136 HAUSTELLATA. — LEPIDOPTERA. 



of a dusky or reddish-black ; the posterior tarsi and tips of the others dusky : 

 wings iridescent^ the anterior with the costa, hinder margin, and discoidal 

 spot clothed with purplish-brown scales, the base and part of the costa green- 

 ish-yellow : posterior wings similar, but the hinder margin narrower and no 

 discoidal spot ; beneath, all the wings have a lighter-coloured margin, and the 

 base and costa of the anterior are of a pale ochraceous-yellow : the antenna; are 

 black, tinged with cyaneous. 

 Caterpillar green, with a yellowish dorsal and lateral line ; some reddish spots on 

 the sides ; the legs violet ; horn reddish-brown with an orange tip : it feeds 

 on the honeysuckle (Lonicera Periclimenum) and bedstraw (Galium), &c.; 

 but not on the wood of willows, as erroneously stated by some writers. The 

 pupa is dusky-brown with reddish spots. 



I have repeatedly seen and occasionally captured this insect to- 

 wards the end of May at Coombe and Darenth woods, particularly 

 the former, where I have observed it, hovering over the blossoms of 

 the harebell (Scilla nutans)^ abundantly : it also occurs sometimes 

 on Epping-forest. " Rather plentiful during last summer near 

 York."" — W. C. Hewitson, Esq. " At Littleton-copse near Kimp- 

 ionr—Rev. G. T. Rudd. 



Family IV.— ^GERIIDtE. 



Antennas fusiform, a Uttle curved, ciliated in the males, the apex terminating in 

 a plume of scales: ocelli two, minute, placed between the antennne and the 

 base of the thorax : palpi elongate, thickly clothed with scales and long hairs, 

 the last joint elongate: abdomen cyUndric, tufted at the apex: «'i«g-j hori- 

 zontally displayed, generally naked, with the tips above opaque. Larva sub- 

 cylindric, hirsute, tail-less : pupa elongate, with a row of spines on each seg- 

 ment; changes in the interior of plants. 



The insects of this family are generally of small size, and are at 

 once distinguished from the other Crepuscularia (except Sesia) by 

 the transparency of their wings ; but from all they may be known 

 by that character added to the slender curved antennae, and by the 

 possession of stemmata or ocelli. They fly by day ; their larvae are 

 pale and fleshy; reside beneath the bark, pith, or internal substances 

 of various trees ; and generally reach their final state in one year, 

 though, according to Esper, Trochilium apiformis is several seasons 

 in attaining perfection. 



The two following genera occur in Britain : 



1/ • 7/ ' / hrcvissiuite : a«^e««a? abbreviata: . ■ 29. Trochilium. 



\dongatic: antennas lon^ioxc^: ■ • ■ 30. -^gekia. 



