98 THE LEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX.
Common in most woods in the county and in shady lanes and
about hedgerows on their outskirts ; generally distributed, but not
everywhere, mostly local. Quite absent now in Colchester district
where it was formerly common. Mr. Harwood has not seen one for
about ten years. [Still very common in Monks Wood, Epping
Forest, B. G. Cole.]
Pararge megaera, L. Wall.
Geographical Distribution—Europe (except polar regions), North Africa, Asia
Minor, Armenia. Throughout Britain.
Larva—Apple-green, dark-green stripe on back, two paler green stripes on
sides ; head bright green. Food—Grasses. Imago—May and June, August and
September ; hibernates as larva ? or pupa ? (see Entom. xii. 3, 57 ; Larvae, p. 165.)
Abundant; flying along every hedge in the county in the
summer.
Satyrus semele, L. Grayling.
Geographical Distribution—Europe (except polar regions), North Africa and
West Asia. Throughout Britain, but local.
Larva—Light brown or drab, dark olive-brown stripe on back, three brown
stripes on side edged with white; head brown. Food—Grasses, especially
Triticum and Aira. Imago—July ; hibernates as larva.
Very rare and local ; on dry hill-sides, but generally confined to
chalk or limestone soils.
Lexden Heath (Jermyn, V.M. 71), probably now extinct in this
locality as Mr. Harwood has only taken two or three stragglers near
Colchester ; he has taken several at Birch Wood, Dedham. Common
on Tophill Heath (E. H. Burnell ; M.N.H. [2] i. 602). [This is
probably a misprint for Tiptree Heath, where it is now extinct.]
Felsted (Rep. F.S.N.H.S. ii. 44). It should, and probably does,
occur in the extreme north-western corner of the county, on the
chalky uplands of the Saffron Walden district, but I find no records.
Mr. G. N. Maynard writes, "There are several 5. semele in the 'old
collection,' Saffron Walden Museum, which I believe were taken in
this neighbourhood."
Epinephele janira, L. Meadow Brown.
Geographical Distribution—Europe (except polar regions), North Africa, West
Asia. Throughout Britain, our commonest butterfly next to P. rapae.
Larva—Green, darker line on back, pale yellowish stripe along spiracles;
head green, anal points pink. Food—Grasses. Imago—June and July; hibernates
as larva.
Very abundant in all meadows, as everywhere.