The caterpillars are somewhat maggot-like, and live in stems, branches, and roots of trees and shrubs; or in the crowns and roots of low-growing plants. The majority, possibly all, are nearly two years in arriving at full growth.
Hornet Moth (Trochilium apiformis).
As indicated by the English name this moth, and also that next to be mentioned, are very like the hornet (Vespa crabro). On turning to Plate [154], Fig. 1, it will be seen that this species has a yellow head and patches of yellow on the shoulders; these characters at once separate it from T. crabroniformis.
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| 2 Pl. 154. |
| 1. | Hornet Moth. | 2. | Welsh Clearwing. | 3. | White-barred Clearwing. |
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| 4. | Clear Underwing. | 5, 6. | Currant Clearwing. | 7. | Lunar Hornet Moth. |
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| 2 Pl. 155. |
| 1. | Yellow-legged Clearwing. | 2, 3. | Red-belted Clearwing. |
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| 4. | Large Red-belted Clearwing. | 5. | Red-tipped Clearwing. |
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| 6. | Six-belted Clearwing. | 7. | Thrift Clearwing. |
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| 8, 9. Fiery Clearwing. |
The caterpillar is yellowish white, with a red brown head, and a yellow plate on the first ring of the body. It feeds on the roots and lower portion of the trunks of poplar. The brown shining chrysalis is enclosed in a cocoon of wood scrapings woven together with silk. The moth is out in May and June; and has been found, newly emerged, sitting on stems of poplar in the morning.
The eastern counties of England appear to be most favoured by this species, but it also occurs northwards to Yorkshire, southwards to Devonshire, and a specimen has been recorded from Rhyl, North Wales. In Scotland, it has been reported from some localities in the south; Kane states that he has reason to believe that the species occurs in the northern half of Ireland, and that he found caterpillars plentiful in young poplars growing in a marsh near the city of Waterford.