LiTHOSIA. 97 



is blackish, thickly sprinkled with pale yellow, coalescing into spots below the sulphur-coloured 

 line on the back. There is also a much narrower stripe on the sides, composed of spots. It feeds 

 on ground lichens. 



S. 5. Roscida (Hiibn.). — Body black ; shoulders, tip of the abdomen, and wings dull pale 

 yellow ; fore-wings with three rows of black spots, but no basal spot ; hind-wings spotted with black 

 before the hind margin. Under side of fore-wings smoky, base of the costa black. Antennae 

 strongly ciliated. E.xpands about i inch. It is common, though local, in Southern and Central 

 Europe, except the north-west ; and in Northern and Western Asia. It flies in dry places in 

 woods, and on hills ; and the larva does not differ from that of Kuhlwcinii. The Alpine variety 

 Melanoiiios (Nick.) has the fore-wings suffused with grey, and the nervures and hind-wings arc 

 blackish towards the base. 



* 6. 5. Mesomella (Linn.). — Fore-wings with the tip rectangular, pale grey, with the costa and 

 hind margin ochre-yellow, and with one black spot in the middle of the costa, and another in 

 the middle of the inner margin. Hind-wings dark grey with yellow fringes. Expands about 

 I-} inches. Common in woods throughout Europe, and in Northern and Western Asia. The 

 larva is dark brown, with blackish hairs, and a shining yellowish brown head. It feeds on 

 lichens growing on the trunks of trees. The moth is figured at PI. 22, Fig. 6. 



GENUS IV. — LIl'HOSIA (FABR.). 



Fore-wings long and narrow, with a short hind margin. The fore-wings and body are yellow 

 or grey, the former occasionally marked with a few black dots. The hind-wings are more than 

 twice as broad, with the tip rather produced. The larvae are dark, with rows of brightly-coloured 

 spots, and thinly clothed with hair. They hybernate when young, and change to pupa; in May or 

 June. The moths appear in July and August, except Sororcida and Aureola, which may be found 

 in June, and the former as early as May. The wings are folded round the body when at rest. 

 They fly at dusk, and at intervals during the night. 



* I. L. Muscerda (Hiibn.). — Fore-wings ashy-grey, with the costa whitish, and a transverse row 

 of black dots beyond the middle, and two dots above the middle of the inner margin ; hind-wings 

 pale grey. Expands a little more than i inch. It is local in damp woods throughout Central 

 Europe ; in England it is confined to Horning Fen, in Norfolkshire. The larva is velvety blackish- 

 brown, marbled with reddish-grey ; there are three black lines on the back, and a fine reddish-grey 

 line on the sides ; the 2nd and 13th segments are marked with two red spots on the back. It 

 probably feeds on lichens growing on sallows and alders. 



*2. L. Griseola (Hiibn.).— Fore-wings leaden-grey, with the costa narrowly yellow; hind- 

 wings pale grey; body grey, with the head, and tip of the abdomen pale yellow. The pale ochreous 

 variety Flava, Haw. {Stramineola, Doubl.), appears to be confined to England. Expands nearly 

 \\ inches. Common throughout Northern and Central Europe and Northern Asia. The larva is 

 black, with red spots in front, and two red stripes on the back after the 3rd segment. Feeds on 

 lichens growing on trees. 



* 3. L. Dcplana (Esp.), Depressa (Esp.), Helveola (Ochs.). — Fore-wings of the male pale greyish- 

 yellow, the costa ochre-yellow at the base ; hind-wings still paler, with a broad ashy-grey border. 

 Female reddish-grey, fore-wings with the costal streak dull yellow, growing narrower towards the 

 tip ; head, tip of abdomen, and fringes dull yellow. Expands about \\ inches. Widely distributed 

 throughout Central Europe ; common in some localities ; in others (England, for example) rare. 

 The larva is greenish-brown, with a yellow stripe on the back, which is bordered and dotted with 



20 



