The Moths of the British Isles Volume Ii Part 1

The Moths of the British Isles.

Second Series.

by Richard South.

PREFACE.

In the present and previous series of "The Moths of the British Isles,"

over 750 species have been portrayed on the plates and described in the text--a number that includes all those insects formerly grouped under the now obsolete term "Macro-Lepidoptera." The task of dealing with so many species in two volumes has necessarily imposed brevity in their treatment; but it is hoped that nothing has been omitted that could be legitimately regarded as falling within the scope of volumes especially designed for the votaries of Nature Study.

To have comprised in this scheme the large contingent of our moths known as "Micro-Lepidoptera" would have reduced further the s.p.a.ce available for those species which experience shows appeal to the majority of nature students in a way that the minuter forms may not do. Even then, only a few general remarks on each group would have been possible, with, perhaps, a portrait or two of representative species. Such a course seemed hardly likely to prove of practical utility. The "Small Fry," as they have been called, exceedingly interesting though they may be to a limited number of students, have therefore been left for separate treatment at some more convenient season.

Both cla.s.sification and nomenclature are always under revision, and we are probably a long way from hearing the last word concerning either. These are, however, matters that {vi} cannot be ignored even in a popular work; consequently I have ventured to adopt sundry changes in arrangement and in names which, although not departing from the old style in any very large way, still approach pretty closely to the new.

I have again to tender my sincere thanks to Mr. Robert Adkin, F.E.S., for kindly lending specimens of rare species and varieties for figuring; and also to Mr. B. Adkin, Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.E.S., and Mr. A. J. Scollick, F.E.S. I desire also to gratefully acknowledge the loan of further beautiful coloured drawings by Mr. Alfred Sich, F.E.S. These figures have been most accurately reproduced in black and white by Mr. Horace Knight, to whom I am greatly indebted for his able a.s.sistance in connection with the numerous drawings of ova, larvae, and pupae. In some cases the preserved skin of a caterpillar had to serve as a model, and where this occurs the fact is mentioned. A few figures of larvae have been copied from Dr. G. Hofmann's _Die Raupen der Schmetterlinge Europas_, 2nd edit., by Professor Dr. Arnold Spuler. All such reproductions are duly noted in the text.

Mr. Knight is also responsible for the coloured drawings for Plates 1, 13, 36, 61, 96, 98, 100, 104, 134, and 148; the figures on which, except that of _Zygaena filipendulae ab. chrysanthemi_, are from specimens.

"A Forester," Mr. H. Main, F.E.S., and Mr. W. J. Lucas, B.A., F.E.S., were good enough to furnish prints of some of their excellent photographs depicting life-history details of moths and caterpillars in repose, as met with in nature.

RICHARD SOUTH.

* * * * * {1}

THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES.

NOCTUIDae.

TRIFINae (_continued_).

THE HEART MOTH (_Dicycla oo_).

A male specimen of the ordinary form of this moth is shown on Plate 2, Fig.

1. Ab. _renago_, Haworth has the s.p.a.ce between the central shade and the submarginal line more or less suffused with dusky or reddish grey. An intermediate form (Fig. 2) has a transverse band of darker colour between the second and submarginal lines of the fore wings (ab. _ferruginago_, Hubn.). The ground colour varies from a whitish or straw-yellow to reddish yellow (ab. _rufescens_, Tutt), and the markings are more distinct in some specimens than in others.

The caterpillar, which feeds from April to early June on the foliage of the oak, is black above and brownish beneath; there are three white lines on the back, the central one widest and more or less interrupted; the stripe along the black-outlined reddish spiracles is yellowish-white; head, and plate on first ring of the body, black and s.h.i.+ning.

The moth appears about the end of June or early July, and has been noted, in good condition, as late as August 17. It seems to be of very local occurrence in England, but some of {2} its known haunts nearest to London are Bromley in Kent, Richmond Park and Norbury in Surrey. At Palmer's Green, Middles.e.x, a specimen was found on an oak trunk, July 27, 1902, and a female example came to light in West London in 1906. In 1888 it was plentiful at sugar in the Bromley district. The New Forest in Hamps.h.i.+re is a noted locality for the species, but although it may abound there in some years, in other years it is scarce or entirely absent. It is rather more constant in Epping, Romford, and some other of the Ess.e.x woodlands, and occurs also in Berks.h.i.+re, Huntingdons.h.i.+re, Northamptons.h.i.+re, Gloucesters.h.i.+re, and Devon. Odd specimens have been recorded from Tarrington, Herefords.h.i.+re; St. Albans, Hertfords.h.i.+re; and from Tuddenham, Suffolk. The var. _renago_, and its modifications, has been chiefly obtained in Ess.e.x and Huntingdons.h.i.+re, but it has been found also in the Reading district, and elsewhere.

THE LUNAR-SPOTTED PINION (_Calymnia pyralina_).

There are two colour forms of this species; var. _corusca_, Esp., is rather brighter in colour than the female specimen shown on Plate 2, Fig. 3, which approaches more nearly the duller coloration of the type as described by Vieweg. The latter is perhaps the least frequent in England generally, but it occurs sparingly in Middles.e.x.

The caterpillar is green, with whitish warts emitting fine hairs, and has three lines along the back, the central one white and stripe-like; a yellow stripe low down along the sides is edged above with black. It feeds in April and May on elm, oak, apple, plum, etc., among the leaves of which it hides by day, and may be dislodged therefrom by jarring the boughs. (Plate 3, Fig. 2, after Hofmann.)

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 2.

1. HEART MOTH.

4, 5. LESSER-SPOTTED PINION.

2. " " VAR. RENAGO.

6, 7. WHITE-SPOTTED PINION.

3. LUNAR-SPOTTED PINION.

8-11. DUN-BAR.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 3.

1. DINGY SHEARS: _caterpillar_.

2. LUNAR-SPOTTED PINION: _caterpillar_.

3. WHITE-SPOTTED PINION: _caterpillar_.

{3} The moth is out from about mid-July to mid-August. On some nights it will come freely to sugar and on others it seems more partial to honeydew.

It is obtained most frequently perhaps in Berks.h.i.+re, Middles.e.x, Surrey, and Hamps.h.i.+re, but it is also known to occur in Devon, Dorset, Suss.e.x, Ess.e.x, Suffolk, Cambs., Hunts, Hertfords.h.i.+re, Oxfords.h.i.+re, Gloucesters.h.i.+re, Herefords.h.i.+re, and South Wales. A specimen has been taken at a gas lamp in Chester.

Abroad, the range extends to j.a.pan.

THE LESSER-SPOTTED PINION (_Calymnia affinis_).

This species varies in the ground colour of the forewings from reddish (typical) to greyish brown (var. _suffusa_, Tutt). A pale ochreous-brown form has been named _ochrea_, Tutt. The cross markings and stigmata are sometimes all well defined, but often the latter are hardly traceable, the cross lines only distinct on the front margin, and the outer one frequently is conspicuously widened. One example of each s.e.x is shown on Plate 2, Figs. 4 [male] and 5 [female].

The caterpillar, which feeds on elm from April to June, is of a pale green, inclining to whitish green above, the raised dots white; there are three white lines on the back, the central one broader and clearer white than the others; the lines along the area of the black spiracles are whitish; head green and glossy, legs black, pro-legs greenish marked with reddish. It feeds at night, and conceals itself between leaves during the day.

The moth appears in July and August, is very partial to sugar and "honeydew," and has been taken at light. It lurks among the foliage of trees and bushes in the daytime, and may occasionally be dislodged therefrom when the boughs are jarred. Although its range extends northwards into Yorks.h.i.+re, where it is local and scarce, the species seems to be chiefly obtained in the eastern and southern counties of England. No doubt it flourishes best where the elm (_Ulmus campestris_) is most plentiful. In Wales it has been noted from Glamorgans.h.i.+re and Flint. {4} Kane states that it is very rare in Ireland, and I fail to find any record from Scotland.

The range abroad extends to j.a.pan.

THE WHITE-SPOTTED PINION (_Calymnia diffinis_).

This pretty species is shown on Plate 2, Figs. 6 [male] and 7 [female]. Its colour and marking are little p.r.o.ne to variation. Sometimes the ground colour has less red and rather more purple in its composition, and in some specimens the white marks on the front margin are larger than in others.

The caterpillar is pale green, with three whitish lines along the back; the central of these is rather yellowish, agreeing in tint with the usual raised dots, and the outer ones are edged above with bluish green; head, brownish, inclining to black below. It feeds at night, in April, May, and early June, on the common elm, and rests during the day on the undersides of the foliage or between leaves. (Plate 3, Fig. 3.)

The moth is out in July and August, and is obtained at sugar or at light, in almost all parts of England where its favourite tree grows freely. It seems to be more local in the Midlands, and appears to be but little known in the northern counties, although a specimen was taken at sugar in Hazleden Dene, Durham, in the autumn of 1898.

THE DUN-BAR (_Calymnia trapezina_).

On Plate 2 will be found portraits of four specimens of this variable species. Figs. 8 and 9 represent a male and a female of the more ordinary forms. Specimens of the typical whitish or greyish buff colour vary in the matter of cross lines, which are well defined in the type, but absent in ab. _pallida_, Tutt. Some examples have a reddish central band, and in others the band is blackish or black; the latter are referable to ab.

_badiofasciata_, {5} Teich. Ab. _ochrea_, Tutt, is of a reddish-tinged ochreous colour with clearly defined cross lines; and ab. _rufa_, Tutt, is red with distinct cross lines. Perhaps the rarest form of all is ab.

_nigra_, Tutt, which in ground colour is deep blackish grey, with the cross lines faint.

The caterpillar is green with black, glossy, raised dots, each encircled with white; there are three whitish lines along the back, the central one rather wider than the other two; a pale yellowish line along the area of the black spiracles; head, green, tinged with dark brown or black about the jaws. It feeds, from April to June, on the foliage of elm, oak, sallow, and other trees and shrubs; also, be it noted, on other caterpillars. The larvae hunter should therefore get to know this cannibal on sight, so that he may exclude it from the common receptacle.

The moth, which frequents woods and woody country generally, is out in July and August.

The species appears to be common throughout England and Wales, the south of Scotland, and more or less frequent northwards up to Moray. It is widely spread in Ireland.

ANGLE-STRIPED SALLOW (_Cosmia paleacea_).