218 COMMON BPITISH MOTHS 



Avellana), beech (Fagus sylvatica), and alder (Alnus glutinosa), 

 from which trees it may be beaten in July and August. 



Family NOLIDJE 

 The Short-cloaked Moth (Nola cucullatella} 



We select this common moth as a representative of the small 

 family Nolida, which contains only five British species. These are 

 all small insects. They are nocturnal in their habits, and may be 

 found at rest on the trunks of trees during the daytime. The cater- 

 pillars are hairy, and undergo their metamor- 

 IP^fc^^W phoses within silken cocoons. 



The fore wings of Cucullatella are pearly 

 grey, with a dark patch at the base, a tri- 



FIG. 109. THE angular spot on the middle of the costal mar- 



SHORT-CLOAKED gin, and wavy lines beyond this, parallel with 

 MOTH - the hind margin. The hind wings are grey, 



and devoid of any markings. 



The caterpillar is of a brownish colour, with a line of lighter 

 patches down the back, and it is covered with little tufts of hair. 

 It feeds on the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), whitethorn (Gratce- 

 gus oxyacantha), and also on plum trees in our gardens during the 

 month of May. The moth is on the wing during June and July. 



Family LITHOSIID.E 

 The Muslin Moth (Nudaria mundana) 



The family Lithosiidce contains several small moths, distin- 

 guished from the other Bombyces by the narrowness of their fere 

 wings. When the insects are at rest, all the wings are wrapped 

 closely round the body. They fly at dusk on 

 summer evenings, but may be obtained during 

 the daytime by beating the boughs of trees. If 

 an open net be held under the boughs during 

 this operation, the moths will generally feign 

 FIG. 110. THE death and allow themselves to fall into it when 

 MUSLIN MOTH. they are disturbed. 



Most of the larvae of this family feed on the 



lichens that cover walls and the bark of trees, and they conceal 

 themselves s^ artfully among this peculiar vegetation that it is no 

 easy matter to search them out ; probably many still remain un- 

 known to entomologists. 



