Moths

Lepidoptera The Dot Moth – Mamestra Persicaria Fig. 151.-The Dot. The conspicuous white reniform spot on the very dark marbled fore wings is always sufficient for the identification of this species. This moth is out in June and July; and during the latter month lays its eggs on the elder (Sambucus nigra), and the various […]

Lepidoptera The Chinese Character Moth – Cilix Glaucata Fig. 130.-The Chinese Character. The fore wings of this species are white, with a broad dark blotch from the inner margin to near the costa. The central portion of this blotch is marked with silvery spots which are said to resemble Chinese characters. The hind margin is […]

Lepidoptera The Flame Moth – Axylia Putris This also is a pretty insect, but much smaller than Ochracea. It is common in most parts, and may be seen flying in weedy and waste grounds at dusk during June and July. Fig. 147.-The Flame. The fore wings are pale pinkish brown, with dark brown along the […]

Lepidoptera Sciaphila Octomaculana Moth Our single example of the family Sciaphilida is the species Octomaculana, which, though not very abundant, is widely distributed, and moderately common in parts. Fig. 230.-Octomaculana-Enlarged. Its fore wings are white, dusted with grey, and each is marked with four dark grey patches which have given rise to its specific name-a […]

Lepidoptera The Hornet Clearwing Of The Poplar Moth – Trochilium Apiformis We can find space for a mention of only two of the clearwings, the first of which is an insect that closely resembles the dreaded hornet, and whose larva feeds in the stems of poplars-features which will account for the above name. Fig. 103.-The […]

Lepidoptera Hyponomeuta Padellus Moth The family Hyponomeutida contains about twenty insects, some of which are very common and exceedingly destructive to our trees. In May and June hawthorn and fruit trees may be seen swarming with the gregarious larva of some of them, and almost entirely stripped of their leaves. Fig. 236.-Padellus. The species here […]

Lepidoptera The Smoky Wainscot Moth – Leucania Impura This same genus includes a number of moths, very similar in general appearance, and popularly known as the ‘Wainscots.’ Of these we shall take two examples. Fig. 143.-The Smoky Wainscot. The first is the Smoky Wainscot, so called from the dark smoky tint of the hind wings. […]

Lepidoptera The Cream-spot Tiger Moth – Arctia Villica There is yet another Tiger-the Cream-spot-too beautiful and too common to be excluded from our list. It is represented on Plate X (fig. 4); and, like the others of its genus, is so boldly marked that mistaken identity is impossible. It is a very sluggish moth, more […]

Lepidoptera Family Drepanulida Moths We now reach a family containing six small moths that differ in many important particulars from those we have just been considering. They are of such slender build that a beginner may easily mistake them for Geometers. Their wings, though small, are broad, and well proportioned to their bodies. In five […]

Lepidoptera The Short-cloaked Moth – Nola Cucullatella We select this common moth as a representative of the small family Nolida, which contains only five British species. These are all small insects. They are nocturnal in their habits, and may be found at rest on the trunks of trees during the daytime. The caterpillars are hairy, […]