222 



COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



It is a very sluggish moth, more often seen at rest than on the 

 wing, and will suffer itself to be roughly handled without making 

 any attempt to escape. 



The caterpillar may be observed on sunny banks, generally feed- 

 ing on chickweed (Steltaria media) but sometimes on various 

 other low-growing weeds, including the dock and the dandelion. 

 Its colour is black, with red head and legs, and its body is covered 

 with long brown hairs. It commences to feed in the autumn, 

 hybernates throughout the winter, and is full grown in May, 

 towards the end of which month it changes to a black chrysalis 

 within a light silken web. 



The perfect insect appears in June. 



The Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 



, :, 



FIG. ILL THE BUFF EKMINE. 



The Cheloniidce also include three moths that are popularly 

 known as the Ermines, two of which the Buff and the White 



are exceedingly common, and are 

 among the constant visitors to our 

 gardens during June and July. 



The Buff Ermine has all four 

 wings of a buff or ochreous tint, and 

 spotted with black as here repre- 

 sented. 



The caterpillar is whitish, with 

 a white line down the middle of the 

 back, and its body is covered with 



long light brown hairs. It feeds on the dock (Rumex) and many 

 other low-growing plants during August and September, and spends 



the winter in the chrysalis 

 state, lying within a loose 

 cocoon on the surface of the 

 ground. 



The White Ermine (Spilo- 

 soma Mentliastri) 



FIG. 115. THE WHITE ERMINE. j n this species the wings 



are of a pale cream colour, 



and the dots of the fore wings are more uniformly distributed than 

 in the last. Its habits and life history closely correspond with 



