A pretty little sea-green moth (geometra) found in South Africa, but very rarely met with in Teneriffe. It was 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.
ASPILATES COLLINARIA. (Holt-White.)
Plate IV.—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-wings of 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.
BRYOPHILA var. RAVULA (Hübn).
A small moth, about one inch in expanse, with a slender body. The fore-wings are dark brown, with the 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.
BRYOPHILA ALGÆ (Fabr.).
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.