Butterflies and Moths

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 […]

Lepidoptera The Grass Rivulet Moth – Emmelesia Albulata We represent the genus Emmelesia by the Grass Rivulet-a pretty little moth that flies in June, and which is widely distributed though not abundant. Fig. 196.-The Grass Rivulet. Its fore wings are pale grey, crossed by several white lines, the arrangement of which may be seen in […]

Lepidoptera The Brimstone Butterfly – Gonopteryx Rhamni This, the last member of the present family, is remarkable for the graceful outline of its wings. The costal margins of the fore pair are most beautifully arched, and both pairs are sharply angled on the hind margins. This latter characteristic is quite unique among British butterflies, though […]

Lepidoptera Facts Butterfly And Moth Larva In almost every case the young caterpillar, on quitting the ‘shell’ of the egg, finds itself standing on and surrounded by its natural food, and immediately commences to do justice to the abundant supply. It will either nibble away at the surface of the leaf, removing the soft cellular […]

Lepidoptera The Shears Moth – Hadena Dentina Fig. 170.-The Shears. The Shears is another very common moth of the same family. The ground colour of the fore wings is very variable, but is generally a lighter or darker shade of grey. Sometimes, however, it has a very decided brownish tinge. Across the centre of the […]

Lepidoptera The Common Wainscot Moth – Leucania Pallens Fig. 144.-The Common Wainscot. This moth is very much like the last. The fore wings exhibit the same three dots, but it may be distinguished by the pale colour of the hind wings. The larva feeds on various grasses in March and April. It is of a […]

Lepidoptera The Pterophori Moth The members of this remarkable group are easily distinguishable from all other moths by the feathery appearance of their wings, a feature that has gained for them the popular name of Plume Moths. Their fore wings are more or less divided or cleft, and their hind wings are generally divided into […]

Lepidoptera The White Admiral Butterfly – Limenitis Sibylla The White Admiral (Plate IV, fig. 5) is neither so pretty nor so common as its red namesake, but it is nevertheless a fine insect, although the chief beauty is reserved for the under surface. Above, the ground colour is a very dark rusty brown, relieved by […]