3080 



THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



fir plantations in England and on the Continent. The females are no less common f 

 but do not take wing so readily. The larva is pale green, with whitish stripes, 

 and pale yellow spiracles, and feeds during the months of August and September 



on the spines of the Scotch fir. One of 



1 the most familiar of the British loopers 

 is the magpie moth (Abraxas gros- 

 sulariata}, which at times makes its 

 appearance in great numbers. The 

 perfect insect is prettily mottled with 

 white and black, and on this account is 

 called in Germany the harlequin moth. 

 Another species, the scarce or clouded 

 magpie (A. ulmata}, is more abundant 

 in the Midland counties of England 

 than the common magpie, though less 

 so in the south. Of the common 



MAGPIE MOTH IN ALL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. 



species the larva feeds on the gooseberry and 

 black currant, doing considerable damage at 

 times. It is one of the most strikingly mar- 

 ked of the geometric larvae, and turns to a 

 yellow-banded pupa within a slightly woven 

 web. The little moth shown in the annexed 

 illustration, and commonly known as the 

 dark spinach (Larentia chenopodiata] , may be 

 taken to represent the subfamily Larentiince. 

 Appearing in July and August, it is a com- 

 mon species on the Continent, and is epecially 

 abundant in gardens and shrubberies, where 

 it may be found resting either on the bark 



I. PURPLE-BARRED YELLOW; 2. LIME-SPECK. 

 (Natural size.) 



DARK SPINACH MOTH AND LARVA. 



(Natural size.) 



of trees or the walls of buildings. 

 The caterpillar is grayish brown in. 

 color, and feeds on the goosefoot. 

 The group to which this species be- 

 longs are often termed carpet moths. 

 Of another genus, known as pugs 

 (Eupitheda), the lime-speck moth 

 (Eu. signata) may be mentioned. 

 The ground color of the wings is 

 milk white, with gray blotches and 

 specks, and a broad red gray band 

 on the margin. These moths fly 

 commonly at night in England and 

 on the Continent, while the larva, 

 which is very variable in color 

 bluish green, yellow green, or pinkish 



