Butterflies and Moths Part 27

This b.u.t.terfly is common in all parts of England, and is found in a few localities in Scotland and Ireland. It frequents dry banks, and is particularly partial to the chalky districts of the south-eastern counties. It is on the wing in May, and a second brood appears in lesser numbers in August.

The caterpillar is pale green, with two yellow stripes on each side, and a row of black spots above each stripe. It feeds on the bird's-foot trefoil (_Lotus corniculatus_), and may be found in June, and again in September.

The chrysalis (Plate VIII, fig. 12) is shaped something like that of the last species, and is coloured green on the front segments, and a rose red on the abdomen.

The perfect insect is represented in fig. 12 of Plate VII.

_The Small Skipper_ (_Hesperia Thaumas_)

In briefly describing the various British b.u.t.terflies no mention has been made, except in a few cases, of the shape of the wings, this matter having been left to the reader's own observations of our ill.u.s.trations.

We will, however, call attention to the somewhat square-cut form of the wings of _Thaumas_ and the following species.

The above-named b.u.t.terfly (Plate VII, fig. 13) is a lively-looking little insect, its wings being of a bright tawny orange colour, bordered with black, beyond which is a light fringe. The male, which is the s.e.x figured, is distinguished from the female by an oblique black streak across the middle of the front wings. The under side is orange, with a decidedly greenish tinge.

The b.u.t.terfly is out in July, and is very abundant and widely distributed. It lays its eggs on various gra.s.ses, particularly the meadow soft-gra.s.s (_Holcus lanatus_).

The caterpillar hybernates through the winter, and is full fed in the following June, when it changes to a green chrysalis after spinning a light silken coc.o.o.n among the blades of gra.s.s. The colour of the caterpillar is green, with six longitudinal white stripes--two on the back, and two on each side.

_The New Small Skipper_ (_Hesperia Lineola_)

A few years since (1888) a b.u.t.terfly was taken in one of our south-eastern counties that closely resembled the well-known _Thaumas_ (or _Linea_), but which turned out to be a species not previously known in Britain. When, however, the distinguis.h.i.+ng features of the new b.u.t.terfly were made known, several entomologists discovered that they had already secured the new prize, but that, being ignorant of its characteristics, they had placed it in their series over the label _Thaumas_.

Since the above date, this new insect (Plate VII, fig. 18), which is named _Lineola_, has been taken in considerable numbers at Leigh, Harwich, Southend, and near s...o...b..ryness in Suffolk, as well as in the Fens of Huntingdons.h.i.+re; and it is highly probable that it may turn up in various other localities where it has not yet been observed.

It appears on the wing about the first week of July, a little later than _Thaumas_, but the two kindred species are often found flying together.

The chief points by which we distinguish _Lineola_ from the last species are these: The general appearance of the wings is a bit dingier than in _Thaumas_; the inner portion of the hind wings is of a bright tawny colour in _Thaumas_ but not in _Lineola_; the tips of the antennae are yellow beneath in _Thaumas_, but black in _Lineola_; and the black streak across the fore wings of the latter species is short and generally broken.

The eggs of _Lineola_ are laid at the end of July or beginning of August on various gra.s.ses, chiefly the various species of _Tritic.u.m_, but do not hatch till the following April.

The larva is full fed about the end of June or beginning of July, and then changes to a long yellowish-green chrysalis, from which the perfect insect emerges in two or three weeks.

_The Lulworth Skipper_ (_Hesperia Actaeon_)

Although this species is somewhat similar to the two preceding, it may be readily distinguished by the heavy clouding of dull greenish brown that almost covers the wings. The male, which is shown in fig. 14 of Plate VII, has a black streak across the fore wings, and the female possesses a semicircular row of tawny spots near the tip of the same wings, and also a tawny streak near the centre.

This is a very local species, having been found only in a few localities. At Lulworth Cove and 'Burning Cliff' in Dorset it has been met with in profusion. In Devon it frequents the rough ground near the cliffs at Sidmouth and Torquay; and it has also been reported as appearing at Stratford-on-Avon, Shenstone near Lichfield, and the neighbourhoods of Swanage and Tyneham.

One can scarcely hope to see this insect at large without making a special trip to one of its favourite haunts, in which case a day should be chosen toward the end of July or early in August.

_The Large Skipper_ (_Hesperia Sylva.n.u.s_)

During May, June, and August this b.u.t.terfly may be seen on gra.s.sy banks in nearly every part of England, as well as in certain localities of Scotland and Ireland.

The wings are all of a bright orange-brown colour, with a narrow black border, inside which is a broad shading of brown. The latter colour usually completely covers the hind wings with the exception of about half a dozen squarish spots; and the same colour, together with the dark brown wing rays, breaks up the light ground of the fore wings, often forming several squarish and triangular patches, most distinct near the tips. The male (Plate VII, fig. 15) may be readily distinguished from the female by the presence of a thick dark brown streak across the fore wings.

The under side of both s.e.xes is pale tawny brown, with a greenish tinge; and has several rather indistinct yellowish spots.

The larva is of a dull green colour, with a dark line on the back. Its upper surface is dotted with black, and there are white spots on the under side of the tenth and eleventh segments. It feeds on several kinds of gra.s.ses, some of its favourites being the meadow soft gra.s.s (_Holcus lanatus_), the c.o.c.k's-foot (_Dactylis glomerata_), and couch gra.s.s (_Agropyron repens_).

_The Silver-spotted Skipper_ (_Hesperia Comma_)

This species is very similar on the upper side to the last, except that the squarish spots of both fore and hind wings are much paler and much more distinct; and here, too, the male (Plate VII, fig. 16) is to be distinguished from the female by a black streak crossing the front wings obliquely. The under surface has a greenish tinge, more particularly on the hind wings; and this side is conspicuously marked with a number of _white_ square spots with sharp outlines, arranged as shown in fig. 96.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 96.--THE SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER--UNDER SIDE.]

Although common in some localities, this b.u.t.terfly is not widely distributed. It is confined to some of the southern and midland counties of England, and is particularly partial to the chalk districts of the south-east. On the chalk downs of Kent, Surrey, and Suss.e.x it is moderately common. It is on the wing during July and August.

The caterpillar feeds on certain leguminous plants, among which are the bird's-foot (_Ornithopus perpusillus_) and the bird's-foot trefoil (_Lotus corniculatus_).

_The Chequered Skipper_ (_Carterocephalus Palaemon_)

This is another local insect, more so even than the last, but it sometimes appears in profusion in certain limited districts. Kettering, Oundle in Northamptons.h.i.+re, and Monk's Wood in Huntingdons.h.i.+re are places where it has been taken freely. It appears in June.

The wings are chequered with very dark brown and orange. The fore wings are bordered with small rounded yellow spots, and beside these there are about nine very conspicuous yellow spots on the fore wing and three on the hind wing. The arrangement of these markings may be seen in fig. 17 of Plate VII.

The caterpillar feeds on the greater plantain (_Plantago major_).

PART IV

COMMON BRITISH MOTHS

CHAPTER XVII

_SPHINGES_

We have already observed the chief features by which we are able to distinguish between b.u.t.terflies and moths (page 56), so we shall devote the present division to a description of the characteristics and life histories of some of the latter insects.

The number of British b.u.t.terflies is so limited that s.p.a.ce could be found for a brief description of every species, but with moths the case is very different. There are about two thousand known British species of this division of the Lepidoptera, and every year adds some newly discovered insects to this long list; we shall therefore have to content ourselves with making a selection of these for individual mention.

In doing this I shall endeavour to provide the young entomologist with a fairly representative list--one that will enable him to become more or less intimately acquainted with all the princ.i.p.al divisions of the _Heterocera_; and his attention will be drawn especially to many which may be described as 'common' or 'generally distributed,' so that during his first few seasons at collecting he may be enabled to identify and study a fair proportion of his captures. Occasionally, however, one of the rarer species will be described in order to ill.u.s.trate some striking characteristic.

We shall commence with the tribe of _Sphinges_ or _Hawk Moths_.

This group consists of three families--the _Sphingidae_, including the largest of the 'Hawks,' and the 'Bee Hawks,' the _Sesiidae_ or 'Clearwings,' and the _Zygaenidae_, including the 'Foresters' and the 'Burnets'--numbering in all about forty species.

Family--SPHINGIDae