12 
CORN AND GRASS. 
Antler Moth, or Grass Moth. Chareeas graminis , Stephens ; 
Cer apteryx graminis , Curtis. 
Charge as graminis. 
Antler Moth and caterpillars. 
The attacks of the caterpillars of the Antler Moth are remarkable 
for only occurring occasionally, and especially in mountainous districts, 
and for these appearances being in such vast numbers, and over such 
a large extent of country, as to be an amazement to all not acquainted 
with their habits. Such an attack occurred in June of 1884 in the 
mountainous part of Glamorganshire, extending over an area of about 
ten miles of the country lying west of the Ehondda Valley, and such 
an attack occurred again in the past summer of 1885 in Selkirkshire, 
N.B., destroying in its course some of the hill-pastures in Ettrick and 
Yarrow. 
One farmer, writing at the time from the infested district, stated:— 
“ They were very bad on my farm, there being a good number of acres 
where not a blade of grass is left. They began first on the best land, but 
are in the bogs (marshy ground) now.” 
The extent of country was shown on a map forwarded at the time 
by a line enclosing an area of about seven miles by five miles, lying 
in the west of Selkirkshire, with Ettrick water running down the 
middle. 
As the history of the insect was given last year, I merely repeat it 
now in a note ;* but the injury to good pasturage mentioned above is 
* The above figure gives the size and method of marking of the Antler Moth 
and caterpillar. With regard to colour, the moths are variable, but may be 
generally described as having the fore wings of various tints of brown, with some¬ 
what pale or white antler-shaped markings, from which the moth takes its name. 
The hind wings are brown or greyish brown. The caterpillars are marked with 
dark brown, and pale streaks running lengthwise: the head is brown or yellowish. 
The life-history is stated to be that the eggs are laid by the female moths about the 
middle of summer ; these hatch in about three weeks, and the caterpillars are then 
said to hide themselves by day and feed by night; they live throngh the winter, 
and in spring again begin their destructive operations. These continue till about 
June, when they go down into the ground to turn to chrysalids, from which the 
moths come out to lay the eggs, as above mentioned, in July and August. 
