Butterflies and Moths Part 36

_The Common Wainscot_ (_Leucania pallens_)

This moth is very much like the last. The fore wings exhibit the same three dots, but it may be distinguished by the pale colour of the hind wings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 144.--THE COMMON WAINSCOT.]

The larva feeds on various gra.s.ses in March and April. It is of a pinkish grey colour, with two rows of black dots on each side of the dorsal line. There are also three stripes along the side, two of which are brownish and the other grey.

The moth is common everywhere from June to August.

_The Bullrush_ (_Nonagria arundinis_)

Our last example of this family is the Bullrush, a moth that is common in all parts where its food plant abounds.

It is much larger than the two preceding species. The fore wings are yellowish brown, with three parallel transverse lines of black spots.

The hind wings are whitish, tinged with brown near the hind margin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 145.--THE BULLRUSH.]

The caterpillar is of a dull pinkish colour, with a s.h.i.+ning brownish plate on the second segment. The spiracles are black. It feeds inside the stems of the reed-mace (_Typha latifolia_), and changes to a chrysalis within the gallery it has excavated, after making a hole through which it can escape when it attains the perfect form.

The caterpillar may be found in May and June, the chrysalis in August, and the moth in September.

Family--APAMEIDae

This large family contains no less than forty-four British species, many of which are exceedingly common; and of the others only about half a dozen can be regarded as rare.

Most of them are of medium size, and with one or two exceptions are dressed in rather dingy garbs; but, although the ground colours are dull, the various markings of the wings are sharply defined. They may be searched for on palings and the bark of trees by day, at which time they repose with their wings sloping like the sides of the roof of a house.

Some are easily attracted by lights, and others partake freely of the entomologist's 'sugar.'

The larvae have small retractile heads, and feed on low-growing plants, keeping themselves well concealed on the lower leaves close to the ground.

_The Frosted Orange_ (_Gortyna Ochracea_)

We commence with one of the brightest members of the family, the Frosted Orange. Its fore wings are dark yellow or ochreous, with distinct brown markings, the chief of which are two broad transverse bands. The orbicular spot is pale yellow and very distinct. The hind wings are dingy yellow. This moth flies from July to September, and is easily attracted by a light at night. It is common everywhere.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 146.--THE FROSTED ORANGE.]

The larva is yellow, dotted with black, with a brownish plate on the second segment. It feeds inside the stems of a number of plants, including the marsh thistle (_Cnicus pal.u.s.tris_), musk thistle (_Carduus nutans_), burdock (_Arctium minus_), mullein (_Verbasc.u.m thapsus_), foxglove (_Digitalis purpurea_), and elder (_Sambucus nigra_). When about to change to the chrysalis it eats _nearly_ to the surface of the stem, leaving only a very thin and transparent layer of the epidermis to cover the hole through which it is to escape when it becomes a moth.

The caterpillars are to be found in June, and the chrysalides in July.

_The Flame_ (_Axylia putris_)

This also is a pretty insect, but much smaller than _Ochracea_. It is common in most parts, and may be seen flying in weedy and waste grounds at dusk during June and July.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 147.--THE FLAME.]

The fore wings are pale pinkish brown, with dark brown along the costa, and two patches of the same colour on the hind margin. There is also a double line of small brown dots parallel with the hind margin.

The larva is brown, with one yellow and two white dots on each segment.

There is also a triangular dark patch on each of the fifth and sixth segments. It feeds during August on the stinging nettle (_Urtica dioica_), and various other low herbs.

_The Light Arches_ (_Xylophasia lithoxylea_)

The fore wings of this species are very light ochreous, with a light brown patch on the middle of the costa, and patches of the same colour along the hind margin; also a row of small black dots parallel with the same margin. The hind wings are pale ochreous: they are brownish along the hind margin, and have a light fringe.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 148.--THE LIGHT ARCHES.]

The moth is very common in waste places, and flies in June and July.

The caterpillar is of a dirty white colour, dotted with black, and has a black head. It feeds on the roots of gra.s.ses in May.

_The Flounced Rustic_ (_Luperina testacea_)

The fore wings are greyish brown, with darker umber-brown markings.

These latter are variable, but the most conspicuous is a series of dark crescent-shaped spots almost parallel with the hind margin, and immediately outside these is a series of paler crescents.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 149.--THE FLOUNCED RUSTIC.]

The caterpillar is dull flesh-colour, with a brown head, and a brownish plate on the second segment. It feeds on the stems of gra.s.ses.

The moth is common throughout the British Isles, and flies in August and September.

_The Cabbage Moth_ (_Mamestra Bra.s.sicae_)

Whatever be your methods of moth collecting, you are sure to meet with _Bra.s.sicae_ in abundance. They swarm round the insect hunter's sugar in such numbers as to become a positive nuisance. They are also attracted by light. During the day they may be seen at rest on palings. The caterpillar is even better known, and with reason, for it is fearfully destructive to our vegetables and even our flower beds. It burrows into the hearts of cabbages, filling the galleries it makes with its excrement, often leaving no very visible outward signs of its presence within. But its ravages are by no means confined to cabbages. It eats with more or less relish almost every vegetable and flowering plant of our gardens, and is equally partial to the various herbs of the field.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 150.--THE CABBAGE MOTH.]

The fore wings of the moth are dingy brownish grey, marbled in a very confused manner by darker markings. The _reniform_ spot is very distinct, the orbicular less so. A light zigzag line runs parallel with the hind margin. It flies in June and July.

The larva feeds later in the season, and changes to the chrysalis beneath the soil in the autumn. It is of a dark grey colour, with a darker line on the back, and a lighter one along the spiracles, which are white.

_The Dot_ (_Mamestra Persicariae_)

The conspicuous white reniform spot on the very dark marbled fore wings is always sufficient for the identification of this species.

This moth is out in June and July; and during the latter month lays its eggs on the elder (_Sambucus nigra_), and the various low plants that supply the larva with food.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 151.--THE DOT.]