THE GOLDEN-EIGHT MOTH IN GREAT BRITAIN. 89
The following brief sketch of the moth's life-history will
complete this summary.
The cream-coloured eggs are laid in July (or late June) on the
flowerspikes of monk'shood (Aconitum) and larkspur (Delphinium)
and in about a week the larvae hatch and commence to feed on
the flowers. They are at first maggot-like with brownish heads
and pale bodies dotted with black, but gradually become green
with from four to six black dots on each segment, a short stiff
bristly hair springing from each dot. They remain of this colour
substantially until the last moult which leaves them pale green
with a darker line down the back and a white one along each
side. In this stage they feed quite exposed on the leaves, and
when fully grown retire to the yellow leaves at the bottom of
the plant and spin beautiful creamy white or yellow cocoons
on the underside with a transverse slit at one end through which
the moth emerges. The pupa is black on the back and otherwise
green. The moth measures about an inch and a half across
the expanded wings, which are rather broad in proportion to
their length and are of a golden grey colour, with darker lines
and shadings and on the fore wings a central marking of a shin-
ing golden or brassy colour, like an ear in shape, or sometimes
like two small coins with darker centres, whence the name
moneta.
Under favourable climatic conditions this species appears
to be double-brooded, but in cool seasons a single brood is the
rule. In this country—at least, in the south—there appears
to be sometimes a partial second brood in September, the first,
or normal, brood appearing in May or June. The moths of the
first brood fly about 9 p.m. ; those of the second about 6 p.m.,
and they frequent other flowers besides those of the food-plants.
The larvae pass the winter close to or under the ground, in
the dead hollow stems of the food plants, or amongst the new
growths waiting to shoot up, and commence feeding as soon as
the plants have grown sufficiently to provide the necessary
accommodation, the 26th March being the earliest record I
can find7 for this. They spin the young leaves and developing
buds together forming a sort of tent or bower, in which they feed.
I have found very young ones in autumn feeding on the seeds
in the late capsules.
7 Ent. XXXVI., p. 101.