212 



COMMON BlilTISH MOTHS 



black and tinged with green. The hind wings are similarly 

 coloured, but have no central spot. The body is olive-brown, with 



a broad reddish belt, and behind 

 are tufts of hair, which are 

 spread out when the insect flies, 

 just after the manner of the tail 

 feathers of a bird. The moth 

 flies in May. 



The larva resembles that of 



Stellatarmn, but exhibits a 



violet tint above the legs. Its 



horn, too, is curved, and of a 



reddish or brownish colour. It 



feeds on the honeysuckle {Loiti- 



cera PcriclyincniDu), ragged 



robin [Lyelinis Flos-cucuU), evening campion (L. vesjjertina), red 



campion {L. diarna), lady's bedstraw (G(xlin»i vcruin), and the 



field scabious {Scahiona arvcnsia), during the month of July. 



Fig. 102.— The Bkoad-bokueked 

 Bee Hawk. 



Family SEsiiD.ii: —The Clearwings 



This family contains fourteen very pretty British insects that 

 differ very much from other moths in many impoi'tant and interest- 

 ing particulars. 



Their antenna', like those of the SpJiingidir, are thickest 

 beyond the middle, and those of the males are slightly ciliated or 

 hairy. Tlieir bodies are slender, and terminate behind in tufts of 

 hair. The hind wings in all cases are transparent, margined and 

 veined with black or brown ; and the fore wings also, in most 

 cases, have transparent bases. 



These moths delight in the hottest sunshine, and may be seen 

 gracefully hovering over the flowers in our gardens, looking more 

 like gnats, bees, and wasps, than moths. 



The larvte of these insects are all wood -eaters, and spend their 

 time within the stems of shrubs and trees, eating out galleries in 

 the material that forms both their food and their home. Within 

 these they also undergo their changes, and do not expose them- 

 selves to the free air and light till they reach their perfect 

 stage. 



