Butterflies and Moths Part 45

_The Brindled Pug_ (_Eupithecia abbreviata_)

Our last example of the Pugs is the Brindled Pug, another early species, appearing on the wing in March and April. It is common in most parts, and may generally be easily obtained by searching fences and tree trunks.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 199.--THE BRINDLED PUG.]

Its fore wings are very long in proportion. The colour is yellowish brown, crossed by darker lines. The fore wings have a very broad band of the ground colour, broken by two short lines, and crossed by a slender angulated stripe.

The caterpillar feeds on the oak in June.

_The Small Seraphim_ (_Lobophora s.e.xalisata_)

This moth is very much like the Pugs in general appearance, and is quite as small and even smaller than some of them; but it and the other members of its genus differ from the Pugs in that they cover their hind wings when at rest.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 200.--THE SMALL SERAPHIM.]

The fore wings are yellowish or pale brownish grey with four paler transverse lines, the two median ones of which are divided throughout by a darker fine wavy line. The hind wings are grey, paler at the base, and crossed centrally by a double darker line. This species flies in May and June, and though apparently widely distributed, can hardly be described as common.

The caterpillar feeds on the white willow (_Salix alba_) and sallow (_S.

caprea_) in August and September; and the chrysalis may be found in a silken coc.o.o.n among the fallen leaves throughout the winter.

_The Blue-bordered Carpet_ (_Melanthia bicolorata_)

This same family (_Larentiidae_) is remarkable for its large number of pretty moths, popularly known as the 'Carpets,' many of which are exceedingly common in our woods and gardens.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 201.--THE BLUE-BORDERED CARPET.]

Our first example of these is the Blue-bordered, which is pretty well represented in several counties of Great Britain and Ireland. Its white fore wings are boldly marked with a blotch of greyish brown at the base, and another extending from the middle of the costal margin more than halfway across. The hind margin is marked with two bluish grey bars, separated by a white line. The hind wings are white, with a very small dark spot, and a bluish grey margin something like that of the fore wings.

The caterpillar is green, with longitudinal stripes of a darker and lighter shade. It feeds in June on the alder (_Alnus glutinosa_) and blackthorn (_Prunus spinosa_); and when full grown it changes to a brown chrysalis within a light silken web.

The moth flies in July and August.

_The Beautiful Carpet_ (_Melanthia albicillata_)

The Beautiful Carpet belongs to the same genus as _Bicolorata_. Its wings are of a rich creamy white, clouded with grey along the hind margin. The basal blotches of the fore wings are large, of a dark brown colour, and marbled with a light tint. Near the tips of these wings is another conspicuous blotch of the same colour, from which a delicate wavy dark line runs to the inner margin. A small dark spot also lies near the middle of the costal margin of each of the four wings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 202.--THE BEAUTIFUL CARPET.]

The caterpillar is green, with a white line along the spiracles, and a triangular reddish spot on the back of segments four to ten inclusive.

It feeds on the bramble (_Rubus fruticosus_), raspberry (_R. Idaeus_), and wild strawberry (_Fragaria vesca_). It may be found in June and July.

The moth flies in June.

_The Common Carpet_ (_Melanippe sociata_)

The genus _Melanippe_ contains twelve species, some of which are extremely common. One of these moths--the Common Carpet--is represented in fig. 203. Its wings are all of a smoky-brown colour, crossed by numerous white lines, the arrangement of which may be gathered from our ill.u.s.tration better than from a written description. It is a double-brooded insect, appearing first in May, and then again about the end of July.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 203.--THE COMMON CARPET.]

The caterpillar is mottled with shades of brown and grey. On the back are five or six greyish-white lozenge-shaped marks, and there are a few white dots on the back of each segment. It feeds on the hedge bedstraw (_Galium Mollugo_), and when full grown it changes to a chrysalis in a light coc.o.o.n on the ground.

_The Silver Ground Carpet_ (_Melanippe montanata_)

In this species the ground colour is silvery white. The bases of the fore wings are blotched with pale brown, and a dark brownish-grey bar, containing a black spot, crosses the middle. The hind margins of the fore wings are faintly marked with pale brown, and lines of the same tint, more or less distinct, cross the hind wings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 204.--THE SILVER GROUND CARPET.]

This moth is very common in all parts of the country, and may be seen on the wing throughout the summer.

The caterpillar is light brown, with several longitudinal lines of different colours. On the back of each of the segments seven, eight, and nine is a distinct black V-shaped mark, terminating behind with a bright red spot. It feeds on the primrose (_Primula acaulis_) in the autumn, hybernates through the winter, and is full grown about the beginning of April.

_The Garden Carpet_ (_Melanippe fluctuata_)

Our third and last member of this genus is the Garden Carpet--a moth that must be pretty well known to almost everybody, since it is the commonest of all the _Geometrae_ that frequent our gardens.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 205.--THE GARDEN CARPET.]

The fore wings are pale grey or brownish, with a patch of dark greyish brown at the base, another larger one on the middle of the costa, and a third near the tip. The wing is usually clouded between the middle blotch and the inner margin, and numerous fine wavy lines, more or less distinct, cross the wing.

This moth may be seen throughout the summer, from May to September, but is most abundant in June and July.

The caterpillar is extremely variable in colour, being either green, brown, or grey, or some intermediate tint; and is marbled and dotted with dark brown on the back. It feeds on the nasturtium (_Tropaeolum majus_), rape (_Bra.s.sica Napus_), and various other cruciferous plants; and may be found from April to August.

_The Yellow Sh.e.l.l_ (_Camptogramma bilineata_)

Pa.s.sing over two smaller genera, we come to the beautiful little Yellow Sh.e.l.l. This moth is so abundant in most parts that we arouse it at almost every stroke while beating low bushes.

All its wings are yellow, and crossed by numerous delicate white and brown lines. The most conspicuous feature is the two white lines, with dark brown edging, crossing the fore wings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 206.--THE YELLOW Sh.e.l.l.]

The caterpillar feeds by night, and is therefore seldom seen except by those who make special nocturnal searches with the aid of a lantern or sweep net. It devours various gra.s.ses, and hides itself among the roots or under stones during the daytime. It is full grown in April or May.

The colour is dull pale green, with a dark green dorsal line, and two white stripes on each side.

_The Small Ph[oe]nix_ (_Cidaria silaceata_)

Again pa.s.sing over a few small and less important genera, we select the small Ph[oe]nix as the last example of this very extensive family.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 207.--THE SMALL PH[OE]NIX.]