Butterflies and Moths Part 46

The fore wings of this species are dark brown, paler toward the hind margin. Most of the wing rays are generally of a pale yellowish colour, and a variable and complicated system of whitish lines crosses the wings near the base, and another near the hind margin. Among the latter there is always a series of dark triangular spots, with apices pointing towards the hind margin.

This moth is moderately common throughout the British Isles, and is double brooded, appearing in May and August.

The caterpillar is green, with a row of brown spots along the middle of the back. When full grown it changes to a chrysalis in a light web.

Family--EUBOLIIDae

This is the last family of the _Geometrae_ we shall notice, and contains ten species. Most of these are rather pretty moths, and all have the tips of the fore wings more or less pointed. As a rule, too, there is a dark streak running from the very tip of the wing for a short distance obliquely inward.

They are generally very light sleepers, and are easily beaten from their hiding places during the day.

The larvae are not humped, and may be found feeding on low plants.

We shall briefly examine two species.

_The Small Mallow_ (_Eubolia limitata_)

This moth is pretty abundant in waste places from June to August, and is easily obtained by lightly beating the foliage of small bushes and low plants.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 208.--THE SMALL MALLOW.]

Its fore wings are pale brown crossed by a broad central bar, the edges of which are darker. The hind wings are of a paler brown, and are crossed by two or three fine wavy lines.

Although the perfect insect is so common, the caterpillar seems to be seldom met with. It is a gra.s.s feeder, and may be looked for in May and June.

_The Treble Bar_ (_Anaitis plagiata_)

Our last example of the _Geometrae_ is the Treble Bar, a very pretty moth, which is ill.u.s.trated in fig. 9 of Plate XII. It may be readily identified by the aid of this coloured picture, and therefore need not be described in words. It is pretty generally distributed throughout the British Isles, and is in some parts a very abundant species, particularly so in the neighbourhood of London.

The caterpillar is brown, with paler s.p.a.ces between the segments. The dorsal line is black and interrupted, and a yellow line runs along each side. It feeds on the leaves and flowers of the perforated St. John's wort (_Hyperic.u.m perforatum_).

This insect is double brooded, the moth appearing in May and August, and remaining with us throughout the month following in each case.

CHAPTER XXI

_THE MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA_

The b.u.t.terflies, and all the moths contained in the groups of the last four chapters, are commonly spoken of as const.i.tuting the _Macro-lepidoptera_; but in addition to these there are many hundreds of small British moths that represent what is known as the _Micro-lepidoptera_.

It is not usual for young entomologists to have much to do with the 'Micros' until they have had a little practical experience with the larger species; in fact, a good number of them never seem to extend their knowledge beyond the limits of the 'Macros' except that they may make an occasional capture of a Micro that happens to fly across their path.

Now, since it would be practically impossible to deal fairly, even in outline, with both these divisions of the _Lepidoptera_ in a work of the present dimensions, I have devoted most s.p.a.ce to the larger species so as to meet the probable requirements of the majority of my readers. But in order that the beginner may also have the means of introducing himself intelligently to a study of the 'Micros,' I shall set apart this chapter for a simple account of the broad principles of their cla.s.sification, ill.u.s.trated by means of a few types, so that the collector may at least know _something_ of the insects he captures, even though he may not be able at once to fix on their names.

The young entomologist, thus provided with the broad features that enable him to roughly cla.s.sify the specimens which reach his cabinet, may, as his store increases, pay an occasional visit to a public museum or the private collection of an entomological friend, and so obtain the names and other details he may require.

The _Micro-lepidoptera_ are divided into five main groups--_Pyralides_, _Pterophori_, _Crambi_, _Tortrices_, and _Tineae_, each of which is divided into families and genera, as we have seen in the case of the 'Macros.'

_Pyralides_

The _Pyralides_ may be easily distinguished by the proportionately long fore wings, long legs, and elongated abdomen. Some of them have wings of a pearly l.u.s.tre, and are accordingly known popularly as the 'Pearls.'

Some species fly in bright sunshine, others appear on the wing before sunset, and fly till dusk; others, again, are purely nocturnal in their habits. All, however, are apparently light sleepers, and may be easily beaten out of their resting places and netted by day. Some of these moths are common everywhere, but the majority of them are very local, though they may be extremely abundant where they occur.

The larvae have a glossy and bristly appearance, and are generally gregarious in their habits.

This group contains about eighty species, arranged in five families as follows:

1. _Pyralididae_, including about forty species.

2. _Botydae_, about thirty species.

3. _Steniiadae_, containing only five species.

4. _Hydrocampidae_, four species.

5. _Acentropodidae_, containing only one.

_The Tabby_ (_Aglossa pinguinalis_)

The first of these families contains the Tabby or Grease Moth, commonly met with both in the larval and perfect states in barns and stables.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 209.--THE TABBY OR GREASE MOTH.]

Its fore wings are brownish grey, crossed with zigzag darker lines, and having a black spot near the centre of the costal margin. The term 'Tabby' has been applied on account of the fancied resemblance of the transverse markings to the fur of a tabby cat, and the other popular name was given under the belief that the caterpillar feeds on fatty matter, but it is extremely doubtful whether this supposition is correct.

The caterpillar probably feeds exclusively on the vegetable acc.u.mulations that lie in the undisturbed corners and crevices of outhouses and stables, and lives concealed in silken tubes, strengthened outside by fragments of hay, chaff &c. that have been spun together. It feeds from September to April, except during very severe weather, and when full grown it leaves its tube, and changes to a chrysalis in a light silken coc.o.o.n in some secluded corner.

The moth emerges in July.

_The Meal Moth_ (_Pyralis farinalis_)

The same family contains the common Meal Moth, so called because in the larval state it feeds on meal and allied substances.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 210.--THE MEAL MOTH.]

The fore wings are yellowish grey, with reddish basal patches, a broad reddish band along the hind margin, and two whitish indented transverse lines. The hind wings are grey, and are crossed by two lines similar to and continuous with those of the front pair.

This moth is to be found in abundance throughout the summer months in places where corn, meal, and grain are stored in large quant.i.ties, sitting on walls and rafters during the daytime, and taking to flight in the evening.

The caterpillar feeds on corn, meal, grain, bran, &c., and lives concealed in a silken tube covered outside with particles of its food substance. It is not fully grown till nearly two years old, and then changes to a chrysalis in a white silken coc.o.o.n.

_The Small Magpie_ (_Eurrhypara urticata_)