LEPIDOPTERA. 
117 
larvae, and turns to a yellow-banded pupa within a slightly woven web. The 
little moth shown in the annexed illustration, and commonly known as the dark 
spinach ( Larentia chenopodiata), may 
be taken to represent the subfamily 
Larentiince. Appearing in July and 
August, it is a common species on the 
Continent, and is specially abundant 
in gardens and shrubberies, where it 
may be found resting either on the 
bark of trees or the walls of buildings. 
The caterpillar is greyish brown in 
colour, and feeds on the goose-foot. 
The group to which this species belongs 
are often termed carpet-moths. Of 
another genus, known as pugs ( Eupi - 
thecia), the lime - speck moth ( Eu . 
signata) may be mentioned. The 
MAGPIE MOTH IN ALL STAGES OP DEVELOPMENT. 
DARK SPINACH MOTH AND LARVA (liat. Size). 
(Melanippe hastata ) appears in May, 
Hying actively round trees. The 
larva may be found later in the year 
amongst the birch foliage, in a recep¬ 
tacle formed of several leaves drawn 
together with silken threads. The 
pupal-state is passed in the ground. 
Figures of this moth and its larva 
are given on p. 116. The purple- 
barred yellow ( Lythria pur pur aria), 
figured in the annexed illustration, is 
a not uncommon species on commons, 
pasture-lands, and stubble-fields in 
England and the Continent. The 
ground-colour of the wings is pale 
olive-yellow, the upper pair banded 
ground - colour of the wings is milk - white, 
with grey blotches and specks, and a broad 
red grey band on the margin. These moths 
fly commonly at night in England and on 
the Continent, while the larva, which is very 
variable in colour—bluish green, yellow-green, 
or pinkish white—feeds in August and Sep¬ 
tember on various annuals, such as golden- 
rod, rag-wort, etc. Figures of the moth and 
larva are given in the illustration below. By 
no means a common species in England, 
although found occasionally in districts where 
birch - trees abound, the argent - and - sable 
1 2 
1, PURPLE-BARRED YELLOW ; 2, LIME-SPECK. 
(Nat. size.) 
