SCOLIOPTERYX] 



PLUSIADAE 



155 



very shortly ciliated. 



spots on costa posteriorly. Hindwings rather dark fuscous, 

 lighter basally. 



Britain to the Shetlands, Ireland, common ; N. and C. 

 Europe, N. and WC. Asia to Turkestan, N. America; 8-5. 

 Larva green ; dorsal line darker, indistinct ; spiracular pale, 

 darker- edged above; spiracles yellow, brown -edged; head 

 green : on Salix and hawthorn ; 5-7. 



12. PLUSIA, 0. 



Head rough -scaled. Antennae in 

 Palpi rather long, curved, ascend- 

 ing, second joirt rough - scaled, 

 terminal moderately long or short, 

 more or less rough-scaled in front, 

 somewhat pointed. Thorax with 

 large central or posterior crest. 

 Abdomen with one or more crests. 

 Tibiae rough-scaled. Hindwings : 

 5 more or less approximated to 4. 



A considerable genus, occurring 

 throughout the world. Most of 

 the images are handsome insects, 

 often with metallic markings ; some 

 of them fly actively in bright sun- 

 shine. Larva usually without pro- 



Neuration of Plusia gamma. 



legs on 7 and 8 (but these are developed in tripartite, and 

 triplasia), 12 more or less prominent above. Pupa in a rather 

 open cocoon. 



1. Forewings with two broad brassy fasciae . 2. chrysitis. 



without such fasciae . . .2. 



2. Orbicular and claviform forming an 8 -shaped 



silver-edged blotch 



1. moneta 

 not so formed . 3. 



3. Forewings with large brassy postmedian blotch 



3. orichalcea. 

 without brassy postmedian blotch . 4. 



4. Forewings with triangular brassy median blotch 



4. bractea. 

 ,, without such blotch . . .5. 



5. Forewings with one or two shining pale discal 



spots . . . .6. 



without such spots . . .12. 



