224 THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



a rather faded look and are easily detected. July is the best 

 month, but the caterpillar may be found earlier as well as later. 

 The moth is out in May and June, and is found in almost 

 every part of the British Isles where the foxglove is common. 



Toadflax Pug {Eupithecia linariata). 



Very similar to the last species, but generally smaller, neater 

 and more glossy looking. The central band of the fore wing is 

 blacker, without ochrecus clouding below the middle, and the 

 edges are not wavy. The hind wings are darker, and the only 

 distinct band is a whitish one beyond the middle (Plate 93, 

 Figs. 3, 6). 



The caterpillar is yellowish green, with a series of dull olive 

 or rust coloured spots or ba's along the back, bordered on each 

 side by a dusky olive line ; in some examples the markings are 

 absent (Crewe). It feeds in the flowers of yellow toadflax 

 {Li?ia?-ia vulgaris)^ and may be reared on flowers of the snap- 

 dragon {Antirrhinum). It is hardly necessary to examine 

 each blossom separately to find the caterpillar, except, 

 perhaps, to make sure when doubtful about the quarry being 

 there. Probably, a handful of the flower sprays gathered in 

 August or September in any locality in the southern half of 

 England where the food plant abounds would furmsh moths 

 in the following May or June. The Linaria should be secured 

 on a dry day for choice, but when brought home it need not 

 be put in water ; just throw it into an airy breeding cage, and 

 hopefully await emergence of the perfect insects in due course. 

 Sometimes caterpillars attain the moth state the same year. 



The range of the species in England extends to Durham, 

 but it seems to be rather uncommon from the Midlands north- 

 wards. It is found in Wales, and has been recorded once from 

 Scotland (Inverurie), and once from Ireland (DubHn). 



