BRITISH AXD EUROPEAX BUTTERFLIES AXD MOTHS. 



87 



extremitv, and somewhat rounded. The hind 

 wings are rounded. Nervure 7 rises from the 

 anterior angle of the discoidal cell, and nervure 

 5 is more slender. The fore wings are usually 

 grey, brown, or reddish brown, with the usual 

 transverse lines, orbicular and reniform stig- 

 mata, and generally with a claviform stigma. 

 The hind wings are grey, white, or bright yellow, 

 with a black marginal band. These moths 

 remain hidden during the day among stones, 

 bushes, etc., with the wings horizontal. They 

 generally fly at night, only a few flying in the 

 daytime, and may be readily attracted by 

 sugar or the lantern. The larvae are smooth, 

 stout, generally cylindrical, rarely with an 

 excrescence on the last segment. The larvae 

 hibernate, and live on low plants, beneath 

 which the}' hide during the day. Most of 

 them pupate in the ground without a cocoon, 

 and the moths emerge in Summer. 



Genus Triphaena, Treit. 



Terminal joint of the palpi short; thorax 

 with smooth hair; abdomen flattened; anterior 

 tibiae with or without spines. 



T. fimbria, Linn. The Broad-bordered 

 Yellow Underwing. PL XXIV. fig. 6. in- 

 habits Central and Southern Europe, and is 

 not uncommon in Britain. The caterpillar is 

 brownish or greenish yellow, with brownish 

 streaks, white spiracles edged with black, and 

 with small black spots behind them. On both 

 sides there is a brown line on each segment, 

 and a paler anal plate. It feeds on primroses 

 and other low plants in Spring. 



T. ianthina, W. V. The Lesser Broad- 

 bordered Yellow Underwing. PI. XXIV. fig. 5. 

 is common in Central and Southern Europe 

 from June to August. The caterpillar is light 

 brownish grej^, with fine white dorsal and 

 lateral lines, small white spiracles ringed with 

 black, and dark hook-shaped spots on the 

 last segments. It hibernates and lives in 

 Spring on low plants, especially species of 

 Pyimula. The caterpillars conceal themselves 

 during the day, and are most readily found 

 with the lantern. The chrysalis is reddish 

 brown, with two fine terminal points. 



T. interjecta, Hubn. The Least Yellow 

 Underwing. Fore wings rusty brown, inclining 

 to orange, with indistinct dark markings and 



dark-edged stigmata. The yellow hind wings 

 have dark streaks at the base and a fine lunula. 

 The thorax is coloured like the fore wings, 

 and the abdomen is paler. The moth is found 

 chiefly in Western and Southern Europe, and 

 occasionally in most parts of England and 

 Ireland. The larva is greyish yellow with 

 brownish stripes, three white dorsal lines, and 

 a dark brown lateral stripe edged below with 

 paler. It lives on low plants in Spring. 



T. comes, W. V. The Lesser Yellow 

 Underwing. Fore wings liver-coloured, with 

 indistinct transverse lines, pale-edged stigmata, 

 dark rows of dots on the fringes, and dark 

 waved lines, not sharply defined, towards 

 the base in front. Hind wings darkly dusted 

 at the base, with a large central lunule. The 

 body is coloured like the fore wings. The 

 moth is connnon throughout Central and 

 Southern Europe in June and July. The larva 

 is umber-brown, witii a broad white stripe 

 above the legs, dark triangles on the sides, 

 and a brown head. It feeds on clover, prim- 

 roses, etc., in Spring. 



T. orbona, Hufn. The Lunar Yellow 

 Underwing. Fore wings liver-coloured, with 

 indistinct transverse lines, pale-edged stigmata, 

 dark rows of dots in front of the fringes, and 

 a black spot at the base, near the origin 

 of the marginal line. Hind wings very like 

 those of comes, but larger. Body liver-coloured. 

 It is found throughout the greater part of 

 Europe in June and July, but is less common 

 than the last species. The larva is brownish 

 grey, with a greenish tinge. It has a paler dorsal 

 and lateral line, and a black streak in the 

 latter on each segment. The spiracles are 

 white, ringed with black, and the head is chest- 

 nut-brown. It lives on low plants, such as 

 primrose, lettuce, etc. 



T. pronuba, Linn. Tiie Common Yellow 

 Underwing. PI. XXIV. fig. 7. is abundant 

 throughout Europe from June to August. 

 The larva is brown, with three interrupted 

 pale dorsal lines, or dirty white with dark 

 dorsal lines, and black oblique lateral streaks, 

 as well as two dull reddish longitudinal lines. 

 It has black spiracles and unicolorous spots 

 beside them. The head is small and brown 

 in colour. It lives in Spring on various low 

 plants, especially primrose. The pupa.is shining 



