Moths

Lepidoptera The Currant Moth – Abraxas Grossulariata Fig. 191.-The Currant Moth. The family Zerenida contains only four British moths, and of these we select the Currant Moth or Magpie. This insect is exceedingly common everywhere, and on account of its general brightness of appearance, and also of its diurnal habits, it is often taken for […]

Lepidoptera Crambus Hortuellus Moth This is also an abundant species, to be met with everywhere during June and July. Fig. 222.-Hortuellus. Its fore wings are dull ochreous brown. The wing rays are whitish near the inner margin, and a brown line with a silvery edging crosses near the hind margin. The hind wings are dull […]

Lepidoptera The Swallow Tail Moth – Uropteryx Sambucaria Our first family-Uropterygida-has only one British representative, and that is the well-known Swallow Tail, so common in gardens and among hedgerows in the south of England. This species is shown on Plate XII (fig. 2), and the insect is so readily identified by the conspicuous ‘tails’ on […]

Lepidoptera The Small Mallow Moth – Eubolia Limitata This moth is pretty abundant in waste places from June to August, and is easily obtained by lightly beating the foliage of small bushes and low plants. Fig. 208.-The Small Mallow. Its fore wings are pale brown crossed by a broad central bar, the edges of which […]

Lepidoptera The Frosted Orange Moth – Gortyna Ochracea Fig. 146.-The Frosted Orange. We commence with one of the brightest members of the family, the Frosted Orange. Its fore wings are dark yellow or ochreous, with distinct brown markings, the chief of which are two broad transverse bands. The orbicular spot is pale yellow and very […]

Lepidoptera The Garden Dart Moth – Agrotis Nigricans This is another dingy moth, whose general appearance is so unattractive that the tyro might be inclined to neglect it. But it must not be omitted from our selection on that score, for our main object here is to give the beginner an acquaintance with those species […]

Lepidoptera The Meal Moth – Pyralis Farinalis The same family contains the common Meal Moth, so called because in the larval state it feeds on meal and allied substances. Fig. 210.-The Meal Moth. The fore wings are yellowish grey, with reddish basal patches, a broad reddish band along the hind margin, and two whitish indented […]

Lepidoptera Penthina Pruniana Moth Fig. 228.-Pruniana. The next family-Penthinida-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 […]

Lepidoptera Family Sesiida-the Clearwings Moth This family contains fourteen very pretty British insects that differ very much from other moths in many important and interesting particulars. Their antenna, like those of the Sphingida, are thickest beyond the middle, and those of the males are slightly ciliated or hairy. Their bodies are slender, and terminate behind […]

Lepidoptera The Beautiful China Mark Moth – Hydrocampa Stagnata Fig. 214.-The Beautiful China Mark. Our last example of the Pyralides-the Beautiful China Mark-belongs to the family Hydrocampida. This small family is remarkable for the fact that its four species spend their larval state in the water, feeding on the under surfaces of the leaves of […]