June 1896,] 



INJUKIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI, 



37 



down into the earth, but remained near the surface in an active 

 state, devouring the roots and shoots of plants that happened to 

 be near them, and much injuring corn, vegetable, and herb crops 

 on farms, market and kitchen gardens. Wheat was attacked 

 in several places. Plants of the Brassica kind, such as Brussels 

 sprouts, winter greens, and cauliflowers were attacked, and lettuce 

 plants spoilt in many market gardens. Mint, which also suffered 

 much, appears to be highly relished by these voracious larvse. 

 Grass land is often injured by them, and the injury is sometimes 

 attributed to " leather jackets," or grubs of the " Daddy Long- 

 legs," Tipula oleracea, and to Cockchafer grubs. The grass of 

 lawns and cricket grounds is occasionally killed by these cater- 

 pillars, whose pupse have been seen in turf cut from infested 

 grounds. Winter beans and winter tares are also eaten by 

 them ; in short, there is hardly any green crop that comes amiss 

 to their omnivorous appetites. 



As they feed from early autumn until the spring, except 

 when frost forces them to go below the roots of plants, their 

 action is exceedingly destructive^ for it occurs at a time when 

 plant growth is more or less dormant, and the plants cannot 

 recover quickly and throw out fresh roots and fibres as in the 

 spring and summer, 



Life History. 



This moth belongs to the family Hepicdidw and to its sole 

 genus Hepialus, of which there are five species. It appears 

 towards the end of May or the beginning of June, and may be 

 identified by its rapid flight, especially of the males, for which 

 reason it is termed the " Swift Moth." The length of its body 

 is nearly half an inch, and the wing expanse is from one inch 

 to one and a half inches. The colour varies extremely, but the 

 typical colour of the body is light brown, or brown with yellowish 

 shades. The fore wings are brown, with light brown cilia, 

 showing considerable lustre, and with white streaks and spots. 

 The hind wings have darker shades of brown without lustre. 

 Some female specimens are without the white streaks and spots 

 upon the fore wings. The head is tawny, with very short 

 antennae. Careful observers have noticed that the male is 

 attracted to the female by a peculiar odour, as in the case of 

 Jlepialus humuli and Hepialus sylvinus. Females have been 

 watched flying slowly and dropping dark coloured, somewhat 

 oval eggs among grasses and other plants. 



The caterpillar is found as early as July at the roots of 

 grasses and most other plants. It is rather more than an inch 

 long, whitish in colour, with a brown head, and the segment 

 next the head is somewhat brown or chestnut coloured. The dots 

 on the back are light brown with black hairs. The spiracles are 

 black, and have two black hairs above each. There are three 

 pairs of claw feet, four pairs of sucker feet, and a pair at the 

 end of the tail. A peculiarity of this caterpillar is that if 

 touched or disturbed it jumps or wriggles backwards. 



