GOOSEBERRY. 
Dot Moth. Mamestra persicarice, Linn. 
MaMESTRA PERSICARIiE. 
Dot Moth (from life); caterpillar (after figure of Dr. Taschenberg’s). 
The Mamestra persicarice , or Dot Moth, is very common and widely 
distributed in England, as well as in various parts of the Continent 
(notably Germany and Holland); but, although the caterpillar is a 
very general feeder, as well as very common, it was not until the past 
season that observations were sent to me of its workings. 
On Sept. 27th, I received specimens of the caterpillar, accompanied 
by inquiries as to the nature of the attack and means of prevention, 
from correspondents at Leicester. They mentioned:— “We have 
discovered an unusual visitor at this time of the year in Gooseberry 
and Currant bushes, as a very active and destructive caterpillar (of 
different shape and colour), which divests the bushes of all their 
leaves.” 
The specimens gave good examples of the marked variety of 
colouring which sometimes occurs in the case of this kind of cater¬ 
pillar. One was rosy brown with brown markings, the other was 
rather smaller and of a green ground colour. 
The figure above gives a good idea of the shape and markings, and 
also the size when fully grown, of these caterpillars. The head is pale, 
and sometimes partially withdrawn into the next segment, which has 
a dark patch on the back, divided lengthways down the middle, and 
also bordered on each side by a white line, and a pale white line runs 
down the back. On each side of this line, beginning at the 4th 
segment from the head and continuing to the lltli inclusive, is an 
