catkpiiia] PLUSIADAE 161 



segment; 5 and 12 with pairs of pointed prominences; head 

 brown ; anterior edge of 2 yellow : on oak ; 7, 8. 



14. Phoberia, Hb. 



Head rough-scaled. Antennae in $ ciliated. Palpi moder- 

 ately long, ascending, second joint thickened with appressed 

 scales, terminal moderate, porrected, obtuse. Tliorax with 

 sliglit central ridge. Abdomen not ci'ested. Middle and 

 posterior tibiae spinose. Hindwings : 5 approximated to 4. 



A genus of few species, but very widely distributed, especially 

 within the tropics. Larva with prolegs on 7 shorter. 



1. P. lunaris, Schiff. 51-56 mm. Fore wings light greyish- 

 ochreous to brown, sprinkled with dark fuscous ; first and 

 second lines pale yellowish, first anteriorly dark-edged, second 

 sinuate, posteriorly edged with broad dark suftYision ; reniform 

 and dot-like orbicular dark fuscous ; subterminal line brown, 

 irregular ; a terminal series of dark fuscous dots. Hindwings 

 pale brownish ; a broad rather dark fuscous terminal band. 



SE. England to Hants and Norfolk, S. Ireland, a scarce 

 immigrant only ; C. and S. Europe, Asia Minor, N. Africa ; 5, 

 6. Larva brown ; dorsal line moniliform : subdorsal broad, 

 dark, enclosing pale spots ; three fine dark lines beneath this ; 

 spiracular sometimes pale yellow ; two lateral pi'ojections on 5 ; 

 pairs of dorsal points on 12 and 13 ; head brown : on oak ; 7-8. 



15. Catocala, Schrk. 



Head loosely haired. Antennae in S ciliated. Palpi 

 moderate, ascending, second joint shortly rough-scaled, terminal 

 short, obtuse. Thorax with slight posterior crest. Abdomen 

 slightly crested towards base. Middle and sometimes posterior 

 tibiae spinose. Hindwings : 5 closely approximated to 4. 



A large genus, distributed throughout the northern hemi- 

 sphere, but most plentiful in N. America. The imagos are 

 remarkable for the bright colouring of the hindwings, that 

 of the forewings being assimilated to the bark of trees. 

 Larva with subspii'acular series of fleshy filaments ; it rests 

 on the l)ark of trees, and is also protectively coloured. 



1. Hindwings with a light blue fascia . \. fraxini. 



,, without blue fascia . . .2. 



2. Hindwings with median fascia right-angled above 



middle . 3. sponsa. 



„ „ not right-angled above 



middle . . 3. 



