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
The ground colour of the species shown on Plate 157, Figs. 7, 8, is usually
some shade of purplish grey, ranging from very pale to dark; the cross
lines are often indistinct, but occasionally they show up clearly; the
central shade, usually in evidence, is sometimes almost blackish and
broadened out to the second line; the orbicular and reniform have pale
margins but the centres are frequently no darker than the general colour.
The egg is greyish white with dark grey girdled dot.
When full grown the caterpillar is whitish or yellowish green, but always
whitish on the back: three white lines on the back, the central one rather
broad; head ochreous brown with a blackish spot on each side. It feeds from
April to June on aspen chiefly, but also on other kinds of poplar, hiding
by day between two leaves. The moth is out in March and April, and may be
found on the sallow catkins. It seems to be more or less rare in the South
of England, but it is locally not uncommon in many parts of the country
from Middlesex northwards to Yorkshire. Farther north it is again
infrequent, and this is also the case in Scotland and in Ireland. {330}
THE CLOUDED DRAB (_Tæniocampa incerta_).
Six specimens of this most variable species are shown on Plate 157, Figs. 1
to 6. To refer in detail to all the forms, named or otherwise, would occupy
much space, so that it can only be stated here that the general colour of
the fore wings ranges from pale greyish brown, through various shades of
reddish brown, to deep brown or purplish brown; the darker greys range
through slaty grey to purplish black. In all the lighter shades the wings
are usually much variegated, but they may be nearly or quite plain.
The egg is yellowish white with brown girdled dot.
The caterpillar is green, minutely freckled with whitish; three white lines
on the back, the central one broadest; a white stripe, edged above with
black, along the sides; usual dots black, minute, ringed with whitish; head
yellowish green with a few black dots. It feeds on sallow, oak, hawthorn,
also on apple, elm, etc. (Plate 156, Fig. 2.) The moth is generally to be
found at sallow-bloom in almost every part of the British Isles.
THE TWIN-SPOTTED QUAKER (_Tæniocampa munda_).
The fore wings range in ground colour from very pale ochreous (typical) or
pale greyish (var. _pallida_, Tutt), through reddish shades to a dingy
brown. The black or brownish twin spots on the middle of the submarginal
line are sometimes accompanied by others above and below them (var.
_geminatus_). In var. _immaculata_, Staud., the "twin spots," and also the
others, are absent. (Plate 158, Figs. 11, 12.)
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