TRIFID.'E. 55 



mens emerging in fnvourable seasons in February and March, 

 others at intervals through the spring and summer, and a 

 large number appearing, quite freshly, in September, October, 

 and even later, continuing through the winter, and only 

 hybernating during frosts ! Doubtless in two generations in 

 favourable seasons, but it is probable that larvae feed up at 

 different rates of speed and so spread emergence over a long 

 period. 



Lakva elongate, attenuated in front, thickened behind, 

 sides rather puckered. Head shining, smaller than the 

 second segment, green; body velvety yellowish-green or 

 reddish-brown, faintly irrorated with white; dorsal line 

 whitish, interrupted at the apex of each segment ; subdorsal 

 line represented by a series of darker green, or brown, 

 slightly oblique dashes, the upper ends pointing backwards ; 

 spiracular line broad, yellowish-green, or ochreous, according 

 to the ground colour, inconspicuous, continued to the end of the 

 anal prolegs ; incisions of the segments tinged with yellow^ 

 (0. Fenn.) Buckler has many figures of this larva — green, 

 grey-green, drab dusted all over with brown, red-brown, 

 grey-brown and umbreous, in some with the markings 

 as stated, in others the lateral oblique streaks darker and 

 more distinct, or the subdorsal stripe more conspicuous and 

 paler. In the younger larva this stripe is often tinged with 

 yellow. 



March, April, May, July, August, September, October, 

 November, December, even feeding through the winter — 

 probably at all seasons; on dock, StacJti/s, Clirysantliciaum, 

 leaves of scarlet geranium, blossoms of pinks, even leaves of 

 onion (in gardens), groundsel, fern (Ptcris aquilina), primrose 

 and low-growing plants generally, feeding at night, usually 

 hiding by day under plants, but not very averse to wandering 

 about at that time, especially when full-grown. 



Plta brilliantly glossy, antenna and leg-covers not conspi- 

 cuous, wing-covers slightly sculptured with fine scattered 



