88 



THE GREAT EGGER MOTH. 

 Phalcena Quercus. 



PLATE XXXI. 



Phalsena Quercus, Merian's Insects of Europe, i. t. 10.-^ 

 Harris's Aurel. pi. 29, fig. a, b, c, d, e. f. Donovan^ 

 Brit. Ins. iii. p. 83, pi. 103 and 104 Lasiocampa Quer. 

 cus, (Schrank,} Rennie^s Conspectus, page 37. 



THE antennae of the male are feathered, the 

 wings are of a dark reddish brown, with a 

 bright yellow bar across each, and a clear white 

 spot on the centre of each of the superior wings. 

 The female has the same markings as the male, but 

 of a paler colour. The wings of the male are two 

 inches and one-half to five sixths ; those of the 

 female three inches one-twelfth to one-fourth. 



In the caterpillar condition it is hardly possible 

 to distinguish the male from the female, excepi 

 that the former is smaller than the latter; they 

 are of a pale yellow, with black lines, and slanting 

 white streaks on the sides ; but in the last statd 

 their colours are entirely different, the female beinjj 

 of a pale yellowish tint, inclining to fox colour; 

 the male is of a rich brown. 



The caterpillars of the Great Egger Moth feed 

 on the white and black thorn, ash, birch, oak, \v 



