224 COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



are smoke coloured, with a light brownish fringe. The female is 

 much less distinctly marked, and presents 

 a rather dingy appearance. 



The larva is dingy white, with brown 



horny plates on the second, third and foin-th 



segments. It feeds on the roots of dead 



nettles (Lamium alhxim and L. jjiirpii- 



w ream), black horehound (BaUota nigra), 



Fig. 117.— The Comjion and various other herbaceous plants, 



Swift. throughout the winter months, and is full 



grown in April. 



This insect is abundant everywhere in waste places, and may be 



seen on the wing in May and June. 



Family — CossiDiE 



The members of this family have longer antennae than the 

 Hc'2)ialidce, and the females are provided with extended ovipositors 

 which enable them to place their eggs in the deep crevices of the 

 bark of trees. 



The larvie are naked or only very slightly hairy, and have a 

 plate on the second segment. They feed on the wood of trees or 

 the interior of the stems of reeds. The pupae have spiny projections 

 on each segment. 



The Goat Moth {Cossiis ligniperda) 



There are only three British species of this family, the largest of 

 which is the Goat Moth, so called on account of the characteristic 

 odour of the larva, an odour said to resemble that emitted by the 

 goat. 



The fore wings of this fine moth are pale brown, clouded with 

 white, and marked by numerous wavy trans\erse lines. The hind 

 wings are somewhat similar, but of a duller tint, and the markings 

 are less distinct. Its average breadth from tip to tip is over three 

 inches, and it sometimes I'eaches nearly four inches. 



The larva is a most interesting creatux'e. It is dark reddish 

 brown on the back, and flesh colour beneath ; and its head is 

 intensely black. It feeds on the solid wood of the willow, poplar, 

 oak, elm, and other trees. The infected trees are often so riddled 

 A\ ith the burrows of these larva; that they are completely destroyed, 



