella) is 

 a perfect scourge in vineyards. The larva, which is incessantly pursued 

 by the ladybird, destroys the blossoms of vines ; in this condition it is 

 known as the hay-worm. It also attacks the berries, which then turn 

 sour, for which reason the larva is now called " sour-worm." The larvae 

 of many species in this division of Lepidoptera are called rollers, because 

 they roll together the leaves and other portions of plants, in order to 

 hide themselves. 



To the Microlepidoptera belongs also the great host of small moths 

 called Tineidse. The most familiar of these is the common Clothes 

 Moth (Tinea pellionella), the larva of which lives on hairs and wool, out 



