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 Border-has fore wings of a rich reddish or violet brown, with paler markings. The hind wings are bright orange, with a broad marginal band of black.
It is a common moth, particularly in the south-western counties, and flies during July and August.
The caterpillar is of a dingy yellowish or greenish grey, with a light line down the back, and two black spots on each side of segments nine to twelve inclusive. It feeds throughout the winter by night on dead nettles (Lamium purpureum and L. album), primrose (Primula acaulis), whitethorn (Cratagus oxyacantha), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), and various low plants; and may sometimes be seen in flower gardens. It is full grown in April.