290 THE MOTHS OF, THE BRITISH ISLES. 



In the brown typical form the reniform mark is represented by 

 two dark-edged white dots, the upper one often tiny or absent 

 (var. uidpuncta., Tutt), or both may be absent (var. obsolcta^ 

 Tutt). The caterpillar in pale ochieous, pink-tinged, a pale line 

 along the spiracles ; head dark brown. May and June, in stems 

 of reeds {Phragmites). The chrysalis lies in the reed stem with 

 the head towards the oval hole below it from which the moth 

 escapes. In August the moth may be found in its haunts in the 

 south and east of England. These are marshes, often near the 

 sea, in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, the Thames valley, 

 Sussex, Hants, and the Isle of Wight, Wiltshire and Somerset. 



The Brown-Yeined Wainscot {Nonagria dissoluta). 



The popular name applies more especially to the ordinary 

 form of this species known as <7/7/;/c///7t"Aj', Schmidt. (Plate 144, 

 Fig. 8.) The dark brown or black typical form {ciissoluta, Treit.= 

 hcssii, Boisd.) is local and uncommon ; in fact until 1900 it had 

 not been noted in England for a number of years, and specimens 

 were only known from Yaxley. In the year just mentioned 

 however, several examples of it were recorded from Suffolk, 

 taken in the Needham Market district ; and in 1905 specimens 

 were reported from the East Kent marshes. Var. antiidineta^ 

 the )icurica of some authors, occurs in the fens of Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, Cambridge, and Lincolnshire ; also in marshes in Essex 

 and Kent ; and is said to have been taken in Middlesex and 

 Lancashire. The caterpillar is dirty white, light reddish on the 

 back ; raised dots black inclining to brown on front three rings ; 

 spiracles white edged with black ; head dark brown, plate on 

 first and last rings of the body brownish grey. It feeds in June 

 in the stems of reed and turns to a chrysalis in the lower part 

 of the stem, head downwards in the direction of the exit hole 

 below it. (Plate 148, Fig. i.) The moth flies in July and August. 



