MOTTLED UMBER— OAK BEAUTY 



down the back, with white spiracles. There are other 

 effects, including a Hghter colour below. The male 

 imago has self-coloured reddish-brown forewings, and 

 whitish hindwings. 



Mottled Umber. — {Hybernia defoliaria) Still belong- 

 ing to the same genus, the Mottled Umber Moth shows 

 considerable variation in the perfect male, ranging from 

 light fawn to brownish-red, and the forewings may, or 

 may not be ornamented with markings. The wingless 

 female has a thin tapering body of a dark colour. It is a 

 common species, and the larva feeds upon birch, honey- 

 suckle, oak, rose, and other trees. Oak trees in particular 

 are stripped of leaves by these ravenous larvae, and often 

 experience difficulty in recovering from the shock re- 

 ceived. The larva is variously shaded with reddish- 

 brown down the back, with yellowish sides and under 

 parts. There is a black Hne over the spiracles, with an 

 inconstant white margin. 



Oak Beauty. — [Pachys {Amphidasys) strataria.) This 

 pretty species (Fig. 43) is of frequent appearance, but is 



Oak£)e«u.ty (Fe-fnoclc). FlgA-3 



nowhere abundant. It sometimes occurs as early as 



February, and as late as May. It may be seen resting 



91 



