The larva is one of the numerous leaf miners, and is of a yellowish colour. It feeds in oak leaves during the autumn, and its presence is indicated by light blotches on the foliage.
_Nepticula aurella_
The family _Nepticulidae_--the last of the _Tineae_--contains a number of little moths, including the smallest of the _Lepidoptera_. Many of them are exceedingly beautiful, being decorated with various tints of a splendid metallic l.u.s.tre, but their beauty is revealed only by the use of a magnifying lens, and they are so small that very great care and patience is required to set them properly.
They may be recognised by their short and thick antennae, rather large head, broad fore wings, and narrow pointed hind wings.
The larvae have no true legs, but have nine pairs of very imperfectly developed claspers. They are leaf miners, and are sometimes so abundant that several may be found in a single leaf.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 241.--AURELLA--ENLARGED.]
The species we have selected has fore wings of a rich golden brown, with deep violet tips, and a broad bar of pale golden yellow beyond the middle. It may be found throughout the spring and summer. The larva excavates long irregular burrows in the leaves of the bramble.
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
I have previously called the reader"s attention to our cla.s.sified list of b.u.t.terflies and moths, and have hinted at one or two of the objects for which it is inserted. It contains the scientific and popular names of all the British b.u.t.terflies, _Sphinges_, _Bombyces_, _Noctuae_, and _Geometrae_, arranged in their various families and genera; and in cases where two specific names are commonly applied to the same insect, both are given.
Its chief uses to the young entomologist are to show the relation which the insects bear one to another, and to supply a guide for the proper arrangement of the specimens in his cabinet.
The order adopted is that of South"s "Synonymic List of British Lepidoptera," and it has already been mentioned that similar lists, printed on one side of the paper only, may be obtained from dealers in naturalists" appliances. These, cut up as required, supply very neat labels for cabinets or store boxes.
_COMPLETE CLa.s.sIFIED LIST OF BRITISH MACRO-LEPIDOPTERA_
=RHOPALOCERA (b.u.t.tERFLIES).=
PAPILIONIDae.
=Papilio.= _Machaon_--Swallow Tail
PIERIDae.
=Aporia.= _Crataegi_--Black-veined White =Pieris.= _Bra.s.sicae_--Large White _Rapae_--Small White _Napi_--Green-veined White _Daplidice_--Bath White =Euchloe.= _Cardamines_--Orange Tip =Leucophasia.= _Sinapis_--Wood White =Colias.= _Hyale_--Pale Clouded Yellow _Edusa_--Clouded Yellow =Gonopteryx.= _Rhamni_--Brimstone
NYMPHALIDae.
=Argynnis.= _Selene_--Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary _Euphrosyne_--Pearl-bordered Fritillary _Latona_--Queen of Spain _Aglaia_--Dark Green Fritillary _Adippe_--High Brown Fritillary _Paphia_--Silver-washed Fritillary =Melitaea.= _Aurinia_ (_Artemis_)--Greasy Fritillary _Cinxia_--Glanville Fritillary _Athalia_--Heath Fritillary =Vanessa.= _C-Alb.u.m_--Comma _Polychloros_--Large Tortoisesh.e.l.l _Urticae_--Small Tortoisesh.e.l.l _Io_--Peac.o.c.k _Antiopa_--Camberwell Beauty _Atalanta_--Red Admiral _Cardui_--Painted Lady =Limenitis.= _Sibylla_--White Admiral
APATURIDae.
=Apatura.= _Iris_--Purple Emperor
SATYRIDae.
=Melanargia.= _Galatea_--Marbled White =Erebia.= _Epiphron_ (_Ca.s.siope_)--Small Ringlet _aethiops_ (_Blandina_)--Northern Brown (Scotch Argus) =Pararge.= _Egeria_--Speckled Wood _Megaera_--Wall =Satyrus.= _Semele_--Grayling =Epinephele.= _Ianira_--Meadow Brown _t.i.thonus_--Large Heath (Small Meadow Brown) _Hyperanthes_--Ringlet =Caenonympha.= _Typhon_ (_Davus_)--Marsh Ringlet _Pamphilus_--Small Heath
LYCaeNIDae.
=Thecla.= _Betulae_--Brown Hairstreak _W-Alb.u.m_--White-letter Hairstreak _Pruni_--Dark Hairstreak _Quercus_--Purple Hairstreak _Rubi_--Green Hairstreak =Polyommatus.= _Dispar_--Large Copper _Phl[oe]as_--Small Copper =Lycaena.= _Baetica_--Tailed Blue _aegon_--Silver-studded Blue _Astrarche_ (_Agestis_)--Brown Argus _Icarus_ (_Alexis_)--Common Blue _Bellargus_ (_Adonis_)--Clifden Blue _Corydon_--Chalk-hill Blue _Argiolus_--Azure or Holly Blue _Semiargus_ (_Acis_)--Mazarine Blue _Minima_ (_Alsus_)--Small Blue _Arion_--Large Blue
ERYCINIDae.
=Nemeobius.= _Lucina_--Duke of Burgundy
HESPERIIDae.
=Syrichthus.= _Malvae_ (_Alveolus_)--Grizzled Skipper =Nisoniades.= _Tages_--Dingy Skipper =Hesperia.= _Thaumas_ (_Linea_)--Small Skipper _Lineola_--New Small Skipper _Actaeon_--Lulworth Skipper _Sylva.n.u.s_--Large Skipper _Comma_--Silver-spotted Skipper =Carterocephalus.= _Palaemon_ (_Paniscus_)--Chequered Skipper
HETEROCERA (MOTHS).
=SPHINGES.=
SPHINGIDae.
=Acherontia.= _Atropos_--Death"s Head Hawk Moth =Sphinx.= _Convolvuli_--Convolvulus Hawk _Ligustri_--Privet Hawk _Pinastri_--Pine Hawk =Deilephila.= _Euphorbiae_--Spurge Hawk _Galii_--Bedstraw Hawk _Livornica_--Striped Hawk =Chaerocampa.= _Celerio_--Silver-striped Hawk _Porcellus_--Small Elephant _Elpenor_--Large Elephant =Smerinthus.= _Ocellatus_--Eyed Hawk _Populi_--Poplar Hawk _Tiliae_--Lime Hawk =Macroglossa.= _Stellatarum_--Humming-bird Hawk _Fuciformis_--Broad-bordered Bee Hawk _Bombyliformis_--Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk
SESIIDae.
=Trochilium.= _Apiformis_--Hornet Clearwing of the Poplar _Crabroniformis_ (_Bembeciformis_)--Hornet Clearwing of Osier =Sciopteron.= _Tabaniformis_ (_Vespiforme_)--Dusky Clearwing =Sesia.= _Scoliiformis_--Welsh Clearwing _Sphegiformis_--White-barred Clearwing _Andreniformis_--Orange-tailed Clearwing _Tipuliformis_--Currant Clearwing _Asiliformis_ (_Cynipiformis_)--Yellow-legged Clearwing _Myopiformis_--Red-belted Clearwing _Culiciformis_--Large Red-belted Clearwing _Formiciformis_--Red-tipped Clearwing _Ichneumoniformis_--Six-belted Clearwing _Musciformis_ (_Philanthiformis_)--Thrift Clearwing _Chrysidiformis_--Fiery Clearwing
ZYGaeNIDae.
=Ino.= _Globulariae_--Scarce Forester _Statices_--Forester _Geryon_--Cistus Forester =Zygaena.= _Pilosellae_ (_Minos_)--Transparent Burnet _Exulans_--Scotch Burnet _Meliloti_--New Forest Burnet _Trifolii_--Broad-bordered Five-spotted Burnet _Lonicerae_--Narrow-bordered Five-spotted Burnet _Filipendulae_--Six-spotted Burnet
=BOMBYCES.=
NYCTEOLIDae.
=Sarothripus.= _Undula.n.u.s_--Tortrix Moth =Earias.= _Chlorana_--Cream-bordered Green =Hylophila.= _Prasinana_--Green Silver-lined _Bicolorana_ (_Quercana_)--Large Green Silver-lined
NOLIDae.
=Nola.= _Cucullatella_--Short-cloaked _Strigula_--Small Black Arches _Confusalis_ (_Cristulalis_)--Least Black Arches _Albulalis_--Kent Arches _Centonalis_--Scarce Black Arches
LITHOSIIDae.
=Nudaria.= _Senex_--Round-winged Muslin _Mundana_--Muslin Moth =Setina.= _Irrorella_--Dew Moth =Calligenia.= _Miniata_--Rosy Footman (Red Arches) =Lithosia.= _Mesomella_--Four-dotted Footman _Muscerda_--Dotted Footman _Sororcula_ (_Aureola_)--Orange Footman _Lutarella_ (_Pygmaeola_)--Pigmy Footman _Griseola_ (_Stramineola_)--Pale Footman _Deplana_ (_Helveola_)--Buff Footman _Lurideola_ (_Complanula_)--Common Footman _Complana_--Scarce Footman _Sericea_ (_Molybdeola_)--Leaden Footman _Caniola_--h.o.a.ry Footman =Gnophria.= _Quadra_--Four-spotted Footman _Rubricollis_--Red-necked Footman =Emydia.= _Cribrum_--Speckled Footman
EUCHELIIDae.
=Deiopeia.= _Pulch.e.l.la_--Crimson Speckled =Euchelia.= _Jacobaeae_--Cinnabar =Callimorpha.= _Dominula_--Scarlet Tiger _Hera_--Jersey Tiger
CHELONIIDae.
=Nemeophila.= _Russula_--Clouded Buff _Plantaginis_--Wood Tiger =Arctia.= _Caia_--Tiger _Villica_--Cream-spot Tiger =Spilosoma.= _Fuliginosa_--Ruby Tiger _Mendica_--Muslin _Lubricipeda_--Buff Ermine _Menthastri_--White Ermine _Urticae_--Water Ermine
HEPIALIDae.
=Hepialus.= _Humuli_--Ghost Swift _Sylva.n.u.s_--Wood Swift _Velleda_--Northern Swift _Lupulinus_--Common Swift _Hectus_--Gold Swift
COSSIDae.
=Cossus.= _Ligniperda_--Goat =Zeuzera.= _Pyrina_ (_aesculi_)--Leopard =Macrogaster.= _Castaneae_ (_Arundinis_)--Reed Moth
COCHLIOPODIDae.
=Heterogenea.= _Limacodes_ (_Testudo_)--Festoon Moth _Asella_ (_Asellus_)--Triangle Moth
LIPARIDae.
=Porthesia= (=Liparis=).