Volume Ii Part 43 (1/2)

In its infancy it is a smooth-looking creature, but as it advances in growth k.n.o.bs and humps appear, the most prominent of which are on rings 2, 5, 8, and 11; on the {274} last ring there are two points. It feeds on oak chiefly, but will eat birch, lime, etc.: May to July. The moth is out in August and September, and occurs more or less frequently in most of the southern counties of England, but is rather scarce in the Midlands and northwards. It occurs in South Wales, and has been recorded from the south of Scotland. Very rare in Ireland.

NOTE.--The species of _Ennomos_ are fond of light, and in suitable spots, gas and electric lamps, in the streets, or even in the house when windows are open, will attract these moths. Most of the specimens of _autumnaria_ that have been captured in Britain have occurred at light. _Quercinaria_ is, perhaps, less often noted at light than its allies; but, curiously, this species is more frequently seen at rest on tree trunks, etc., than are either of the other kinds. Female moths taken at light may not always be in first-rate condition, but they will probably lay eggs, and should be kept for that purpose in a chip box. The caterpillars do not hatch out until the following spring. Put the eggs in a cool place.

EARLY THORN (_Selenia bilunaria_).

The s.e.xes of the spring or typical form are depicted on Plate 112, Figs. 1 [male], 2 [female], and the paler summer form var. _juliaria_ (July Thorn), Haworth, is represented by Fig. 3. The underside is shown in Mr. H. Main's photo of the moth in its natural resting att.i.tude.

The caterpillar is orange or reddish brown, sometimes inclining to purplish; there are pairs of reddish raised points on the back of rings 7 and 8; as will be seen from the accompanying ill.u.s.tration, which is from a photograph by Mr. Main, the creature, when resting, is very like a twig. It feeds on birch, alder, sallow, hawthorn, sloe, etc., in May and June, and again in August and September. The moth is out in April and {275} early May. In 1905, a male occurred at Carnforth, Lancs., on June 8; the second generation appears in July and August. A third has been obtained in captivity, and the moths of this brood are similar to those of the second.

It has happened that the emergence of some moths of the second, or summer, form has been delayed until the following February, but these remained true to their race and did not a.s.sume the spring form.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 7.

EARLY THORN AT REST.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 8.

CATERPILLAR OF EARLY THORN.]

(Photos by H. Main.)

Generally distributed throughout England and Wales, and often abundant, especially in the south. In Scotland, Renton states that it is common in Roxburghs.h.i.+re, but there is only one brood; the range extends to Sutherlands.h.i.+re. Widely spread in Ireland and plentiful in some parts.

{276}

LUNAR THORN (_Selenia lunaria_).

A female of this species is shown on Plate 112, Fig. 4; the male is usually more clouded with reddish. A second generation is sometimes raised in captivity, and the males of this brood (var. _delunaria_, Hubner) are somewhat paler, whilst the females incline to a yellowish tint. In Scotch specimens, the reddish markings are tinged with purple; and ab.

_sublunaria_, Stephens, from Derbys.h.i.+re, has the coloration very similar to that of the spring form of _S. tetralunaria_.

The caterpillar is figured on Plate 113, Fig. 2. The ground colour is usually some shade of brown, ranging from greyish or greenish to reddish, variegated with darker or paler clouds, and with traces of pale lines on the back. It occurs in the open from July to September, but may be reared both earlier and later in confinement. It feeds on sloe, plum, oak, birch, etc. The moth, in May and June, is sometimes seen on hedges or on the plants growing below; or it may be jarred from the branches of trees, when it is more apt to fall to the ground than to fly. Like others of this group it is fond of light, and is frequently attracted thereto at night. The species is rarely plentiful, and always more or less local, but it is widely distributed over the British Isles to the Orkneys.

PURPLE THORN (_Selenia tetralunaria_).

On Plate 112, Fig. 5 represents a specimen of the spring brood, and Fig. 6 one of the summer brood (var. _aestiva_, Staudinger). The ground colour of the typical form is whitish, sometimes tinged with grey, and sometimes with pinkish; the patch at the tip, and the basal two-thirds of the fore wings, also the basal half of the hind wings, are purplish brown, varying almost to blackish; or they may be rich red brown. Var. _aestiva_ is rarely whitish in ground colour, but this is frequently of a pinkish tinge, and the darker portions of the wings are brownish, inclining to olive; sometimes the general colour is ochreous brown with dark brown cross lines, and a rust-coloured lunule at the tips of the fore wings. The hybrid resulting from a female of this species that had paired with a male _bilunaria_ has been named _parvilunaria_, Bastel. At the time it is laid, the egg is pale olive green, but it changes to s.h.i.+ning reddish, and just before hatching to purplish black. (Plate 113, Fig. 1a.)

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 112.

1-3. EARLY THORN.

4. LUNAR THORN.

5, 6. PURPLE THORN.

7, 8. LILAC BEAUTY.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 113.

1, 1a. PURPLE THORN: _eggs and caterpillar_.

2, 2a. LUNAR THORN: _caterpillar and chrysalis_.

3. AUGUST THORN: _caterpillar_.