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 species varies a good deal in the ground colour of the fore wings.
According to Barrett it ranges from pure white through pale reddish, rich
reddish (var. _desillii_, Pierret) reddish drab, yellowish drab, and
various shades of pale brown to brownish grey, and the markings to all
degrees of distinctness or obliteration, especially the latter. The two
specimens on Plate 106 have the markings fairly well defined (Fig. 1 is a
male, and Fig. 2 a female).
The caterpillar is ochreous grey, whitish tinged with pink, or greenish;
the lines and spots are greyish, and the spiracles large and black; head
and plate on first ring ochreous brown. It feeds on saltwort (_Salsola_),
sea rocket (_Cakile_), seablite (_Suæda_), sea holly (_Eryngium_), and
various other plants that flourish on sandy shores. It is usually full
grown in late autumn, when it goes down some depth into the sand, but does
not pupate until the spring. If the caterpillars are not full fed when
obtained they must be furnished with plenty of sand to burrow in, and kept
supplied with slices of carrot until it is seen that the last put in
remains untouched.
The moth flies in June and July, and may be found on the coasts of
Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent (Deal), Isle of Wight, Dorset,
Devon (Dawlish and Torquay), Somersetshire, South Wales, Cheshire,
Lancashire, and the Isle of Man. Rare in Scotland and in Ireland.
THE TRUE LOVER'S KNOT (_Agrotis_ (_Lycophotia_) _strigula_).
The white marked reddish moth (Plate 107, Fig. 1) frequents most of the
moorlands and heath and ling-clad heaths and {211} commons throughout the
British Isles. It varies in the tint of the reddish colour, and in the
greater and lesser prominence of the white markings. Specimens from
Scotland, especially from the Shetland Isles, are generally larger than
English examples, and are often clouded with darker tints. The caterpillar,
which is figured on Plate 109, Fig. 4, is reddish brown with a pale line
along the middle of the back edged with dark brown or blackish marks on
each side; a whitish or pinkish white stripe along the sides with a brown
edging above. Head ochreous brown, marked with darker. It feeds on heath
and heather, and hides by day in the moss or among dead leaves, etc., below
the food plant, August to May. The moth flies, sometimes by day, but
usually at night, in June, July, and in late seasons in August.
THE PORTLAND MOTH (_Agrotis_ (_Lycophotia_) _præcox_).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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