ACONTIA. 2b -J 



FAMILY XIV.— ACONTID^. 

 Fore-wings blackish, with double undentated transverse lines, a zigzag subtcrminal line, 

 and a white spot on the costa ; the stigmata indistinct ; the hind-wings blackish, with a white 

 interrupted central band, and extending nearly to the tip of the abdomen ; the antenna; 

 simple, and the femora thinly clothed with hair. The larvae are smooth and moderately 

 stout, with sixteen legs, in Luctiiosa, and long and slender, with only twelve legs, in the 

 other species. The species are double-brooded, and may be found throughout a great part 

 of the year, both as moths and larvae. The former fly by day, and rest with their wings 

 sloping. The European species are comprised in the single genus 



ACONTIA (OCHS.). 



*l A. Lnctuosa (W. V.). — Fore-wings blackish, with a large white or slightly rosy costal 

 spot extending to the middle, and white fringes, clouded in the middle of the hind margin ; 

 hind-wings black, with a white transverse band, varying in width, a white dot towards the 

 hind margin, and white fringes, slightly clouded in the middle. Expands about i inch. 

 Common in Central and Southern Europe and Northern and Western Asia. The larva is 

 yellowish-grey, dusted with darker, with two pale lines on the back, and a white stripe on 

 the sides. It feeds on Coni'olvulus and mallow. The moth is figured at PI. 39, Fig. 1 1. 

 {A. Moldavica, Herr.-Schiifif., from Dalmatia and Greece, resembles Liictnosa, but expands 

 only three-quarters of an inch ; the white spot of the fore-wings is absent, and there are two 

 black transverse lines, bordered with red on the sides opposite to each other; subterminal line 

 whitish. Fringes whitish, with blackish spots on the ends of the nervures. Hind-wings dark 

 brown, with yellowish fringes chequered with brown. 



2. A. Viridisqtiania (Guen.).— Fore-wings dark brown, with the basal and median areas 

 covered with large green scales, the lines only indicated by three white streaks on the 

 costa. The reniform stigma is indistinct and a little paler, with a black dash in the centre. 

 The subterminal line is indistinct, and composed of green scales ; the fringes are con- 

 colorous, but interrupted by two greenish-white spaces ; hind-wings rounded, black, with 

 greenish-white fringes. Inhabits Spain and the Pyrenees in June ; and the larva feeds on 

 a kind of mallow in July. 



*3. A. Lucida (Hiibn.), Solaris (W. V.). — Fore-wings dark grey, suffused with violet-grey, 

 and more or less whitish in the basal area (especially in the variety AlbicolHs, Fabr., whicli 

 the French entomologists consider a distinct species), and with a small white costal spot ; 

 fringes above the middle grey, and below white. Hind-wings white at the base, with three 

 or four blackish rays, and a broad black border (narrower and more regular in AlbicolHs, 

 which also wants the black rays). Expands from i to i^ inches. Inhabits Central and 

 Southern Europe and Northern and Western Asia ; AlbicolHs is rare in England. Larva 

 green or brownish-grey, with three dark double lines on the thoracic segments ; tufted, and 

 with a white line on the back on segments 5 to 7, and with a dark stripe on the back, and 

 a whitish line on the sides of the remaining segments. It feeds on Convolvulus. {A. Titania, 

 Esp., has white fore-wings, with the base ashy, and a lafge brown spot dotted with blue 

 towards the tip, having a white spot on its front edge ; submarginal line whitish, and a row 

 of marginal black dots ; fringes intersected with brown ; the stigmata and a large spot on the 

 costa olive ; the reniform stigma with a black dot in the middle ; hind-wings white, with two 

 broad brown stripes. A. Urania, Friv., has yellowish-white fore-wings, with the hind margin 



