BLACK ARCHES 



Black Arches. — {Lymantria monacha.) This pretty 

 moth (Fig. 17) is fairly well distributed in various pans of 

 England and Wales, but is rare in the North. It resorts 

 to trees, and the eggs are deposited among rough bark. 

 The moth is on the wing in late July or August. The 

 larva varies from greyish to whitish, and has a dark 

 central stripe down the back, with other markings of 

 black, and perhaps dots of red. There is a greyish patch 

 on either side near the head, and another on the back 

 which interrupts the middle hne. There is also a pro- 



(fe-m) Figi^. 



fusion of hairs. The food-plants consist of apple, pine, 

 oak, and other leaves. The brownish pupa has a polished 

 appearance, and is liidden in a silky cocoon through 

 which it can almost be seen. Both sexes are prettily 

 decorated with black and white markings on the fore- 

 wings, and greyish on the hind ones. The female is the 

 larger of the two, and has bands of red and black on the 

 abdomen, terminating in a point. 



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