475 



2690. Amathes lychnidis. 



Nocfua lychnidis, Schiff. Wien. Verz. p. 76 (1776) ; Fabr. Maut. Ins. ii. 



p. 146 (1787); Hiibn. Eur. Schiiiett., Noct. f. 464; Dup. Lep. Fr. m. 



p. 113, pi. 80. f. 5. 

 Nocttta pistacina, Schiff. Wien. Verz. p. 77 (1776) ; Fabr. Mant. Ins. ii. 



p. 176(1787); Hiibn. Eur. Schmett., Koct. f. 131 ; Steph. 111. Brit. Ent., 



Haust. ii. p. 146 ; Staud. Cat. Lep. pal. p. 206. 

 Noctua serina, Esp. Schmett. iv. pi. 156. ff. 1, 2 (1791). 

 Moctua ricbetra, Esp. Schmett. iv. pi. 156. ff. 3, 4 (1791). 

 Noctua canaria, Esp. Schmett. iv. pi. 156. ff. 5, 6 (1791). 

 Noctua schoenobmna, Esp. Schmett. iv. pi. 157. ff. 2, 3 (1791). 

 Phalcena lineola, Donov. Brifc. Ins. s. pi. 360. f. 2 (1801). 

 Noctua sphcBrukdina, Haw. Lep. Brit. p. 230 (1809). 

 Noctua venosa, Haw. Lep. Brit. p. 232 (1809). 

 Orthosia cmrulescens, Calb. Iris, i. p. 254 (1884). 



Head and thorax pale red-brown; sides of palpi and frons 

 blackish ; pectus and legs fuscous brown ; abdomen brown suffused 

 with fuscous. Pore wing pale red-brown, the inner area irrorated 

 with fuscous ; subbasal line represented by double black points 

 below costa and cell and the outer line by a point in cell ; ante- 

 medial line represented by two black points on costa and an oblique 

 waved line from cell to inner margin ; orbicular an oblique black 

 bar ; reniform a narrow black lunule ; a rather diffused fuscous 

 medial line oblique from costa to lower angle of cell where it is 

 angled and with black point at costa ; postmedial line with black 

 point at costa, strongly bent outwards and almost obsolete below 

 costa, then fuscous and minutely waved, slightly incurved at discal 

 fold and incurved below vein 4, with series of slight black points 

 beyond it on the veins ; subterminal line represented by an oblique 

 fuscous bar from costa, then by a series of black points in the 

 interspaces ; a series of black points just before termen ; a fine 

 waved terminal line ; cilia fuscous at tips. Hind wing ochreous 

 uniformly suffused with fuscous ; some darker lunules on termen ; 

 cilia pale ochreous tinged with fuscous at tips ; the underside 

 grey-white thickly irrorated with fuscous, a black discoidal 

 spot. 



Ab. 1. canaria. Darker ; fore wing more or less suffused with 

 black. 



Ab. 2. serina. Fore wing paler and almost unicolorous. 



Ab. 3. ruhetra. Fore wing almost uniform rufous. 



Ab. 4. ccerulescens. Fore wing bluish-grey. 



Hab. Britain, Leech Coll, ; France, Sand Coll. ; Denjiark ; 

 Germany, Zeller, Frey, and Leech Colls. ; Attstria, Zeller and Leech 

 Colls. ; Hungary ; Switzerland, Frey Coll. ; Spain ; Italy ; Greece, 

 Leech Coll. ; S. llussiA, Leech Coll. ; Armenia ; Asia Minor, Pontug, 

 Lydia ; Syria. Kvj). 36-44 millim. 



Larva. Meyr. Brit. Lep. p. 63; Barrett, Lep. Brit. v. p. 341, pi. 227. f. 1. 



Grey or brown with darker freckles ; dorsal line slender, whitish ; 

 spiracular line broad, whitish. Food-plants : Grasses, Carex, 

 Ranunculus, &c. 4-6. 



