142 



THE RUBY TIGER MOTH. 



Phalcena Fuliginosa. 



PLATE XCin. 



Phalsena fuliginosa, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 836. Harris's 



Aurelian, pi. 12. Wilkes's Pap. Hi. a 14 Donovan's 



Brit. Ins. pi. 80. 



THE superior wings and thorax of this pretty little 

 insect are of a rich reddish brown ; the inferior wings 

 are of a deep rose colour, but not very bright, with 

 several large black marks ; the abdomen is rose 

 colour, with a black spot on the centre of each seg- 

 ment behind, and a chain of little black dots down 

 each side. 



The upper wings of some specimens have a black 

 spot on each, which varies very much in situation and 

 size ; in some it occupies about half the space of the 

 wings, while in others it is entirely awanting. 



The caterpillar is of a rich fawn colour, completely 

 covered with long hairs, with a black head, and is 

 large in proportion to the size of the Moth. The 

 leaves of alder or birch, the turnip, mustard, and 

 ragwort, with many other vegetables, are noticed by 

 different authors, as being proper food for the Ruby 

 Tiger Moth in the larva state ; but its most common 



