12 HERMINIA DERIVALIS. 



HERMINIA DERIVALIS. 



Plate 0XLV1II, fig. 5. 



On the 5th of August, 1872, some eggs of this 

 species were most kindly sent to me by Mr. W. H. 

 Harwood, who has devoted much time and attention 

 to elucidating its life-history. 



Some of the young larvae hatched on the 6th and 

 devoured their egg-shells, and at first I gave them 

 fallen leaves of sallow and bramble, which probably 

 became too dry, for on the 26th most of them were 

 dead, but the survivors looked healthy. 



The newly hatched larva is about one-sixteenth of 

 an inch long, with a large pale brown head, the body 

 whitish and pellucid, its internal broad vessel of dark 

 brown showing through the skin to the full width of 

 the thoracic segments, and from thence tapering to a 

 blunt point within the tenth segment ; the usual dots 

 are blackish and shining, and bear each a long pale 

 hair. 



By the 26th of August their colour had become 

 rather browner, and a narrow brown plate was visible 

 on the second segment. On the 15th of October Mr. 

 Harwood kindly added to my stock several more of 

 the brood, which had been fed on withered oak leaves. 

 By the time the larva was a quarter of an inch in 

 length the skin was no longer transparent, but opaque 

 rusty brown, assimilating in appearance to the fallen 

 leaves which formed its food ; this dress was retained 

 till after hibernation ; but in May, after a moult, the 

 skin became more velvety, and the colour darker 

 brown. 



Cold weather coming on, I noticed on the 14th of 

 November that they were inhabiting little nooks and 

 corners of the leaves, which they had formed by 

 turning down the edges, and securing by three or 

 four stout silk threads, or else by joining a part of 



