314 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 



The Dotted Rustic {Agrotis {Episilia) sitmilans). 



The sexes of this local moth are figured on Plate 107. Fig. 7 

 represents a male from Aberdeen, and Fig. 8 a female from 

 Dorsetshire. The latter is of a pale brown colour on the fore 

 wings, and this is somewhat unusual, as the prevailing colour of 

 specimens from the Dorset coast is greyish brown. 



The caterpillar is ochreous brown, dotted with brown, and 

 marked with dark brown, sometimes greenish tinged, on the 

 back ; a white stripe below the spiracles ; head brown and 

 rather glossy. It feeds on grasses and low plants, such as 

 dock, dandelion, groundsel, etc. September to May. The moth 

 flies in July, August, and September. It occurs at various places 

 on the Dorsetshire coast ; on the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire ; 

 in North Wales, and the Isle of Man ; also from Cheshire to 

 Cumberland. Widely distributed in Scotland, extending to the 

 Hebrides and the Orkneys. In Ireland only recorded from 

 Sligo. 



The Heath Rustic {Agrotis {Eneretagrotis) agathina). 



The moth, shown on Plate 107, varies in colour and in 

 marking. Fig. 2 depicts a specimen from Perthshire, and 

 Fig. 3 one from North Devonshire. In Southern England the 

 general tint is pinkish brown, and in the north and in Scotland 

 it is dark reddish brown or blackish. A pale greyish form from 

 Ireland has been named var. hebridicola^ Stand. Sometimes 

 specimens are distinctly rosy in tint, and these are referable to 

 var. 7-osea, Tutt. The caterpillar (Plate 109, Fig. 2) is reddish 

 brown, or green, with whitish lines on the back, the central one 

 edged on each sides with blackish, and the others inwardly 

 marked with black ; a yellowish stripe low down along the sides, 

 sometimes marked with reddish ; usual dots black ; spiracles 

 white, dark ringed ; head greenish yellow marked with darker 



