THE MULLEIN WAVE. 1^5 



The long caterpillar is pale greyish-brown, with three dusky 

 lines on the back ; the black spiracles are set in a pale stripe, 

 and below this is a dusky line ; head small and round (Barrett). 

 August to May. The natural food appears to be Valeriajia 

 officinalis, and Spircea, but it has been reared from the egg on 

 groundsel, knotgrass, etc., also hawthorn, and moths obtamed 

 the same year, about September. 



In the open the moth is to be found in fens, bogs, and marshy 

 places in fields and woods, during June and July. It is not 

 uncommon, in suitable spots, in most of the southern and 

 eastern counties of England. In the west, including Wales, 

 and through the Midlands, it is local to Yorkshire, but is widely 

 distributed in the south of the latter county ; it occurs, rarely, in 

 Durham. In Scotland it has only been definitely noted from 

 Arran. Widely distributed, and common, in many parts of 



Ireland. 

 Abroad, the range extends to Amurland. 





'^'^ ''t'^The Mullein WaYe {Acidalia {Leptomeris) margifte- . 

 '\ punctata). 



This species exhibits more variation than is usual in this 

 group. Typically, the moth is greyish white, but in some 

 specimens the grey is most in evidence, and in others the 

 white. A practically black form, with white fringes, has been 

 noted from North Cornwall, and at Eastbourne and Portland 

 many of the specimens have a clear, bone-coloured ground, 

 with fine but very distinct cross-markings ; these seem to be 

 referable to ab. pastoraria, Joannis. The cross lines in both 

 daik and light forms are sometimes very indistinct, but 

 occasionally the first and second of the fore wings are 

 united, and so form an irregular dusky band; the greyish 

 clouding on the outer marginal area is also variable. Three 



