Early Moth (Hybernia rupicapraria).
Although generally common, and often abundant, over England, Wales, the south of Scotland, and Ireland, this species (Plate [120], Figs. 1 ♂, 3 ♀) hardly ever comes under notice unless hedgerows and hawthorn bushes are examined in January and February, by the aid of a lantern, after darkness has set in. Then the males, and almost wingless females, will be found in numbers, sitting at the ends of the twigs.
The caterpillar is whitish green, clouded with darker green, striped with white along the back, and marked with white on the sides. The general colour is sometimes very dark green, approaching black, and in this form the white markings are
more striking. It feeds, in April and May, on hawthorn, sloe, plum, and bilberry.
Spring Usher (Hybernia leucophæaria).
Fig. 9.
Spring Usher at rest.
(Photo by W. J. Lucas.)
On Plate [120] are shown the typical and more usual forms of this variable species. Fig. 2 represents the male, and Fig. 4 the female. The form with blackish base and outer margin is ab. marmorinaria, Esper (Plate [120], Fig. 5). Ab. merularia, Weymer, is entirely black, and a modification of this form is shown in Fig. 6. Between each of these extremes and the type there are various gradations.