

THE SERAPHIM. '^19 '^^ i^^ 



The Seraphim {Lohophora halterata). 



Fore wings whitish, with two greyish bands on the basal 

 area ; first and second Hnes greyish, variable in width, and 

 sometimes only represented by marks on the front or inner 

 margins ; there is a black central dot, and the outer area 

 beyond the submarginal line is clouded with dark grey, 

 especially on the upper half. Sometimes the wings are so 

 thickly stippled with the darker colour that they appear to 

 be greyish, with interrupted and indistinct whitish cross lines. 

 A rather frequent form has the fore wings tinged with ochreous, 

 and of this tint is ab. zotiata^ Thnbg., which has the basal bands 

 and outer marginal border blackish, the central area being 

 without cross lines. (Plate 57, Figs. 9 J, and 10 5.) 



The caterpillar is green, darker below and between the rings ; 

 the most distinct markings are two yellow hnes along the back ; 

 head, notched ; body wrinkled, and with two points on the last 

 ring. It feeds on aspen, and other kinds of poplar, in June and 

 July. 



The moth appears in May, and continues out well into June, 

 especially in its northern localities. It rests on the trunks of 

 poplar trees, or on the stems of bushes around, and is some- 

 times easily alarmed, and flies off on the collector's approach, 

 whilst at other times it sits quietly, and may be easily boxed. 

 At dusk it may be seen flying around the poplars. 



Widely distributed in the southern half of England, and 

 only found where poplars, chiefly aspens, are well established. 

 From Worcester its range extends northwards to Stafford- 

 shire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Cheshire ; and it has 

 been recorded from Yorkshire and Cumberland ; also from 

 Glamorganshire, South Wales. In Scotland it seems not to 

 have been noted in the south, but is found more or less fre- 

 quently from Perthshire to Sutherlandshire. Rare in Ireland. 



Abroad, its range extends to Amurland and Japan. 



