380 
HESPERIIDAE 
number of strands of silk from one edge of the blade to the 
other in the same spot; these become united into a stout 
cord. It again repeats the process at another spot and so 
on until five or more cords are spun across at fairly equal 
distances apart along the blade ; the cords contract con¬ 
siderably in the process of drying, and this gradually draws 
the edges together. This forms a short, tubular abode. The 
larva then spins a little layer of silk along the blade to rest 
upon. After a short rest, it crawls out of its retreat for 
about 12 mm. and feeds off the edge of the blade. After 
each meal, it retires to its dwelling to rest. Day by day, 
as it grows, it now and again spins more cords until the blade. 
forms a cotnplete 
tube. The larva 
emerges only for the 
purpose of feeding. 
Unlike the larvae 
of other Hesperildae, 
that of 0 . vcnata 
moults six times 
before full growth. 
When fully grown it 
is 28 mm. long. The 
head is large, some¬ 
what conical and 
rather flat in front, 
of a dark brown-black 
The anal comb of the larva of the Large Skipper 
(highly magnified). 
on the sides, and ochreous-buff on the face. It is granular 
and beset with bristles. The body tapers at each end ; the first 
segment is very small, the anal segment is flattened and 
terminates in a flap ; the ventral surface of the body is also 
flattened. The colour is green dorsally, shading into bluish- 
green laterally. There is a darker green dorsal stripe ; a 
pale sub-dorsal line and a yellowish spiracular stripe, also a 
whitish lateral ridge. On the ventral surface, between the 
ninth and tenth and tenth and eleventh segments, is a patch 
of white, waxy substance. On the eleventh segment, close 
to the spiracle, is a black-ringed lenticle with a minute white 
retractile tentacle in the centre. The larval state lasts 320 
days. The larva is solitary. 
