17 
THE BROOM MOTH. 
Phalena Pisi. 
PLATE XXVII. 
PhalenaPisi, Linn, Syst. Nat. ii. p. 854, No. 172.—Merian’s 
Europ. tab. 50,—Donovan's Brit. Ins, ii. p. 39, pl. 51. 
Tu superior wings are from half an inch to two- 
thirds ; of a reddish brown, clouded with darker 
grayish brown, with a gamboge and yellowish-gray 
undulated lines near their exterior margins. The 
lower wings in the male are of a light brown, with a 
broad shade of grayish ; and in the female they are 
ash coloured at the base. 
The caterpillars of this species will indiscrimi- 
nately eat the leaves of the knot-grass, pease, the 
broom, &c. It is from the latter food which the 
moth takes its name. The caterpillar has a pale 
pink head; the body is dark reddish brown, with 
two longitudinal rich yellow stripes on each side ; 
the belly and feet are of a raw umber brown. It 
is found in July and August, and descends into the 
ground late in September, or the first week in Oc- 
tober, and the fly comes forth in July. 
Caterpillars that enter the earth in the larva 
form, pass to the chrysalis, and issue forth in the 
perfect fly state, have no occasion for a web to 
