298 



COMMON BBITISH MOTHS 



223. — Mellonella. 



whitish near the inner margin, and a brown line with a silvery 

 edging crosses near the hind margin. The hind wings are dull 



smoky brown, with a shining surface, and the 



fringe is light. 



The larva is pale grey with dark grey spots, 



and may be found among moss in April and 



May. 



Fifi. 222.— Hoe- Galleria meUonella 



TUELLUS. 



Our last example of the Cramhl is a moth 

 that the young entomologist is not likely to meet with unless he 

 happens to be in the neighbourhood of one of its haunts, but its 

 habits are so peculiar that we are 

 tempted to introduce it on that account. 

 It belongs to the family Oalleridce, 

 the larvae of which feed on the wax 

 combs in the hives of bees and in the 

 nests of wild bees. They are protected 

 from the stings of the inmates by silken 

 tubes which they construct, and by the hardened covering of their 

 heads and front segments — the only parts that remain exposed while 

 they are feeding. 



The fore wings of the moth are reddish-grey or brownisli, 

 sometimes with a greenish tinge, and yellowish along the iimer 

 margin. The hind wings are greyish brown. 



It flies in July and August, and the caterpillar feeds in May and 

 June. 



The Turtrices 



This is a large group of moths, deriving their name from the 

 peculiar habit of a niimber of the larvas of twisting or rolling up 

 leaves for their protection. This habit, however, is not common to 

 all, for some feed on stems and flowers, and others devour seeds and 

 fruits. 



The perfect insects may easil,y be known by the shape of the 

 wings. The fore pair are gracefully curved on the costal margin in 

 such a way that, when the insect is at rest with its wings closed, its 

 outline is much the shape of a bell. 



The identification of the various species of this extensive group 

 is no easy task, for many of them are so variable in their colouring 

 that insects of the same species are often very different from each 



