EPIA. 63 



GENUS EPIA. 



Epia, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett. p. 475 (1822?). 

 Diantha>cia, Boisduval in Silbermann, Revue Ent. ii. p. 245 



(1834) ; id. Gen. Ind. Meth. p. 124 (1840); Guenee, Spec. 



Gen. Lepid. ii. p. 1 6 (1852). 



This is a well-marked group of moderate-sized moths, with 

 conspicuous brown- and-white marbled and festooned markings, 

 and the abdomen crested at the base, carinated, conical at the 

 extremity, and provided, in the female, with a prominent 

 ovipositor. The larvae are cylindrical, smooth, and velvety, 

 and live in the pods of different species of Dianthus, Lychnis, 

 Silene, Saponaria, and other Caryophyllaceous plants, feeding 

 on the seeds. The pupae are subterranean. The moths fly 

 actively, at dusk, over the flowers on which their larvae feed. 

 Most of the British species are rather local, and are quite 

 as abundant on the coast as inland, several species being 

 found only on the sea-cliffs of the Isle of Man, and of the Hill 

 of Howth near Dublin, and in similar localities. 



THE VIPER'S BUGLOSS MOTH. EPIA IRREGULARIS. 



Noctua irregularis, Hufnagel, Berlin. Mag. iii. p. 394, no. 65 



(1767). 

 Noctua echii, Borkhausen, Eur. Schmett. iv. p. 166 (1792); 



Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. iv. fig. 91 (1799 ?). 

 Noctua brecciceformis, Esper. Schmett. iv. (2) 2, p. 79, Taf. 198, 



figs (1799?)- 



Miselia echii, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. v. (2), p. 343 (1825). 

 Dianthcecia irregularis, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, 

 p. 222 (1881). 



The Viper's Bugloss Moth is a native of Southern and 

 Central Europe, and South-Eastern Siberia. It is exceedingly 



