2o2 LEPID OP TERA . 



On the wing in June and July, sometimes even at the end 

 of May. 



Larva f inch long, rather slender, even in bulk almost 

 throughout ; the twelfth and thirteenth segments taper a 

 little ; head full aud round, light brown ; the prolegs on 

 segment seven absent, on eight rudimentary, those on the 

 two following segments well developed ; colour on the back 

 pale yellow, with a broad greenish pulsating dorsal vessel; 

 subdorsal line thin, clear yellow, edged above with brown, 

 and below with pale green ; spiracles round, black, placed on 

 a thin reddish line ; raised dots dusky-black edged or ringed 

 with pale red ; undersurface yellow with its dots black ; anal 

 prolegs frequently purplish. Sometimes of a more reddish 

 tint, each longitudinal line edged with more decided red ; 

 a brownish stripe between the lower edging of the subdorsal 

 and the spiracular line ; and below this again a yellow 

 line, then a red line, and the undersurface pale brown . 

 (Buckler.) 



July to September on Molinca ccerulca (blue moor-grass) 

 growing in damp places. (Buckler.) I am inclined to think 

 that some other stiff' hard grass must also be eaten, since the 

 Molinea does not seem to grow in some of those woods in 

 which I have found the moth most plentifully. 



Pupa cylindrical, stout about the thorax, the abdomen 

 smaller and short in proportion, ending rather bluntly in 

 a spike set with several curled-topped spines ; the skin very 

 glossy, rich red-brown ; wing-cases more golden-brown ; eyes 

 blackish. In a cocoon very firmly and neatly made of a thin 

 coating of silk stuck all over with hue earth or sand. 

 (Buckler.) 



The moth sits during the day, head downwards, upon 

 trees, especially fir-trees, and when approached often darts 

 down toward the ground and tries to escape among the 

 undergrowth of brambles, heather, or whortleberry. There 



