85 



COMMON SILVER-LINE MOTH. 

 Phalcena Fagana. 



PLATE XXIX. 



Phalsena fagana, Don. Brit. Ins Chlcephora Fagana, 



Stephens Rennie's Conspectus, page 155. 



THE antennae taper from the base ; the wings 

 are deflexed when at rest ; they extend one inch 

 and three-fourths to five -sixths ; the superior ones 

 of a deep yellow green, having three oblique white 

 silvery stripes across each; the lower wings and 

 abdomen are of a pale yellow green. The male 

 differs from the female in having the lower wings 

 yellowish green, with a thicker snow white mar- 

 gin. 



The Phalaena Fagana is not one of the rarest 

 British Moths, and claims attention from its beauti- 

 ful and gay appearance. The larva is found feeding 

 on the oak in August and September. In the be- 

 ginning of October it spins a very extraordinary 

 kind of covering in the leaf of the oak, and changes 

 to the pupa within it. This covering somewhat 

 resembles a tent, or rather an inverted boat, being 

 shuttle-formed, and having a keel or longitudinal 

 ridge along the upper part ; its colour is yellowish 



