192 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



Geome tra flexularia, Hiibner, Eur. Schmett. v. fig. 19 (1797). 

 Ennomos flexularia, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. vi. (i), p. 4 

 (1827) ; Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. iii. p. 323 (1831). 

 Avcntia flexularia, Duponchel, Lepid. France, vii. (2), p. 192, 



pi. 149, fig. i (1829). 



Ai'entia flexula, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 285, 

 Pi- 58, fig. 3 (1881). 



The head and antennae are reddish-grey, the latter pectinated 

 in the male, and simple in the female. The thorax and 

 abdomen are pale grey, dusted with black, and the tegulae are 

 bordered with reddish. 



The fore-wings have hooked tips, and are grey, dusted with 

 ferruginous, and crossed by two yellowish-white transverse 

 lines, bordered with brown, and angulated on the costa. In 

 the central area are two distinct black dots placed obliquely. 

 Sometimes there are also several smaller dots. Then comes 

 a row of indistinct small whitish lunules, concave on the inner 

 side. There is a sharply-defined yellowish line on the hind 

 margin before the fringes. The extreme hind margins are 

 rusty-brown, and so are the fringes, which are dotted with 

 black. All the nervures are whitish. The hind-wings are 

 yellowish-grey, and lighter than the fore-wings, with a straight 

 yellow transverse central line, shaded on both sides with brown. 

 Close to the reddish-brown hind-margin is a yellow line 

 preceded by a row of dots, and between these and the trans- 

 verse line is a fine white curved line. The fringes are brown, 

 with whitish tips. 



The larva feeds, on Lichen stellaris and L. parietinus. It 

 grows slowly, and requires six weeks to attain its full growth. 

 It is slender and grey, varied with green and black. The pupa 

 is ringed with brown and yellow, with brown wing-cases. 



The moth is found in Britain and other parts of Europe in 

 July and August. 



