PYRALIM. 
507 
below ground amongst decaying leaves or in bark, or rolling leaves as 
shelters. Some of the Hydrocampince are aquatic, whilst a few species 
are household pests or live in bee-hives. A character the larvae share 
with the Tineidce is that the suckerfeet have the hooks in a circle, whereas 
those of the Noctuidce and other Macrolepidoptercc are in two opposed 
series on the suckerfeet. The pupa is hidden, in a cocoon or in a shelter. 
It is commonly chestnut brown with some segments of the abdomen 
movable. In most known species, the life-history is short, the larva 
developing rapidly, the period of pupation shoit in the hot weather or 
rains. Hibernation or an equivalent period of rest occurs in all but those 
whose food supply is always available, and this is frequently spent in a 
resting larval condition as in most microlepidoptera. 
In general, this period of rest appears to depend upon climatic con¬ 
ditions and food supply, varying with individual species. A large num¬ 
ber appear as larvae in the rains and until October, when they disappear 
again. The cold weather is passed in all stages, most generally in the 
resting larva, rarely the pupa, state. Many emerge as imagines in March 
or April and breed if food is available, if not, living over until the rains. 
The question is too big to be adequately discussed here and the simplest 
general view is that each species breeds when climatic conditions permit 
of food supply and that in most, this occurs only in the rains and imme¬ 
diately after. The collector will find his specimens most abundant in 
March, April, June, August and October. Practically all species pro¬ 
bably fall roughly into five groups : (1) those that are to be found in 
their foodplant throughout the year, with a period of hibernation varying 
with the locality and temperature (e.g., Chilo simplex, Euzophera perti- 
cella, Scirpophaga) ; (2) those that do not hibernate in their foodplant 
but are found breeding from April to November, hibernating in the soil 
or in shelter {e.g., Sylepta, Phycita) ; (3) those that appear and breed 
only in the rains (e.g., Marasmia, Pachyzancla, Antigastra) ; (4) those 
that appear in the hot weather and hibernate in the rains (Anerastia) ; 
(5) others, whose development is dependent wholly upon the fruiting 
of trees, etc., and which are found once, twice or often in the year with 
periods of waiting between as larva or imago (Etizophera punicceella, 
Heterographis bengalella). There are then such household species as 
Ephestia, whose broods are continuous throughout the year, due to 
abundant food. 
