*94 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



Gnophos carbonaria, Treitschke, Schmett. Eur. vi. (i), p. 184 



(1827). 



Fidonia carbonari a, Stephens, 111. Brit.Ent.Haust.iii. p. 149 (1831). 

 Bolctobia fuliginaria, Guenee, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Uran. et Phal. 



i- P- 33 ( l8 57) ) Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, 



p. 285, pi. 58, fig. 4 (1881); Buckler, Larvae of Brit. 



Lepid. vii. p. 47 (1897). 



The Black Heath Moth is found throughout the greater 

 part of Europe and Siberia, but is rare in Britain. It expands 

 about an inch. 



The ground-colour of the whole of the upper side is smoky 

 black. The antennae are yellow, ringed with black, with black 

 pectinations in the male ; but filiform in the female. The 

 abdomen is slender in the male, with yellowish tufts on the 

 sides ; and cylindrical in the female. 



Three zig-zag yellowish transverse lines cross the fore-wings ; 

 the first consists of small curves, the second forms a strong 

 angle on the costa, and then approaches the first. The two 

 lines are shaded with black on the sides next to one another, 

 and bound the central area. In this there is a black lunule. 

 A third line runs not far from the hind-margin, and between 

 it and the second line, near the inner margin, is a large 

 indistinct yellowish spot. The fringes are bordered with small 

 black lunules, and are yellowish, streaked with black. The two 

 outer lines are continued on the hind-wings, and the second is 

 sometimes broken up into dots. There is a black central 

 lunule, and an indistinct yellowish patch at the anal angle. 



The larva lives on Lichen parietinus, Bryum murale, &c. 

 It is full-grown about the middle of June or the beginning of 

 July, and is then blue-black with several rows of orange- 

 coloured tubercles, each bearing long black curved hairs, 

 tipped with whitish. It undergoes its transformations in the 

 ground, or on the ground under the food plant 



