THE INSECT WORLD. 



and the Western plains generally. This caterpillar, at first sight, 

 resembles one of the Noctuids very closely, and is of a beautiful, 

 quite unusual, bluish tint. The moth expands nearly two inches, 

 and is, perhaps, the largest of those belonging here. It has the 

 peculiar habit of laying its eggs one upon the other in a pile 

 which mimics the spines on the cactus leaves ; so, unless carefully 

 sought for, they are easily overlooked. We find also in this 

 group of variable habits a species that is carnivorous, LcBtilia 



Fig. 359. 



An egg-stack of Melitara prodetiialis. —Smglo. eggs shown at c. 



coccidivora, which, as its name indicates, feeds upon scale insects. 

 Unfortunately, it is altogether too rare to be of any practical use, 

 and is simply a curiosity, the carnivorous tendency in the Lepi- 

 doptera being extremely rare. 



Ephestia kuhniella is another troublesome species, commonly 

 known as the "Mediterranean flour-moth." It is sometimes 

 abundant in barns and mills, and, especially in the latter, may do 

 much injury. Great complaint has been made during the few 

 years last past, the insects seeming to become more abundant 

 and to cover an increasing portion of our territory. Cleanliness, 

 of course, is primarily to be enforced ; but where they are 

 abundant enough to make it important, the insects can be cleared 

 out by using bisulphide of carbon. All the rooms should be 

 tightly closed overnight, and enough bisulphide evaporated to 

 fill every nook and cranny with the poisonous fumes. In a 

 badly infested establishment a second application may be neces- 

 sary in some cases, but in most instances one has proved effectual. 



