MOTHS.

PartII.MOTHS.ACHERONTIA ATROPOS.

PartII.

PlateIV.—Fig. 1.

Thisis the largest moth found in the Canary Islands, known as the Death’s Head, very rarely met with in England.

It measures from five to six inches in expanse. The ground-colour of the fore-wings is brown, varied with zig-zag lines of whitish yellow and light brown. There is a white dot in the centre of each, and they are dusted all over with minute white dots. The hind-wings are orange, with two black marginal bands on the lower edge. The head is dark brown or black, marked with a pale-brown skull. The body is orange, with a longitudinal band of bluish grey down the centre,increasing in width towards the base. Six bands of black, broadest near the head, cross the body. The antennæ are rather short and thick, tipped with white. The caterpillar measures about four inches in length, and is of a most gorgeous green and yellow colour, alternate transverse bands of these colours running along the sides. It has eight small eyes in a line below the transverse bands, and a horn on its tail. It feeds on the potato, the pupa making a cell for itself underground, and appearing in the largest numbers between May and July; but as a fresh crop of potatoes is planted every three months in the Canaries, the caterpillars are found in small numbers all the year round.

When bred in captivity the pupa is delicate, quite five out of ten dying in their cases.

This moth is found in England, and all over Europe. It is a large moth, measuring about five inches across the wings. All four wings are of a variegated grey-brown colour, the body having a longitudinal grey stripe, increasing in width at the base, and five stripes of pink and black across it alternately. The antennæ are somewhat longer and more slender than those of the Death’s Head moth. They are feathered, and grey in colour, terminating in a sharp point. The insect is provided with a very long proboscis, which one sees it inserting into the centre of the flowers at dusk. During the winter months it is met with commonly in some years. The caterpillar, which measures four inches in length, feeds on the sweet potato in the fields, and on the petunia and phlox in gardens. It is of a brown-grey colour, shading to green on the back, having black longitudinal stripes along the back, and transverse black and white stripes surmounted by white spots at the sides. It is a night-feeder, hiding itself under the leaves or in the ground at day-time, and constructing the pupa-case underground. It is delicate and difficult to rear in captivity, like the Atropos.

PlateIV.—Fig. 4.

This beautiful moth is peculiar to the Canary Islands, although allied species are found over the greater part of Europe.[6]It expands from three to three and a half inches. The fore-wings are silvery grey in colour, having dark olive-grey markings, and a long stripe of this colour, increasing in width towards the body, from the apex to the base. The hind-wings are a rich pink, having a marginal band of dark brown, and a fine white line on the outer edge. The antennæ, which are white, are thick and feathered. The head and body, thickly feathered with white, are of an olive brown colour. Two bands of black cross the top of the abdomen, which tapers off to a point, with bands of alternate white and olive brown slightly marked with black. The caterpillar is easily found on the Euphorbia where it feeds gregariously. It is a beautiful dark pink, the horn being of this colour. The dark pink is interspersed with dusky green and greyish black spots, andthe caterpillar, when at full size, attains a length of about four inches. It is found from January till the end of May, but in the greatest numbers in April, whilst the Euphorbia is in its prime. The road-side between Rambla and Icod is a particularly favoured spot. About one or two inches of dried earth prepared as already mentioned are required for the larva to make its slight case in, though when in a natural state it buries itself much deeper, and the pupa is difficult to find. Some were fed and reared on a species of milk-wort. They thrived, but eventually turned into small moths of a paler colour than usual. The pupa varies much in the time of turning to the moth stage, according to the weather,—from six weeks, the usual time, to three months. Some caterpillars obtained in January did not become moths till the end of March; others taken at full growth on March 15th effected their last change to the moth during the last week in April and first week in May. The pupa when it first turns is of a beautiful shaded green colour with yellowish markings, but it changes to a uniform brown in a few days. The caterpillar is sometimes affected bya disease which consists of a small red fungus growing on the body, generally towards the tail. One small brood was entirely lost from this disease, which seemed to be contagious. As a rule, however, the larvæ are easy to keep, and the chrysalides hatch well and strongly. When numbers are kept, an old wine-case should be substituted for the smaller breeding-cages already mentioned, the mosquito-netting being used in the same way. A little sun is beneficial to them every day in the morning. When kept too long in the sun, however, they cease to feed, although when in a natural state sunny localities are most favoured. They are not night-feeders only.

[6]SeeAppendix D.

PlateIV.—Fig. 2.

(Sharp Winged Hawk-Moth.)

This beautiful moth is somewhat allied to the last described, the colour being similar, but the body is longer and more tapering. It is found in England, and in most countries where the vine grows, on which it feeds. The fore-wings are greyish brown with a silvery grey stripefrom the apex to the base; the outer lower margin is bordered by a similar stripe. The hind-wings are of a rosy pink colour, veined with, and having a marginal band of brown. The body is feathered, and has a series of five short silver streaks down each side. The antennæ are greyish white, not so long as those of the Tithymali. From three to four inches is the length of the beautiful bright green caterpillar. This has two dark and two light spots on its head, and a horn on its tail. A faint yellow longitudinal line runs along each side. It is rather liable to the attacks of the ichneumon fly, and so it is as well to search for the eggs before putting it aside for rearing. This year (1893) some were found in April, this being unusually early, as it does not appear generally till June, from which date until August it is very commonly met with in the vineyards. The pupa lies in a dormant state for four weeks, and then turns to the moth freely and strongly.

(Humming Bird Hawk-Moth.)

This moth is common in England and most parts ofEurope. Its fore-wings are brown, with faint longitudinal lines of a darker shade; the hind-wings are orange tawny, fringed with light brown. It measures in expanse about two inches. The head and body are brown, the abdomen spotted with black and white, rather liberally feathered. The antennæ are brown, being thinnest at the base, and gradually thickening to the extremity. It is seen in the daytime, as well as evening hovering, with an ever-restless motion of the wing, over flowers. The caterpillar is green, with a longitudinal white stripe, and a faint yellow one under the spiracles. The time of its appearance is from March to September, but it is seen about in greatest numbers in June.

PlateIV.—Fig. 5.

This pretty moth is peculiar to the Islands, measuring rather more than two inches across the wings. It is red in colour, the hind-wings being brighter than the fore-wings. These latter are marked with longitudinal dark stripes in the female, dark spots being substituted forthe stripes in the male. The head is dark red, shading off to lighter red on the richly-feathered body. The antennæ are red, being thicker and more feathered in the male than the female. The caterpillars are brown, thickly covered with long silky hairs, and are found mostly in barrancos, feeding on the dock and sorrel singly. They are also found in gardens, feeding somewhat indiscriminately on cabbage or hollyhock. When kept in captivity they can be reared on cabbage, and after attaining their full size of about one and a half inches, they make a slight hairy cocoon under a thin covering of earth. The caterpillar stage lasts about twenty days. They are found in January and hibernate in the pupa state till well on in the summer, sometimes as late as October or November, though some taken in January were brought to England and turned to moths on the 24th of June following. After being kept for a time the chrysalides become a very dark brown, almost black, so that there is a temptation to throw them away as dead, since they show so little life; but on opening the hard, stick-like skin, the creature is found to be quite fresh.

PlateIV.—Fig. 11.

In colour a dull grey moth. The fore-wings are ash-coloured, variegated with whitish on the upper side. The reniform spot is rust-coloured in the male and whitish in the female. The transverse lines are black and dentated, the submarginal line maculated. The hind-wings are grey, with a slight lunule in the middle; the underside uniform grey. The body is less stout than the D. Fascelina (Linn.). The abdomen is long in the male and longer in the female. The antennæ are pectinated in the male, simple in the female. The legs are thickly clothed with hair, the feet yellowish beneath. Although the caterpillar has not been described, it presumably has much the same characteristics as its allies, and is probably greyish, with tufts of hair on its back; it feeds on the Pinus Canariensis.

This moth is allied to the English, and European species Dasychira Fascelina (Dark Tussock), but is probably peculiar to the Islands. It has been described as being found in the Islands of Palma and Hiero byRogenhofer in the “Verhandlungen des Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien,” vol. 41 (for 1891), p. 566. The specimen illustrated was drawn from one of two presented to the South Kensington Museum by the Rev. O. E. Benthall, who found the chrysalides on trunks of the Canary pine near Guimar, Teneriffe, about 2,000 feet above the sea, and as far as the author can ascertain it has not before been recorded as occurring in Teneriffe.

PlateIV.—Fig. 9.

This beautiful little moth, expanding about one and a half inches, is a very rare insect in Teneriffe at the present time, though two or three years ago it was found in great abundance near, and along, the coast during the spring months.[7]It has yellowish white fore-wings freely spotted with black, alternated withoblong red spots, not so numerous. The hind-wings are pearl-white, having a small blackish brown spot towards the top, and a marginal indented border of the same colour. The thorax and head are speckled with black and yellow. The body is light pearl-grey. The larva is dark grey with a broad white stripe on the back and reddish streaks on the sides. This species is abundant throughout Africa, the South of Asia and Europe, but a very scarce insect in England. Don Ramon Gomez kindly supplied the specimen illustrated.

[7]A single specimen was taken by the Rev. O. E. Benthall at Guimar in 1893.

PlateIV.—Fig. 3.

This is not an English species, but is met with in Europe and North Africa. It is not very commonly found in Teneriffe. The fore-wings are green, with a central reddish-brown spot, the outer margin having an indented band of the same colour. The body and hind-wings, richly feathered, are a beautiful straw yellow, the latter having a dark brown graduated band near the lowermargin. It expands about two inches and a half. The larva is grey, with a pale grey stripe on the sides, and black spots on the lower surface between the pro-legs.

(Sword-Grass Moth.)

This moth is an English species. It measures in expanse between two and three inches, and is of a soft violet grey tinge, the fore-wings having a variety of brown markings. The caterpillar feeds on the Euphorbia, and has been found gregariously with the Tithymali on that plant. It is met with, however, on peas and potatoes, and can be reared on the leaves of any of these plants. The larva is bright green, with two lines of black and white spots down each side of the back. These are bordered by a yellow stripe (sometimes, however, absent), and it has a broken red line on each side. The caterpillar attains a length of about three inches. Some were kept in the same breeding cage with the Tithymali, but their habits were entirely different. When the Exoleta caterpillar ceased to feed, it did not immediately attain the pupa state, but was restless andlively, remaining as a caterpillar from six to eight weeks, gradually shrinking and losing its colour, until it turned to the pupa. It made a fragile shell of fine earth, oval in form, and buried itself a short distance under the surface. Full-sized caterpillars, taken on the 20th of March, ceased feeding and turned to the pupa state from the 1st to the 20th of May, emerging to the moth on the 15th of June. In some specimens the process of turning to the pupa took place on the journey to England in a box, the caterpillars being covered lightly with cotton-wool.

(Common Yellow Underwing.)

This is a common moth in England and Europe, but is rather a scarce species in Teneriffe. It expands a little more than two inches. The fore-wings are dark brown, having a few irregular markings of a lighter shade. The hind-wings are bright yellow, with a dark brown marginal band on the lower edge. The body is a somewhat lighter brown, and the antennæ are long and fine.The caterpillar is brown, and it feeds on a variety of low-growing plants in the barrancos, and may also be found on the potato. It commences to appear in the early spring.

PlateIV.—Fig. 6.

This moth is closely allied to the Chrysitis, which is found in England, differing, however, in the shape of the gold markings.[8]The fore-wings have a bright golden marginal band of varying width across them, from the apex to the base. It is found in rough places, and can be easily netted when hovering over clover-flowers or similar low-growing herbage at dusk. The hind-wings are grey-brown, shading off to a lighter tint towards the body. The antennæ are long and fine. The caterpillar feeds on the tobacco-plant, and is found in barrancos, but it is most usually met with on potato-plants; it envelops itself in a leaf, drawing it togetherwith silk-like threads, and so forming a case in which it turns to the chrysalis. It is found very nearly all the year round, but is met with in greatest numbers during the spring months.

[8]Alpheraky describes the Indian variety Chrysitina as a Teneriffe moth.

Known in England as the Spectacle Moth. It is met with in the day-time as well as at dusk, like many others of the genus Plusia. Its fore-wings are dark grey, varied with greenish-white in the basal and marginal areas; the sub-terminal line is marked below the costa with black arrow-heads in front, and is bordered with deep black behind. It is common in the greater part of Europe and Northern Asia. The larva, which is greenish brown, has two white lines on the back, and slender white and green lines along each side above the feet. It feeds on nettle.

Similar somewhat to the English Gamma, or silver Y moth, but a distinct variety, and found largely in Europe.The fore-wings are dark ashy-grey, with bronze markings, and have a pale golden mark in the middle resembling the letter r. The hind-wings are brown, of a lighter shade towards the base. It measures in expanse about two inches; the antennæ are long and fine. The larva, which is green with a yellowish stripe at the sides, feeds on the potato and other low-growing plants, and is found during the early spring months, and well on into the summer.

This is the fourth species described here of the large genus Plusia. It is a much brighter golden-brown colour than the last described specimen, measuring about one and a half inches across the wings. The fore-wings are golden-brown, having two distinct gold spots about the centre. The hind are of the same tint as the fore-wings, darker at the margin, and shading off lighter towards the base. It is found in India, but is not a European species.

This is a very rare moth in England, but is found over the greater part of the world. It expands about one and a half inches. The fore-wings are a brownish yellow, with darker indistinct markings. The hind-wings are lighter yellow in colour, with a dark semi-lunar spot in the middle, and have a dark marginal border. The antennæ are long and fine. The caterpillar was found on the potato-plant and proved to be one of the cannibal species. It fed occasionally on the food provided, but seemed generally to prefer its companions in captivity, feeding at night, and so had to be separated from them. The larva is reddish brown in colour, with a yellowish stripe on the sides, and it is very commonly found in Teneriffe during the early spring months.

This is a small moth, about one to one and a half inches in expanse, and found throughout the greater part ofEurope, Northern and Western Asia, and North Africa. It frequents high ground in the spring and summer, living in rough places and in clover-fields. The fore-wings are of light olive-brown shade, with dark markings across them. The hind-wings are dark olive-brown, fringed with yellow, and having two large yellow uneven spots about the centre, with a similar one on the brown margin. The body is stout, the antennæ long and fine. The larva is green or rust-colour, with white lines on the back and sides.

A moth, expanding about one inch and a half, found in Africa, but not in England. It has brown-grey fore-wings, with opalescent markings. The hind-wings are of a shining opalescent white. The larva is brown, feeds on the potato-plant, and appears during the early spring. The moths are seen a month or six weeks later; those bred in captivity appear simultaneously with those out of doors.

Rather a fine moth, inhabiting Europe, though not found in England. It expands about two inches or more. The fore-wings are dark brown, sometimes suffused with a reddish tinge at the upper margin. The hind-wings are of a greyish pearl-white colour, veined with brown, with a brown shade fringing the margins. The larva is greyish-brown, and feeds on the potato-plant, where it is found during the late winter and early spring. The average time for turning from the larva to the moth stage is from six to eight weeks.

PlateIV.—Fig. 8.

This is a small moth, not very commonly found in Teneriffe. It is met with by day along the coast, and up to an altitude of 2000 feet or more in rough rocky places, in April and up to June or July. The prevailing colour is a blue-grey. The fore-wings have a largesquare patch of white on the upper margin, and a smaller dot of the same colour towards the middle. The hind-wings are fringed with white, and have two or three patches of the same colour along their margins. In the male, the white on both wings is increased towards the base. It is not an English species, but is found in Europe and along the Mediterranean. The larva is a green or brownish grey, with three dark double lines on the thoracic segments; tufted, and with a white line on the back on segments 5 to 7, and with a dark stripe on the back, and a whitish line on the sides of the remaining segments.

A pretty little moth, about one inch in expanse, commonly found in the Canary Islands. It is widely dispersed over Europe and Asia, and is a rare inhabitant of England. The fore-wings are sulphur-yellow, tinged with bright red at the apex, and having a red line running from the tip to the middle of the inner margin. The hind-wings are pale yellowish white. It frequentsrough places among short herbage, and is found on and near the coast in the early spring and during the summer. The larva is green, with a paler line on the back, and a yellowish line on the sides. Spiracles red. It feeds on low-growing plants.

A pale buff moth, measuring in expanse about two inches. The specimen described was netted at Guimar, Teneriffe, in May. It is somewhat common. The fore-wings and body are buff, the latter being rather richly feathered. The hind-wings are cream-white; the antennæ are rather thick, of a medium length. It is not an inhabitant of Europe. The larva has not been observed.

Not an English moth, but an inhabitant of South Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It measures in expanse about one inch. The fore-wings are brown, varied withpale yellow and black markings. The hind-wings are grey, shading lighter at the base. It makes its appearance in the spring, and is very commonly found in dwelling-houses or surrounding out-houses in the evening. The larva is green, with a white stripe on the sides.

A smaller moth than the last specimen described. The fore-wings are olive-brown, violet-grey towards the margins. The two colours are separated by an oblique whitish line from the apex to the middle of the inner margin. The hind-wings are grey, shading off lighter to the base, and are veined with brown. It is not an English species, but is very commonly found in Teneriffe, on rough ground, among cactus, &c., in the early spring, at no great distance from the coast. It inhabits South Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.

PlateIV.—Fig. 7.

A pretty little sea-green moth (geometra) found in South Africa, but very rarely met with in Teneriffe. Itwas netted in a rough place among cactus-plants in April at dusk, about 500 feet above the sea level. It measures about one inch in expanse; the fore-wings and upper part of the body are of a beautiful bright sea-green colour when first netted, but the insect quickly fades. The hind-wings are paler green, and all four wings are fringed with white. The antennæ are short and slightly feathered.

This moth had not figured in any collection of Teneriffe moths as far as the author could ascertain. No observations have been made on the larvæ and pupæ.

PlateIV.—Fig. 10(Female).

This moth is allied to the Aspilates Gilvaria, but is probably an insect peculiar to the Canaries. It measures in expanse about one inch. It is of a pale buff-colour, the female being of a much intenser shade than the male. The hind-wings in both sexes are much lighter in colour than the fore-wings. The fore-wingsof the female have a slate-blue narrow band of colour, extending from near the apex to the base of the upper margin, forming a semicircle. Within the semicircle, and near the upper margin, is a small slate-blue dot. The hind-wings have also a band of varying width and of the same colour extending across them, and a slate-blue dot is seen near the top of the upper margin above the slate band. The male has similar markings, but they are much paler, and not nearly so well defined. The antennæ of the male are feathered, of medium length; those of the female are longer and finer. At first sight this moth might be deemed a variety of Sterrha Sacraria. The female was taken at Guimar about 1000 feet above the sea. Several male specimens were taken near Orotava, at a somewhat higher altitude. This moth, being unknown at South Kensington, has been named as above by the author.

A small moth, about one inch in expanse, with a slender body. The fore-wings are dark brown, withthe base, tip, and inner margin whitish. The centre of the wings is suffused with red, and two transverse lines of darker colour cross them. The larva is blue with a black line on the back and a zigzag yellowish-red stripe on the sides, bordered below with black. It feeds on lichens growing on walls. It is not a British species, but is met with in Southern Europe.

This is a small moth, with the same characteristics as to size and form as the last described. The fore-wings are green, varied with brown and blackish in the position of the claviform stigma. It has dark transverse lines, and the hind-wings are brownish grey. The larva is bluish-grey, with a grey stripe on the back. It feeds on lichen, and inhabits Central and Southern Europe, and Western Asia, but is a great rarity in England.

This is a moth somewhat larger than the last-described, with rather a stout body. It is fawn-colour, the abdomen pale-brown, and the margin of the fore-wings has several black spots. The hind-wings are whitish. It inhabits South-Western Europe, but is not met with in England.

The body of this moth is stout, the fore-wings are nearly rectangular at the tips, without any distinct pattern. The antennæ and tongue are short. The fore-wings are greyish-yellow with a black discal spot, and an outer row of black dots. The hind-wings are white. It inhabits Spain, North Africa, and Madeira, but is not a British species. The larva lives on the stalks of maize, corn, and sugar-cane.

One of the large genus of Acidalia, a small and delicate moth. The wings are yellowish-white, finely dusted with black. The fore-wings have five and the hind-wings four brownish yellow transverse bands. It expands about one inch. It is not a British species.

A small moth, with the tips of the fore-wings pointed. The wings are greyish yellow, finely and indistinctly speckled with purplish brown, with a small brown central spot centred with white, a row of black dots beyond the middle, and often a dull red, zigzag central shade also. This is a very variable species, inhabiting S. Europe, W. Asia, and N. Africa, but is not an inhabitant of England. The larva is very variable in colour, being dull green, brown, or reddish. It feeds on the cistus, arbutus, myrtle, etc.

A small moth, with narrow fore-wings, expanding about one inch. The fore-wings are ashy-grey, finely dusted with a darker shade. The hind-wings are paler, with two dark marginal bands. It is met with in Central and Southern Europe, but is very rare in Britain. The larva is brownish grey, with a paler line and two rows of pale spots on the back.

The fore-wings are pointed, reddish grey in colour, and bordered by a brownish-red band. The larva is pale yellowish-green, with dark green or reddish-violet lines on the back, and a paler line on its sides. It feeds on the flowers of a great variety of plants, such as clematis, broom, convolvulus. It is widely distributed in Central and Southern Europe and W. Asia, but is not an inhabitant of Britain.

* Marked thus are illustrated.

In addition to the specimens above described, a list of twenty-one more names of Teneriffe moths is appended, which have been written upon by S. Alpheraky in the memoirs of N. M. Romanoff, vol. v., 1889. Several of the insects in this list were collected by the author, but as they were mostly very small brown or grey moths, and of but little interest to the ordinary collector, a description of them has been omitted. The difficulty of identification without illustration also precludes their insertion in a work of the present character.

ALPHERAKY.

Mr. Scott Wilson, writing to the author of his visit to the Isle of Palma, states that the Queen of Spain Fritillary (Argynnis Lathonia) is very common in the meadows near the town of El Paso, 2000 feet above the sea level in May. In the same month he noticed the clouded yellow (Colias Edusa) in large numbers in the clearings amongst the pine-woods. A few specimens of the large Fritillary (Argynnis Maia) were secured by him at El Paso early in May, where the Vulcania was also found; of these latter specimens only two out of one hundred proved to be of the British form Atalanta. The Bath-white (Pieris Daplidice) was common near Argual.

The Danais Chrysippus appeared rather uncommon, only a few specimens being taken near the barranco Del Carmen, not far from the town of Santa Cruz, and a few near Tijarafe.

Specimens of the small blue (Lycaena Webbiana) were taken near Argual.

In the middle of May the large white (Pieris Cheiranthi) was commonly found on the large laurel-trees at La Galga.

The author believes that the same species of Lepidoptera are generally distributed over all the seven islands, but that in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, both of which are dry, sandy, and somewhat barren islands, they are not found in such numbers or variety. It is probable that different species of small African moths, some of which are enumerated on pages 93-4, may be found in Lanzarote, which is the nearest island to the coast of Africa, and which more closely resembles it in climate and vegetation, in greater numbers than in Teneriffe. The Euphorbia, which grows so plentifully in most of the islands, is uncommon in Lanzarote; hence the D. Tithymali, abundant in Teneriffe, would be scarce in this island. The lack of water in Fuerteventura, and consequent sparse vegetation, is doubtless the cause of the scarcity of Lepidoptera in that island, though the interestingoccurrence of the insect “Euchlöe Charlonia,” a North and West African butterfly (which has only once been recorded as having been observed in Teneriffe), is accounted for by the proximity of the island in question to the African mainland. This species probably occurs in Lanzarote, for the same reason; it will doubtless become dispersed over the remaining islands in time.

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