The Moths of the British Isles, Second Series: Comprising the Families Noctuidæ to HepialidæSouth, Richard
History
The Moths of the British Isles, Second Series: Comprising the Families Noctuidæ to Hepialidæ
South, Richard
Lepidoptera -- Great Britain; Moths -- Great Britain
The moth is out in June and early July, but it is rarely seen in the open,
although over sixty years ago a few specimens were put up from among grass
and netted at St. Osyth; in later years an example or two have been taken
at Sheerness in Kent. Possibly, others may also have been captured in one
or other of the insect's haunts, but records are silent on the matter.
Barrett mentions a specimen emerging in September, and the Rev. C. R. N.
Burrows notes that part of a brood of caterpillars reared from eggs, and
fed on _A. absinthium_, attained the moth state during the autumn. So far
as concerns {106} the British Isles it seems to be almost exclusively an
inhabitant of the salterns, or sea marshes of Essex.
Abroad, the species occurs inland, and is not confined to the coast; its
range extends eastwards to Siberia and Amurland.
THE SMALL GRASS EMERALD (_Nemoria viridata_).
This species, represented on Plate 43, Figs. 5 and 6, is readily
distinguished by its small size and the well-defined white cross line on
each wing. In most examples there is a more or less distinct whitish inner
line on the fore wings. Ab. _mathewi_, Bankes, has all the wings dusted
with orange scales, more especially on the outer marginal areas. A few
examples of this form were reared in 1905, with a number of normal
specimens, from eggs laid by a female captured in South Devonshire.
The caterpillar (figured from a skin on Plate 44, Fig. 1) is green,
roughened with whitish points; a dusky line along the middle of the back,
marked on the front and end rings, also between the rings, with purplish
red. Head, and first ring of the body, notched, the points reddish; last
ring of the body pointed. When at rest on a twig it assumes a rigid
posture, and the legs are tightly drawn together. It feeds on heather,
sallow, and birch, but the general experience appears to be that in
captivity it thrives best on a diet of hawthorn, and is especially partial
to the young shoots. It may be obtained in July and August, and the moth
comes out in the following May or June. In 1905, Mr. A. J. Scollick reared
some caterpillars from eggs laid June 2nd, and hatched June 16th; all duly
pupated, and a moth came up on December 20th of that year. Four others
appeared in January and February, 1906.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 42.
1, 1a, 1b, 1c. LARGE EMERALD: _egg, caterpillars and chrysalis_.
2, 2a. ESSEX EMERALD: _eggs, caterpillar and chrysalis_.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 43.
1. BLOTCHED EMERALD.
2, 3. ESSEX EMERALD.
4, 7. LITTLE EMERALD.
5, 6. SMALL GRASS EMERALD.
8, 9. COMMON EMERALD.
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