NOTES ON EUPITHECIA LARVAE. 



129 



Eupithecia venosata. This larva is by no means uncom- 

 mon, though the perfect insect is seklom seen. It is also very- 

 easy to rear. It is short, thick and stumpy. Back dull 

 leaden-grey, sparingly studded with minute white spots and 

 short hairs. Belly and sides dirty greenish-white. Head 

 black. It feeds inside the seed capsules of the bladder cam- 

 pion i^SiUne infiata) and the common red Lychnis {LycJuris 

 dioira)y and is full fed from the middle to the end of July. 

 When retidy to assume the pupa state it comes out of the 

 capsule and enters the earth, where it spins a very slight co- 

 coon, and turns to a bright-red chrysalis. It is very subject 

 to the attacks of ichneumons. The perfect insect appears 

 from the beginning to the end of May. When quite young, 

 the larva is black. 



Eupithecia Linariata. Short and stumpy, slightly taper- 

 ing towards the head. When young bright yellow, with 

 blackish dorsal spots. When full fed yellowish-green, with 

 a series of large dull olive or rust-coloured dorsal spots or 

 bars, running the whole length, and bordered on either side 

 by a dusky olive line. Head nearly black. Belly dusky. 

 Spiracles black. Body sprinkled with short whitish hairs, 

 and here and there studded with black tubercles. The dorsal 

 markings are frequently very indistinct, and sometimes want- 

 ing altogether, and the larva is then one uniform yellowish- 

 green. Feeds in August and September on the flowers and 

 seeds of the common wild snapdragon (^Linaria vulgaris). 

 It is uncertain in its appearance, being one year exceedin^jly 

 abundant, and the next very scarce. The pupa, which is 

 enclosed in an earthen cocoon, has the abdomen reddish- 

 yellow, tip blood red, thorax and wing-cases olive. The 

 perfect insect appears in May. In veiy hot seasons it is 

 sometimes double-brooded. 



Eupithecia Ceiita^ireata. Long, rather slender, and 

 1861. K 



