31 



HEPIALID^l. 



HEPIALUS HECTUS. 



GOLD SWIFT. 

 Plate VII. Figure 4. 



THIS insect measures from a little over an inch to 

 nearly an inch and a quarter. 



It is a very variable species. 



Male: front wings dull reddish orange, with three 

 bars of golden yellow across, two running upwards from 

 the lower edge, and one downwards from the upper, 

 the latter near the tip; but none of them proceed en- 

 tirely across the wings, and the outer one is the shortest 

 of the three. Hind wings sometimes spotted with golden 

 yellow, but more commonly plain. Female: front wings 

 rather pale greyish brown, crossed with faint darker 

 bars of brown. 



Localities for this species are, among many others 

 throughout the country, Nunburnholme, Glasgow, &c. 



The situations where it is found are open places in 

 and near woods. 



The date of the appearance of the perfect insect is 

 in the month of June. 



The caterpillar is of a greyish colour, the head yel- 

 lowish. 



The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in 

 April. 



It feeds on the dandelion (Taraxacum Dens-leonis J . 



All the moths of this genus begin to fly early in the 

 evening. They fly, on occasion, with great swiftness, 

 from whence their common name. 



