CHELO'NLA. (Godart), a genus of Lepidopterous Insects, of the section Nocturna (Latreille), and family Arctiieke (Leach). Before wo proceed with an account of this genus, which contains two of the " meet conspicuous and beautiful of the British moths, it may be well briefly to state the character of the family A rctiitke. as far as the diversified habit of the species will admit. The palpl are two in number, mostly 3-jointed and hairy. The antennas have a double series of pectination.; thorax large ; the apex of the body generally funilehod with a tuft ; wings clewing so as to form an angle by their junction, or folding horizontally. The males are usually larger than the females; larvai generally very hairy, frequently furnished with numerous tufts, those on the tail and towards the head the longer.
The genus] Chelonia is synonymous with Arctic: of Schrank. The latter name is generally adopted by British entomologists from its priority. The term Chelonia is open to another objection, being commonly used to designate a section of Tortoises.
Arctia Caja, the Large Tiger-Moth, or the Garden-Tiger, is very common in the south of England, but apparently less so in the north. The expanded wings measure from 24 to 3 inches in width ; the upper wings are of a chocolate-brown colour, with numerous irregular cream-coloured markings]; the under wings are scarlet, with five or six large blue-black spots ; the body is also scarlet, or pinkish above, with several transverse black bands ; on the under side the ground colour is black, with pink bands; head and thorax are brown, separated with a red ring; the ege are red at the base, and the antennte are white.
The caterpillar of this moth is found in great abundance near London, and Is frequently seen crawling on pathways : it is covered with long black hairs, and when touched will roll itself up in a ring: it feeds upon a great variety of plants, but seems most fond of lettuce, groundsel, and chickweed. The larva is found in the spring months, and turns into a pupa about June. The pupa is inclosed in a loose web of a white colour; the moth appears in the autumn.
This species is extremely variable in its imago state; we have seen specimens in which the upper wing is nearly all white, and others in which the white is almost obliterated : the spots on the under wing vary also considerably; they sometimes run one into the other so as to form a band.
A rctia Vdniea, the Cream-Spot Tiger-Moth, is the only other well authenticated British species; it is far less abundant than the other. The upper wings are black, with about eight large cream-coloured spots; the under wings are yellowish, spotted more or lean with black, and has an irregular black fascia near the margin ; the abdomen is reddish, spotted with black ; the head and thorax are black ; the latter has two cream-coloured spots.
The caterpillar very much resemble* the one last described, but has a red head, and legs of the same colour; like the last it feeds upon various plants, particularly the chickweed. The moth appears about the end of June, and is rather less than the Large Tiger.