Butterflies and Moths Part 38

_The Lesser Broad Border_ (_Triphaena ianthina_)

We now come to the third and last genus (_Triphaena_) of this extensive family, a genus which includes six interesting moths, with bright orange or yellow hind wings. Of these we shall take three examples.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 159.--THE LESSER BROAD BORDER.]

The first of them--the Lesser Broad Border--has fore wings of a rich reddish or violet brown, with paler markings. The hind wings are bright orange, with a broad marginal band of black.

It is a common moth, particularly in the south-western counties, and flies during July and August.

The caterpillar is of a dingy yellowish or greenish grey, with a light line down the back, and two black spots on each side of segments nine to twelve inclusive. It feeds throughout the winter by night on dead nettles (_Lamium purpureum_ and _L. alb.u.m_), primrose (_Primula acaulis_), whitethorn (_Crataegus oxyacantha_), blackthorn (_Prunus spinosa_), and various low plants; and may sometimes be seen in flower gardens. It is full grown in April.

_The Lesser Yellow Underwing_ (_Triphaena Comes_)

This insect is very similar to the last, but is larger. The fore wings are also of a greyish or ochreous brown, and the black margin of the hind wings is proportionately narrower.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 160.--THE LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING.]

It is more abundant than _Ianthina_; in fact it is to be found everywhere in plenty during the month of July.

The caterpillar is yellowish brown. On the back of each of the eleventh and twelfth segments are two conspicuous dark marks. The spiracles are white, and below them is a pale brown stripe. It feeds on the foxglove (_Digitalis purpurea_), chickweed (_Stellaria media_), thrift (_Armeria maritima_), and other low plants in the autumn, hybernates during the winter, and attacks sallows (_Salix Caprea_ and _S. cinerea_) and whitethorn (_Crataegus oxyacantha_) as soon as the buds appear in the spring. It is full grown in April, and then changes to a chrysalis on the surface of the earth.

_The Large Yellow Underwing_ (_Triphaena p.r.o.nuba_)

This is by far the commonest moth of the genus, and may be found everywhere, in town and country, from June to August. It is represented on Plate XI (fig. 1), but its fore wings are very variable, sometimes a cold dingy grey, but often of an exceedingly rich and warm brown. On the costal margin, not far from the tip, there is always a small black spot, which will serve to distinguish it from _Comes_.

The caterpillar (fig. 21) feeds throughout the winter on the roots of almost every plant in our gardens; and, during the warmer weather of the autumn and spring, on stems and leaves. It is full grown early in the summer, and then changes to a chrysalis in the ground. Its colour is dirty yellowish or greenish grey, with a row of dark spots on each side.

Family--AMPHIPYRIDae

_The Gothic_ (_Mania typica_)

The above family contains only four British species, two of which we shall briefly consider.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 161.--THE GOTHIC.]

The first of these is the Gothic--a very common moth that may be seen everywhere about midsummer. Its fore wings are brown with darker marblings, and there are numerous lighter markings which may be easily made out by reference to the accompanying woodcut.

The caterpillar is smooth and velvety, of a dull brown or greenish colour, with darker dorsal and side stripes. The latter are crossed obliquely by a series of whitish lines. It feeds on fruit and other trees in cl.u.s.ters when very young in early autumn, and afterwards descends and feeds on low plants. It hybernates in the winter, and feeds again on low plants in the spring. When full grown it burrows into the soil to undergo its changes.

_The Old Lady_ (_Mania Maura_)

This fine moth is so very different from the last in appearance that the reason for placing the two in the same genus is not apparent till the earlier stages and life history have been studied. All its wings are very deep brown; the front pair has a darker band containing the orbicular and reniform spots, and the hind pair a lighter band across the middle.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 162.--THE OLD LADY.]

It is a common moth, often to be found at rest by day in outhouses and sheds. It flies in July and August.

The caterpillar is dark purple or umber brown, with darker and lighter markings. It feeds in the autumn on fruit trees, and hybernates during the winter. In the spring it feeds again on low plants, and changes to a chrysalis in May under the ground.

Family--ORTHOSIIDae

This is a large family of over thirty species, most of them of rather small size, which make their appearance, with two exceptions, either in early spring or in late autumn, often attracted in the former season by the sallow blossom, and in the latter by ivy bloom.

Several of them are very common insects, that are almost sure to be taken by a young collector during his first season.

The fore wings of these moths are more or less pointed at the tip, and the usual lines and spots are generally distinct. The males may be distinguished from the females by their antennae, which are always more or less ciliated.

The caterpillars are smooth and velvety, and feed by night; and the pupae are inclosed in coc.o.o.ns constructed of earth and silk.

_The Common Quaker_ (_Taeniocampa stabilis_)

Several of the species of the family are known popularly as Quakers, the commonest of which--_Stabilis_--is abundant in all parts.

Its fore wings are grey, with generally either an ochreous or reddish tinge. The orbicular and reniform spots are outlined with a paler colour, and there is a pale transverse line parallel with the hind margin, outside which is a row of indistinct black spots. The hind wings are greyish brown.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 163.--THE COMMON QUAKER.]

The caterpillar is green and velvety, with a yellowish line on the back and on each side; and a yellow band crosses the back of the twelfth segment transversely. It feeds during June and July on oak (_Quercus Robur_) and elm (_Ulmus campestris_), and changes to a chrysalis in August on the surface of the ground. In this state it remains throughout the winter, and the moth emerges in March or April.

_The Chestnut_ (_Cerastis Vaccinii_)

Unfortunately our s.p.a.ce will not allow us to notice the whole of even the very common moths, so, pa.s.sing over a few with great reluctance, we come to the familiar Chestnut, which may be seen at large in October and November, and sometimes even in December, and again appears, after a rather short period of hybernation, in February and March.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 164.--THE CHESTNUT.]

The fore wings are reddish brown, with darker wavy lines. The orbicular and reniform spots have pale outlines, and the lower half of the latter is very dark grey. The hind wings are smoky grey, with generally a pale band beyond the middle.

The caterpillar is dark brown, with very indistinct lighter lines. The spiracles are black, and inclosed in a yellowish grey stripe. It feeds during June and July on the elm (_Ulmus campestris_), oak (_Quercus Robur_), and sallow (_Salix caprea_), and various low plants.

_The Pink-barred Sallow_ (_Xanthia Flavago_)

This moth is not nearly so common as the preceding species, but has been taken more or less in all parts of England.

Its fore wings are orange yellow, with purplish markings arranged as represented in fig. 165. The hind wings are yellowish white.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 165.--THE PINK-BARRED SALLOW.]

The caterpillar is brown, with a lateral stripe formed by numerous red, yellow and white dots. It feeds on sallow (_Salix caprea_) and various low plants.

It is full grown in June, and the moth appears in September.