22 
NATURE STUDY NOTES 
times the whole of the foliage of a plot of kumaras 
has been destroyed by them, and it is therefore 
known as the kumara grub. The caterpillar can 
be distinguished from other large caterpillars by 
the curved horn on the top of the last segment 
of its body. The Maoris consider it as one of their 
worst enemies and call it “ho-te-te.” Towards the 
end of February the caterpillars go underground 
and change into pupae— dark mahogany in colour 
and about two inches long. They are easily recog¬ 
nized b\ theii unusual size, and by the curved 
“process” which projects from the lower side of the 
head. The full-grown insect emerges from its pupa 
case early in the following summer. 
THE PURIRI MOTH 
DESCRIPTION — Also called the “Giant Swift 
Moth and the “Ghost Moth.” Body, dull green 
near head, remainder dark cream or buff colour 
and downy. Size, the second largest of the common 
moths, measuring about three inches from wing 
tip to wing tip and 1-J inches from head to tail. 
Wings: Its upper wings are light green, each 
having a band of cream-coloured marks running 
almost paiallel to the edges of the wing's. The 
lower wings are cream coloured, tinged with green 
near the tips. (Illustration, p. 29.) 
NOTES — It is a night-flier and is usually in the 
bush. Occasionally it visits gardens containing 
native trees, and is found in a dazed condition at 
the base of a street lamp standard. The grubs are 
wood-borers, making their way into the trunks of 
forest trees, chiefly those of the puriri and wine- 
