Moths

Lepidoptera Family Orthosiida Moths 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 […]

Lepidoptera The Common Footman Moth – Lithosia Lurideola Fig. 111.-The Common Footman. The fore wings of this species are of a leaden grey, with a bright yellow costal stripe which dwindles to a point just before it reaches the tip. The hind wings are very pale yellow. The larva is black, with a reddish line […]

Lepidoptera Depressaria Nervosa Moth Fig. 237.-Nervosa-Twice Natural Size. The next family-Gelechiida-is represented by the species Nervosa, which is common in many localities. Its fore wings are reddish brown, and are marked by a number of short longitudinal streaks of a darker colour. The hind wings are light grey. The caterpillar is black, marked with black […]

Lepidoptera Family Leucaniida Moths In this family we have a number of rather small moths, with, generally, no markings on their wings, save, perhaps, a few dots or streaks. Their larva feed principally on grasses and reeds, and change to the chrysalis state either in a cocoon among the food plants, or under the surface […]

Lepidoptera The Figure Of Eight Moth – Diloba Caruleocephala Fig. 141.-The Figure of Eight. The fore wings are brownish grey. Near the middle of the wing, but nearer the costa than the inner margin, are two whitish spots that resemble the figure 8. The hind wings are dull brownish grey, with darker wing rays, and […]

Lepidoptera The Willow Beauty Moth – Boarmia Gemmaria Fig. 180.-The Willow Beauty. Our second example of the Boarmiida is the Willow Beauty, the male of which species is here illustrated. Its wings are brownish grey, marked with dark brown lines and streaks. The female is generally larger than the male, and has simple antenna. The […]

Lepidoptera The Rustic Shoulder-knot Moth – Apamea Basilinea Fig. 152.-The Rustic Shoulder knot. The fore wings of this species are pale ochreous grey, with light brown markings; and there is a short dark streak in the middle of the base, from which feature the specific name (Basilinea) is derived. The hind wings are of a […]

Lepidoptera The Common Quaker Moth – Taniocampa Stabilis Several of the species of the family are known popularly as Quakers, the commonest of which-Stabilis-is abundant in all parts. Fig. 163.-The Common Quaker. Its fore wings are grey, with generally either an ochreous or reddish tinge. The orbicular and reniform spots are outlined with a paler […]

Lepidoptera The Narrow-winged Pug Moth – Eupithecia Nanata Early in May, and frequently in April, this pretty little moth may be seen flying about at dusk among the heather on our moors. It is one of the first Pugs of the season, and is widely distributed, and very common in some localities. Fig. 198.-The Narrow-winged […]

Lepidoptera The Clifden Nonpareil Moth – Catocala Fraxini This is the largest of the family, and, indeed, of all British Noctua. The fore wings and thorax are light grey, dotted and marbled with darker grey (see fig. 5, Plate XI); and the thorax and abdomen are banded with black and greyish blue. The young entomologist […]