LEPIDOPTERA (MOTHS). 185 



body up as they progress. When stationary they are attached 

 by the anal prolegs, generally with the body straight out. 

 They often assume the colour and appearance of the stems 

 and leaves they are found upon : this protective coloration is 

 so far carried out in some species as to render them almost 

 indistinguishable. Doubtless this mimicry is to protect them 

 from their enemies, birds and the parasitic Ichneumon ilies. 

 The moths have slender bodies and large delicate wings, often 

 beautifully coloured. The pupaj are found both under and 

 above ground, and may or may not be covered with a case 

 of silk. Most Geometers are crepuscular, some fly during the 

 day. They are mostly light bodied, and sit with their wings 

 extended in repose, a few with the wings erect lil5;e butter- 

 flies. Many are extremely injurious to fruit-trees, of which 

 the following are the most important. 



The Winter Moth {Oheimatobia hrumata). 



This and the closely related Mottled Umber Moth {H //hernia 

 defoUaria) are often a serious trouble to fruit-growers. The 

 larvaj devour the leafage and blossom of the trees. An orchard 

 attacked by these pests presents a scorched appearance, the 

 leafage in some cases being completely stripped, as bare as in 

 winter. The female Winter Moth is nearly wingless, and, to 

 lay her eggs, has to ascend the trunk of the tree on hatching 

 from the pujja in the ground or amongst the grass beneath 

 the trees. The male is winged, about an inch and a quarter 

 in expanse, brownish-grey with wavy brown lines across the 

 front pair. They fly about at dusk, sometimes carrying the 

 female in njpidd to the boughs to deposit her ova. Tliey are 

 called " Winter Moths " because they appear during the cold 

 months of the year, from October to December. The green 

 looper-larVcB hatch from the ova in the s])ring about the time 

 the buds burst, and devour buds, leaf, and blossom, sometimes 

 even the fruit. They pupate in and on the ground when 



