Butterflies and Moths

Lepidoptera The Smoky Wainscot Moth – Leucania Impura This same genus includes a number of moths, very similar in general appearance, and popularly known as the ‘Wainscots.’ Of these we shall take two examples. Fig. 143.-The Smoky Wainscot. The first is the Smoky Wainscot, so called from the dark smoky tint of the hind wings. […]

Lepidoptera Facts Catching Butterflies There was a time when we would try to capture a butterfly at rest on a flower by a quick sweep of the hand, or, more commonly, by a sharp downward stroke of the cap. We were led to this action by a mere childish love of sport, or by a […]

Lepidoptera The Cream-spot Tiger Moth – Arctia Villica There is yet another Tiger-the Cream-spot-too beautiful and too common to be excluded from our list. It is represented on Plate X (fig. 4); and, like the others of its genus, is so boldly marked that mistaken identity is impossible. It is a very sluggish moth, more […]

Lepidoptera Family Drepanulida Moths We now reach a family containing six small moths that differ in many important particulars from those we have just been considering. They are of such slender build that a beginner may easily mistake them for Geometers. Their wings, though small, are broad, and well proportioned to their bodies. In five […]

Lepidoptera The Short-cloaked Moth – Nola Cucullatella We select this common moth as a representative of the small family Nolida, which contains only five British species. These are all small insects. They are nocturnal in their habits, and may be found at rest on the trunks of trees during the daytime. The caterpillars are hairy, […]

Lepidoptera The Brown Hairstreak Butterfly – Thecla Betula The five Hairstreaks which constitute the genus Thecla are all pretty insects, characterised by hair-like streaks on the under surface. Fig. 83.-The Brown Hairstreak-Male. Betula is the largest of these. Its upper surface is of a deep brown colour, with orange-brown marks at the anal angles of […]

Lepidoptera Family Apameida Moths This large family contains no less than forty-four British species, many of which are exceedingly common; and of the others only about half a dozen can be regarded as rare. Most of them are of medium size, and with one or two exceptions are dressed in rather dingy garbs; but, although […]

Lepidoptera The Burnished Brass Moth – Plusia Chrysitis Fig. 174.-The Burnished Brass. One of the commonest of the Plusiida is the Burnished Brass, so called on account of the large patches of bright golden green on the fore wings. The hind margin of these wings is very gracefully curved, and bordered with brown. A brown […]

Lepidoptera Family Hadenida Moths Nearly fifty British Noctua are included in the family Hadenida. They are of variable dimensions, and differ much in the brightness of their colours, some being very dingy, and others gaily tinted. Their antenna are rather long; and when at rest the wings slope from the back like the sides of […]

Lepidoptera Tortrix Xylosteana Moth This pretty moth is common in most parts, and may often be met with in abundance in wooded localities during July. It belongs to the family Tortricida. Fig. 224.-Xylosteana with wings closed. Its fore wings are ochreous brown. A very dark oblique streak, edged with yellow, runs from the inner margin […]