Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera The Tiger Moth – Arctia Caia This splendid moth is exceedingly variable in its colour and markings, but its usual appearance corresponds closely with that of the illustration on Plate X (fig. 3). In some specimens the cream colour almost entirely covers the fore wings, while in others all four of the wings are […]

Lepidoptera The Large Elephant Moth – Charocampa Elpenor This species (Plate IX, fig. 3) is very similar to the last in form and markings; but is, as its name implies, larger. The caterpillar, too, is very like that of the last species, but may be distinguished from it by the possession of a short black […]

Lepidoptera The Lulworth Skipper Butterfly – Hesperia Actaon Although this species is somewhat similar to the two preceding, it may be readily distinguished by the heavy clouding of dull greenish brown that almost covers the wings. The male, which is shown in fig. 14 of Plate VII, has a black streak across the fore wings, […]

Lepidoptera The Green Silver-lined Moth – Hylophila Prasinana This family, under the name of Chloephorida, is included by some authors among the Tortrices (page 298), which they somewhat resemble in habits. It contains only four species, of which we will take one example-the Green Silver-lined. Fig. 108.-The Green Silver-lined. The fore wings of this insect […]

Lepidoptera The Grey Arches Moth – Aplecta Nebulosa Fig. 169.-The Grey Arches. The fore wings of this moth vary from greyish white to a rather dark smoky tint. The markings are of a darker colour, and are also subject to considerable variation. The orbicular and reniform spots are large, and paler than the ground colour; […]

Lepidoptera The Forester Moth – Ino Statices Fig. 105.-The Forester. The fore wings of this species are semi-transparent, and of a beautiful glossy green. The hind wings also are semi-transparent, but of a dull smoky tint. The thorax and abdomen are both of a brilliant metallic green colour. The tips of the antenna are blunt, […]

Lepidoptera The Dark-green Fritillary Butterfly – Argynnis Aglaia This butterfly is larger than Latona, as will be seen by reference to Plate II, fig. 8. Its colour is, as usual with the Fritillaries, a tawny brown with black markings. The female is usually larger than the male, and she is further distinguished by the ground […]

Lepidoptera The Common Carpet Moth – Melanippe Sociata Fig. 203.-The Common Carpet. The genus Melanippe contains twelve species, some of which are extremely common. One of these moths-the Common Carpet-is represented in fig. 203. Its wings are all of a smoky-brown colour, crossed by numerous white lines, the arrangement of which may be gathered from […]

Lepidoptera The Small White Butterfly – P. Rapa This butterfly closely resembles the last species except in point of size. The male, represented on Plate I (fig. 4), has a dark grey blotch at the tip of each fore wing, a round spot of the same colour beyond the centre of that wing, and another […]

Lepidoptera Family Fidoniida Moths We now come to a family of moths peculiar for their habit of flying more or less by day. As is often the case with day-flying moths, these are mostly prettily marked, and are consequently often mistaken by the uninitiated for butterflies. Most of them are to be found on heaths, […]