132 PTYCHOPODA. By L. B. Prout. 



accounts which I have consulted (Milliere, Snellen, Rossler, Barrett) were probably all drawn up from the 

 form vulpinaria. The egg is very small, oval, apparently not described in detail. The larva is very sluggish. 

 It is rugose, granulated, transversely folded, the lateral carination not strong; rather short, strongly tapering 

 anteriorly; head very small, dark brown or blackish; body dull greyish brown; markings variable, sometimes 

 only a fine pale dorsal hne, sometimes also a more or less distinct lozenge-shaped dorsal pattern on the first 

 5 abdominal segments or even throughout ; ventral area very pale greenish grey, with a whiter medioventral 

 line and with subtriangular blackish markings on the 2"'* — S"" abdominals, their apices pointing forward. 

 The pupa is of medium proportions, shining yellowish brown, becoming more reddish on the abdominal 

 segments, especially towards the anus. The moth appears in .June and July and a very partial second brood 

 (at least in captivity) about October. In my experience as well as that of Snellen, the larvae which feed 

 up rapidly yield moths of about the normal size, but those which hibernate can, if well fed, be made to 

 produce veritable giants the following June. Polyphagous on withered or mouldy leaves. 



rohiginata. Pt, robiginata Stgr. (^ rubiginaria Fuchs) (5b). In its strongly oehreous colouring, yet not quite so 



intense or so reddish as in most ochrata, this species differs from all otiiers with which I can compare it, 

 unless possibly brightly coloured examples of manicaria or fatimata may be considered similar in ground- 

 colour. The markings consist of a small dark discal dot on each wing and on the forewing 3, on the hind- 

 wing 2 fine wavy dark lines, finer and much less straight than in anreolaria Hbn. On the forewing they 

 are about equidistant, the median just proxiuial to the discal dot, on the hindwing the median is well 

 proximal, the postmedian very strongly bent, being almost angled at the first radial and markedly inbent 

 between this and the third radial. In addition to the lines both wings usually show some weak, interrupted 

 grey shading proximally to the subterminal and there is always an interrupted dark terminal line. Fringes 

 dark grey, with a line of the ground-colour at their base. Beneath the lines are rather thicker and stronger, 

 except the first line of the forewing, which is wanting; base of forewing dusted with grey but not very 

 strongly. Locally common in Spain, flying in June and July in bushy places in the evening. Has recently 

 been recorded fi'om Belgium (Rochefort). The larva is thick, gradually tapering anteriorly, the lateral ridge 

 very prominent, undulate and as it were festooned; head large, heart-shaped, rugose, blackish brown; body 

 rugose, dark brown, the dorsal line paler, fine and coiUinous, subdorsal wanting, stigmatal line placed on the 

 lateral ridge; a broad pale band traverses the ventral surface of the middle segments. Milliere says nothing 

 as to the foodplants, but stales that it shares the habits of the allies; it eats little during the winter and in 

 captivity pupates in April. 



lutulentaria . Pt. lutulentaria Stgr. (3i as lutulentata). Near /i/scovewosa in size, shape and markings, but unmistakable 



on account of its bright oehreous yellow ground-colour. Forewing with base of costa darkened as in 

 fuscovenosa. Both wings with discal dot rather large and black. The lines are waved, the median of forewing 

 preceding the discal dot, but not very strong. Distal margin and fringe unmarked. Under surface similarly 

 but rather more weakly marked, basal area of forewing somewhat sull'used, without lirst line. The egg is 

 spheroidal, with one axis a little longer than the other; the surface is covered with hexagonal pitting, 

 including an occasional irregular polygon of 5 or 7 sides. The larva is strongly rugose and granulated, 

 moderately thick, tapering anteriorly and a little on the last 3 segments; setae black, clubbed; the colour is 

 variable; head pale chestnut with darker dots; body of a more or less pale chestnut, vaguely marked with 

 black at the incisions, the last 3 segments with a black mcdiodorsal line. Mendes reared it on withered 

 or mouldy leaves of Sarothamnus patenor. It eats lillle and grows very slowly. The pupa is uniform 

 yellowish brown. The moth is single brooded, appearing in Jmie-July. Only known from some localities in 

 Spain and Portugal. 



dilutaria. Pt. dilutaria Hbn. ( = stramenlata Eo.) (4f). Recognizable by its strongly silky gloss, the absence of 



the costal coloration which characterizes the precerling and the two following species (the costal margin has 

 merely a sparse dusting of dark scales), the unmarked distal margin and fringe, etc. In the yellowish-tinted 

 ground-colour, the minute size of the discal dots and the lack of terminal dots it is nearest to Immiliata, 

 but the red costal margin of the latter forms a constant distinction. The course of the lines is also nearer 

 to that of hmniliata, the pale subterminal not forming the projections which that of fuscovenosa shows. The 

 lines are generally all of approximately equal expression, sometimes the postmedian a little stronger, sometimes 

 the median of the forewing weak The underside is similar, the postmedian line often a little stronger, the 

 antemedian and sometimes the median of the forewing obsolete, cf antennal ciliation short and even, hindtibia 

 not much thickened, tarsus as long as tibia. In the name-typical form, which is rather scarce, minute discal 



praeustaria. dots are present and the distal margins are slightly dark-shaded. — ab. praeustaria Lah. dilfers little from 

 the type form, but shows a much stronger and broader fuscous border. It occurs in Dalmatia and S.E. 



holosericata. Hungary and even shows some tendency to form a local race. — ab. holosericata Diip. is probably the 



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