Volume Ii Part 41 (1/2)

_lutea_, c.o.c.kerell), but the markings {261} are of the usual pattern. The example of this form (Plate 104, Fig. 3) was reared from a large number of caterpillars I collected at Purley, in Surrey, a year or two ago, and was the only example among the moths resulting therefrom that was worth retaining. The very fine variety shown on Plate 104, Fig. 5, is ab.

_varleyata_, Porritt, which occurs in Yorks.h.i.+re, but is mostly reared in captivity from eggs obtained from a wild female in the first place, and subsequent pairings; the specimen figured is an especially fine example of the female s.e.x, raised among others of the same form by Mr. G. T. Porritt of Huddersfield, who has been good enough to lend it for the purpose.

Several other varieties of this species have been named and described by the Rev. Gilbert H. Raynor, but reference can only be made here to two of these; one is ab. _melanozona_, a Scottish form, in which there is a black blotch with traces of yellow in it at the base of the fore wings; a large black discal spot in the white central area; a black band, widening towards the front margin, before the faint yellow band, the latter followed by four black spots; hind wings with central black spot, and two series of black {262} spots beyond, seven in each series, separated by a well-defined white area. Fig. 2 on Plate 104 represents a specimen that approaches this variety. The handsome cream-coloured specimen (Plate 104, Fig. 4) is ab.

_lacticolor_, Raynor, and I am obliged to Mr. Adkin for the loan of these insects also.

The caterpillar and chrysalis are figured on Plate 101, Figs. 1, 1b; the former is creamy white, marked on the back with black blotches and dots, and lines of black dots on the sides; between the lower two rows is a broad reddish line; head, black; sometimes the whole body is black. It occurs in gardens, and sometimes is a serious pest where currants and gooseberries are cultivated; it frequently abounds on _Euonymus j.a.ponicus_. In the open country it feeds on sloe and hawthorn; sometimes it is found on elm (low growth in hedges), apple, navelwort (_Cotyledon umbilicus_), orpine (_Sedum telephium_), and in the Hebrides, on ling (_Calluna_). August to May, or early June, are the months in which it is found as a rule; occasionally it does not hibernate, but feeds up and attains the moth state in the autumn of the year that it hatches from the egg. The moth is out, normally, in July and August, and is generally distributed over the greater part of the British Isles.

The range abroad extends to East Siberia, China, and j.a.pan.

CLOUDED BORDER (_Lomaspilis marginata_).

Figs. 1 and 2 on Plate 107 represent the more usual forms, in both s.e.xes, of this rather common, but pretty, little moth. Occasionally, specimens are obtained in which, with the exception of a dark patch or two on the front margin, the wings are entirely white or slightly tinged with pale yellowish (ab. _pollutaria_, Hubner); a modification of this form is shown in Fig. 3.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 104.

1-5. MAGPIE MOTH VARIETIES.

6-8. CLOUDED MAGPIE VARIETIES.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 105.

1. SCORCHED CARPET: _caterpillar_.

2. CLOUDED BORDER: _caterpillar_.

3. COMMON WHITE WAVE: _caterpillar_.

{263}

Ab. _nigrofasciaria_, Schoyen, has a rather broad blackish band across the central area of each wing, and indications of such bands, in the shape of spots or dots, are seen in many examples of the species; occasionally, the irregular dark border of the outer margin of the wings is traversed by an interrupted whitish line.

The caterpillar is yellowish-green, with three dark-green double lines on the back, the central one blotched with purplish brown on the last ring; head, green, marked with purplish brown. The figure (Plate 105, Fig. 2) is from a drawing in colour by Mr. Sich. It feeds on sallow, willow, and aspen, and may be found almost throughout the summer from June. The moth is also met with during the summer months, but seems to be most frequent in May and June. The species prefers moist localities where sallows abound, and in such places seems to occur pretty generally over the British Isles.

In Scotland, however, it has not, apparently, been noted north of Moray.

The range abroad extends to Amurland and j.a.pan.

THE SCORCHED CARPET (_Ligdia adustata_).

The bluish-grey band on the outer third of the fore wings varies in width, and the velvety black marking thereon varies in amount; this area of the wings is also more or less clouded with reddish brown, and the underside of all the wings is much suffused with reddish brown, which gives the insect the burnt or scorched appearance to which both Latin and English names refer. (Plate 107, Figs. 4 [male] and 5 [female].) In June and early July, and again in late August and September, the red-spotted, bright-green caterpillar may be beaten from the spindle bushes (_Euonymus europaeus_) in hedgerows. (Fig. 1, Plate 105, is from a coloured drawing by Mr. Sich.) {264}

The moth is out in late April sometimes, but it is more frequent in May and June, and as a second generation in August, earlier or later in some seasons. It may be knocked out of hedges in which spindle is growing. The species is not uncommon in most of the southern English counties, but in the northern ones its occurrence is more casual. It has been recorded from North Wales; in Ireland it is fairly common in some western and southern counties, and rare in the east and north; in Scotland, only noted from the south-east, Arran, and the Hebrides.

Abroad, its range extends to j.a.pan, where it is represented by var.

_j.a.poniata_, Staudinger.

THE SLOE CARPET (_Aleucis_ (_Bapta_) _pictaria_).

This blackish-grey species (Plate 107, Fig. 6) has been confused in the past with _pictaria_, Thunberg, which is referable to _Cleora lichenaria_, and it was then known by the popular name of ”The Grey Carpet.” As the caterpillar feeds on the foliage of the sloe, and the moth is fond of resting on the stems and twigs, and appears at the time the bushes are wreathed in their snowy blossoms, the sloe carpet seems to be rather more suitable than are most of the names by which our moths are popularly known.

The caterpillar is dusky brown, with blackish V-shaped marks upon the back, white marks on rings 7 and 8, and a black line on the last ring. It feeds at night, in June and early July, and as it remains on the bushes during the day, it may be obtained by beating. At night the moths fly about the bushes for a short time, and then sit on the twigs, when they may be secured. Of course, a lantern will be a necessity.

Barrett states that stunted bushes on open heaths and hillsides are preferred to hedgerows. {265}

The species is very local, but generally not uncommon where it occurs, as, for example, in the New Forest, Hamps.h.i.+re; the Loughton and Colchester districts, Ess.e.x; and in some parts of Kent. It has been noted from Tilgate Forest, and other localities in Suss.e.x; and also from Surrey, Berks.h.i.+re, and Suffolk.