Orthosia. 175 



in May and June, hide themselves by day, and change to pupa; in the ground. The moths 

 appear from August to October, and most of the species hybernate and reappear in spring. 



1. O. Ruticilhi (Esp.) .—Fore-wings a little broader behind, reddish or yellovvish-grey, with 

 indistinct double transverse lines and stigmata, the latter surrounded with paler, and the reniform 

 stigma filled up with dark grey beneath. The central shade is marked with a double row of 

 black dots, intersected with paler, and the submarginal line is rather sinuous. Expands from 

 I to 1 1 inches. Common in the south of Europe, but very rare and local in Central France and 

 Northern Germany. It appears in April. The larva is brown, with dark angular shades, and 

 a black head. It feeds on oak, living first in the buds. 



2. O. Huniilis (W. V.). — Fore- wings yellowish ashy-grey, with pale nervures, the two large 

 stigmata surrounded with paler, and the transverse lines double and not dentated, the elbowed 

 line bent below the costa, but otherwise nearly straight ; the fringes marked with a double row of 

 black dots. Expands from \\ to \\ inches. A scarce insect in the southern half of Central 

 Europe. Larva green, with three white lines on the back, and a white stripe on the sides, bordered 

 above with black. It feeds on low plants. 



3. 0. Nitida (W. V.) . — Fore-wings short, pale rusty-brown, with pale nervures ; the stigmata 

 as in Humilis, the double transverse lines very slightly dentated, the elbowed and subterminal lines 

 slightly curved, the latter spotted with dusky in front ; and the hind margin with a dark terminal 

 line. Expands from i| to \\ inches. Widely distributed in Central Europe, except the north- 

 west. The larva resembles that of Orrhodia Vaccinii, but may be distinguished from it by the dark 

 angles on the back and the dull black plate on the back of the neck divided by two white lines. 

 It lives on low plants. {O. Insueta, Freyer, is of the shape and size oi Pistacina ; thorax and fore- 

 wings pale grey, with zigzag waved lines ; stigmata indistinct. Abdomen, hind-wings, and under 

 side brownish-grey ; there is a distinct central lunule on all the wings beneath. Inhabits Turkey 

 in June ; the larva is found in April.) 



4. 0. Hceinatidea (Dup.). — Fore-wings very pointed, dark reddish-brown, with the lines lost 

 in the ground-colour, the subterminal line only indicated by a row of black dots. The stigmata 

 rust-colour, and the orbicular stigma very oblique. Fringes paler, and preceded by a black line 

 divided by the nervules. Hind-wings blackish-grey, with reddish fringes. Abdomen with a tuft 

 of fulvous hairs at the tip. Expands about \\ inches. A rare species, found in France and 

 Italy. 



* 5. 0. Pistacina (Fabr.). — Fore- wings narrow, brownish-yellow, with pale nervures, indistinct 

 double transverse lines, and dark stigmata bordered with paler ; the orbicular stigma oblique and 

 narrow, and the space between the elbowed and subterminal lines dark grey. The variety Caiiaria 

 (Esp.) is darker, almost black ; the variety Serina (Esp.) is very pale, almost unicolorous ; and 

 the variety Rubelra (Esp.) is unicolorous reddish. Expands from i| to i\ inches. Common in 

 Central and Southern Europe and Western Asia. Larva green, with three rust-coloured or 

 dark longitudinal lines, and a white stripe on the sides bordered above with rust-colour. It 

 feeds on Centaurea, preferring the buds. 



* 6. 0. Rtifina (Linn.). — Fore-wings olive-grey or cinnamon-brown, darker on the basal area, 

 and between the elbowed and subterminal lines, the transverse lines single, consisting of dark 

 lunules bordered with paler, the subterminal line suffused and spotted with dusky in front ; the 

 stigmata surrounded with pale, and the reniform stigma filled up with dark beneath ; hind-wings 

 broadly reddish on the costa and hind margin. Size of Pistacijia. Common in Europe and 

 Northern and Western Asia. The larva is brownish-red, with a snow-white stripe on the sides 

 and a dull line on the back ; it feeds on oak. The moth is figured at PL 33, Fig. 11. 



