FLAME CARPET, 1 83 



frequently broken up (ab. spadicearia^ Borkhausen), especially 

 in northern examples. A bright, ochreous form, with the 

 central band much streaked, occurring in Scotland, has been 

 referred to ab. salicaria, Ha worth. Occasionally the central 

 band is dark purplish. The hind wings are whitish, more or 

 less suffused with smoky grey, and lined with the same ; the 

 outer margin is bordered with smoky grey. 



The caterpillar is ochreous brown, mottled with greyish, and 

 marked with pale diamonds and black spots on the back of the 

 middle rings ; there are wavy lines along the sides. It feeds in 

 June and July, and also in September and October, on various 

 low plants: knotgrass, dandelion, bedstraw, garden marigold, 

 and ground ivy {Nepeta) being especially useful in captivity. 

 The moth is usually double-brooded, at least in the southern 

 half of England, the first flight occurring in May and June, and 

 the second in July and August. 



The species is generally distributed, and often common, over 

 the greater part of England and Wales, but somewhat local 

 north of the Midlands and through Scotland to Aberdeen ; 

 widely spread in Ireland. 



Flame Carpet {Coremia {Ochyria) designatd). 



The ground colour of this rather common woodland species 

 (Plate 75, Figs. 4-6) is pale grey, varying to whitish, or some- 

 times faintly brownish tinged. The purple band on the fore 

 wings is always broadly edged in front Avith black, but the black 

 outer edging is irregular, and sometimes only distinct towards 

 the front margin of the wings ; it varies in width, and in tint, 

 being, in some specimens, faint purplish grey. 



The caterpillar is ochreous, inclining to greyish on the back, 

 which is marked with whitish lines on the front rings, and with 

 ochreous diamonds and black dots on the other rings ; there is 

 also a row of black spots low down along the sides ; head, 



