Ses/a. 79 



I inch. Common in some localities in Central Europe, but not British. The moth appears from 

 June to August, and may be found resting on the dead branches of oaks. The larva feeds in the 

 bark of this tree. The moth is figured at PI. 20, Fig. 9. 



*8. 5. Asiliformis (Rottemb.), Cynipiformis (Esp.).— Body bluish-black, with a pale yellow 

 double spot at the back of the thorax, and three or four yellow belts on the abdomen ; anal tuft 

 black, a little mixed with yellow in the male, and almost entirely yellow in the female ; the narrow 

 crescent-shaped band of the fore-wings saffron-yellow, the costa and hind margin often dusted with 

 reddish-yellow. (The variety Melliniformis, Lasp., is smaller, with the yellow spot on the tiiorax 

 scarcely marked.) Expands from three-quarters of an inch to an inch. Widely distributed 

 throughout Central and Southern Europe and Western Asia in June and July, without being 

 generally very abundant. The larva lives for two years in or under the bark of oaks, in old shoots 

 or diseased excrescences of the tree, and forms its cocoon either in the bark, or under lichens or 

 moss. The moth is figured at PL 20, Fig. lo. 



* 9. 5. Myopmformis (Borkh.). — Body, anal tuft, costa, band, and hind margin of the fore-wings 

 bluish-black ; sides of the breast orange ; the 4th segment of the abdomen with a broad red belt 

 on the upper side in the male, and both above and below in the female. In the male the palpi are 

 white beneath, segments 4 to 6 of the abdomen are white on the under side, and the anal tuft is 

 whitish-yellow in the middle beneath. Expands about three-quarters of an inch. Widely distri- 

 buted throughout Central and Southern Europe from May to July. The larva lives for two years 

 under the bark of apple and pear trees, forming long galleries in the soft wood of the tree, especially 

 near decaying portions, where branches have been lopped off or the bark has become partially 

 detached. It forms its cocoon in a cavity in the bark. 5. Typhiceforiitis (Borkh.) is probably a 

 variety in which the red of the upper side and the white of the under side is limited to the 

 borders of the segments. It occurs in South Europe. The variety Grceca (Staud.) has two red 

 rings on the abdomen. (5. Cruentata, Mann, from Sicily, may be another variety ; the abdomen 

 has blood-red scales, which do not form distinct bands, but cover nearly the whole sides of the 

 2nd and 3rd segments, but scarcely cover the hinder margins above, and are very little marked 

 on segments 4 to 6 ; the white on the under side of the abdomen is likewise absent.) 



* 10. 5. Oilicifonnis (Linn.). — Very like the female of Alyopcefoniiis, but larger. The palpi 

 are orange beneath, and the entire 4th segment of the abdomen is yellowish-red in both sexes, 

 and sometimes segments 5 and 6 on the under side ; the hind margin of the fore-wings is dusted with 

 orange in front. A white-belted variety occurs in the proportion of about one specimen in twenty- 

 five. Another variety, TJiyiiniformis (Lasp.), has a yellow collar, and all the segments of the 

 abdomen bordered with yellow. Expands about I inch. Widely distributed and often common 

 throughout Europe and Northern and Western Asia in May and June. The larva lives for one 

 season in the trunks and branches of the birch, forming a long passage in the wood of the tree. It 

 is occasionally found in the alder, and, according to some writers, in fruit-trees also. The moth 

 may be found among flowers, or flying round and settling upon tree-stumps. It is figured at PI. 20, 

 Fig. II. {S. Polaris, Staud., from Lapland, may be distinguished from this by the absence 

 of any coloured belt on the abdomen, and by the apical transparent spot, which is long and 

 narrow.) 



II. S. Stoiiioxyfoi-uiis {^Lvkiw). — Body, palpi, and anal tuft blackish-green; the 4th segment 

 of the abdomen red above, and this and the two following segments reddish-yellow beneath ; 

 the breast without the orange spots of Culicifonnis ; and the costa, band, and hind margin of the 

 fore-wings more blackish-blue. Expands a little more than I inch. It occurs in Southern and 

 Eastern Europe and Western Asia, but is not a very common species. Figured at PI. 20, Fig. 12. 



