31 
HEPIALIDiE. 
HEPIALUS HECTUS. 
GOLD SWIFT. 
Plate YII. Figure 4. 
This insect measures from a little over an inch to 
nearly an inch and a quarter. 
It is a very variable species. 
Male; front wings dull reddish orange, with three 
bars of golden yellow across, two running upwards from 
the lower edge, and one downwards from the upper, 
the latter near the tip; but none of them proceed en¬ 
tirely across the wings, and the outer one is the shortest 
of the three. Hind wings sometimes spotted with golden 
yellow, but more commonly plain. Female: front wings 
rather pale greyish brown, crossed with faint darker 
bars of brown. 
Localities for this species are among many others 
throughout the country, Nunburnholme, Glasgow, &c. 
The situations where it is found are open places in 
and near woods. 
The date of the appearance of the perfect insect is 
in the month of June. 
The caterpillar is of a greyish colour, the head yel¬ 
lowish. 
The date of the appearance of the caterpillar is in 
April. 
It feeds on the dandelion (Taraxacum Dens-leonis). 
All the moths of this genus begin to fly early in the 
evening. They fly, on occasion, with great swiftness, 
from whence their common name. 
