44 PYRAUSTA PUNICEAUS. 



present year or until the May brood of next year we 

 have not, of course, yet the power of deciding. 



The full-grown larva is a little more than five- 

 eighths of an inch in length (perhaps it grows longer 

 when at large, for all the moths we bred were small, 

 showing that our larvae had not attained full develop- 

 ment), stoutest at the eighth, ninth, and tenth seg- 

 ments, thence tapering rapidly to the tail, and more 

 gradually to the head, which is the smallest segment ; 

 the colour is a dull green on the back, the dorsal line 

 being of the same, only marked off with edgings of 

 yellow ; the spiracular stripe broad and yellowish, 

 with a faint greenish line through it ; the head and 

 second segment pale brownish freckled with black ; 

 below the spiracles is a double greenish line ; the 

 belly is pale yellowish ; all the usual dots are distinct, 

 being shining black and narrowly ringed with yellow ; 

 when full-fed the larva becomes pinkish. 



There seems to be a variety which is all over pale 

 greenish, with no darker stripes or lines, and another 

 which has a pale blotch of yellowish ground colour on 

 the back of the twelfth and thirteenth segments. 



The pupa is cylindrical, slender, with the abdomen 

 ending in a flattened blunt projection, beset at right 

 angles with some curled-topped spines. (John Hellins, 

 14th July, 1874; E.M.M., August, 1874, XI, 66.) 



On the 30th of August, 1881, I received from Mr. 

 Wm. Jeffrey a few eggs of Pyrausta punicealis laid on 

 leaves of Origanum vulgare. 



The egg is elliptical, finely ribbed, and glistening, 

 of whitish colour, turning to a light flesh-colour with 

 brownish spot before hatching. 



Two or three eggs hatched while coming to me, 

 others on the next day and the day after that. 



The newly-hatched larva is of a slight greenish- 

 white colour; the head darkish reddish-brown and 

 glossy ; no plate visible of any colour but that of the 

 body, which shows a rather darker internal vessel 

 through the skin, which, with the head, is glossy. 



