264 PYRALiDm. INSECTS. Geometrid^. 
&c. Some species are, however, very local, as Agrotis 
North Wales, and others we have no space to enu- 
merate. 
Family- PYRALIDtE. 
An extensive family, if we include the exotic species, 
hut of very moderate extent 
in this country. Fig. 164 
shows a remarkable species 
{Sarrothripus crihralis). It 
has been named “ Four-foot 
moth” from its curiously 
hairy fore legs, a magnified 
figure of which is given 
beneath the moth. 
A species of this family 
indigenous to Jamaica (Dfa- 
trcea sacchari) is very in- 
jurious to the sugar cane. 
It is a pale -yellow dotted 
moth. Its larva destroys 
whole acres of cane in dry 
seasons, by boring into the 
stems of the canes. 
Family— TORTRICID^. 
So called from the habit the caterpillars have of 
twisting up leaves so as to conceal themselves. On 
Plate 10, fig. 10, a species is figured {Earis chlorana). 
There are nearly three hundred species in this country. 
They are usually small dull-coloured moths, and when 
at rest somewhat resemble a bell in shape. A species 
of this family {Carpocapsa pomonella), the Apple moth, 
is one of the most destructive enemies to the apple 
crop. The eggs are laid in the newly-formed fruit, 
within which the larva feeds, and all that are thus 
attacked fall prematurely to the ground. Fig. 165 
Fig. 165. 
Carpocapsa pomonella. 
represents, a, the larva of Carpocapsa pomonella ; 6, 
the pupa; c, the perfect insect; (f, the section of an 
apple, showing the track by which the larva escapes 
when full fed, previous to burying itself in the ground 
to undergo its subsequent changes. The plum, apricot, 
and other fruit trees, sufler from the attacks of species 
belonging to this family. 
Family— GEOMETRID^. 
This familj’- is equally extensive with the Noctuidce, 
but in this country probably not quite so numerous. 
The caterpillars are called loopers, or geometricians, 
whence the family name. They are rather slender- 
bodied, but their wings are ample. Their larvse have 
only ten legs. Their mode of progression is very 
peculiar; having no legs in the middle of the body, 
they attach themselves firmly with their fore legs, and 
then bring up their hind legs close to them, thus 
curving or looping the body in the form of the Greek 
letter ft. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of various 
plants, and, when disturbed, drop down swinging by 
a thread, up which, when their alarm is past, they 
remount. In some fe%v species the females are quite, 
or nearly destitute of wings, and would never be taken 
for moths by non-entomological persons. Some species 
do great damage to fruit trees ; others to forest timber, 
as Bupalus piniarius to pine trees. 
Sarrothripus crihralis. 
