lis 



THE CREAM-SPOTTED TIGER MOTH. 

 Phalccna Villica. 



PLATE LXXIV. 



Phalsena Villici, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 820 — Turton's 

 Linne, iii. p. 222.—J)o7iovan's Brit. Ins. ii. pi. 71.— 

 Harris's Aurelian, pi. 4. 



The upper wings are black, with from eight to 

 nine large in-egularly shaped cream coloured spots ; 

 the under wings and body are of a rich yellow 

 orange, or approaching to golden yellow, variously 

 clouded with large black irregular patches ; the body 

 has a row of equal black spots down the middle ; the 

 thorax is black, with two cream coloured spots on the 

 back ; it is fringed all round, as are also the wings. 



Tlie caterpillars of this moth are black and foxy, 

 or hairy, with pink legs ; they feed on chickweed, 

 which is their favourite food, but they will also eat the 

 leaves of the cuiTant, white thorn, nettle, grass, &c., 

 if the former cannot be readily procured. Tliey have 

 attained their full size by the latter end of April, 

 when they change into a chrysalis, and, towards the 

 end of May, they appear in the winged state. 



The Cream-Spotted Tiger Moth is by no means so 

 frecjuently to be met with as the Great Tiger Blotli, 



