BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

Stokoe, W.J., 1948

The Caterpillars of British Moths, including the eggs, chrysalids and food-plants

This two volume work covers the immature stages of our macrolepidoptera. For each species there is generally a half-tone photograph of the ova, a colour painting of the larva and a half-tone reproduction of a painting of the pupa. Unfortunately the quality of the plates is rather poor, being limited by the print technology of the day.

The species accounts give short shrift to the adult, as this is covered elsewhere, but describe the eggs, caterpillar and chrysalis. The foodplants are listed.

A companion work to South's "The Moths of the British Isles", for many years this was the bible for identifying larval statges, but has now been superceded by Porter. It remains the best means of identifying eggs or pupae.

Publisher Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.
Volume 2 volumes
Pages 408 & 380
Coverage All the British species known at the time.
Illustrations Half-tone photographs of ova, colour paintings of larvae and half-tone reproduction of paintings of pupae.
Identify In the Hand (also useful to examine with x8 or x10 hand lens).

Malcolm Storey

Taxonomic Scope

LEPIDOPTERA (butterflies and moths) Identification Current

Related Publications

Companion volumes covering adult macrolepidoptera South, R., 1961

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