496 INSECTS AT HOME. 



By the older entomological writers this insect was comprisid 

 in the same genus with the preceding insect. It has now, 

 however, been placed in a different genus, and that for two 

 reasons. The first lies in the shape of the wings, which are 

 much deeper in projaortion than those of the insects belonging 

 to the genus Botys ; and the second is the appearance of the 

 wings, which do not possess the delicate, pearly translucency 

 which is so characteristic of these Moths, but are quite 

 opaque, their opacity being due to a very dense layer of white 

 scales on the under surface. 



The general character of the markings can be seen by refer- 

 ence to the illustration. The darker portions are, however, of 

 various degrees of depth, and the light portions are glossy 

 cream-white, sometimes taking a yellow tinge. The generic 

 name Spilodes is taken from the Greek, and signifies anything 

 that is spotted. The specific name, cinctalis, or banded, 

 alludes to the manner in which the spots are arranged, so as to 

 form almost continuous bands. 



The caterpillar of this insect is seen at Fig. 6. 



Another pretty insect, belonging to the same genus, is the 

 Diamond Spot {Spilodes sticticalia). 



This little Moth is brown, the upper wings being much 

 darker than the lower, and having a conspicuous spot of pure 

 white near the tip. It is a rare Moth, but has been taken in 

 many parts of England, always appearing about September. The 

 caterpillar is shaped like that of the jDreceding species, and is 

 green, having along its back a dark line edged with yellow, 

 and some streaks of the same colour at the sides. It feeds on 

 the field-southernwood {Artemisia campestris) or the mugwort 

 (ArteTYiisia vulgaris). 



We now come to the last group of the Pyralides. Tliese 

 insects have been termed Plicatae, or folded, because when 

 the insect is at rest the wings are folded closely against the 

 body. 



One example of this group will serve our purpose, namely, 



I the EusT Veneer {Stenopteryx hybridalis). There is only 



one British genus of these insects, and the name of Stenoptein/x 



or ' Shortwing' has been given to it, not so much because the 



••.wings are exceptionally short, as because the abdomen is ex- 



