Butterflies and Moths Part 49

We shall now briefly examine a few of the commonest insects of the group.

_Tortrix xylosteana_

This pretty moth is common in most parts, and may often be met with in abundance in wooded localities during July. It belongs to the family _Tortricidae_.

Its fore wings are ochreous brown. A very dark oblique streak, edged with yellow, runs from the inner margin of the base. A reddish patch in the centre of the wing, also edged with yellow, is narrow on the costa, and expands as it approaches the inner margin. Beyond this are another dark patch on the costa and two reddish-brown blotches on the hind margin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 224.--XYLOSTEANA WITH WINGS CLOSED.]

The larva is greenish brown, marked with white spots which have black centres; and it feeds on oak (_Quercus Robur_), honeysuckle (_Lonicera Periclymenum_), and other plants, in the month of May.

_Tortrix viridana_

In June and July this pretty but destructive little insect may be seen flying in abundance in almost every oak wood. Its fore wings are one uniform pale green with the exception of a streak of yellow along the costal margin; and, when at rest, scores may exist on a single twig without being seen unless closely examined. The hind wings are of a pale smoky tint, and rather glossy.

The larva is green, with black spots, and feeds in May and June on the oak and other trees, often almost completely devouring the foliage.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 225.--VIRIDANA.]

_Peronea cristana_

This moth is not so generally abundant, but is very common in many of the woods of the south. It is remarkable for the large number of varieties that have been observed, many of which have been regarded as distinct species.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 226.--CRISTANA--ENLARGED.]

Its fore wings are of some shade of brown or grey, with a light streak of variable colour along the inner margin, and a tuft of raised white scales in the middle of the wing.

It flies during August and September.

_Ptycholoma lecheana_

Our last example of the family _Tortricidae_ is _Lecheana_, a moth that is common in most parts in June and July.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 227.--LECHEANA.]

Its fore wings are brown, lighter towards the base. There are no very distinct markings, but there is generally a darker patch in the middle of the wing, edged with a silvery streak on each side.

The larva feeds on several trees, including oaks and elms, in the month of May.

_Penthina pruniana_

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 228.--PRUNIANA.]

The next family--_Penthinidae_--contains the common species _Pruniana_, which may be readily known by its boldly marked wings. The basal portion of the fore wings, to the extent of nearly two-thirds of the whole, is very dark brown. The remaining third is almost white, and clouded with grey. The hind wings are smoky brown with a paler fringe.

The caterpillar of this species feeds on the blackthorn (_Prunus spinosa_) in May, and the moth flies in June and July.

_Ant.i.thesia salicella_

This moth is not nearly so common as the last species, but is fairly plentiful in some localities in the south of England. It belongs to the same family as _Pruniana_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 229.--SALICELLA.]

The fore wings are whitish at the base and along the inner margin, but the light tint is dotted and clouded with shades of brown. The remainder of the wings is marbled with dark brown of different depths, relieved near the hind margin with a little blue. The hind wings, as is usual with the _Tortrices_, are dull smoky brown.

The caterpillar is reddish brown with black spots, and feeds during May in rolled leaves of willows.

The moth flies in August and September.

_Sciaphila octomaculana_

Our single example of the family _Sciaphilidae_ is the species _Octomaculana_, which, though not very abundant, is widely distributed, and moderately common in parts.

Its fore wings are white, dusted with grey, and each is marked with four dark grey patches which have given rise to its specific name--a word which signifies 'eight-spotted.' The hind wings are grey.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 230.--OCTOMACULANA--ENLARGED.]

The caterpillar feeds on thistles and other plants, and the moth flies from August to October.

_Ephippiphora cirsiana_

This insect represents the family _Grapholithidae_. It is a common moth, and is widely distributed.

Its fore wings are greyish brown, with a large white patch on the middle of the inner margin; and beyond this white, in the a.n.a.l angle, is a pale grey patch containing three or four black dots. The tips of the wings are reddish brown.

The moth flies in June and July; and the larva, which feeds on thistles, may be found in the stems from October to the following May.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 231.--CIRSIANA--ENLARGED.]

_Carpocapsa pomonella_

The same extensive family contains a few moths that are very destructive to our fruits, the larvae burrowing into and living entirely within their substance. One of these--_Pomonella_--is popularly known as the Codlin, as its larva is so often found in the interior of small apples of the same name.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 232.--POMONELLA.]

The fore wings of this insect are grey, with a number of dark transverse lines. The spot in the a.n.a.l angle is edged with a coppery tint, and inclosed by a curved black line.

This moth is common in all parts, flying during June and July; and the larva may be looked for in apples and pears in August and September.