Editing Ghost moth (section)

==Life history==
===Egg===
On average, most female ghost moths will lay around 600 eggs over four days, but a female can lay anywhere from 200 to 1,600 eggs.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last=Edwards|first=C. A.|date=May 1964 |title=The bionomics of swift moths. I.—The ghost swift moth, Hepialus humuli (L.)|journal=Bulletin of Entomological Research|volume=55|issue=1|pages=147–160|doi=10.1017/S000748530004935X|issn=1475-2670}}</ref>
[[Image:Buckler W The larvæ of the British butterflies and moths PlateXXX.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Figs. 3. 3a, 3b  larvae after last moult 3c pupa]]

=== Larva ===
The ghost moth larvae grow up to 50&nbsp;mm long and have a white opaque body with a red/brown head.<ref name=":0" /> Their prothoracic plate is also red/brown, and their pinacula is dark brown. The young larvae feed on plant rootlets, while the older larvae feed on larger roots, [[stolons]], and the lower regions of plant stems.<ref name=":0" /> The larval growth is very slow, and the developmental period can last for two to three years. The larva have at least 12 [[instars]], but further research is needed to see if there may be more instars during higher temperatures.<ref name=":4" /> The larva cause damage to the plants they consume, with damage being the worst during the second summer of the larva's growth period.<ref name=":0" /> The larvae typically feed in grasslands, lawns, and pastures and have been known to cause significant damage to the host species.<ref name=":0" /> In the [[British Isles]], the ghost moth larvae live in the soil and can commonly be found underneath the grass.<ref name=":4" />

===Pupa===
The ghost moth typically pupates during the April or May after the two to three year larval growth period has ended.<ref name=":0" />

===Adult===
Adults are most commonly found in June and July, and they are typically active around dusk. In particular, lekking and mating occurs at dusk.<ref name=":0" />