The Moths of the British Isles Volume Ii Part 48

5, 6. WILLOW BEAUTY.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 131.

1. WILLOW BEAUTY: _eggs and caterpillar_.

2. MOTTLED BEAUTY: _caterpillar_.

{305}

WILLOW BEAUTY (_Boarmia gemmaria_).

The two portraits on Plate 130 represent the best known forms of this species. Stephens in 1831 referred the smoky or dark slaty grey form (Fig.

6), which is the ordinary one in the London district, now as then, to _rhomboidaria_. Newman subsequently named this form _perfumaria_, and he, and other entomologists of the time, considered it as a species distinct from _gemmaria_ = _rhomboidaria_. We now know that the smoky grey specimens are not peculiar to the metropolitan area, but occur in other parts of England (Warwicks.h.i.+re, Yorks.h.i.+re, Lancas.h.i.+re, etc.), and are found, with the type, at Howth and other localities in Ireland. The more general forms throughout England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland up to Perths.h.i.+re, are pale brown, or greyish brown (typical), sometimes ochreous tinged (Fig. 5); the latter is referable to ab. _consobrinaria_, Haworth. Black forms have been recorded from Norwich in Norfolk, and blackish specimens have been noted from Ashdown Forest, Suss.e.x; from Cannock Chase, Staffords.h.i.+re; and from the south of Scotland.

The eggs (Plate 131, Fig. 1a) are green at first, changing to pink mottled with green, and finally to dark grey; the latter change indicates early hatching of the caterpillar, which usually occurs about a fortnight after the eggs are deposited.

The caterpillar (Plate 131, Fig. 1, after a coloured drawing by Mr. A.

Sich) is dull reddish brown, mottled more or less with ochreous; traces of diamond-shaped marks on the back, the latter sometimes well defined. It feeds on ivy (in London gardens especially), hawthorn, birch, privet, lilac, rose, clematis, broom, and many other shrubs, and also on yew and fir, in August, and after hibernation in the spring. The moth is out in July and August; sometimes a second brood occurs in September. {306}

This species is the _gemmaria_ of Brahm (1791), but _rhomboidaria_, Schiffermuller (1776), although only a catalogue name until figured by Hubner, about 1797, is adopted by some authors.

SATIN CARPET (_Boarmia abietaria_).

As an inhabitant of Britain this species was first noted from Hamps.h.i.+re, and in 1825 was figured and described by Curtis as _Alcis sericearia_. Two specimens of this form, from the New Forest, are depicted on Plate 132, Figs. 1, 2; but paler, and also darker, examples are found in this locality, and, occasionally, melanic specimens occur as well. The latter form, some examples of which might be described as sooty black with black veins, is more prevalent among the yews and firs of Surrey.

The caterpillar, for the example of which (and also the egg), figured on Plate 138, Figs. 1, 1a, I am obliged to Mr. Arthur J. Scollick, is, in one form, ochreous brown with paler cream-coloured patches on the back; and in another dark grey-brown with paler patches, sometimes of a light cinnamon brown; a pale, thin line along the middle of the back runs through a series of brownish diamonds; there are other pale lines on the back and sides, and these are edged with brownish, and partly with blackish; spiracles outlined in black. (Adapted from Buckler.) It feeds on spruce, pine, yew, oak, birch, sallow, etc., from August to June. A larva has been found on bilberry in Devon.

The moth is out from late June to early August, but captured specimens are not often suitable for the cabinet, they are generally more or less frayed or scarred.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 132.

1, 2. SATIN CARPET.

3-6. MOTTLED BEAUTY.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 133.

1. DOTTED CARPET: _caterpillars_.

2. BRUSSELS LACE: _caterpillars_.

3. WAVED UMBER: _caterpillar_.

4. BELTED BEAUTY: _eggs_.

{307} Beside Surrey and Hants, previously mentioned, the species occurs in Suss.e.x (Tilgate Forest), Buckinghams.h.i.+re (Halton), and has been recorded from Berks.h.i.+re; Egg Buckland, Oxton, Bickleigh Vale, and other Devons.h.i.+re localities; also from Cornwall, Somersets.h.i.+re, Gloucesters.h.i.+re (the Cotswolds), and Monmouths.h.i.+re.

Staudinger and other recent authors have adopted _ribeata_, Clerck, for this species.

MOTTLED BEAUTY (_Boarmia repandata_).

Two examples of the more ordinary mottled form of this species are shown on Plate 132, Figs. 3 [male], and 4 [female]. Fig. 6 represents ab.

_destrigaria_, Haworth (_muraria_, Curtis); and Fig. 5 depicts a specimen near var. _sodorensium_, Weir, from the Isle of Lewis. Dark-brown forms, inclining to blackish, are not uncommon in the London district, but in South Yorks.h.i.+re coal-black specimens with whitish submarginal lines occur; a sooty black example from the Sheffield district is figured on Plate 134, Fig. 4, and, it may be added, these melanic forms are referable to ab.

_nigricata_, Fuchs.

Two forms of ab. _conversaria_, Hubner, will be found on Plate 134, where Fig. 1 depicts a specimen from the New Forest, and Fig. 8 represents an extreme example from North Devon. The _conversaria_ form occurs chiefly in the south and west of England, and is perhaps most plentiful along the North Devon coast; also in South Wales; Durham (rarely, on the coast).

Broad dark banded specimens are recorded from Arran and Argyll.

The caterpillar (figured on Plate 131, Fig. 2, after Sich) is brownish inclining to ochreous; a dark brownish line along the middle of the back, and a series of brownish diamond-shaped marks most distinct on the back of the middle rings; a line of blackish marks along the sides shows up in the paler examples. Sometimes the general colour is dark reddish brown, freckled with dark brown; but in all cases the underside is paler than the upper, and is striped and lined with dark and pale brown. {308} It feeds on hawthorn, birch, elm, hazel, bilberry, heather, etc., from July to May.

The moth is out in June and July, and specimens of a second generation have been reared in September. Generally common throughout the British Isles.

GREAT OAK BEAUTY (_Boarmia roboraria_).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 18.

CATERPILLAR OF GREAT OAK BEAUTY.

(Photo by "A. Forester".)]

The fine Boarmid moth shown on Plate 135, Fig. 2, has all the typical markings well defined. Occasionally the black cross lines are more distinct, but sometimes they are more or less absent, or obscured. An almost black specimen is mentioned by Barrett as taken in the Reading district, Berks.h.i.+re; and the same author states that a black example was captured in the Midlands about the year 1887, but no other specimen was observed until 1893, when a female was obtained, and from eggs deposited smoky black moths were reared.

The caterpillar is very like an oak twig in shape, especially when in repose. (See Fig. 18.) In colour it is reddish brown, inclining to ochreous brown; brownish grey on the humps on rings 5 and 11, and on the skin folds.

It feeds on oak during the autumn, and, after hibernation, in the spring.

The moth is out in June and July, and may be found on oak trees rather high up the trunks. When on the wing at night it will visit the sugar patch.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 134.

1, 4, 7, 8. MOTTLED BEAUTY, VARS.

2. SPECKLED BEAUTY.

3, 5. RANNOCH BRINDLED BEAUTY.

6. SEPTEMBER THORN.

9. LARGE THORN, VAR.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 135.

2. GREAT OAK BEAUTY.

1, 3. PALE OAK BEAUTY.

{309} The species occurs most frequently in the New Forest, Hamps.h.i.+re, where, in some years, it is very common. Other English counties in which it has been found, or still exists, are--Devon (Cann Woods), Dorset (Cranborne and Bloxworth), Wilts. (Savernake Forest), Suss.e.x (Abbots Wood, Charlton Forest, Holme Bank, etc.), Surrey (Addington, June, 1902), Kent, Ess.e.x (Epping Forest), Berks., Bucks., Warwick (Princethorpe Wood), Worcester (Wyre Forest), Stafford (Cannock Chase), Ches.h.i.+re (Dunham Park), York (wood near Selby), Lancas.h.i.+re (Corporation and Quernmore Woods).

PALE OAK BEAUTY (_Boarmia consortaria_).

Some specimens are rather greyer, and the cross markings are occasionally less distinct than in Figs. 1 [male], and 3 [female] on Plate 135, which represent the typical forms of this species in England. Examples of a blackish form have been noted from a wood in West Kent, and these are apparently referable to the melanic ab. _humperti_, Humpert, but the Kentish specimens I have seen had the second line of fore wings edged with white, and a white submarginal line.

The caterpillar, which in shape is somewhat like that of the last species, varies in colour. One form is greenish grey, with three lines, the central one darker than those on each side. In another the colour is pale brown mottled with reddish and a darker brown. It feeds on oak, birch, and sometimes sallow, in July and August.

The moth is out in June and July, and specimens have been recorded as captured in September. It may be found on the trunks of oak and fir trees, and will come to sugar and light at night. Although local it is not uncommon in the New Forest and other woods in Hamps.h.i.+re; also in Suss.e.x, Surrey, Kent. {310} and Berks.h.i.+re. It has been recorded from Buckinghams.h.i.+re, Wilts.h.i.+re, and Dorsets.h.i.+re; and as local and scarce in the Lancaster district.