70 ACIDALIA. By L. B. Peout. 



in ^ rather longer, hindtarsus more than half as long as tibia; discal spots enlarged, terminal dots in part 

 enlarged into very short streaks or dashes; forewing beneath rather more uniformly or smoothly infus- 

 cated, without the coarse dark basal and costal dusting ; the course of the postmedian line beneath is slightly 

 different; the collar is white, whereas in subjnmctaria it is tinged with pale yellow-brown. Only known 

 from the Altai and Amtirland. July. According to von Hedemann variable in the position of the lines, but 

 constant in the large cell-spots. 



axiata. A. axiata Pilng. (3 m) has been confused with dignata, but may be distinguished at'once by its yellow 



ground-colour. The transverse lines are extremely weak, being only of a slightly darker, more brownish 

 yellow than the ground-colour; distal margin without black dots. Cell-spots on both wings large, both above 

 and beneath. Under surface otherwise without markings. Hindleg structure in (J nearly as in dignata. Only 

 certainly known from Central Amurland. Probably of a different tone of yellow from that of disclusaria, 

 which is described as sulphur-yellow; in any case differing in the weaker markmgs and stronger cell-spot, 

 as well as in the more rounded distal margin of the hindwing. 



caricaria. A. caricaria Beutti (S.k). Forewing broad but with the apex rather acute; white, with the markmgs 



greyish ochreous. First line almost or entirely obsolete, the others arranged nearly as in subjmnctaria and sub- 

 ject to similar but less extreme variability; the fourth line (proximal shade of subterminal) nearly always 

 well developed, little sinuous, often rather thick; black discal spot present or more usually absent; distal 

 marginal line very fine and grey or wanting, never broken into dots. Hindwing rounded, the three lines usually 

 distinct, sometimes also a fourth, forming the distal shading of the pale subterminal; black cell-spot nearly 

 always well developed. Under surface in both sexes nearly as in subpunctaria, or the o forewing more strongly 

 smoky; no distal marginal dots. The egg is oval with the micropylar end broader and more flattened, and 

 is either laid on its side or on its narrow end ; it is shiny, longitudinally ribbed and with finer, more numerous 

 transverse ribs, the micropyle very finely reticulated. Green when first laid, changing in two or three days 

 to straw-colour speckled with bright red. The larva is long and slender, clay-coloured, with a whitish lateral 

 line, broad but not well defined; dorsal dark line opening out into small rings at the extremities of the abdo- 

 minal segments; the lateral carination is slight, the transverse folds distmct. The pupa is pale yellow, washed 

 with greenish, the anal extremity brown. The moth flies in May and June and again in the end of July and 

 August and is local in Southern and Central Europe, frequenting damp meadows. Staudinger adds Amurland 

 and N. China as further localities ; as the Amurland specimens are said to be small with the lines weaker, they 

 may possibly be referable to nivearia. Distinguished from small examples of immutata by its purer white colour 

 and less dentate postmedian line, placed further from the distal margin. The rather straight Imes somewhat 

 recall nivearia Leech, which is smaller, with different underside and rather longer ^ hindtarsus. In caricaria 

 (^ the antennal ciliations are rather long, the hindtarsus less than half the length of the tibia. 



apicipunc- A. apiciputictata Chr. (= arenaria Leech) (5 b) has rather narrower wings than the few preceding species 



tata. and of a less pure white, more tinged with brownish. The lines are usually rather indistinct, angled near 

 costa of forewing, the median more oblique than the others, the postmedian incurved between the radials; 

 subterminal white line broad, following a similar course to the postmedian but more dentate, sometimes 

 scarcely indicated, sometimes brought out more strongly by thick dark shading proximally and distally. Fore- 

 wing with no distinct cell-spot, but with a vague brownish-grey mark, somewhat in the from of a small 

 ring, occupying its position. Hindwing with a very minute, not very black cell-dot. Forewing with a strong 

 black dot on the distal margin between the 4. and 5. subcostals, from which the spscies receives its name ; 

 in strongly marked specimens this is followed posteriorly by one or two others, but always more minute; in 

 less marked specimens it stands alone. Under surface of forewing slightly smoky, of hindwing whiter ; both 

 wings with an outer line. Amurland, Central and Northern China and Japan, April to the beginning of Septem- 

 ber, evidently double-brooded. 



immutata. A. immutata L. (= pallidata Bkh. = sylvestrai'ia Hbn. part.) (4 k). Larger than caricaria but smaller 



than floslactata. Forewing rather broad, especially in the $, hindwing with the distal margin well rounded 

 and with only a very inconspicuous bend at the extremity of the third radial. The colour varies sexually and 

 to a less extent uadividually ; in the $ often nearly wliite, in the S much more tinged with ochreous brown. 

 The black discal dot of the hindwing is always distmct, often rather large ; that of the forewing usually smaller, 

 sometimes indistinct or altogether absent. All the lines are usually present above, the first line of fore- 

 wing bent in the cell, the second curved, usually rather near it; postmedian line dentate, often stronger than 

 the others; the dark proximal and distal shading of the subterminal sometimes strong, oftener more or 

 less indistinct; terminal black spots oftenest absent, occasionally well developed. On the hindwing the first 

 line (contuiuing the median of the forewing) usually passes close jiroximally to or even across the cell-spot. 



