The Moths of the British Isles, First Series: Comprising the Families Sphingidæ to NoctuidæSouth, Richard
History
The Moths of the British Isles, First Series: Comprising the Families Sphingidæ to Noctuidæ
South, Richard
Lepidoptera -- Great Britain; Moths -- Great Britain
This extremely local little moth was unknown as an inhabitant of Britain
until 1847, when it was described as _L. pygmæola_, by Doubleday in the
_Zoologist_ for that year, and noted as having been found among rushes on
the coast of Kent. Two years later the insect was again referred to, and it
was then stated to be confined to a "space of about four hundred yards in
extent, on the coast of Deal." It then became known as the "Deal Footman."
During the past seventy years or so large numbers have no doubt been
removed from this locality, which is the only British one it was known to
occur in. It is still to be found there, although said to be less common
than formerly. In the _Entomologist_ for September, 1912, this species was
recorded as not uncommon on marram grass growing on the Norfolk coast.
Some present-day entomologists still incline to the opinion that the moth
is a distinct species, and not a local race of _lutarella_, which is found
throughout Central and Eastern Europe; ranging to South Scandinavia,
Finland, and eastward to Siberia and Amurland. The var. _pygmæola_ has been
obtained in Holland.
THE HOARY FOOTMAN (_Lithosia caniola_).
Fore wings silky whitish grey with a yellowish streak along the front edge;
the hind wings are whitish with a faint yellowish tinge. Some of the
specimens are entirely whitish (var. _lacteola_, Boisd.). July and August,
sometimes earlier. (Plate 99, Figs. 1, 2.) {186}
Caterpillar greyish brown, with a black line along the back, and a series
of irregular orange marks, representing stripes, on each side of it; these
orange marks are outwardly edged with black; an orange line low down along
the sides; warts greyish or brownish, each bearing a tuft of short pale
hairs. Head blackish, shining, notched on the crown, and studded with pale
bristles in front. Fed on lettuce from April 30, the date they were
received from Mr. Walker of Torquay. They were then quite small, the
largest not more than half an inch in length. They pupated in June, and the
moths emerged in July, all fine specimens. (Plate 98, Fig. 1.)
In the open the caterpillar feeds upon the black lichens growing on rocks,
etc., by the sea; also upon Dutch clover (_Trifolium repens_), kidney vetch
(_Anthyllis vulneraria_), and bird's-foot trefoil (_Lotus corniculatus_).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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