FlDONIA. 3 I 9 



GENUS XLIV. — FlDONIA (TR.). 



Antennfe of the male more or less pectinated, and those of the female dcntatcd. Body 

 rather stout, the palpi drooping and slightly developed, or absent. The wings are yellow, rarely 

 whitish ; the fore-wings generally with three or four, and the hind-wings with two broad dark 

 transverse lines. The fore-wings are moderately broad, with the costa nearly straight, and the 

 hinder angle rounded ; hind-wings with the costa scarcely longer than the inner margin. The 

 larva: are slender, with a round head, and undergo their transformations in the ground. 



* I. F. Piniaria (Linn.). — The male is whitish, or pale ochreous, with the tip, nervures, 

 and inner margin of the fore-wings, and the costa, hind margin, and two transverse lines on the 

 hind-wings, dark olive-brown ; the female is dull orange, with the hind margins, and frequently a 

 transverse band in the middle of the wings, reddish-brown. Expands about l\ inches. It is 

 common in fir-woods from May to July throughout Europe and Northern Asia. The larva is 

 green, with three white lines on the back, and a yellow stripe on the sides. It feeds on fir from 

 August to October. The sexes of the moth are figured at PI. 45, Fig. 8, a, b. 



*2. F. Atomaria (Linn.).^The wings of the male are ochre-yellow, and those of the female 

 whitish, transversely speckled with brown ; the fore-wings with four and the hind-wings with 

 two broad brown stripes, the two middle ones converging on the inner margin of the fore-wings. 

 Expands about i inch. Common on heaths, from May to September, throughout the greater 

 part of Europe, and Northern and Western Asia. The larva is varied with lighter and darker 

 brown, with a waved yellow stripe on the sides. It feeds on heath, birch, &c., in June and 

 September. The moth is figured at PI. 45, Fig. 9. 



3. F. Plnmistana (Vill.). — Antennae very strongly pectinated in the male; fore-wings 

 yellowish-white, slightly speckled with brown, with four very broad brown transverse stripes, 

 the outermost only separated from the brown hind margin by a row of pale spots, the innermost 

 bifurcating towards the inner margin, and the third strongly curved inwards towards the inner 

 margin, and angulated so as to touch the second stripe ; hind-wings yellow, with some scattered 

 brown dots, an inner brown transverse stripe, and an outer row of brown spots. Expands 

 nearly if inches. Inhabits Southern Europe in March and September, flying rapidly in the 

 forenoon. The larva is clay-colour, spotted with brown, and with a yellow stripe on the sides. 

 It feeds on Dorycnium sHJfruticosum. 



4. F. Pennigeraria (Hiibn.). — Fore-wings dark brown, with three broad, irregular, and den- 

 tated white transverse stripes ; hind-wings yellow, with a moderately broad brown border ; 

 all the fringes spotted with brown and white. Expands rather more than \\ inches. Inhabits 

 South-Western Europe in May and jMne. The larva is purplish-brown, with a white stripe, 

 spotted with orange on the sides. It feeds on lavender, and probably also on Santolina chanim- 

 cyparissiis, in April. {F. Chrysitaria, Geyer, from South Europe and North Africa, resembles 

 this, but has only two angulated white lines on the fore-wings, and there is a yellow spot at the 

 tip of the hind-wings.) 



*S. F. Limbaria (Fabr.). — Wings ochre -yellow, the fore-wings with a broad black border, 

 and the hind-wings dusted with blackish, more densely towards the hind margin ; under side 

 thickly and transversely striated with dusky, and marked with whitish longitudinal rays. 

 Expands about i inch. Widely distributed in Central Europe from May to July. The larva 

 is reddish-brown, with a yellow stripe on the sides, and feeds on broom in June and July, and 

 in September and October. 



6. F. Roraria (Fabr.). — Fore-wings ochre-yellow, transversely speckled with brown, most 



