(Photo by H. Main.)]
Except that the specimen represented by Fig. 2 has traces of a yellow band
on the hind wings, Figs. 1-3 on Plate 103 show this highly variable species
in its typical and most frequent form. Figs. 4 and 5 depict examples of the
ordinary darker forms leading up to ab. _hazeleighensis_, Raynor, in which
the whole of the fore wing area between the orange bands is blackish,
except two tiny white specks near the front margin. Not infrequently the
black spots on the outer margin of the fore wings exhibit a tendency to
spread inwards, as in Figs. 2 and 5, and very occasionally they unite with
the series of spots outside the orange band, as in Plate 104, Fig. 1, which
represents a specimen (kindly lent by Mr. R. Adkin) with blackish tinged
hind wings. Sometimes the ground colour of all the wings is yellowish (ab.
_lutea_, Cockerell), but the markings {261} are of the usual pattern. The
example of this form (Plate 104, Fig. 3) was reared from a large number of
caterpillars I collected at Purley, in Surrey, a year or two ago, and was
the only example among the moths resulting therefrom that was worth
retaining. The very fine variety shown on Plate 104, Fig. 5, is ab.
_varleyata_, Porritt, which occurs in Yorkshire, but is mostly reared in
captivity from eggs obtained from a wild female in the first place, and
subsequent pairings; the specimen figured is an especially fine example of
the female sex, raised among others of the same form by Mr. G. T. Porritt
of Huddersfield, who has been good enough to lend it for the purpose.
Several other varieties of this species have been named and described by
the Rev. Gilbert H. Raynor, but reference can only be made here to two of
these; one is ab. _melanozona_, a Scottish form, in which there is a black
blotch with traces of yellow in it at the base of the fore wings; a large
black discal spot in the white central area; a black band, widening towards
the front margin, before the faint yellow band, the latter followed by four
black spots; hind wings with central black spot, and two series of black
{262} spots beyond, seven in each series, separated by a well-defined white
area. Fig. 2 on Plate 104 represents a specimen that approaches this
variety. The handsome cream-coloured specimen (Plate 104, Fig. 4) is ab.
_lacticolor_, Raynor, and I am obliged to Mr. Adkin for the loan of these
insects also.
The caterpillar and chrysalis are figured on Plate 101, Figs. 1, 1b; the
former is creamy white, marked on the back with black blotches and dots,
and lines of black dots on the sides; between the lower two rows is a broad
reddish line; head, black; sometimes the whole body is black. It occurs in
gardens, and sometimes is a serious pest where currants and gooseberries
are cultivated; it frequently abounds on _Euonymus japonicus_. In the open
country it feeds on sloe and hawthorn; sometimes it is found on elm (low
growth in hedges), apple, navelwort (_Cotyledon umbilicus_), orpine (_Sedum
telephium_), and in the Hebrides, on ling (_Calluna_). August to May, or
early June, are the months in which it is found as a rule; occasionally it
does not hibernate, but feeds up and attains the moth state in the autumn
of the year that it hatches from the egg. The moth is out, normally, in
July and August, and is generally distributed over the greater part of the
British Isles.
The range abroad extends to East Siberia, China, and Japan.
CLOUDED BORDER (_Lomaspilis marginata_).
Figs. 1 and 2 on Plate 107 represent the more usual forms, in both sexes,
of this rather common, but pretty, little moth. Occasionally, specimens are
obtained in which, with the exception of a dark patch or two on the front
margin, the wings are entirely white or slightly tinged with pale yellowish
(ab. _pollutaria_, Hubner); a modification of this form is shown in Fig. 3.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 104.
1-5. MAGPIE MOTH VARIETIES.
6-8. CLOUDED MAGPIE VARIETIES.
[Illustration]
2 Pl. 105.
1. SCORCHED CARPET: _caterpillar_.
2. CLOUDED BORDER: _caterpillar_.
3. COMMON WHITE WAVE: _caterpillar_.
{263}
Ab. _nigrofasciaria_, Schoyen, has a rather broad blackish band across the
central area of each wing, and indications of such bands, in the shape of
spots or dots, are seen in many examples of the species; occasionally, the
irregular dark border of the outer margin of the wings is traversed by an
interrupted whitish line.
The caterpillar is yellowish-green, with three dark-green double lines on
the back, the central one blotched with purplish brown on the last ring;
head, green, marked with purplish brown. The figure (Plate 105, Fig. 2) is
from a drawing in colour by Mr. Sich. It feeds on sallow, willow, and
aspen, and may be found almost throughout the summer from June. The moth is
also met with during the summer months, but seems to be most frequent in
May and June. The species prefers moist localities where sallows abound,
and in such places seems to occur pretty generally over the British Isles.
In Scotland, however, it has not, apparently, been noted north of Moray.
The range abroad extends to Amurland and Japan.
THE SCORCHED CARPET (_Ligdia adustata_).
The bluish-grey band on the outer third of the fore wings varies in width,
and the velvety black marking thereon varies in amount; this area of the
wings is also more or less clouded with reddish brown, and the underside of
all the wings is much suffused with reddish brown, which gives the insect
the burnt or scorched appearance to which both Latin and English names
refer. (Plate 107, Figs. 4 [male] and 5 [female].) In June and early July,
and again in late August and September, the red-spotted, bright-green
caterpillar may be beaten from the spindle bushes (_Euonymus europaeus_) in
hedgerows. (Fig. 1, Plate 105, is from a coloured drawing by Mr. Sich.)
{264}
The moth is out in late April sometimes, but it is more frequent in May and
June, and as a second generation in August, earlier or later in some
seasons. It may be knocked out of hedges in which spindle is growing. The
species is not uncommon in most of the southern English counties, but in
the northern ones its occurrence is more casual. It has been recorded from
North Wales; in Ireland it is fairly common in some western and southern
counties, and rare in the east and north; in Scotland, only noted from the
south-east, Arran, and the Hebrides.
Abroad, its range extends to Japan, where it is represented by var.
_japoniata_, Staudinger.
THE SLOE CARPET (_Aleucis_ (_Bapta_) _pictaria_).
This blackish-grey species (Plate 107, Fig. 6) has been confused in the
past with _pictaria_, Thunberg, which is referable to _Cleora lichenaria_,
and it was then known by the popular name of "The Grey Carpet." As the
caterpillar feeds on the foliage of the sloe, and the moth is fond of
resting on the stems and twigs, and appears at the time the bushes are
wreathed in their snowy blossoms, the sloe carpet seems to be rather more
suitable than are most of the names by which our moths are popularly known.
The caterpillar is dusky brown, with blackish V-shaped marks upon the back,
white marks on rings 7 and 8, and a black line on the last ring. It feeds
at night, in June and early July, and as it remains on the bushes during
the day, it may be obtained by beating. At night the moths fly about the
bushes for a short time, and then sit on the twigs, when they may be
secured. Of course, a lantern will be a necessity.
Barrett states that stunted bushes on open heaths and hillsides are
preferred to hedgerows. {265}
The species is very local, but generally not uncommon where it occurs, as,
for example, in the New Forest, Hampshire; the Loughton and Colchester
districts, Essex; and in some parts of Kent. It has been noted from Tilgate
Forest, and other localities in Sussex; and also from Surrey, Berkshire,
and Suffolk.
WHITE-PINION SPOTTED (_Bapta bimaculata_).
The two cross lines on the fore wings of this silky white species (Plate
107, Fig. 9) commence in blackish spots on the front margin; often they are
only indicated by series of dots, and are rarely really distinct.
Occasionally, a greyish submarginal line or band is present.
The darkish green caterpillar has a series of purplish marks on the back;
head, inclining to yellowish, and powdered with purplish. It feeds, in June
and July, on the leaves of wild cherry and plum, and will eat hawthorn; it
may be beaten from its food plant in the daytime. The moth is out in May
and June, and shelters in bushes, etc., in woods and hedgerows. During the
day it is frequently put up from its hiding-places, but its usual time of
flight is the evening, when it is readily seen and not difficult to
capture. It is local, and perhaps most frequently met with in those parts
of South England where the wild cherry flourishes. Occurs more or less
commonly in most of the southern counties, but north of Gloucester, Oxford,
and Norfolk it has only been noted from North Lancashire, Westmoreland, and
Cumberland. In Wales the late Mr. C. G. Barrett found the moth rare in
Pembrokeshire, and there is also a record from Anglesey.