The English Moths and Butterflies

PART I.. _the_ Caterpillars, _described in This Book, Are Such As Produce

The CATERPILLARS, described in this Book, are such as produce Moths; of which, as there is a great Variety, ’twas thought proper to range them under the following Heads or Chapters.

CHAP. I.

The CATERPILLARS belonging to this Chapter have six Hooks or Claws before, eight Feet in the middle, and some have, and some have not two Holders behind. Their Bodies are composed of twelve circular Joints, or Rings, conjoined by a common Membrane, which they are capable of contracting or expanding. When they would move along, they dilate the muscular Skin that separates the first Ring from the next; they advance the first Ring to a certain Distance, and then, by contracting and expanding the Skin of that Part, they move the second Ring: the same Method moves the Third, and so the whole Body marches in Succession: the Motion of their Feet and Claws corresponding with and assisting the progressive Motion of the Rings. Vide Spectacle de la Nature, Dial. I.

The CATERPILLARS under this Head may likewise be divided into three Classes:

I. NAKED or without HAIR.

II. Having little HAIR.

III. Having much HAIR.

The First CLASS, or the NAKED and without HAIR, may be subdivided in the following Manner.

CLASS I.

Such CATERPILLARS whose Bodies are SMOOTH.

SECT. A.

Without Risings, or Protuberances

L. 1. CH. 1. I. CL. 1. S. A. 1.

The Great Yellow-underwing Moth. The CATERPILLAR of this MOTH lives through the Winter, and comes to its full Growth in May: It is found in Gardens, and other Places, and usually feeds in the Night, as many other of the NAKED CATERPILLARS do. Indeed, were they to do otherwise, they would soon be devoured by the Birds, which are much fonder of these SMOOTH CATERPILLARS than of the HAIRY ones. In the Day, they hide themselves within the Earth, and in other secret Recesses. They feed on the Leaves of the Stock-July and other Flowers, as also on Grass, &c. They put on the Chrysalis Form, within the Earth, in May, and the Moths are bred in June. Great Plenty of this Moth, and other Species of the YELLOW-UNDERWING, were taken feeding on the Honey Dew, on the Limes and other Trees, in the Gardens of John Philips, Esq; at Layton in Essex; they were discovered, by the Help of a Candle and Lanthorn, from Twelve o’Clock at Night till Two in the Morning; and were so fearless, that they would suffer one to take them with the Hand. At the same Time the ANGLE-SHADE and several other Moths were taken.

See Lister on Godartius, P. 52. N. 41. Albin, P. 72. Reaumur, Pl. 14. Pag. 342. vol. 1.

The Double Stock July-Flower.

Leucoium incanum, majus, variegatum, flore pleno. C. B. Pin. 201.

L. 1. CH. 1. II. CL. 1. S. A. 2.

The WILD ARRACH MOTH, Mr. Rosel says, The Caterpillar feeds on the WILD ARRACH; that it changes to a Chrysalis, within the Earth, in September, and that the Moth appears at the End of May following. I once took some of these Caterpillars feeding on the Arrach in September, but had not the good Fortune to breed any Flies from them. See Rosel, Cl. 2. Tab. 32.

The Wild Arrach in Flower.

Atriplex folio deltoide. Petiv. Herb.

L. 1. CH. 1. III. CL. 1. S. A. 3.

The ANGLE-SHADES, a Moth. It is advisable to look for the Caterpillar of this Fly on Nettles, altho’ some feed on Fruit Trees, Bramble Bushes, &c. It goes into the Chrysalis State at the End of June, in a Web mixed with Earth, which it forms upon the Ground; and thus it remains till the Beginning of September, when the Moth is produced. There is an early Breed of this Moth in May, but, as I have not had the Caterpillar in the Spring, I cannot relate its Progression. The Fly may be taken in the Evenings, in Gardens, feeding on the Flowers; but I have not met with them very frequent.

See Godartius, Part 1. Tab. 56. Lister on Godartius P. 54. N. 44. Albin, Pl. 13. Reaumur, Pl. 8. P. 258. Pl. 14. P. 342. Vol. 1.

The Great Mogul Plum.

Prunus fructu magno ovato rubente. Tourn.

L. 1. CH. 1. IV. CL. 1. S. A. 4.

The PEASE-BLOSSOM, a Moth. Its Caterpillars are reported by Merian, and Rosel, to feed upon the wild Lark-Spur that grows amongst Corn. They are full fed at the Beginning of August, when they change to the Chrysalis, but appear not in the Moth State till the June following. This Fly has been bred in England by the Honourable Mrs. Walters, and by Nathaniel Oldham, Esq; but, at present, is very rare.

See Merian, Vol. 1. Ch. 40. Rosel, Cl. 2. Tab. 12.

The Lark-Spur.

Delphinium, hortense, flore majore & multiplici cœruleo. Tourn.

L. 1. CH. 1. V. CL. 1. S. A. 5.

The SMALL GREEN OAK MOTH. The Caterpillar feeds on the Oak, and sometimes such Numbers of them are produced at the Beginning of May, that they, in a Manner, strip the Oak-trees of their Leaves. They are enabled, by the Help of a Spining, which they fasten after the Manner of the Spider, to let themselves down from one Bough to another, and from thence to the Ground, if they have a mind. They change into the Chrysalis State in a curled Form within the Oak-leaves, (which they wrap over them, and fasten together by their Web) and, after remaining so for about fourteen Days, the Fly is bred. If you beat the Branches of the Oak-trees you may take Plenty of this Moth in the Day-time.

The Yellow Strip’d Tulip.

Tulipa hortensis flore luteo variegato.

L. 1. CH. 1. VI. CL. 1. S. A. 6.

The SMALL ERMINE MOTH. The Caterpillar that produces this Moth is as common as those just mentioned. I have seen a Hedge-row of White-thorn, at the End of May and at the Beginning of June, the Leaves of which have been eaten almost up by these Caterpillars. They feed also on Black-thorn, Fruit-trees, &c. when they are preparing to change to Chrysalis, they get together in Numbers, and spin a large transparent Web, within which they fasten themselves by the Tail, and undergo their Change. They remain in this Condition for about three Weeks: The Moths come forth in June and July, and are very common about most Hedges.

See Albin, P. 70. Reaumur, Pl. 12. Pag. 208. Vol. 2.

The Orange-Peach, with its Blossom.

Persica, dura carne buxea. C. B. Pin.

L. 1. CH. 1. VII. CL. 1. S. A. 7.

The BROOM-MOTH. The Food of this Caterpillar is the Leaves of Broom, on which I found Plenty of them, from the 20th to the 30th of September, near Shooter’s Hill in Kent; they were of the Bigness express’d in the Plate. The Green ones produced male Flies. They all went into the Earth at the Beginning of October, and, at the Beginning of May following, the Moths were bred. I never could take any of them in the Fly-state.

See Rosel, Cl. 2. Tab. 52.

The Broom, in Flower and Seed.

Genista angulosa Trifolia. I. B. 1388.

L. 1. CH. 1. VIII. CL. 1. S. A. 8.

The SALLOW MOTH. The Caterpillar was fed by Mr. Dandridge on the common Sallow, until it changed to a Chrysalis within the Earth, which was at the Beginning of June. The Moth was produced about the Middle of September. These Moths are not common; for, in all my Practice, I have not been able to take above three or four, and that was in the Evening, near Shooter’s Hill, in the Month of September. The Caterpillars are likewise very scarce.

See Albin, Pl. 33.

Common Sallow in Flower.

Salix Cutifolio rotundo. C. B. Pin.

L. 1. CH. 1. IX. CL. 1. S. A. 9.

The CODLING MOTH. Mr. Rosel says, The Caterpillar of this Moth feeds on the Kernels of Apples and Pears. The Moth lays her Eggs at the End of June: Eight Days after the Caterpillars are bred; and, when full fed, they go out of the Fruit and change to the Chrysalis under the Bark of the Tree. They remain there all the Winter, and the Moths are bred in June following. I have, myself, found Plenty of these Flies sticking on the Bark of the Oak-trees, in Richmond Park, at the End of June, in the Day-time.

See Rosel, Cl. 4. Tab. 13.

The Codling-tree with its Blossom.

Pomum Coctile. Raii Hist.

L. 1. CH. 1. X. CL. 1. S. A. 10.

The PROVENCE ROSE MOTH. Rose Leaves are the Food of this Caterpillar. In the Middle of May I had some of them that changed to the Chrysalis folded in the Leaves; at the Beginning of June the Moths were bred. They may be taken in Gardens in the Evening.

See Rosel, Cl. 4. Tab. 9.

The Moss Provence Rose.

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