76 



ORGYIA GONOSTIGMA. 

 SCARCE VAPOURER. 

 Plate XII. Figure 6. 



THIS insect measures about one inch and a quarter 

 in width. 



Male: fore wings rich reddish orange-brown, with 

 three or more small white spots near the outer corner, 

 forming more or less of a line within it and the lower 

 corner, at each of which they are larger than be- 

 tween them. There is a fulvous orange patch within 

 the white near the upper margin. Hind wings dusky 

 blackish-brown, the fringe paler. 



The female is dark reddish-brown, and has only the 

 rudiments of wings. 



Localities for this species, which is rare and very local, 

 are Doncaster, Rosemerrian near Falmouth, Wands worth, 

 Epping, Black Park, Worcester, Wimbledon, and Combe 

 Wood. 



The perfect insect appears in June and July. 



The caterpillar is brownish-black, with two long black- 

 ish tufts on the second segment, and also on the twelfth 

 the latter slanting backwards, the former forwards. 

 There is a rich reddish-orange streak on each side of 

 the back, and another below. 



The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in 

 May, from October. 



It feeds on the bramble, the oak, and the hazel. 



This moth flies in the dav time. 



