98 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



SIX MONTHS' WORK AMONG THE 

 TORTRICES AND TINEITES. 



By ALBERT H. WATERS, B.A., F.S.Sc., F.P.N.S., &c. 

 MAY. 



I really marvel that more entomologists do not take up the study of the 

 two groups to which this series of papers is devoted. Certainly they are not 

 so showy as their bigger brethren the macro-lepidoptera, and on this account 

 are less attractive than the latter, especially to young naturalists. It takes 

 some time I know to get acquainted with the butterflies and larger moths, and I 

 can quite understand that beginners are likely to prefer them to the micros, 

 but when a lepidopterist has collected for two or three years, and obtained a 

 fair knowledge of the Rhopalacera, Sphingidse, Bombycina, Geometrina, Noc- 

 tuina, &c, I think it is time he should give a little attention to the Tortrices 

 and Tineina, and it is with the idea of affording encouragement and assistance 

 to young naturalists, taking up these groups for the first time, that these 

 papers are written. 



I have expressed my surprise that so few entomologists study the Tortricina 

 and Tineina, for to one who is a real lover of nature, a true student of the 

 of the Creator's works and not a mere collector, there is very much interest 

 attached to the habits of these little moths, especially in the larva state. 

 How wonderful, for instance, is the instinct which teaches these little eater- 

 pillars to provide such cunningly contrived shelters for themselves. See how 

 deftly some of the tortrices roll a leaf up and secure it in its position with 

 silken threads. But above all observe the marvellous ingenuity with which 

 many of the little caterpillars of the tineina construct cases which they carry 

 about with them as if wearing a suit of clothes ! If insects were classified 

 according to their intelligence the case-making tineina and leaf-rolling tortri- 

 cina would occupy a high place. The same may be said of the phryganidse 

 of course, for the caddis-worms are really — as every one can testify who has 

 kept them in an aquarium — very knowing creatures. 



May is an excellent month for those young naturalists who have not yet 

 given attention to the leaf-rolling and leaf-uniting larvae to commence their 

 study. The olive green caterpillars of Tortrix ribeana, which may be found 

 feeding between united leaves of plum and other trees, are sure to be among 

 the first to engage attention. We meet with them everywhere throughout 

 May, and may find them on most trees and shrubs. They vary in colour, 

 whether there may not really be two species described under the name ribeana 

 is a question I have never yet been able to answer satisfactorily. I am 

 rather inclined to doubt, but yet, I must confess, I cannot discover very 



