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 moth (Plate 142, Fig. 2) is common in gardens, as well as along the
weedy wayside and hedgerow in all parts of England and Wales, Scotland to
Sutherland, and in Ireland. The caterpillar (Plate 139, Fig. 2) varies in
colour from brownish-grey to pale ochreous brown, or greenish grey,
freckled with darker; three pale lines on the first ring, and partly on the
second; some pale oblique streaks on the sides, and blackish marks on rings
ten and eleven, the latter more or less united behind; head of the body
colour darker marked. It feeds on all kinds of herbage, also on the leaves
of sallow, sloe, apple, etc. When young in large companies on the underside
of leaves. August to May. The moth flies in June and July.
THE CRESCENT (_Helotropha leucostigma_).
Of this purplish-brown species the typical form (Fig. 1), and the pale
banded form, var. _fibrosa_, Hübn., are shown on Plate 143. The
caterpillar, according to Buckler, is slaty brown, inclining to olive drab
above; three paler lines on the back; the spiracles are black and the usual
dots black-brown; head warm brown, very glossy; plate on first ring glossy
black, that on the last ring blackish brown. It feeds in the stems of
_Cladium mariscus_, sedge (_Carex paludosa_), and yellow flag (_Iris
pseudacorus_). May to July. The moth is out in late June, July, and August.
It inhabits fens and marshy ground, and seems to be found in such
localities throughout the British Isles, including the {294} Hebrides and
Shetlands. Abroad the range extends to Amurland, China, Japan, also North
America.
THE EAR MOTH (_Hydroecia_ (_Gortyna_) _nictitans_).
On Plate 143 are shown a more or less typical specimen of this species
(Fig. 3); the reddish spotted var. _erythrostigma_, Haw. (Fig. 4); and two
examples of the marsh or saltern form, _paludis_, Tutt (Figs. 5, 6), for
which specific rank has been claimed. Specimens found in marshes,
especially those by the sea, are usually somewhat larger than normal, but I
cannot see that they otherwise differ from forms of _nictitans_. The
caterpillar is greenish pink with pinkish grey stripes on the back and
sides; spiracles black, and usual dots dark brownish; head pinkish
ochreous, plate on ring one of the body yellowish brown. It feeds from May
to August on grasses, chiefly the lower part of the stems. The moth flies
in August and September, and is sometimes seen in the daytime on the
flowers of thistle and ragwort, etc., but far more frequently at night,
when it also visits sugar more or less freely. Usually common in marshy
places throughout our islands. The range abroad extends to Amurland, Corea,
Japan, and North America.
THE ROSY RUSTIC (_Hydroecia_ (_Gortyna_) _micacea_).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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