LEPIDOPTERA. 



ii7 



larvae, and turns to a yellow-banded pupa within a slightly woven web. The 



little moth shown in the annexed illustration, and commonly known as the dark 



spinach (Larentia chenopodiata), may 



be taken to represent the subfamily 



Larentiince. Appearing in July and 



August, it is a common species on the 



Continent, and is specially abundant 



in gardens and shrubberies, where it 



may be found resting either on the 



bark of trees or the walls of buildings. 



The caterpillar is greyish brown in 



colour, and feeds on the goose-foot. . 



The group to which this species belongs B 



are often termed carpet-moths. Of 



another genus, known as pugs (Eupi- 



thecia), the lime - speck moth (En. 



signata) may be mentioned. The 



MAGPIE MOTH IN ALL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. 



DARK SPINACH MOTH AND LARVA (liat. size). 



{Melanippe hastata) appears in May, 

 flying actively round trees. The 

 larva may be found later in the year 

 amongst the birch foliage, in a recep- 

 tacle formed of several leaves drawn 

 together with silken threads. The 

 pupal-state is passed in the ground. 

 Figures of this moth and its larva 

 are given on p. 116. The purple- 

 barred yellow (Lyth via />" rpuraria), 

 figured in the annexed illustration, is 

 a not uncommon species on commons, 

 pasture -lands, and stubble -fields in 

 England and the Continent. The 

 ground-colour of the wings is pale 

 olive-yellow, the upper pair banded 



ground - colour of the wings is milk - white, 

 with grey blotches and specks, and a broad 

 red grey band on the margin. These moths 

 fly commonly at night in England and on 

 the Continent, while the larva, which is very 

 variable in colour — bluish green, yellow-green, 

 or pinkish white — feeds in August and Sep- 

 tember on various annuals, such as golden- 

 rod, rag-wort, etc. Figures of the moth and 

 larva are given in the illustration below. By 

 no means a common species in England, 

 although found occasionally in districts where 

 birch - trees abound, the argent - and - sable 

 l 2 



1, PURPLE-BABRED YELLOW; 



Nat. size.) 



LIME-SPECK. 



