13 



A CATALOGUE OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF IRELAND. 



By W. F. de Vismes Kane, M.A., M.R.I.A., F.E.S. 



(Continued from vol. xxvi. p. 345.) 



Spilosoma lubricipeda, Esp. — Everywhere common tb rough - 

 ut Ireland. The only variety I have noticed is where the dots 

 pon the fore wings are strongly marked, and more or less con- 

 uent. One taken by Mr. Dillon, in Co. Galway, is the finest I 

 ave seen, and the spots have coalesced into a bar. 



Spilosoma menthastri, Esj:). — Extremely common, more so 

 ban the preceding. Sometimes obscures the windows of light- 

 ouses on the S.W. coast. In moth-traps is a perfect pest, 

 isturbing and crowding out better species. The spots are 

 ometimes very numerous and large, but sometimes almost 

 bsolete. 



The \iiY. ochracea sometimes occurs. Roches Point, Cork; 

 nd about Belfast (IF.) not uncommon. 



HEPIALID.E. 



Hepialus humuli, L. — Common everywhere, both on the 

 Weakest coast-line and inland. Variable in size ; and in the 

 oloration of the female. 



Hepialus sylvanus, L. — The only report of the capture of 

 his species has been sent me by Mr. Dillon, who took two speci- 

 Qens at Clonbrock. Mr. Birchall's record in the Co. Wicklow 

 iroves to be erroneous. 



Hepialus velleda, Hb. — Very widely distributed throughout 

 reland, but somewhat localised. Mr. Watts thinks that those 

 ibout Belfast district are smaller and brighter than English 

 pecimens. My experience is that they vary much, sometimes 

 laving the brown a rich russet hue, and sometimes blackish. 



The var. gallicus, Ld., often almost as common as the type. 

 '. have noticed the female of this variety of very great size, "and 

 caching 2 inches 3 lines in expanse. Whether this is always the 

 sase or not seems worth enquiry. 



Localities : Derry, Donegal, in suitable localities, Belfast, 

 'ery common ( W.) ; Carlingford and Armagh {J.) ; Tyrone and 

 tlonaghan, occasional ; Cromlyn and Killynon, Westmeath ; 

 ^'arnham, Co. Cavan ; Dublin and Wicklow, often plentiful; 

 louth wards in Wexford, Waterford, Cork, and Kerry, in varying 

 bbundance ; about Ennis, Co. Clare ; Ardrahan and Clonbrock, 

 ^ery plentiful (B.E.D.) ; Ballynahinch, Connemara, Co. Galway ; 

 2o. Sligo, &c. Abundant and similarly distributed as the former. 

 . have noticed it flying in the sunshine. 



Hepialus rectus, L. — Very local, but widely distributed. I 

 lave taken it in a great many counties, but it is easily over- 



