The Moths of the British Isles Volume Ii Part 20

BRIGHT WAVE (_Acidalia_ (_Sterrha_) _ochrata_).

At one time this ochreous brown species (Plate 50, Fig. 3) was an inhabitant of the Ess.e.x coast, and was found commonly at Southend among other places. Deal and other parts of the Kentish coast are more frequently mentioned in connection with later records of the species. In the present day it is far less plentiful at Deal than formerly, but it is still to be found there. Specimens have been taken in the Isle of Wight, and one has been noted from Suffolk (Aldeburgh).

The pale ochreous brown or greyish ochreous caterpillar has three broken greyish lines on the back; it tapers towards the small head, and the skin of the body is closely wrinkled. It feeds from August to May, or a little later, on the flowers of hawk's-beard (_Crepis_), dandelion, coltsfoot, golden rod, etc., and in confinement it seems to accept most kinds of flowers that are offered, even when widely different. Thus, Mr. Conquest, in 1907, had some caterpillars which hatched during the first week in August from eggs laid on July 25; these were at first supplied with flowering sprays of yellow bedstraw (_Galium verum_), and later on with the flowers of golden rod (_Solidago_). Instead of hibernating, which is no doubt the normal habit in the species, some larvae reared from the egg in confinement and subjected to fostering warmth will grow very quickly and produce moths the same year.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 50.

1, 2. TAWNY WAVE.

3. BRIGHT WAVE.

4, 5. SMOKY WAVE.

6. _ACIDALIA PEROCHRARIA_.

7, 8. SMALL SCALLOP.

9, 10. BLOOD-VEIN.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

2 Pl. 51.

1, 1a, 1b. DINGY MOCHA: _eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis_.

2. MOCHA: _caterpillar_.

{133} This species has been referred to the genus _Sterrha_, Hubner, but authorities are not agreed as to the validity of this.

_Acidalia perochraria._

The species last referred to as _A. ochrata_ was formerly known in Britain as _pallidaria_, and was figured by Curtis in 1831 under that name.

Afterwards the name was changed to _perochraria_, and later still the correct name was found for it.

How far there may have been confusion of the two species in the records of the present one, I have no means of ascertaining, but probably all but two should properly refer to _ochrata_. The only two known British specimens of _perochraria_ therefore appear to have been captured in the Redhill district of Surrey, one in 1865 and one in 1869. As will be seen on reference to Plate 50, where a portrait of a Continental specimen will be found (Fig. 6), the general colour is much brighter than that of _ochrata_.

It will be noted, also, that there are four darker cross lines on the fore wings, and three on the hind wings. The antennae, too, of the male are toothed, and therefore differ from these organs in _ochrata_.

THE SMALL SCALLOP (_Ania emarginata_).

As will be noted on turning to Plate 50, Figs. 7, 8, the male of this pale ochreous brown species is generally rather larger than the female, and the more ample wings are less acutely angled in outline; the latter s.e.x is also more clouded with reddish brown.

The caterpillar is variable in colour; one form is of a dusky ochreous colour with a pale line along the middle of the back, edged on each side with a darker tint, and most conspicuously {134} so on the hinder rings; the back is also dotted with black, and has some dark V- or X-shaped marks upon it; the body tapers to the notched dark-brown head. It feeds on bedstraw (_Galium_), convolvulus, etc., and, like others of its tribe, has a taste for withered leaves. August to May or June, according to the season. In confinement it has been induced by warmth to feed up quickly, and appear as a moth the same year. Only a short time is pa.s.sed in the chrysalis stage. July is perhaps the best month for the moth, but it may be seen at any time from late June to early August. Its haunts are fens, marshes, and moist woodlands, etc., and although it is more frequent in the south, it is widely spread throughout England, but in the north it is rare, and its occurrence more or less casual.

In Wales it has been recorded from Glamorgans.h.i.+re and Flints.h.i.+re; but it is apparently unknown in Scotland and Ireland.

THE BLOOD-VEIN (_Timandra amata_).

The stripe across the wings of this pretty species (Plate 50, Figs. 9 and 10), extending from the apex of the fore wings to near the middle of the inner margin of the hind wings, is normally pinkish red, but it may be of a more crimson or purplish hue; it also varies in width. The fringes are usually pinkish red, and occasionally the margins of the wings are tinged with the same colour. The whitish-ochreous ground colour is normally finely powdered with grey, but sometimes so thickly that a greyish tinge is imparted to the wings. Barrett mentions a specimen with pale smoky brown wings, and, excepting that the tips of the fringes are tinged with pink, the usual markings are absent. In another example, "the s.p.a.ce between the central and second lines is filled up with purple brown."

The caterpillar is brownish grey, with three whitish lines on the back, the central one intersecting a series of four dark {135} lozenges. It feeds on various low-growing plants, such as persicaria, orach, sorrel, etc., but dock seems to be the most frequently selected pabulum. July to May, sometimes feeding up and appearing as a second generation of the moth in August.

Weedy ditches, hedge banks, or moist waste places, are the favourite resorts of the moth; and when one example is flushed from its lurking place, others are almost certain to be hiding in the immediate vicinity.

Widely distributed throughout England, but most common in the south; found also in North and South Wales; and sparingly in Scotland to Aberdeens.h.i.+re, also recorded from Arran. Apparently rare in Ireland, as it is only noted from Kerry and Galway.

FALSE MOCHA (_Ephyra porata_).

The wings are pale ochreous brown, finely flecked with purplish grey, and more or less tinged with reddish; the cross lines are indicated by blackish dots, the central shade is greyish inclining to reddish, and the rings enclosing white dots are blackish or dark brown, but sometimes indistinct on the fore wings; occasionally there are some purplish grey clouds on the outer marginal area, and this is more frequent in examples of a second generation. Sometimes the wings are entirely suffused with dull reddish brown, and all the markings, except the white dot on the hind wings, are obscured. (Plate 53, Figs. 7 and 8.)

The caterpillar is pale pinkish ochreous, with inconspicuous wavy white lines, and brownish dots, on the back; dark oblique marks on the sides; the head is pencilled with darker brown. It feeds on oak and birch in June and July, and individuals of a second brood sometimes occur in September or October.

The moth is out in May and June, and rests in the daytime {136} among the foliage of trees and bushes in or around woods. Like others of the genus, it is attracted by light, and is said to visit the sugar patch. Specimens of a second generation sometimes appear in August and September, but, I believe, more frequently in the breeding cage than in the open. Although it has been recorded from several of the northern counties from Staffords.h.i.+re to c.u.mberland, this is more especially an inhabitant of the south and west of England, and of Wales. In Scotland, it is known to occur singly and rarely in Clydesdale and Arran, and has been found in Perths.h.i.+re.

NOTE.--This species, and the other five here included in _Ephyra_, have been referred to _Zonosoma_, Lederer, and more recently to _Cyclophora_, Stephens.

MAIDEN'S BLUSH (_Ephyra punctaria_).

In a general way, this moth (Plate 53, Figs. 10-12) is not unlike the last mentioned. Apart, however, from the absence of ringed dots on all the wings, the central line is more prominent. Certain vagaries occur in connection with this line, which is generally reddish, or purplish brown.

Occasionally, it may be visible on the fore wings, but absent on the hind wings; or it may change its course about mid-way, and turn inwards to the base of the fore wing. I have a specimen from Surrey in which this line is double the normal width, and dark purplish in colour. Examples of the second generation have brownish clouds on the outer margin (Fig. 12).

The caterpillar is pale reddish-ochreous or bright green; a black line along the middle of the back, and a brownish one along the sides; a black horse-shoe mark, edged below with yellow, on the back of rings four to nine.

It feeds, in June and July, on oak, but may be reared on birch; also found in September as a second brood. {137}

The moth is out in May and June, and specimens of a second generation are often not uncommon in August. It occurs in woodlands throughout England, but is most plentiful in the south. In Scotland, it appears to be local in Clydesdale, but is found thence up to Moray. In Ireland, only recorded from Galway (two specimens).

CLAY TRIPLE-LINES (_Ephyra linearia_).

This species (Plate 53, Fig. 13) varies in the general colour from yellowish to pale reddish ochreous; the cross lines are also variable, often the first is missing (Plate 53, Fig. 14), and not infrequently the dark central line is the only visible marking, but very exceptionally the central line is very little, if at all, more distinct than the normal first and second. The ringed white dots are rarely very conspicuous, and are often quite absent.

The caterpillar is pale brownish, with a brown-edged yellowish line along the middle of the back, and some yellow-edged dark-brown streaks on the sides. In another form, the head is brown and the body green.

It feeds in June, July, and again in September, on beech. The moth is out in May and June, and again in August and September. Beech woods are its favourite haunts, and it seldom strays far from them. It is generally common in the south, and its range apparently extends to Northumberland; but it is local and infrequent in the north. Three specimens have been recorded from Co. Galway, and one from Co. Cork, in Ireland.

NOTE.--Nearly fifty years ago, at Brighton, a single specimen was reared from one of eight larvae that hatched from the same number of eggs deposited by a female _E. linearia_ that had paired with a male _E. orbicularia_.

This hybrid has been named _brightoni_, Tutt. {138}

THE MOCHA (_Ephyra annulata_).

Normally, the wings of this species (Plate 53, Figs. 6, 9) are yellowish white, inclining to ochreous yellow with the blackish central shade near to and sometimes united with the blackish irregular and outwardly toothed second cross line on both fore and hind wings; the rings are deep brown or blackish. There is variation in the width and intensity of the central shade, and the rings sometimes are absent on the fore wings (ab.

_obsoleta_, Riding), and occasionally all the wings are devoid of the annular mark (ab. _biobsoleta_, Riding). Examples of a second generation reared in captivity are rather deeper coloured, and have a sprinkling of black scales, chiefly on the fore wings.

The caterpillar (Plate 51, Fig. 2, after Hofmann) is dark green, yellow between the rings; there are three yellow lines along the back, the outer ones waved; head reddish brown, paler marked. (Adapted from Porritt.) There is also a pale ochreous brown form.

It feeds on maple in June, and as a second generation in August and September. It may be reared on sycamore. The moth frequents lanes, woods, and thickets, especially those in which maple is plentiful; it flies at dusk, and in the daytime may be beaten from hedgerows in which the food plant grows. It has also been found among hornbeam. The species is most frequent from Kent to Hamps.h.i.+re, but widely distributed over England up to Worcester and Herefords.h.i.+re, and eastward to Norfolk, occurring also in Northampton and Yorks.h.i.+re.

The colour and ornamentation of this charming little insect seem to have struck Haworth, who named the species in the vernacular, as bearing some resemblance to the Mocha stone from Arabia, a kind of transparent agate in which are seen brownish moss-like markings. {139}

DINGY MOCHA (_Ephyra orbicularia_).

The wings are greyish, thickly striped with darker grey; the markings similar to those of the next species, but the rings are nearly always reddish or purplish, and the central line is wavy. (Plate 53, Figs. 4 and 5.)

The egg (which, together with the caterpillar and chrysalis, is figured on Plate 51) is at first bone-coloured; later, pink dots and patches appear.