POAPHILID^. 177 



The fore-wings are brownish-grey, with the central area 

 almost completely filled by a peculiar dark brown spot, 

 bordered with white. These borders are formed by the two 

 transverse lines, the first of which is oblique, whilst the second 

 has two large projections, and runs very irregularly. In the 

 basal area a large black dot, bordered with white, stands near 

 the inner margin, and in the central area are placed the 

 orbicular and reniform stigmata, the latter as a white dash, 

 often with a white longitudinal streak on its outer side. The 

 sub-marginal line is white, and curved inwards near the middle, 

 and the fringes are grey and white. The hind-wings are pale 

 yellow in the male, and bright yellow in the female, with a 

 black central band, which is connected with the base by black 

 streaks ; and there is a broad black marginal band spotted with 

 yellow. The fringes are grey and white externally, but entirely 

 white on the inner part. 



The larva feeds on Medicago falcata^ and various species of 

 clover. It is slender, pink or lemon-yellow, with a fine 

 chocolate-brown double dorsal line, followed by several other 

 longitudinal stripes of the same colour. The spiracles stand 

 out blackish on the pale ground. The larvae feed at night, 

 remaining flat upon the stalks of the food plant during the day. 



The pupa is purplish-brown, with darker incisions and 

 spiracles, with a violet bloom. It is enclosed in a cocoon, in 

 which portions of the food plant are woven. 



The moth is double-brooded. 



FAMILY POAPHILID^. 



This Family is of limited extent, and is chiefly American. 

 One genus only is Euiopean, and with one exception these 

 species are confined to the extreme south of Europe. They 

 fly in dry meadows in the daytime, like the EuclidiidcE. 

 16 N 



