The Moths of the British Isles Volume Ii Part 6

Between sixty and seventy years ago, the late Mr. Samuel Stevens obtained the caterpillars on mullein growing in a chalk pit at Arundel in Suss.e.x, and this seems to be the earliest notice of the species occurring in Britain. It is now known also to inhabit Hamps.h.i.+re, Surrey, and Oxfords.h.i.+re; has been reported from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Gloucesters.h.i.+re.

THE STAR-WORT (_Cucullia asteris_).

The silvery-grey fore wings of this moth (Plate 15, Fig. 6) are broadly suffused with reddish brown along the front margin, and more narrowly with purplish brown inclining to blackish along the inner margin; the latter is separated from a purplish brown blotch at the outer angle by a whitish edged black curved mark.

The caterpillar (figured on Plate 18, Fig. 3, from a photo by Mr. Main) is green with a black-edged yellow stripe along the back, and another along the white spiracles; between these stripes are two pale greenish lines; head, green, sprinkled with blackish. In another form the body is suffused with reddish, inclining to purplish on the back; yellow markings pretty much as in the green form. It feeds chiefly on golden-rod (_Solidago virgaurea_) and sea star-wort (_Aster tripolium_), showing a decided preference for the flowers, but will eat the foliage of the plants mentioned. In confinement it can be reared on garden asters and Michaelmas daisy. It may be obtained on its food plants from July well into September.

The moth emerges in June and July as a rule, sometimes in early August, but has been known to come from the chrysalis during September up to the 23rd of that month. The species is found often abundantly in the caterpillar state in the seaboard counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Ess.e.x, Kent, Suss.e.x, Hants, and Dorset. In Surrey it has occurred at Haslemere, and in {40} the Croydon district (?); and it has been recorded from Herefords.h.i.+re and North Lancas.h.i.+re.

The range abroad extends to East Siberia, Amurland, and j.a.pan.

THE SHARK (_Cucullia umbratica_).

On the fore wings of this greyish species (Plate 16, Figs. 5 [male] and 6 [female]) there is some variation in the short black streaks on the basal and outer areas, and in the dots around the stigma; the front margin is sometimes brownish tinged. The hind wings of the female are always darker than those of the male.

The caterpillar feeds on plants of the sowthistle (_Sonchus_) kind, also on garden lettuce and the wild species. It may be found in August and early September, but, as it feeds only at night, it should be searched for in the daytime on the undersides of the lower leaves. In general colour it is ochreous inclining to greyish, with an intricate raised pattern in blackish on the upper surface; the head is black, and there is a yellow spotted sooty brown plate on the first ring of the body.

The moth is to be seen in June and July, sitting on the upper parts of palings, and other kinds of wooden fencing; also on tent pegs, etc.; but it is not easy to detect even when its whereabouts is indicated. At night it visits flowers of campion, sweet william, honeysuckle, etc.

Widely distributed throughout the British Isles to the Orkneys, but seemingly more plentiful and regular in occurrence in the south of England than in the north.

THE CHAMOMILE SHARK (_Cucullia chamomillae_).

Although somewhat similar to the last species, this moth may be distinguished by the more brownish tinge of its grey fore wings. The hind wings are also brown-grey in both s.e.xes, but darkest in the female. {41}

Sometimes the central area of the fore wings is clouded with blackish from the front to the inner margin; such specimens are referable to ab.

_chrysanthemi_, Hubn. (Plate 16, Figs. 1 typical, 2 ab.)

The caterpillar, which may be found in the summer months, is greenish white with zigzag olive markings, the lines on the back meeting in the middle of each ring, where there is a small pinkish blotch; head, pale yellowish, striped with brown on the face. It feeds on wild chamomile (_Matricaria_), stinking mayweed (_Anthemis_), and _Pyrethrum_ (Plate 18, Fig. 1). The Rev.

Miles Moss, writing his experience of this species at Rossall, near Fleetwood, Lancas.h.i.+re, notes that until half-grown the caterpillars live exposed, and are then found lying in a half-circle on the crowns of unexpanded flower heads. At this time they are green with dark and also white markings. He adds that caterpillars measuring about an inch in length when collected, were preparing for pupation a week later.

The moth is out in April and May, and has been captured even in July. When chrysalids are kept indoors, but not dry, the moths sometimes emerge in March, and occasionally in the earlier months of the year. A habit more or less general among the species of this genus is to remain in the chrysalis state for two or more winters; the present species has been known to emerge during March of the first, second, and third years following that in which the caterpillars were found.

Widely distributed over England and Wales, but apparently most frequent in the seaboard counties. In Scotland it occurs up to Perths.h.i.+re, and it is found on various parts of the Irish coast.

THE CUDWEED (_Cucullia gnaphalii_).

Portraits of two specimens of this very local species, kindly lent by Mr.

R. Adkin, will be found on Plate 13, Figs. 4 and 5. {42} The general coloration is usually silvery grey, but occasionally it inclines to yellowish. The moth has rarely been noted by day, and only one specimen seems to have been captured on the wing. Even caterpillars are by no means common in their best-known localities, and of those obtained after much labour a large proportion may frequently prove to have been the victims of parasitic flies.

The caterpillar is green, inclining to olive green, thickly freckled with pale yellow atoms; a purplish-brown stripe along the middle of the back and two faint purplish lines along the sides; a pale yellow line along the region of the black-edged spiracles, which are set in purplish-brown blotches. (Adapted from Buckler.)

Its food plant is golden-rod (_Solidago_) and it feeds at night and hides by day, low down on the stems or under the leaves: July to September. In confinement the caterpillars will eat garden aster and Michaelmas daisy.

The British haunts of the species are chiefly in Kent (Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, etc.), and Suss.e.x (Tilgate Forest, etc.); but according to Barrett it is also known from Hamps.h.i.+re, Surrey, and Ess.e.x. Abroad, the range extends through Central Europe to Southern Scandinavia, Livonia, Southern Russia, the Altai Mountains, Italy, and Armenia; but the species is nowhere plentiful.

It may be mentioned here that a very closely allied, and on the Continent common, species--_C. xeranthemi_, Boisduval--might easily be mistaken for _C. gnaphalii_.

THE WORMWOOD (_Cucullia absinthii_).

This moth is shown on Plate 16, Fig. 4. The fore wings are usually tinged with purplish over the greyish ground colour; black dots on the stigmata give to each of these marks some resemblance to the figure 8. {43}

The caterpillar, which feeds on the flowers and seeds of wormwood (_Artemisia absinthium_) and will eat mugwort (_A. vulgaris_), is best found on sunny days. It is yellowish green, suffused with purplish grey on the back of each ring; there are three pale green lines along the back, and an ochreous grey plate on ring 1. To be found in August and early September, but on dull days it must be sought for among the lower leaves, or on the ground. When resting among the flowers it so closely harmonises with them that it might easily escape detection.

The moth is out in July.

The species is perhaps most abundant on the South Devons.h.i.+re coast, but its range extends into Cornwall, and eastward to the Isle of Portland and the Isle of Wight; it is not uncommon along the coasts of North Devon (Lee and Croyde), Somerset (Minehead), and South Wales. It has also been recorded from North Wales, and from parts of the Suffolk coast. In Ireland, a specimen was taken in a garden at Cromlyn, Westmeath, in 1873, and more recently two specimens of the moth, and also some caterpillars, were obtained at Timoleague, Cork.

_Cucullia artemisiae (abrotani)_.

This species, of which a Continental example is represented on Plate 16, Fig. 3, is apparently exceedingly rare in this country, and most probably is not a native.

In the collection of the late Dr. Mason, which was dispersed at Stevens' in 1905, there were three specimens, each of which had seemingly been included among series of _C. absinthii_ purchased at three separate sales. A fourth specimen, also mixed with _C. absinthii_, was in the collection of the late Rev. H. Burney. Two other specimens have been reported from Devons.h.i.+re, where, it is said, they were found sitting on a fence. {44}

The caterpillar feeds, in August and September, on wormwood and other kinds of _Artemisia_. It is green with red raised spots, a white line along the middle of the back, and a yellow stripe low down along the sides; head, brown inclining to blackish above. The moth is out in June and July.

THE BEAUTIFUL YELLOW UNDERWING (_Anarta myrtilli_).

In its typical form (Plate 17, Figs. 1, 2) this species has the fore wings purplish brown or blackish brown, whilst in var. _rufescens_, Tutt, the general colour of the fore wings is reddish inclining to crimson, and the white markings are clearly defined. In some dark specimens the markings are more or less obscure, and in others only the central white dot is distinct.

The caterpillar is green, dotted and marked with white; there are three rows of yellowish bars along the back, those forming the outer series slightly curved. It is to be found on ling (_Calluna vulgaris_), also on heath (_Erica_), from July to October, but it seems to be more frequently obtained in early autumn. Occasionally it has been found in the spring.

Hawthorn has been mentioned as a food-plant (Plate 20, Fig. 1).

The moth has been taken in each month from April to August, but it is perhaps most plentiful from May to July. The species occurs on heath and moorlands throughout the British Isles, but so far it has not been recorded from the Shetlands. It flies on sunny days and is very active on the wing, but when the sun is obscured, or towards evening, it may be found at rest on the heather sprays, usually at their tips.

THE SMALL DARK YELLOW UNDERWING (_Anarta cordigera_).

The pretty moth represented on Plate 17, Fig. 7, is only found in the British Isles, on the mountains of Scotland, chiefly in Perths.h.i.+re and Aberdeens.h.i.+re. Sometimes the basal area of the fore wings is suffused with black, and to a lesser extent the outer area also (var. _aethiops_, Hoffm. = _suffusa_, Tutt); on the other hand, typical examples have both basal and outer areas silvery grey, and the central area black. A form, which I have not seen, is described as having the black central area broken by an ashy cross band pa.s.sing between the stigmata (var. _variegata_, Tutt).

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 16.

1, 2. CHAMOMILE SHARK.

4. THE WORMWOOD.

3. _CUCULLIA ARTEMISIae_.

5, 6. THE SHARK.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 17.

1, 2. BEAUTIFUL YELLOW UNDERWING.

3, 4. SMALL YELLOW UNDERWING.

5, 6. BROAD-BORDERED WHITE UNDERWING.

7. SMALL DARK YELLOW UNDERWING.

8, 9. THE PEASE BLOSSOM.

10, 11. BORDERED SALLOW.

{45} The caterpillar is reddish brown, with three white lines along the back, and a reddish-freckled ochreous stripe low down on the sides.