124 



THE CRIMSON UNDER-WIKG MOTH. 

 Phalteitii Sponsa. 



PLATE LXXXIl. 



Phalwna Sponsa, Limi. Si/st. Nat. ii. p. «-41 — Turlon's 

 Linni, iii. p. 293 Donovan's Brit. Insecls, pi. 324. 



The antennte are like threads ; the tongue spiral ; 

 the thorax is crested ; and the abdomen furnished 

 with tufts of hair, one on each annulation on the 

 belly. The body is fawn coloured, brown above, 

 and gray beneath. The upper wings are gi-ay, 

 clouded with brown, and covered with zigzag lines 

 and striffi, and two ocellatcd spots of orange ; under 

 wings, of a rich crimson colour, each with a trans- 

 verse cloud of deep black, and a broad margin of 

 black, fringed with white; all the margins are 

 Y>retty deeply indented. The caterpillar is clouded 

 with buff, brown, and gi-ay ; it feeds on the willow, 

 and grows to about two inches and a half in length ; 

 and it is difficult to distinguish it from the bark. 

 They are full fed about the beginning of July, when 

 tiiey change into the chrysalis state ; it is gray, with 

 a tinge of red. The moth bursts from the chrysalis 



August, and flies in the day-time. 



