24 LEPIDOPTERA. 



As already suggested, somewhat variable ; ranging into 

 forms distinctly pink or red-brown, or with only the markings 

 red-brown, or to uniform dark brown, or equally plain pale 

 drab varieties. 



On the wing in June, July, and August. 



Larva moderately slender ; white faintly tinged with 

 primrose-yellow ; dorsal line slender, rather darker ; head 

 clear pale brown, its lobes oval ; plates hardly visible, very 

 faintly tinged with brown. 



October to May or June in the underground stems, or 

 fleshy roots, of Stachys, eating regularly through the long, 

 constricted root stems of the plant during the winter, and 

 moving therein quite freely backwards or forwards. There 

 is some doubt about the species of Stachys. Apparently it 

 cannot be >S'. arvensis, which is an annual ; perhaps ;S^. 

 amhigua or S. 2>cdustris — certainly a field-growing plant. 



Pupa light brown — very restless. Spun up among earth 

 or rubbish on the ground ; not in the larval habitation. 



The moth hides during the day close to the ground among 

 the herbage about its food plant ; and is not willing to be 

 roused except late in the afternoon ; but from sunset to dusk 

 it flies actively and rather swiftly, yet with a buzzing action 

 over the plants, and continues its flight into the night, 

 coming sometimes to a strong light. Rather partial to damp 

 fields and moist places, and to be found in suitable places in 

 the south of England from Kent to Dorset and Somerset ; in 

 the east to Norfolk and Cambridgeshire ; and in the west 

 from Gloucestershire to Lancashire ; also in Staffordshire, 

 Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Durham ; in Wales in Car- 

 narvonshire and Pembrokeshire ; in Scotland apparently 

 everywhere, indeed a single specimen is recorded from 

 Shetland ; and in Ireland in various counties from Cork to 

 Derry. Abroad it is found in Iceland, thoughout Central 

 Europe, and in South-east Russia. 



