135 



THE SMALL TIGER MOTH. 



Phalccna Plantayines. 

 PLATE XCI. 



Phalaena Plantagines, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii/p. 820 Wilhes's 



Pap. 24. pi. 3. A. 5. Donovan's Brit. Ins. pi. 134. 



THE upper wings are of a reddish cream colour, 

 in some individuals, and of a rich golden yellow in 

 others, clouded with black ; the under wings are 

 rich fawn colour, with numerous large variously 

 shaped clouds or patches of black ; the thorax and 

 abdomen are crimson, barred with black ; having alarge 

 black line down the centre of the back ; the antenna 1 

 are black, and tapering from the base to the tips. 



The caterpillar of this species is black, the upper 

 half of it being covered with rather short reddish 

 brown hairs, and the under half with long black 

 recumbent hairs ; it feeds on nettles, chickweed, 

 plaintain, grass, &c. It very much resembles that 

 of the large Tiger Moth, (Phalaena caja,) except in 

 size ; it changes into a chrysalis about the middle 

 of April, and appears in the winged state the latter 

 end of May. The chrysalis is bluish black. 



