Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera The Marsh Ringlet Butterfly – Canonympha Typhon Fig. 82.-The Marsh Ringlet-Under Side. The upper surface of this butterfly is shown in the first figure of Plate VI, and the under side in the accompanying woodcut; but it must be remembered that the species is a very variable one, so much so that it is […]

Lepidoptera Family Bombycida Moths This family contains eleven thick-bodied moths, mostly of large size, in which the predominating colours are greys and browns. Their hind wings are generally paler than the front pair, and less distinctly marked; and the antenna of the males are pectinated. The caterpillars are very hairy, but the hairs are uniformly […]

Lepidoptera The Purple Hairstreak Butterfly – Thecla Quercus Fig. 85.-The Purple Hairstreak-Male. This pretty butterfly, by far the commonest of the Hairstreaks, though comparatively very small, reminds one forcibly of the noble Purple Emperor. Its haunts are the same oak woods, and its upper surface, though only a dull dark brown in certain lights, exhibits […]

Lepidoptera The Lesser Broad Border Moth – Triphana Ianthina We now come to the third and last genus (Triphana) of this extensive family, a genus which includes six interesting moths, with bright orange or yellow hind wings. Of these we shall take three examples. Fig. 159.-The Lesser Broad Border. The first of them-the Lesser Broad […]

Lepidoptera The Gothic Moth – Mania Typica The above family contains only four British species, two of which we shall briefly consider. Fig. 161.-The Gothic. The first of these is the Gothic-a very common moth that may be seen everywhere about midsummer. Its fore wings are brown with darker marblings, and there are numerous lighter […]

Lepidoptera The Poplar Kitten Moth – Dicranura Bifida Fig. 131.-The Poplar Kitten. Our illustration shows the arrangement of the white and grey on the wings of this moth, but the other Kittens (Bicuspis and Furcula) so closely resemble it that it is necessary to point out a mark of distinction. It will be observed that […]

Lepidoptera The Painted Lady Butterfly – Vanessa Cardui Although the time of appearance of this butterfly generally corresponds with that of the last species, yet it is exceedingly variable, so much so that it is impossible to give any fixed period as its season. It is, moreover, very capricious with regard to its localities and […]

Lepidoptera The V Moth – Halia Vauaria The family Macariida contains only five British species, four of which have the tip of the fore wings extended more or less into an angle, and the hind wings are also angled to a greater or less extent. Fig. 188.-The V Moth. Our only example is the V […]

Lepidoptera The Brindled Pug Moth – Eupithecia Abbreviata Our last example of the Pugs is the Brindled Pug, another early species, appearing on the wing in March and April. It is common in most parts, and may generally be easily obtained by searching fences and tree trunks. Fig. 199.-The Brindled Pug. Its fore wings are […]

Lepidoptera The Clouded Yellow Butterfly – Colias Edusa Not only are this and the last species similarly named, but a glance at the figures will show that they much resemble each other in appearance; and we shall also learn presently that in their habits and life history they have much in common. The male Edusa […]