78 PLAT E CCCLXXXVI1I. 



The fpotted Muflin Moth is one of our rareft fpecies of Phalaena 

 in this country. The larva feeds fecurely from the intrufion of the 

 Entomologift in marflies and watery places, fubfifting entirely on 

 aquatic plants, and is therefore fcarcely even met with, except in the 

 winged ftate, which it affumes in May. The diffimilarity between the 

 two fexes of this fpecies is altogether fo very remarkable, that it is 

 only from an intimate acquaintance with the manners of the two infects 

 in a ftate of nature, or the concurrent teftimony of many obfervers, 

 that we could be induced to believe them both of the fame fpecies. 



Fabricius, and Gmelin after him, fays, the larva is greenifh, hairy, 

 with whirls of black dots, and yellowiih head. The figures in Efper, 

 T. 3. pi. 42, reprefent the larva of a cinereous colour, verticillated with 

 black dots, and tufts of ferruginous hairs. Other writers fpeak of the 

 head and tail being red. Thofe different defcriptions may be eafily, how- 

 ever, reconciled by prefuming thofe authors had each noticed the la*v8e 

 at different periods of growth, or perhaps this diffimilarity may ferve to 

 point out the difference between the two fexes, even in the larvs^ 

 {late. 



PLATE 



