PHALÆNA, the Moth, in zoology, a genus of insects belonging to the order of lepidoptera. The feelers are cetaceous, and taper gradually towards the pointe; the wings are often bent backwards.

Barbut divides this genus into eight families, and we are told that there are no less than 460 species. The names of the several families are given by Barbut as follows: 1. The attaci, whose wings incline downwards and are spread open: they have pectinated antennæ without a tongue, or pectinated antennæ with a spiral tongue, or cetaceous antennæ with a spiral tongue; their wings are either reverved or deflected: or spirilingues, which have a spiral tongue; and are either leaves with smooth backs, or cristatae dorso with a kind of crest or tuft of hair on the back. 3. The noctuæ, whose wings are incumbent as in the bombyces, from which they differ chiefly in the formation of the antennæ, which are cetaceous. The noctuæ are either elingues, wanting tongues, or spirilingues having spiral tongues. 4. The geometræ, whose wings when at rest are extended horizontally: the antennæ in one subdivision of this section are pectinated, in another cetaceous; the under wings in each of these divisions are either angulated, or round with entire edges. 5. The tortricæ. The wings are exceeding obtuse, their exterior margin is curve, and declines towards the sides of the body. They have short palpi. 6. The pyralidæ. The inner margins of the wings in this section are laid one over the other; the wings themselves decline a little towards the sides of the body, and in shape resemble a delta; they have considerable palpi of different forms. 7. The tineæ. The wings are wrapped up or folded round the body, so as to give the insect a cylindrical form; the forehead is stretched out or advanced forwards. 8. The alucitæ. The wings of this division are split, or divided into branches almost to their base.

The caterpillars of this genus vary much as to size, and considerably as to their shape and number of feet. It is remarkable, that caterpillars of almost every species of this genus are found with 10, 12, 14, and 16 feet. The last are the most common and the largest; those of 10 and 12 feet are called geometre. "Amongst the geometre caterpillars (says Barbut) there are some very singular, whether for their colour, or the tubercula which they bear, or lastly for the difference of their attitudes. Many resemble small branches or bits of dry wood; and that resemblance may be a means of saving many of those insects from the voraciousness of birds, who do not so easily discern them. Other caterpillars are very hairy, while several are quite smooth; the latter have a cleaner look, whereas the hairy ones have something hideous, and may even be hurtful when touched.

"All the caterpillars of phalæna, after having several times cast their slough, spin their cocoon, in which they are transformed to chrysalids. But the texture of the cocoon, the fineness of the thread of which it is composed, and the different matters joined to the threads, are infinitely various.

"The chrysalids of phalæna are generally oblong ovals, not angular as those of butterflies, nor so soon transformed to perfect insects. They remain a much longer time within the cocoon, the greatest part not coming forth till the ensuing year. Some I have met with that remained in that state during two or three years successively. Heat or cold contribute greatly to forward or put back their final metamorphosis; a fact which may be ascertained by procuring them a certain degree of moderate heat, by which means one may see phalæna brought forth upon one's mantle-piece in the depth of winter.

"The phalæna or perfect insects sprung from those cocoons, are generally more clumsy and heavy than butterflies; their colours are likewise more brown, dim, and obscure, though there are some phalæna whose colours are very lively and brilliant. Several of them fly only in the evening, keeping quiet and close under leaves in the day-time; and this has induced some authors to give them the name of night butterflies. In summer evenings they find their way into rooms, attracted by the lights round which they are seen to hover. And indeed a sure method of catching a great number of phalena is to hunt them by night in a bower with a lantern. They all resort to the light of the lantern, about which great numbers of them may be caught.

"A remarkable circumstance has been observed of these phalena, which is, that the females of some of them are without wings. By their looks they never would be taken for phalena. They have the appearance of a large, short, six-legged, creeping animal, while their male is winged and active. Yet this heavy creature is a real phalena, easily distinguished by its antennae. It even has wings, but so short that they are no more than small protuberances placed at the extremity of the thorax, and that appear quite useless. Those phalena whose females are destitute of wings are generally in the number of those whose antennae are petiolated. The unwinged females have antennae similar to those of the males, but with shorter beards only. Their body is also charged with scales, the characteristic of insects of this order."

To describe every species of this extensive genus would be impossible; we shall therefore only take notice of a very few, of which we have given engravings.

The phalena attacus pavonia minor. See No. 1. Plate CCCLXXXIX. The wings of this insect, says Barbut, are brown, undulated, and variegated, having some grey in the middle, and a margin one line broad; in its colour yellowish grey. The under part has more of the grey cast, but the extremities of the wings before the margin have a broad band of brown. The four wings, as well above as beneath, have each a large eye, which eyes are black encompassed with a dun-coloured circle, and above that with a semicircle of white, then another of red, and lastly the eye is terminated by a whole circle of black. Across the middle of the eye is drawn transversely a small whitish line. The caterpillar is green, has 16 feet with rose-colour tubercula, charged with long hairs terminated by a small knob; besides which, it has dun-colour or reddish rings. It is found upon fruit-trees.

Phalena alucita pentadactyla, No. 2. The eyes of this species are black; the body is of a pale yellow. The wings are snow white, and the insect keeps them stretched asunder when at rest. The superior are divided in two, or rather appear composed of two stumps of bird's feathers united at the base. The inferior ones are likewise divided into three threads or bristles, which are furnished on both sides with fine fringes. The caterpillar is of a green colour, dotted with black, and charged with a few hairs. It feeds upon grass, changes to a chrysalis in or about September, and appears a moth in August, frequenting woods.

Phalena noctua linguis humuli, No. 3. In this species the wings of the male are of a snowy white; of the female yellowish, with streaks of a deeper hue; the shoulders, abdomen, &c., in both sexes, are deep yellow. The antennae are petiolated and shorter than the thorax. The caterpillar feeds upon the roots of Phalena, burdock, hops, &c. Changes into a chrysalis in May, appears in the winged state in June, frequenting low marshy grounds where hops grow.

Phalena noctua pronuba spirilinguis, No. 4. The thorax, head, antennae, feet, and upper wings, are of a brown colour, more or less dark, sometimes so deep as to be nearly black, but often of a bluish cast. The upper wings are moreover somewhat clouded, and have two black spots, one on the middle, the other towards the outward angle of the lower part of the wing. The under ones are of a beautiful orange colour, with a broad black band near the lower edge of the wing, of which it follows the direction. The caterpillar is smooth; to be found on several plants, but particularly upon the thlaspi and some other cruciferous plants. It keeps in concealment during the day, and only feeds by night. Its metamorphosis performed underground, and some varieties of colour are observable amongst these caterpillars; some being green, others brown; which latter yield males, the former females.

Phalena tortrix praifiana. The superior wings of this species are of a fine green colour, having two diagonal yellow bars on each, the body and inferior wings are whitish, shaded with yellowish green. The caterpillar is a pale yellowish green, ornamented with small brown specks or spots, the tail being forked and tipped with orange red colour; feeds on the oak, changes to a chrysalis in September, and assumes the fly-state about May, frequenting woods.