118 



THE CRIMSON UNDER-WING MOTH. 



Phaltsna Sponsa. 

 PLATE LXXXII. 



Phalsena Sponsa, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 841. Turton't 

 Linnf iii. p. 29S. Donovan's Brit. Insects, pL 324- 



THE antennae are like threads ; the tongue spiral ; 

 the thorax is crested ; and the abdomen furnished 

 with tufts of hair, one on each annulation on the 

 elly. The body is fawn coloured, brown above 

 and gray beneath. The upper wings are gray 

 clouded with brown, and covered with zigzag lines 

 and striae, and two ocellated spots of orange ; undei 

 wings, of a rich crimson colour, each with a trans- 

 verse cloud of deep black, and a broad margin 

 of black, fringed with white ; all the margins are 

 pretty deeply indented. The caterpillar is clouded 

 with buff, brown, and gray ; it feeds on the willow, 

 and grows to about two inches and a half in length ; 

 and it is difficult to distinguish it from the bark. 

 They are full fed about the beginning of July, when 

 they change into the chrysalis state ; it is gray, with 

 a tinge of red. The moth bursts from the chrysalis 

 in August, and flies in the day time. 



