276 LEPIDOPTERA. 



interrupted at the junction of the segments; subdorsal stripe 

 broad, blackish-brown, interrupted by a series of large 

 blotches — orange-red above, orange-yellow below, and with 

 small white markings at the segmental divisions ; under- 

 surface pale greyish or whitish ; hairs mixed black and white ; 

 legs and prolegs pinkish. 



Dr. Chapman says that the newly hatched larva is whitish 

 but soon gets darker, the head becoming black, and the fifth, 

 eighth, ninth and twelfth segments brown, while the remainder 

 continue pale, the raised spots are distinctly larger and darker 

 on the dark segments, but very small on the eleventh ; they 

 have from one to three long hairs apiece. As in other 

 species constituting the section Viininia, these spots are very 

 large, crowded, and black after each moult ; and segment 

 eleven is depressed and weak. After the second moult the 

 colour is rufous marbled in two shades ; the fifth segment is 

 now the largest and from it the larva tapers behind. After 

 the third moult the colours are black and orange, with bluish 

 grey sides and a yellow subdorsal stripe; the dorsal area 

 being of a blackish-brown, and the hairs are still long. From 

 this the adult form is gradually assumed, the inequality of size 

 in the fifth and eleventh segments disappearing altogether, 

 and the hairs assuming their shorter length. 



July to September on common reed (Armido i)hrar/miks) 

 and sometimes on Pocc aquatica and other coarse fen grasses. 

 Feeding openly upon the reed leaves in the early evening 

 and at night, but usually concealing itself lower down upon 

 the plants in the daytime. 



Pupa much like that of Acroiii/da ru/mcis but more 

 slender ; the marginal hoops of the six abdominal segments 

 very distinct and pronounced ; apical segments very shortly 

 and rapidly tapered off ; anal point with a bunch of bristles. 

 In a thin slender cocoon of whitish silk among dead grass- 

 leaves, bits of reed, drawn-together reed leaves, or among 

 rubbish near the ground. (Condensed from Dr. Chapman.) 



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