248 COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



the base, from which feature the specific name (Basilinea) is 

 derived. The hind wings are of a similar colour, but shading into 



a dark smoke colour at the hind 

 margin. 



The caterpillars feed at first on 

 the grains of wheat, on the ears of 

 which the moth deposits the eggs 

 in June. At harvest time they re- 

 main hidden among the husks, and 

 FIG. 152. THE EUSTIC are often threshed out in large 

 SHOULDER KNOT. numbers by the blows of the flail. 



The cold weather soon overtakes 



them, and they then spin a cocoon in which to pass the winter. 

 On the approach of spring they come out again, and feed by night 

 on various low plants, hiding themselves among the roots by day. 

 In March they are full grown, and change to brown chrysalides 

 beneath the surface of the ground. 



The moth flies in June, and is one of the commonest and most 

 destructive of our Noctuce. 



The Marbled Minor (Miana strigilis) 



The next three genera (Miana, Phothedes, and Celcena) include 

 seven small moths known as the ' Minors.' The commonest of 

 them is the Marbled Minor, which is to be 

 found in abundance everywhere during June 

 and July. 



This species is very variable, but the fore 

 wings are usually dark brown, marbled with 

 FIG. 153. THE MAB- a lighter colour white or grey. There is 

 BLED MINOR. generally an irregular white or pale grey 



band crossing the wings parallel with the 



hind margin, and two white marks on the inner margin, halfway 

 between this band and the base. There is also a deep black blotch 

 across the middle of the wing. 



The caterpillar is greyish or greenish with paler lines and black 

 spiracles. It feeds on grasses in March and April, and changes to 

 a chrysalis under the ground in May. 



Family CARADRINID^ 



There are only ten British species in this family, two of 

 which are rare; and most of the others are particularly dingy. 



