Volume 1

A history of British moths / by F.O. Morris.

Morris, F. O. (Francis Orpen), 1810-1893.

Date:: 1903

Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of British moths / by F.O. Morris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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THE HABITS AND STRUCTURE OF MOTHS The order Lepidoptera, or scale-winged insects, is generally divided into two great sections, the Rhopalocera or Butter- flies, and the Heterocera or Moths. The Rhopalocera derive their name from two Greek words, poiraXov, a club, and /eepa?, a horn, and are so called because their antennae expand into a club at the extremity, whilst the Heterocera (erepo?, other; /cepa<?, a horn) have no such expansion. There are a variety of other differences, but none so distinctive and invariable. Whilst moths usually fly at night, and when resting hold their wings horizontally or drooping over the abdomen, butter- flies fly by day and rest with their wings raised vertically, a position seldom assumed by moths. The flight of moths is usually more direct than that of butterflies, which more often flutter from flower to flower. Moths have been classified in different ways. Three principal systems of classification of British moths have been employed since the middle of the century. The first is that used by Stainton in his “ Manual of British Butter- flies and Moths ” (1856-59), and is as follows :— 1. Sphingina, consisting of the Sphinges or Hawk Moths. 2. Bombycina, including the Ghost Moth, Goat Moth, Emperor Moth, and Tiger Moths, &c. 3. Noduina, comprising the bulk of the nocturnal or stout- bodied Moths, such as the Yellow Underwing, Wainscots, Silver Y, and Red Underwing. 4. Geometrina, consisting of an extensive group of slender- bodied moths with comparatively large wings, such as the Thorns, Carpets, Waves, and Pugs. 5. Pyralidina, including the Pearls, Veneers, Grass-Moths, and Knot-Horns. 6. Tortricina, consisting of a very extensive group of small species, generally of dull colours, such as the Lozo- tcenice, Sciaphilce, &c. VOL. i. a 2