RED-TIPPED CLEARWING. 



357 



Large Red-belted Clearwing {Sesia cu/idformis). 



This species (Plate 155, Fig. 4) is very similar to the last, but 

 it is larger, and the fore wings are dusted with reddish scales 

 towards the base, sometimes also along the inner margin. The 

 belt on the body is generally red, not infrequently with an 

 orange tmge, but it is sometimes yellow or far more rarely 

 white. 



The caterpillar, which is full grown in May, feeds on the inner 

 bark of birch trees and bushes, apparently preferring the stumps 

 left in the ground where stems have been cut down. It is not 

 difficult to find, but as it is about two years in this stage it 

 should not be taken until nearly or quite full grown, and it is 

 safer to leave it until it has entered the chrysalis state. The 

 moth is out in June, or sometimes at the end of May ; it flies 

 over birch and rests on leaves, and has been known to visit 

 flowers of the wood spurge and the rhododendron. 



Kent and Sussex appear to be the counties most favoured by 

 this species, but it occurs in most of the other English counties 

 in which there are birch woods, certainly up to Yorkshire, and 

 probably further north, as it is found in Scotland (Clydesdale, 

 Perthshire, and Aberdeen). The Irish localities are Killarney, 

 Ballinasloe, and Deny. 



Red-tipped Clearwing {Scs!aforjniccefor?jiis), 



This is another red-belted species, but it differs from either of 

 the two immediately preceding in having the fore wings tipped 

 with red. (Plate 155, Fig. 5.) 



The caterpillar feeds in the twigs and stumps of osier {Salix 

 viminalis)^ sometimes called "withe"; it is full grown about 

 June. (Plate 156, Fig. 2 ; after Hofmann.) The moth is out in 

 July and August ; it is partial to marshes and other wet spots, 



