LOZOPERID.-E—LOZOPERA. 323 



pitchy-black ; dorsal plate broad, rounded behind, pitchy- 

 brown ; body dull pale pinkish green or olive-green, all the 

 segments ridged in front ; anal plate black-brown ; legs 

 black ; anal prolegs of the body colour and extended behind. 

 July, and a second generation in Sejjtember and October, 

 in the flowei'-head or seed-head of Achillea milh^olium 

 (yarrow), drawing together the seed-vessels or flowers in the 

 umbel or corymb, eating out the seeds and keeping itself 

 concealed by a tube of silk and seed-refuse. Leaving the 

 seed-head when full-fed to spin up elsewhere. On the 

 Continent it is found also to feed in heads of Anthcmis 

 cotula, and the moth has been found here flying commonly 

 over that plant. It is also said to feed in heads of Centaurea 

 and other Composite plants. 



Pupa shining black with the abdominal segments dull 

 red-brown, smooth, and without spikes ; cremaster blunt 

 and rounded, with fine bristles. In a thin cocoon of silk, 

 among rubbish. 



The moth loves rough ground on hill-sides, bare open 

 spaces and railway-banks, and sits quietly in such spots on 

 twigs of milfoil or other plants, flying quickly away when 

 disturbed to settle again a few yards further. Its habits are 

 somewhat irregular and uncertain. Forty years ago it was 

 rather common in the suburbs of London, frequenting fields, 

 lanes, and open building ground ; after a time it disappeared, 

 and was scarcely seen in the district for many years, so that 

 it was regarded as a somewhat rare insect. Then it began 

 to be captured, and sent up for examination from distant 

 counties of England, and at last from Scotland ; and after 

 this gradually returned to its old haunts, so that within the 

 last few years it has again become at home in the Loudon 

 suburbs, especially on the railway banks. In this uncertain 

 and desultory manner it is, or has been, found in all the 

 southern and eastern counties of England, to Oxfordshire and 

 Norfolk, and in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire ; also in 



