THE LEPIDOPTERA OF ESSEX.
99
Epinephele tithonus, L. Large Heath.
Geographical Distribution—Europe, except North-east, Asia Minor, Armenia.
Throughout Britain.
Larva—Greenish-grey or ochreous freckled brown (variable), darker line on
back, light grey lines on sides ; head pale brown. Food—Grasses, especially
couch or twitch (Triticum). Imago—July to September ; hibernates as larva.
Abundant everywhere in the county.
Epinephele hyperanthus, L. Ringlet.
Geographical Distribution—North and Central Europe, North and West Asia,
probably to Japan (except polar regions). Throughout Britain.
Larva—Reddish- or greenish-grey, darker line on back, two yellowish-white
lines on sides ; head pale brown. Food—Grasses. Imago—June and July ;
hibernates as larva.
This very lazy-flying woodland butterfly is common but local
throughout the county. [Extremely abundant in the Forest, near
Walthamstow, in the wet summer of 1860; if I recollect rightly,
many of the specimens were without the eye-like spots on the under-
side of the wings.— W. Cole.]
Coenonympha pamphilus, L. Small Heath.
Geographical Distribution—Palaearctic region, except extreme north.
Throughout Britain.
Larva—Bright green, darker line edged with paler on back and sides ; head
green, anal points pink. Food—Grasses, especially matgrass (Nardus stricta).
Imago—May to October ; hibernates as larva.
Very common everywhere throughout the summer.
Thecla betulae, L. Brown Hairstreak.
Geographical Distribution—Central Europe (extending to Scandinavia) and
Central Asia to the Amur. In Britain absent from Scotland.
Larva—Apple-green, four yellow lines on back and sides, two rows of oblique
yellow streaks ; head brown. There is a brown variety. Food—Blackthorn,
rarely plum. Imago—July to September ; hibernates as ovum.
Rare in woods, generally flying high among trees, but sometimes
settled on flowers or bramble blossom.
Larvae on sloe, Epping Forest (W. H. Tugwell ; E.W.I.
iv. 125). Larvae swarming at Loughton (Argent ; Ent. v.
43). Larvae very common, Epping (Eedle ; Ent. xiv. 181).
Chingford (W. H. Wright ; Ent. xviii. 88). Epping (S.M.
i. 52). Larvae very abundant in Epping Forest, especially about
Loughton and High Beach (Argent ; B.B. 113), [and still common,
1890.—B. G. C.]. Larvae on blackthorn, Fairmead [Loughton]
(English ; Buxton's E.F. 100). I have found it there commonly.
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