Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera Facts Collecting Butterfly And Moth Larva This occupation is generally far more productive to the entomologist than searching for ova. The latter are very small, usually well concealed, and to be detected only by a careful scrutinising use of the eyes; but the superior size of the larva, the frequent bright colouring, and the […]

Lepidoptera Family Acidaliida Moths The moths of this family, over thirty in number, are mostly of small size, and have slender bodies. As a rule the wings are not in the least angulated or scalloped, but in a few species the hind pair are slightly angled on the hind margin; and both fore and hind […]

Lepidoptera The Muslin Moth – Nudaria Mundana The family Lithosiida contains several small moths, distinguished from the other Bombyces by the narrowness of their fore wings. When the insects are at rest, all the wings are wrapped closely round the body. They fly at dusk on summer evenings, but may be obtained during the daytime […]

Lepidoptera Xanthosetia Zoegana Moth Fig. 233.-Zoegana-Enlarged. Our last example of the Tortrices is Zoegana, which belongs to the family Conchylida. Its fore wings are yellow, with a reddish streak along the costa near the base, and a small reddish spot opposite this near the inner margin. The tip of the wings is dark reddish brown, […]

Lepidoptera The Duke Of Burgundy Butterfly – Nemeobius Lucina The family Erycinida has only one British representative, commonly known as the Duke of Burgundy Fritillary, but although this butterfly certainly resembles the Fritillaries in general appearance (see figs. 9 and 10 of Plate VII), its habits and life history present many points of difference from […]

Lepidoptera The Marbled Beauty Moth – Bryophila Perla Our first family-the Bryophilida-contains only four British species. These are small and slender-bodied moths, whose larva feed in early morning on the lichens that cover stones and old walls, and conceal themselves by day in holes and chinks and under stones. The Marbled Beauty is the only […]

Lepidoptera The Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterfly – Argynnis Selene The interesting group of butterflies known as the Fritillaries vary considerably in size, but are remarkably uniform in the ground colour of the wings, which, in all cases, is a rich golden or sienna brown; and this ground is chequered with darker colours in such a […]

Lepidoptera The Angle Shades Moth – Phlogophora Meticulosa Fig. 168.-The Angle Shades Moth. This moth is so common and so widely distributed that it is almost sure to be taken by the young collector during his first season. Its wings are scalloped on the hind margin, and their colour light ochreous, often tinged with pink […]

Lepidoptera Family Liparida Moths Passing over the two small species which are the only British representatives of the family Cochliopodida, we come to the interesting Liparida, the remarkable feature of which is that most of the caterpillars are adorned with brush-like tufts of hair, and even the chrysalides are hairy. The perfect insects are not […]

Lepidoptera The Dark Crimson Underwing Moth – Catocala Sponsa This beautiful insect is represented on Plate XI (fig. 6). It will be observed that the black band crossing the centre of the hind wing is rather broad and sharply bent-an important feature, since it is the most serviceable distinguishing mark between this species and the […]