TIIECLA. 5 1 



Tliecla w-atbum, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 59 

 (1879); Lang, Butterflies Eur. p. 77, pi. xvii. fig. 3 (1881); 

 Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Butterflies and Moths, i, pi. 13, 

 fig. i (1886). 



This is a smaller insect than the last, rarely expanding more 

 than an inch and a quarter. The upper side is dark brown 

 with a silky gloss, the fore-wings having a greyish patch 

 near the middle. Hind-wings with an orange spot at 

 the anal angle, and a slender tail tipped with white. 

 The under side is light brown, with a narrow transverse, 

 slightly interrupted, white line, placed towards the hind- 

 margin of the fore-wings, but starting rather beyond the 

 middle, on the hind-wings, and forming two acute angles 



White-Letter Hair-streak (Thecla tv-almtm] variety. 



posteriorly, in such a manner as to resemble the letter W. 

 Behind this is an irregular band of orange-red, widest towards 

 the anal angle, and bounded on the inner side by a black line, 

 which is sometimes edged internally with white. The hind- 

 margin itself is black. The Butterfly appears in July. A 

 variety is figured in the above woodcut. 



The larva is green, with oblique yellowish-white lines ; the 

 head is black, and the body is clothed with fine hairs. It 

 feeds on elm in May and June. The pupa is brown, with a 

 white head. 



