ASPHALIA. 145 



Common in most parts of Europe, and in the Altai. The larva is green, dotted with white 

 wlien young ; when full-grown it is dirty white, with a black plate behind the head (which is 

 reddish-brown, with the mouth black), and two black dots on the sides. It lives on birch and 

 alder. 



*4. C- Fhictuosa (Hiibn.) is darker, more distinctly marked, and differs from Dnplaris in 

 wanting the two black dots on the fore-wings. Expands \\ inches. It is found throughout 

 Central Europe in June and July, and sometimes in September and October. The larva is 

 yellowish-white, with a brownish head, and feeds on birch in autumn. 



GENUS IV. — ASPHALIA (lliJBN.). 



Body thick, fore-wings grey, or brownish, with dark transverse lines; the antennce of the 

 male rusty-yellow, thickened, and simple (or with short pectinations in A. RuficoUis only). The 

 legs are very woolly, and the other characters are those of Cymatophora. A. Diluta has a 

 small crest on the 3rd segment of the abdomen. 



I. A. RuficoUis (W. v.). — Fore-wings dark violet-grey, with faintly-marked dark transverse 

 hnes, and a small dark oval central ring, filled up with paler ; hind-wings pale grey, collar 

 rusty-yellow. Expands rather under \\ inches. It is found in April, May, and September 

 in Southern Europe, but is a scarce insect, and it is the only species of this family which 

 has not been met with in Britain. The larva is pale yellow, with a dark line on the 

 back, and a whitish line on each side a little below it. It feeds on oak from June to 

 October. 



* 2. A. Diluta (W. v.). — The fore-wings are obtuse at the tip ; violet-grey, with two rusty- 

 brown transverse bands, bordered on both sides by double lines ; the two last lines, which run 

 straight, are filled with paler colour, and dentated ; the hind-wings are pale yellowish-brown, 

 with a light transverse stripe. Expands about i^ inches. It occurs throughout Central 

 Europe from August to October. The larva is greenish-grey above, with a pale line on the 

 back, and the sides yellowish. The head is brownish-yellow, with the mouth black. It lives 

 on oak in May and June. 



* I. A. Flavicoriiis (Linn.). — Fore-wings rather pointed, grey, or greenish-grey, whitish along 

 the costa to beyond the middle, with black double or triple transverse lines, which are not 

 dentated, and one or two paler spots. The hind-wings are whitish, with a grey transverse 

 stripe and hind margin. Expands about li inches. Common in Northern and Central Europe. 

 It is found on the trunks of birch-trees in March and April, and again, though less commonly, 

 in August. The larva is greenish-grey, with many indistinct whitish dots, and two large 

 black spots, bordered above with white, on the back of each segment, and one on each side ; 

 the head is pale brown, with two black dots in front. It feeds on poplar, birch, and oak in 

 June, July, and September. The moth and larva are figured at PI. 32, Fig. 3, a, b. 



4. A. Ridens (Fabr.). — Fore-wings narrow, varied with green and brown, with two double 

 black transverse stripes, filled up with whitish, and a white wavy line, all much dentated ; 

 the hind-wings are white, with the hind margins brownish. Expands about i^ inches. It is 

 found in Central and South-Western Europe in April and May. It sits on the trunks of 

 oaks, and may be dislodged by the mallet. The larva is yellowish or bluish, with four dark 

 green interrupted longitudinal lines, and dotted with white ; head reddish-yellow. It lives on 

 oak in June and September, and is a cannibal. The moth and larva are figured at PI. ^2, 

 Fig. 4, a, b. 

 26 



