SURFACE - CATERPILLARS. 
87 
“ Plots of ground where early Carrots have been cleared, or land 
adjoining such plots, are particularly liable to attack. 
“ If the seed-bed abuts on land as described, you may even in 
passing note a zigzag edge, which shows plainly how the vermin 
travel from one plot to another. It leaves a wave-like appearance to 
the side of the field as the insects eat their way into the crop. 
“ The most effectual way of checking them is to hunt for these 
caterpillars just below the surface periodically, say twice a week. By 
these means the attack may be lessened, and a crop saved. 
“ This year, having been dry, the caterpillars have given much 
trouble amongst transplanted Leeks, and one field of about four acres 
was searched more than once; the result was satisfactory, large 
numbers were destroyed, and the crop in the main saved. In dry 
seasons like this the plants grow slowly, and the mischief done is more 
apparent; whilst in damp seasons the rapid increase of foliage makes 
the damage less noticeable.” 
Tryphjena pronuba. 
Yellow Underwing Moth ; 1, caterpillar; 2, chrysalis; 3, moth. 
Specimens of Surface-caterpillars, sent by Mr. Gleuny on October 
27th, proved to be of the Turnip Moth, A. segetian, and the Great 
Yellow Underwing, Tryph&na pronuba, figured above.* 
* These Yellow Underwings are much oftener observed than the grey Turnip 
Moths, by reason of their bright yellow under wings, banded with dark brown or 
black, from which they take their name, and which make them very noticeable as 
they rise, towards the latter part of summer, before the passing foot in recently- 
mown grass or low-growing plants. Their chief time of flight is, however, in the 
evening or night; they lay their eggs in some quantity at the root of various kinds 
of plants. The caterpillars hatch in about a fortnight. By day they lie hidden, 
rolled into a ring in the earth under their food-plants, or sheltered under clods, 
stones, or the like, and come out at night to feed. The lumps of dirt and gnawed 
leaves show their whereabouts. During the winter months they may be found near 
the surface of the ground, and in spring they come out again and feed. When full- 
fed in the late spring or early summer they bury themselves and turn to chrysalids, 
