Moths

Lepidoptera The Goat Moth – Cossus Ligniperda There are only three British species of this family, the largest of which is the Goat Moth, so called on account of the characteristic odour of the larva, an odour said to resemble that emitted by the goat. Fig. 118.-The Goat Moth. Fig. 119.-The Larva of Ligniperda Moth […]

Lepidoptera The Oak Eggar Moth – Bombyx Quercus The male of this species is shown on Plate X (fig. 5). The female is much larger, and of a pale tawny colour. The ground colour of the caterpillar is black; but it is so closely covered with short yellowish brown hairs that the black is scarcely […]

Lepidoptera The Heart And Dart Moth – Agrotis Exclamationis The destructive work of Segetum is assisted by similar operations of the Heart and Dart, the larva of which feeds voraciously on the roots of several of our cultivated vegetables, though the present species does not entirely confine its ravages to the farmer’s crops, but attacks […]

Lepidoptera Crambus Hamellus Moth Fig. 220.-Hamellus-Slightly enlarged. The family Crambida is represented by the above-named species, which has the popular title of Pearl-streak Veneer. It is not a common moth, but is to be obtained in some localities by beating low herbage. Its fore wings are ochreous and glossy, with a silvery streak from the […]

Lepidoptera The Kentish Glory Moth – Endromis Versicolor The beautiful Kentish Glory is the only British representative of its family. The male is shown in Plate X (fig. 7); the female is larger and similarly marked, but its colours are not so bright. This moth is not common, but may be seen occasionally in the […]

Lepidoptera Family Geometrida Moths The next family contains eight moths, mostly of small size, all of which have green wings, and are popularly known as the ‘Emeralds.’ In most cases the male may be distinguished by its pectinated antenna. There is no general characteristic by which we may know all the larva, but some have […]

Lepidoptera The November Moth – Oporabia Dilutata Fig. 194.-The November Moth. Our first example is the November moth-a rather dingy and very variable species that may be found almost everywhere in October and November. The ground colour of the fore wings is dingy grey, crossed by several darker lines, subject to considerable variations. The hind […]

Lepidoptera The Chestnut Moth – Cerastis Vaccinii Unfortunately our space will not allow us to notice the whole of even the very common moths, so, passing over a few with great reluctance, we come to the familiar Chestnut, which may be seen at large in October and November, and sometimes even in December, and again […]

Lepidoptera Family Larentiida Moths This is by far the most extensive family of the Geometra, containing as it does considerably over a hundred species, or well nigh a half of the whole group. The wings of the various species are smooth and more or less glossy, and the front pair are generally crossed by several […]

Lepidoptera The Silver Ground Carpet Moth – Melanippe Montanata Fig. 204.-The Silver Ground Carpet. In this species the ground colour is silvery white. The bases of the fore wings are blotched with pale brown, and a dark brownish-grey bar, containing a black spot, crosses the middle. The hind margins of the fore wings are faintly […]