86 The Scottish Naturalist. 



THE LEPIDOPTERA OF THE SCOTCH FIR. 



By F. Buchanan White, M.D. 



THERE does not appear to be so many species of Lepidop- 

 tera attached to Piftus sylvestris in Scotland as might 

 hive been expected from the wide distribution of this tree. 



With the exception of Trachea piniperda, (the caterpillars of 

 which are said to occur occasionally in such numbers as to injure 

 the tree, by devouring all the leaves), and the species of Retinia, 

 (whose larva feeds in the young shoots), none of the Lepidoptera 

 mentioned in this list probably do much harm to the Scotch 

 Fir. 



It is worthy of note that the colours of many of the species 

 in one or more stages resemble very closely those of some part 

 of the tree. Some of these cases I have mentioned. 



Trachea piniperda Panz. — This species is common in all 

 Scotch Fir woods, and its larva is said to do considerable 

 damage sometimes to the tree by stripping it of its leaves. 

 The colour of the perfect insect resembles that of the bark 

 of the fir, while the larva is of the same shade of green as 

 the leaves, and is striped with white. 



Ellopia prosapiaria L. (fasciaria S. V.) — Common in many 

 places. The moth resembles the bark in colour, and the 

 larva is somewhat like a twig divested of its leaves. 



Boarmia abietaria Hb. — Said to have been taken near 

 Dumbarton, and in Perthshire. The caterpillar resembles 

 a leafless twig. 



Macaria liturata CI. — Common in many places. The larva 

 is green with white stripes. 



Fidonia piniaria L. — Abundant everywhere. The underside 

 of the wings, (which is the part exposed when the insect is 

 at rest,) resembles a piece of variegated bark. The larva 

 is green with white and yellowish-white lines. 



Eupithecia indigata Hb. — Occurs at Edinburgh, Rannoch, 

 Braemar, and elsewhere. The moth rests on the trunks of 

 the firs, and resembles them in colour. 



