68 
OAK. 
Buff-tip Moth. 
Pygcera bucephala , Stephens. 
Pygebra bucephala 
Buff Tip Moth, caterpillar, and chrysalis. 
The caterpillars of the Buff-tip feed on the leafage of various 
forest trees, as Elm, Oak, Lime, &c., and sometimes are found on 
fruit trees. 
On the 19tli of August Mr. Angus MTntosli forwarded specimens 
of this kind of caterpillar, then about three-quarters grown, from 
Llanercli, Llanelly, South Wales, with the note that they had been 
found the previous day attacking young Oaks in the nursery. Mr. 
MTntosli observes:—“They had, when I noticed them, entirely 
stripped two or three young trees of their leaves, and then were 
clustered together on the twigs in much the same way as the Pine 
Sawfly caterpillars on Scotch Fir, and were doing their work quite as 
thoroughly. They are very voracious. I tried soapsuds on them, 
and I think from the results it is just the thing to destroy them with; 
it sticks into their hairy coats so effectually.” 
Further on Mr. MTntosli reported that he had destroyed the 
companies on the young Oaks, and noticed the habit these caterpillars 
have of falling to the ground when disturbed. 
When young these Buff-tip caterpillars are gregarious ; they feed 
together in parties, and (vide Newman’s ‘ British Moths ’) “ are readily 
found by the devastation they cause. Each brood fixes on some top¬ 
most outside branch of Elm, Lime, Hazel, or other tree, for this 
species appears a very general feeder, and, completely stripping off the 
foliage, leaves the twigs as bare as in the depth of winter.” 
When the caterpillars are out of reach, a sudden jar, such as is 
given by throwing sticks at the infested boughs, will make them fall 
in great numbers, and, when once down, trampling on the fallen grubs 
