Volume I Part 35 (1/2)

The caterpillar is dingy ochreous yellow, with a dark purplish stripe, enclosing a central line of the ground colour, on the back; spiracles black; head dark brown, plates pale brown (Porritt). From September to June, in stems of _Carex glauca_, _Dactylis glomerata_, and other gra.s.ses.

The moth flies in July and August, and although rare inland is pretty generally distributed around the coasts of the British Isles; apparently, from the Clyde area, confined to the east coast of Scotland, and not extending north of Moray.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Pl. 134.

1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16. MARBLED MINOR MOTH.

2, 5, 8. MIDDLE-BARRED MINOR.

11, 14. ROSY MINOR.

3, 6, 9, 12, 15. CLOAKED MINOR.

17, 18. LEAST MINOR.

19-21. SMALL DOTTED BUFF.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Pl. 135.

1, 2. CLOUDED-BORDERED BRINDLE.

3. LIGHT ARCHES.

4, 5. CLOUDED BRINDLE.

6. REDDISH LIGHT ARCHES.

7, 8. SLENDER BRINDLE.

{277} THE CLOAKED MINOR (_Miana bicoloria_).

This is another variable species of the genus, and five specimens of it are shown on Plate 134. The typical form (Fig. 3) has the fore wings more or less brownish on the basal area, and whitish bordered with brownish on the outer area. Very frequently these wings are pale, or dark, brown marbled with darker brown, and with the stigmata and cross lines distinct, faint, or absent. Fig. 15 represents a form from Ireland, which is uniformly pale ochreous brown, sometimes reddish tinged. The caterpillar is yellowish ochreous, tinged with pink; three dull reddish interrupted bands, each intersected by a line of the ground colour; head reddish brown; plates on first and last rings of the body pale reddish brown (Buckler). In stems of gra.s.ses, such as _Festuca_ and _Aira_--April and May; probably after hibernation. The moth flies in August and September, sometimes earlier. At dusk it is often common in rough fields and gra.s.sy places near the sea.

Although found in some inland localities, it is more especially a coast species, and as such is widely distributed over the British Isles to the Orkneys.

THE LEAST MINOR (_Phothedes captiuncula_).

The pretty little moth shown on Plate 134, Figs. 17, 18, has the fore wings brownish ochreous, tinged with reddish brown, and with a darker central band and hind margin. Sometimes the whole basal area up to the white second line {278} is reddish brown; and in a form from Ireland named _tincta_, Kane, the coloration is somewhat similar to that of _M. literosa_. This species was first discovered in Britain by Messrs. Law and Sang, in a locality near Darlington, Durham, in 1854. It is now obtained in several places in that county, and in Northumberland. Also found in North Lancas.h.i.+re, Westmoreland, and once in Yorks.h.i.+re. It occurs commonly in Co.

Galway and Clare, Ireland, and has once been taken in Killarney. There is also a record from Perths.h.i.+re in Scotland.

The caterpillar is dull ochreous, with a reddish tinge inclining to purplish on rings two to seven; head reddish brown; plates on first and last rings yellow brown, the former edged in front with darker brown; spiracles black, three yellow spots on sides of rings two and three (Buckler). On _Carex glauca_ and other sedges, eating down the stems close to the roots. Will also eat ribbon gra.s.s--August to June. The moth flies, often in the early afternoon, from late June to August. It seems partial to rough fields, and hillsides, chiefly on the coast.

THE CLOUDED-BORDERED BRINDLE (_Xylophasia rurea_).

Of this common, generally distributed, and often abundant species, portraits of the typical form (Fig. 1), and of var. _alopecurus_, Esp.

(Fig. 2), will be found on Plate 135. The ground colour varies from the normal greyish white to a silvery white (var. _argentea_, Tutt), and through yellowish shades to a reddish ochreous; the markings in all these colour aberrations are more or less typical. In the var. _alopecurus_, Esp., there are also gradations; thus _combusta_, Haworth, is dark greyish brown; and a blackish brown, red tinged form is _nigro-rubidea_, Tutt. The caterpillar (Plate 130, Fig. 4) is variable in colour, one form is ochreous grey with three lines on the back, the central one white shaded on each side with grey; usual dots and spiracles are black; head blackish and s.h.i.+ning. From {279} August to May on gra.s.ses. The range abroad extends to Amurland.

THE LIGHT ARCHES (_Xylophasia lithoxylea_).

In this whitish ochreous species (Plate 135, Fig. 3) there is little variation except that the darker clouding is more p.r.o.nounced in some specimens than in others. The caterpillar is brownish grey, tinged with ochreous or with greenish; usual dots blackish, as also are the head and the plates on first and last rings of the body. October to May, feeding on stems of gra.s.ses, near the roots. The moth is out in June and July, and is often seen on fences, etc., in the daytime. Generally distributed, and common in most places throughout the British Isles. In Scotland, however, it does not range north of Moray, and only on the eastern side.

THE REDDISH LIGHT ARCHES (_Xylophasia subl.u.s.tris_).

Except that the fore wings are somewhat reddish tinged, and not so long, this species (Plate 135, Fig. 6) is very similar to the last. The caterpillar is also very like that of the Light Arches, but has more red in its coloration. The moth is out in June and July, and affects limestone and chalk localities, and these chiefly on the coast. In Berks.h.i.+re and adjoining counties it occurs in beech woods. Specimens have been recorded from Kendal in Westmoreland, but Yorks.h.i.+re has been considered the northern limit of the species in England. It has been recorded occasionally from the fens. Paisley and Bonhill are given as Scottish localities in the _Fauna of the Clyde Area_ (1901). Widely distributed in Ireland but most abundant in the province of Connaught.

_Xylophasia zollikoferi._ The home of this species would seem to be in parts of Hungary, Russia and Western Asia, whence it very occasionally finds its way across the continent {280} to England. Its British history is as follows:--a specimen taken at Deal, by Mr. Harding, October, 1867; one at Inverurie in Scotland, by Mr. Tait, September, 1871; and one at sugar by Mr. T. A. Lofthouse at Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, September 26, 1903. Also recorded from Norwich, September, 1905, and from Methley, Yorks, August, 1910. (Plate 153, Fig. 6.)