The last of the Crambites which we can examine is an insect with which all bee-keepers would very gladly dispense, as it plays much the same part with the bee-comb that the Clothes Moth does with wool, fur, or feathers. This is the little insignificant-looking Honey-comb Moth {Galleria cerella), a figure of which is given on Woodcut LVIII. Fig. 1. The specific name of cerella (^from the Latin word cei’ci, wax) has been given to this insect in consequence of the wax-eating propensities of the larva. Linnsetis, being deceived by the structure of the palpi, gave to the male the specific name of cereana^ and to the female that of Taelonella ^from the Latin, mely honey). So, in order to avoid confusion, both these names have been rejected, and the present specific name accepted in their stead.

The colour- of this Moth is simply brown, the lower wings grey -brown, the upper pair having a tinge of chestnut. Tliey are rather boldly scooped at the tips, in which respect they differ from those of one or two other Moths, which will presently be mentioned.

Personally, I have a very strong objection to this Moth, and cannot easily forgive it for the destruction of a valuable collection of bee-combs. I well remember my dismay at discovering which this insect had made in a very short time. The the havoc containing the combs had been put away for some months, cases until I had to refer to them. On opening the cases, I was to find that the combs had almost entirely disapdismayed peared, and in their place was a complicated mass of long running in all directions, and swarming both with silken tubes, and perfect insect of the Honey-comb Moth. the caterpillar which they form their galleries is really The rapidity with appear even to extend them wonderful, and the caterpillars

where they are not required. I could very easily understand why they should drive their silken tunnels through the combs, or even on their surface, but I never could see any object in the extraordinary excursions in which they continually indulged. The silken tubes ran all over the box, extending to spots far distant from the comb. One of these tubes had actually been made between the lid and the edge of the box, and ran for nearly the whole distance, so that when the box was opened, the tube was torn asunder for nearly the whole of its length, and its inmate was discovered, much to its discomfiture.

The object of the tubes is evident. The body of the caterpillar is quite soft, and the only parts that are at all hard are the head and thorax. The aggrieved bees would be sure to destroy the invader of their hives if they could only get at it, but the horny skin defends the one end of the caterpillar, while the other is sheltered in the tube, and the consequence is, that the bees are powerless and often are driven out of their hives by this little Moth. I have often wondered that the bees never seem to think of tearing up the silken tubes and turning the caterpillars out of them. The tubes may resist the sting of the bee, but, although they are tough, they are not so strong that the strong jaws of the bee could not pull them to pieces.

The caterpillar proceeds in its tube-making in a very systematic way. It thrusts its head out of the end of the tube, and eats the cells and their contents until it cannot protrude itself further without exposing the soft part of its frame. So it sets to work and adds to the tube until it has brought it close to its food, and thus proceeds until it is full-fed, and the time arrives for it to undergo its transformation. The caterpillar is marvellously active when within its tube, and can run backwards as fast as it can forwards. On the least movement near it, the caterpillar takes alarm, and jerks itself backwards into the protecting tube with a movement exactly resembling that of a frightened tortoise its shell. drawing its head into

A figure of the caterpillar is shown at Fig. a of the Woodcut LVIII. in the act of forcing its way through the honeycomb. The reader must remember that the silken gallery is of necessity omitted, as otherwise the caterpillar could not be

shown. I have watched these larvae carefully, and never yet saw one of them protrude itself further from the mouth of the tunnel than it could he protected by the hard covering of the head and the next three segments.

With regard to my own specimens of devoured combs, there SI was good reason for the vast number of caterpillars. They came from a hive nearly all the inhabitants of which had died in the winter, so that the Honey-comb Moths found no difficulty in getting among the combs, and depositing their eggs when and where they liked. f *

In this insect the sexes may be at once distinguished by the very different structure of the palpi. Fig. c shows the palpus of the male, and Fig. b that of the female.

This is not the only species of Moth that feeds on the honey- !i comb. There is, for example, the G-reen-Siiaded Honet- i CoMB Moth {Melia sociella), which is rather more gaily coloured than the preceding insect, and has on the disc of its upper wings a yellowish streak spotted with black dots; andj | the Honey Moth {Achroia grisella), a much smaller species,’ I? having brown wings covered with tiny black dots. All the caterpillars of the comb-eating Moths possess similar habits.

CHAPTER VL

Tortrices, Tine^, And Pterophori.

The Tortrices or Twisters are so called because many, though not all of them, are in the habit of twisting or rolling up leaves while in the larval state. Of these insects, a vast number of species are already known, and new species are continually being brought forward for investigation. There is, however, so great a resemblance between the different species, and each species is so apt to run into varieties, that all systematic entomologists look with suspicion on any newly announced species of this group, and the discoverer is sure to be sharply challenged as to his proofs of its novelty. So extremely variable are some of these Moths, that in one case no less than thirtyseven alleged species have been reduced to one, and shown to be merely varieties ; while in another species twenty-three varieties have been detected, and in another, fourteen.

There is little difficulty in knowing whether a Moth belongs to this group. In these, the body is comparatively short and slender, and the wings have a peculiar wave on their costal margin, so that when the insect is at rest with closed wings, tlie outline is curiously like that of a bell. We will take a few of the most conspicuous of these Moths.

At their head come some Moths which scarcely seem to belong to the Tortrices. They are popularly called by the name of Silver Lines, because their green wings are crossed with some narrow lines of silvery-whiteness. As a rule, the Tortrices are all little Moths, but some of the Silver-Lines are exceptions to this rule, and are, indeed, the very giants of their 9 race.

There are but three of these insects, which form the family of the Cymbidse, a name which will be presently explained.

The commonest of them is the Guben Silver Lines {Halias fraxinana). The upper wings of this Moth are beautiful leafgreen, across which are drawn three diagonal silvery lines, taking a pinkish hue near the inner margin. The head and thorax are of the same green hue as the wings. The lower wings and abdomen are pale yellow. The larva of this insect feeds on the oak, the ash, and one or two other trees, and the perfect insect appears in May. The middle of July is a good time for taking the larva, as it is then nearly full-fed. The colour of the caterpillar very much resembles that of the Moth’s wings. This Moth measures about an inch and a half in the spread of its wings.

The largest of all these Moths is the Scarce Silver Lines which measures about two inches in ex- {Halias quercana), panse of wing. The upper wings of this species are leaf-green, and are crossed by two diagonal silvery lines, nearly but not quite parallel with the hind margin. The caterpillar of this insect should be sought for in May, the perfect insect appearing towards the end of summer.

When the caterpillar is full-fed, it changes into a chrysalis, which is fastened to a leaf. The form of the chrysalis is most has been compared to that of a boat with the peculiar, and keel uppermost. The name of Cymbidae, which has been given to this family, is taken from a Greek word signifying a boat, and alludes to this form of the pupa.

We now proceed to the typical family, the Tortricidte, of take a few examples, the first of which is the which we shall sorbiana), a figure of which is given Hazel Moth {Tortrix on Woodcut LVIII. Fig. 5. is the largest of its family, and is rather a conspicuous ^

This its colours being boldly contrasted. The general insect, markings is shown in the illustration, but character of these in direction, shade, and dimensions that ^ they vary so much are exactly alike. The colour of scarcely any two specimens is light warm brown, upon which are some ^ the upper wings These are mostly three in number, . bold marks of dark brown. the middle of the wing, ■■ namely, a rather jagged band across the tip, the near the base, and a triangular spot near another margin. The male may be knoiin base resting on the costal

. Plate Xvii.

deltoides. tortrices, tine/e, and

Pterophor!.

L njpa2na proboscidalis. 2. Hjpaena proboscidalis, larva. 3. Tortrix ponionana. 4. Tortyx pomonana, larva. 6. Pteropliorus pentadactylus. 0. Pterophorus pterodactyl us. /. Nepticula aurella. 8. Leaves mined by Nepticula.

Plants : —

Apple and Bramble.

K by the formation of his upper wings, which have a narrow fold I that reaches nearly to the middle.

As its popular name imports, the caterpillar of this Moth iti feeds mostly on the hazel, though it is found on other trees, ji It is not one of the actual leaf-rollers, but draws the leaves together with silk, and feeds snugly between them. The caterpillar is full-fed about the end of April or beginning of May, according to the weather, and the perfect insect appears in June. *

The very pretty, but very destructive Pba-G-reen Moth or Oak-Moth, as it is indifferently termed, requires a short notice. The scientific name of this insect is Tortrix viridana. The appearance of this little Moth is very prepossessing, the upper wings being leaf-green, and the lower pair greyish-brown. When the wings are closed, the green is the only portion of the insect that is visible, so that the Moths may be thickly spread over a branch, and yet not one be distinguishable from the leaves. This insect is in some years very destructive among the oak trees. It may be found in abundance at the beginning of summer, in any place where oaks are numerous.

Next comes the Straw Oblique Bar {Tortrix costana), which is seen on Woodcut LVIII. Fig. 4.

This pretty Moth derives its popular name from the colouring of the wings. The upper pair are a very glossy strawcolour, sometimes taking rather a pale tint. Upon them are some markings of rather dark warm brown, arranged as shown in the illustration. There is some variation in different individuals, but the central bar, which runs obliquely, is most Tortrix {Peronea cristana), insect in which nearly is all shown marshy on Woodcut places, as the distinct at the costa. The other markings are not so I This is a common LIX distinct. larva feeds upon almost any plants that grow in such situations. The colour of the caterpillar is dull brown, head is black. and its

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