_Butterfly_ (Fig. 98): As large or somewhat smaller than the preceding
species. Wings milky white on their upper side; fore wings dusted with
black on their front margin, tips, and ends of the ribs. Two spots on
the middle of the fore wing in the female, one or none in the male.
Under side of the hind wings yellow; under side of the veins dusted with
greenish grey. _Caterpillar_: A little over an inch. Dull bluish-green,
with minute blackish tubercles above, and whitish ones below. A yellow
longitudinal line on each side connecting the black spiracles, which are
bordered by reddish yellow. Very like the preceding species in the
larval condition. Habits as in the preceding species, but this is less
common.
[Illustration:
FIG. 98.—The Green-veined White (_Pieris napi_).
]
Family: =Noctuidæ= (_Owlet Moths_).
Night-flying moths, of medium size and dull colour, with smooth-haired
bodies. Antennæ long and thin, thread like,—comb-shaped only in the
males of a few species; wings powerful, lie in a roof-like way when at
rest; almost always a wing-hooklet. Caterpillars usually hairless;
mostly with five pairs of pro-legs, a few with four or three pairs. The
owlets pair at night; they also fly about during the day, even in bright
sunshine. Flight strong and rapid, but always in fits and starts. Almost
all species lay their eggs separately, and on herbs, only a few species
on trees. The caterpillars are very much scattered, and the damage
caused by them is never great, except in spots here and there,—on the
contrary, when they increase to a great extent they spread over a wider
area. Several species are harmful to agriculture.
The =Surface Caterpillars= (Species of _Agrotis_)
are stout caterpillars, 1⅕ to 2 inches long, with five pairs of
pro-legs, and shining transparent external skin. They remain in the
ground during the day, feeding above ground at night, and also in the
daytime when the sky is much overcast. When touched they bend themselves
into the form of a C. There are in Britain several species of surface
caterpillars which have these habits, but I will only describe here, to
begin with, the commonest kind:—
[Illustration:
FIG. 99.—The Common Dart or Turnip Moth (_Agrotis segetum_) with
Caterpillar.
]
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