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COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



FIG. 184. THE EIBAND 

 WAVE. 



The Riband Wave (A. aver sat a) 



All the wings of this species are of a pale yellowish or ochreons 

 grey. The fore wings are crossed by three transverse dark lines, 

 and the hind wings by two. The space between the two outer lines 

 of the fore wing and that between the lines of the hind wing are 

 usually filled in with a greyish brown, thus forming the ' riband ' 

 from which the popular name of the 

 insect is derived ; and when this is the 

 case the lines which border the riband 

 are scarcely distinguishable. Just inside 

 the second line of the fore wings, near 

 the costa, is a small but conspicuous 

 brown spot. 



The moth flies in June and July, and 

 is common in all parts. 



The caterpillar is dark brown except segments ten to thirteen, 

 which are grey. The line along the spiracles is whitish, and the 

 surface of the body is roughened by a number of minute warts. It 

 feeds on various low plants, including the meadow sweet (Spircea 

 ulmaria}, water avens (Geum rivale), common avens (G. urba- 

 num), and knot-grass (Polygonum aviculare), during April and May. 



The Blood-vein (Timandra amatarid) 



Our last example of the Acidaliidce is the Blood- vein, which is 

 common in most parts of England in June and July. 



Its fore wings are pale grey, dusted 

 with darker grey, and crossed by an 

 oblique red streak which runs from the 

 tip of the fore wing to near the inner 

 margin of the hind wing. A slender 

 dark and wavy line lies outside this one, 

 parallel with it in the hind wing, but 

 meeting it near the tip of the fore wing. 

 The caterpillar is grey, with three white longitudinal stripes. 

 Tt feeds in the autumn on dock (Rumex), sorrel (R. acetosa), and 

 knot-grass (Polygonum aviculare). 



Family CABERIDJE 



Six species, all of rather small size, constitute the British 

 portion of the above family. Their wings are mostly white or pale 

 grey, with light markings, and without angles. The moths are 



FIG. 185. THE BLOOD-VEIN. 



