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THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



It feeds on hawthorn, birch, elm, hazel, bilberry, heather, etc., 

 from July to May. 



The moth is out in June and July, and specimens of a second 

 generation have been reared in September. Generally common 

 throughout the British Isles. 



Great Oak Beauty {Boarmia roborarid). 



The fine Boarmid moth shown on Plate 135, Fig. 2, has all the 

 typical markings well defined. Occasionally the black cross 



lines are more distinct, but 

 sometimes they are more 

 or less absent, or obscured. 

 An almost black specimen 

 is mentioned by Barrett as 

 taken in the Reading dis- 

 trict, Berkshire ; and the 

 same author states that a 

 black example was captured 

 in the Midlands about the 

 year 1887, but no other 

 specimen was observed until 1893, 

 when a female was obtained, and from 

 eggs deposited smoky black moths 

 were reared. 



The caterpillar is very like an oak 

 twig in shape, especially when in re- 

 pose. (See Fig. 18.) In colour it is 

 reddish brown, inclining to ochreous 

 brown ; brownish grey on the humps 

 on rings 5 and 11, and on the skin 

 A. Forester ".) folds. It feeds on oak during the 

 autumn, and, after hibernation, in 

 the spring. The moth is out in June and July, and may be 



Fig. 18. 



Caterpillar of Great 

 Oak Beauty. 



(Photo by 



