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-NEWMAN’S ENTOMOLOGIST. —
VOLUME VI.
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LONDON:
E. NEWMAN, PRINTER, DEVONSHIRE STREET,
BISHOPSGATE.
i THE
ENTOMOLOGIST
CONDUCTED BY
EDWARD NEWMAN.
VOLUME VI.
PSYCHOPSIS MIMICA,
223431
LONDON:
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & CO., STATIONER’S HALL COURT.
WHILE ravening death of slaughter ne'er grows weary,
Life multiplies the immortal meal as fast.
All are devourers, all in turn devoured ;
Yet every unit in the uncounted sum
Of victims has its share of bliss—its pang,
And but a pang—of dissolution : each
Is happy till its moment comes; and then,
Its first, last suffering, unforeseen, unfeared,
Ends with one struggle pain and life for ever.
CONTENTS.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
Allis, E. H. 88
Anderson, H,. 313
Anderson, Joseph, jun. 545
Andrews, W. Y. 329, 482, 484
Argent, W. J. 365
Armitage, D. 241
Arnold, G. 484
Ash, Cyri] D. 513, 514
Ash, H.R.545 = *
Baly, Joseph S. 259
Barns, Thomas 411, 516
Barrett, J. P. 104, 185, 199, 213
Bassett, H. F. 448
Batchelor, T. 484, 487
Battersby, Mrs. F. I. 101, 516
Bell, Thomas 186
Benson, J. 565
Bentall, S. R. 265
Bethell, Miss E. 182
Biggs, C. J. 429
Bignell, Geo. C. 261
Birchall, Edwin 13, 61, 285, 290, 349,
359, 389, 521
Bird, Geo. W. 174, 214, 238, 264
Bishop, H. 8. 412
Bisshopp, Edward F. 183, 192, 317,
485, 515
Blaker, M. S. 238, 458
Blyth, Edward 176
Borrer, Wm. 484
Boulden, P. C. 368
Bowerbank, J. 8., LL.D., F.R.S. 489,
547
Boyes, F. 110
Bradbury, C. 2
Brameld, R. E, 181, 387
Briggs, T. R. Archer 515
Briggs, Thomas H. 314
Browne, D. G. Lathom 457, 486
Bryant, James 82, 128, 198, 565
Bull, Rev. H. A. 521
Bull, H. H. 221
Bunsen, Elizabeth de 459
Burt, R. E. id.
Burton, Hartley, 564
Button, D. T. 100
Buxton, Alfred F. 224
Cambridge, Rev. O. Pickard 181
Campbell, John M. 184
Cansdale, W. D. 52, 196, 261
Capper, Samuel James 175, 235
Chawner, E. 147, 148
Clark, J. 221
Clere, Rev. Frederick 330, 362
Clifford, J. R. S. 15, 30, 31, 59, 60, 83,
85 (see Erratum, p. 112), 86, 172,
178, 199, 200, 230, 231, 239, 241,
288, 289, 320
Clogg, Stephen 30, 231
Colbourne, W. G. 36, 175
Cole, W. H. 52
Cooper, Bernard 517
Cooper, F. 14
Corbin, G. Bentley 50, 51, 82, 83, 128,
148, 149, 188, 189, 233, 234, 312,
316, 333, 334, 335, 414, 427, 428,
462, 463, 519, 520
Cornish, Thomas 37
Cosgrave, E. MacDowell 142
Cox, H. Ramsay 203, 213, 221, 222,
224, 357, 401
vil
Craik, H. W. 190
Crewe, Rev. H. Harpur 125, 166, 223
Dale, Cecil C. M. 214
Dale, J. C., F.L.S. (the late) 159
Daltry, Rev. Thomas W. 122
Danby, W. H. 457, 517
Davis, W. England 196
Dawson, George 175, 386
Dawson, George R. 129, 184
Doneaster, Samuel 37, 362
Doubleday, Henry 85, 186, 483, 514,
545, 546, 548, 561, 563
Dunean, Charles 412
Dunning, J. W., M.A., F.L.S. 308
Durnford, H. 410
Eales, Christoper 102, 137, 174
Earl, E. 127, 142
Eastham, George J. S. 427, 485, 488
Etheridge, R. D. 196
Farn, A. B. 120, 193
Faweett, H. C. 239
Fitch, Edward A. 142, 193, 248, 457
Forbes, W. A. 362, 363, 455, 456, 566
Goodyear, Jos. 38
Goodyear, Thomas 102, 130, 239
Goosens, M. 367
Goss, H. 221, 513
Gray, George 411, 513, 525
Gregson, C, $. 124, 286, 318, 360, 361,
404, 408, 409, 410, 423, 425, 426,
452, 458, 482, 509, 511, 512, 517,
518, 528, 526, 564, 566
Greville Henry D. 190
Groves, Thomas 14 .
Grubb, Edward 192
Gurney, J. H. 192
Gustard, H. Stafford 175
Haig-Brown, C. W. 544
Hambrough, Rey. Windsor 197, 412
Hamiltdn, J. 344
Harper, E. 185
Harper, W. J. 457
Harris, G. P. 239
Harrison, John 193, 362
Harwood, W. H. 387, 411
Hearle, Nathaniel 195, 291
Herbert, W. H. 177, 388
Hervey, Rev. A. C. 32, 105, 106, 110,
130, 143, 193, 195, 260, 363, 488
CONTENTS.
Heywood, G. F. 39
Heywood, G. H. 60
Hodgkinson, J. B. 111, 288, 564, 565
Holmes, Geo. Bax 39
Holton, E. 261
Hoskins, H. W. P. 191
Hulme, G. B. 130, 316, 335 -
Hunt, A. L. 236
Inman, M. N. 222
Jackson, J. 284
Jarvis, J. Bradford 213
Jenner, Edward 16
Jenner-Fust, H., jun. 391
Jennings, Rev. P. H. 149, 150, 418
Johnson, E. 485
Johnston, W. 193
Kay, R. 51, 388
Kemp-Welch, E. B. 84
Kirkby, James 101
Laddiman, Robert 512
Lang, Henry Chas, 800
Last, Robert 265
Lawless, Hon. Emily 74, 97
Lea, F. Simcox, 51
Lewis, W. A. 238
Lilly, John A. 430
Livett, Dr. H. W. 486
Lockyer, Bernard 162, 163, 164, 176,
198, 406, 407, 479, 483
Logan, R. F. 109
Long, C. F. 103, 236
Lovekin, C. 106
Lucas, Thomas P., M.B. 114, 134, 242
Luff, W. A. 324, 351, 375
Machin, W. 187, 282, 335
Macmillan, W. 38, 87, 103, 523
Madden, Rey. G. C. B. 567
Madeson, M. T. 546
Malden, Rey. B. 8. 194
Maling, W. 283
Mander Brothers 567
Marsden, H. W. 102, 110
Marshall, W. C. 60, 242
Marson, Thomas 84
Mathew, Gervase F. 27, 29, 37, 51,
153
May, J. W. 18, 43, 70, 94, 132
Meade, R. H. 251
Measor, H. A, 284
CONTENTS.
Meek, E. G. 2, 546
Meldola, R. 315
Michael, Annie 265
Miller, Henry 222
Miller, Henry, jun. 389, 434
Moncreaff, Henry 567
Mond, M. 545
Moore, John 192, 199
Miiller, Albert 180
Munday, E. 174, 221
Murton, James 221
Neave, B. W. 486
Neve, C. 3
Newman, Edward 14, 22, 28, 32,
56, 80, 104, 126, 128, 439, 158,
167, 168) 1815 1838; 193, 215, 272,
975, 291, 295, 296, 297, 321, 330,
345, 860, 368, 369, 390, 393, 410,
417, 419, 421, 427, 482, 433, 440,
441, 459, 461, 465, 497, 526, 529,
546
Noel, Byron 485
Oakeshold, B. N. 146
Oldham, Charles 214, 518
Oliver, John 63
Owen, Arthur W. 58, 214
Parmiter, Thomas 421
Parry, G. 142, 192, 212, 222, 241, 430,
522 ‘
Paul, Arthur W. 182
Perkins, Miss Ada Steele 198, 412
Perkins, Miss Anne Steele 546
Perkins, Miss Frances Steele 522
Pickin, T, 241
Pike, G. L. 291
Piquet, F. G. 399
Pocklington, C. 151
Poingdestre, W. 235
Ponton, Thomas G. 515
Porritt, George T. 7, 49, 124, 138,
196, 211, 257, 281, 361, 385, 454,
457
Potts, John 415, 524
Potts, T. 387, 391
Poulton, Edward B. 191, 262, 263,
286, 290, 329, 332, 366, 410, 412
Powall, James 315, 317
Pratt, George 101
Prest, Wm. 2, 6, 240, 241
Priest, Augustus 264, 546
Purdue, John 127, 242, 460, 522
vii
Raynor, C. L. 362, 457
Raynor, Gilbert H. 5, 31, 79, 111, 128,
215, 221, 223, 264, 316, 319, 360,
427, 487, 514
Reeks, Henry 141, 171, 460
Reeves, Walter W. 180
Riley, Chas. V., M.A. 553
Roberts, George 432
Robinson, Isaac 516
Robinson, W. 525
Robson, John E. 486, 516
Rodd, Edward Hearle 176, 224
Roebuck, W. D. 182
Rowe, J. Brooking 224
Rowley, Geo. Dawson 143
Rowntree, J. H. 192
Russell, J. 31, 170, 194, 195
Sayers, C. 130
Seabrook, C. 235
Simmond, W. 317
Simpkinson, J. N. 314
Simpson, E. [94
Sims, Henry 85
Simson, W. B. 564
Skelton, W. J, 84, 108, 174, 182, 194,
197, 430
Slade, W. 379
Slater, W. B. 319
Smith, Rev. Bernard 12
Smith, Frederick 332
Smith, William H. 284
Spiller, A. J. 58, 103, 434, 518
Standish, F. O. 364
Stevens, Samuel 219, 484
Sutton, Edward 106, 286
Talbot, William 140
Tawell, Jas. A. 88
Taylor, George 192, 194
Thomas, C. G. 564
Thomas, W. 173, 458, 459, 516
Thompson, Edward P, 410
Thurnall, E. 517
Timms, W. E. 320
Tindall, S. 198
Towndrow, R. F. 127
Trangmar, F. 81
Treat, Mrs. Mary, 372
Tugwell, W. H. 58, 80, 184, 317, 476
Varley, James 517
Venables, J. 213
Vicary, C. G. 316
Vili
Waldegrave, Earl 88, 104, 517
Walker, Francis 3, 7, 17, 25, 41,
Dyess ion nod. OL, 107, 113)
131, 201, 209, 223, 225, 227, 242,
249, 255, 273, 278, 298, 303, 322,
827, 328, 346, 359, 369, 388, 394,
403, 418, 431, 442, 456, 471, 498,
502, 5038, 505, 506, 585
Walker, J. S. 457
Wallace, A. R. 56
Walpole, Thomas 387
Wassermann, J. C. 175, 195, 458
Watkins, Charles J. 174
Watkins, William 446,
542
474, 506,
CONTENTS.
Wayne, W. H. 190
Websdale, Chas. George 12
Weir, J. Jenner 445, 488
Wellman, J. R. 513
Wells, William, jun. 320
Wesley, J. S. 191, 340
Wilbey, J. E. 197, 368
Williams, T. 61
Wilson, Henry F. 458, 487
Wilson, Thomas W. 460
Wittich, H. 199
Woods, W. 214
Woolward, Miss F. H. 195
Wratislaw, Rev. A. H. 387
Wright, Edward 9
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.
Abraxas Grossulariata, early appear-
ance 101; larva feeding on rose
172; infested by parasites 183
Acentropus, the genus, as treated by
Mr. Dunning 153, 248; supple-
mentary note 308
Acentropus niveus 199
Acherontia Atropos 51; and Sphinx
Convolvuli, in what stage do they
pass the winter? 520
Acidalia imitaria, description of the
larva 139
as Tnornata, note on 6
Be promutata in Essex 52
Acosmetia caliginosa, how to capture
it 290
Acronycta Aceris, larvee 181
38 Alni 175, 197, 198, 221, 412,
517
- leporina, hemigynous spe-
cimen 267
3 Megacephala
churchyard 516
3 Psi 416
strigosa 517
se tridens 416
Adela Degeerella, abundance 199
African gum, living insect in 567
Agrotera nemoralis at Lewes and near
Willesden 427
in Aldgate
Agrotis Ashworthii, early history 423
» cinerea 362
», spinifera of Hubner discovered
in Britain 124
Ailanthus silkworm, food 367
Aleucis Pictaria at Danbury 128
Alucita polydactyla 334; description
of the larva 361
Anaitis plagiata 27, 416
Anaphes punctum 498
Anchocelis rufina, description of the
larva 126
Andrena nigrozenea 388
Anisopteryx Aiscularia 84; on Febru-
ary 14th 360
Anisota rubicunda 558
Anthophora retusa 111
Anticlea sinuata 195, 456
Antiopa, hybernated 438
Ants storing seeds 54, 245, 247; har-
vesting 390; collected at Calcutta
438
Apamea oculea, description of the
larva 124
Re ophiogramma in Ireland 516
Aphelinus basalis 89
Aphides, notes on 25; and Cocci,
American 107; reproduction in
equable warm climates 176; and
honeydew 502, 548
CONTENTS.
Aphis Nymphee and its Aphidius,
appearance in the middle of August
505
» of the beech 435
Apion apricans and clover-seed 388
Aporia Crategi, larve 174
Arctia Caja 239
», mendica, variety 321
Arocerus Coffe at Basle 438
Argas reflexus 246
Argas, two species new to Britain 244
Argynnis Adippe, variety 483
i Aglaia, variety 53, 369
ss Euphrosyne, difficulty of
discovering the larva 172
4 Lathonia at Canterbury 192;
at Felixstow id.; near Canterbury
212; in the Isle of Wight 213; at
Margate id.; at Dover id., 214; at
Folkestone 214, 235; near Yar-
mouth 214; in Jersey 235; in Kent
235, 284; at Ipswich 236; variety
393
a Niobe in Kent 483
EA Paphia, variety 1, 145
Argyrolepia eneana, economy 31
Aspilates strigillaria, variety 333
Atropus niveus 233
Aventia flexula 458
Bagous, new British 438
Bee, honey, salivary organs 435
Bees, queen, do they sting? 342;
curious instinct in 567
Beetle parasitic in wasps’ nests 2;
damaging silk ribbon 30; rose 82
Beetles, water, of Japan 343; blind
cave 365
Bibio Marci, immense abundance at
Brighton 143
Biston hirtaria two years in pupa 462
Blennocampa Cerasi, larva 181
Boarmia roboraria, description of the
larva 281
Bombyx Callune, variety 457; larvee
546
45 castrensis, variety 53
5 Cynthia 362
re neustria, habits 200
processionea 60; in Kent
Quercus, hybernation 15; a
whole year in the pupa state 521,
546
ix
Bombyx Rubi, breeding 3; hyberna-
tion 15, 83
2 Trifolii, variety 53
Boxes, posting 58, 82
Bug, harvest 13
Buprestidx, new 342
Butalis chenopodiella 364
Butterflies in the Club collection 14;
British, mistakes in 36; hyberna-
ting 100; European, new names for
108;and humming-bird hawk-moths,
early 112; one-third of the British
in a wood near Watlington 134;
migrating 150, 330; and settling on
the sea 151; earliest and latest
dates of the appearance of some of
the rarer British 159; scarcity last
June 230; pairing of different spe-
cies 291; rare British 294; inha-
biting Guernsey and Sark, with
notes of their occurrence 324; con-
trolling sex in 372, 482, 553; inha-
biting Jersey, with notes of their
occurrence 399; can they be tamed
to know the hand that feeds them ?
459
Butterfly, fossil, in the Stonesfield
slate 294
Cabera pusaria, black variety 264
Callimorpha dominula, melanic va-
riety 321
ss Hera 338; at St. Leo-
nard’s 239
Calosoma Sycophanta near Penzance
176, 224; at Plymouth 224
Calosoter vernalis 226
Campaign, opening the 29
Camphor, substitute for 110
Capiomont, death of M. Guillaume 32
Captures in Norfolk and Suffolk 52;
Trish 74, 97; at light at Tonbridge
79; in the New Forest 120, 196,
476; during April, May and June
187; at Newcastle 283; in Epping
Forest 335; at Freshwater 476
Carpocapsa pomonella 429
Caterpillar, processionist 39
Caterpillars in Belgium 13, 61
Catocala Fraxini near Canterbury
222, 241; at Ipswich 222; at
Shrewsbury 241; near Wisbech id. ;
at Sandown 335
Cea pulicaris 225
x CONTENTS.
Cecidomyia, gall on ground ivy 180
Ceraptocerus mirabilis 131
Cerastis erythrocephala at Darenth
Wood 264, 392
Cerchysius urocerus 113
Cercobelus jugeus 114
Cerigo Cytherea, description of the
larva 28
Cerocephala formiciformis 250
Chalcidie, economy 65, 89, 113, 131,
201, 225, 249, 278, 298, 322, 346,
369, 394, 418, 442,471; parasitism
506
Chelonia Caja, variety 183; double-
brooded 261
“5 Villica 105, 364; larva on
furze 174, 195; variety 297
Chesias spartiata 564
Cherocampa Celerio 238 ; at Brighton
362; at Margate 412; at Southport
564; at Bolton id.
$s Elpenor, variety 81,
485
Chortodes Bondii 191, 262; and its
food-plant 241
Chrysomela fulgida 460
Cidaria miata, description of the larva
49
Cionus, genus 460
Cirredia xerampelina, variety 241;
variation in the colours 517
Cirrospilus attalus 471
- pacuvius 473
Cleora glabraria at West Looe 195
Clifden Entomological Society 368
Clisiocampa Americana 557
Cnethocampa processionea 60
Coccophagus scutellaris 90
Coleophora, a new British 567
Coleophora albicans 566
Coleoptera, inquiry respecting work
on 319; new British 342
Colias Edusa in Yorkshire 88; in
Dulwich Wood 221; how is the
entire absence to be accounted for?
513
» Helice at Folkestone 222;
near Reading 329
» Hyale 58; at Margate 218;
near Dover Castle id. ; at Folkestone
222; near Reading 329
Collecting in Sherwood Forest 211;
in the Lake District 434; forest, in
April 452
Collection, Entomological Club 40,
526, 552
Colydiide and Cossonide from Japan
343
Coryna clavata 347
Cossus Ligniperda 129; is the larva a
cannibal? 195; does it occasionally
form its cocoon in the ground ? 487
Crab, king, capture off the coast of
Holland; with brief notice of its
characters 529
Crambus verellus 341
Cucullia Absynthii in Ireland 516
AS Asteris 198; larvee, in Kent
565
As Gnaphalii, larve 517;
Darenth Wood 546; in Kent 565
1 Lychnitis 198
r Scrophulariz, two seasons in
pupa 175
3 Verbasci and its hood 462
Culex pipiens 9
Cymatophora Ocularis 130
5 ridens, variety 387
Cynipide, American 550
Cynips, habits of certain gall-insects
of the genus 448
Cynips lignicola 101; additional para-
sites 243
in
Dale, death of Mr. J. C. 56
Dasycampa rubiginea at Cobham 104;
at Pokesdown 363
Dasypolia Templi, to rear 362; life-
history 509; attracted by gas-lamps
564
Deilephila Galii in Berkshire 316,
332; in Devon 522
> Livornica at Worcester
175; at Bournemouth 316; in
Deyon 522
Deiopeia pulchella on the Hampshire
coast 51; in the Isle of Wight 101;
at Brighton 221; description of the
larva 508; at Littlehampton 514
Demas Coryli 261; double-brooded
487
Depressaria capreolella, description of
the larva 566
*s Douglasella, description
of the larva 453
3 rotundella, description of
the larva 426
CONTENTS,
Depressaria Yeatiana, description of
the larva 482
Dermestes, destructive larve
Diantheecia compta 563
BS and conspersa 518,
025
546
Dicranura fureula double-brooded 197,
288
Diloba exruleocephala, late appear-
ance 262
Dineura rufa 19
Dipara petiolata 346
Diphthera Orion, food-plant 366, 389
Diptera, scales in 9; observations on
251; food 336; Turkestan 388
Doritis Apollo at Epping 39
Dragon-flies attacked by birds 54;
grease in 146; preservation of colour
in 181
Ectroma fulvescens 132
Edleston, death of Mr. Robert S. 272
Egg parasites 197
Ellopia fasciaria, eggs and young
larve 14; larve 142
Emmelesia albulata, is it double-
brooded ? 429
Encyrtus corniger 131
Endromis versicolor at East Grinstead
458
Ennomos angularia, description of the
larva 406
os fuscantaria 516
Entomological Club, contributions to
the collection 40, 526, 552
Entomological pins 2, 526; nomen-
clature 143; notes from South
Australia 203, 357, 401; pins, long
continental 488
Entomological Societies, aims of local
320
Entomological Society’s Proceedings
58, 248, 267, 292, 341, 392, 416,
435, 549
Entomology at Leominster 114; at
Watlington 242; of the Isle of Man
454
Ephestia Roxburghii 318
Epinephele Hyperanthus, variety 418
oh Janira, variety 411
5 Tithonus, variety 441
Epione advenaria, food-plant 455
» apiciaria 150
» vespertaria near York 191
xi
Epunda lutulenta at West Wickham
566
Eremobia ochroleuca in Kent and
Essex 31; in Essex 52; in the Isle
of Wight 101; in Hants 128; at
Ramsgate 199; near Ware 224; in
Surrey 517; in Kent 546
Eriogaster Lanestris 106, 522
Ericydnus strigosus 113
Eristalis, food 291, 336
Kristalis tenax, antenne 547
Etroxys scenicus 418
Eubolia meniata at East Grinstead
516
mensuraria,
the larva 361
= peribolata in Jersey 364
Eucharis iello 65
Euchelia Jacob, variety 333
Euchromia purpurana, description of
the larva 425
Eudorea lineolalis, description of the
larva 408
Eulepia cribrum, is it double-brooded ?
519
Eunotus cretaceus 418
Eupelmus Degeeri 249
8 urozonus 226
Euperia fulvago, abundance 211
Eupithecia Fraxinata 192
3 irriguata 887; bred 412
: pimpinellata, late deno-
tata, description of the larva 240
is pusillata near Newcastle
174
description of
pygmeata, description of
the lary a 166
“f subciliata, larva 125
55 togata, description of the
larva 223
3 two new species 16
Kurytoma equalis 398
3 Japonica id.
nS platyptera 17
Eurytomide, economy id.
Euthemonia Russula, does the larva
hybernate? 84; food 111
Expedition, Mr. Crotch’s 368
Fauna, Coleopterous, of Eastern
Siberia aud Western Europe 247
Fidonia atomaria, description of the
larva 407
<3 conspicuata 317
xii
Fidonia Piniaria, variety 430
Filaria in larva of a Lepidopteron
265; parasitic on a Silphid 432
Fireflies in the South of France 392
Fleas, large, in a mouse’s nest 392
Flies, blood-sucking, Central African
327
Galls of willows, do they overhang
water? 246; oak 338, 461; on the
twigs of willows 389; on Orleans-
plum leaves 461
Gastrancistrus laticornis 273
Geometra papilionaria 37, 85, 128,
149; larva 59
Glow-worm in March 86
Gnats at Oxford 294
Grapholita nisana, description of the
larva 410
Grapta C-album bred in July 174; in
Essex 264
Gray, death of Mr. George Robert 128
Grub, gooseberry 181, 480
Gum, African, living insect in 567
Hadena Atriplicis 458
Hematomyzus Elephantis 465
Haggerston Entomological Society
272, 552
Halophila bicolorana and prasinana
106
Haltichella includens 399
Harvester 13
Heinemann, death of Herr 32
Heliothis armiger near Wakefield 85
a dipsaceus in Somersetshire
191
Hemileuca Maia 558
Hemiptarsenus fulvicollis 418
Hepialus Humuli, scarcity 30; varie-
ties 427 .
ey Velleda on the Quantock
Hills 434
Hesperia Acton, larva 421; (?) de-
scription of the larva id.
Homoptera, waxy exudation 456
Honeydew, production of 463
Hormocerus maritimus 273
Horne, death of Mr. Charles 104
Hornet, common, in Siberia 267
Hymenoptera, works on 152; aculeate,
of Japan 437
Hyperchiria Io 557
Hyponomeuta padellus 565
CONTENTS.
Ichneumon, new British 341
Ichneumonide of the Isle of Man 431
‘Tilustrated Natural History of British
Butterflies, Newman’s, mistake in
16
Impaled Noctua 392
Information of instructors 488
Tnostemma areolata 538
Insect-boxes for the post 37
Tnsect-hunting in Sussex 455
Insect perforating lead 38, 85; relax-
ing by plaster of Paris 148; Lepi-
dopterous, new to Science 318;
Trichopterous, supposed case 392;
living, in African gum 567 :
Insect-pins, method of preserving
from oxydation 367
Insects of the Scilly Isles 3, 52, 78;
divisions of rows in drawers 63;
transmission by post 83; scarcity
at South Shields 187; general
scarcity 171; Amurland 209, 255,
828, 859; of Italy and of South
France 227, 278, 303, 403; fitful
appearance of rare 235; double
cocoons 244; reared during the
year (1872) 282; of the British.
Isles, origin and distribution 349;
do they recognize individuals ? 415 ;
mimetic 437; at sea 457; names of
460; as weather prognosticators 524
Iodis vernaria, life-history 168; va-
riety 363
Tphitrachelus Lar 535
Isosoma, flavicollis 17
yy insolita 397
+ luteicollis id.
by semilutea 396
Tyy 50
Kensington Entomological Society
320, 526
Larva, name of 14; Psychideous,
description of 409; feeding on the
roots of Ginanthe crocata 432
Larve, hunting for 200; a plague of
312; hybernating, and floods 414;
Dipterous, in phlegm 416
Leioptilus Lienigianus, description of
the larva 512
Lelaps sadales 202
Lepidoptera in 1871 7; Staudinger’s
and other Synonymic Catalogues
CONTENTS.
40; malformations of British 53;
at the British Museum 87; of Ive-
land 101; grease on 106; on the
sand-hills 122; captured in Surrey
173; and hemp agrimony 189; late |
emergence 231; bad season 234; |
preserving from mould or mites |
284, 335; Swiss 300; of Ayrshire |
313; setting 340, 391; varieties of
British 341; notes on Southern
Indian 446, 474, 506, 542; names
of 459
Lepidopterous
342
Leucania albipuncta at Folkestone
518
cocoon, reticulated
on commoides, supposed occur- |
rence in Kent 522
L-album near Canterbury
- Littoralis 143, 188
Ligdia Adustata double-brooded 487
Limacodes Asellus 457
ae Testudo, variety 183
Limenitis Sibylla, variety 171
Limulus Polyphemus 529
Liparis auriflua, hybernation 289;
double-brooded 364
<i dispar, larva feeding at large
190; at Wandsworth 289; in the
City 364
ss monacha, variety 145, 146;
at East Grinstead 516
5 Salicis, economy 31
Lithosia caniola 261
complana 427
mesomella, variety 333
x quadra near Newcastle-on-
Tyne 175; at Highgate 195; at
Neweastle id.; at Kingsland 457;
description of the larva 479
= rubricollis, is it double-
brooded? 81, 260; early 130;
during hottest sunshine 141
Lobophora hexapterata near Limerick
140; near Colchester 411
Lobster fisheries, improvement 64
Locusts, ravages in South Australia
267, 292; on a balloon 525
London Natural History Society 440
Lord, death of Mr. John Keast 296
Louse, elephant’s 465
Lyczena Aigon 483
» Argiolus 103
”
Xill
Lyeena Arion, inquiry respecting
286; at Barnwell Wold 314; near
Gloucester 457
iS Corydon and Adonis, distine-
tive difference of the females 58
Lycoperdina Boviste 434
Lygeeus punctato-guttatus 7
Machaon and its haunts 265; hy-
bernal emergence and cannibalism
of the larvee 330
Macroglossa stellatarum, does it often
fly at night? 316; flying by night
332
Macro-Lepidoptera, nocturnal, inha-
biting Guernsey and Sark, with
notes of their occurrence 351, 375;
taken at Buckingham or its imme-
diate neighbourhood, with notes of
their occurrence 379
Macrophya Albicincta 43
Malt-sugar, chemical composition 437
Mamestra Persicariz, lary 198
Melanagria galathea, melanic variety
57
Melanthia albicillata at Darenth 196
ocellata double-brooded 196
”
Melitea Dia in Kent 484
a Euphrosyne, variety 497
Merisus splendidus 323
| Merostenus phedyma 346
Microgaster alvearius 186
Miners of turnip-leaves 112
Minute-book of an Entomological
Society 294
Mites 319
Mornings, a few, with Pieris Dapli-
dice, Argynnis Lathonia, Colias
Hyale, C. Edusa, &e. 219
Mosquitoes 223; in the Great Lone
Land 310
Motchulsky, death of Victor yon 56
Moth, winter, ravages 108; reed (?)
459
Moths at sea 80; hybernating 100;
on Echium vulgare 263
Mountain collecting in March 404
Musquitoes 183
Mymaride, notes on 498
Name-changing 37
Nematus Aquilegie 94
Betularius 132
X1V
Nemoria virida, abundance of near
Poole 518
Nephopteryx argyrella 341
Newcastle-on-Tyne Entomological So-
ciety 344
Noctua brunnea, description of the
larva 163
., festiva, description of the
larva 164
, triangulum, description of the
larva 162
Nola albulalis 364; in the Isle of
Wight 238
., centonalis at Freshwater 317
Nomenclature, priority in 86; ento-
mological 143
Notanisus versicolor 202
Notaspis formiciformis 67
Notodonta dicta, are there naturally
two broods? 182; at the end of
July id.
Oak-leaf, aspect on the under side
503
(Ecophora pseudospretella, descrip-
tion of the larva 511
Ophiodes lunaris at the Lowestoft
Light 147; near Lewes 458
Ophion obscurus, early appearance
107
Orgyia gonostigma at Maldon 223
» leucostigma 557
Ormyrus punctiger 89
Orthosia Ypsilon 176
Oxyura, notes on 535
Pachetra leucophea near Canterbury
142, 430
Pachyenemia Hippocastanaria 149
Papilio Hyale of Linneus 54
» Machaon at Maldon 223
Parasite of the shrimp 148
Parasites, Dipterous 182; Abraxas
Grossulariata infested by 183; egg
197
Pediculus Capitis, on the brain and a
portion of the nervous system 489
Pempelia Carnella in Essex 265
Phigalia instabilis, early appearance
32
#5 pilosaria, early appearance
id., 51; in May 429
D stabilis, early appearance 32>
Phorodesma bajularia, larva 413
CONTENTS.
Photedes Captiuncula, distribution
and habits 101
Phycis Davisellus 196; in the New
Forest 199
Phycita, undescribed species 247
Phyllopertha horticola, larvae 62
Phyllotoma melanopyga 70
Phylloxera Quercus 242
% vastatrix 342, 523
Phytometra enea 412, 456, 463
Pieris Brassice, singularly-marked
specimens 286; with green wing-
rays 315
4 Daplidice near Christchurch
193; at Eastbourne 194; near F'a-
versham id,; on Portsdown Hill
id.; at Dover 213, 214; at Deal
214; near Folkestone id.; in Suf-
folk 215; in Cambridgeshire id.;
in Jersey 235; in Kent id.; at
Aldeburgh 256
ss Rape in February 63, 360;
artificially-veined specimens 315;
yellow specimen 316
Pins, varnished 391
Pirene varicornis 251
Plant-lice and their enemies 243
Platygaster attenuatus 537
A Catillus 536
3 cochleatus id.
55 ruficornis 537
- Tipule 536
Platypteryx, genus 2, 5, 12
- Sicula near Bournemouth
488
Platyptilus gonodactylus, description
of the larva 426
Plusia Interrogationis in Lincolnshire
516
Plutella annulatella, description of
the larva 860
Podagrion splendidum 41
Polychloros larve feeding on nettle 88
Polyommatus Hippothoé at Hackney
marshes 221
5 Phileas, white variety
88
Ponera contracta near Warwick 259
Portunus longipes and Galathea stri-
gosa in the stomach of a cod-fish 37
Prionus coriarius in Devon 242
Processionist ‘‘ processions” 60
Prosodes ater 371
Pseudobalani, or false acorns 275
CONTENTS.
Psilocera obscura 370; female 394
Psilonotus adamus 274
Pteratomus putnami 498
Pteromalus immaculatus 394
is latus id.
Pterophorus rhododactylus 364
BS species requested 523
Pteroptrix menes 472
Ptilophora plumigera, early hatching
of the eggs 173; fed on sycamore
196
Ptinus Fur settling on water 190
Pupe at Derwent Water 242; in
birch and oak 365
Pygzera bucephala, parasitic larvae 245
Pyralis, beautiful 64
Pyrameis Cardui, abundance of hyber-
nated specimens 171; variety 345
Pyrarga Megeera, variety 12, 129, 485,
521, 545
Ratzeburg, death of Professor 55
Rhaphitelus maculatus 298
Rhodocera Rhamni in Cumberland
60; near Carlisle 175
Rhubarb, wild 291
poe crategata 239; curious variety
516
Saturnia Carpini 130; two seasons in
pupa 175
penis Semele, abundance in Ireland
42
Sawflies, life-histories 18, 43, 70, 94,
132
Schisaspida furcata 65
Sciaphila penziana, description of the
larva 3860
Scodiona Belgiaria 148
Scorpion fly (?) and C. Dominula 148
Season of 1871, lateness 50; earliness
51, 58
Semiotus varians 298
Sesia Allantiformis near Greenhithe
565
5, Apiformis feeding on cork 79;
inquiry respecting 130
», Bembeciformis, is it in pupa | in
January ? 317
» Chrysidiformls 170.
» Tipuliformis, Dipterous larve
in the mines 59
Sirex Juvencus 111
Slug larva of the cherry 181
XV
Smerinthi double-brooded 233
Smerinthus, hybrid 147
Smerinthus Populi, variety of larva
184, 288; imago emerging in July
190; second appearance 288; in
January 317; only a fortnight in
pupa 486
South London Entomological Society
80, 104, 143, 295, 344, 439, 527
Sphegigaster flavicornis 322
Sphingide, Japanese 342; fecundity
486
Sphinx Convolvuli at Dulwich 222;
near Warwick 259; near Hudders-
field 517; at Walthamstow id.; eggs
and food-plant 545; larva 561
» Ligustri, larva feeding on
teasel 30; feeding on holly 182,
194; near Ipswich 411
» Pinastri at Crewkerne 103;
in Devonshire 127
Spider, nocturnal 61; scarlet 84
Spilodes palealis at Whittlesford 517
Stauropus Fagi 174, 197
Stilbula volusus 65
Syntomopus thoracicus 322
Systarsis encyrtoides 299
Tzeniocampa cruda, description of the
larva 138
is gothica 387
opima, description of the
larva 167; food. 189; eggs 239;
larve 515
= stabilis 887
Tephrosia biundularia, description of
the larva 385
; crepuscularia, black 127
Tetrastichus caudatus 471
Thecla Betule taken at night 88; in
Essex 264
», W-album, life-history 419
Thera firmaria in October 2
Thyridopteryx ephemerformis 556
Thysanus ater 473
Tillus unifasciatus near Warwick 259
Timandra amataria, late appearance
264
Tinea pallescentella 290
Tortrix grandeyana near Cullercoats
458
Torymide, economy 41
Torymus caliginosus id.
Toxeuma Erice 370
4
XV1
Tribolium ferrugineum in ground-
nuts 439
Trichiura Cratsegi 514, 545
Trichogramma evanescens 472
Trichoptera, abundance 83
Trigonoderus obscurus 201
Trypheena orbona, variety 53
Typhceus vulgaris on the sand-hills
110
Unicorn fly 112
Urania Leilus, migration 332
Urophora solstitialis a gall-maker
142
Vanessa Antiopa near Norwich 103;
near Cosham 192; in London id.;
at Scarborough zd.; at Stamford
id.; at Barnsley 193, 284; in Essex
193, 457; at Newcastle 193; near
Rochester id.; at Shirley id.; at
Tunbridge Wells id. ; in Great Bri-
tain during the autumn of 1872
215, 236, 258; in Scotland 284; in
Kent 284, 545; near Leeds 285;
inquiry respecting 286; hybernated
specimens 314, 368,410; does it ever
emerge from the pupa with a white
border? 329; in the United States
of North America 359, 484; near
Carlisle 386; near Grantham 3887;
in Suffolk id. ; at Whitby 457; near
Horsham 484; near Brighton 513;
at Clapham id.; near Dover id. ; in
Surrey 544
os Io in February 63; variety
105; great abundance 484, 512
* 4 Polychloros in North Lan-
cashire 221; at Doncaster 387
a Urtice in February 63; at
CONTENTS.
Dover 411; and V. Polychloros in-
terbreeding 221; imago with head
of larva 221
Varieties for figuring in the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ 64
Vesperus Xatarti, economy 16
Wasp, South American 18+
Wasps, queen 87
Weevil on rose-trees 112, 433; clover-
seed 177
Wencker, death of Mr. J. A. 368
West London Entomological Society
320
Xanthia aurago at Llangollen 564
» citrago, description of the
larva 257
as ferruginea 547
+ gilvago id.
Xylomiges conspicillaris in Glouces-
tershire 102; at Malvern id.; what
is the English type? 110; at Mal-
vern and Malvern Link 127; bred
130; at Danbury 427
Xylophasia polyodon, variety 485
+ scolopacina at West Looe
195
Zeuzera Aisculi 146, 194, 239; in the
common holly 486
Zygena Filipendule, yellow variety
362, 456, 457, 515, 564; vitality of
life in larva 434
> Lonicere and Trifolii 486,
514
e Meliloti in the New Forest
184, 185, 225, 238
55 Vanadis or Zygena exulans
var. Vanadis, a British insect 22
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 99.] JANUARY, MDCCCLXXII. [Price 6d.
Answers to Correspondents. *
Variety of Argynnis Paphia: Under and Upper Sides of the same Specimen.
Argynnis Paphia variety.—This extraordinary specimen
varies in the same mode as the lower figure at p. 22 of the
‘ Butterflies, in the predominance of black on the upper
surface, but in a much greater degree; the sienna-brown
VOL, VI. B
2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
colour on the fore wings being confined to the costal margin,
and a series of vague, ill-defined, and amorphous blotches,
parallel with the hind margin; the hind wings are black, with
a double series of vague, ill-defined, amorphous, sienna-brown
blotches, parallel with the hind margin; all the wings have a
considerable fulvous area at the base, which is due to the
presence of long fulvous hairs. The figure very effectively
represents the markings of the upper surface; the under
surface is without a trace of the usual black spots, but there
is a blackish cloud near the middle of the fore wings; the
hind wings are of a greenish silvery gray, with a decided
silvery wash near the base, and a broad but very vague band
of silver tinged with purple, parallel with the hind margin.
This insect was kindly lent me by Mr. James A. Tawell,
purposely for figuring in this journal; it was taken during
the past summer.
The Genus Platypteryx.—I\n answer to Mr. Raynor
(Entom. v. 455), I may state that with us the larva of Falcula
is more common in September and October than in June; in
fact, I never took one myself in either May or June. We take
the imago in May and June, and sometimes, not often, in
July or the beginning of August. The larve are pretty
common here on birch and alder—Wm. Prest; Holgate
Road, York.
Thera jirmaria in October.—It is no new fact that Firmaria
is taken in October (Entom. v. 456). I have been in the
habit of taking that species for the last ten or twelve years.
In October of last year I took a very fine series along with
Mr. Carrington. We took them both at sugar, and on the
boles of fir and larch trees, just out of pupa. In my opinion
the species is double-brooded, for I took the larve in May of
this year, along with Fasciaria, and bred them in June.—Id.
Entomological Pins.—In reply to your correspondent, Mr.
Buckton (Entom. v. 452), I beg to suggest that we have pins
made in the British style of the same material as those used
by many continental entomologists, and are made in Vienna;
and are to be had of Mr. Mann, Hunds thurmerstrasse, No. 7.
The price of these pins is about 1s. 8d. per 500 pins.—E. G.
Meek; 4, Old Ford Road, E., December 2, 1871.
Beetle parasitic in Wasp’s Nests——Can any of your
readers inform me if they have met with beetles in the cells of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 3
wasp’s nests? I have taken hundreds of nests from time to
time, and failed to discover anything besides wasps and their
larve till yesterday, when | took several nests, and in the
middle cake of one of them there were about half a dozen
insects with remarkable long legs and flowing antenne:
their bodies resemble the soldier-fly in shape, but of a bright
brown colour; they were each in a separate cell, and covered
with the flour-like covering that cover the cells during the
transformation of wasps, and had evidently been bred there.
I enclose you a specimen for your opinion. I have specimens
in several stages of maturity, from the larva to the perfect
insect. The insect appears to feed upon the larve of the
wasp, as may be seen by a section of cell enclosed containing
larve of beetle and wasp.—C. Bradbury; Alton, Stafford-
shire, September 2, 1871.
The beetle is Rhipophorus paradoxus, long and familiarly
known as an inmate of wasp’s nests. The precise nature of
the connection of the beetle and the wasp is not at present
known, but it is supposed that the beetle is related to
Stylops, which is certainly parasitic on bees.
Breeding Bombyx Rubi.—Are the larve of Rubi difficult
to rear? Will you tell me how to keep them in the winter?
=, Neve.
If.you keep them out of doors exposed to wind and rain
they are sure to do well. A large flower-pot, with wire-gauze
over the top, is the best vessel to keep them in; it should
have a lump of turf or some heath at the bottom. I never
observed them eating in the winter. Mr. Gustard will also
kindly take this reply.
EpwarD NrewMaNn.
Notes on the Insects of the Scilly Isles—The insects
recorded were observed in the eight isles here mentioned,
during six days, beginning with September 16th. Typhlocyba
Ulmi was abundant at Hugh Town, St. Mary, and was the
first Insect seen on landing, and was probably naturalized
soon after the elm was introduced into the island. St. Mary
is about 1600 acres in extent; Tresco, 700 acres; Bryher, 300
acres; St. Martin, 550 acres; St. Agnes, 350 acres; Samson,
80 acres; St. Helen, 40 acres; Annette, 40 acres: the three
4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
last are uninhabited. ‘The isles are said to have been nearly
connected with the Land's End, durtng the Roman occupa-
tion of Britain; and it is supposed that they were pre-
historically part of a large Atlantic continent, one of the
earth-waves which alternately rise and sink. There are
many proofs that the crags, now high above the sea, were
once within reach of the tide. Aphis Lychnidis occurs on
the Lychnis in St. Mary. The indiscriminate Aphis Rumicis,
often committing its offspring to plants that will not sustain
them, thrive here on the Mesembryanthemum. Tranaphis
Salicivora lives in St. Mary and in Tresco on willow-leaves,
where it is accompanied by a little mite (Tetranychus
Salicis?), and by an orange fungus; and the latter is the
food of a small red grub, perhaps of a Cecidomyia. Ixodes
Ricinus is common in Samson, and a species of Notaspis
occurs here and there in St. Mary. In addition to Epeira
diadema spiders occur of the genera Salticus, Thomisus,
Theridion, Linyphia, Neriene, and Tetragnatha; they are
not generally numerous, but are extremely abundant on the
marshy ground near Porth Hollick, and indicate that Diptera
are occasionally plentiful there. With one exception no
ground-spiders (Lycosa, Drassus, Clubiona, and Dysdera)
were seen, and in that respect these islands differ widely from
the Channel Isles, where the ground-spiders are very
plentiful in Guernsey. Lithobius forcipatus and a species of
Geophilus were of rare oecurrence ; Oniscus asellus, Arma-
dillo vulgaris and Glomeris marginata were not very
abundant. The oak only occurs in the abbey grounds at
Tresco, where Dryobius roboris and Callipterus annulatus
have also been introduced. I did not see the Devonshire
galls there, but one individual of Cynips Kollari (lignicola)
was found, far from its native oak, in St. Mary, opposite
Tresco, and it was probably wafted from the latter isles by
the wind over three miles of intervening sea. Libellula
striolata is not uncommon in St. Mary, and Cloeon diptera
was found in Tresco. Forficula auricularia and Stenobothrus
biguttulus are numerous in all the isles. The following list
includes, fifty-one species of frequent occurrence; those
that are less common will be mentioned afterwards.
Liptera.—Sciara morio, Dilophus spinatus, Scatopse notata,
Culex detritus? Tipula oleracea, Ptychoptera contaminata,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 5
Geranomyia unicolor, Rhyphus_ fenestralis, Chironomus
annularius, C. pallens, Tanypus varius, Ceratopogon armatus,
Hybos vitripennis, Rhamphomyia variabilis, Lonchoptera
lutea, Eristalis tenax, E. pertinax, EK. horticola, Syritta
pipiens, Syrphus Corolle, Platycheirus clypeatus, Meli-
threptus Menthastri, Myopa atra, Bucentes geniculatus,
Sarcophaga heemorrhoa, Musca erythrocephala, M. vomitaria,
M. Cesar, Stomoxys calcitrans, Anthomyia canicularis,
Scatophaga stercoraria, S. merdaria, Celopa frigida, Ensina
Sonchi, Sphenilla marginata, Acinia parietina, Urellia
stellata, Sepsis cynipsea, 8S. punctum, Psila Rose, Opomyza
germinationis, Phytomyza lateralis, Hecamede albicans. All
the Calope observed were of small size. Hemiptera.—
Pentatoma Baccarum, Verlusia rhombea. Hymenoptera.
Formica flava, Pompilus gibbus, Sphecodes ephippia, Halictus
albipes, H. morio, Bombus Hortorum.—Francis Walker.
The Genus Platypteryx.—l\ have received some interesting
observations from an entomologist with reference to the
genus Platypteryx, on which I made some remarks last month
(Entom. v. 455). “In your notice in the ‘ Entomologist’ of
last month you express a wish to hear of the experiences of
breeders of Unguicula and Falcula. The latter I have reared,
and send you what | know of the insect. 1 found the larve
of different sizes upon alder (Alnus glutinosa), upon which
tree they are conspicuous, in consequence of drawing the
sides of the leaves together, and spinning a slight web across
when about to change their skins. This bending of the
leaves easily attracts attention, and a little further search
results in the discovery of the larva on the upper side of
some neighbouring leaf, which it much resembles in colour,
and where it might have been overlooked but for the tell-
tale mentioned above. They are not nearly so easily
recognized upon birch (Betula alba), as many leaves are
bent by Tortrices and spiders, to say nothing of the smaller
size of the leaves. All the larve spun up between leaves;
and the first imago appeared on April 26th; and they
continued to emerge unti] the 3rd of June. Eggs laid on the
5th of May hatched on the 20th; and another batch, laid on
the latter and three following days, began to make their
appearance on the Ist of June. 1 noted down their personal
appearance at different times, but need not trouble you with
6 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
it. Suffice it to say, that three starvations, owing to my
absence from home, left me but four miserable caterpillars,
which did not assume the pupa state till the end of July and
the second week of August. Thesé are still alive, and have
not emerged as an autumn brood, though [ cannot tell what
they might have done under more favourable circumstances. ~
The perfect insect I have captured in May, June, and on the
Ath and 26th of August in different years. I again noticed
in October last variously-sized larve upon the same bush.
Perhaps this continuation of appearance may be accounted
for in a similar manner to that of Salicis, whose eggs, laid in
the spring, produce moths the same summer, laying eggs
which hatch, but the caterpillars are some fast and some
slow feeders: the former quickly spin up, and emerge in
September, after a week only in the pupa state; the latter go
into cocoon before the winter, to produce the spring imagos ;
whilst the hybernating larve are, in fact, their own nephews
and nieces.” In answer to some objections of mine to the
above remarks, the same correspondent.writes :—“ I hasten
to answer the queries in your letter of this morning. In the
first place, I never wished you to understand that the alder
leaves were completely drawn together, but the sides are
simply bent upward, and secured in that position by silken
threads. These leaves are always more or less eaten round
the edges where the larva feeds, and, of course, are very
easily seen. I believe these webs are spun previously to
changing each skin, and that the caterpillar eats the exterior
of the leaf, retiring into the centre at the approach of day.
The lines of silk cover, perhaps, an inch square, but are
slight, and can scarcely be dignified by the term ‘ web,’ which
I have used. The pupe were kept in my bedroom, which has
two windows facing the south-east and two to the south-west,
which tend to keep it very cool in winter. I do not think the
emergence was premature, as Tersata, Vitalbata, Senecionis,
and ‘Tinew, kept under similar circumstances, appeared at
the same time at which | had previously taken the wild
insect."—G. H. Raynor; The Ferns, Danbury, December
18, 1871.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Note on Acidalia Inornata.—In July of last year I took a
few Inornata, from which I was fortunate to get a few eggs.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 7
About half a dozen of the larve seemed to make more
progress than the rest, and outstripping their fellows soon
became full fed, and changed to pupe in about ten or twelve
days. I bred three very fine specimens. The other larve
are yet quite small, and have done feeding for this year. Is
not this unusual?—Wm. Prest ; Holgate Road, York.
Lygeus punctato-guttatus.— The large assemblies of
Pyrrhocoris apterus have been frequently observed, and
Lygzus punctato-guttatus is also gregarious, though to a
much less extent. This little insect has a wide range, and
has, probably, spread both to the north and to the south
from its previous dwelling-place. It is found in Natal, in
Teneriffe, and in several parts of Europe. I observed groups
of it in some of the Channel Isles, and, perhaps, more
limited companies may be found on the English coast.—
Francis Walker.
Lepidoptera in 1871.— The following is a list of some
of the Lepidopterous insects [ have taken or observed
in this neighbourhood during the present season :—
Sesia bembeciformis. Not so common as usual; Clare
Hill.
Chelonia Plantaginis. In the larval state; Greetland
Heaths.
Ouropteryx sambucata. Throughout the district, commoner
than I have ever previously noticed it.
Numeria pulveraria. Reared a nice series from larve sent
me, from Guestling, by the Rev. E. N. Bloomfield.
Scodiona belgiaria. Common; larve, end of April;
imagos in June.
Larentia multistrigaria and czsiata.
Eupithecia venosata. Clare Hill.
K. fraxinata. Larve, by beating ash at Grimescar; not so
plentiful as usual.
E. campanulata. MReared a nice series from larve sent me
from Tring, by the Rev. H. Harpur Crewe.
E, expallidata. Reared a series from larve sent me by the
Rev. John Hellins.
Ypsipetes impluviata. In the larval state, at Storthes
Hall Woods; not common.
Melanippe galiata. Very plentiful; Grimescar.
Scotosia dubitata. Clare Hill.
Cidaria immanata. Storthes Hall Woods. I still believe
8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
alder to be the natural food-plant of this species, my speci-
mens being nearly always beaten from it.
Pelurga comitata. Clare Hill.
Lithostege nivearia. Reared from larve sent me from
Thetford, by the Rev. W. H. Cole.
Dicranura furcula. Reared from larve sent me from
Richmond, Yorkshire, by the Rev. G. P. Harris.
Notodonta dromedarius. Larve not uncommon in Black
Fir and Storthes Hall Woods. One from alder was a very
peculiar purple variety, and from it Mr. Buckler has taken a
figure.
Cymatophora flavicornis. Black Fir Wood.
Nonagria fulva. Storthes Hall Woods.
Hydreecia nictitans. Abundant at sugar and ragwort
bloom; Clare Hill and Grimesear.
Heliophobus popularis.
Chareas Graminis. Clare Hill.
Miana literosa. Birkby.
M. arcuosa. Plentiful; the females do not fly much, but
are readily found after dark by searching the stems of Aira
czespitosa.
Noctua glareosa. Linthwaite.
Orthosia macilenta. Woodsome.
Hoporina Croceago. Reared some beautiful specimens
from eggs sent me from Leominster, by Mrs. Hutchinson,
Xanthia citrago and cerago. Bred.
X. silago. Larva; on sallow, at Woodsome.
X. ferruginea. Woodsome.
Tethea subtusa. Birkby.
Polia flavocincta. Larvae, in the garden, on “ everlasting-
pea.”
Dasypolia Templi. Scarce. I had only one specimen
brought to me.
Kpunda viminalis. Larve, on sallow, at Woodsome.
Abrostola triplasia. Larve on hop, in September; Clare
Hill.
Scopula lutealis. A very abundant species.
Eudorea muralis. Clare Hill.
Homzosoma saxicola. Reared a series from larve sent
me from Dalbeattie, by Dr. White.
Phycis carbonariella. Very common on the heaths.—
. Geo. T. Porritt; Huddersfield, December 11, 1871.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 100.] FEBRUARY, MDCCCLXXILI. [Price 6d,
Answers to Correspondents.
SCALES OF A GNAT, CULEX PIPIENS.
Fig. 1. Battledore scale of proboscis, palpi, and legs. Fig. 2,2. Scales of the
wing-rays, and portions of the body. Fig. 3. Seale of the margin of the wing.
Fig. 4. Scale of the thorax. Fig. 5. Tip of the tarsus with scales in situ.
Fig. 7. A wing-ray with the scales adherent; but slightly disarranged by
pressure in preparation for the microscope. Fig. 8. Scale from body of a gnat;
name unknown.—Copied from the ‘ Microscopical Journal’ for October, 1871.
Scales in Diptera.—Observing in our numerous scientific
journals that it has been stated that scales have been
discovered on the wings of gnats, similar to those on the
wings of butterflies, I wish to ask whether this is likely to be
true, and, if true, whether it does not vitiate the character
VOL. VI. Cc
10 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
generally laid down as distinctive of Lepidoptera? I thought
that the character in question was absolute, and I wish to
know whether these statements of microscopists are reliable,
more particularly as | have caught several gnats for the
purpose of investigating the subject, and have always failed
to discover the scales in question.—Kdward Wright.
The statement is perfectly true, and is familiar to structural
or anatomical entomologists, although it seems to have been
forgotten or lost sight of from time to time, until some
microscopist reproduces it every few years, when it crops
up as a new discovery. Itis nothing more than a conven-
tional idea, or sometimes a convenient assumption, that the
scales in question are confined to Lepidoptera, and the
assumption is utilized now and then to set up some hobby,
such, for instance, as the Lepidopterous nature of Acentria,
which assumption remains standing only until some one of
more extended or more careful powers of observation, or
more skilled in logical deductions, knocks it down again.
Meigen is the first author J recollect who distinctly mentions
the presence of scales on the wings of Diptera, and this as
early as 1804; but the subject has been thoroughly investigated
by Mr. Hogg, the able Secretary of the Microscopical Society,
in his work on the microscope, first published in 1854, and
repeated in subsequent editions. The paper which has
recently revived the subject appears in a German scientific
journal, under the joint authorship of Dr. E. Miiller and
Professor F. Delpino, and was translated for the ‘ American
Naturalist, by Mr. R. L. Packard, a gentleman well
acquainted with the natural-history world, and one who
should have known that there was nothing novel in these
observations. A drawing of the proboscis clothed with
scales is given at p. 287 of Mr. Hogg’s first edition, and in
the following four editions; at p. 599 in the sixth edition; a
single scale, detached, is seen near it; and, again, at p. 611,
another scale more highly magnified, and exhibiting a wavy
appearance, which is noticed by the German authors, but
which, curiously enough, does not quite accurately represent
the structural character of the scale. The waviness is owing
to the under surface being slightly out of focus. It is not,
perhaps, so very surprising that this fact should have escaped
the observation of German authors, since it has received so
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 11
little recognition from English writers on either Entomology
or Microscopy. My friend Mr. Walker rather briefly men-
tions the fact that “the hind margin of the wings in
the Culicide is fringed with scales;” and of Aedes he
says, “fringed with scales, similar in structure to those of
Culicide ;” and of Culicide he observes that the wing-rays
are “fringed with scales.” He mentioned the same character
as applicable to Corethra, and other genera of the same
section of sessile-bodied Diptera; but I do not observe
that Mr. Walker uotices the dense clothing of scales which
almost totally conceals the proboscis and tarsi. In a paper
by Mr. Hogg, published at p. 192 of the October number of
the ‘ Monthly Microscopical Journal,’ it is stated, that “ the
scales of gnats are of four distinct kinds: the proboscis,
palpi and legs are entirely covered over with the battledore
scales, represented in fig. 1 [common in Lepidoptera]. The ner-
vures or venations of the wings [wing-rays], and portions of the
body of the insect, have regularly arranged rows of the scales
shown at fig. 2; while from the marginal edges of the wings
project slender scales, which terminate in a point, as in
fig. 3. The intermediate portions of the wings and body are
covered with fine hairs, and the thorax with tufts of feathery
scales, somewhat peculiar in form, as in fig. 4, the pedicles of
which are considerably longer than the rest, while the upper part
gradually widens out, and terminates abruptly in a crenated
edge. These may be briefly described as ‘ truwmpet-shaped
scales.’ In each case the scale is inserted by a narrow
pedicle into the chitinous membrane, gradually assumes a
scutiform appearance, and terminates in a crenate or pointed
edge. The basement membrane is homogeneous, and the
upper layer is corrugated, or traversed by longitudinal ribs,
and these, again, are regularly and finely striated throughout
in the horizontal plane. It is this striation on the ribs
which, when seen slightly out of focus, gives to the scale a
wavy appearance.” Mr. Hogg says, it is probable that the
scales of the various species of Culex will, after a careful
examination, be found to differ; as, upon going over the
collection of gnats in the British Museum, he discovered one
with the scale represented at fig. 8. I sincerely hope
these valuable and interesting investigations will be con-
tinued,
12 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Variety of Pyrarga Megera.—l send you a sketch
(enlarged) of the upper wing of P. Megera. I do not
recollect having seen this variety before. The principal
feature is the well-developed small eye, just below the large
apical spot. Is this an uncommon variety? The hind
wings have five perfect spots, each with a white dot in the
centre; the colour of the wings is the same as any other
good specimen. Perhaps you will kindly remark on this.
—Chas. George Websdale; 78, High Street, Barnstaple,
December 26, 1871.
During the summer of 1870 I received an insect, exactly
similar to Mr. Websdale’s figure, from Mr. Alfred Owen, and
believed it to be the Pyrarga Mera of the continent. Being,
however, unable to determine this, and feeling an invincible
repugnance to the announcement of novelties unless fully
convinced of their intrinsic value, I sent it to my friend
Mr. Doubleday, who did not think it distinct from
P. Megera. The matter, therefore, remained in abeyance
until further evidence was obtained. The receipt of Mr.
Websdale’s drawing again brings the subject before me, and
I have a second time submitted the subject to my friend,
who has examined Mr. Websdale’s drawing, and thus replies
in a letter for my own information :—“ I return Mr. Websdale’s
note, with the sketch of the butterfly’s wing. It appears to
be the same as the one which Mr. Owen has; and I believe
Mr. Dale possesses similar specimens. It appears to me to
be identical with Lyssa of Boisduval, which is found in
Dalmatia and other parts of Eastern Europe, and which
Boisduval thought might be a hybrid between Megera and
Mera; but Dr. Staudinger gives it as a simple variety of
Megera. 1 think the subject is worth investigating, as this
form appears to occur along the southern coast of England.
I have never seen a male.— Henry Doubleday.”
The Genus Platyplteryx.—tIn reply to your queries in
the ‘Entomologist’ about P. unguicula, 1 have bred a
second brood from eggs of the first, and have taken
specimens of (probably) a second brood at sugar. This
would be the end of July or beginning of August; in one
case on July 22nd, 1870,—a forward year. We also beat the
larve of Unguicula regularly in September and October,
which always remain in pupa till spring, or early summer;
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 13
say the first half of May. I should like to know a little more
of Falcula than I do; but had a few larve of a supposed
second brood, which fed up about mid-October this autumn,
and are stillin pupa. I have never had reason to suspect
Hamula of being more than double-brooded, though a few
individuals may emerge prematurely in confinement; as
happened to me in the case of P. syringaria this autumn.
Six larve, instead of hybernating, fed up, and produced
imagos in the middle of September. The eggs of Unguicula
were procured by putting a captured female in a muslin
sleeve on a branch of the growing beech. The eggs were
-laid chiefly on the upper side of the leaves.—[ Rev.] Bernard
Smith; Marlow, Bucks, December 19, 1871. In a letter to
Mr. G. H. Raynor.
Caterpillars in Belgium.—The Provincial Council of
Brabant have published a decree to the effect that as the
regular annual destruction of caterpillars and other insects,
which takes place in February, has not been found to clear
the land of these pests, all owners and occupiers of land are
enjoined to clear their trees, shrubs, hedges, and bushes, of
caterpillars during the month of November, it being con-
sidered that good results will be attained by this second
operation. Can you throw any light on this subject? What
species of Lepidoptera can be found on the ‘trees, shrubs,
hedges, and bushes, of Belgium, in November and February ?
—EHdwin Birchall.
I suppose Aporia Crategi, the black-veined white, to be
the insect to which this paragraph refers; but, of course,
this is little better than a guess.
Harvesier, or, Harvest Bug.—P. T. enquires, What is the
harvester ?
A minute insect of the family {Acaride, called either
Acarus or Leptus autumnalis. It is of a reddish colour, and
in the autumn frequents harvest-fields and all manner of
herbage. In walking through stubble and meadows it is
readily detached from the herbage and clings to the clothes,
more particularly the stockings; it thus gains access to the
body, and, piercing the skin, conceals itself beneath, and
causes intolerable itching: its progress over the surface of
the skin is usually arrested by any ligature, as a garter;
hence that part of the leg pressed by the garter is a favourite
locality.
14 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Butterflies in the Club Collection.—In rearranging this
collection in accordance with the larval system adopted in
my ‘British Butterflies’ and ‘ Label List, many very old
specimens, which have done duty since my youth, are
unavoidably rejected, and gaps consequently made. Mr.
Birchall, with his customary generosity, has supplied some
of these gaps, but others still remain, many of them in the
commonest species, as the following list will bear witness : —
Polychloros, Atalanta, Hyale, Edusa, Napi, Rapz, Quercus,
Icarus, Medon, Malve, Tages, and Linea. The following
rarer species are also desired:—lIris, Sibylla, Epiphron,
Pruni, W-Album, and Acteon. All my readers are invited to
inspect the collection, at 6 P.M. on Fridays.—Hdward
Newman; 7, York Grove, Peckham, January 1, 1872.
Eggs and Young Larve of Ellopia fasciaria—I now send
you nine small larve of E. fasciaria, some of which I beat
from Scotch firs on Saturday last; the remainder I obtained
from a friend, together with the following account of them :—
“On the llth of August last I captured a female, which, on
the evening and night of the same day, deposited thirty-two
eggs. When first laid they were yellowish, but in a few
days all turned to dull purple, exeept those that proved
unfertile. One larva emerged on the 24th of August; the
majority on the 25th; and a few at intervals up to the
beginning of September. Till the first moult the larve were
bright red, almost scarlet; after the first moult there were
patches of yellowish colour on the red ground-colour; after
the second moult the silvery white of the adult larve began
to appear. Up to the present date, October 24th, they have
changed three skins.” I trust this account and the larve
will be of service to you.—TZhomas Groves; 5, West
Terrace, Richmond, Yorkshire, October 25, 1871.
I am much obliged for, and delighted with, these beautiful
little larva, which have remained perfectly stationary, on
the needles of the firs, for three months.
Name of a Larva.—\ should be much obliged if you could
give me the name of the enclosed larva, which | found on the
5th ult, on the snow, while walking over a grass-field. I
have no idea from what plant it could have come.—F.
Cooper ; Markree Castle, Collooney, Ireland.
I believe the larva to be that of Hadena Chenopodii; but
~
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15
its small size and shrivelled condition prevents me from
pronouncing with any certainty.
Hybernation of Bombyx Rubi and Quercus, Doubl.
(Entom. vi. 3).—I have known some entomologists put
themselves to a great deal of trouble to obtain fresh chick-
weed, dock, or other low-growing plants, for the benefit of
hybernating larve of the above species. They will occa-
sionally nibble the leaves a little in mild weather, but I have
no doubt that such food is not necessary for them, as already
stated by Mr. Newman. Quercus, however, as I have
noticed, will continue to feed, even on to December, on such
leaves as are to be found on the oak, hawthorn, and hazel,
not rejecting those which are getting dry and withered. The
larvee of this species do not usually attain the same propor-
tions in the autumn as do those of Rubi, but begin feeding
again rather earlier; and though, during the colder months
of the year, it is not necessary to supply green food, it is well
to do so in March, as the larve seem desirous then to antici-
pate the appearance of leaves on the trees and shrubs they
afterwards frequent, and will indulge in a slight repast upon
the young vegetation which the spring is drawing up from
the ground. An observer has recently stated that in his
experience some imprisoned larve of Rubi entered the
earth during the winter. I fancy this must be an exceptional
case. The larve of Quercus I have, certainly show no incli-
nation to do so, though several of them are extending
themselves upon the earth at the bottom of the box in which
they are kept. For the most part, they prefer to place
themselves upon twigs, if such are obtainable; if not, they
will resort to any angles or prominences they can find, not
manifesting any particular tendency to draw together into
parties. Some which have been enclosed in a box, partially
composed of metal and glass, avoid these, and rest on the
woodwork. From time to time these larve change their
positions slightly; and these alterations might, perhaps,
prove good meteorological indications, were they watched
and compared with the weather. Few hybernating larve
thrive well if they are too tenderly treated ; and entomologists
probably lose more in the winter from cosseting them than
from exposure. Damp, however, does seem, in various cases,
to be highly injurious.—J. R. S. Clifford.
16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Economy of Vesperus Xatarti.—Messrs. Lichtenstein and
Valery Mayet, who have devoted so much time to studying
the life-history of insects and rearing them from the larval
state, have just succeeded in breeding Vesperus Xatarti.
The larva is of a truncated pyramidal form; it is hexapod, and
does not live in timber in the manner of other longicorn
larve with which we are acquainted, but quite under ground,
where it conducts itself exactly like the larve of lamellicorns,
more especially like those of the genus Rhizotrogus. The
perfect insect makes its appearance in October and Novem-
ber; it lives through the winter, and lays its eggs in the
spring, sometimes in a patch under the loose bark of olive
trees, sometimes in the dried stalks of brambles which had
been hollowed out by bees, and always at a certain height
above the ground; but the eggs are only deposited in
the stalks of the brambles for the purpose of hatching, for as
soon as the little larvae come out they allow themselves to
fall to the ground just like those of the cicadas, and bury them-
selves in the earth.—‘ Pelites Nouvelles Entomologiques,
December 15, 1871.
Mistake in Newman’s ‘ Illustrated Natural History of
British Butterflies’.—The statement at p. 57 of ‘ British
Butterflies’ as to Polychloros feeding on aspen, should have
been assigned to me, instead of to Mr. Levett. They were in
the greatest abundance on an aspen growing outside the
wall of Parham Old Park, on the road between Rackham and
Wigginholt.—Edward Jenner; Lewes, January 13, 1872.
Two New Species of Eupithecia.—M. Paul Mabille has
described two new species of Eupithecia found in the sub-
Pyrenean basin :—({1) Santolinata, the larva of which feeds
on Santolina pectinata in September and October, and the
imago is on the wing in May; (2) Pyreneata, intermediate
between pulchellata and linariata, the larva feeds on Digitalis
lutea, and there is but one brood in the year.— P. N. E.,’
December 15, 1871.
As these South-European insects are not very likely to
occur in England, I have not copied the description. Neither
of the plants mentioned as the food-plants of the larve are
found in Britain, a fact which much decreases the probability
of the species occurring here.
Epwakb> NEWMAN.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 7
Economy of Eurytomide.—The Eurytomide, by late
observations on their history, have become the most interest-
ing of all the Chalcidiz. The latter, like the Ichneumonide
and the allied tribes, are termed parasitic, but the Eurytomide
ISOSOMA FLAVICOLLIS.
EURYTOMA PLATYPTERA,
have been discovered, in several instances, to be herbivorous,
and the attraction which thev bave on that account is
increased by the uncertainty which remains, as to whether
they are wholly herbivorous, or partly or occasionally
c2
18 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
carnivorous, and whether the want of opportunity in one
mode of living induces the maintenance of life in another
way. Being inhabitants of galls, or of holes in wood, their
proceedings are thereby hidden. The operations of most
other Chalcidiz are conspicuous, and the latter may be often
seen to come out of the body of the insect which has been
their prey. One instance will suffice to indicate what is not
yet ascertained with regard to this family. A gall may be
seen on the stalks of thistles: this gall is made by the grub
of Urophora Cardui, and two other grubs, one a Kurytoma,
the other a Pteromalus, in early life dwell with it. Does the
Eurytoma feed on the gall or on the Urophora, or on both ;
and does the Pteromalus feed on the Urophora or on the
Eurytoma, or on both? In this family Systole is the only
European genus of whose economy nothing has been pub-
lished. The two figures on the preceding page represent
Isosoma flavicollis and Eurytoma platyptera. — Francis
Walker.
Life-histories of Sawflies. Translated from the Dutch of
M. 8. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN, President of the
Entomological Society of the Netherlands. By J. W.
May, Esq.
(Continued from ‘ Zoologist,’ S.S. 2517.)
Almost all the writers of entomological papers having, for
some time past, transferred their contributions to the ‘ Ento-
mologist,’ or some similar exclusively entomological periodical,
and the ‘ Zoologist’ having, in consequence, ceased to come
so much as formerly under the notice of entomologists, it has
been thought advisable to continue the publication of the
translations of M. Snellen van Vollenhoven’s papers in the
‘Entomologist’ instead of in the former publication, in which
they have from time to time appeared. The translation of the
life-history of Dineura rufa, Panz., which appears in the
present number of the ‘ Entomologist, is, therefore, simply a
continuation of former papers on ‘Tenthredinide, by the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 19
President of the Entomological Society of the Netherlands.
The translator takes this opportunity of repeating that,
although it has been found impracticable to republish the
figures accompanying the original papers, the references
to those figures have been retained in the translation; the
figures themselves are easily accessible, as the papers appear
in the published Transactions of the Netherlands Entomo-
logical Society. J. W.M.
DINEURA RUFA, Panz.
Panzer, Deutschlands Insecten, L. xxii. f. 2. Klug, Die
Blattwespen, &c., in Magazin, 8er Jahrg. p. 82, No. 71.
Hartig, Blatt-und Holzwespen, p. 228, No. 7.
We have here a species very nearly allied to the preceding
(Dineura Alni), but of an entirely different habit, Dineura
Alni being solitary in the larva stage, and the larve of the
present species being always found living together in great
numbers. In the month of August, 1864, 1 found it at
Schothorst, near Amersfoort, in a copse of young birch, in
such numbers that I counted more than thirty young larve
on one leaf, and I could easily have collected a thousand
caterpillars. I will begin by a description of the female
(fig. 1). It is 9 or 10 mm. long, expanding to 18 mm.,
short, of a compressed form, and, with the following excep-
tions, entirely of a shining orange colour. The eyes are
grayish black; ocelli topaz colour; antenne and labrum
brownish black; mandibles brown, the under surface of the
thorax having shining brownish black spots, the dorsum of
the metathorax being also of this tint, and having the
cenchri ivory-white; the ovipositor is black ; the under side
of the femora, the tips of the posterior tibiz, and the whole
of the posterior tarsi, are brown; and, lastly, the posterior
tibia, with the exception of the above-mentioned brown tips,
are of a pale faded red; the wings are smoky, which tint
becomes paler towards the exterior margin; the stigma, the
costa and the post-costal nervure are orange; the other
nervures are brown, the externo-medial nervure and its
branches being dark brown; the nervure between the first
20 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
and second submarginal is incomplete, and in the last-
named cell, which is of a rather dark smoke-colour, is a
brown horny spot.
On the 12th or 13th of September, 1862, I observed a
female sawfly, answering the above description, depositing
her eggs in a leaf-stalk of a birch tree in my garden, at
Leyden; the eggs were inserted into either side of the
petiole; one side is represented at fig. 2. The leaf-stalk
appeared to be enlarged or swollen at the spot where the egg
was concealed beneath the epidermis. As before remarked,
this was in the middle of September; I must thus conclude
that this was the second generation, as in the following year
I found full-grown larve in the middle of the month of
August. I also observed that the eggs of this first generation
were laid in the petiole of a May leaf, which leaf was eaten
out by the young larve, so as to have the appearance of
having been riddled by small shot, while the little creatures
had afterwards gone to feed in company on the leaves of the
branch growing immediately above the leaf which had been
consumed. I sometimes counted fourteen eggs in the two
rows. What surprised me was that the young larve con-
sumed the oldest leaf first, then a somewhat younger leaf,
and so on, always proceeding to younger leaves. As before
mentioned, the eggs deposited in September on the birch
tree in my garden were enclosed in the petiole. I had
captured the sawfly which laid these eggs, and was thus sure
of the species. I frequently inspected the eggs. On the 21st
of September I found two little larve had made their
appearance ; judging from their size (fig. 3a) they were at
least one day old, perhaps two: each had eaten a pretty
large hole in the leaf between the nervures. I took one of
them home, and from it drew the fig. 1, magnified. They had
twenty legs; the head was shining pale brown, with round
black spots, in which the eyes were placed. The Ist segment
of the abdomen was yellow; the others pale green, with
black longitudinal marks, on which were minute wart-like
tubercles, each serving as base to an extremely fine hair.
Two days afterwards the one | had left on the tree had
disappeared, either having fallen or been picked off by a
bird. The one [ had taken home increased but little in size,
and at the end of three or four days died. The following day
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 21
I accidentally found a company of more than twenty similar
little larvee on two other leaves of the same tree, at about the
same height from the ground. These resembled in all
respects our fig. 3; and the petioles of the leaves, on which they
were, had preeisely similar scars of eggs, so that 1 had no
doubt the species was the same. I left the larve alone until
they had changed their skin once, when I| took ten of them
in-doors; and on the Ist of October made a drawing in
outline of six on a leaf, to show their manner of feeding, and
the position they assume (fig. 4). 1 also made a coloured
drawing of one, magnified (fig. 5).
On the 10th of October they appeared to be nearly full
grown, when | made a coloured drawing of one of the
natural size (fig. 6). The head was shining black, more or
less brown towards the mandibles; antenne, palpi and
labium pale brown; on the verlex were some short hairs.
The Ist segment of the abdomen, together with the lower
part of the anterior legs, was sordid orange; the spiracle on
that segment was elliptical; the anterior legs were, for the
remainder, of a dull greenish white, the claws being pale
brown ; just in advance of the leg was a black spot of the
shape of an extended letter V. From the 2nd to the last
segment the back was yellowish gray-green; at the side,
above the spiracles, was a bluish black longitudinal stripe,
very faintly toothed above and below. In the gray-green or
yellow of the dorsum, each segment had two rows of minute
tubercles, the first row consisting of two, the second of four ;
from each of these little eminences proceeded an almost
invisible hair. Below the black lateral stripe, and on the
ventral surface, the colour of the skin is a very pale gray-
green, the same tint being also observed on the middle legs;
above the legs are two narrow black bands, which are inter-
rupted at short intervals, thus consisting of a series of little
lines; these extend to the 11th segment. I do not remember
to have counted more than twenty legs on the full grown
larve, nor do I find any note to that effect. There must
thus be a great difference in this respect between the present
and the preceding species (Dineura Alni), which, added to
the wholly different habit, is the more striking, seeing that
the insects in the perfect state differ so very little from each
other.
22 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
In order to complete the description of the full-grown
larve, I must here add the following. The large white
trachez could be seen through the skin, while the little
stigmata had pale brown borders. The last four thoracic legs
were glassy green, brownish at the tips, with a black longi-
tudinal mark on the upper side of the coxe. Although on
approaching or breathing on the larve they turned the
abdomen smartly about, I could not perceive any glands on
the ventral surface, such as are found in the genus Nematus.
Lastly, the anal valve was of a more decided yellow than the
middle of the back, the margin having eight minute brown
teeth, of which those on the sides were very indistinct.
On the whole, the larvae much resembled those of Nematus
septentrionalis, Z., described by me in the second volume of
these Transactions (‘ Zoologist, Ist series, p. 8175), and of
which a figure is given on pl. V., figs. 1 and 2; but these
latter have, very distinctly, ventral ‘glands.
This seems a fit opportunity to add, with reference to the
above-named species of Nematus, that later observations
have taught me that it lives not only on the alder, but also on
birch; that is to say, unless the insect found on birch is
merely a very nearly-allied species, which only differs from
Septentrionalis in the colour of the intermediate legs of the
imago. For example:—In June, 1862, I found larve on
birch, which appeared to me not to differ on any point from
those found on alder. They spun up on the 17th of June;
and during the interval between the 19th of July and the
21st of August a number of females were produced agreeing
with the above description of Septentrionalis, with this single
exception, namely, the tibiz of the intermediate pair were
not pale red annulated with white at the base, but were white
for half their length from the base, the remainder being
black, and the tarsi of the same pair were black instead of
pale red.
The larve of Dineura rufa spun cocoons made of grains of
earth, resembling those of so many other species. The pupe
I have not yet seen. As in the case of many other sawflies,
the imago is much less common than the larva.
Zygena Vanadis or Zygena exulans var. Vanadis,
British Insect.—My readers will recollect that the follow iti
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 23
paragraph appeared on the wrapper of the double number of
the ‘ Entomologist,’ 94 and 95, during the past year.
“Dr. Buchanan White, accompanied by Mr. Traill, has
captured Zygena exulans at an elevation of 2500 feet, in
Braemar. He has sent specimens to Mr. Doubleday, who
finds them to be the variety Vanadis, thus quoted at p. 46 of
the recent edition of Dr. Staudinger’s Catalogue: ‘a. v.
Vanadis, Dalm. Zyg. Suec. 223, 6 (parcissime squamata
albo non mixta), Lap.; Scand. mont.” In the 87th number
of the ‘ Entomologist’s Magazine’ the following particulars
appeared from the pen of the accomplished naturalist whose
good fortune it was to make this interesting discovery :—
“To-day I had the pleasure, shared by Mr. W. H. Traill,
of taking several examples of Zygena exulans, Hchw., a
species hitherto unrecorded as British. They were found at
an altitude of from 2400 to 2600 feet, on a hill in Braemar.
Z. exulans does not greatly resemble any of the other
British species of the genus. The antenne are clavate, and
obtuse at the apex; the wings, which are sparingly scaled,
are of a dull dark green, with five dull carmine spots, of
which the first is long and narrow, and overlaps the basal
half of the third; the second and third spots are small, and
the fourth and fifth large; the hind wings are dull red, with
a dull green border, which is broader and darker in the
male; the fringes are ochreous; and the abdomen black and
shaggy. Inthe typical Exulans, which occurs on the higher Alps
and Pyrenees, the nervures are sprinkled with ochreous; but
in var. Vanadis, Dalm., which is the Scandinavian form, the
wings are more sparingly scaled, and the ochreous is absent.
Our specimens appear to be intermediate between these. two
forms, as, though the male has no ochreous, the female has
the nervures and collar distinctly marked with this colour.
Z. exulans is about the size of Minos.” (HK. M. M. p. 68.)
The following additional information from the pen of the
same entomologist is extracted from the ‘ Entomologist’s
Annual’ for the present year, at p. 113:—
“ The locality for Exulans, in Braemar, is an ancient shore
of the glacial sea; and the same agencies that deposited
there, various boulders and arctic plants, probably, at the
same time, brought the Zygena. ‘The insect is extremely
local in its habits, for not a specimen was to be found,
94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
except in one grassy and rushy place, about two hundred
yards long and fifty yards broad: in this spot the moths
were not uncommon, flying about in the sunshine, sitting on
the flowers of Gnaphalium dioicum, or hanging tn cop. on to
the stems of grass. Females were much scarcer than males,
and frequently had defective wings. The other Lepidoptera
frequenting the same place were Crambus _furcatellus,
Sericoris irriguana, and Ccenonympha Tiphon var. Laidion.
No other species of Zygena is to be found in Braemar,
so far as I am aware.
“The larva of Z. exulans is polyphagous, preferring,
however, I believe, Erica and Vaccinium. Some larve which
I had fed up readily,-however, on Triticum repens and
Polygonum aviculare, plants that do not occur within some
miles of the station for Exulans. I found cocoons attached
to various plants, Erica, grasses, Carex rigida, &c. The
habitat of Exulans, in Braemar, is probably covered with
snow from November to April each season.”
The larva, a specimen of which, through the unremitting
kindness of Mr. Doubleday, is now before me, is of the
usual Zygena type: the head small and retractile within the
2nd segment, it is black and shining; the body is dingy
ochreous, each segment having a transverse series: of fascicles
of radiating black bristles, which impart a very dingy appear-
ance to the larva; on each side is a subdorsal series of pale
spots, each spot being transversely elongate; the legs are
black, horny, and glabrous; the claspers are inconspicuous,
being placed a good way under the body; their colour, as
well as that of the belly, is obscure. It may be observed the
colour of preserved larve is not always a safe criterion of
what it was in the living specimen.
In the course of a somewhat careful examination and
comparison of specimens, the following observations occurred
to me. Dr. Staudinger has placed Exulans after Piloselle of
Esper, which includes the Minos and Nubigena of the
‘ Label List, sixteen species intervening; and before Trifolii,
three species intervening. It does not very closely resemble
either, but I fully accept this as the proper location for the
species, and have so placed it. Compared with Trifolii the
antennz appear to be shorter, and the club more abruptly
incrassated ; compared with Nubigena there is no perceptible
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 25
difference in the length of the antenne, and the incrassation
towards the tip is rather less abrupt. The wings are rather
less diaphanous than in Nubigena, decidedly more so than in
Trifolii; their colour has a tinge of opaque green, which is all
but invisible in Nubigena, and there is none of that metallic
green which adorns Trifolii: this observation applies only to
the variety, and not to the type specimens of Exulans, some
of which are richly adorned with gold-green, especially the
females; the red spots are five in number, and disposed
much as in Trifolii; I find no trace of the sixth spot, which
is always indicated in Nubigena, however fused and united
with other spots; all the red markings are duller than either
in Trifolii or Nubigena, and the tint of the red is more of a
dull carmine; the basal subcostal spot is long and pointed,
far surpassing the second basal spot, which is clearly defined,
and never appears united with any other red spot; in this
respect it agrees with Trifolii; the three remaining red spots
are distinct and well-defined; the black hind border of the
hind wings is accompanied by a smoky cloud, narrower in
the female, broader in the male; the wing-rays are partially
of the same dull smoke-colour; the body is black and hairy.
The character essentialis, or nomen-specificum, given as
diagnostic of the species dlarum anteriorum costis subsul-
phureis, is not apparent in Scotch specimens. Typical
specimens of Exulaus from the Swiss Alps possess this and
other characteristics, which I have purposely omitted to
notice.—EHdward Newman.
Notes on Aphides.—The study of geographical distribution
of insects is inductive to enquiry as to the mode by which
this arrangement has been effected. Passing over earlier
cosmical changes, investigation may begin with the glacial
period, which was preparatory to the present aspects of
nature. During the prevalence of this epoch insect life was
mostly limited to the regions about the middle zone of the
earth, and from thence the assemblage of insects spread and
converged to the north and to the south, and these middle
districts might have been more extensive than they are now,
as there are indications and traces of large continents that
formerly occupied parts of the Atlantic, and of the Pacific
and of the Indian Ocean. During the continual diminution
26 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of this epoch the arctic climate receded towards the poles,
and was followed by vegetation and by the insect race in
successively smaller or less varied zones. By this means
the vast variety in the range of insect-life has been effected,
and the time here mentioned was preparatory to the present
aspects of nature, just as winter is succeeded by the scenery
ofsummer. A large part of the insect species still continue
in their former habitation; another large part have wholly
departed from the tropical regions, and have settled in
temperate countries, while a few are cosmopolitan or
universal, and bind, as it were, the whole Fauna together.
Some kinds pass occasionally from one district to another,
and thus, like the annual migration of others, indicate
slightly the great change that formerly occurred. As the
cold climate diminished, the arctic and alpine species
removed to higher levels or to higher latitudes, and ceased to
exist in the intervening temperate regions, just as many of
the present inhabitants of the latter have wholly left the
warm lands which are now unsuited to them, and to the
vegetation with which they are associated. A notice of the
settlements and range of an insect family may begin with the
low latitudes, its earlier dwelling-place ; and it may be traced
thence in its lines of convergence to the high latitudes, these
lines being occasionally shortened or turned aside by inter-
vening seas, or mountains, or deserts. The Aphis family is,
as yet, very little known in low latitudes, and there are only
two instances of its occurrence to the south of the equator.
The first is a Madagascar genus, published by Coquerel:
this genus has the fore wings more highly organized than
those of any other known form of the tribe. The second
dwells near New Caledonia, and is described by Montrouzier,
and has much resemblance to some of the European Aphides.
In Dr. Leith’s collection of Bombay insects, I have observed
an Aphis which, if its specific characters are not obliterated
by its shrivelled condition, is identical with a common
English species. The next record of the family is in North
Italy, where Passerini has published a monograph of the
species therein. Africa, Asia and. Australia are thus almost
undiscovered countries as regards Aphides, and afford a
large space aud require much time for research. The
Aphides of America are unknown from the Southern end to
“
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 2 f
the Northern States, where several new species have been
described ; a few there are also species of Europe, and may
have been introduced thence into America. Kaltenbach has
published a work on the Aphides of Germany; and Koch
another, on those of the same country ; and, nothwithstanding
the three monographs here mentioned, and various descrip-
tions of species in France and in Sweden, there is much yet
to be discovered in Europe, especially with regard to the
migratory species, and to the more or less conspicuous and
numerous alternate generations, and to the influence of
temperature and vegetation in changing the structure. The
history of Aphides is connected with that of Coccinelle,
Hemerobii, and Syrphi, which destroy them from without;
and with that of Aphidiide, Allotride, and a few Chalcidia,
which destroy them from within; and with that of ants,
which keep them as a flock, and feed on their honey. The
little yellow ant lives with Aphides under ground; the black
ant is a guide to the discovery of the long-beaked Aphis in
the crevices of the bark of oak trees; and the large black and
red ant resorts to the Aphides in woods. Some Aphides are
especially subject to the attacks of Aphidii, from which
other species, though equally numerous and noxious, are
nearly free, weather and want of food being the agents in
causing the latter to pass away. ‘The comfrey Aphis is the
frequent prey of a little red Dipterous larva, which seldom
attacks other species. The fact that Aphides are, stored by
fossorial Hymenoptera as provision for their young is well
known ; and I observed an instance of it in Finmark. The
Aphides of that region must have a long continuance of the
egg state; in England this state varies from one month to
eight months, according to the species, and according to the
weather. The length and season of the egg state in the
Aphides of hot countries has not yet been observed, and
is an interesting subject for enquiry.—francis Walker.
Anaitis plagiata.—It is not stated in the ‘ History of
British Moths, neither in Stainton’s ‘ Manual,’ that the
larve produced by the second brood of this species
hybernate. Such, however, appears to be the case. I took
a pair, in cop., the beginning of last September; the female
laid me a supply of eggs, which hatched on the 25th of the
same month, and I passed them on the next day to my
28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
friend Mr. Bignell, who kindly undertook to look after them
during my absence on three weeks’ leave. On my return on
the 18th of October, I relieved Mr. Bignell of his charge, and
was surprised at the small progress they had made in that
time, as | imagined they would feed up and turn to pupe
this year, and consequently that they would have grown
more rapidly. Mr. Bignell had supplied them with a
growing plant, on which they were feeding when I returned,
so they could not have been more carefully attended to. On
the 23rd of October I took many of these larve feeding
at large, which were about the same size as those reared
from the egg, and on the 30th of the month I took more,
some of which were a trifle larger than any I had previously
seen, and I observed them exposed on the Hypericum up to
the 15th ult., after which date I do not find any notice
of them in my journal. There had been several sharp frosts
prior to this. The larve I have in-doors (with the exception
of two or three that still continue to feed slowly, and seem
nearly full grown) have crawled to the top of their cage,
where they appear determined to remain for the rest of the
winter. I have shaken them down once or twice on their
food-plant, but they always crawl back to the old position.
It is a hard-feeling larva to the touch, and one, I should say,
difficult to describe accurately. Some of mine vary from a
dark chestnut-brown to a pale putty-colour. When feeding
they do not often wander off their food; and this autumn
brood shows a decided preference for the seeds of their food-
plant, although they do not altogether refuse the leaves, and
in the spring, of course, will have nothing else.—Gervase F.
Mathew ; Admiralty House, Devonport, December 8, 1871.
Description of the Larva of Cerigo Cytherea.—The head
is narrower than the 2nd segment, highly glabrous, and with
tumid cheeks; it is furnished with a few scattered hairs; the
body is smooth, velvety, and uniformly cylindrical, the
division of the segments being marked with considerable
distinctness, and the segments themselves being transversely,
but not deeply, divided into sections: the entire colour is
pale bistre-brown; the head being somewhat hyaline, and
having a few darker marks arranged in two longitudinal
series near the median suture of the face; the body is some-
what velvety, aud the brown colour slightly tinged with
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 29
ochreous; the three thoracic segments and the sides are
rather darker; the general surface is varied with numerous
linear markings throughout its length; these form a double
medio-dorsal series of dark linear spots, a pair on the
anterior half of every segment after the 4th; there is also a
double lateral stripe, the halves thereof being closely
approximate and very slender; the ordinary dorsal trape-
zoids of black dots are present, but scarcely perceptible; the
13th segment, instead of the double medio-dorsal spots so
conspicuous on the preceding segments, has a round dark
brown spot in the same situation. I received this larva
from my kind friend Mr. Doubleday, who had several feeding
on grass throughout the winter, and which appeared full
grown in the beginning of January.— Edward Newman.
Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.
Opening the Campaign.—A pouring wet day yesterday
was succeeded by a fine mild evening, with a fresh breeze
from the westward, and my friend Mr. Jones, of Morice
Town, who had previously arranged to call for me if the
night was fine, arriving a little after six, we started out
to open the entomological campaign in this neighbourhood
for the year 1872, directing our attention on this occasion
against any larve that might have wandered forth at such an
early period of the season. We were not long in reaching
the “happy hunting-ground,” a hedge which Mr. Jones
knew of old to be a favourite spot for many kinds of larve,
where we at once endeavoured to light our lanterns; this,
however, I found to be a difficult operation, owing to the
wind, which seemed to blow round and through everything,
and to persist, in spite of the shelter of a wall, in extinguish-
ing my matches as fast as I struck them. But at last I
managed to get a light. Mr. Jones was more fortunate,
succeeding at the first attempt; and calling out to me that
he had discovered a larva of Gnophos obscuraria, while I was
still in difficulties with my lantern. This larva was found on
a stone in the immediate vicinity of a plant of Geranium
lucidum, upon which Mr. Jones tells me he invariably finds
them feeding, and that towards the end of March and
30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
beginning of April, when they are full fed, they seem to
prefer the flowers to the leaves: they feed entirely by night.
A little further on I detected another at rest on a piece of
dead grass. The hedges were terribly soaked after the recent
heavy rain, and every bush and plant was dripping; but,
notwithstanding this, after an hour’s careful searching we
succeeded in taking some forty larve of various species. The
most numerous were those of Epunda lichenea, of which
about thirty of different sizes, some half grown and others
very small, were secured. The greater part of these were
found stretched on stems of dead grass, dock, twigs, &c., and
several of the smallest individuals were sitting in the Sphinx-
like attitude described in Newman’s ‘British Moths.’ I
noticed that they generally occurred in little families of five
or six, and few of them appeared to be eating, as, no doubt,
they had merely crawled up to enjoy the soft balmy air;
those that were observed feeding were discussing dock, sorrel,
chickweed, and a common sort of grass. In colour, about two-
thirds of these larve are pale green, the remainder, the
largest ones, being of a mottled olive, and a few of them are
suffused with a slight pinkish bloom. The other species
taken appear to be Tryphena pronuba, orbona and janthina,
Leucania lithargyria, Phlogophora meticulosa, Noctua Xan-
thographa, and a single larva—a big fellow—we cannot
determine, but which may be a variety of Tryphena fimbria.
We reached home again at half-past eight, much pleased
with the result of our evening’s work. I hope this account
will induce other entomologists to bestir themselves at this
early season ; and, let me tell them, that more larve are to be
obtained on mild evenings at this time of the year than later
on, when they will be more difficult to find, on account of
the vegetation growing and becoming thicker.—Gervase F.
Mathew ; Admiralty House, Devonport, January 14, 1872.
Larva of Sphinx Ligustri feeding on Teasel.—In July I
observed a larva of 8S. Ligustri feeding on wild teasel ;
I think an unusual plant for it. I kept it two or three days,
during which time it fed freely on the teasel, but left it as
soon as I placed privet within its reach.—Stephen Clogg ;
Looe, December 14, 1871.
Scarcity of Hepialus Humuli.—As far as my observations
extend, this common species has ceased to be abundant
-
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 31
in the London district, and from several places where it used
to occur it has entirely disappeared. Its life-history is not so
well known as that of some of the allied species; and any
communications regarding its habits, by those who have had
frequent opportunities of seeing it in its different stages,
would be interesting to others amongst your readers besides
myself.—J. R. S. Clifford.
Economy of Liparis Salicis—I do not know whether the
economy of this species varies according to its geographical
position. Here, in the vicinity of London, I have several
times found the young larve in autumn, or enclosed in a
slight web during the winter. But it is stated that in some
districts the eggs remain unhatched until the spring. And,
possibly, it may turn out that, still farther south, the-larve
are matured in the autumn, and the pupation lasts through
the winter. Years ago, when the old Battersea Fields were
in the process of formation, with the present Battersea Park,
the larve of L. Salicis were so abundant on the poplars as to
almost defoliate the lower branches. Now, it appears in
comparatively small numbers in our western suburbs.—Jd.
Eremobia ochroleuca in Kent and E'ssex.—In your work
on ‘ British Moths’ you say that this is a very local species,
and only found in four counties, namely, Sussex, Gloucester-
shire, Suffolk, and Yorkshire. I have found this insect in
two other counties flying in the day-time, or at rest on
flowers. In Kent [ have taken specimens at Deal, Folke-
stone and Dover; and I am informed that it is taken near
Canterbury in considerable numbers. In Essex I have
taken a single specimen at rest on a flower-head, in the
patish of Hadleigh, some four miles from here; and I know
that it is taken not uncommonly near Saffron Walden, in
this county.—Gilbert H. Raynor; The Ferns, Danbury,
Chelmsford, December 26, 1871.
Economy of Aineana.—On the 20th of this month
(January), in company with Mr. Godwin and other friends,
I visited Willesden to obtain larve of Aineana. Mr. Godwin,
who has been very successful in breeding this beautiful
Tortrix, pointed out a fact relating to the species I think
worth mentioning to the readers of the ‘ Entomologist,’ as it
may lead to the discovery of other localities for it. He
directed us to pull gently the last years’ flower-stalks of the
32 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
ragwort, and in every instance where the root contained a
larva the stem broke off very readily, leaving a_ portion
standing always two inches high; this was slightly webbed
over the hole that led down to the root. On examining the
piece that broke off, it had the appearance of recentiy being
eaten nearly through, as though prepared for the rough
winds of the coming spring to break off. I succeeded in
obtaining about twenty roots containing the Jarve; thanks to
the kind information of Mr. Godwin. The larva is very
much like that of Tipuliformis.—J. Russell; 18, Mount
Pleasant Road.
Early appearance of P. Pilosaria, T. Stabilis, and T.
Instabilis —To-day (January 26) I found several of the above
hatched out in my breeding-cage, and in fine condition. The
breeding-cage stands out of doors, only sheltered by an open
summer-house.—[Rev.] A. C. Hervey; Colmer, Hants.
Death of M. Guillaume Capiomont.—We ‘regret to
announce the death of Guillaume Capiomont, which took
place on the 15th of November, at Luxeuil, where he had
removed, hoping to receive benefit from change of air. He
was excessively fatigued by the journey, and never rallied;
his age was fifty-nine years. During a long residence in
Algiers he had devoted all his spare time to the study of
insects, and had made a very considerable collection of
Coleoptera; he has most carefully observed and studied the
life-history of many species. He has recently published a
very masterly monograph of the curculionidous family
Hyperides, and had very recently completed monographs of
the genera Larinus and Lixus.—‘ P. N. E.,’ Dec 15, 1871.
Death of Herr Heinemann.—I have just heard, through a
correspondent, of the death of Herr Heinemann, of Brunswick,
one of the most distinguished of German Lepidopterists. His
death was painfully sudden, by paralysis, on the 18th
December. Herr Heinemann was the author of a very elabo-
rate work, intituled ‘ Lepidoptera of Germany and Switzer-
land.’ It is in three volumes, published at different periods :
the first in 1859, the second in 1863, and the third in 1870.
And he was a man possessed of that kindness and courtesy
which are the characteristics of men eminent for their
attainments in science.—Hdward Newman.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 101.] MARCH¥ MDCOCLXXII. [Price 6d.
Answers to Correspondents.
THE STRIPED TIGER MOTH (CALLIMORPHA HERA).
Callimorpha Hera.—A correspondent enquires “ why this
species has not been introduced into the British List, and
why the Channel Island insects have not been always
admitted, since Sir William Hooker, Professor Babington, and
other botanists, have always admitted the plants?” He adds,
“Tf the plants are British, so must be the insects which
feed on them.” In reply, I will take the last point first. I
think it decidedly unwise to admit the Channel Island
plants, seeing those islands are politically only, and neither
naturally nor geographically, a part of Great Britain. On the
other point, it may be said of D’Orville’s capture, to which
my correspondent does not allude, but which, doubtless,
induces the enquiry, that Mr. D’Orville lives near a large
nursery, and that a hybernating larva of Hera may easily have
been introduced from the Continent with imported plants.
The Sussex captures, published in the ‘ Zoologist’ and
‘Entomologist,’ are not so easily accounted for, and are
more difficult to explain; but, perhaps, we may apply the
VOL. VI. D
34 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
“blown-over” theory to these. However, since it cannot be
disputed that the species has occurred in Britain, I present my
readers with a figure and description. It is remarkable that
a day-flying insect, like Hera, should twice have been taken
in the night: once attracted by light, and burning its wings
in the lamp; and once attracted by the sugar bait.
68a*. The Striped Tiger.—Palpi rather long, ascending,
the basal joint ochreous, the second black, the penultimate
ochreous, the apical black; face ochreous, with a lozenge-
shaped median black spot; crown ochreous, with a black
spot on each side, from the centres of which arise the filiform —
antennz, which are blackish above and dusky ochreous
beneath; the lateral halves of the collar or prothorax are
black, each bordered with ochreous in front and on the sides,
but not behind; the tippets are elongate-triangular, the
scales at the tips long and setiform; the metathorax is black
in the middle, pale ochreous or cream-coloured on the sides ;
the fore wings are variegated with black and cream-colour;
the black is glossed with metallic iridescence; the cream-
colour is shaded to ochreous at the anal angle; it is thus
distributed,—first, at the base of the wing is a pointed stripe
parallel with the inner margin (this extends little more than
a fourth of the distance between the base of the wing and the
anal angle); the second is a short and narrow oblique costal
stripe, having nearly the same direction ; the third is a much
broader and much longer pointed oblique stripe, tending
directly towards the anal angle, but not nearly reaching it;
the fourth is a short and narrow oblique stripe, corresponding
with the second; the fifth stripe is broader and longer, and
unites with the sixth, which has a contrary direction, and is
parallel with the hind margin; these two stripes form the
letter V, and are joined to the ochreous space, already noticed,
at the anal angle, in which are four roundish black spots;
the hind margin is cream-colour; the hind wings are
crimson-scarlet, with three black spots, neither of which is of
regular form, although all are clearly defined; one of these,
generally the smallest, is situated rather above the middle of
the wing, another is between this and the hind margin, and
the third, which is much larger than the others, occupies the
apical angle, enclosing a crimson-scarlet marginal blotch;
the body is pink, with a medio-dorsal series of black spots,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 35
and on each side is a parallel series of blackish markings,
less conspicuous than the medio-dorsal series.
Hera is very constant in the disposition and form of its
markings, not totally without variation, but constant as
compared with Caja, Villica, &c. <A variety, however,
frequently occurs, in which the crimson colour is replaced by
yellow. This is mentioned as an aberration in Staudinger’s
Catalogue, under the name of dwlescens; and also in
Ochseuheimer’s ‘Schmetterlinge von Europa,’ vol. iv. p. 208.
The eggs are laid soon after midsummer, and, like those
of its beautiful congener, Dominula, on several different
plants; Boisduval mentions hound’s-tongue, mouse-ear,
broom, honeysuckle, currant, &c.: they are hatched in the
autumn, and the caterpillars live through the winter, feeding
and acquiring their full size in the spring, when they spin a
flimsy cocoon, like that of Dominula. Through the kindness
of my friend Mr. Doubleday I have the opportunity of
describing a full-fed caterpillar :—
The head is scarcely so wide as the 2nd segment, very
glabrous, distinctly notched on the crown, and with convex
cheeks; the body is almost uniformly cylindrical, the 2nd,
3rd, 4th and 13th segments being rather smaller than the
rest; each segment has a whorl of twelve warts, some of
them compound, and scarcely any two of them are alike, and
each bears a radiating fascicle of spine-like bristles; the
spiracles are nine, as usual, and situated in the usual
segments, each is placed immediately adjoining and just
in advance of one of the warts: the colour of the head and
legs is black; of the body pale testaceous-brown, with three
series of paler markings; the first of these is medio-dorsal, it
is faint and irregular in width, being composed of nine
bottle-shaped compartments, the base of each being towards
the head; the other series are lateral, and each is composed
of nine white spots, each of them double, something like
figures-of-8 placed end to end, and each having a delicate
black border; these figures-of-8 are on a line with the
spiracles, and each, excepting the first, is immediately
followed by a black spiracle ; the warts and bristles are paler
than the general surface; the ventral is also paler than the
dorsal surface ; the claspers are pale, but marked with brown
on the outside ; like the legs they are glabrous, and somewhat
36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
scaly,—that is, not so distinctly fleshy as the claspers of
Lepidoptera generally.
It is many years since Capt. Russell announced the capture
of several specimens of Hera in Wales. The announcement,
however, like many others to the same purport, was disre-
garded, I believe, from an impression that the larve had
been imported from the Channel Islands. This has certainly
been the case in some instances; and, therefore, every
instance of capture is open to the suspicion, seeing that, like
Clostera anachoreta, the species has failed to establish a per-
manent footing in Britain: the specimens taken on the
sea-shore are obnoxious to the “ blown-over” interpretation.
On the Sth of September, 1855, Mr. J. J. Reeve took a
very good specimen at Newhaven, on the coast of Sussex,
as recorded at p. 4953 of the ‘ Zoologist’ for that year. This
specimen is now in the magnificent collection of Mr. Heury
Cooke, of Brighton.
In the autumn of 1868 Miss Poore, a lady residing at
Patcham, near Brighton, took a specimen at light, the wings
having been a little burnt by the flame. This capture is
recorded at p. 213 of the fourth volume of the ‘Entomologist.’
On the 14th of August, 1871, Mr. D’Orville, of Alphington,
near Exeter, took a specimen at sugar, with which he had
baited a corymb of the common tansy, as recorded in the
‘Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for September, 1871;
and, again, at p. 414 of the ‘ Entomologist’ for October.
This beautiful species occurs throughout the central
countries of Europe, extending abundantly into the Channel
Islands; also in Western Asia, as Asia Minor and Palestine.
It may now be safely added to the British List. I may here
observe that the rule hitherto observed of including the
Channel Islands in Britain botanically, and excluding them
zoologically, appears very objectionable. I would venture to
suggest that the same practice, whether of inclusion or
exclusion, should obtain in both kingdoms.
Mistakes in ‘ British Butterflies.’—I notice a mistake in
your ‘ Natural History of British Butterflies,’ which should
be corrected in future editions: page 174, line 20. Actzxon
has never, to my knowledge, been taken in this locality ;
and on reference to a press copy of my letter to you of
April 1, 1870, in which I sent you a list of butterflies taken
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 37
in this locality, I find Actzon is not named.—W. G. Col-
bourne; Bridge Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, January 1,
1872.
Portunus longipes and Galathea strigosa in the stomach
of a Cod-fish.—I have received a specimen of Portunus
longipes taken (with Galathea strigosa) from the stomach of
a cod, caught in Mount’s Bay. The specimen is nearly
perfect, having only lost one joint from the third and fourth
right legs. ‘The specimen was procured in the third week in
December last.—Thomas Cornish; Penzance, January 10,
1872.
Insect Boxes for the Post.—I shall be obliged to any
reader of the ‘Entomologist’ who will inform me where I
can get boxes that are not likely to get broken in the post.
I have tried Cooke’s postal-boxes, and have found they
generally travelled in safety; but once or twice a box con-
taining rare insects has been smashed to pieces.—Samuel
Doncaster ; Broom Hall Park, Sheffield, January 17, 1872.
I am like Mr. Doncaster... I have found nothing that will
withstand the sledge-hammer of post-office officials.
Name-changing.—“ It is evident that strictly speaking the
oldest name should have the authority of law; but to change
a name that entomologists have accepted for half a century
requires the most absolute validity of the reasons assigned.
Now, we all know that the figures and descriptions of the
older authors serve equally well for several closely-allied
species, and it is reasonable, where these fine distinctions
were not drawn, to apply the name, as entomologists have
done, to the species of most common occurrence in the
country where it was described, provided always that the
description itself presented no difficulties."—P. N. E.
Geometra papilionaria.—No. 27 of the ‘ Entomologist’s
Weekly Intelligencer’ for 1857 has a communication from
Mr. R. H. Fremlin, dated February 17th, in which he says,
writing of this species:—‘I have taken, with the aid of a
friend, seven or eight larve of this insect, during the last few
days, from the birch.” I shall be much obliged to Mr.
Fremlin, should he see this note, or to any other ento-
mologist, for particulars as to the mode of procuring this
larva at this time of the year, when the birch is not in leaf.
Were the larve beaten during the day, or taken by night
88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
with the help of a lantern? Do they feed on the young
catkins, &c., &c.? Any information will be most acceptable,
as the birch grows plentifully in some woods in this neigh-
bourhood. The perfect insect, I believe, occurs here, and I
am anxious to obtain the larve.—Gervase F. Mathew; 3,
Stopford Place, Stoke, Devonport, February 12, 1872.
Correspondents will oblige me by replying in the ‘ Ento-
mologist.’
Colias Edusa in Yorkshire.—Please excuse my asking
why you did not give Yorkshire as a locality for Colias
Edusa in your ‘ British Butterflies?’ Perhaps you did not
consider the evidence quite satisfactory; but its occurrence
at Worsborough was genuine, as I saw the insects on the
setling-boards. They have not been seen since; but I am on
the look out in the season.—Jos. Goodyear ; Worsborough,
Barnsley, February 14, 1872.
I can only account for the omission by supposing the
record altogether escaped my notice; of course it ought to
have been inserted.
Insect Perforating Lead.—A friend of mine, aware of my
love for Entomology, recently called my attention to a large
piece of sheet-lead from a neighbouring roof, which had
apparently been attacked by insects. The lead had been
removed in consequence of the water penetrating the roof;
and an examination of it proved that it had been bored in
small round holes, in the same way as we so frequently see
old timber pierced. There were, besides, some marks on the
lead reminding me of the mines made in leaves by certain
insects. My friend was of opinion that the mischief was done
by the same beetle that does similar damage to timber,
insects known in our local dialect as “ woodloos.” Perhaps
you, or some reader of the ‘ Entomologist,’ can enlighten me
as to the cause of the above appearances.—W. Macmillan ;
Castle Cary, Somerset, February 16, 1872.
I have known lead to be perforated by a longicorn beetle
on its emergence from the pupa state: these have on two
occasions proved to be Callidium Bajulus, and on one
occasion Callidium violaceum. The insect obviously does
this in its desire to escape and increase its kind, and not
with a view of converting lead into nutriment. In the present
instance 1 can give no opinion without seeing the lead, and
probably not even then.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 39
Beetle damaging Silk Ribbon.—Mr. A Sharland, of 39,
Bishopsgate Street Within, has shown me some ribbon per-
forated through and through with small circular holes,
resembling shot-holes. He also brought the roller on which
the ribbon had been wound, together with the beetle in its
various stages. It proves to be Anobium striatum: it had
evidently been feeding on the wood when in the larva state,
leaving a number of longitudinal galleries, as in the previously-
mentioned case of the Callidium and the lead. Its injurious
effect on the silk arose solely from the instinctive desire to
escape when mature. No remedy can be applied, because
the insect cannot be discovered until the mischief is com-
pleted; but more care should be exercised in the choice of
wood for these rollers, for if perfectly sound wood is
employed in the manufacture, the insect is not very
likely to introduce itself afterwards. By burning those that
are infected, you may prevent, in some measure, the increase
of the injury.
Doritis Apollo at Epping.—I see, at the end of your
volume on the butterflies, that you have not seen an
authenticated specimen of Doritis Apollo caught in_ this
country. You will be pleased to learn that I have one in my
possession, which was taken by my late son at Epping, about
the year 1847 or 1848, at the time he was a pupil at Dr.
Usmar’s school, which was previously that of Isaac Payne,
where I was also a scholar for six years, and part of the time
with Henry and Edward Doubleday. It is possible Henry
Doubleday may have attempted to stock the neighbourhood
with some of the rarer butterflies and moths. I think I
have heard my son say so, but am not quite certain.—Geo.
Bax Holmes; Alton, February 6, 1872.
On receipt of this letter I immediately forwarded it to my
friend Henry Doubleday, who thinks there must be a mistake
in the supposition that the specimen was taken at Epping. I
have already expressed my opinion, as alluded to by my
correspondent, that there is no authenticated British speci-
men of Apollo.
The Processionist Caterpillar.—I shall feel much obliged
if you can give me a little information about a caterpillar
very common here. I have now a nest of these in my room
here, and which I am watching with very great interest. The
40 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
only name people here can give me is the “ processionist”
(when they take their walks abroad they go in perfect Indian
file). A friend of mine says they are to be found at home. They
answer your description of “Cuspidates,” but I cannot find
any mention of them in the ‘Natural History of British
Moths;’ so I have concluded they are not British. I shall
be glad to know if I am correct in this, and also, further, if
you will tell me what is the moth. Another fact about them
is that the hairs, which their bodies are covered with, are very
loose, and, if allowed to get on any part of the person,
produce a very unpleasant rash.—G@. F. Heywood; Hotel
des Anglais, Menton, France, February 16, 1872.
The caterpillar is properly called the “ Processionist.”
It is the Cnethocampa processionea of Stephens’ and Stau-
dinger’s Catalogue; the Bombyx processionea of Linneus:
it is an inhabitant of almost all parts of Europe, excepting
Sweden, Norway, North Russia, and Britain. The curious
habits of these caterpillars of marching in procession is
well known, and has been graphically described by Reaumur
(Mem. vol. ii. p. 128); Kirby and Spence (vol. i. p. 475); and
a great number of subsequent compilers. ~ From the pictures
illustrating the processional habits of this species, 1 should
hardly have described them as marching in single file; the
army seems to be arranged in a gradually increasing file, first
a single one as leader, then two abreast, then three abreast,
and so on, until they are represented as eight or even nine
abreast. The peculiar and irritating character of the hairs is
also well known; and I hope to revert to it on a future
occasion when I have more space.
Siaudinger’s and other Synonymic Catalogues of Lepi-
doptera.— ‘In a literary point of view this Catalogue is not
without a certain kind of merit; from a natural-history point
of view such catalogues are positively worthless: nay, more
than this, professedly undertaken to remove confusion, they
do nothing but increase it.".—M. Breyer; in his “compte
rendu” of the Belgian Entomological Society.
Club Collection.—I beg to express my sincere thanks for
the undermentioned contributions since my appeal in the
February ‘ Entomologist :’—Mr. Birchall, of Leeds, 2 Hyale ;
Mr. Skelton, of Faversham, 4 Polychloros; Mr. Corbin, of
Ringwood, 3 Actxon, 3 Sibylla, 2 Cribrum; Mr. W. Ingall,
4 Acton. Epwarkp NEWMAN.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 41
Economy of Torymide. By Francis WALKER, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 18.)
The two figures below represent Podagrion splendidum
and Torymus caliginosus, and are, like those in the last
TORYMUS CALIGINOSUS.
number of the ‘Entomologist,’ and like others that may
appear, from the drawings of the late A. H. Haliday.
These drawings were first copied in the ‘Entomologist’
(1842), and some of them have been lately published
D2
42 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
in the ‘Notes on Chalcidiz.’ The Eurytomide and the
Torymide have more mutual affinity than there is between
either of them and any other family of Chalcidiz. Some of
their forms agree in “colorational pattern ;” and this is said
by one author to indicate a common origin, and a species
will, perhaps, be selected and said to represent the extinct
ancestor of both families, and another species will, perhaps,
be presumed to be like the original form of all the Chalcidiz,
like as a recent insect has been lately asserted to be the
counterpart of the earliest form of the insect-race. The
Torymide generally resort to galls; and Callimome, which
probably includes about nine-tenths of the species of the
family, appears to be wholly parasitic in gall-insects: its
general colour is golden green; and its chief congregation is
in oak-galls, and particularly in oak-apples, where several
species of it may be found. Some of these species also
inhabit smaller galls; but the oak-apples are the only
habitation of one kind, whose especially long oviduct, not
exactly adapted for cherry-galls or for currant-galls, enable
it to penetrate into the inmost recesses of the oak-apples,
which will thus afford matter for useless controversy, as to
whether the Callimome came into existence as it now is, or
whether its oviduct was successively lengthened by natural
selection till it equalled the average half-diameter of the
oak-apple. Some species have a blue, a purple, or a copper
colour, instead of golden green; and in a few a red, or
luteous, hue occupies the basal part of the abdomen. The
oak-gall-making insects are by no means coextensive with
oak-woods, but. appear to have migrated to them in com-
paratively modern times, for there are few, or none, of them
in some parts of England and in Ireland, where oak-woods
abound. The Callimome species probably followed the gall-
flies, and, like them, have yet to be traced through a large
part of Europe to East Russia, China, and Japan, and also to
Amoutland, where the minute Diptera are very like, if not
identical with, the British species, and, perhaps, the minute
Hymenoptera may be so also. Megastigmus, another genus
of Torymide, also preys on gall-insects, and will form two
groups: of these one is somewhat like Callimome in
structure, and partakes of the golden green hue, which
distinguishes the latter; the other group approaches a
section of Decatoma in form and in the disposition of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 43
colours. Of the first group there are two species: one of
them is peculiar to oak-apples, though its oviduct is not
longer than of some species of Callimome which divide
their attention between the oak-apple and a small kind of
gall; perhaps the “law of inheritance” is stronger in it.
The other species inhabits South Europe. I have seen it
emerge from galls, for which I was indebted very many
years ago to the kindness of the Rev. F. W. Hope. Five
other Hymenopterous insects also came forth from these
galls: a Cynips (the first possessor of them), Torymus
calcaratus, a Foenus, an Osmia?, and another aculeate
species; and thus there is much yet to learn in the natural |
history of these galls. Glyphomerus stigma represents
another genus of Torymide; it and a Porizon exercise a
limitatory control over Rhodites Rose, the inhabitant of
the bedeguar, or pincushion-gall of the wild-rose. Two
other genera of Torymide have no connection with galls:
one of them is Monodontomonus, which, with Cirrospilus
Acasta, another Chalcid, lives at the expense of Antho-
phora, a genus of bees; the other is Podagrion, which, and
the eggs of Mantis, appear to have been created for each
other; it may be coextensive with Mantis, and has been
observed in Australia, Asia, Africa, South Europe, and
North America. There are a few other genera of Torymide,
which need not be mentioned, as their economy is unknown;
but one of them, Metamorpha, may be noticed as exhibiting
transitional characters between Torymide and Leucospide,
and one species of the latter has been found in a gall.
Life-histories of Sawflies. Translated from the Dutch of
M.S. C. SNELLEN vAN VOLLENHOVEN, President of the
Entomological Society of the Netherlands. By J. W.
May, Esq.
(Continued from p. 22.)
Macropuya ALBIcINCTA, Schr.
Imago.— Schrank, Enum. Insect. Austria, p. 329, No. 661.
Geoffr. Ins. ii. p. 282, No. 28. Klug, Blattw. in
Magazin 8er Jahrg. p. 125, No. 94. Hartig, Blatt.
u. Holzw. p. 295, No. 14. Lepeletier de St. Farg.
Monogr. Tenth. p. 103, Nos. 290, 291.
Larva undescribed.
44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Macrophya nigra, margine collaris et segmenti abdominalis
primi, tibiarum annulis et coxarum posticarum macula
albis.
If I am not mistaken no larva of the genus Macrophya
has, hitherto, been either described or figured; and, since
Hartig wrote ‘Die untergattungen Athalia und Macrophya
sind in ihrem Larvenstande noch unbekannt,’ not a single
word has appeared in print respecting the latter genus. It
is, therefore, a particular source of pleasure to me that I am
able to describe the metamorphoses of one species of the
genus, and the more so that I have been watching for the
opportunity—with intervals, of course, which, however, were
certainly not of my seeking—for more than fifteen years. It
was in the year 1844 that my friend Dr. Verloren sent me
some larve from Utrecht, one of which is represented at
fig. 3. He had found a large number of them on the common
elder (Sambucus nigra). Shortly after I had them they hid
themselves in the ground, and died without having undergone
any part of their metamorphosis. After this, as I could not
find any similar sawfly larve in my own neighbourhood,
I asked Dr. Verloren to send me some more of them from
Utrecht, which he did about a year afterwards; but the
result of my endeavour to rear them was the same. I was
unwilling to trouble my friend any more in the matter; and
was thus obliged to wait until, by some good fortune, I
should come across similar larve again. This happened on
the Ist of June, 1864, in the evening, when my youngest son
pointed out to me a caterpillar on a twig close to an elder-
bush in the garden of my house at Leyden. I immediately
recognized it as being of the same species as were those I
had received from Utrecht twenty years before; and, con-
cluding that the larva in question had merely crept on to the
neighbouring shrub by accident, we carefully examined the
elder-bush, and found thirty larve of various sizes, but most
of them like the one represented at fig. 3. Some few were of
the size of fig. 1; others like fig. 2; so that they were
evidently from eggs laid at different periods. There were two
among them which, as appeared subsequently, had but one
more change of skin to undergo, and were, both as to colour
and size, like fig. 4.
They all had twenty-two legs. The head was sordid
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 45
greenish yellow, with a quadrate shining black spot on the
vertex, and two large round similar spots on the sides, in
which the eyes were placed; the trophi were somewhat
brownish: the head, both above and below, was shortly and
sparsely hirsute. In the younger larve the body was sordid
yellow, with three brown-green stripes, the outer of which
were darker than the inner one; the spiracles were pale
yellow; above them were some black lines, and below them,
just above the legs, was a dark transverse line. Above the
anus was a small black spot. The three dorsal lines had the
appearance of being ribbed, the inner side of the numerous
folds of the skin being of a paler tint. The thoracic legs
were of a pale yellow, with black lines on the first or thickest
joint, the terminal claws being pale brown. ‘The ventral
surface, as also the posterior legs, were pale, without spots,
the caudal end being beset with short white hairs. Those of
the size of fig. 2 were of a yellowish colour on the ventral
surface, purplish gray on the dorsum, with longitudinal
stripes.
The little creatures remained quiet during the day, chiefly
reposing on the under sides of the leaves; in the evening
they seemed more inclined to move about and feed, and ate
large holes in the leaves, but did not in all cases begin at the
margin, very often eating holes out of the middle of the
leaves, so that it might, at first sight, have been thought that
the elder-bush was infested by snails.
In a short time all the larve attained the size and acquired
the colour as shown in fig. 4. I also noticed that on each
thoracic leg were two dark gray triangular spots; also that
the black spots above the spiracles had increased in size,
and that the edges of the stigmata were very pale brown.
Above each proleg were two oblique blackish spots, and a
triangular black spot above the anus.
On the 6th of June and the following days they moulted
for the last time, when they assumed the appearance repre-
sented at fig. 8. The head was reddish, and the body wholly
of a very pale greenish gray colour, the three dorsal lines
being a shade darker than the ground tint. The black
points on the sides had entirely disappeared.
About eight days afterwards they crept into the earth,
placed in the vessel in which they were kept.
46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
In April of the following year I took out some of the
cocoons; most of them had the appearance of fig. 9, some,
however, being narrower: all were closely beset with grains
of earth on the outside. 1 was nota little surprised to find
all the cocoons filled with a mould, having the appearance of
wadding, and so entirely filling the interior that even the
horny head of the larva could not be recognized. I con-
cluded from this that I had kept the earth too damp instead
of too dry, as had usually been the case, and in consequence
of which [ had often found the larve dried up in their
cocoons.
As my attempts at rearing would not succeed, I deter-
mined, if possible, to watch the act of oviposition. For this
purpose I visited my elder-bush once or twice every day
before noon; in clear weather three times; and again
between two and four o’clock : this was the same bush which
had produced so many larve the year before. On one of the
first days of May I observed a sawfly on one of the leaves;
it looked to me like Macrophya Rape: unfortunately the
next moment it was driven away by an Ichneumon. On the
7th of May I again found some young larve on the same
bush (from which I concluded that the sawfly I had seen
had deposited some eggs), and, together with these very
young larve, some empty egg-cases at the tips of the leaves,
which were growing at the lowest part of the bush. I need
hardly add that the larve and the egg-cases occurred on the
same leaves. The larvae, although very small, strongly
resembled our fig. 1. At fig. 10a are represented the empty
egg-cases of the actual size; at b are two cases side by side,
magnified; the irregular openings can easily be seen, by
which the little larvee had made their escape.
It thus appeared that the complete observation of the
metamorphoses of our insect would again have to be deferred
to the following spring. I was obliged to content myself
with checking my notes of the appearance and habits of the
larve. In the year 1866, however, the continued daily
observation of the elder-bush, which I had recommenced in
April, led to a discovery. At half-past eleven on the morning
of the 8th of that month I observed a female of M. albi-
cincta, Schr., flying about the bush in a very wild manner,
and settling at intervals on the leaves; the temperature was
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47
unusually warm for that time of year, the thermometer
standing at 60° Fahr. I thought of the Rapz of the year
before, and at once saw my mistake, which was very pardon-
able, considering the extremely small difference between the
two species. I captured the specimen, and placed it in a
confectioner’s glass, together with a branch of the elder-bush.
When the glass was placed in the shade the animal was
quiet, and even fell down and lay on its back. On bringing
the glass into the sunshine it revived again, at first moving
the antenne violently up and down, and then running
rapidly about. By four o’clock, when I again observed it,
it had laid twelve eggs: these were deposited in little
receptacles on some of the leaves, of which three are repre-
sented at fig. 11. I removed one of the eggs very carefully
out of its little pouch, and found it was bean-shaped, as
shown at fig. 12; it was, however, rather flat on one side;
the colour was pearly white, and the skin remarkably thin
and soft. I was now pretty certain that the larve, which I
had up to this time reared from the elder-bush, were of the
same species as the leaf-wasp, which had laid the eggs in
question. If I had been able to have kept the eggs, so as to
have reared the larve from them, I should have made sure
upon this point, but I could not preserve the leaves in a
fresh state for a sufficiently long time; and so this brood,
also, came to nothing.
On the 11th of April I saw two similar wasps on an elder-
bush, but I did not find any eggs. On the same day I took
two males of this species on the same bush. After this time
the weather changed; it became raw, with north and north-
easterly winds, accompanied by rain and hail. However, on
the 19th of May following, the weather being warm and
bright, I saw two wasps pair: a female of Albicincta was
seated on a jasmine close to the elder-bush, a male flying
backwards and forwards in the neighbourhood; he suddenly
alighted next the female, which took refuge on the under
side of the leaf; she was followed by the male, and thereupon
returned to the upper side, the male pursuing; approach-
ing her he turned round, and the pairing took place, the two
insects with the anterior part of the body turned away from
each other; the wings of the female remained closed, while
those of the male were half opened and vibrating; in both,
48 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
the antenne appeared motionless. The copulation did not
last much longer than a minute, when the female pushed
away the male with two strong kicks, and then took to flight;
the male remained quite still for some moments, and then
also flew away, and betook himself to the elder-bush, where
he roved about for some time, until I lost sight of him. ‘The
female is 1 centimetre long, the male 8 or 9 mm.: both are
black, dull on the head and thorax; abdomen and legs
shining. The following parts are white (that is to say,
bluish white during life, and either sordid white or ivory after
death): in the female, the clypeus either entirely or only on
the margin; the tip of the labrum: in the male both are
entirely white; the palpi with white rings or wholly white,
differing in individuals: some have two small white triangular
spots. on the head. In both sexes the superior margin of the
collar and the anterior margin of the shoulder-plates are also
white; likewise, in the female, two very small points on the
scutellum ; and in both sexes the cenchri, and the border of
the first abdominal ring on the dorsum. The following parts
of the leg are white in both sexes, though in the female to a
somewhat less extent than in the male, namely, the trochanters
of all the legs, the whole of the anterior surface of the first
pair, with the exception of the coxe, the extremity of the
femur of the intermediate pair anteriorly with that of the
tarsi, and a broad ring round the tibiz; on the last pair, the
extremities of the coxe, a spot (very large in the female) on
the posterior surface, and a broad ring on the femur; the
posterior tarsi are black. Lastly, there is a white spot on the
dorsum of the last abdominal segment in the female, the
anal appendages in the male being also white ; the abdominal
rings in this sex having gray margins during the life of the
insect.
It need not be said that the male is more slender than the
female ; there was also a difference in the antenna, especially
recognizable in the living insect. In the male these organs
are somewhat shorter and thicker (see fig. 15), and the joints
more equal in breadth, and thus less easily distinguishable,
while in the female each joint is smaller at the base than at
the apex; the wings are smoke-coloured and iridescent, the
anterior pair being somewhat darker than the posterior.
About a fortnight after I had observed the last imagos on
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 49
the elder-bush, as above described (in 1866), I noticed that
the borders of many of the leaves were gnawed, and I
discovered some young larve of the species with which I was
now sufficiently well acquainted, and I considered myself
justified in saying that these larve produced Macrophya
albicincta. The larve were full grown by the early part of
the following June; and in a short time I could have
counted sixty of this species.
Description of the Larva of Cidaria miata—For the
larve from which the following description is taken I am
indebted to the Rev. G. P. Harris, of Richmond, Yorkshire,
from whom I received them on the 19th of July last. It
seems to be but little known, common as the perfect insect
is:—Very slender, and about an inch and a quarter in
length; the head, which has the face slightly flattened, is of
the same width as the 2nd segment; body cylindrical,
tapering very slightly from the posterior segments to the
head; segmental folds overlapping each other, rendering the
divisions distinct; on the anal segment are two short
pointed projections; the skin has a slightly puckered
appearance ; ground colour pale green, strongly tinged with
yellow, the segmental divisions being of the latter colour;
head uniformly pale green; a dark green pulsating vessel
forms the medio-dorsal line; this is best seen in young
specimens, as it appears to become less conspicuous as the
larva approaches maturity; there are no perceptible sub-
dorsal lines, and the spiracular lines are very narrow and
indistinct, faintly darker than the ground colour; spiracles
imperceptible ; ventrally, the ground colour is the same as on
the dorsal surface, but has a conspicuous central stripe of
pinkish brown; the legs, prolegs and anal points are also
pinkish brown. Feeds on sallow. Pupa purplish and rather
long ; itis enclosed in a very frail cocoon, amongst frass, &c.,
at the bottom of the cage. The first larva spun July 24th;
the moth appeared August 2lst.—Geo. 7’. Porritt ; Hudders-
Jjield, February 3, 1872.
50 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Lateness of the Season of 1871.—My experience, in a
great measure, corresponds with that of Mr. Clifford
(Entom. v. 446). I took Progemmaria, Rupicapraria, and
Multistrigata, about the middle of February, which seemed to
me about an average, if not a backward, period for these
early species, as in 1869 I took them in January and very
early in February. Such incidents, however, would scarcely
be worth notice if the season bad continued an average one ;
but during May and June everything seemed more or less
late in appearing: for instance, in former seasons I have
taken Sibylla and Adippe quite by the middle of June, and
occasional specimens early in the month; but this season I
did not take either till the end of June, and both were out in
Jjine condition up to the 18th or 20th of July. Euphrosyne
and Selene were not “ well out” till the first or second week
in June, and then they did not appear so commonly as
usual ; in fact, I do not find Selene so abundant now as | did
when I began collecting a few years ago. We need scarcely
wonder at the lateness of the season if we recollect what a
March-like June we experienced, and the biting east and
north-east winds, which, night after night, compelled us to
return home with empty boxes. The latter portion of the
summer and the early autumn seem to have given British
collectors a very fair sprinkling of good things. Some nights
at the beginning of September, and, indeed, throughout the
month, moths swarmed at sugar in this neighbourhood,
though all of the commonest species. What was wanting in
quality was certainly made up by quantity.—G. B. Corbin,
Ringwood.
Ivy.—These attractive blossoms have been rather pro-
ductive, for besides the usual visitors, as Lota, Pistacina,
Vaccinii, and Spadicea, whose absence would have been
worthy of observation, I have had the pleasure of seeing
Nigra, Rhizolitha, Exoleta, Rubiginea, and Fluviata, though
only one each of the latter. The Rubiginea was taken on the
night of October 20th, at which period a very cold wind
prevailed, and scarcely a single species of moth seemed to be
on the wing; in fact, l saw but three Spadicea on the same
evening. It is, perhaps, worthy of remark, that I have never
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 51
met with but two specimens of Rubiginea in the autumn—I
took a hybernated specimen last spring,—and these were
both taken on unusually cold nights, and when scarcely any
other species were to be seen. Is it usual for this handsome
species to be thus met with? I did not see either Petrificata
or Semibrunnea at the ivy, though, in previous seasons, I
have occasionally taken a single specimen of each.—G. B.
Corbin.
Acherontia Atropos.—Was this insect unusually scarce last
season? I generally find, or have brought to me, specimens
either in the larva or pupa state, from the beginning of July
to the end of September; but last season I did not see a
specimen at all. I am aware there is not much regularity in
its appearance, as, indeed, is the case with other species, but
possibly the experience of other collectors might coincide
with mine with regard to the occurrence of this particular
species. The agricultural community in this neighbourhood
call the larve of Atropos, “locusts,”’—in fact, that name is
applied generally to large larve,—and the pupa is, in many
cases, supposed to be a most dire enemy to the potato crop,
and is, as a rule, doomed to be destroyed as soon as
disinterred.— Jd.
[1 have elsewhere noticed that the larve of Atropos are
generally known by our agricultural population as locusts.—
Edward Newman. |
Early appearance of P. pilosaria.—Whilst out “ digging”
to-day | met with two males of the above, which is some two
weeks earlier than before noticed here. A fortnight since |
had a fine Chamomille out in my breeding-box, which is kept
in-doors.—R. Kay; Bury, February 3, 1871.
Earliness of the Season.—Last evening, while out with my
friend, Mr. A. N. Innes, hunting for larve, I noticed that
Larentia multistrigaria was on the wing rather freely. Surely
this is remarkably early? We took eight, filling all the boxes
we had, as we went out quite unprepared to see so many
moths flying about. The weather here, since the beginning
of December, has been mild and very wet. In some sheltered
places whitethorn bushes are already in leaf, and I saw
sallows in bloom nearly three weeks ago.—Gervase F.
Mathew; Admiralty House, Devonport, February 8, 1872.
Deiopeia pulchella on the Hampshire coast.—Your book
52 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of ‘ British Moths’ has been sent as a present to one of my
boys, and on searching it for a moth, caught last September,
he identifies his specimen with your “ (67) Crimson-speckled
(Deiopeia pulchella),” p. 31, a moth which you describe as
rare. I have carefully examined the moth with your picture
and description, and find it to answer in every respect. My
boys caught it on September 2, 1871, on the shingle, at
Gilkicker Point, by the Stokes Bay Station, in Hampshire.
It seemed weak on the wing. None of us had ever seen it
before ; and it has been looked on by its owners as a prize.—
F. Simcozx Lea; Trinity Parsonage, Bow Road, E.,
February 16, 1872.
Acidalia promutata in Essex.—I notice in your excellent
work on ‘ British Moths,’ in the description of this insect, you
state you do not think it occurs in the eastern counties. Will
you permit me to state that during the month of September I
take it very commonly at the gas-lamps in this town.—W.
D. Cansdale; White House, Witham, February 15, 1872.
Eremobia ochroleuca in E'ssex.—I can also bear testimony
to the fact of this insect being caught in Essex, as [ have
been successful in taking three or four specimens in a season
in this district for the past three years.—Jd.
Captures in Norfolk and Suffolk in 1871.—Syringaria,
several about for a few days, then quite disappeared.
Elinguaria, common. Lichenaria, common. Cytisaria,
common. Papilionaria, 2. Lactearia, 1. Rubricata, not so
abundant as in 1870. Emarginata, abundant. Citraria,
common. Decolorata, 5. WVenosata, common. Berberata,
local. Vitalbata, 6. Certata, local. Grisearia, abundant.
Spartiata. Obliquaria, 1. Cytherea, common. Albicolon.
Puta, abundant. Corticea. Obelisca. Gilvago, common.
Pyralina. Diffinis. Affinis. Ochroleuca, 4. Dysodea, 4.
Serena, common. Flavocincta, common. Dipsaceus, gene-
rally distributed. Sulphuralis, 20. Luctuosa, 4. Uncea, 1.
Dromedarius, bred. Coryli, 1. Helveola, 2. Stramineola, 1.
Complana, 4. Senex, at light. Villica, common.—W. H.
Cole; Croaton, Thetford, Norfolk, February 15, 1872.
Insects of the Scilly Isles—Cuatciv1&. The six follow-
ing species were found in St. Agnes:—Asaphes enea,
Dicyclus circulus, Syntomopus incurvus, Pteromalus Ornytus,
Encyrtus Phithra, Eulophus Metalarus. Of these species
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 538
the first and the fourth are of frequent occurrence in
England ; the other four are less common; and Syntomopus
incurvus is seldom seen.—Francis Walker.
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society,
November 20, 1871, to January 1, 1872.
Variety of Bombyx Trifolii.—Mr. Bond exhibited a series
of small pale examples of Bombyx Trifolii. He had made a
similar exhibition a year or two since, and Mr. Mitford, their
discoverer, furnished the following information, tending to
prove that they formed, at any rate, a distinct local form.
The locality is Romney Marsh, Kent, and the larve were
first found by Mr. Mitford in May, 1866, feeding in the tufts
of a very wiry grass growing in the shingle above high-water
mark; they were again found and bred in May, 1867: in
August, 1868, two dead moths, exactly similar, were observed
in the same locality ; and in August, 1871, eighteen examples
were bred. While hunting for these larvae, Mr. Mitford’s son
found smaller caterpillars, which produced Lithosia caniola,
thus showing an entirely new locality for this species.
Variety of Bombyx castrensis.—Mr. Bond further exhibited
two remarkable varieties of Bombyx castrensis. One of them,
a female, had the left-hand wings shaped like those of the
male, though the insect otherwise showed no tendency to be .
gynandromorphous; the other, also a female, had the right-
hand under wing marked and banded as in the upper wing.
Variety of Tryphena orbona.—Mx. Stainton exhibited, on
behalf of Mr. D’Orville, a singular variety of Tryphzna
orbona.
Variety of Argynnis Aglaia.—Mr. S. Stevens exhibited, on
behalf of Mr. Shearwood, an extraordinarily dark variety of
Argynnis Aglaia, captured near Teignmouth.
Malformations of British Lepidoptera—Mr. Bond exhi-
bited, on behalf of Mr. Doubleday, varieties or malformations
of British Lepidoptera, as follows: —(1) Melitea Artemis,
with the antenne scarcely more than half the usual length ;
(2) Pieris Rape, female, with only a faint trace of the second
spot on the upper wing; (3) Anchocelis lunosa, male, taken
at sugar, the right-hand upper wing much broader than the
54 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
other, and differently formed; (4) Cheimatobia brumata,
naturally with only three wings, and varying in colour and
markings.
Papilio Hyale of Linneus.—It will, perhaps, be recollected
that Mr. W. F. Kirby proposes in his Catalogue to drop the
name of Edusa, and to substitute that of Croceus for this
familiar butterfly. He now informs us that Hyale is the
name to be adopted for our Edusa; and the only name
which he can find for Hyale is Sareptensis, applied by
Staudinger, in his ‘ Catalog’ (1871), p. 5, to a variety. It is
a very inappropriate name for an insect of so extensive a
range; but unless all the misnomers in Entomology are to be
rejected, Mr. Kirby does not think we can avoid adopting it.
My very unpopular view’on this subject of name-changing
is well known. If the names of our familiar insects are
changed once a month, as seems probable, I shall not adopt
the changes.
Dragon-flies attacked by Birds.—The Secretary read a
communication from Mr. Gould respecting the question of
the liability of Odonata to the attacks of birds, of which the
following is an extract :—“ 1 believe that the larger dragon-
flies are very liable to the attacks of birds, and have no
doubt. that the hobby and kestrel occasionally feed upon
them. With regard to the small blue-bodied species
(Agrionide) frequenting the sedgy banks of the Thames, I
have seen smaller birds—sparrows, &c.—capture and eat
them before my eyes, after having carefully nipped off the
wings, which are not swallowed. This must take place to a
considerable extent, as I have observed the tow-path strewn
with the rejected wings.”
Ants storing Seeds.—Mr. F. Smith communicated a long
letter from Mr. J. T. Moggridge, dated from Mentone,
November 7th, relating to the habits of certain species of
ants belonging to the genus Aphenogaster. Mr. Mogegridge
had observed that two species of this genus (A. Structor and
A. capitata) frequenting the sandstone slopes of that neigh-
bourhood were, in the winter months, in the habit of carrying
into their nests the seeds of certain late-fruiting plants,
especially of Polygonum vulgare. The nests of A. capitata
extend a long way into the rock: with the aid of a chisel and
hammer these excavations had been traced to their limits,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 05
aud in one case the channels ended in a spherical chamber,
filled with the seeds of a grass which he had seen the ants in
the act of transporting. Outside the channels there was
generally a heap of the husks of the various seeds, and
sometimes one of these heaps would fill a quart measure.
These husks had had their farinaceous contents extracted
through a hole on one side. He purposely strewed near the
nests large quantities of millet and hemp-seeds. After the
lapse of a fortnight many of these seeds, previously conveyed
into the nests, had been brought out again, they having
evidently commenced to germinate, and he then found that
the radicle was gnawed off from each seed, so as to prevent
further growth, and, this being effected, the seeds were
carried back again. The cotyledons of germinated seeds
were removed from the nests. The oily seeds of hemp
appeared to be greatly in request. He had not found any
true Myrmecophilous beetles in the nests, but a specimen of
a Choleva was observed, and Aleochara nitida swarmed
about the entrance of the galleries. There were, however,
numerous immature examples of a Lepisma, and a Coleop-
terous larva, to which the ants paid great attention, an
agitated group of workers seizing one of them when placed
near them, removing it to a place where there was loose
friable earth, into which it immediately began to burrow.
The only recent account of the storing of grain by ants that
Mr. Moggridge was able to find was in the ‘ Encyclopedia
Popolare,’ Torino, 1845, in which the explanation given was
that the ants used the seeds for building materials. He
promised to make further observations on these grain-storing
species, and to communicate the results to the Society.
Death of Professor Ratzeburg.—Professor J. T. C. Ratze-
burg died at Berlin on the 24th of October last, in his
seventy-first year. He occupied himself especially with the
metamorphoses and the ravages of insects injurious to forests,
and his great work’ Die Forstinsekten’ is a lasting proof of
his industry and keen powers of observation. He also
published a popular edition of this work, as well as the
portion relating to the parasitic Hymenoptera (which play so
56 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
important a part in checking the ravages of forest insects), in
a separate form. He was also a constant contributor to
German entomological periodicals. He was one of the few
Entomologists who devote themselves, almost exclusively, to
a study of the habits and economy of known insects rather
than to the description of new ones; and will always be
remembered by the Coleopterist for his elaborate researches
into the Natural History of the Xylophagous beetles.—A. R.
Wallace ; in President's Address to Entomological Society.
Death of M. Victor von Motchulsky.—This illustrious
entomologist died on the 5th of June, 1871. His position ot
colonel in the Russian army led him through the remotest
parts of that vast empire. He collected, catalogued, and
described an immense number of Coleoptera new to science.
He embraced none of the crude hypotheses afloat of late
years; and his laborious works are, therefore, pronounced
injurious rather than beneficial—Hdward Newman.
Death of Mr. Dale.—My. J. C. Dale, who may be called
. the father of British Entomology, died at his seat, Glanville’s
Wootton, near Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, on Tuesday, the
6th of the present month (February), 1872, aged eighty-one
years. Throughout his long life he was a most diligent
collector of our native insects, and a. most methodical
recorder of his captures. He commenced a journal in 1808,
and continued it without intermission to the last day of his
life. ‘This journal is, perhaps, the most continuous entomo-
logical diary in existence, and, the last entry being dated
February 6, exhibits a remarkable evidence of the “ruling
passion strong in death.” His contributions to Curtis’s beau-
tiful ‘British Entomology, and to my own ‘ Illustrated
Natural History of Butterflies, are familiar to every entomo-
logist. In both these works he took unceasing interest; and
there is scarcely a fasciculus of the former, or a species in the
latter, but bas derived advantage from the knowledge he
possessed, and was ever ready to communicate. He was a
kind and indulgent parent, and worthily filled the station of a
country gentleman and county magistrate. Eight of his own
labourers bore the body to its last resting-place, and six of
his principal tenants were pall-bearers. ‘The coffin was of
oak, grown on his own estate. Mr. Dale was one of the oldest
Fellows of the Linnean Society, having been elected in 1818,
—Iad.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 102.] APRIL, "MDCCCLXXII. [Price 6d.
Answers to Correspondents.
MELANAGRIA GALATHEA (MELANIC VARIETY).
Variety of Melanagria Galathea.—1 am indebted to Mr.
Farn for the loan of the remarkable specimen represented by
the preceding figure. In the outline of wings and in size
there is no deviation from the normal character; but as an
instance of that singular aberration of colour to which I
gave the name of melanism, it is truly remarkable. The
antenne are black, with the usual ferruginous tip; the upper
surface of the wings is uniform smoky black, and, if viewed
perpendicularly and steadfastly, there does not appear any
trace of the normal white markings, but by shifting the
position, and altering the angle at which the light falls on the
upper surface, a slight indication—a soupeon, as the French
call it—of the position of the markings is now and then to be
obtained; the long hair-like scales clothing the base of the
wings, more particularly the hind wings, are smoky gray;
the under side is of the same smoky black colour, with a gray
VOL. VI. E
58 "THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
patch at the base of the fore wing; the six eye-like spots,
which I have described as forming a band parallel to the
hind margin, are obviously indicated, but very obscure;
a few dull ochreous scales are scattered over the under
surface of the hind wing. It was taken near Rochester, at a
time when the normal form of Galathea was flying in profusion.
Earliness of the Season.—Owing to the extraordinary
mildness of the season, insects have been remarkably forward
in this locality, and have been met with in large numbers.
Sallows were fit for working by the end of February, and
produced the commoner Teniocampz, as well as several
hybernated species. Many local species have also been
taken; such as A. Prodromaria, commonly (appeared as
early as February 29th), T. Piniperda, T. Munda (both these
at sallows), X. Rhizolitha, X. Semibrunnea, L. Multistrigaria,
and this evening I found that P. Hippocastanaria had
appeared on the extensive heaths, lying between here and
Ringwood.—A. J. Spiller; Wimborne, Dorset, March 11.
Distinctive differences of the kemales of Lycena Corydon
and Adonis.—In ‘Stainton’s Manual’ and in ‘ Newman’s
British Butterflies’ a difficulty is intimated in distinguishing
the females of these two species. I can hardly understand
this, as to my mind the difference is marked and constant.
In the female Corydon the fringe is cream coloured, and the
veins or wing-rays continuing through it are brown; but in
the female Adonis the fringe 1s pure whdle, and the wing-rays
running through it black or blackish, mv¢ brown. In good
fresh specimens you cannot fail to discern the species at a
glance.—W. H. Tugwell; 3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich,
March 1, 1872.
Colias Hyale——In ‘Newman's British Butterflies’ this
species is said to “deposit its eggs in the spring,” after
hybernating. On the only occasion I had of testing this, the
eggs were deposited in August, and hatched in the middle of
September; the larvee were about one-third fed by the end
of October. Unfortunately they died during the winter; so
that I have good proof that the eggs are not always spring-
laid.— Id.
Posting Boxes.—In answer to Mr. Doncaster’s enquiry
respecting insect-boxes for post, I think I can suggest a
remedy. Cooke’s postal-boxes answer admirably, provided
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 59
you are careful to affix the stamps for postage and direction
on an ordinary luggage-label (not adhesive), which may then
be securely tied to the box with a piece of twine. I have
frequently made use of this plan, and on no occasion have
the postal authorities been tempted to impress a stamp on
the box, which consequently entirely escapes injury.—
Arthur W. Owen; 33, Liverpool Street, Dover, March 14,
1872.
I should suppose Mr. Doncaster was perfectly familiar
with Cooke’s postal-boxes. We have all been using them a
long time, but find they do not always resist the Herculean
powers at the post office.
Larva of Geometra papilionaria.—In answer to Mr.
Mathew I may observe that [ fancy this larva is not easy to
obtain at any time. Ihave beaten for it in vain, both in
autumn and spring, in woods where the imago occurs. The
females I have noticed occasionally flying amongst the higher
boughs of birches, and am inclined to think that they deposit
their eggs at some elevation; and as the larve feed only a
short time in the autumn, I suppose they do not descend
before they hybernate, and would therefore not be easily
obtained, unless they were brought lower by being shaken
down in windy weather. Some collectors, so it is said, have
captured these larve on oak in the spring.—J. R. S.
Clifford; 59, Robert Street, Chelsea, S.W., March 4,
1872. :
Dipterous Larve in the mines of Sesia Tipuliformis.—I
enclose some Dipterous larve, about which J am in doubt.
They were inhabiting the empty mines of 8S. Tipuliformis in
living wood. From the examination of a number of currant
branches, I have found larve of that moth of two different
sizes, one of the smaller of which I enclose; and this seems
to favour the supposition that the species passes two seasons
in the larval condition, as I have suggested in the ‘ Entomo-
logist.” It seems only in rare instances that it causes the
death of the bushes. I have some under my observation that
have borne broods of the species for fifteen or twenty years.
—Id.
I incline to think the Dipterous larve are those of a
Cecidomyia; but I cannot think what business they have in
the galleries of a Sesia.
60 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Rhodocera Rhamni in Cumberland.—Seeing in your
‘British Butterflies’ that you have no first-hand record of
Rhodocera Rhamni from Cumberland, I thought it might
interest you to hear it was rather common in the neighbour-
hoad of Keswick last autumn: it is occasionally found there,
but is not often common.—W. C. Marshall; Trinity
College, Cambridge, March 1, 1872.
Bombyx processionea.—\ think entomologists are wrong
in saying that Bombyx processionea seldom travels in single
file. I can meet with no one of the annual visitors here who
has ever seen them march in any other way. Since I wrote
you last I have noticed this variation in their style of walk-
ing—that when the fore part of the procession halts for any
length of time the rear become impatient, and start in a
second single file; and when again they all move it is in
double column. I rarely see one by itself; even if only two
are out of the nest, these two march one immediately behind
the other. Their appetites are enormous; they commence
eating—or, I should rather say, tearing—their food in this
way,—one caterpillar to each needle of the fir, beginning at
the tip and eating towards the branch, leaving only a short
stump and just a thin edge of the needle. I enclose you one
that has been finished in this manner. They eat from side to
side of the needle.—G. H. Heywood; Hotel des Anglais,
Menton, France, March 4, 1872.
“ Processions” of the Processionist (Cnethocampa proces-
sitonea).—As the Editor of the ‘ Entomologist’ promises some
further contributions to the life-history of the species, there
is, | would suggest, matter of interest not fully elucidated,
with reference not only to the irritating properties of the
larve, but also their mode of marching. I have a strong
suspicion myself that the very ingenious representations given
us by certain artists are partly imaginary. A favourite
delineation of this processional order is to exhibit first of all
some half dozen marching in Indian file; then two or three
pairs; then threes and fours; gradually increasing to a rank
of a dozen or so. Now, is this really the case; do they not
proceed rather in a manner somewhat similar to our own
“lackeys” (Bombyx neustria) and other nest-makers? A few
may precede the army as pioneers, and then the rest follow
on, four, five, or six abreast, according to the width of the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 61
opening they issue from, and the accommodation on the
branch they are travelling over. This point could easily be
settled by observers.—J. R. S. Clifford.
Nocturnal Spider.—Will you tell me the name of this
large spider? It has never before been found or noticed in
the neighbourhood of Lichfield. I[s it not unusual for garden
spiders of any kind to be seen in the winter ?—T7. Williams.
- Not trusting to my own limited knowledge of Arachnology,
I sent this specimen to the Rev. O. Pickard Cambridge, who
kindly and immediately returned its name—Epeira umbra-
tica. Ihave long been familiar with this spider in my own
garden: -it is nocturnal, and a geometrician, readily distin-
guished from E. diadema by its depressed body, and by the
presence of two conspicuous white spots on the under side of
the body. I never recollect seeing one in winter; they seem
to disappear, after depositing their bundle of eggs, in the
autumn.
Caterpillars in Belgiwum.—A valued correspondent (Mr.
William Johnson, of Liverpool) has recently paid a visit to
Belgium, and, as his observations throw some light on the
subject referred to under the above title in your February
number (p. 13), with his permission I make the following
extract from his letter:—‘* The decree you mention refers
principally to the eggs and larve of Lepidoptera; the
quantity I saw of these, during my visit to Belgium at the
end of September, was really astonishing. My brother has a
garden a few miles from Antwerp, and, knowing that I was
interested in Entomology, he asked me the best means of
destroying caterpillars, as he had a large cherry-tree, all the
leaves of which had been eaten off, and consequently there
had been no fruit. J counted no less than fifteen batches of
the eggs of Liparis dispar on the trunk of this tree; and
after filling a large pill-box with them, I got a stone and
crushed the rest. My brother had no idea that the woolly
masses contained the germs of the destroyers of his cherries.
1 went by train from Antwerp to Brussels en route to
Waterloo, and was particularly struck with the appearance of
the small oak-trees everywhere along the line: the top
branches of the trees had the appearance of bearing branches
of white blossoms, but, on inspection, these proved to be
large white webs enclosing numberless small caterpillars just
62 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
hatched: I could not tell the species with certainty, but
think they were of the Liparis family. The country being
low-lying and flat, poplars and willows are very numerous,
and every tree had several batches of Liparis dispar, Salicis,
and others I did not know, upon it; there were also abundant
indications of the Cerura family and of the goat-moth. Small
birds seemed very scarce, and I had an opportunity of learn-
ing one cause of this: there are societies of bird-catchers,
and I was very much amused one Sunday to see a party of
them dressed up in fantastic garbs, similar to what we see in
our own country ‘ peace-egging’ at Easter; they had a fife
and drum, and one carried a wicker-cage with a wood-owl
confined in it; others with bird-lime sticks, four or five feet
long: they go out into the fields, and set the sticks around
the cage; 1 suppose the small birds, attracted by seeing
their enemy fluttering in the cage, come and are caught. ‘The
party I saw had a lot of little birds: tomtits, robins, wrens, &c.
After their sport they go round to the public-houses, sing a
chorus, have a drink, and away to the next house; fife and
drum going all the time. The weather was very unfavourable
for collecting; it rained most of the time. The only imagos
I saw were four or five Catocala Nupta on the trees, and one
specimen of Atropos on a garden-fence. Larve of Papilio
Machaon were common on the carrot; there seemed to be
two varieties, differently marked both in the larve and
pupe.” It is probable the destruction of insectivorous birds
is, to some extent, the cause of the wonderful profusion
of insects which Mr. Johnson describes, and which is so
different to anything we see in England; but still | think
there must also be climatic causes at work, for if it is worth
while to make such elaborate arrangements for the capture of
the birds, they may be assumed to exist in no inconsiderable
numbers; but how anyone can find it profitable to delude
and slaughter a miserable little tomtit for the sake of food,
when a pound of Australian mutton can be had for sixpence,
passes my comprehension.—Ldwin Birchall; February 18,
1872.
Larve of Phyllopertha horticola.—Will you kindly name
the enclosed grubs? They are to be found in myriads just
under the surface of my croquet-lawn, and confine their
mischievous doings to the sloping sides which have been
raised to prevent the balls going out of bounds: the turf is
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 63
completely destroyed on these slopes, and little scraps of
dried grass are flying all over the place; it is evident that
the grub eats the roots of the grass, which then dies. This
is not the worst, for something, and I suppose it must be
these grubs, attracts hosts of those pests of the gardener—
starlings and sparrows, which are a perfect plague: my
gardener’s son is popping away at them all day. Can you
send us a remedy for the grubs? we will do our best to defeat
the birds. I do not take the ‘Entomologist ;’ but a friend
has told me you understand the subject, and will reply.—
A. VY. 4.; Ruabon.
The grubs sent are the larve of a small leaf-eating beetle,
familiarly known in Wales as the coch-y-bonddu: its
scientific name is Phyllopertha horticola. It by no means
confines its mischievous doings to banks and slopes, but
works unseen in meadows and lawns. Starlings and sparrows
are especially fond of these grubs, and devour enormous
numbers. If you and your gardener will leave the grubs to the
tender mercies of the birds, you will find them settle matters
among themselves, and both will disappear simultaneously.
A similar communication has reached me from Scotland, and
a similar reply has been sent to the ‘ Field’ newspaper, and
was published in that journal on the 17th of February.
Vanessa Urtice and V. Io in February.—\ may inform
Mr. J. Potts, of Doncaster, and numerous other corre-
spondents on the same subject, that I do not consider it
anything unusual for hybernated specimens of these insects
to make their appearance in February; but the following
notice is more remarkable.
Pieris Rape in February.—I have received a specimen of
this insect from Herefordshire, and another from Hampshire,
both early in February, without doubt vernal specimens.
Division of Rows of Insects in Drawers.—Could you kindly
let me know if the drawers in a cabinet are divided with
wood, or the labels merely, as I have never seen a right
cabinet, and have no idea how to proceed in arrangement of
my insects. I do not understand Mr. Greene’s explanation
in his book with regard to this.—John Oliver ; 26, Mayfield
Place, Edinburgh.
The rows of insects are totally undivided in my own
cabinet; and I have never seen wooden divisions in any
cabinet; but perpendicular lines are ruled in many cabinets
64 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
with a black-lead pencil between the rows. In my ‘ Illus-
trated Natural History of British Butterflies’ I think I have
made this clear to my readers.
Improvement of the Lobster Fisheries.—There has been
of late years much done in the way of legislation for the
salmon and oyster fisheries of Great Britain. Can nothing
be done to improve the lobster fishery on our coast? The
quantity of one-pound tins of this fish preserved annually
imported into Great Britain from the United States and
Canada cannot be short of 12,000,000 pounds weight, valued
at £400,000 sterling. Ifthe lobsters could be caught on our
shores, no inconsiderable saving in the resources of the
country would be effected; besides, an additional source of
emolument would be opened up to our fishing population.
Thus writes an anonymous correspondent of the ‘ Field.’
I cannot say that I agree with him. All legislation, in my
opinion, should be based on knowledge; and particular
legislation, as in the case of Natural History, should be
based on a knowledge of a particular subject or science, as
the science of Natural History. This idea will be stigmatised
at once as absurd, altogether foreign to the question. The
florid school will reply: “ We appoint commissioners with
liberal salaries; we hold public meetings quite openly; we
eat and drink together, make eloquent speeches, and propose
appropriate toasts. What does the man want? He does
not know what he is talking about.” I reply: “I want no
commissiouers ; no salaries; no public meetings; no eating ;
no drinking; no toasts; no eloquent speeches ;—1 want men
who have the opportunity to study the natural history of the
lobster, and who will act on the knowledge they acquire by
actual observation. If such men can be obtained, well;
if not, leave the poor lobsters alone.”
Beautiful Pyralis—Mr. Doubleday pronounces the mag-
nificent specimen, so kindly brought by Mr. J. A. Clark, to
be a foreign species. I hope to give the name and country
in the next number of the ‘ Entomologist.’
Varieties for Figuring in the‘ Entomologist.—Mr. Moore,
Mr. Bond, and Mr. Wellman, will please receive my best
thanks for the loan of the extraordinary varieties they have
sent for this purpose. These will be figured and described in
course.
EpwarRp NEWMAN.
—
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 65
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 43.)
The accompanying figures illustrate the Eucharidz, whose
economy is wholly or nearly unknown. This family is
SCHISASPIDIA FURCATA.
STILBULA VOLUSUS.
remarkable for the great development and various forms of
the mesothorax and of its appendages, a peculiarity more
remarkable in some of the other exotic genera than in those
E 2
66 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
here figured, and perhaps a compensation for their greater
feebleness and inertness as compared with the rest of the
tribe. Corresponding enlargements of the mesothorax occur
in families of some other orders of insects. The Perilampidee
are contiguous to the Eucharide, and are not illustrated here,
and rarely occur in England, and are parasites of wood-
feeding insects. I have seen only two British specimens of
P. Italicus, and there are several other instances of only one
or two individuals of a Chalcid species having been found,
while Pteromalus domesticus and Diglyphus Isza occur in
hundreds of thousands. It is easy to account for this
abundance; but there is much matter for research in the
scarcity above mentioned, whether it is caused by original
slow increase, or by the destruction of the flies in one or
other of their stages of growth from the egg onwards.
The Leucospide were mentioned in the last number of the
‘Entomologist.’ They appear to have migrated northward
in the Old World more slowly than most of the other
families of Chalcidiz, for they are unknown in England and
in Sweden; and, though one occurs in Germany, the species
to the north of the equator chiefly inhabit the shores of the
Mediterranean, and Egypt and Arabia. In the New World
they extend from Chili to Canada. They are said to live as
parasites in the nests of bees. The Chalcidide resemble the
Leucospide in being chiefly inhabitants of warm countries,
and the species of Smicra especially abound in equatorial
America. <A few prey on Lepidoptera, and S. xanthostigma
has been reared from the pupa of a Hylotoma.
Notaspis formiciformis, here figured, is very far removed in
structure from the typical genera of Chalcidide. In con-
tinuation of the parasitism of Chalcidiz I will mention what
has been said elsewhere on this subject, omitting a few
species already noticed, and beginning with Nees ab Essen-
betk, the author of the first comparatively complete work on
the tribe. The Eurytomide, which, by two of their repre-
sentatives, limit the American materials for bread and wine,
yvacillate between injurious and beneficial insects ; and Nees
places them in a debatable situation, as appears by the
following extract :—
“atreillium et Dalmanum secutus, Eurytome genus
inter Pteromalinos posui, quibus re vera habitu notisque ex
er
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 67
antennis alisque haustis proxime conjunctum videtur. Sed
vite ratio Cyniphum potius est, quibus Eucharide genere
medio conciliatur, neque errabit, qui, utriusque ordinis,
Cyniphum et Pteromalinorum inquam, novo certiorique
charactere invento, Kurytomas Cyniphibus restituet.”
He gives to the genus the character of a gall-maker, and
then mentions the exceptions observed by him, which do not
apply to Eurytoma as now restricted, and he has no suspicions
that the latter is a parasite. Several species in the genera of
this family have such a close mutual resemblance that the
names of the earliest authors cannot be referred to them
NOTASPIS FORMICIFORMIS.
individually with certainty. The question of synonyms
would occupy avast number of pages, and the few words
about it here are merely in reference to the parasitism. The
species which Nees describes as Eurytoma plumata, Ross?,
seems to be one that has not been found in England. He
says thatitinhabits a gall,—woody, many-chambered, rounded,
attenuated at each end,—in the stalks of Serratula arvensis;
and in another place he mentions, as a synonym of it,
E. serratula, Bouché, which destroys a beneficial insect,
Microgaster Liparidis. His description of EK. Abrotani,
Illiger, probably refers to the species for which I have adopted
the name E. plumata, and is the thistle-gall—Eurytoma,
which extends to North Africa; but in another place he says
that E. Abrotani inhabits the galls of his Cynips Potentillz ;
and his second description certainly does not refer to the
68 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
species of the thistle-galls. He speaks with certainty of
EK. Rosz as being the cause of galls by oviposition on Rosa
centifolia. Of E. verticillata, Z/liger (an Isosoma), he men-
tions as a synonym, in part, E. Abrotani, Fonscol., which is
said to destroy the larva of Cynips Rose; there appears to
be some confusion here.
His Eurytoma enea has been since named Asaphes nea,
and has little affinity with the Eurytomide ; he has observed
it to destroy Aphidius varius. It may be often reared from
the body of an Aphis, and, if it confines its attention to
Aphidius, it is the cause of much increase of Aphides, by
stopping the increase of their destroyers. His Eurytoma
signata is a Decatoma, and may include more than one
species; he has reared it in July from the galls of Cynips
Quercus-gemma, Linn., and has observed it in September to
lay eggs in the oak spangles. As to Perilampus, he mentions
Dalman’s belief that it is parasitic on wood-feeding insects,
and he includes Caratomus megacephalus with Perilampus.
I have occasionally seen this species running over palings.
“‘Callimome regius,” he says, “lives in the galls of Cynips
Quercus; C. bedeguaris, in galls of the rose and of the oak
(the latter notice may refer to another species) ; C. Puparum,
in the galls of the rose, on the authority of Spinola;
C. muscarum, in the grubs of Aphidivorous flies? (there may
be an error here, and another in the quotations given) ;
C. Capree, in the galls of Cecidomyia, Schr., perhaps this
species is C. Cecidomyz, which has been observed by Dr.
Barnston, near Hudson’s Bay.”
C. caudatus or C. difficilis is supposed by him to be
identical with Juniperi, which is a parasite of Lasioptera
Juniperina. C. globiceps, in galls of Cynips Potentille,
Deg. Torymus fuliginosus, in the fungous many-chambered
galls on the twigs of oaks, on the authority of Spinola, appa-
rently the type of an unnamed genus. Eupelmus annulatus,
from the pupa of Cryptocephalus 12-punctatus ; he cites the
previously-described Diplolepis albicauda of Spinola as a
synonym of this species. E. Degeeri, in galls of Cynips
Potentilla. Cheiropachys quadrum, from the galls of Quercus
Tojz, on the authority of Spinola; it is also parasitic on
wood-feeding insects. Pteromalus Cyuipedis, Linn., in galls
of the willow; two or three species are here included in one.
Pt. Apum, Reiz., in nests of some kind of bee.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 69
P. Salicis (= Tridymus or Seladerma or Selaoderma), in
willow-galls of Cecidomyia Salicis, where Encyrtus Tennes
and Platygaster niger are its companions. P. Puparum,
Linn, the well-known destroyer of European butterflies in the
chrysalis state; it also occurs in various parts of North
America, and as far north as Hudson’s Bay. Chrysolampus
suspensus (= Coryna clavata) lives in the larve of Aphidius
Rosarum, and is thereby an injurious insect. Elachistus
albiventris, in larve of Noctuites (e.g. trapezina). Eulophus
ramicornis, in larve of Noctuites (e.g. Aceris), E. pecti-
nicornis, in subcutaneous larve of oak-leaves. E. pennicornis,
in larve of PlusiaGamma. E. Larvarum, Zinn., in larve of
Noctuites (e. g. Aceris) ; various species have been described
by various authors under this name, and Nees observes that
it is a most obscure species. E. abdominalis, in larve of
N. pyramidea. E. Gallarum, Zinn., in larve of Cynips
Quercus-ramuli, the originator of oak-apples. E. Roeselle,
in larve of Gicophora Roesella. E. exiguus, from “ folliculi,”
on Festuca ovina. Encyrtus scutellaris, in Cocci of Betula
alba and of Prunus. E. varicornis, in larve of Eumenes
coarctata. LE. scutellaris, in Cocci of Corylus Avellana and
of Acer platanoides, &c. KE. gravis, in eggs of Lepidoptera ;
Nees observes that it may be also a parasite of Cocci, and
that it is identical with Ichneumon Coccorum, Linn., and
with E. zruginosus, var. B., Dalm. KE. zruginosus, in Cocci
of Prunus. E. zephyrinus, in Cocci of Betula alba.
When types of descriptions of species are not accessible,
and when these descriptions will answer for two or more
species, the record of the parasitism may be of much service
as a proof of identity; when this help is wanting it may
chance that a name, to use the words of Nees, “ obscurum est
semperque manebit.” The few following species are noticed
by Nees in the supplement to his work. Callimome
aurulentus, in galls of Cecidomyia on Rhamnus Alaternus.
C. cyaneus, Fonsce., in galls on Cornus sanguineus. C. sap-
phyrinus, Fonsc., in galls of Eryngium campestre, in galls of
the rose, and in larve; it may be a compound species.
Monodontomerus obsoletus, in pupe of Lepidoptera, and in
nests of bees. Eupelmus Syrphi, Bouché, in pupe of
Syrphus Ribesii and of S. balteatus. Ormyrus brevicauda, in
galls of Cynips Potentille. Pteromalus Larvarum, in larve
70 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of Rogas linearis. P. fungosus, in galls of the oak (this
species may be mentioned in another notice). P. Micro-
gastris, in pupe of Microgaster glomeratus. P. Capree,
Fonsc. (= Salicis ?), in willow-galls, formed by a Tenthredo.
P. Aphidis, in Aphides. P.? Quercus-ramuli, Fonsc.? in
galls of Verbascum nigrum; this may be a Decatoma.
P.? Chermes, in Coccus Ilicis tinctoriz. Chrysolampus tristis
and Myina? Ovulorum, in the eggs of Clisiocampa neustria.
C.? binotatus and C.? rufus, in galls of oaks; these are
species of Decatoma. Eulophus Blancardelle, in larve of
Elachista Blancardelle. E. Upupenelle, in larve of Ornix
Upupenelle. E. Cecidomyiarum, in Cecidomyia Artemisiz.
E. Galeruce, in the eggs of Galeruca Calmariensis. E.
Eurytome, in galls of the rose, originated by Eurytoma
Rose. Encyrtus fuscicollis, in larve of Yponomeuta Evony-
well.
Life-histories of Sawflies. Translated from the Dutch of
M. S. C. SNELLEN vAN VOLLENHOVEN, President of the
Entomological Society of the Netherlands. By J. W.
May, Esq. !
(Continued from p. 49.)
PuyLiotoma Metanopye6a, Klug.
Imago.— Klug, Blattwespen in Magazin Naturf. Freunde,
vill. p. 275, No. 185. Hartig, Blatt-und Holzwespen,
p. 255, No. 4.
Larva hitherto undescribed.
Phyllotoma nigra, abdomine pedibusque luteis, illius apice
nigricante, antennarum articulis undecim.
I believe neither Réaumur nor De Geer make any mention
of a sawfly larva having its habitat between the tissues of
leaves, unless, indeed, we place in this category the species
living in the bean-shaped galls of the willow. None are
described as miners. In 1848, however, the larva of Fenusa
Rubi, Bote (= Pumilio, Klug), was described by Mr. F. Boie
in the ‘Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung, and it is there
stated that this species lives between the tissues of the leaves of
the raspberry. Since this Professor Zaddach has mentioned
a
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 71
in his ‘Beschreibung neuer oder wenig bekannter Blatt-
wespen, that the larva of Fenusa pumila lives in the same
way in the leaves of the alder; he has also described the
larva of Fenusa Betule, szdz, as living in the leaves of the
birch.
The subject of the present paper is a species of Phyllo-
toma (a genus new to the Fauna of the Netherlands), the
larva of which, hitherto undescribed, has a nearly ideutical
habit. It is, however, more especially remarkable on account
of its method of spinning up, and the number and structure
of its legs.
I am indebted to my friend, P. C. T. Snellen, for my
acquaintance with this insect. In the middle of September,
1861, I received from him some larve, which he had met
with in bladders on alder-leaves, in the neighbourhood of
Rotterdam. He had noticed similar larve before, and had
taken them for a species of moth; but on rearing them
he had found them to be Hymenopterous. larve. The
specimens, or the specimen, which he had reared was,
however, no longer in his possession, so that I was wholly
uncertain as to its appearance and species. The alder-leaves
which were sent to me had simply a scar where the parenchyma,
between the upper and lower epidermis, was wanting, as
shown at fig. la. On holding the leaf up to the light it was
apparent that it had been eaten out, as the rays of light
showed the presence of a little animal of an oblong shape, as
also some pieces of excrement. On opening one of the
leaves I found a flattened white larva, 8 mm. long, differing
conspicuously from the usual appearance of sawfly larve.
The depressed form of the larva, and the breadth of its
anterior segments, gave it the appearance of an Orchestes
among the Coleoptera, while the absence of abdominal legs
presented itself as a singular feature among sawfly larve not
belonging to the genus Lyda, to which, however, it could not
be referred on account of the shortness of the imperfectly
developed thoracic legs, the absence of the two jointed anal
projections, and the fact of its solitary habit.
The larva (fig. 2) was greenish white, depressed, broad,
and diminishing in width from the head towards the tail;
head short and broad, ferruginous, with dark eyes and brown
trophi. On the dorsum of the lst segment were two black
72 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
transverse horny plates, only divided by a very narrow line;
on the ventral surface, in the middle, a black triangular spot.
On the 2nd and 8rd segments (fig. 3) were two small black
spots; and from this point the remaining segments gradually
became narrower and longer, each projecting anteriorly on
both sides on approaching the posterior margin of the
preceding segment. Along the middle of the dorsal surface
a black line was visible beneath the skin, broader at the
middle than at either end. The structure of the thoracic legs
was very remarkable (see fig. 4); they consisted only of two
horny knobs and a similar projecting spot placed in a row,
the upper of the two knobs projecting a considerable distance
from the surface; next to these was a brownish black spot.
The question arises, are these thoracic legs simply unde-
veloped, and do these projections indicate the joints? If
this be so, as I think it is, then the largest and most
projecting knob will represent the last joint, to which, in the
case of other normally constructed sawfly larve, the claw is
attached. On comparing this description with that given by
Boie and Zaddach of the larve of the genus Fenusa, Leach,
it will be seen that these last offer many points of agreement,
but are specially distinguished—first, by the presence of five
pairs of abdominal legs; secondly, by the normal structure
of the six thoracic legs; and thirdly, by a single anal leg
under the last segment.
After a short time the larvae betook themselves to a spot
on the leaf, at a little distance from that where they had
eaten out the parenchyma, each larva making a circular
depression, the walls of which were somewhat raised, giving
it an appearance of a blister on the leaf; both the walls
bounding this hojlow in the leaf speedily became brown, as
represented at 5 in fig. 1: in this circular space the larve
passed the winter.
It is extremely difficult to keep these little animals at the
requisite degree of moisture during the winter. Mr. Snellen,
who collected and kept a large number of mined leaves,
was only able to send me two imagos reared from them, and
from all the leaves containing larve, which I have kept in my
room for some consecutive. years, not a single wasp has
appeared in the spring. I succeeded better with leaves
which I kept in the cellar, but the harvest was always
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 73
extremely scanty, and in nearly all the bladders, which I
opened about the end of June, I found the larve dried up or
mouldy. For four years [ have had a supply of mined alder-
leaves: to begin with, I have twice received them from Mr.
Snellen; I then myself met with the larve on alders in the
plantation near Leyden; and again on the Hoogeland, near
Amersfoort, in the neighbourhood of the grounds of Coelhorst.
I have no information respecting the pupa, as I have uot
hitherto been fortunate enough to meet with one; most
probably the pupa state is of short duration.
The imagos appeared between the 16th and the 31st
of May: all the examples I have seen were females.
They belong to the little-known genus Phyllotoma;
according to Klug, the seventh family of the genus Ten-
thredo, and in Hartig’s classification a subgenus of
Emphytus. It appears to me that the characteristics
presented by this group entitle it to rank as a distinct
genus, unless we adopt the views of the Berlin philosopher
and unite them with Emphytus and Fenusa as a divergent
group of the great genus Tenthredo. The principal points in
which the Phyllotoma especially differ from other Tenthredi-
nide are the short broad head, the projecting eyes, the
number of joints in the antenne, and the neuration of the
wings. ‘This is, however, not the place to enter further on
the value of these characteristics.
The description of our species is as follows :—The head,
seen from above, is very broad, with projecting eyes and
depressed forehead; regarded from the front, broadly trian-
gular. Colour black, with the exception of a triangular spot
between the antenne and two lines along the inner margins
of the eyes of a sordid yellow colour; the Jabrum and palpi
are also of this tint; the other parts of the mouth being
brown. The clypeus is notched in the centre (fig. 10); the
lip itself being semicircular. The antenne (figs. 5 and 6) are
not longer than the head and thorax together, hirsute,
and consisting of eleven joints, the first of which arises from
a projecting knob, which may, perhaps, have appeared to
Klug as a twelfth joint. At all events, this author describes
the antenne as 12-jointed; as does also Hartig. The latter
may have simply followed Klug’s description, “and not have
counted the *oints himself. It may also be that in some
74 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
examples the last joint is divided into two. However
this may be, the antenne of my examples were of the form
represented in the figure. Their colour was black; the first
two joints, however, having gray margins.
The thorax, above and beneath, is shining black; legs
yellow, with brown claws; the ends of the tibiz and of the
separate joints of the tarsi of the posterior legs being
griseous. The penultimate joint of the tarsi is pointedly
prolonged on the under side.
The wings are somewhat dark, blackish, but iridescent ;
the anterior wings darker than the posterior; the anterior
margin and the stigma are brownish. There is an indication
of the commencement of a nervure, which would divide the
first submarginal cell into two, the normal neuration in
Tenthredo.
The cenchri are whitish. Abdomen pale orange; the last
two segments are bordered with black on the upper margin,
the valves of the ovipositor being also black. ‘The form of
saw and ovipositor is represented at fig. 8: they seem to me
to have most resemblance to the same organs in Selandria
ovata.
Although this life-history is so far imperfect, that descrip-
tions of the egg and the pupa state of the insect are wanting,
I have thought it as well to call attention to the abnormal
features in its habit and the form of the larva, hoping to be
able to fill in the picture at some future time.
Trish Captures in 1870 and 1871.
By the Hon. Emity Law ess.
I now send an account of some of the more interesting
Lepidoptera I have taken during the two past seasons.
Those recorded for 1870 were captured in a very out-of-the-
way corner of Ireland, or rather not in Ireland proper at all,
but on a little island of some fifteen acres, lying about
a quarter of a mile off the northern shore of the Bay of
Kenmare, one of an archipelago of little wooded islands,
which help to make the coast of Kerry—lovely every-
where—especially lovely there. My hunting-ground Jast
season (with the exception of a three days’ visit to the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 75
Nubigena country) was restricted to one or two inland
localities in Galway, and it strikes me as rather curious that
so many identical species should occur both there and in
Kerry ; not merely on account of their distance apart, but
because of their total dissimilarity in every point of view:
one—precipitous, covered with a luxuriant natural vege-
tation, and washed on every side by the Atlantic; the
other—a flat limestone plain, treeless, except in a few
favoured spots, and twenty miles from the nearest sea. In
both instances I captured all the insects enumerated between
the first week in June and the second or third in July.
DIuRNI.
L. Sinapis.—Rather abundant last season, from 4th to
13th of June. St. Clerans and Dunsandle Woods, near
Athenry, Co. Galway. I noticed it on the 6th in enormous
numbers at Coole Park, near Gort. (In your ‘British
Butterflies’ St. Clerans has, by some accident, been mis-
printed Florens /) .
G. Rhamni.—One pair (hybernated, of course), first week
in June. St. Clerans, Galway.
A. Paphia.—Very abundant, end of June, 1870, on Gari-
nish Island, Kerry; also, last season, at St. Clerans, Galway.
This is, I think, the only really common Irish fritillary. 1
have found it in profusion everywhere I have collected.
M. Artemis.—Occasionally. Boggy fields. St. Clerans
and its neighbourhood, Co. Galway.
S. Tithonus.—Very abundant indeed, first week in July,
1870, on Garinish Island, Kerry. I never met with it on the
mainland. Mr. Birchall, in his invaluable ‘ Lepidoptera of
Ireland,’ includes Semele (the grayling) with Egeria, Megera
and Janira, as generally abundant in Ireland; but, though |
have been now a good many years collecting, | have never
met with it. Of course that only proves that I have missed
its locality ; but still I do not think it can be as abundant as
the other three above-mentioned, which are of universal
occurrence.
S. Hyperanthus.—Very common. Garinish Island, Kerry,
and St. Clerans, Galway; and everywhere 1 have collected
in Munster and Connaught.
C. Davus.—I only met with two or three last season, as it
does not occur in cultivated districts.
76 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
T. Rubi.—1st to 10th of June. Garinish Island, Kerry.
Rather abundant. Took it occasionally last season in Gal-
way, on heather.
L Alsus.—Garinish Island, Kerry; rare. St. Clerans,
Galway; not uncommon. Very abundant in the Nubigena
district. This is the only “blue,” besides Alexis, I have
ever taken; nor have I ever met with any “skippers” in
Ireland.
The three common Pieride, Cardamines, Urtice, Atalanta,
Cardui, Egeria, Megera, Janira, Phleas, and Alexis, are so
universally common in Ireland that [ do not think them
worth mentioning.
NOcTURNI.
S. Populi—Common. Garinish Island, Kerry; St. Cle-
rans, &c., Galway.
C. Porcellus.—Two were found last year, July 6th, on a
garden-wall, near Ballinasloe, Galway, and brought to me.
C. Elpenor.—Very abundant; end of June, 1870. Gari-
nish Island, Kerry. Also last season, St. Clerans, Galway,
took a large number hovering over the common monkshood
(Aconitum Napellus).
M. Bombyliformis.—Took nine or ten flying at buckbean
(Menyanthes trifoliata), in bogs, near Athenry, beginning of
June.
S. Bembeciformis—Very abundant indeed in 1870, on
Garinish Island, Kerry; also, last season, at Clonbrock,
Galway; and everywhere I have collected in the south and
west.
H. Velleda.—Very common, 1870, on Garinish Island,
Kerry ; also, last season, in Galway, but not so abundantly.
P. Statices.—Very common in the Nubigena district; end
of June. Nothing could exceed the beauty of the two
insects when flying together.
Z. Nubigena.—Clare coast; end of June. I could not
have believed the incredible multitudes this species occurs
in, had I not seen it. At Black Head, on the horizontal
limestone slabs, at the very edge of the cliff, where nothing
grows but a few stunted tussocks of grass, and—strange
contrast!—the rare Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, with Saxi-
fraga hypnoides and Saxifraga tridactylites, and the lovely
|
\
|
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 77
fragile crane’s-bill (Geranium sanguineum),—there the Nubi-
genas occur in such countless thousands, that when I passed
my net along the edge of the cliff it came back full of them,
“looking,” as Mr. Birchall truly says, “just like little red
bees!”
Z. Filipendule.—I mention this common insect, because
there is a circumstance in connection with it which puzzled
me, and which, perhaps, some of your readers may be able to
explain. The moth occurred in immense numbers on Gari-
nish Island, on the short grass at the top of the cliffs of old
red sandstone, which form a barrier on the Atlantic side of
the island; and one day I noticed that the top of the rock
and the grass was in one sheltered part quite crimson for
about twenty yards, and on examining closer I found that the
reason was that it was densely covered with the wings of
Filipendule. After that I watched carefully for several days,
and distinctly saw numbers of birds—chiefly, I think, starlings
and buntings—catch the Filipendule, neatly snip their wings
off, and carry the body away in triumph: sometimes I saw
two, and in one case three, incredible as it may appear,
caught by a single bird at the same instant. Now, the point
I should like explained is this:—Mr. Wallace, in his deeply
interesting Essay on “ Mimicry, and other Protective Resem-
blances among Animals,” speaks of the larva of Filipendule
as one never eaten by birds; and from the very slight expe-
riments I have made on the subject, I have come to the same
conclusion. Then how and when is the change wrought that
alters the larva, which the birds find so unpalatable, into the
imago, which they evidently consider a bon bouche? Per-
haps you may be able to give me some information.* At any
rate, if I chance to be anywhere this season, where Filipen-
dule is abundant, I will test the pupa at different stages, and
see what the birds say to ¢t. In the meantime, pray excuse
this long digression.
L. Complanula.—Four. Garinish Island, Kerry, 1870.
Also a few last season, near St. Clerans, Galway.
* Thus courteously invited to say a few words on this interesting subject,
I may observe that cuckoos very generally feed on the larva of Zygene, a
fact perfectly familiar to practical entomologists. A well-known and univer-
sally-respected lepidopterist told me he once saw more than thirty cuckoos in
one field, attracted by this their favourite food. Starlings also eat these larve,
but do not make them so exclusively their food, eating insects of all kinds and
many fruits—Edward Newman.
78 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
L. Rubricollis.—Took sixteen of this species last season,
in a small larch wood. St. Clerans, Galway. June 12th
to 16th.
E. Russula.—Garinish Island, Kerry, 1870. Not common.
Rather plentiful last season, in a boggy field, near St. Cle-
rans, Galway.
C. Plantaginis—Rather common; end of June. Same
localities as Russula.
A, Fuliginosa.x—Pupe abundant on all Galway bogs;
early in June; but about fifteen in twenty seem, as a rule, to
be attacked by ichneumons.
P. Populi.—This was forwarded to me last December,
from Clonbrook, Co. Galway. I found the pupe very abun-
dant some years ago in Kildare.
B. Rubi.—Very common on the mainland, near Sneem,
and at Derrynane, Co. Kerry, 1870. Also last season on
boggy land, near the village of Crangwell, Galway.
B. Quercus.—Larve common everywhere. All that I have
taken appear to me to be the typical Quercus ; but of course
I cannot say so with certainty.
S. Carpini—Common. Garinish Island, Kerry; and
heaths, &c., Galway.
(To be continued in May.)
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Insects of the Scilly Isles (continued from p. 52).—
Cuatcipi2. Some of the Scilly species of this tribe appear
to be undescribed. Like many British species in the same
predicament they will continue unnamed, till the occurrence
of a means for the publication of their characters. St. Mary:
Callimone, 1 ”.? sp.; Encyrtus subcupratus ; E. hemipterus
(the single specimen seen was, as usual, wingless ; it may be
called the Fern Encyrtus, as it always occurs on ferns) ;
Asaphes enea; Sphegigaster, 1 2. ? sp.; Pachyneuron Pruni ;
Pteromalus fasciiventris, P. Irus, and 10 n.? sp. of this
genus, one of them found also in Samson and in Annette ;
Entedon Amyrteus; Eulophus Metalarus; E. Faustitas ;
Diglyphus Isa (also in Bryer); Tetrastichus, 1 ».? sp.
Bryer: Pteromalus, 1 2. ? sp. St. Martin: Encyrtus Teuteus ;
int
\
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 79
Sphegigaster, 1 ».? sp.; Dicyclus nigrowneus. Annette:
Pteromalus, 3 n.? sp.—Francis Walker.
Sesia Apiformis feeding on Cork.—A pair of Sesia
Apiformis emerged from some pupz of this species in my
possession in June last, and the female laid a number of eggs,
which I watched carefully for a month, expecting them to
hatch. As they did not do so I considered that they were
not fertile, and put them away with some old setting-boards
in a closet, and thought no more about them. At the end of
January this year, requiring one of these boards for setting
out my first captures this year, I was surprised to see a larva
of this species crawling along the groove in which I was
setting out B. Pilosaria, and being curious to see where it
could have come from I examined the spreaders more
closely, and found that the cork along the groove was com-
pletely riddled by small galleries made by this larva. Further
search discovered another of these delinquents comfortably
ensconced in the cork, where he remains to this day, as I am
anxious to see whether he will arrive at maturity on this
strange diet.—G. H. Raynor ; Tonbridge, March 9, 1872.
Captures at light at Tonbridge in 1871.—During February
I took Pilosaria pretty freely at light, and one specimen
of Hispidaria turned up on the 22nd. In March I took nine
specimens of Prodromaria; the Teniocampe did not come
very freely to light, but I took Gothica (in great numbers),
Opima (3), Populeti (2), and Rubricosa (2). In April I took
another specimen of Prodromaria, and several each of
Badiata, Derivata, and Hirtaria; | also came across Abrup-
taria and Biundulata (3 each), a single Consignata (on the
23rd), Dictza (on the 24th), and Dubitata (on the 30th).
May proved the most productive month in the year, yielding,
among other things, Trepida (3), Dodonea (2), Ziczac (2),
Dictza (1), Palpina (3), Silaceata (1), Decolorata (1),
S. Populi (4), Consignata (1, on the 19th), and Pudibunda in
abundance (no females). June was scarcely less productive,
although the Cuspidates were over, except Palpina, of which
I took two more; and, among other things, Tilie (2),
Venosata (2), Promutata (1), Margaritata (2), and several of
the commoner Eupithecie. With July came Dotata, Sub-
notata, Iota (1), Roboraria (1), Tenebrosa (2), Papilionaria
(2), Subfulvata, Elinguaria, and Quercifolia (5). The
80 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
remaining five months produced Tiliaria, Fuscantaria (2),
Cervinaria, Spartiata, Pennaria, and Cassinea: the latter
were more plentiful than I have ever found them before, and
I secured fifteen males and nine females. On the whole (as
far as light is concerned), I consider that I had a more
successful season than usual.—G@. H. Raynor; Tonbridge,
March 9, 1872.
Moths at Sea.—Captain Robert Fuller, of the S. S.
Northumbria, informs me that last September, when about
twenty miles off Oporto, “ weather fine,” a very considerable
number of moths made their appearance during the evening,
and settled on the masts and sails of the ship by hundreds,
So numerous were they, that with one grasp of the hand you
could secure four or five moths. Several specimens were
caught for me; but until yesterday I had not been able to see
them. They all prove to be our common Plusia Gamma;
and Capt. F. told me he did not observe any other kind on
that occasion. These must have been part of a large flight, as
he described them as clustering in masses all over the ship. I
certainly think that many of the rare insects occasionally cap-
tured round our coasts are brought here in the above manner:
after a long and almost exhausting flight over the sea, they
very often gain foothold on some passing vessel, and some
day or two may elapse before they again take wing; then it
may often happen to be near the English coast; the fugitive
possibly captured, and dubbed an English specimen, worth a
considerable sum, of course. These particular insects,
P. Gamma, are most common here; but it is just as likely to
happen to a continental species. Doubtless we owe many of
our present extensive list of new species to homeward-bound
shipping. —W. H. Tugwell ; 3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich,
S.E., March 14, 1872.
South London Entomological Society.—I am requested to
state that a society under this name has commenced its
meetings at the reading-room of Dunn’s Institute, Newington
Causeway (near the Elephant and Castle), and that new
members can be admitted on Wednesday evenings from 8 to
10 p.M.—Edward Newman.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 103.] MAY, MDCCCLXXII. [Price 6d.
Answers to Correspondents.
CH@ROCAMPA ELPENOR (VARIETY).
Variety of Cheerocampa Elpenor.—The fore wings have
a large central area, in which the membrane is without scales,
the wing-rays only being furnished with scales, and these
ochreous ; the rest of the wing is smoky brown. In the hind
wings is a similar central area, but not so completely denuded
of scales as that in the fore wings; at the apical angle the
wings are smoky brown, and partially of the same colour as
the fore wings; but the scales towards the anal angle, and
nearer the centre of the wing, are dull ochreous. The palpi,
crown of the head, and collar, are dull olive-brown; the
thorax ochreous-brown tinged with rosy; the abdomen
brown, the margins of the segments ochreous, and the tip
rosy. The specimen was bred by Mr. Last, of Ipswich; and
has been kindly lent me by Mr. Bond for figuring in the
‘Entomologist.’
Is Lithosia rubricollis double-brooded ?—For the last few
days I have had several specimens of Lithosia rubricollis
emerge in my breeding-cages, from pupz taken at Tilgate
VOL. VI. F
82 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Forest in the autumn (they have been kept out of doors all
the winter). As you give, in your ‘ History of British Moths,’
August for their appearance, are they double-brooded ? or is
it a freak of nature? If you will kindly answer this in next
month’s ‘Entomologist, I shall feel much obliged.—F.
Trangmar ; 20, Tidy Street, Brighton, April 4, 1872.
Mr. Merrin gives June for the imago, and August for the
~ larva.
Rose Beetle-—Is it usual to find specimens of this
Coleopterous insect hybernating in the earth? A few days
ago I dug up two in a torpid state, which revived after being
placed for a few hours inawarm room. ‘The fact of such
hybernation is probably well known; but I do not recollect
ever meeting with this particular species in such a situation
before.—G. Bentley Corbin.
It had probably undergone its final change in the ground,
which is not unusual. I do not think Cetonia ever enters the
ground to hybernate.
Posting Boxes.——Even the most strongly-made boxes
(Entom. 102, p.58) getsmashed in their transmission through the
post, as most of us know from experience. A very good plan
is to cover the boxes with calico or some such material,
using glue to secure it. If the boxes have been in use they
should be thoroughly cleaned from any greasy matter, or the
glue will not hold so well upon them. In the case of a box
where the lid and bottom are formed of cork, I cannot speak
so positively ; but if a box is wholly formed of wood on the
outside it is surprising how much its strength is increased by
the plan I have named.—G. B. Corbin; Ringwood.
Post Boxes.—1 would recommend boxes made of some
light strong wood, to admit of specimens top and bottom of
box, and of such dimensions suitable to allow of a casing of
cotton-wool placed round; then enclose inside a tin case. Half-
a-pound or pound mustard tins might be brought into use, or
such cases as Bragg’s charcoal biscuits are sold in might
be requisitioned: these, with an additional roll of cotton-wool,
may be safely adopted. I have used cardboard and leather
cases in the same way, and they have carried well. If fora
large number of insects, I should say pack well, and enclose
inside a much larger box, and send per rail.—J. Bryant;
63, Old Broad Street, E.C., March 18, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 83
Transmission of Insects by Post.—This is so unsatisfactory
at present, and so frequently reflects vexation on both sender
and recipient, that, until a new generation of officials arises,
I would advise entomologists to relinquish it, at least as far
as larve and imagos are concerned. Pupz may be packed
so as to travel safely, if the box be strong, and the “ padding-
in” be done carefully ; and eggs will rarely take any harm,
if enclosed in quills or small metal tubes.—J/. R. S. Clifford ;
59, Robert Street, Chelsea.
Abundance of Trichoptera.—From our situation so near
the river, we have usually a supply of various caddis-flies in
this neighbourhood; but during the past week the enclosed
species has appeared in such incredible numbers that I think
their occurrence worthy of notice. .I did not notice their
abundance till Sunday, the 7th inst., and on the three
following days they seemed to increase in numbers; for on
Wednesday, the 10th, the air seemed. literally full, and this
not by the river only, but in the streets there were countless
thousands of this particular insect. It would be interesting
to know whether the species has been universally abundant
in other localities as well as here. The meadows near the
river have been flooded during much of the past season; but
whether the inundation combined with a mild winter has
proved favourable to the development of these insects, is a
question I must leave to be answered by any kind brother
entomologist, whose knowledge of this class of insects must
of necessity be superior to my own, as I have never paid any
decided attention to them. I may here state, that after the
10th inst. there was a great falling off in their numbers; and
now the insects are no commoner than usual.—G. B. Corbin.
The insects sent are Glossosoma Boltoni of Curtis.
Hybernation of Bombyx Rubi.—Mx. Clifford’s experience
differs some little from my own with regard to these larve
(Entom. 100, p. 15). Those I have reared, as a rule, hyber-
nated on the surface of the earth, underneath the moss, &c.,
prepared for them at the bottom of the rearing-box; and I
have, on more than one occasion, found a larva in the winter,
under the dead leaves on a hedge-bank; and in each case
the larva was in a slightly contracted ring, and to all appear-
ance full grown. It is very true that it is a species which
does not hybernate till very late in the season; in fact,
84 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
it seems that the cold alone forces it to retreat. My larve of
Rubi very seldom, if ever, fed in the spring, although they
seemed to enjoy the sun’s rays after their winter sleep.
I may state that my larva-box was always exposed to the
weather—out of doors. The larve of B. Quercus undoubt-
edly come out from their winter retreat before those of Rubi,
as [ have found those of the former species on several occasions
whilst beating the leafless hawthorn branches for females of
H. rupicapraria. The larve of Rubi, when kept in confine-
ment, are sometimes attacked to a considerable extent with a
white kind of mould, arising, no doubt, from too much
dampness.—G. B. Corbin.
Anisopteryx Aéscularia.—Would you kindly inform me
what is the name of the enclosed little moth? I took it offa
young cherry-tree, and it was laying a ring of eggs round a
twig, after the manner of Bombyx neustria, and covering
them slightly with down from its body. The eggs are large
and numerous, so that the moth must have been twice as
large previous to laying. 1 have taken another ring of the
same kind of eggs off another cherry-tree, since I took the
others, a few days ago.— W.. J. Skelton ; The Bounds, Herne
Hill, near Faversham, March 7, 1872.
The moth is Anisopteryx Auscularia (the March moth),
described and figured at p. 105 of ‘ British Moths.’
Scarlet Spider.—l have sent you a little insect that has
been found amongst long grass. If you would kindly tell me
the name of it, and what class of insects it belongs to, I —
should be much obliged.—T’homas Marson; Kay's Build-
ings, Sanderson Street, Wakefield.
The little creature is Trombidium holosericeum, commonly
known as the scarlet spider. It belongs to the division of
articulate animals called Acaridea, or mites; its eggs are a
pleasing microscopic object, and have more than once been
described as fungi. In April and May they may often be
found on stones.
Does the Larva of Russula hybernate 2—Can you give me
any information in the next ‘Entomologist’ respecting
K. Russula, viz., Does the larva hybernate? If so, in what
month does it come abroad before pupation? Does it spin
up on the ground, or on the food-plant ?—E. D. Kemp- Welch ;
Bournemouth, February 24, 1872.
a a a a To
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 85
I know very little of the life-history of this species, but
Vogel says:—“ The young larve are found from July to
September, when they hybernate and feed again in April
and May, when they spin up, and the moths appear in June.
The larve feed upon plantain, dandelion, scabious, hawk-
weed, chickweed, &c.”—H. Doubleday.
Heliothis armiger near Wakefield—Will you be so kind
as to name the enclosed insect? It was taken by me in
October last at Hoo Park, near here. JI have shown it to
Mr. W. Talbot, but he does not know it. If you will give me
your opinion of it I shall esteem it as a favour.—Henry
Sims ; Howard Street, Wakefield.
The moth is Heliothis armiger: a light-coloured and
wasted specimen.
Geometra Papilionaria.—On several occasions I have
met with the larve of this species the first week in April, and
afterwards. Usually I find the larve at the extreme end of
the twigs of birch, and not more than five feet from the
ground. I do not doubt their going higher, but I have never
found them so. I have seen them beaten out, but think this
a dangerous practice, as the larve hold so fast to the food. I
advise patience, and a sharp look at the young birches;
where the leaves are eaten it is more easy to detect the
larve. I think it would be difficult to find the larve in
February or March, unless exceedingly mild weather, and
the birches are forward in leaf—J. R. S. Clifford.
Insect Perforating Lead.—May not the borings described
by Mr. Macmillan (Entom. vi. 38) be the work of some
species of Sirex? It seems at least likely that from some
deal which had been used in the roofing, the imagos had
emerged, and, in order to effect their extrication, had pierced
through the metal above them. Two coniferous trees,
Pinus sylvestris and Abies Excelsa, are frequently attacked
by Sirex Gigas, Juvencus, and other species, and these
supply timber used for rafters. M. Guerin-Melville and
others have given instances where these insects had per-
forated metal, one of these a well-authenticated one :—some
cases of cartridges, forwarded to the French troops during
the Crimean war, having had the balls bored through, the
larve or pupe having been enclosed with the fir boxes
containing them. And it would seem that several years are
86 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
required to bring these insects to maturity, if the statements,
regarding their appearance in the imago state some years
after timber had been laid down as flooring, are credible.—
J. RS. Clifford.
Priority in Nomenclature—What do we mean by the
prior name of an insect? A fool, so it is said, may sometimes
strike upon a thought which a wise man misses ; and, without
setting myself down as the former, I venture to think that I
may point out a circumstance which has escaped the notice
of some, at least, of our entomological dons, upon whom falls
the duty of giving names to new species, and admitting
alterations in nomenclature. The first name of an insect is
surely not always the first actually applied to it in order of
time, but the first which has received a certain measure of
recognition from other students. To illustrate this by an
instance allied to it in human life:—a name given to a child,
to be valid, must pass through due formalities, and thus
gains acceptance; while a familiar name, though actually
conferred earlier, is not regarded beyond the household. It
is a question, as it seems to me, whether we ought to permit
the displacement of a name which an insect has borne many
years, undisputed, because it is discovered that some entomo-
logist, living in a state of isolation perhaps, had, at an earlier
period, designated it differently. Usage ought to stamp
permanence on a name after years have elapsed: but if
recent alterations amongst the Lepidoptera are to be carried
out amongst the other orders of insects in a manner somewhat
similar, very much of our entomological literature of the past
will be rendered perplexing or obscure. One of the strongest
arguments which has been urged in favour of Latin names, as
opposed to vernacular, is that of their general recognition
amongst scientific men of all countries. But at this moment
it seems as if their permanence was in some danger; and, as
aliases multiply, the detection of a fugitive species will
become more difficult to all entomologists, no matter of what
nationality they may be.—ld.
Glow-worm in March.—The adult female glow-worm is
generally seen only in summer. I scarcely like to venture an
opinion when I have not seen the objects to which my
correspondent refers. I stated in the ‘ Zoologist, many
years back, that the glow-worm emitted its phophorescent
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 87
light in all its stages, —egg, larva, pupa, and imago. I
think it probable that D. R. I. has seen larve only, at this
season.
Queen Wasps.—There is nothing unusual in the fact of a
queen wasp being abroad at this time of year. G. G. C. and
other correspondents, who have noticed them, are referred to
Mr. Frederick Smith’s ‘ Catalogue of Fossorial Hymenop-
tera, p. 211, and Dr. Ormerod, in his ‘ British Social Wasps,’
p- 186, has fully explained this. A féw lines from Dr.
Ormerod are worth quoting :—“ With the first promise of
spring, with the violet and primrose, with the snake and the
bee, on the same bank from which the warmth of the sun
has called them forth, the mother wasp enters into active
life. During the cold wet winter months she has sheltered
herself, as she best might, in dry banks or old walls, in the
folds of curtains, or in the toes of shoes laid by, like herself,
for a season; and if, by chance, she has been disturbed from
her hiding-place, dusty, half torpid, she has seemed more like
an outcast from her old nest than the future mother of a
colony. But all this is altered now; and as she flies quietly
along examining each crevice in quest of a proper place to
build her nest in, the eye of the gardener recognizes in her
no helpless wanderer seeking a hiding-place, but an instru-
ment of destruction, which he will do well to crush in the
bud.” Every March these queens have a fearful ordeal to
pass through, because such large insects are sure not only to
attract the notice of gardeners,—and of that section of the
scientific public who delight in “ curiosities,” and in commu-
nicating their discoveries to various periodicals, which always
thankfully receive them,—but in many places there is an
organization, a sort of crusade, against queen wasps in
March; and little boys prefer the remuneration offered for
killing them to attending their schools, where the curri-
culum of study is somewhat more monotonous.
Lepidoptera at the British Museum.—Happening to be in
London a short time ago I made my way to the British
Museum, feeling sure I should find a fine collection of our
British moths and butterflies in good condition. You may
imagine my disappointment, as the poor bleached represen-
tatives of our Lepidoptera met my eyes. Surely it would not
be too much to ask that curtains should be provided for this
88 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
department of the British-Museum collection'!'—W. Mac-.
millan; Castle Cary, Somerset.
There is a second collection of moths and butterflies not
generally exhibited, but which may be seen on application to
the proper authorities.
Thecla Betule taken at Night.—On October 2nd, 1871,
I took a specimen of the brown hairstreak, Thecla Betule, at
night, on a blackberry bush. Is not this an unusual
occurrence ?— Waldegrave; Bookham Lodge, Cobham,
Surrey.
I do not recollect a previous instance of Thecla Betule
having been taken by night; but it does not appear to me
extraordinary that it should be taken by night at rest: had
it been flying it would have been more remarkable. I have
recorded more than one instance of Antiopa being taken
flying by night.
Polychloros Larve feeding on Nettle.—In the spring of
last year 1 took the larve of what I considered V. Urtice,
feeding on nettles, and from time to time added other larve
of Urtice in the same breeding-cage kept for nettle-feeders
only; and, to my surprise, a number of imagos resemble
Polychioros in colour and marking, keeping the size of
Urtice. 1 submit them to you for your remarks. There was
no apparent difference in the larve that I observed while
feeding. —Jas. A. Tawell ; Earls Colne, March 11, 1872.
These specimens have a wonderful similarity to Urtice,
which they do not at all exceed in size; still the colour is
nearer to that of Polychloros than that of Urtice; and the
black spot at the anal angle of the fore wing is present, as in
Polychloros; the white spot on the costa of Urtice is
absent, also as in Polychloros.
White Variety of Phieas.—Some time since I captured a
specimen of Phleas (small copper), in which the copper
ground colour of the wings is entirely replaced by white. Is
this variety an unusual one, or has it been noticed before?
—HE. H. Allis; Bristol, March 22, 1872.
“There is a variety of this species in which the parts
which are usually copper-coloured are of a pure and brilliant
white.” (Newman’s ‘ British Butterflies,’ p. 115.)
EpwWaRD NEWMAN.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 89
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 70.)
The accompanying three figures represent Ormyrus
punctiger, Aphelinus basalis, and Coccophagus scutellaris.
Ormyrus is the typical genus of the Ormyride, and is pecu-
liar in the sculpture of the abdomen; the species inhabit
ORMYRUS PUNCTIGER.
APHELINUS BASALIS.
galls as parasites. O. punctiger is not rare in England, but
never occurs in abundance; it extends far to the north, and
I have found it near the North Cape. Aphelinus basalis and
Coccophagus scutellaris represent the Myinide: this family
is most allied to the Encyrtidz; the species are all of very
small size: some infest Cocci, others Aphides: like the
F2
90 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Encyrtide they excel the other Chalcidiz in their power of
leaping, for which they are adapted by the structure of their
middle legs.
COCCOPHAGUS SCUTELLARIS.
The following notice of the parasitism of Chalcidiz refers
to what Ratzeburg, by information received from his nume-
rous correspondents, says on that subject in his work, ‘ Die
Ichneumonen,’ &c., 1844. He mentions several species as
being certainly or probably destroyers of other parasitic
insects, and terms them parasites-parasites, which word,
being inconveniently long, may be shortened to parparasites.
They will, therefore, be considered as hurtful, and not as
beneficial insects, supposing that such a distinction is not
erroneous, nor owing to limited comprehension of cosmical
order.
There is much space for investigation in testing the
observations already published, and in adding to them.
Reference to synonyms is reserved for a future opportunity.
The parasitism of this tribe is somewhat like the distribution
of vegetation on the earth, neither unvarying nor without
order. One species lives for a year as a parasite in a gall,
and when it emerges it finds a new gall, and a victim there
ready for its successors; others, when they are of age, may
find no habitations like their own for their prospective race,
and the law of necessity may impel them to seek for and
choose different kinds of dwelling-places.
Kupelmus azureus. Parasitic on Teras terminalis in oak-
apples, and on Microgaster dispar: in the latter case it is
associated with Eurytoma Abrotani, Pteromalus tenuis, and
P. Boucheanus.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 91
Kulophus bombycicornis. On? Eriogaster lanestris.
K. pilicornis, E. flavomaculatus, E. sesquifasciatus, E.
obscuripes, E. Orchestis, E. dendricornis, EK. cyclogaster, and
Pteromalus Orchestis. On Orchestes Quercus. E. dendri-
cornis, also, on a species of Cynipide, that forms galls on
the rose.
. Lophyrorum. On Lophyrus Pini.
. ramicornis. On Acronycta Aceris.
. elongatus and E. collega. On Cecidomyia Fagi.
. skianeuros. Reared from oak-apples.
. albitarsus. On some species of Cynipide.
. albipes. Came forth from apple-wood, devoured by
Eccoptogaster rugulosus, Saperda preeusta, and some species
of Magdalis, and thereby indicating its parasitism on one or
more of these beetles.
K. Padelle. On Yponomeuta Padella.
EK. Phalenarum. On Tortrix viridana.
EK. Strobilana. On T. Strobilana, in which Torymus
chalybeeus had an earlier occurrence.
E. xanthopus. Between 600 and 700 individuals from one
pupa of Gastropacha Pini.
. Hylesinorum. On Hylesinus minimus.
. leptoneuros and E. pachyneuros. On Coccus Quercus.
. xanthops. On Orchestes Fagi.
. Hylotomarum. On Hylotoma Rose.
. geniculatus. On Coccyx resinana.
. Turionum. On Coccyx Buoliana.
. Agrilorum. On Agrilus nocivus.
. galactopus. On Microgaster Vinule.
Elachestus leucogramma. On Eccoptogaster rugulosus.
Tetrastichus erythrophthalmus. On? Tortrix Strobilana.
Isosoma and Decatoma are included by Ratzeburg with
Eurytoma.
EKurytoma signata. On Teras terminalis.
EK. flavoscapularis. On Hylesinus Fraxini.
K. Abrotani. On the Microgaster of Liparis dispar,
E. Eccoptogastri. On Eccoptogaster rugulosus.
E. Abieticola. On Magdalis violacea.
K. Ischioxanthos. On Hylesinus Fraxini.
Monodontomerus obsoletus. On Liparis auriflua and on
Cimbex variabilis, or more probably on Cryptus incubitor,
the parasite of the Cimbex.
comes BeoecoBco—cs)
coca Bes Becomes Beco keo—cs)
92 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
M. anephelus (obsoletus var. ?). On Liparis auriflua.
Callimome Forsteri. On Rhodites Rose and on Ceci-
domyia Fagi.
C. longicaudis. On Cynips Quercus-folii and on Teras
terminalis.
C. Cyniphidum. On Teras terminalis.
C. rubripes. From galls on trunks of oaks; frequents this
kind of gall in England, where it has been described by
another name.
C. appropinquans. On Teras terminalis.
C. cultriventris. On Cecidomyia Fagi.
C. Nordlingeri. On Teras terminalis.
C. crinicaudis. On a Cynips.
C. chalybeus. On Tortrix strobilana.
C. difficilis. On Cecidomyia brachynteros.
C. pumilus. On galls on the willow.
Chrysolampus solitarius. On eggs of some Bombycid on
fir trees.
Pteromalus guttatus. On Pissodes notatus.
P. Brandtii. On Yponomenta Padella.
P. Lichtensteinii. On Rhodites Rose.
P. suspensus. On Cecidomyia Fagi.
P.spinole. On? Bostrichus typographus, or on Hylesinus
palliatus.
P. bicaliginosus. On? Eccoptogaster rugulosus.
P. binevius (binubeculatus, faem.?) On? Eccoptogaster
rugulosus, or Saperda preusta.
P. Fraxini, P. bivestigatus, and P. bininobatus. On Hyle-
sinus Fraxini.
P. punctatus. On eggs of some Bombycid.
P. Cecidomyiz. On Cecidomyia Pini.
P. Pini. On Gastropacha Pini, on Microgaster of Pieris
Crategi, on Microgaster solitarius, on? Pissodes notatus.
P. pilosus. On Rhodites Rose, or on some parasite of the
latter.
P. Puparum. This is the well-known butterfly-chrysalis
parasite, and has been lately welcomed in the American
States, as counteracting the influence of Pieris Rape there.
P. tenuis. On a Microgaster (male? of P. Boucheanus).
P. Boucheanus. This, the author remarks, is probably a
parasite “in the third potency,” a third-class circle of life,
” THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 93
appropriating the substance of a second-class circle. He
supposes it to be the parasite of a Microgaster, which is the
parasite of Anomalon circumflexum, which is the parasite of
a moth. But he observes that it sometimes belongs to the
second-class circle, or is even a first-class parasite, as it
feeds on Hemiteles and on Tachina, and on Gastropacha
pinivora.
P. complanatus. On Rhodites Rosx, or on one of its
parasites.
P. Einersbergensis. On Cecidomyia Fagi.
P. Hohenheinensis. From fir cones, inhabited by Tortrix
strobilana and by Anobium Abietis.
P. Klugii. On Nematus Erichsonii.
P. pygmeane. On Tortrix pygmeana.
P. albinervis. On Yponomeuta Padella.
P. Muscarum. On Musca stabulans, the latter being a
parasite of Gastropacha Pini. This is not the golden green
Pteromalus frequent on windows, and appearing there in
March.
P. Pogonocheri. On Pogonocheerus fascicularis.
P. Braconidis. On Bracon linearis.
P. annulatus. On Coccus racemosus.
P. variabilis. On Yponomeuta cognatella.
P. Dahlbomii. On Pogonocherus fascicularis and on
Pissodes notatus.
P. violaceus. On Magdalis violaceus.
P. flavipalpus. From the gall of a Cynips.
P. Diachymatis and P. Orchestis. On Orchestes viminalis.
P. Neesii and P. leucopezus (=? P. Hercynie). On Teras
terminalis, or on one of its parasites.
P. Audouinii. On a Microgaster, and probably on Eury-
toma Abrotani.
-P. Cordairii. On Teras terminalis.
Platymesopus Westwoodii. On an oak Cynips.
P. Erichsonii. On Teras terminalis.
Ormyrus chalybeus. On T. terminalis, or on one of its
parasites,
Styloceras (= Rhaphitelus) Ladenbergii. On Hylesinus
Fraxini.
Hybothorax Graffii. On a Myrmeleon.
Encyrtus Boucheanus. On Yponomeuta Evonymella.
94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
E. Eytelweinii. On Coccinella ocellata.
E. duplicatus. On? Coccus racemosus.
E. atricollis. On Yponomeuta Evonymella and cogna-
tella.
E. zepbyrinus and E. sylvius. On Coccus Betule-albe.
E.? embryophagus. On eggs of a Bombycid on fir trees.
Life-histories of Sawflies. ‘Translated from the Dutch of
M.S. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN, President of the
Entomological Society of the Netherlands. By J. W.
May, Esq.
(Continued from p. 74.)
NeEMATUS AQUILEGIA£, Voll.
Larva and imago undescribed.
Nematus niger, labro, mandibularum basi, alarum squamulis,
femoribus tibiisque flavo-rufis, articulo primo tarsorum
posticorum non dilatato.
In the month of May, 1860, I received from my late friend,
Dr. Wttewaall, some full-grown sawfly larve, which he had
taken in Gelderland on Aquilegia vulgaris (the common
columbine), and which I succeeded in rearing to the imago
state. I afterwards saw similar larve on the same species of
plant, at Renkum, also in Gelderland. I was unable to meet
with the larve in Holland, and, as I had omitted to take
complete drawings of my first brood, I requested my relative,
Mr. R. P. van Vollenhoven, residing at Renkum, to send me
some similar larve in case he should be able to find any,
with which request he obligingly complied: this was in the
spring of 1866. I am consequently enabled to give the
history of the development of this species, with the exception
of a description of the egg. No doubt the egg is deposited in
the epidermis of a leaf, or the petiole, very early in the
spring.
On the 8th of May I received seven larve from Renkum:
they were not of the same age, but none had yet undergone
the last change of skin. The smallest was 5 mm. long;
they had twenty feet. The head was dark olive-brown, the
thoracic legs being of a paler tint of the same colour; one
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 95
had the head and feet very nearly black. The body was
yellowish green on the back, the ventral surface and anal
extremity being paler (see fig. 1). On the 15th of May some
had moulted for the last time: they retained the colour
which they then assumed until they began to spin up, when
they were about 1.6 centimetre long. The head was shining,
pale olive-brown or brownish green ; the sutures of the vertex
somewhat greener; the mandibles somewhat browner, with a
black border to the serratures; maxille and palpi greener.
The eyes were inserted in round black spots; the vertex was
beset with short, stiff little hairs (fig. 4). The body was pale
green, of a somewhat less yellow tint than before; not only
were the abdominal and anal legs of that colour, but even the
thoracic legs also, which were glassy green, with brown
claws. Not only did the legs of the larve at this stage differ
from those of the younger larve in colour, but also, to a
certain extent, in form; and in order to show this more
clearly I have given, at fig. 3, a magnified drawing of the two
placed next to each other. From this it will be seen that the
legs of the young larve have a smooth brown-margined
space on the femur, where the skin appears to be thinner than
on the sides. Can it be that the body of the younger larve
presses more upon the feet, which causes these latter always
to form a sharp angle between the tibia and femur, so that
the tibiz are continually pressed against the upper part of
the femora? I omitted to observe this point in the living
animal; it might, however, afford some explanation of the
origin of this peculiar spot. The abdomen was much
wrinkled on the dorsum, more especially on the anterior
segments: on each segment, from the first to the sixth, were
two transverse rows of extremely minute spines of a dark
green colour. The spiracles were very small, and deep
brown.
The most advanced larva of those which I had received
from Renkum spun up on the 18th of May; those sent by
Dr. Wttewaal did not spin up till the 27th of May, and in all
cases at the bottom of the box in which they were kept.
Under natural conditions they probably form their cocoon on
the surface of the ground, against or among the stems of the
columbine. Some of the cocoons were deep yellow; others
were straw-coloured, with a tinge of green: they were all
96 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
shining, single, and somewhat thin. On the 27th I cut open
the cocoon spun on the 18th, and found in it a female pupa
of a greenish tint: eyes black, antenne and legs transparent
white, wing-cases yellow. At the apex of the abdomen,
where the saw was distinctly perceptible, was the shrivelled-
up larval skin. By the evening of the Ist of June the pupa
in question had become of a blackish green colour; and on
the morning of the 2nd the head, thorax and dorsum of the
abdomen, as also the antenne, were black; the ventral
surface was covered with black transverse plates; the sides
and interstices of the abdomen (the skin between the said
plates), as also the wings and the sheath of the saw, were
sordid olive-green; legs very pale ferruginous. The little animal
was lying on its back, and drew up its legs from time to time,
from which it was concluded that it would make its appear-
ance in the winged state on the following day ; which proved
to be the case, for on the morning of the 3rd I found the
wasp had shed the pupa skin: two days later two others
emerged from the cocoon, and another on the day after. The
insect which I had taken out of the cocoon in the pupa state
did not attain its full coloration during the first two days
(the black was decidedly of an olive tint), while the others
made their appearance entirely of a deep shining black: it
seems to follow from this that the imago remains a day or
two in the cocoon after shedding the last skin.
The description of the imago is as follows :—the whole
body is shining black with the exception of the trophi, the
legs, the squamule, and, in the case of some individuals, the
anus and the anal processes; the upper lip, which is non-
emarginate, is reddish yellow, as are also the bases of the
mandibles, the apices of these latter being black; the four
palpi are pale greenish yellow, the base of the first joint
being black; the labium is also black; the legs are pale
orange, the following parts being black or cinereous, namely,
the cox, some spots at the base of the anterior and inter-
mediate femora, the four last joints of the tarsi of the first and
second pair, the entire tarsi, and the apex of the tibiz of the
posterior pair. In some examples the anterior legs are
somewhat more yellowish; in others distinctly red. The
females are larger and—especially as regards the abdomen—
broader than the males; besides which there is a difference
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 97
in the antenne, which in the latter sex are somewhat
thicker than in the former (fig. 8). The seventh abdominal
segment in the male has a flat, rounded triangular plate ;
the wings are smoke-coloured; the costa and stigma are
pale brown; the other nervures black. I find no description
of this species in any book to which I have access. It
has much resemblance to Nematus sulcipes, Fall., which I
only know from Hartig’s description (p. 186): the latter is,’
however, twice the size of our insect, has a blue-black
stigma, and, apparently, the first joint of the posterior tarsi
somewhat broader than usual; the name, moreover, seems to
imply a furrow in the femur or coxa, which I do not perceive
in the present species. With regard to its habits this new
species agrees with the group of Crassicornis, Vallator, and
Abbreviatus.
It is high time that some entomologist should undertake
the grouping and describing of all the unnamed Nemati
which are to be met with in various collections.
Trish Captures in 1870 and 1871.
By the Hon. Emity Law ess.
(Concluded from p. 78.)
GEOMETRE&.
O. Sambucata.—Very common. Garinish Island, Kerry ;
also at St. Clerans and its neighbourhood, Galway.
C. Elinguaria.—Very common. Garinish Island, Kerry ;
also at St. Clerans and its neighbourhood, Galway.
B. Repandata.—This and Rhomboidaria I find common
everywhere. I captured a variety in Galway, which I think
must be Conversaria.
P. Cytisaria.—Took ten of this on Garinish Island,
Kerry ; end of June, 1870.
G. Papilionaria.— Noticed some larve, which I believe to
have been this species, on Garinish Island, Kerry, 1870, but
cannot say for certain, as | was unable to rear them. The
imago | took some years since at Lyons, Co. Kildare.
T. Lactearia.—Very common. Garinish Island, Kerry ;
and St. Clerans, Galway.
98 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
H. Thymaria.—Same localities ; but rarer.
A. Scutulata.—Very common. Garinish Island, Kerry.
A. Remutata.—Very common. Garinish Island, Kerry.
S. Clathrata.—This, with F. Atomaria and EK. Palumbaria,
flies on every bog and heath in Kerry and Galway.
LL. Adustata.—St. Clerans, Galway. Very common. Also
Garinish Island, Kerry; but less abundant.
S. Marginata.—Common everywhere.
L. Didymata.—This, with Pectinaria and Albulata, is
common everywhere I have collected in Kerry and Galway.
Ei. Centaureataa—Very common on Garinish Island,
Kerry. June, 1870.
EH. Castigata.—Very common on Garinish Island, Kerry.
June, 1870. Also at St. Clerans and its neighbourhood,
Galway.
EF. Nanata.—Very common on Garinish Island, Kerry.
June, 1870. Also at St. Clerans and its neighbourhood,
Galway.
E. Subnotata.—In immense profusion on Garinish Island,
Kerry. I captured other Eupitheciz, but am not quite sure
what species to refer them to.
M. Albicillata.—Occasionally. St. Clerans, Galway. I
took this and the following in boundless profusion on
Garinish and neighbouring islands, Kerry; but though I
searched assiduously for them and many others on the
mainland, which was at one part only separated by a narrow
sound, I never found any but the most abundant species
common to both; indeed, the shores of the bay were singu-
larly barren in Lepidoptera of all sorts, so that it would appear
as if many species lingered on in the islands, where their
condition of life remained unchanged, after they had been
driven, by the destruction of the woods or the partial cultiva-
tion of the soil, from the neighbouring shores of the bay;
and I have no doubt that a thorough exploration of islands
off this coast—that have been still longer separated from any
mainland, such as Scariff, Dinish, above all the Skelligs,
and many others—would result in the discovery of Lepidop-
tera new to Britain; possibly, like the little group of plants
that still linger on these shores, of a South European type.
M. Hastata.—Rare. St. Clerans, Galway. Very common
indeed; early in July. Garinish Island, Kerry.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 99
C. Ferrugata.—Common everywhere.
S. Undulata.—Not uncommon; St. Clerans, Galway.
Very common; Garinish Island, Kerry.
C. Testata and Populata.—Common ; St. Clerans, Galway.
Very common; Garinish Island, Kerry.
A. Plagiata.—Abundant in woods near St. Clerans and
neighbourhood, Galway.
T. Cherophyllata. Common everywhere in Galway and
Kerry.
CUSPIDATES.
P. Lacertulu.—Very plentiful. Garinish Island, Kerry ;
end of June. I took ten one night. Also a few in Galway
last season.
D. Vinula,—Common everywhere, of course.
N. Camelina.—Not uncommon. Galway. I met with a
large number three years ago, near Kecep, Connemara.
Nocruz&.
In this group I made scarcely any captures, as, from
circumstances, | was able to do but very little sugaring or
other night-capturing in Kerry, and absolutely mone in
Galway; so that almost the only Noctuc I met with were a
few day-flying species. ,
T. Derasa.—Common (but not so much so as Batis).
Garinish Island, Kerry.
T. Batis—Very abundant, indeed, on Garinish Island,
flying over flowers, near the sea. One night I took a large
number at sugar.
C. Duplaris.—I took ten of this uncommon species in one
night (end of June, 1870), in a small wood on Garinish
Island, flying slowly over honeysuckle.
T. Fimbrian—Common. Garinish Island, Kerry; end of
June.
N. Triangulum.—Common. Garinish Island, Kerry ; end
of June.
N. Brunnea—Common. Garinish Island, Kerry; early
in July.
D. Capsincola—Common on all the coasts of Kerry, espe-
cially near Derrynane Abbey, flying over Silene. I met with
no other Diantheecia.
H. Serena.—\n immense profusion all June, on Garinish
100 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Island, Kerry. A few were attracted into the house by a
lamp last season, at St. Clerans, Galway.
M. Oxyacanthe.—This, with P. Meticulosa and E. Luci-
para, | have found common everywhere.
H. Dentina.—Very common in Kerry.
HA. Pisi.—Very common in Kerry.
H Oleracea.—Less common than the foregoing.
A. Myrtilli.imOn most Galway heaths. Took it in profu-
sion at Clonbrock, near Ballinasloe.
H. Unca.—Common on one piece of boggy ground, near
St. Clerans, Galway, last season. Took it three years ago in
immense numbers, near the Killeries, Connemara.
P. Festuce.—Not uncommon on Silene maritima, on the
very edge of the sea, Kerry. Very abundant ; Connemara, in
similar localities.
P. Interrogationis.—This is, I think, the first record of an
Irish capture of this insect. I noticed it last season on the
4th of July, flying in some numbers over heather, in a wood
skirting a large bog, at Clonbrock, near Ballinasloe, Galway ;
but having no entomological apparatus with me at the time,
I was only able to secure a single specimen. Its mode of
flight seemed much like that of the common Gamma. The
specimen I took has the silver mark considerably larger, and
altogether varies a good deal from the typical Hnglish form
of Interrogationis.
E. Mi.—This, with Ainea, I have taken on all the Kerry
and Galway bogs. Glyphica seems rarer.
I think | have now enumerated all the Lepidoptera I met
with of any interest. Had circumstances enabled me to do
more in the way of night-mothing and larve-rearing, and had
my time been less limited, I have no doubt the list could have
been largely increased.
Emi_y Law ess.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Hybernating Moths and Butterflies.—1 send the following
extract from my journal of twenty years ago. I then lived in
a rambling old house in the country; J dare say the exami-
nation of the roofs of any such would repay the young
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 101
entomologist. I shall never forget the surprise and pleasure
I experienced at finding so many fine specimens in mid-
winter. “1852. Jan. 12.—Got through the trap-door on to
the roof of my house to clear away the snow that had drifted
through the tiles: found seven beautiful specimens of the
herald moth sticking on the rafters; five pretty green carpet
moths (Cidaria miata—I have found the larve of this moth on
scarlet-beans in gardens, and bred it freely); a number of a
curious rough-winged moth (Hypena rostralis); several
small yellowish long-winged moths, that sat up like cats
(Gracilaria Syringella?); plenty of small tortoiseshell butter-
flies; and one very large wasp.—D. T. Button ; Gravesend.
Early appearance of Abraxas Grossulariata.—Early this
month I had the pleasure of obtaining pup of the currant
moth. They were found reposing beneath the protective
rim of a large garden-pot, containing stonecrop; and, much
to my surprise, one of the pupz, on the 12th inst., changed
to an imago. These interesting chrysalids, and the imago,
were shown by me at the ensuing Wednesday meeting of the
Kastern Entomological Society. I have also taken the
ichneumon of P. Bucephala,—insects that amply repay any
amount of trouble attendant upon “setting out.”—George
Pratt; Lower Clapton, March 20, 1872.
Note on Cynips lignicola.—Two supposed parasites, a
Callimome and a Decatoma, have been long ago recorded as
inhabiting the Devonshire gall. I have lately received from
Mr. Newman two other species reared from these galls; they
have not yet been recorded as British, and may be new
species. One is a EKurytoma; the other a Callimome. The
latter has been also reared by Mr. Fitch.— Francis Walker.
Deiopeia pulchella in the Isle of Wight.—I took a speci-
men of Deiopeia pulchella by beating the coarse herbage in
a field by the shore, about a mile west of Ventnor, in the Isle
of Wight, on Thursday, August 31, 1871.—James Kirkby ;
Trentham, Notlingham, February 29, 1872.
Eremobia ochroleuca in the Isle of Wight.—\ also took
Ochroleuca, either near the same place on the same day, or
between Easton and the Needles on the previous day; but,
not recognizing it, I did not make a memorandum of it. Is
not the Isle of Wight a new locality for the latter ?—Jd.
Lepidoptera of Ireland.—\1 do not quite understand a
102 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
remark of the Hon. Emily Lawless, printed in your April
‘Entomologist,’ viz., that “C. Davus does not occur in culti-
vated districts.” Westmeath—though interspersed with
lakes, bogs and plantations—is highly cultivated, yet
C. Davus occurs in our neighbourhood. 1 can quite endorse
her statement about Semele, of which I have never captured
or beheld a living specimen, though Egeria, Megera, and
Janira abound. Tithonus is also unknown in Westmeath as
a native butterfly, nor is Sinapis found. Dr. Battersby cap-
tured Semele last summer, 1871, at Killarney, having
accidentally discovered a habitat for this insect. Our list of
native moths far exceeds that of our butterflies. Ocellatus,
Elpenor, Porcellus, Bombyliformis, Tiliaria, Ophiogramma,
Conspersa, Petrificata, Plusia Interrogationis, Bractea,
Festuce and V-aureum, H. Unca and P. Stramentalis,
Adela Cuprella and the lovely Thyatira Batis and Derasa,
Calocampa Vetusta and Exoleta, have been taken within
half a mile of our house, upon our own grounds.—F. J. Bat-
tersby ; Cromlyn, Rathowen, April 3, 1871.
Xylomiges conspicillaris in Gloucestershire.—On Monday,
the Sth inst., I had a fine specimen of X. conspicillaris
brought me by a working collector of Cheltenham. It
emerged the previous week from a pupa dug in that neigh-
bourhood, and he obtained it from a lad there who does a
little “butterfly catching,” &c., but is quite innocent of
scientific collecting, so much so, indeed, that he was on the
point of throwing this specimen away, when his friend called
and told him he had a good thing in it. It was unset when
I received it, but is now on my boards, and will shortly
appear in the cabinet of the Rev. Mr. White, of Stonehouse.
—H. W. Marsden; Gloucester, April 12, 1872.
Xylomiges conspicillaris at Malvern.—This has been
quite a red-letter year with the above species at Malvern and
the Link, something like thirteen specimens having been
bred by my brother entomologists and myself, five of which
have fallen to my share: z.e. one on the 10th of this month,
two on the llth, one on the 12th, and one on the 13th.
You will, no doubt, receive notice of the others.— Thomas
Goodyear ; Church Road, Malvern Link, April 19, 1872.
On the Distribation and Habits of Photedes Captiuncula.
—I generally take this species sparingly at Marsden Rocks,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 103
which is situated two miles from here, on the cliffs that over-
hang the sea-coast. It has also been met with at Castle-Eden
Dene, by Mr. George Wailes, of Newcastle, and Mr. Morri-
son, at Chester-le-Street; it is also said to be common at
Urpeth. I am of opinion that if the habits of the insect were
better known it would be found to occur in other localities as
well as those enumerated. It is a local species, and when on
the wing reminds one much of the Crambi. The only receipt
I can give to find it is as follows:—Let the entomologist
select a meadow, field, or a piece of waste ground, with a
well-mixed short herbage that is late in being mown, or
better if not mown at all; then take his net in hand about
the middle of July (it does not occur here before August, and
is a day-flying species, only to be obtained between the hours
of 2 to 5 p.M.); then let him examine every insect he sees
that is flying in a quick zigzag direction, pitching on the
grass every twenty yards, and it is not improbable that some
of those rather common-looking insects may be the object of
his search; but should he not succeed in finding one
between the hours mentioned above, his chance is a bad
one for that day.—Chrislopher Eales; 21, Grace Street,
South Shields, March 25, 1872.
Lycena Argiolus—In Mr. Newman’s ‘ British Butterflies’
(p. 156), the 7th of May is recorded as an early date for the
appearance of the azure blue, and the 8th of April appears
to be considered as the earliest date on record for its
appearance. I beg to state that I took a fine specimen of
this insect at rest on the 5th of April last year, and sawa
second specimen on the 9th of the same month. This year
I saw a specimen on the 12th and another on the 15th of
April. In 1870, I believe I first saw the azure blue on the
16th of April; but in this instance I am trusting to memory,
having failed to notice the date in my diary.— MW. Macmillan ;
Castle Cary, Somerset, April 20, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa near Ipswich.—On March the 10th of
this year a specimen of Vanessa Antiopa was captured here,
flying across a field, by a little boy. It is now in the
possession of an intimate friend of mine. It is a fair speci-
men, but evidently hybernated—C. F. Long, Medical
Superintendent ; Ipswich Borough Asylum, March 20, 1872.
Sphinx Pinastvi at Crewkerne.—Perhaps it may interest
104 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
you to know that there exists in the Institute, at Crewkerne,
a specimen of Sphinx Pinastri, taken (L think about the year
1863) by Miss Bicknell, of Hinton St. George, Somerset, at
rest on a tree trunk. I had the pleasure of seeing this speci-
men both in 1868 and 1869, whilst visiting at Crewkerne.
For my own part I have no doubt that the insect is purely
British.—A. J. Spiller; Wimborne, Dorset.
Dasycampa rubiginea at Cobham.—tLast night J was
fortunate enough to take a fairly good specimen of Dasy-
campa rubiginea (of course hybernated, I suppose) on the
blossoms of a greengage tree; the wind was north-west, with
a cold rain, and there were scarcely any moths out. TI took
avery good specimen of D. rubiginea here, in October, 1870,
on blackberry.—Waldegrave ; Bookham Lodge, Cobham,
Surrey.
South London Entomological Society, 26 & 28, Newington
Causeway, S.E.—This Society, which meets every Wednes-
day at 8 p.M., has twenty-three members on the books.
Papers upon Entomological subjects will be read on
Wednesday, May lst. New members and visitors (to be
introduced by members) are invited.—J. P. Barrett; 33,
Radnor Street, Peckham, S.E.
Death of Mr. Horne.—Mr. Charles Horne, a well-known
and much-respected zoologist and entomologist, whose
friendship I have enjoyed almost continuously from his boy-
hood, died on March 28th, at his residence, Innisfail, Beulah
Hill, Norwood, after a few days illness, at the age of forty-
eight. He was taken ill at the meeting of the Royal
Horticultural Society, held on the 20th March, and never
rallied. He was a member of the Scientific Committee of
that Society, and also of the Asiatic and other Societies.
During the early part of his residence in India, in the
Bengal Civil Service, he made large collections in Natural
History ; but these were unfortunately destroyed during the
mutiny. Undaunted by this calamity he began again at its
close, and succeeded in forming a valuable museum, espe-
cially of Entomology. He was a frequent contributor to the
‘Zoologist, more particularly on the poisonous snakes of
India, which he studied very successfully, and published
many valuable remedies for their bites—Hdward Newman.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 104.] JUNE, MDCCCLXXIL. [Price 6d.
Answers to Correspondents.
VANESSA IO (VARIETY).
Variety of Vanessa Io.—In the fore wings the large black
costal spot is united to and fused with the apical eye-like
spot, the three white marks in which are contiguous and
much larger than in the type; the purple surrounding these
white marks is scarcely perceptible: in the hind wings the
eye is completely obliterated, and its site occupied by
an ill-defined pale blotch. ‘This specimen has been kindly
lent me by Mr. Bond for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist.’ It
was bred from a larva found near Lea Bridge. Mr. Bond
received it from Mr. Eedle, who had it from the man who
bred it.
C. Villica.—I have taken several larve of Villica here, all
feeding on furze. Is not this unusual? TI mention this as
others, who have been unsuccessful in finding Villica, may
now find it on the above-mentioned food-plant.—[Rev.] A.
C. Hervey, Pokesdown, Ringwood.
I never recollect hearing of Villica feeding on furze.
VOL. VI. G
106 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
E. Lanestris.—Last year I reared a considerable nnmber
of larve of Lanestris. As yet only three imagos have
emerged. The pupz are all healthy, and as transparent-
looking about the wing-cases as they were at first. It seems
as if they were going to pass a second winter in the pupa
state. Is this a common thing for them to do?—[Rev.] A. C.
Hervey.
It is not uncommon.
Grease on Lepidopteranw—Can you kindly inform me
through the ‘ Entomologist’ if there is any effectual means of
checking and removing this? Some of my own specimens
have become so saturated that | have had to remove them
from the cabinet. The evil always seems to me to attack the
more valuable insects. My cabinet is built of teak, and I can
discover no traces of resin or damp.—C. Lovekin; 10,
Darnley Road, Notting Hill.
I believe the best way to remove grease is by soaking the
specimens thoroughly in benzole, and then drying them as
thoroughly : the operation often requires repetition. Cabinets
should be made only of mahogany. I often see’ cheap
cabinets advertised, but I consider a cheap cabinet the most
expensive luxury in which an entomologist can possibly
indulge.
Halophila Hea and bicolorana: Newman’s British
Butterflies.—(1) 1 hope you will excuse the liberty I take. in
thus addressing you; but being in possession of a copy of
your very excellent work on Moths, and being unable to find
a description therein of the green and scarce green-silver
lines, | thought that perhaps they were unintentionally
omitted. (2) 1 shall feel much obliged if you will inform me,
at your leisure, if your description of Butterflies, uniform
with the Moths, is ready, and price.—EHdward Sutton; 134,
Falmouth Road, New Kent Road.
(1) These two moths, Hylophila prasinana and H. bicolo-
rana of Staudinger’s Catalogue (2nd ed. p. 51), have puzzled
and perplexed entomologists more than any others. Stau-
dinger has placed them in company with Sarrothripa
undulana and Halias Clorana, at the head of the Bombyces,
immediately after the Sphinges, which terminate with
Zygena and Naclia. In Doubleday’s ‘Synonymic Cata-
logue’ we find the genus in question removed altogether
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 107
from both the Sphinges and Bombyces, and placed at the
head of the Tortrices. In my ‘Illustrated Natural History of
British Moths’ I do not include the Tortrices, because they
are usually considered to belong to the Micro-Lepidoptera,
and my work applies only to the Macro-Lepidoptera: more-
over, a Mr. S. J. Wilkinson has published a work on the
British Tortrices, to which I have alluded in my preface,
and I scrupulously abstain from interfering with any depart-
ment of Entomology which another has selected for elucidation.
The omission of these two moths was, therefore, intentional.
(2) The ‘Mllustrated Natural History of British Butterflies’
was published early last year, at seven shillings and six-
pence.
Early occurrence of Ophion obscurus.—Exclusive of
Lepidoptera, the insects that most constantly resort to a
light are Bradycellus fulvus, Aphodius rufipes, and Ophion
luteus; and it may be supposed that these three transact
their business in the night, and rest during the day. The
only living specimen that I have seen of Acentropus niveus
came to me in like manner. Ophion obscurus was attracted
by a candle on the 2nd of March; its early appearance
corresponding with the unusual mildness of the season.—
Francis Walker.
American Aphides and Cocci.—In the ‘ Transactions of the
American Entomological Society,’ vol. i. p. 283, Dr. Shimer
has founded a new genus of Aphides, which he names
Hamameliotes, and describes two species—H. cornu and
H. spinosus: they both feed on Hamamelis Virginica
(witch hazel). The first forms obliquely-conical or horn-like
galls on the under side of the leaves; the other forms spiny
galls, which are transformed fruit. The first species may be
the Byrsocrypta Hamamelidis of Fitch; the second is more
remarkable on account of the change of fruit into galls, and
no like metamorphose has been observed to be caused by
European Aphides. The same author gives a full description
of Coccus conchiformis, Gmel., which has been transferred
from Europe to America, and is there more destructive to
apple-trees than in its earlier region. But there is a remedy
for this evil in America, which remedy does not occur in
Europe, and it is in the person of Acarus? Malus, Shimer,
which uses the Cocci for food, and rapidly diminishes their
108 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
numbers. Dr. Shimer constructs a new genus, Lepidoraphis,
for this species, and proposes for it a new family, Lepidora-
phide, which he adds to the two previous families,
Dactylospheride and Coccide.—Francis Walker.
Ravages of the Winter Moth.—lI enclose you a box of larve
which are doing an immense amount of harm to our cherry
orchards now. Last season, about this time, the trees (over
1000) in a neighbour’s orchard were entirely stripped of
leaves. Our orchard, which is about the same size and only
separated by a field, was not nearly so bad, yet there were
enough to deface the trees considerably. The orchard which
was most attacked last year is again very full of the cater-
pillar, and our neighbour is having the trees washed with a
mixture, the same as we use for hop-washing, which effectu-
ally destroys Aphides; but J think as the larve spin the
leaves together they will not be much hurt by it. Would you
kindly tell me the name of the moth they will come to, and
impart any information respecting them? Do you know of
any plan of destroying them? I shall try and study their
habits myself this year—W. J. Skelton; The Bounds,
Herne Hill, near Faversham, May 3, 1872.
The larve sent are those of the winter moth, Cheimatobia
brumata. I have given a full life-history of this insect at
p- 106 of the ‘ British Moths,’ but will recapitulate a few of
the leading particulars. The eggs are laid during November
and December in the crevices of the bark of fruit trees,
or even on the rind of the small twigs: when laid they are
greenish white, but become orange, aud subsequently brown
before hatching, which takes place about the end of April.
The caterpillars commence their destructive career by eating
the young unexpanded buds. At this time of year bullfinches,
sparrows and titmice render the most important service to the
gardener by eating these buds, and thus destroying this little
pest of the orchard and garden. When the leaves have begun
to expand each caterpillar draws two or three together, and
unites them by a silken web, coming out partially to feed,
and retiring again within the domicile when satisfied. All the
passerine birds feed on these larve: the young nestlings are
supplied with no other support than the larve of moths, and
these of the winter moth, being the most abundant, are most
in demand; millions upon millions are pulled out of their
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 109
retreats by the busy beaks of the assiduous parents, and
transferred to the gaping beaks of the ever-expectant little
ones. Gilbert White and others have counted the number of
times in an hour that these little benefactors have returned to
their nest laden with larve. We may assist the birds in this
labour of love to man by pouring coal-tar on the ground at a
little distance from the trunk, or by painting the trunk itself
with anything sticky,—a mixture of Stockholm tar and cart-
grease in equal quantities has been found to answer best.
The larve may be beaten down or shaken down, and,
instinctively returning to the trunk as if drawn by a magnet,
they are arrested on their way upwards by the mixture, which
is always fatal to them, clogging their spiracles and inducing
speedy death. When the larve are full fed they sponta-
neously descend the trees in order to turn to chrysalids in the
earth about their roots. By digging and loosening this earth
the chrysalids are again exposed to the birds, and also to the
mice, which are prompt to avail themselves of the opportu-
nity. On the approach of winter the female moths, which are
queer spider-like creatures without wings, come out of the
chrysalids, and mount the trunks for the purpose of laying
their eggs. The same remedy of a sticky mixture, applied as
already recommended, will effectually arrest their upward
progress.
New Names for European Butterflies—What are we
coming to, when a man of Mr. Kirby’s reputation devotes an
entire page of the Ent. Soc. Proceedings to an attempt to
upset the name of our long-established favourite Colas Hyale,
with nothing to offer in its stead but the ridiculously inap-
propriate title of Sareptensis? This is reducing us to the dry
bones of Science with a vengeance. What are names worth
but as means of recording and identifying the objects they
represent? If a name conveys no object to the mind it is
useless. Do the entomologists of the present day really think
they are advancing the cause of true science by this incessant
and uncalled-for change of well-established names? rendering
all previous records of the species unintelligible to a future
generation without going back upon the old synonymy, and
learning to know the insect by two or three names instead of
one. It is pure pedantry, instead of science, this hobby of
the closet naturalists: making the names of more consequence
110 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
than the objects which they represent, and defeating many of
the best reasons for having names at all.—R. F. Logan ;
Duddingston, Edinburgh, April 8, 1872.
What is the English type of Xylomiges conspicillaris ?2—
May | invite your attention to your omission of Gloucester-
shire in your list of localities for Xylomiges conspicillaris in
‘ British Moths,’ p. 288? I should also like to know what the
English type of this species really is. The text of your
description would lead me to suppose that the lowest of the
three figures, given on p. 288 of ‘ British Moths, is that most
generally met with in this country. I have had a long series
of Continental specimens, hardly two of which are alike, and
your three figures are very true, as giving the three leading
types; but I have only seen three or four specimens that I
know of a certainty to be English. These are all Gloucester-
shire captures, and are all exactly alike, except in size
(which varies slightly), and agree with the top one of your
figures. They are, too, more intense in their markings than
any European specimen I have seen, although many of these
approach very nearly to the Gloucesterians. What are the
Worcester and other captures like '—H. W. Marsden; Glou-
cester, April 12, 1872.
I am not sufficiently acquainted with this species to
pronounce with authority on this question. I have seen five
or six specimens like the upper figure, and only one or two
like the middle or lower, but this evidence is insufficient for
forming a decided opinion. I have not seen intermediate
varieties; and I may say that Mr. Willis has represented the
three forms in question with marvellous accuracy.
Substitute for Camphor.—Can you tell me a good substi-
tute for camphor in my insect-cabinet? I think camphor has
a tendency to make the insect grease; benzine causes a
dampness, which relaxes them, I think. If you can assist me
I shall feel geatly obliged F. Boyes ; Beverley, March 26,
1872.
Camphor has a‘decided tendency to make insects grease.
I was not aware of the objection to benzine; but if you can
do without either it is far better to do so.
Typheeus vulgaris on the Sand-hills—There is a kind of
horned beetle common here; it burrows in the sand-hills.
Perhaps the accompanying sketch may give you an idea of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Pit
it; there is a horn on each side, and one over the head.
Would you like a specimen ?—[ Rev.] A. C. Hervey.
The beetle is Typheus vulgaris, one of the coprophagous
lamellicorns ; it is common on all our heaths in Surrey. I am
obliged for the offer of this insect and of Medea, but I have
plenty of both.
Food of Russula.—Russula feeds best upon lettuce, and so
does the wood tiger. I have bred them freely from eggs, a
continuity of broods in captivity, at least three broods in a
year: in every respect, according to my observation, it is
similar to Caja in confinement. A friend of mine was breed-
ing a lot of Caja at Christmas, last year, and only in a
regular temperature in his own house. The larva of Russula
makes up in the same way as Caja does. I never found
the larva of Russula outside, so cannot speak on that point.
—J. B. Hodgkinson.
Sirex Juvencus.—The insects sent by J. K. have usually
been called Sirex Juvencus. The great discrepancy in size
has frequently been noticed, but no entomologist had con-
sidered size as justifying the establishing of species in wood-
feeding insects. Three names have, however, been given to
these blue-bodied Sirices:—Juvencus, Nigricornis, and
Abietis. JI express no opinion of the specific difference of
the insects to which they have been applied.
Anthophora retusa.—1 should be much obliged if you
could name the enclosed bee for me in the ‘ Entomologist.’
They literally swarm on a bank about two miles from here,
the ground-ivy seeming to afford great attraction. They
make separate holes in the bank, and become very furious
when any one approaches.—G. H. Raynor; St. John’s
College, Cambridge.
- “This bee is found in all parts of the United Kingdom; in
some situations it literally swarms: there is a colony of this
bee in the chalk-pits at Northfleet, of such amazing extent,
that in the middle of April a dark flickering shadow is cast on
the ground from the countless numbers assembled.” Thus
says Mr. Smith in his admirable ‘ Catalogue of British Bees,’
wherein he names this species Anthophora Acervorum, but I
prefer giving it the more usual name of Anthophora retusa ;
not that I have gone into the matter of priority, or have any
inclination to do so, but because every entomologist will
112 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
understand me when using a specific name settled by the
great monographer of bees, William Kirby, and adopted in
this country for three-quarters of a century. I give Mr.
Smith full credit for his ingenuity and research in discovering
a second and perhaps earlier name.
Miners of Turnip-leaves.—These are not the larve of
Micro-Lepidoptera as M. P. suggests, but of Diptera. At
p- 84 of his ‘Farm Insects,’ Mr. Curtis has figured two
species which have this habit, together with the larva, pupa,
and mine of the former. Mr. Curtis adds: “ The turnip-leaf
miners may generate diseases in cattle where they greatly
abound. The one called Drosophila flava causes large
blisters on the upper sides of the leaves, which contain the
maggots; the other, named Phytomyza nigricornis, is the
parent of a maggot which eats galleries in the under side of
the leaves.” Mr. Curtis gives no remedy; neither can I
suggest one.
Weevil on Rose-trees.— The beetle John Woods has
sent is Otiorhynchus scabrosus: it appears to be unusually
abundant and destructive this year; it is an intolerable
nuisance; and I know of no remedy but picking the beetles
off by hand, and in the night by the light of a lantern: it is
a tedious, but safe and effectual, process. I have long
declined to recommend “something that will destroy the
vermin.” I have sent a similar reply to the ‘ Field, as well
as to several individuals who have consulted me.
The Unicorn Fly.—tL. C. is informed that this formidable-
looking insect is quite harmless. Mr. Verrall has named my
specimens Bombylius discolor of Mikan. We used to call it
Bombylius medius ; and it is so called by Mr. Walker, who
describes it at p. 82 of the first volume of his Diptera. It is
not uncommon, invariably appearing in the spring, and
occurring as long as the primroses are in blossom.
Early Butterflies and Humming-bird Hawk-Moths.—
Please not to send any more records on these subjects. I do
not like to pass them over without notice, but they are really
of no value in a scientific point of view.
Erratum.—The note im last month’s ‘Entomologist’ on
G. Papilionaria (Entom. vi. 85), signed J. &. S. Clifford,
should have borne the signature James Bryant.
EpwarRp NEWMAN.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 113
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Fsq., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 9+.)
The accompanying three figures represent Ericydnus
. x . ’ *
strigosus, Cerchysins Urocerus, and Cercobelus Jugeus.
The first seems more allied to the Encyrtide than to any
other Chalcidiz, but is distinguished from all other species of
CERCHYSIUS UROCERUS.
that family by its long ulna, the extreme shortness of that
part of the wing-vein being one of the chief distinctive
characters of the Encyrtida. In the Chalcidide the genus
Halticella has some resemblance to the Encyrtidz in the
shortness of the ulna and in the low insertion of the antenne.
The second and third figures belong to the Encyrtide, and
G2
114 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
the projecting oviduct is one of the characteristics wherein
Cerchysius differs from the other Encyrtide. The third is
CERCOBELUS JUGREUS.
established as a genus on account of the fewness of the
joints of the antenne, and on account of the compressed
abdomen.
Entomology at Leominster. By Tuomas P. Lucas, M.B.
Leominster is a small market-town in Herefordshire, dull
and monotonous, excepting on the ever-eventful market-day.
Once the richest priory in the kingdom, its old church is but
a portion of the grand cathedral, which formerly defended
the heads of devout worshippers. The beautiful lake—which
long ago spread its crystal waters beneath the canopied
heaven, and afforded recreation to the skilled oarsman or
adept fisherman—has disappeared: middle-aged men remem-
ber a vast extent of marsh land, formerly its bed, where
Artemis was wont to linger; but now nearly all this has
disappeared before scientific agriculture and its concomitant
drainage. Once the classical Acis was common here, and
afforded amusement to one of the fathers of Entomology ;
but now, alas, both have retired from the scene; the one to
reward the diligent searcher no more; the other still, we
rejoice to say, abiding to instruct and encourage the student
of Nature. But all the rarities have not departed from
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 115
Leominster; and though I need not here repeat names well
known to the scientific world, I may, perhaps, be allowed to
refer to a few insects I have taken during the few months of
my residence at Leominster, confining myself, excepting
when otherwise stated, to the year that has just departed.
During the winter months I obtained, by digging, nearly
three hundred pupe. Four Teniocampas—Stabilis, Instabilis,
Gothica, and Cruda,—were very common at the roots of oaks,
especially in Berrington Park. Munda, also, occurred
sparingly. A few Eupithecia abbreviata had spun their
slight earthen cocoons at the root of a hawthorn tree.
Leucophearia had taken up its winter-quarters among tufts
of grass. At the foot of a poplar I turned up one Smerinthus
Populi, one Prodromaria, two Pilosaria, and three other
chrysalids. Betularia and Tiliz were not uncommon at roots
ofelm. Ocellatus and Pisi were in company at the root of a
willow. Oleracea, Pronuba and Orbona occurred among
rubbish at the bottom of a garden hedge-row. I also took
Typica, Augur, Segetum, and the ubiquitous Brassice.
War to the knife with the bobbies, or an occasional tip,—
the latter availed me best; so being quietly passed by these
officials, and even occasionally assisted by them to a half-
torn or rubbed insect, I ventured to brave the wrath or
remarks of the passers by,—no friends to, or admirers of,
science,—in order to take a few sleeping beauties from the
lamp-posts: assuredly we had the best of it, securing a
goodly series of rarities; whilst our friends had to endure all
the torments, aches, and pains,—not the “pleasures” of
imagination,—on making the discovery that I was collecting
moths to make into pills and healing draughts for my
patients. In February, Rupicapraria, AXscularia, Progem-
maria aud Pilosaria were common. In March my best take
was Prodromaria, of which I captured four specimens in one
night. April, however, was the best month at the lamp-
posts. The weather was particularly warm for the season of
the year, and consequently many insects had emerged before
their time. On the 17th [ took Eupithecia consignata and
E. Lariciata; the former I failed to take on the trunks of
apple trees, only seeing it once in such a situation, and then
missing it, not having my net. On the eventful 17th I also
took Scotosia certata, the first record of this insect, I
116 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
believe, in Herefordshire: I took four specimens, and missed
others; it was much commoner than its ally, Dubitata,
which also occurred. TIllustraria occasionally put in an
appearance; but Hlunaria was as a hundred to one in
comparison, and nearly three times as large as the summer
brood, called by courtesy “ Juliaria.” Suffumata, Derivata,
Badiata, hybernated; Miata, Abruptaria, Ferrugata, and
Unidentata, rewarded a diligent search in moderate numbers.
May and June were less productive; single specimens of
Ziczac aud Bifida occurred on the black beams opposite
some of the lamps. I was absent during the greater part of
July; but August and September were very good months;
from ten o'clock to midnight was the best time, and filled up
the evening nicely after sugaring. Popularis, with its beau-
tifully feathered antennez, was side by side with Lunosa.
T'estacea was very common. A few specimens of Quercifolia
occurred about the end of July. Xerampelina was sadly too
fond of light, most of those I took being damaged by the
flame. Crategi was rare. The beautiful canary-coloured
thorn, Tiliaria, visited a couple of the lamps, near water ;
and in the same place last vear | took Fuscantaria. Pro-
pugnata was not common. How many of the garden carpets
J netted, hoping they might be something else, it would be
difficult to say. Perla appeared as fond of glass plates as of
its prescriptive brick walls. ‘The specimens of Micacea were
small. 1 failed to take Ravida, Citraria, or Cervinaria,
although they had rewarded my search in the previous
season. <A few stray specimens of Apiciaria were obtained,
but the best take of that insect was with the net at dusk; it
was much later than in the previous year. Plagiata formed a
very conspicuous object, and many other common species
occurred in greater or smaller numbers. Necessity is the
mother of invention: at first I lost many Noctuas, but at last
generally secured them by holding a large open umbrella to
receive them—touching their highnesses with the fine end
of a fishing-rod, the pieces of which were conveniently
carried without attracting attention, and could be adjusted to
any length.
At the sallows, in March, I had one or two good nights, but
the wind was so high that the blossom lasted only for a few
days; however, I took all the Twniocampas, excepting
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 117
Miniosa. Populeti was the most common of the rarer
species, occurring principally by the side of the railway.
Opima was the rarest of the lot. Lithoriza, with its delicate
pink-tinted wings, flew off immediately on showing the light,
and required a sharp look-out to take it. Libatrix, Exoleta,
Satellitia, and the common chestnuts, with Eupithecia abbre-
viata, were also among my takes at the sallows. On one large
bush or tree, I imagine, there must have been at least ten
thousand moths; such a sight I never saw before—they were
literally swarming. My takes at sugar were very few at the
beginning of the season, my first prize being at the end of
June: I visited Dinmore Wood, sugaring a large number of
trees, and, full of excitement, expected a good night; my
expectations appeared about to be realized, for | quickly
took a splendid specimen of Ocularis; but, alas, a storm
was brewing in the distance, and one of those mugg
blights came over and spoilt the sport. I patiently visited
and revisited my trees, but took nothing more all the evening.
This rare insect occurred again in a wood near the town, as
many as four specimens presenting themselves for capture in
one evening. Trilinea was one of the first species to come to
sugar; some specimens were very fine. Strigilis, Furancula
and Fasciuncula soon followed; Nebulosa was common;
Festiva was a pest; Janthina was joined occasionally by
Fimbria and Interjecta; Rubi and Baja were scarce; Trago-
pogonis and Hepatica were much less common than the
many-varied and impudent Polyodon; one specimen of
Cytherea occurred. he third and fourth weeks in August
were the best for numbers at sugar: Affinis and Diffinis were
very plentiful; Proteus was beautifully fresh; Rhizolitha and
Petrificata were not uncommon ; Pyramidea, Maura and Nupta
disputed with large unfriendly slugs the right of sacrificing to
Bacchus. I had to leave in September, when the ivy was
about to bloom. As entomologists may imagine, | hunted
carefully ; and, luckily, about the 20th found one single bush
in full flower. I had two or three good nights at this spot,
my best bags being Gilvago and Aurago, of both of which I
had obtained occasional specimens from sugar; Cerago,
Silago and Ferruginea were very common; Miata and
Psittacata did not appear at all afraid of their stronger
cousins; | took a dozen of the latter in one evening; Lota
118 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
was very common, and Macilenta had just put in an appear-
ance; Lunosa was passing off, and being replaced by
Pistacina, which was just emerging from the pupa state;
Litura was very fine; Proteus just showed itself; Semi-
brunnea and Petrificata were both represented ; Vaccinii and
Spadicea were as yet rare, and Meticulosa was not common;
whereas Oxyacanthe, Segetum and Suffusa, so common the
season before, had not yet arrived. Of Segetum I had bred
specimens, which emerged in the spring, and others which I,
at the same time, took at sugar; thus, I think, clearly
proving that there are two broods of this insect.
Considering the short time, and other unfavourable circum-
stances, [ was not by any means dissatisfied with my
excursions to the ivy, as I took about two hundred good
insects during the few evenings I[ was able to attend to them.
Up to this year 1 had never done much with caterpillar
rearing. During May and June I collected hundreds by
beating, and, like most amateurs, found that many of my
captured ones were cannibals. Beside numbers which I did
‘not know, I took Thecla Quercus in Dinmore Wood;
Lanestris and Neustria were very common ; Verbasci occurred
in considerable numbers; Trapezina was most deceitful,
displaying qualities of the lion and the lamb; some apple-
trees were covered with E. Rectangulata; Lichenaria was not
uncommon; Czruleocephala occurred everywhere; Flavi-
cornis, Aprilina, Peecilocampa Populi, Thymiaria, Quercana,
and a number of others, were among my takes in the larva
state. A day, about the middle of May, in a wood near
Wofferton, about seven miles distant from Leominster, was
among my best for the Diurni; Lucina and Euphrosyne
were very common; Selene, afterwards so plentiful, was just
coming out; Tages and Alveolus, Linea and Sylvanus, were
common; Glyphica, Mi and Arbuti were all in their glory;
Maculata was just out; Euphorbiata, Atomaria, Marginata,
Palumbaria, with many others, tolerably abundant; on an
elm the larve of Thecla W-Album were feeding; and one
specimen of Sesia Culiciformis occurred. As already recorded
in the ‘Entomologist’ I took a specimen of Cynipiformis,
near Leominster, the year before, both, I believe, new to the
neighbourhood. During the year I took a few Noctuas at
rest on trees and palings; Leporina occurred sparingly on
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 119
willows; Geniste and Thalassina were not uncommon on
gates, the former always on the iron bar, the colour of which
formed a good protection for it; Psi and Megacephala were
common; Capsincola and Lithoxylea occurred about the
town and near the railway. I took two beautiful specimens
of Unanimis; and afterwards two more on flowers; Chi,
which was plentiful the year before, I failed to take in 1871.
The insects which I took on the wing are too many to
mention here; | will, however, just name a few of the best:
Batis, Derasa and Duplaris occurred sparingly, with Chrysitis,
Arcuosa, Putris, Plecta, Brunnea, Triplasia, and Umbratica ;
Saponarie and Dentina were not as common as the year
before, when I took Rurea at the flowers of the Cornus
sanguinea; Elinguaria and Spinula were not uncommon ;
Statices, Lonicere and Filipendule were all common; the
first brood of Argiolus was a large one, whilst of the second,
in August, I only noticed a few specimens; T. Rubi and
Sinapis were scarce; the hop-cats (larve of Pudibunda), hop-
dogs (larve of Betularia), and silver grubs (pupz of C-Album),
were very scarce this season, probably owing to the failure
of the hops. Among the Geometers which I captured I may
mention Petraria, Pulveraria, Emarginata, Punctulata, Punc-
taria, Pendularia, Lactearia, Bajularia, rare; Luteata, Griseola,
Affinitata, uncommon; Decolorata not common; Impluviata,
Rubiginata, Ocellata, Picata, rare; Corylata, Adustata,
Didymata, Russata, and Ribesiaria, in gardens; Imitaria,
Amataria, and Tersata, flying about a bush of clematis;
Immutata, rare; Scutulata, Bisetata, Incanaria, and very fine
Repandata. Mundana, Albulata, Ulmata, and Syringaria,
did not fall to my lot this year, although I had taken them
more or less plentifully before. Many of the above, I
believe, have not been recorded in the neighbourhood before,
and some are new to the county. Looking back, and con-
sidering that during the year I took nearly three hundred
species of Lepidoptera, I think that Leominster may fairly be
considered a first-rate locality.
Tuomas P. Lucas.
169, Kennington Road, Lambeth.
120 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
List of Captures in the New Forest during July and the
beginning of August, 1871. By A. B. Farn, Esq.
In spite of very cold weather (so cold, that a fire on the
last day of July was most acceptable), accompanied with
much wind and rain, there was no dearth of insects in the
New Forest during the past season, although butterflies
were not nearly so numerous as during the previous
season :—
A. Crategi.—A series.
LL. Sinapis.—Very few.
L, Sibylla.— Plentiful.
V. Polychloros.—Not uncommon.
A. Paphia, A. Adippe, A. Aglaia.—As usual, common.
A. Selene.—Not quite over.
P. Aigon.—Not uncommon ; but difficult to obtain in fine
condition owing to the bad weather.
C. Ligniperda.—One. At sugar.
N. Strigula.—Plentiful. At sugar.
D. Chaonia.—Larve not uncommon.
P. Monacha.—By no means so common as in last season.
C. Miniata.—By no means so common as in last season.
L. Helveola, L. Mesomella.—By no means so common as
in last season.
L. Stramineola.—Two.
L. Complana.—Not uncommon.
L. Complanula.—Very common.
L. Quadra.—Not rare. This species seems as if it would
again become common. The males, judging from my expe-
rience, come to sugar earlier in the evening than the females:
thus, on the 2]st July, I took six males before 10.30 P.M.,
and six females after that time.
E. Russula.—Not uncommon.
C. Jacobee.—Plentiful—as larve.
D. Hamula.—One. At sugar.
T. Derasa, T. Batis—By no means so common as during
last season.
C. Ridens.—Commou. In larval state.
D. Orion.—One only.
A. Leporina. —Saw two that had been taken.
A. Ligustri.—Not common.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 12]
L. Turca.—Common.
LI. Pudorina.—A few.
X. Polyodon.—A very nice variety.
A, Gemina.—A very nice variety.
C. Cytherea.—Common.
M. Arcuosa.—Not uncommon.
A. Caliginosa.—Owing to bad weather difficult to obtain
in fine condition in any numbers.
C. Alsines.—Not uncommon.
T’. Janthina and Fimbria.—Very common.
T’. Interjecta.—Not common.
T. Subsequa.—By no means a rarity. 1 took fourteen in
two rounds, at my sugar, in one night.
N. Rhomboidea.—Just coming out when I left.
D. Oo. Very common. Comes to sugar very early.
E. Viminalis, EB. Lucipara.—Rare, as compared to pre-
vious season.
H. Thalassina and Contigua.—Not uncommon.
H. Dipsacea.—Common, and widely distributed. In 1870
very local, but occurring in profusion in one place.
LE. Fuscula.— Nearly over.
C. Promissa and Sponsa.—In great numbers: dozens could
be taken in a night. Promissa is by far the more wary of
the two; but on one night, when the rain was coming down
in torrents and with a high wind, this insect closed its wings
directly it came to the sugar, and could be easily captured.
M. Margaritata.—Very common.
E.. Fasciaria.—Not uncommon.
E. Dolobraria.—One. At sugar.
P. Syringaria. Two or three.
Ei. Angularia.—Common. In larval state.
A. Prodromaria. Larve. Not uncommon.
C. Lichenaria.—Common.
B. Repandatax—Common. Var, Conversaria.—Not un-
common.
B. Rhomboidaria.—Common.
B. Roboraria.—Not very uncommon.
T'. Crepuscularia.—Second brood. Common.
G. Obscurata.—Common.
P. Bajularia.—Common.
Hi. Auroraria.—Not common.
122 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
E. Heparata.—Plentiful.
A. Trigeminata. Very plentiful on one evening.
A. Straminata.—No rarity.
A. Immutata.—Common.
A. Emutaria.—One female, from which I bred.
M. Alternata.—Three specimens.
M. Liturata.—Not uncommon.
S. Plumaria.—Very common, and widely distributed. The
female by no means uncommon, but difficult to obtain in
fine condition. It is curious that this insect, of which I did
not see one specimen the season before last, should have
been so very common last year.
M. Euphorbiata.—Not uncommon.
E. Pumilata.—Common.
M. Rubiginata.—Common.
M. Albicillata—Not common.
E. Plumbaria.—Very common.
E. Mensuraria.—Common.
O. Cherophyllata.—Common.
H, Quercana.—Not uncommon. At sugar.
A. B. Farn.
Lepidoptera on the Sand-hills.—Mr. Porritt, of Hudders-
field, and I, visited the Lancashire and Cheshire sand-hills
in the second week after Easter. Some account of our
doings at so early a season may be interesting. Fortunately
we had the good luck to hit upon one of the few fine weeks
we have had for a long time,—with the exception of the first
night the weather was all that could be desired,—bright and
hot in the daytime, and still and warm at night. We met at
Southport Station at mid-day on Monday, April 8th, and,
having secured quarters, went on the sand-hills to look for
larve of O. fascelina on the sallows: though not so plentiful
as usual, during the afternoon and following morning we
managed to secure nearly two hundred between us. On
Monday night we sallied forth with lanterns; but the wind
was high and the atmosphere cold, and a smart shower or two
soon sent us back, after having lost our way among the sand-
hills, and for a short time trudging away in the direction of
Lytham, one of us maintaining that the lights of that town
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 123
were the lights of Southport pier. Nota moth was to be seen
at the sallow-bloom; and a couple of larve of S. Semele and
two or three of O. fascelina were all we got for our walk.
Next day we crossed the Mersey into Cheshire, and—having
secured the services of Mr. William Greasley, of Wallasey, a
most intelligent and observant entomologist—we turned out
in the dark to look for T. opima, which we were told was out
and in unusual abundance. We made for a certain valley,
and had no sooner lighted our lamps than we were among
them, and in the course of a couple of hours had boxed no
less than sixty-five, all in good condition: some we took
from the sallow-bloom ; but many were at rest on the marram
and dead stems of hound’s-tongue, ragwort, &c. The
greater part of these last were females, in the act of oviposi-
tion. The night was just right,—calm and warm. The
following night we took twenty-six, and on the last night
fifteen. One hundred and six in all. We certainly were in
luck: so great a take was never heard of before; and there is
no doubt Opima is unusually plentiful this season. On the
second night we only hunted a short time for Opima, and
then went on to look for Lichenea larvae on Sedum acre.
We were also successful here,—thanks to Mr. Greasley,—
from twenty to thirty being taken. On Wednesday morning
we went to the sand-hills for the day-flyers and larve:
E. lineolata was out in excellent condition; also N. zonaria
on the marram (this we took both by day and night), it is a
very sluggish insect, even’ the male seldom flies,—only
about nine o’clock in the morning, says Greasley. Larve of
B. Quercus and Rubi were scarce; we only found three of
the latter, and they were all in the act of spinning up. We
also found a few larve of L. littoralis by raking the sand.
Nothing could exceed the beauty of the sallow-bloom in the
slacks of the sand-hills :—acres of it, one mass of gold,—a
* golden floor,’—the perfume delicious ; while the natterjack
toads kept up a continual and somewhat monotonous croak-
ing in the clear fresh-water ponds, and the larks’ singing at
heaven’s gate, and the bees’ murmur at the bloom, made
delightful music to the ear; the green lizards ran along the
hot sand with rapid movement; and altogether the scene was
one not to be easily forgotten. It is worth one’s while to pay
a visit to the sand-hills in bright weather, when the sallows
124 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
are in bloom. The atmosphere being so calm the tracks of
the different animals were clearly visible on the driven sand:
very curious is that of the natterjack; but still more curious
is the track of larve, every ring being marked as it were in
steps. Besides the insects above mentioned we also took the
minute hybernated larve of L. Salicis in abundance at one
spot; T. rubricosa and gracilis, and A. badiata at the
sallows at night; E. pumilata and S. illunaria at lamps. As
may be supposed, we returned home well satisfied with our
very pleasant “out” and our “spolia opima.’—[Rev.]
Thomas W. Daltry.
Description of the Larva of Apamea oculea.—Though the
imago of Apamea oculea is so abundant an insect as to
become almost a pest, I have never seen a description of its
larva, and, indeed, it seems to be but little known amongst
Lepidopterists generally. It is full-fed about the first or
second week in May, and may then readily be found, by those
who choose to look for it, feeding inside the main stem, and
eating the undeveloped flower, of the common cock’s-foot
grass, Dactylus glomerata. It is about an inch in length, and
of average bulk in proportion; head globular, much smaller
than the 2nd segment, into which it can be partially with-
drawn ; body cylindrical, and tapering very decidedly from
near the head to the anal segment; skin smooth and glossy,
and very tough to the touch; the whole shape, handle, and
manner of twisting about when annoyed, reminding one of
the mealworm, or some other Coleopterous larva: the ground
colour is dull semi-translucent green; head pale brown, with
the mouth sienna-brown; a distinct narrow dark green pul-
sating vessel forms the medio-dorsal line ; the subdorsal lines
are purplish brown, rather broad, but interrupted at the
segmental divisions; there are no perceptible spiracular
lines ; spiracles small, black ; the ventral surface and claspers
similar to the ground colour of the dorsal surface; legs pale
brown. When crawling, the internal backward and forward
working of the muscles of the larva is distinctly seen through
the transparent skin.—Gev. T. Porritt ; Huddersfield, April
17, 1872.
Agrotis spinifera of Hiibner discovered in Britain.—
Three seasons ago [ obtained a Valligera-like Noctua flying
in the sunshine during an afternoon in August, in the Isle of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 125
Man, just as Valligera flies here in some seasons. Thinking
it a curious specimen I secured it, but did not set it until
some months afterwards. In the meantime several of my
friends saw the specimen, but no one seemed to care much
about it, and my “swan” was fast dwindling itself and me
into a goose; but strong in my conviction that it was a moth
I had never seen, and not a variety, but a good species, I
relaxed and set it; then its distinctly white abdomen and its
peculiarly white under wings spoke out, “J’m new to
Britain!” And I searched my books through, but failed to
find a description applicable to my new moth. Thinking,
however, so fine an Agrotis must be known on the Continent,
I have waited until now before | announced my good fortune.
By the kindness of my friend E. Ragonot, of Paris, I have
received a specimen of Hiibner’s A. spinifera from Spain,
which, though smaller than my insect and perhaps a little
darker, is undoubtedly specifically identical with mine.
That A. spinifera is scarce abroad is best seen by the great
price asked for it by continental dealers (about 12s. each,
English) ; whilst in a priced catalogue before me “ Ditrape-
zium” is offered for 6d., Cinerea for ls. 2d., and Trux for 9d.,
English money.—C. S. Gregson; Rose Bank, Fletcher
Grove, Edge Lane, Liverpool, April 21, 1872.
Larva of Eupithecia subciliata.—In the month of August,
1871, Mr. Sang, of Darlington, kindly sent me two living
females of E. subciliata: one of them was at the point
of death when it arrived; the other, which was very lively, I
at once placed under a large bell-glass, with some sprigs of
maple in a vial of water. In about a week I found she had
deposited about twenty eggs at the junction of the footstalk
of the leaf with the stem: some were laid upon the next
years’ bud; others upon the sheath-like covering of the foot-
stalk: all were carefully pushed in and concealed from view,
and could only be discovered by pulling off the old leaf;
they were at first whitish in colour, but turned red in a few
days. During the first week in April thirteen young larve
hatched out, and fed well for a few days on young maple-
leaves; but before the end of the month, with one exception,
all died off. I have no doubt the sudden and ungenial
changes of the weather were too much for their delicate con-
stitutions. The sole survivor has, I am rejoiced to say,
126 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
arrived at a healthy maturity, and was despatched by yester-
day’s post to Mr. Buckler, of Emsworth, who has promised
to take its likeness with his usual life-like accuracy. I
append a description, which I took before its departure :—
Short, of uniform bulk; rests with the head slightly incurved ;
ground colour pale yellowish green; central dorsal line dark
green, somewhat elliptically enlarged at the centre of each
segmental division; on each segment, on either side of the
dorsal line, a small dark green spot; subdorsa! and spiracular
lines yellowish white, waved and indistinct; belly without
markings; segmental divisions yellowish; tip of caudal
dorsal segment whitish; whole body more or less translucent,
and sparsely strewed with short whitish hairs. Hatched, first
week in April; full fed, first week in May.—[Rev.] H.
Harpur Crewe; Drayton- Beauchamp Rectory, Tring, May
3, 1872.
Description of the Larva of Anchocelis rufina.—Uniformly
cylindrical and velvety ; it rolls itself into a compact ring
when annoyed; the head is rather narrower than the 2nd
segment, into which it is partially received; the divisions of
the segments are strongly marked when it is rolled in a ring,
and each segment is tumid; the head is glabrous, and of a
semitransparent brown colour, reticulated with darker brown ;
the body is sienna-brown, slightly reticulated with darker
brown ; it has a conspicuous and moderately broad side-stripe
of snowy whiteness,—this commences on the 2nd segment,
immediately behind the head, and is continuous to the base
of the anal claspers, passing beneath the spiracles which
appear to rest on it, each in a small sinus or notch of the
stripe; there are four white dots arranged in something
like a quadrangle on the back of each segment, the anterior
pair nearer together than the posterior pair: this is the
arrangement which Guenée so often describes as trapezoid ;
on the anterior margin of each segment, and below this
quadrangle, is a similar white dot, and still another lower
down on each side, and immediately above the spiracle ;
every white dot has a black point in the centre, and this
emits a short hair. I am indebted to Mr. Bryant for a supply
of this very beautiful larva, which were full fed on the 11th
of March: he bred them from eggs laid in October, and fed
them on Crategus oxyacantha (whitethorn), in ‘the autumn,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 127
and again in spring, they ate the leaves with great voracity as
soon as they appeared, and long before they were fully
developed. I may observe that this larva totally differs from the
figure published by Hiibner and approved by Guenée. Since.
the preceding description was written I have received the fol-
lowing note on this insect from Mr. Bryant:—“ The eggs of
Anchocelis rufina were laid in a pill-box on or about the 20th
of October, 187], and the young larve appeared on the 2nd
or 8rd of February following: they fed up very quickly, and
every larva had gone down by the 28th of March.” —Edward
Newman.
Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.
Xylomyges conspicillaris at Malvern and Malvern Link.
—I have the pleasure of sending you the intelligence of the
appearance of several specimens of X. conspicillaris in the
breeding-cages of collectors in this neighbourhood. Mr.
Wilson, pupil of Malvern College, heads the list with three
specimens. Iam not aware of the dates of appearance of
these. Mr. Edwards, of Malvern, had a cripple emerge on
February 16th, and a perfect insect on March Ist. I hada
beautiful male on March 16th, and a female on the fol-
lowing day.—fh. F. Towndrow ; Malvern Link, March 21,
1872
Black Crepuscularia.—On the 27th of April I took,
quietly at rest on a Scotch fir, a fine black variety of
T. crepuscularia. The only mark on it is a white zigzag
line on the four wings near the hind margin, in place of the
black one in ordinary specimens. It is quite as black as the
ordinary black variety of Betularia. I should be glad to
know if this is an unusual occurrence.—E£. Karl ; ae
Staffordshire, May 8, 1872.
Sphina Pinastri in Devonshive.—I have in my possession
a specimen of this moth found by Miss Jones, in her garden,
September, 1861. I have no doubt that when taken it was a
fine specimen, but, it not having been taken much care of, it is
faded and broken slightly. I have very little doubt but this
lady’s label with it is correct, as she had no general collection,
only a few British Lepidoptera taken in her own locality.—
John Purdue; Ridgeway, Plympton, Devon, May 8, 1872.
128 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
“ Re” Geometra Papilionaria.—Since I wrote you a short
account of the way of finding the larva of this insect (the
18th of March), I visited Darenth Wood for an hour or two
on the 14th April: the birches were not so forward as in
previous seasons; but I and Mr. Dow found the larva of
Papilionaria there: four others were searching, but were
unsuccessful. I have not had an opportunity of making a
search since, although the weather has been more favourable.
—James Bryant ; 63, Old Broad Street, May 2, 1872.
A. Pictarta at Danbury.—I met with three specimens of
this insect on the 15th of April, in a lane near Danbury,
Essex: one was flying round the flowers of a sloe bush, and
the other two not far from the same place. I tried at the
same lane for two or three nights after, but did not succeed
in taking any more, owing probably to the brightness of the
moon. On the 16th I found a female specimen in a pool of
water, at Hazeleigh; and another on the 20th in some water
near Maldon; so that the species seems to be pretty widely
distributed about that part of Essex, although it is some
twenty miles from the original locality at Colchester.—
Gilbert H. Raynor ; St. John’s College, Cambridge, April 22,
1872.
Eremobia ochroleuca.—\1 believe this species is more
extended in its range than is generally supposed. I have
seen one or two specimens of it, which were taken by my
friend Mr. A. Taylor, in the neighbourhood of Christchurch,
Hants.—G. B. Corbin.
Death of Mr. George Robert Gray.—Mr. Gray, so long at
the head of the ornithological department of the British
Museum, died on the 6th of the present month, May, 1872.
In addition to his ‘Genera of Birds’ and ‘Hand-list of
Birds, lately completed, he wrote several papers on Ento-
mology, more particularly a monograph on the Australian
Phasmide, which was beautifully illustrated. He also pub-
lished in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1843, “‘ Descriptions of several
species of the genus Phyllium, in the collection of the
British Museum and that of the Rev. F. W. Hope,” in which
thirteen new species are made known. Mr. Gray was, how-
ever, best known through his works on ornithology.— Edward
Newman.
-THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 105.] JULY, MDCCCLXXII. [Price 6d,
Answers to Correspondents.
PYRARGA MEGERA (VARIETY).
Variety of Pyrarga Megera.—The fore wings of this
female specimen are scarcely different from those of the
type; the hind wings present a marked contrast; the basal
area, generally dark brown, is of a pale dull brown, but
clothed as usual with long ochreous hairs inclining to
golden,—this portion of the wing is very sparingly clothed
with scales, and is semi-transparent; the submarginal series
of ocellated spots is very distinct, more so than usual, an
appearance to which the paler general area certainly contri-
butes. This insect has been kindly lent me by Mr. Bond
for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist.’ Mr. Bond obtained the
specimen from the late Mr. Edmonds’ collection, of
Worcester.
Cossus Ligniperda.—I shall be much obliged if you will
kindly answer the following questions respecting C. Ligni-
perda in the ‘Entomologist.’ When does it spin its cocoon?
and how long does it remain in it before the perfect moth
comes out? Mine is about the size of a man’s finger, and it
has lost the dull red stripe down the back: I thought this
VOL, VI. H
130 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
might be the result of confinement in a dark tin box.—
George R. Dawson; Poundsworth, Driffield, June 11, 1872.
It will probably appear this month.
X. Conspicillaris.—In last month’s ‘Entomologist’ (Entom.
vi. 110) I see Mr. Marsden, in giving Gloucestershire as one
of the localities where the above species are taken, and also a
description of the same, asks what the Worcestershire speci-
mens are like. In answer to that enquiry I, for one, may say
I have bred eleven specimens, and have seen several others,
all of which (with one slight exception) are faithfully repre-
sented in the top figure of the three specimens given in
‘ British Moths’ (p. 288).—Thomas Goodyear ; Church Road,
Malvern Link, June 6, 1872.
Cymatophora Ocularis——Until the year 1870 I never
found more than one pupa of Ocularis at a tree, and,
therefore, was under the impression they only occurred
singly. In the above year I turned up six at one tree,
and on May the 2nd of this year, accidentally coming across
two or three poplars, and with my knife for a digger, I turned
up no less than twelve pupe of the above species at a single
tree. Is not this unusual ?—T'homas Goodyear.
Yes; it is extremely good fortune.
Lithosia rubricollis.—I do not think the early appearance
of Rubricollis unusual. I have been in the habit, the last few
years, of taking it on the wing in June. I have never
observed it in August, though it is abundant enough in June.
—[Rev.] A. C. Hervey; Pokesdown.
Saturnia Carpint.—Last winter I had some pupe of
S. Carpini, and at the beginning of April they all emerged
except one. After waiting some time | cut open the cocoon
to see if the pupa had perished, but it was all right and very
lively. As it has not yet come out, 1 wanted to ask you
whether they ever pass a second winter in the pupa state? I
should be much obliged if you would tell me.—G. B. Hulme ;
Hope Cottage, Wormley, June 21, 1872.
Several instances have occurred within my knowledge of
Saturnia Carpini remaining in the pupa state until a second
season.
Sesta Apiformis.—I should be much obliged if you could
inform me, through your ‘Entomologist, how to rear the
larva of Sesia Apiformis from the egg.—C. Sayers; 48, West
Street, Horsham, June 17, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 181
I shall be obliged to any entomologist who will state his
experience in rearing Sesia Apiformis.
Edward B. Poulton.—In answer to the first query, I can-
not say that I have any rule: I have rarely, if ever, received
specimens worth returning; but of course I should return
specimens if desired: they usually go in the fire. 2. Offers
in the Exchange list are never charged. 3. [ cannot think
of describing insects sent for names: it would be impossible.
4. Livornica is a very rare species. 5. Sugar on trunks of
trees or fences anywhere: I prefer exposed trees to those in
a wood. Epwarp NEWMAN.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francts WALKER, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 114.)
Encyrtus corniger, Cerapterocerus mirabilis, and Ectroma
fulvescens, here figured, are types of three genera of
CERAPTEROCERUS MIRABILIS,
Encyrtide, and are remarkable forms: the first and second,
because of the dilated basal joint of the antenne ; and the
132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
third, because of being wingless, and by having a correspond-
ing want of development in the mesothorax. Their mode of
life is unknown.
_
X
ECTROMA FULVESCENS.
Life-histories of Sawflies. Translated from the Dutch of
M.S. C. SNELLEN VAN VOLLENHOVEN, President of the
Entomological Society of the Netherlands. By J. W.
May, Esq.
(Continued from p. 97.)
Nematus Betuxarius, Hart.
Larva and imago, Hartig. Blatt und Holzwespen, p. 192,
Nosy:
Nematus niger, prothorace, abdomine, pedibusque auran-
tiacis, labro pallido, tarsis anterioribus et tibiarum
posticarum apice brunneis, tarsis posticis nigricantibus,
stigmate fusco.
In the month of August, during the wet summer of 1866,
I was at Wort-Rhede, in Gelderland: my daily excursions
about Beckhuizen, and the heath near Rhederoord, being
very unproductive, I was agreeably surprised one moderately
dry afternoon by finding some sawfly larve, which I did not
then remember to have seen or read of before, although it
afterwards occurred to me that I had once observed similar
larve at Roozendaal, and on a previous occasion at
Gliphoeve. I at once saw they were Nematus larve, recog-
nizable, among other characteristics, by their habit of curving
the abdomen over the head. They appeared to me to be
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 133
very nearly, or quite, full grown; probably on account of their
having wandered away far from the spot where they were
hatched, I was unable to find any trace of the eggs on the
little birch tree on which the larve in question were. I
found only four individuals; but, taking for granted there
were originally more in the brood, | concluded the rest had
fallen victims to the cold, or the rain and wind.
The following is a description of these larve, reference
being made to plate 6, figs. 1, 2 and 3. Head entirely
shining black; the sutures of the epistoma and of the
epicranium only being of a somewhat paler tint; abdomen
yellowish green and shining, as if oiled, but at the same time
wrinkled. I counted ten pairs of legs, all pale green; the
anterior six with brown claws. Above the second and third
leg was, on either side, a rather large triangular orange spot;
at the same level, on either side of the 4th segment, two
smaller spots, but more oblong in form; thence from the 5th
to the 11th segment on both sides, larger, nearly triangular,
orange, spots. ‘The 12th segment was mostly bluish green,
in consequence of the contents of the intestine being
perceptible through it, the following segment and the anal
valve being yellowish green. The stigmata had narrow white
margins; the skin was, however, not sufficiently thin to
allow of the tracheze being seen through it. Although the
least touch, or even the act of breathing upon them, caused
the larva to elevate the abdomen, and to retain it for some
time in the position shown at fig. 2, I was unable to perceive
any projecting glands between the legs, or any excretion of
fluid. “My larve took to the earth on the 26th of August,
each individual spinning a cocoon of the appearance repre-
sented at fig. 4, and externally entirely covered with grains
of earth. I have not noted whether the cocoon was simple or
double: I imagine the former. The first imago made its
appearance on the 14th of September of the same year.
Hartig gives a full and accurate description of this species.
Its length is 7 mm., expanding to 13 mm. Body somewhat
stout ; head dull black ; eyes-black ; the clypeus, upper lip and
palpi being whitish ; jaws brownish. The antenne, which are
as long as the abdomen and half the thorax, are of a dull
brown colour, the under surface being paler and redder. The
prothorax is orange-yellow ; the mesothorax entirely, and the
134 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
dorsum of the metathorax, shining black, with white cenchri;
the tegule above the insertions of the wings are orange;
the legs are yellow, excepting the tips of the anterior and
middle tarsi, which, together with the apices of the posterior
tibiz, are brown; the posterior tarsi are darker, being almost
black. The posterior tibiz are broader than is usually the
case in this group of Nemati, and are deeply channelled
externally. The abdomen is entirely orange, the dorsum of
the lst segment being incised; the extremities of the anal
projections are, however, black during the life of the insect;
the ovipositor also appeared to me to be of the same tint.
The wing-nervures are yellow at the insertion, then brown or
black, the transparent wings themselves being strongly
iridescent. The stigma is fuscous.
It appears to me as very probable that there is more than
one brood of this species in the year. A female of Tryphon
Vepretorum, Grav., proceeded from one of the cocoons: so
far as I am aware this parasite has not hitherto been
considered indigenous.
One-third of the British Butterflies in a wood near
Watlington. By ‘THomas P. Lucas, M.B.
One lovely morning, early in August last, we started from
Watlington on a visit to one of the adjoining woods. The
weather, which had long been unfriendly to the lover of
science, had at length cleared, and we found ourselves in a
blaze of sunshine, mellowed by a gentle breeze, and inter-
rupted only at intervals by a passing cloud. Nine miles from
the railway, this rural spot afforded uninterrupted seclusion
for hosts of whinchats and other small birds; the turtle dove
appeared to be very common. On our way we passed by the
débris turned out of a well, which had recently been sunk in
the chalk marl: this yielded a rich supply of delicately-
marked white fossils,—Terebratule, Rhynconellus, Wald-
hermias, Oysters, Echini, Sponges, &c. On a higher level
are quarries in the lower chalk and lower beds of the upper
white chalk, each containing a few fossils to reward the
diligent student. Round these quarries were crowds of
thistles—Carduus acaulis, C. nutans, C. Forsteri, Carlina
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 135
vulgaris, and others,—which, as ever, formed a certain
attraction to hosts of small tortoiseshell, meadow brown and
blue butterflies. Arrived at the foot of the hills—which, by-
the-bye, must have taken millions of ages to build up, seeing
that they are composed entirely of shells, Foraminifera and
other cretaceous matter—the mind was at once impressed
with the scene, and convinced that the place whereon we
stood was at no distant period (geologically speaking) an
extending sea-coast, the cliffs above us marking out the
boundaries of the ancient ocean. Nature here has failed to
leave record of the Fauna or Flora of these periods; and it
is only in imagination that the young naturalist pictures the
giant butterflies, with their tiers of wings, painted in blue and
purple and gold; gaudy beetles, touched with every hue;
the hovering Mantis; or the poised Sphinx. Maybe here,
also, fluttered non-described species of fire-flies, hosts of
lace-winged dragon-flies, and myriads of small fry, heedlessly
fluttering in a sunbeam, sleeping on a flower, or falling a prey
to the powerful mandibles of one of the numerous host of
spiders,—undescribed, forgotten, unknown. Perhaps some of
our brother naturalists ask us how we know that such lovely
creatures ever drank honeyed nectar, and surveyed the tract
on which we trod. With all due respect we ask them, how
can they prove that it was not so? Most probably the sea
spread its water here over the plain during the period when
the London clay and other tertiaries were being laid down,
the fossil contents of which most decidedly claim for these
periods a tropical or semi-tropical climate. If so, and we
have abundance of evidence in its favour, it is extremely
unlikely that this ancient Brighton or Dover was a weary
desert, a vast waste. Life was swarming in the seas; why
should it not on land? Unfortunately we were not able to
review the museum of the far-famed Briareus, to whom
history wisely assigned his hundred arms, all of which we
hope he made subservient to the study of nature. But these
good old times are gone for ever; and we failed to discover
the remains or tomb of the monster.
The morning was getting on, so we hastened into the
wood, where we were surprised to see small plantations, so
to speak, of the deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) :
some of the plants were five or six feet high, and might in
136 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
truth be said to contain a poison and a balm,—fit emblem of
all on earth. Several beds of the French willow-herb
(Epilobium angustifolium), with their tall mauve-coloured
flowers, forced the eye to linger. Orchids were scarce; the
O. pyramidalis and Epipactis latifolia occurred sparingly ;
whilst the Gymnadenia conopsea grew on the hill hard by.
Suddenly we came to an open space in the wood, where,
within a hundred yards, more than one-third of the species
of the British butterflies dwelt, each in its own particular
range, or occasionally sportively fighting or chasing strangers
from their borders. The silver-washed fritillaries (Paphia)
appeared to keep studiously just within the shady parts of
the wood, whilst Aglaia (the dark green) and Adippe (the
high brown fritillary, the rarest of the three) hovered round
their borders, as if determined to keep back their larger but
less courageous cousins. The chalk-hill blues seemed to
keep principally to the cleared paths, hovering especially
over the wild thyme, rock cistus, and blue-bells; the common
blue, Alexis, brown Argus blue, Agestis, were found much
more sparingly: was it because they had learned that beauty
shines by contrast? The holly blue (Argiolus) keeps aloof on
the borders of the wood, as if conscious of a beauty of its
own. The Knautia arvensis and Resedas luteola and
lutea, especially attracted the 6-spotted Bumet moth
(Filipendule), the antler (Graminis), and the skippers, three
of which graced the scene,—the large skipper (Sylvanus), the
small (Linea), and, best of all, the silver-spotted skipper
(Comma). Among the tufts of herbage were the far-famed
and ever-welcome marbled whites (Galathea), many of them,
alas, much tattered and torn. The three common whites
(Brassice, Rapz and Napi) were all in great abundance.
The small heath (Pamphilus) was tolerably plentiful; and
there was now and then seen a brilliant small copper
(Phileas), with honour reflecting the rays of the sun. The
ringlet (Hyperanthus) dallied among the brambles and
dewberries in the wood; while the meadow brown (Janira)
and the small meadow brown (Tithonus), occasionally boldly
put in an appearance, but evidently preferring the companion-
ship of the wall butterfly (Megzra) in the old Roman grass-
grown lanes outside. The brimstone (Rhamni), just emerged,
was most partial to the tall teasles and thistle-flowers, which
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 137
he was not wanting in courage to defend against the attacks
of the small tortoiseshell (Urtice), the peacock (Io), or the
glorious red admiral (Atalanta), and in truth the pride of
August.
* Towards noon the sun became intensely hot, so we were
glad to avail ourselves of the shadow of friendly trees, where
the heat disturbed many Geometers and other moths. In the
evening we again visited the spot, and were rewarded by
taking Pectinitaria, Olivata (in great abundance), Bipunctata,
and Sobrinata, among the juniper bushes; Emarginata,
tolerably common; Rhamnata, Dubitata, Hamula, Repan-
data, Complanula, Amataria, Trilinea, and others. Not
having sugaring apparatus with us, we took very few Noctua,
only netting Batis, Triplasia, Tragopogonis, and a few other
common ones.
Judging from our great success, it is natural to suppose
that other species of butterflies must visit the wood in the
earlier part of the summer; and I think it highly probable
that, if I can revisit it at various seasons, | shall come across
at least one-half of the British butterflies, and a very large
portion of British moths,—a luxury shared by very few
localities.
Tuomas P. Lucas.
169, Kennington Road, Lambeth.
Scarcity of Insects at South Shields.—1 have collected on
the coast here for many years, but never before observed
such a scarcity of insects as has been the case with the
spring species, our coast having, up to the present time, been
entirely barren: not a single moth has been taken either by
sugar or other means. We considered the spring of 1871 a
poor one, through the cold, damp, ungenial months ; but we
have double reason to complain this season, when our most
abundant moths have been entirely wanting. There is also a
great decrease of the early-feeding larve: for instance,—the
caterpillars of Filipendulz, having always been excessively
abundant on the broken declivities of the cliffs, are to be seen
in much less numbers, and are considerably smaller than I have
previously observed them at this season; while the larve of
Caja are more numerous and better fed up than last year, yet
138 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
they are far from being so plentiful as they were previously
to 1871. I have generally obtained the caterpillars of
Lithargyrea by cutting open the old stems of thistles and
umbelliferous plants, to which they resort for concealment
during the day, but have been unsuccessful in finding one.
Polyodon has always been an excessively abundant larva
under stones on our ballast-heaps, but this, like the other
species mentioned above, has been influenced by the weather,
and is considerably scarcer than usual. The Micro-Lepi-
doptera, I regret to say, are very sparing as yet, and many of
them are late in making their appearance. Elachista rufo-
cinerea and E. cygnipennella are fully two months later than
I have generally seen them. Numerous other species could
have been recorded in this paper, but I think sufficient have
. been noticed to show that—by comparing the remaining part
of the season with the past three months—our wanderings in
search of Lepidoptera will, I fear, be weary and uninteresting,
as there is such a falling off of the larve of the commoner
insects, and it is only reasonable for us to suppose that the
rarer species will be sparing indeed. I make these few
remarks entirely from my own experience. Probably other
collectors in the north may have been more fortunate, and
render a better account than I can at present.— Christopher
Eales ; 21, Grace Street, South Shields, June 10, 1872.
Description of the Larva of Teniocampa cruda.—Last
year, on the 2nd of April, I received from Mr. F. E. Harman,
of Whitfield, near Hereford, a few eggs (or rather larve, as
they had hatched on the way) of this insect. When just
ewerged the caterpillar is dirty greenish, with a rather large,
shining black head. Until a length of about half an inch has
been attained, it lives in a sort of retreat formed by drawing
together, by means of silken threads, several leaves; and
afterwards it still forms a similar retreat in which to moult.
The adult larva is about 14 inch in length, and of moderate
bulk in proportion. Head globular, about the same width as,
or perhaps very slightly broader than, the 2nd segment; body
cylindrical, and of uniform thickness throughout; skin
smooth and soft, semi-translucent, and rather glossy. The
ground colour is dark smoky green, variegated with yellowish
green, in some specimens the yellowish green predominating ;
both the ground and markings vary in intensity in different
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 139
specimens. Head smooth and shining, gray, very thickly
marked and dotted with intense black; there is a black
shining plate-like mark on the 2nd, and another on the anal
segment; that on the 2nd is divided by the medio-dorsal
and subdorsal lines. The medio-dorsal stripe is yellowish
white; the subdorsal lines narrower, white; two parallel
waved lines of the same colour as the medio-dorsal stripe
form the spiracular lines; these waved lines form a sort of
chain-like band of oblong spaces, and in the centre of each
space, just below the upper line, the black spiracles are
situated; the trapezoidal dots also black. Ventral surface
and claspers uniformly dull yellowish green; the legs black.
Rests on a leaf, with the head bent considerably round to one
side. My larve fed on whitethorn; and were full grown and
went down May 28th.—Geo. T. Porritl; Huddersfield, June
8, 1872.
Description of the Larva of Acidalia imitaria.—This
larva astonishes me by its extraordinary length and slimness:
it rests with its four claspers attached almost close together,
and its body elevated at an angle of 45 degrees, and swaying
backwards and forwards with every breath of air, or with the
motion of the room, or the trembling of the hand; I do not
allude to the undulating movement from side to side, which
is anormal habit of Geometers when not perfectly at ease.
The head is semiprone, and scarcely as wide as the 2nd
segment. .The body is uniformly slender, with a raised
lateral skinfold interrupted at the divisions of the segments ;
there are also two almost imperceptible ridges, one on each
side, equidistant between the lateral skinfold and a median
line of the back; the body is also transversely wrinkled or
divided into sections, from sixteen to twenty on each
segment; the number, doubtless, uniform in the species, but
not in the individual; after the 9th segment these sections
are manifestly fewer and wider than on the anterior and
median segments; there are many short stiff scattered bristles
about the head and body, more particularly about the
posterior extremity of the latter. The colour of the larva is
pale putty-colour, almost white, with a medio-dorsal smoke-
coloured stripe, which grows gradually paler as it approaches
the head ; lighter and darker stripes are discernible on the
sides of the body, the lowest on each side is the darkest and
140 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
is undulating ; the spiracles are black, and below the skinfold,
more especially on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th segments, is a vague
blotch of black. The larva feeds on Stellaria media (common
chickweed); and my kind friend, Mr. Doubleday, who sent
it me, accompanies the insect with the following note :—
** Like the larve of all the Acidaliz they are difficult to keep
through the winter, even upon plants growing in pots: only
four out of twenty which I had survived the winter; and this
morning I found three of them had gone down.” It was full
fed, and buried in the earth on the 18th of May.— Edward
Newman.
Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.
Lobophora hexapterata near Limerick.— Hexapterata
having made its appearance in confinement on the 10th of
May, I went immediately to my hunting-ground, and found
it had emerged there also. As it is probable it will be found
in suitable places, I offer to collectors the experience of two
seasons, thinking they may be enabled to find it. For the
first eight days of its appearance it sits in the full rays of the
sun, but by no means asleep, for if its capture is attempted it
glides rapidly to another spot, where its colour and that of
the bark more perfectly assimilate, which they do in a
remarkable manner: it moves forward or laterally with equal
speed, at the same time keeping its wings closely pressed to
the bark. It flies after sunset; the males searching up and
down the stems of the aspen, flying at a short distance from
the tree, and from their close search and frequent disappoint-
ment I think they are only guided by sight in the business, a
thin covering of gauze proving sufficient to conceal the
females from them: they are very brave when on this errand ;
and if driven away by repeated strokes of the net they return
again soon, even when no female is present. The coldest
evening does not prevent them being out, and bats destroy
great numbers of them on cold or windy evenings, when
nothing else is to be had. Although other trees are numerous
J have not seen them rest on any but aspen. They were over
before the end of the month, only one having made its
appearance after the lst of June.-— William Talbot ; Tarbert.
-
————
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 141
Lithosia rubricollis—On June 13th, while collecting
insects for my friend Mr. Wells, I entered a fir plantation on
the Coombe hills, and was surprised to see Rubricollis in
profusion flying round the tops of larch firs. Although both
spruce and Scotch firs grew intermixed with the larches, the
insects took no notice of either of the latter, but what
appeared most strange was that they only flew during the
hottest sunshine, viz., from 12 till 2 P.M.; after which
scarcely any were to be seen on wing. On the two following
days I again visited the copse, and still saw them in great
plenty between the hours stated, but could not catch them
by beating after 2 p.M., as my net-handle was not sufficiently
long for me to reach them when on wing, except when
a stray specimen condescended to visit the branches of a
smaller and younger tree: they flew only round the topmost
branches. This habit of flying only during the hottest sun-
shine seems not only entirely at variance with the habits of
the rest of the Lithosiide, but appears also not to be noticed
by the authorities [ have at hand,—those of Newman and
Stainton: the latter gentleman gives June as the time of
appearance, while the former says August; perhaps there are
two broods, or, otherwise, a succession of “hatchings.” I
have never bred Rubricollis, and never saw it in plenty but
at one other locality, and that was also in a small plantation
of larch firs. Have the larve ever been reared by any
English entomologist, and, if so, at what season were they
taken, and on what species of lichen were they fed? Or, on
the other hand, have we only the authority of Ochsenheimer
for what they are like, and on what they feed? The fact of
their being taken at “light” may have suggested the idea
that they were evening flyers. From the manner of flight of
the insects I should certainly have supposed that they were
depositing eggs on the younger shoots of the topmost
branches of the larch firs, as they occasionally alighted
apparently for that purpose, and took no notice of—or rather
never pitched on—the other species of fir. I am fully aware
that this is no certain rule to go by: e.g., the lordly Iris
frequents the topmost branches of oak trees, but the larve
never feed on oak. Eggs of Rubricollis laid in the store-box
remain of a beautiful pea-green colour—Henry Reeks ; Kast
Woodhay, June 22, 1872.
142 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Ellopia fasciaria.—On the 27th of April last I paid a visit
to a pine wood, and beat out of the Scotch fir about a dozen
larvee that I could not make out. In a few days most of them
spun up; aud on the 4th of June the first moth made its
appearance, and proved to be Fasciaria: several have since
come out. In your book on moths you say the caterpillar
feeds on the Scotch fir in September and October, and
descends the trunk, and turns into a chrysalis amongst the
fallen needles, whereas if it descends the trunk at that time it
must be to hybernate till the spring. —. Earl; Newcastle,
Staffordshire.
Urophora solstitialis, Linn., a Gall-maker.—Last January
I collected at Wixoe (Suffolk) some of the galled flower-
heads of Serratula tinctoria, from which I have since bred
Urophora solstitialis, Linn. (= stylata, Fabr.). On the 29th
April I opened a gall and found it to contain one large white
larva; but this cannot be the general number, as from five
galls I have had twenty imagos of this Dipteron emerge from
the 17th (June) to the present time,—eight males and twelve
females: the males emerged earlier than the females.—#. A.
Fitch ; 90, Queen’s Road, Bayswater, June 24, 1872.
Pachetra leucophea near Canterbury.—I have searched
for this insect for several years, but without success until
this year. I have just taken two specimens, but both females,
one of which has laid about fifty eggs. The locality in which
I took them is Stanting Downs: the first I found on grass in
the daytime, on Wednesday, the 12th of June, which speci-
men I sent alive to Mr. 8. Stevens to see; then on the
following night I captured a very fine specimen, also a
female, at sugar; also netted one, which I lost. I believe it
very eatly. I have sugared in the same place several years
in succession, but never found it. I suppose I have been too
late, as I have never looked for it until the beginning of
July.—G. Parry; Church Street, St. Pauls, Canterbury,
June 15, 1872.
Abundance of Satyrus Semele in Ireland.—With regard to
the Hon. Emily Lawless’s remark on the scarcity of Semele
in Ireland, I took it abundantly on the top of Bray Head in
1869: [ have not collected there since. I also have taken it
at Howth—#. MacDowell Cosgrave; 73, Eccles Street,
Dublin.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 143
L. Littoralis.—I have been fortunate enough to discover
Littoralis in this locality. The sandy nature of the cliffs, and
the abundance of the “ marram,” made me think that Littoralis
ought to be here. After four days’ careful search I obtained
one larva; the next day, three; and now (April 21) I have
twenty-nine. Mr. E. B. Kemp-Welch, of Bournemouth, and
I, collected twenty-one of the larve this afternoon; making a
total of fifty taken here during the last few days. I bave not
heard of its being taken in this district before.—[Rev.] A. C. -
Hervey ; Pokesdown.
Immense abundance of Bibio Marci at Brighton.—On
May 10th last the Kemp Town end of Brighton was caught
by a cloud of large black flies, Bibio Marci: these covered
the pavements, windows, &c., in great numbers. They were
not so numerous as those in the famous appearance of
Syrphus Pyrastri, in August, 1864, mentioned in the ‘ Zoolo-
gist,’ 1864, vol. xxii. pp. 9254, 9273, 9333; but, like them,
they followed the same course. Syrphus Pyrastri was chiefly
found at the east end of Brighton, where I saw them dead in
heaps.—Geo. Dawson Rowley; Chichester House, Hast
Cliff, Brighton, June 14, 1872.
Entomological Nomenclature.—The following is now in
course of signature :—“‘ The undersigned, considering the
confusion with which entomological nomenclature is threat-
ened (and from which it is already to no small extent
suffering) by the reinstatement of forgotten names to supersede
those in universal employment, urge upon entomologists the
desirability of ignoring the names so brought forward, until
such time as the method of dealing with them shall be settled
by a common agreement.” All entomologists desirous of
signing will please communicate with Mr. W. A. Lewis,
4, Crown Office Row, Temple, London, E.C.; or with
Mr. Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, City.
South London Entomological Society.
The quarterly meeting of this Society was held at their
room, on Wednesday, June 19th, for the purpose of electing
the officers, and to hear the Report read.
Mr. J. R. Wellman was elected President.
144 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The Report stated that the list of patrons is now complete,
and contains the names of Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P.,
H. T. Stainton, Esq., Henry Doubleday, Esq., Edward
Newman, Esq., R. M’ Lachlan, Esq., and E. C. Rye, Esq.
Thanks were given to-the patrons for their support; also
to Messrs. Jarvis, Newman, and Hardwicke, for donations of
books; to Mr. Norman for a loan to the library; and to those
gentlemen who assist the Society as members without deriving
benefit from it.
The objects of the Society have been furthered by the
exhibition of more than eighty species of Lepidoptera and
forty species of Coleoptera, &c., all of them having been
captured or bred by the members during the present season ;
numerous specimens of preserved and living larve have
been shown; and some books have been purchased. In
addition to this, three papers have been read before the
Society.
Exhibitions.
Mr. Wellman exhibited T. Biundularia, N. Lucina, and
A. Prunaria (a magnificent and varied series), bred from
eggs.
Mr. Cowley, L. Exigua. City, at light, April, 1872.
Mr. Rochfort, C. Obliquaria and C. Chamomille. Wan-
stead, early in May.
Mr. Boden, E. Lariciata, a variety of. Leith Hill, May;
and others.
Mr. Barrett, Roboraria (larvae and imagos), from Brocken-
hurst. N. Bella(?), a curious bred variety. R. Formosella.
Lewisham, in June. A. Rusticata, bred from eggs, &c.
Mr. Davis, D. Orion, bred, from the New Forest. A.
Urtice, &c.
Mr. Marsh, Monotoma 4-foveolata. Peckham. E. Ver-
basci (new Hemipteron). Deal.
Mr. Chaney, B. Consortaria and S. Extersaria, &c.
Chatham, May.
Mr. Williams, N. Lucina and others. Tilgate, in June.
Mr. Hoey, E. Debiliata (larve), found at Leith Hill in the
spriug. And many preserved larve.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Nos.106&107.]} AUGUST, MDCCCLXXII. [Price ls.
Answers to Correspondents.
2 eA 29 )8)
é bit |
cig MN
AN
LIPARIS MONACHA (VARIETY).
Variety of Argynnis Paphia.—This beautiful specimen
has been kindly lent me by Mr. Moore especially for figuring
in the ‘Entomologist. It has the usual colours of the
species—fulvous and black; but their distribution, as will be
seen from the figure, is very abnormal, and I cannot pronounce
on the sex without hesitation: the absence of incrassated
VOL, Vi. I
146 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
wing-rays in the fore wings and the shape of the abdomen
assimilate to the female. It was taken on the wing.
Variety of Liparis monacha.—This beautiful variety was
bred by Mr. Wellman, the President of the South London
Entomological Society, who has kindly lent the specimen
for figuring in the ‘Entomologist.’ It is a female, and the
principal difference in coloration between it and the typical
insect is the greater preponderance of black, which forms
on the fore wings a decided transverse median band, acutely
toothed on the exterior margin. Like the other figures of
extraordinary varieties, which have appeared in the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ during the present year, it is represented life-size.
Grease in Dragon-flies, c.—\ shall be much obliged if
you will inform me as to the best method to be employed for
preventing grease in dragon-flies, and for preserving their
colours. 2. Also, if you will let me know what are the cheapest
and most accurate illustrated works on British Coleoptera
and Hymenoptera. Is there any intention, on the part of
Mr. Newman or others, of publishing a work on Coleoptera,
Hymenoptera, &c., similar in design to ‘ British Moths’ and
‘British Butterflies’ already published? If so, I, for one,
would be a subscriber; and I know others who would
willingly do the same. 3. Would you also be so kind as to
inform me what insects would be of use to breed in order to
check the number of Aphides on roses.—S. 7. C.; Thiers,
July 11, 1872.
1. I have a very large collection of British dragon-flies,
but have not observed that they are liable to be injured by
grease: as to losing their colour, this seems inevitable. |
have found it a good plan to keep them alive for several days
after they are taken, as they are very apt to turn black
if killed when the stomach is full of food. I kill them with
laurel-leaves, and, opening the body by a longitudinal slit on
the under side, introduce a slender roll of white writing-
paper: the insect must then be set and thoroughly dried, but
not exposed in drying. Wasps, cockroaches and mice highly
appreciate insects on the setting-board. 2. I know of no
intended works on Coleoptera and Hymenoptera on the plan
of my ‘ Butterflies’ and ‘ Moths.’ Would that some competent
entomologist would undertake these classes! 3. Ladybirds
or Coccinelle.
Zeuzera /Esculi.— 1. Will you please tell me how to prevent
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 147
the ravages of the larve of Zeuzera Asculi? Ihave an ash
tree, the lower branches of which are quite dead from this
cause. 2. I should be glad, also, if you could tell me by
whom Mr. Wilkinson’s work on ‘ Tortrices’ and Mr. Stainton’s
on ‘ Tinez’ are published, and at what prices. 3. Also whether
you can recommend any work on Deltoids, Pyralides,
Veneers, and Plumes.—B. N. Oakeshold; 2, Pembroke
Square, Kensington, W., July 10, 1872.
1. I regret my inability to furnish any further information
about this garden-pest. I gave a very complete life-history
of the leopard moth in the ‘ Field’ newspaper of June 10th,
1872, tracing it from the egg to the imago, but suggesting no
remedy beyond the very simple one of picking the moths off
the trunks of the trees as they emerged from the chrysalis, at
three or four o’clock in the morning: at this time of year
they are exceedingly lethargic and very conspicuous objects,
easily seen and easily crushed. 2. Wilkinson’s ‘ Tortrices’ is
published by Mr. Van Voorst, at twenty-five shillings; and
Mr. Stainton’s ‘Tinez’ by Messrs. Reeve & Co., also at
twenty-five shillings: the latter is a valuable publication, but
is out of print. Guenee’s work on ‘ Deltoids’ and ‘ Pyralides’
is excellent; but it treats of the subject generally, and not
exclusively of the British species. I am unable to recommend
a work on the Veneers and Plumes.
Hybrid Smerinthus.—On looking over my cabinet memo-
randa I find I have a pair of hybrids, the progeny of Ocellatus
and Populi: the fore wings are of a rich brown, with the
markings of Populi; the hind wings are marked like those of
Ocellatus, with the patch of a reddish colour, and the eye
very distinctly marked, but without the pupil. Not having
seen a notice of this kind, I thought it might be interesting
to your readers. Are hybrid Sphingides of common occur-
rence? Any information of this nature would be acceptable.
— EK. Chawner ; Newton Valence, Alton, Hants, July 9, 1872.
Hybrid Sphingide are of very rare occurrence, and
collectors value them much.
Ophiodes lunaris at the Lowestoft Light—Amongst my
cabinet specimens there is one example of Ophiodes lunaris,
captured at the Lowestoft Light in 1832. I conclude this is
a rarity, having seen many cabinets without it— FH. Chawner.
Ophiodes lunaris is a great rarity: nearly all cabinets are
without it.
148 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Relaxing an Insect by Plaster of Paris.—I tried my hand
at relaxing an insect (Elpenor) that had remained unset
thirty years. I placed it in a tin box with plaster of Paris
for two days, and on opening the box found it perfectly
relaxed: 1 set it; and now I can with difficulty distinguish
it from the recent specimens.—H. Chawner.
I shall be obliged by additional information as to how the
plaster of Paris was applied.
Parasite of the Shrimp.—The tubercular complaint in
shrimps, to which J. Williams alludes, is caused by the
presence of a crustacean under the carapace: it belongs to
the genus Bopyrus, but the species are not well made out;
and it is possible that, as it 1s said, every animal has its
peculiar louse, and every plant its peculiar plant-louse, so
may every species of Palemon and Crangon have its
Bopyrus. That infesting the prawn is usually Bopyrus
Squillarum, and that on the shrimp B. Crangonum. It is
always found under the carapace; but whether it is parasitic
on the prawn, or whether the carapace of the prawn is its
home, it is difficult to say.
Scodiona Belgiaria——What is the experience of the
readers of the ‘ Entomologist’ with regard to the occurrence
of this species this season? With me it has been very rare.
{ have seen but one worn male up to this date (June 20th), and
that was taken June 15th. The season is undoubtedly back-
ward; but in former years I have taken Belgiaria in May.
On referring to my diary I find the earliest date is May 10th
(1867), when I took a male, and on the 16th of the same
month I took a female. Several other things, beside the
species in question, are scarce this season; but we need
scarcely wonder when we recollect that we had ice in May,
and frosts in the first half of June, even in the South of
England. I trust that the portion of the collecting season
now before us will be more beneficial to our cabinets and
duplicate boxes than the past has proved.—G. B. Corbin;
Ringwood.
Seorpion Fly(?) and C. Dominula.—Last season whilst
collecting in the meadows I caught a C. Dominula, and a fly
—which I believe to be the scorpion fly—had thrust its beak
into the thorax of the poor “ scarlet tiger,” and was sucking
its juices. Is such a thing of frequent occurrence? The
murderer in question had beautifully veined wings, spotted
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 149
with black, and a crooked tail, which latter peculiarity
induced me to suppose it was the so-called “ scorpion fly.” I
often see the species in my rambles, so it cannot be uncom-
mon. What is its history? It is a species which my friends
who work with the microscope are very pleased to get; and
this leads me to make enquiries about another insect which
they call the “snipe-fly.” It is a Dipterous insect, I believe,
with a round hairy body, and an exceeding long, slender
beak. When and where is it to be found ?—G. B. Corbin.
I suppose Mr. Corbin’s “scorpion-fly” to be an Empis,
and his snipe-fly a Bombylius; but should prefer seeing
specimens before I give an editorial judgment.
Pachycnemia Hippocastanaria.—This is a very peculiar
species, in my opinion, with regard to the time of its appear-
ance in the perfect state ; for, like R. Crategata, it is stumbled
upon at various seasons; but possibly it resembles that
species in being double- or triple-brooded. That Hippocas-
tanaria is at least double-brooded I have no doubt, as I take
it in good condition in early spring, and, again, in equally
good order in September. I have taken it as early as
February 22nd, and as late as the end of September, but I
have also taken a few good specimens in July; in fact, I am
not surprised to take a specimen on the heaths on any date
between spring and autumn. ‘This season I took a fine and
perfect specimen at the beginning of June. It seems to me
that individual specimens of the same brood often remain in
the pupa state, and are developed long after their relations
have passed away; and this observation is confirmed not
only this season, but by experience of former years.—Jd.
Geometra papilionarta.—Although I am not able to render
Mr. Mathew the assistance he asked for in regard to search-
ing for G. papilionaria in the winter or early spring, I send a
note or two which may prove useful to those who look for the
insect later in the season. Last year I procured nearly fifty
eggs from two females captured in July; they hatched in
August: the larve grew very slowly till hybernation, when
they were of a reddish brown colour. They rested during
the winter, either in a nearly straight position at an angle
with the twig, or bent like a bow with their heads by the side
of the twig, and always towards its tip. After hybernation I
found eighteen alive: of these seventeen died one after the
other. In the hope of saving the last I determined to place
150 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
it on a small birch tree: whilst placing it there I caught
sight of another more fully grown; and a further search
revealed six more. ‘They were all just at the top of the twig
on which they were resting. Whilst watching them I found
they were never in the morning on the twig on which they
had been the day preceding, and that they moved their
position between nine and eleven in the evening: between
these hours they turned their heads towards the trunk of the
tree, and travelled till they arrived at a fork in the branch,
when they would diverge towards a fresh position. They are
always attached to the twig by their claspers, never to any
portion of a leaf.—[Rev.] P. H. Jennings ; Longfield Rectory,
Gravesend, June 21, 1872.
Epione Apiciaria.—I have this season bred eight larve
from eggs laid at the same time by one female: the first
appeared about the middle of April; the last just a month
afterwards. Is it usual for so long atime to elapse in the
hatching of the eggs of this insect ?—Jd.
Entomologists will please state their experience.
Butterflies Migrating.—The notice by Mr. C. Pocklington
of a butterfly falling into the sea in Boston Deeps, and rising
again “apparently refreshed by its resting there,” and your
editorial quotation from Mr. Newman in support of this habit
of voluntarily resting for a time on the water, are of consider-
able interest to me, as they may perhaps remove a difficulty
I have long felt with respect to what I believe is a true
migration of butterflies from India to Ceylon. Lepidopterists
are no doubt aware of the flights of butterflies which have
been observed periodically in each year working their way
from the south of Ceylon towards the north. These migra-
tions take place in different parts of the country and at
different times of the year, but they have not been traced
beyond the island, and their object has not been ascertained.
Sir Emerson Tennent speaks of their passage in April and
May, and they may be observed in the middle of November
every year at Colombo, fighting their way against the strong
northerly wind. - Although most of these flights consist of
white and yellow species, they also include (in November) a
great number of the black and red_ swallowtail (Papilio
Hector), and many of the large black and yellow P. Darsius.
It is worthy of note that the migrations are always made
against the wind, and that no return flights have been
en |
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 15]
observed. Yet I believe there is a regular migration of at
least one species (P. Hector) from India to the north-west of
Ceylon, whence it must find its way to other parts of the low
country. From the middle of February to the middle of
April | was usually at sea, cruising somewhere in the neigh-
bourhood of the Pearl Banks; and during certainly three
seasons I saw, at a distance of from ten to sixteen miles
from the land, straggling parties of Papilio Hector flying low
and steadily towards the coast of Ceylon. Their course was
nearly due east; and whilst in sight from the vessel they did
not deviate from that direction. It was usually at the end of
February that 1 saw them,—at the beginning of the short,
calm season between the monsoons. Now, the distance
across from India to that part of Ceylon from which these
hundreds of butterflies were making could not be less than
sixty miles, and it has always been a puzzle to me how these
delicate creatures—comparatively powerful as their flight is,
undoubtedly —could yet have flown so far without rest. Had
resting-places on land been needed, these butterflies might
have crossed from the Continent by way of Adam’s Bridge,—
a long sand-bank bearing a few scattered palm trees, about
sixteen miles further north; but they were a long way out of
sight of it, and their course was very nearly parallel to it.
They must have had full confidence in their powers and
resources if they came direct from India; and, if not from
that country, whence did they come? I shall be glad to hear
what you or your correspondents may think of the application
of the resting-on-the-water theory to this case.—H. W. H.,
Holdsworth ; ‘ Field’ of June 29.
The paragraph to which my friend Mr. Holdsworth refers
is the following. A greater degree of interest attaches to the
subject than appears evident on first thought. It certainly
opens up the large question of the migration of Lepidop-
terous insects, of which I have previously recorded so many
instances.
Butterflies Migrating and Settling on the Sea.—l1 fre-
quently go for a sail in the Wash, or Boston Deeps, as it is
commonly called, and whilst out occasionally see several
large white butterflies (Pieris Brassicz), flying about when a
considerable distance from the shore. I concluded that their
powers of flight were greater than generally supposed, or that
they found resting-places on the passing vessels, or the buoys
152 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
and beacons placed to mark out the different channels in the
deeps, though I never noticed them attempt to do so; but on
Thursday last, again observing several, I watched them
minutely, when one of them fell in the sea, about five miles
from land; and, to my surprise, as the wave arose upon
which it had alighted, the little creature mounted with it, and
flew away again uninjured, and apparently refreshed by its
resting there. I suppose others have noticed this; but, if not
generally known, I send the information for naturalists.—
C. Pocklington ; West Skirbeck, Boston.
[The interesting facts mentioned by our correspondent are
not new to us; the following passage from Mr. Newman’s
‘Illustrated Natural History of British Butterflies’ seems to
meet the case exactly. It not only corroborates, but ampli-
fies, our correspondent’s statements :—‘It was a still, hot
day, with scarcely a breath of air, and now and then the
common Brassice and Rape (these are the common cabbage
butterflies) would lazily fly in. The flood-tide set in about
3 p.m. with a gentle breeze, and then came a host of the
above-named butterflies, with a few of Napi. There must
have been hundreds arrived within a very short space of
time; but what surprised my friend and me was their
alighting or settling on the sea with expanded wings, and the
ease with which they rose again. We saw the same butterfly
settle and rise again as many as four or five times within a
distance of less than a hundred yards, and with apparently
as much ease as on land. They all came direct in from the
sea, from a south-westerly direction, and seemed to aim for
the entrance of the harbour between the piers, though there
were plenty of them came on shore on each side of the piers.
The shore was covered with a coarse sort of rye grass, on
which they were resting when we returned home; and on
walking through the tall grass they rose in myriads.” This
was at Brighton.—Edilor of the ‘ Field. |
Works on Hymenoptera.—In answer to W. D. Roebuck:
—In the Hymenoptera we have no satisfactory work on the
Ichneumons on Tenthredinina; Mr. Smith’s Museum Cata-
logue of the ‘Bees of Great Britain’ is the best on bees.
Mr. Shuckard’s ‘Essay on Indigenous Fossorial Hymenop-
tera’ and Mr. Smith’s Museum Catalogue of ‘ British Fossorial
Hymenoptera’ are both of them excellent.
ee
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 153
Notice.—Having been appointed to the Flag Ship, just
commissioned for the Pacific Station, I shall be unable to
visit the locality for Arion, and so, I fear, unwillingly disap-
point many of my friends to whom I promised the insect;
and, as I am too busy to write separately to each, I take this
means of informing them.—Gervase F. Mathew ; Admiralty
House, Devonport, July 8, 1872.
Annual Report of the North Staffordshire Naturalist
Field-Club, 1872.—1 beg to acknowledge the receipt of this
interesting pamphlet, through the kindness of the Rev. Thomas
W. Daltry, the Secretary. It contains several interesting
papers, among which I would mention one “On the Lepi-
doptera of North Staffordshire,” by the talented and
industrious Secretary, as particularly worthy of study.
Epwarp NEWMAN.
The Genus Acentropus, as treated by Mr. Dunning.
(Trans. Ent. Soc. 1872. Part III. May.)
The Editor of the ‘Entomologist’ might very plausibly
advance “indirect claims” to a treatise, which, if not the
very best and most exhaustive that the Entomological talent
of this country has ever produced, still may be said to claim
a place in the foremost rank, since Mr. Dunning, its gifted
author, after giving a masterly summary of the labours and
opinions of entomologists on the characters and position of the
genus Acentropus, proceeds as follows :—“ It was no part of
my plan to have given the preceding sketch, but I have been
led to do so by reading the remarks of the Editor of the
“Entomologist, which I have just quoted.’ Thus it is
evident how good a case | might make out of “ indirect
claims” to the authorship of a treatise exhibiting so much
research. There is one, and but one, cause for regret
for the launching of this paper of Mr. Dunning’s through
the very narrow channel he has selected. The circulation
of the ‘ Transactions of the Entomological Society’ is
very much confined to the members of that learned body,
and the reading of those Transactions is yet more restricted :
so much so is this the case, that I should have never known of
154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
its publication but for Mr. Dunning’s courtesy in sending me
a copy.
Stripped of a certain amount of persiflage, which is likely
to induce an erroneous estimation of the author’s attainments,
as well as an equally erroneous impression that the author
distrusts his own case, the paper is one of sterling merit, of
sound and solid teaching (which is nowhere else to be found
in a collected form), on the genus Acentropus. I will cite, in
support of this assertion, a brilliant but perfectly fair passage
on the life-history of Acentropus :—
** Let us now bring together, as a connected narrative, the
scattered observations on the habits of Acentropus.
“ Olivier and Latreille say nothing about its mode of life,
but, from its having been described as a Phryganea, we may
infer that it was found in the neighbourhood of water.
‘Found on willows,’ near a canal, was Stephens’ account;
‘in an osier bed, was Brown’s first report. Kolenati, how-
ever, in 1846, discovered that the imago affected certain
species of Potamogeton, and suspected that the pond-weeds
were the food-plant of the larva. Informed by Haliday of
Kolenati’s observations, Brown, who in 1855 and 1856 cap-
tured the moth flying over the river Trent, was enabled to find
pupe in 1857, and in the following year to obtain both larve
and pupe.
* Previously to this, Curtis and Dale had found, at Glan-
ville’s Wootton, what they supposed to be the eggs of
Acentropus: they were exhibited at the meeting of this
Society on the 4th of September, 1854, and are described
in the Proceedings as ‘a large mass of white and very elon-
gated eggs.’ The oviposition was not actually seen, but the
eggs were found at a spot where Acentropus abounded, and
near a female specimen, which was captured, and exhibited
at the same meeting; and there cannot, I think, be any
reasonable doubt that they were really the eggs of Acentropus.
I suppose these eggs have gone to the Antipodes with the
rest of Curtis’s collection; but Hagen saw them, and has
described them as ‘a number of white roundish eggs, lain
thickly together on a Potamogeton leaf.” There is, however,
a discrepancy between the two accounts as to the shape of
the eggs. In 1861 Knaggs had some eggs laid on his
setting-boards, by specimens captured at Hampstead: he
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 155
described them as having ‘a most striking resemblance to
those of Paraponyx stratiotalis. Herrich-Schdffer, in the
same year, figured the female specimen on which Méschler
based the species A. latipennis, and he depicts her with a
string of eggs at her tail. M‘Lachlan has shown me one of —
his Hampstead examples with a similar string ; and Knaggs
has a continental A.latipennis with eggs attached. In these
cases, the colour of the egg is dirty white, or yellowish; and
the shape is ‘ roundish,’ rather than ‘ very elongate.’
“The larva is of a light green colour, and like those of
Hydrocampa, Paraponyx, and Cataclysta, it lives on aquatic
plants below the surface; zt has gills, and lives freely in the
water. It has been figured by Brown. It appears to feed
exclusively on the pond-weeds, but has been found on several
species; thus Kolenati (who, however, was acquainted with
the imago only) mentions Potamogeton heterophyllus and
perfoliatus; Brown and Heinemann mention P. pectinatus
and perfoliatus ; Ritsema mentions P. crispus; and Milliére
mentions P. pectinatus and lucens. When fully fed, in June
or July, the larve may be found ‘in silken cocoons, which
are strengthened by small pieces of the leaves incorporated
longitudinally in the fabric, and which are placed in the
submerged axils’ of the thread-like leaves of the Potamogeton.
Brown found only fully-fed Jarve, but Ritsema and Reutti
found them in various stages of growth.
“The pupe are described by Brown as ‘of the masked
character, and the external case enables one to see clearly
which will produce males and which females;’ both the
male and female pupe are figured by him, and exhibit three
remarkably prominent spiracles on each side. To acquire the
pupe, Knaggs recommends dragging the stream or pond
with a water-net, where Potamogeton grows, examining it on
the shore for the small silken cocoons.
“The imago appears in June, July, and August; though
not continuously for the whole period. During the three
months mentioned, the insect may be found in all its four
stages of egg, larva, pupa, and imago; and it would seems
that about ten months of the .year (including the winter
months, as with Hydrocampa and Paraponyx) are passed in
the larval state, and about one month in the pupa.
“The male imago is much more common, or more com-
156 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
monly observed, than the female; occasionally it is found in
swarms. Kolenati captured forty-two specimens in the Neva,
all males; Nolcken went to the same locality, and took
something like 150, again all males. Zeller had it in num-
bers from Pomerania, but only of the male sex. Hagen had
seen itin numbers, but could not remember a single female
taken in Prussia. Dale, in the last letter 1 had from him
(within three months of his death, when the veteran entomo-
logist was over eighty), wrote ‘the males were in great
abundance, the females very rare.’ Brown, in a recent letter,
writes ‘I have seen, I should almost say, hundreds of males
on the wing atatime.’ Ritsema took fifly specimens near
Haarlem, all males.
“Unless disturbed, they are inactive by day, but fly
briskly in the evening over the surface of water. Kolenati
found them sitting sluggishly on the Potamogeton, close to
the water, the majority on the flowers and young seeds;
when active, they ran on the surface of the water. According
to Dale, ‘they flew nearly on the surface of the water,
sporting about in various directions.’ Brown found them
quietly sitting on leaves, or other objects which protruded
from the stream, whilst others flew slowly, or, as he elsewhere
expressed it, were ‘skipping over the surface’ of the Trent.
Reutti’s observation is, that the male flies always close to and
on the water, by day only involuntarily, but by night briskly.
M‘Lachlan records that between 8 and 9 p.m., in June,
‘they began flying rather rapidly over the surface of the
water, and close to it, oecasionally coming on to the wet
mud.’ Knaggs mentions that ‘it skims along the surface of
the water,’ but although the usual habit is to fly close to the
water, he has ‘occasionally seen it mount perpendicularly
into the air, rising higher and higher, until lost to sight.’
M‘Lachlan tells me that he too saw the male thus mount into
the air, but only when caught by a current of wind, so that it
was an involuntary act. Boyd tells me that he observed the
females to fly, as a rule, at a greater height above the water
than the males. Nolcken found them, either sitting drowsily
on floating pieces of Potamogeton or other objects, often two
or three so close together that at first he thought they were
in coitu, or fluttering about in small circles close to the
surface, then raising themselves a few inches above it, but
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 157
descending again immediately, so that their feet were almost
always touching the water. Barrett ‘found some faggots sunk
with stones in one corner of a pond, leaving some of the twigs
above water; and on the under side of these twigs Niveus
swarmed, sometimes clustered four or six in a bunch; they
were very sluggish, and, if knocked off a twig, only buzzed
along the surface of the water till they found another.’
Ritsema describes them as sitting by day on the stems of
plants close to the water, and when disturbed coming quickly
to rest again; but in the evening flying nimbly in large
circles over the surface, touching the water itself, and settling
but rarely: Corbin describes the flight as most peculiar, ‘as
it never seems to leave the surface of the water, but swiftly
flutters its tiny wings, and in the dusk of the evening looks
almost as if it was swimming about here and there;.... but
in the daytime it will be found settled on the under side of
leaves, &c., close to the water’s edge.’ I have already men-
tioned that it was the circular flight of the insect (a male)
round a lamp and over the surface of a table, which first
attracted my attention to the specimen which gave rise to this
paper. De Graaf captured two males which were similarly
attracted to a lamp, and performed their antics on a table-
cloth ; and Stainton, some years ago, took a female specimen
at Eewishamn, which flew to a gas-light fixed outside his
house. Brown, Dale, and Barrett, all mention to have seen
many dead specimens floating on the pond-weed, or on the
surface of the water; and during the daytime, Knaggs and
M‘Lachlan found that the living specimens might readily be
fished out from off the Potamogeton, by means of a shallow
net with a long handle.”
This is all that is known of the life-history of Acentropus.
The hereafter may add further details, but can detract
nothing from the value of these. It will, perhaps, be expected
of me that I should contest Mr. Dunninp’s conclusions, since
he seems to regard them as antagonistic to my own; but
really there is no necessity for this. I cannot doubt, and
therefore will not dispute, Mr. Dunning’s facts. Indeed, I
have no disposition to doubt the salient points of the sum-
mary; they are in perfect harmony with my own foregone
conclusions. For instance, three competent observers—
Herrich-Schaffer, Mr. M‘Lachlan, and Dr. Knaggs—find
158 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
that the eggs are extruded united together in a string
attached to the tail of the female. I should have expected
this. Again, the larva has gills, and lives freely in water. I
should have supposed so. I have taken the liberty to
italicise these passages in my quotation, as I think them of
importance; but I must observe that they are not thus
distinguished in the original.
Two points yet remain to be noticed. Ist. That Mr.
Dunning, after a thorough investigation of the situation of
Acentropus among the Lepidoptera, decides in placing it in
the Pyralites. He says:—
“ The aquatic habit of the insect, the mode of life, and the
metamorphoses, are so plainly indicative of affinity to
Hydrocampa, that I willingly go with the current of recent
opinion, and recognize the true place of the Acentropide to
be where Staudinger and Wocke have placed them, that is to
say, in the Pyralidina, leading up to the Chelonide and the
Crambide.”
This seems rather accepting the prevailing opinion of
lepidopterists than broaching a new one, and it is in this
character that Mr. Dunning publishes his views of the
affinities of Acentropus; he does not hint that it is new.
2nd. Mr. Dunning admits but one species of Acentropus.
He concludes thus :—
“ Nolcken himself, to whom we are indebted for the
greatest amount of subdivision, admits that amongst the
males of all the forms reported to be A. niveus, he could not
find any trustworthy differences. In the case of forms so
nearly allied, I think the onus probandi ought to lie upon
those who. assert their specific distinctness. And believing
that, by simply asking an abstract question, I am less likely
to provoke investigation and discussion, than by expressing
an opinion which can be contradicted and disproved, I will
conclude by expressing an opinion,—to which I am not
wedded, and from which I shall be glad to be converted,
but still an opinion founded on such evidence as I have been
able to obtain,—namely, that all the forms of Acentropus
heretofore attempted to be distinguished are, in fact, referable
to one and the same species, for which, in the present state
of our knowledge, I shall retain the name that is in vogue,—
Acentropus niveus.”
EDWARD NEWMAN.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 159
Earliest and latest dates of the appearance of some of the
rarer British Butterflies.
By the late J. C. DALE, Esq., F.LS.
[Knowing how much interest I felt in everything connected
with British butterflies, Mr. Dale most kindly sent me the
following letter, which, in addition to its utility, will be
interesting as evincing the writers zeal in the cause of
Science.—Edward Newman. |
I have been looking over some of the extracted dates of
British butterflies, especially the earliest and latest observed.
P, Acis :—
1854. May 2nd. - - - Atkinson.
1833. May 28th. - - - J.C. Dale.
1815. June 10th. - - - =
1813. June 11th. - . - a
1808. June 22nd. (Female.)~ - ~
1808. July 2nd. - - - a
1798. July 16th. - - - Dr. Abbot.
1819. July 16th. - - - J.C. Dale.
Bete, Upaly: 24th) 6 an ays ‘,
1814. August Ist. (Bad.) - - +
1814. Aug., end. (Much wasted.) Lewin.
H. AcT&on :-—
1833. May 31st. - - - J.C. Dale.
1837. July 3rd. . E 4
1834. July 12th. 4 : .
1834. August 2nd & 3rd. - - s
1832. August 15th. - - - a
1832. August 30th. (Wasted.) - 5
1832. September Ist. : - 9
P. ARION :— .
1835. June 8th & 15th. - - Prof. Quekett.
1798. June 28th. . - : Dr. Abbot.
1836. June 29th. - . - J.C. Dale.
1833. July 3rd. - - - “
1799. July 5th & 9th. - . Dr. Abbot.
1819. July 14th. - - - J.C. Dale.
160 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
H. CasstoPe (Epiphron) :—
1809. June llth. (Much worn.) 7’. Stodhard.
1827. June 18th. - - - J.C. Dale.
1827. June 28rd to 26th. - - i
1826. July. - - - - Hutton.
1826. August. (Female.) - Marshall é Weaver.
Bianpina (Medea) :—
1826. July, beginning. - - J. C. Dale.
1826. August, middle, &c. - - a
Davus, Haw. :—
1826. June 8th. : - : J.C. Dale.
1826. July.
TYPHON :—
1826. May Ist.
1826. June.
1825. July 12th. - . . J.C. Dale.
1825. July 30th.
V. Io:—
1824, January 30th. (Flying,
Parley Heath.)
A. ADIPPE :—
1824. June 2nd. (Larva.) - J. C. Dale.
C. Epusa :—
1824. April... = : - . Morris.
1811. June 11th. - - - J.C. Dale.
ies oi I
1811.
181].
1811.
1811.
1808.
1842.
June 16th & 18th. -
July 11th.
August.
September.
October.
November 4th.
C. HYALe :—
April. -
P. Dispar (Hippothoé) :—
1841.
1826.
1833.
1827.
1827.
June 6th.
June 25th.
(Larve.)
(Male.) -
July 3rd & 5th. -
July 19th.
July 24th.
(Larve.)
3?
39
Bp. of Gibraltar.
- JC; Dale.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
1827. July 25th. (Pupz.)
1819. August. -
1821. August 4th.
P. PHLZAS :—
1833. April 2nd.
1833. April 20th.
1821. May Ist. -
1810. May 28th.
1808. June 3rd.
1808. July 4th.
1809. August 7th.
1809. September Ist.
1826. September 22nd.
1826. October. -
1803. November 5th.
T. Rupr :—
April 13th.
1834. April 24th.
1798. May 10th.
(Papey
1813. August 3rd. (Faded.)
T. Proni:—
1841. June 18th.
1829. June 24th.
1831. June, end.
1833. July 2nd.
1837. July 17th.
T. W-ALBUM :—
1823. June, end.
1833. July 9th.
1837. July 16th, 24th & 3lst.
1833. July 30th.
1827. August 6th.
T. BETULE :—
1826. July 15th. (Bred.) -
1827. August 5th.
1809. September Ist. -
1809. October 8th.
Glanvillé’s Wootton, November 2, 1870,
VOL. VI.
161
J.C. Dale:
Speechly.
B. Standish.
Brown.
J. C. Dale.
Albin ?
J. C. Dale.
Dr. Abbot.
J.C. Dale.
H. Doubleday.
Prof. Babington.
Mr. Garnons.
J. C. Dale.
99
Stephens.
Blomer.
J. C. Dale.
Blomer.
Henderson.
J.C. Dale.
162 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Description of the Larva of Noctua triangulum.—Length,
when full fed, 1 inch and 3 lines when at rest; 1] inch and
6 lines when extended. Head small, retractile. Body obese,
cylindrical, distinctly attenuated in front, tapering from 6th
segment to head, the 2nd segment being manifestly narrower
than any of the others; the 12th segment is a little elevated
behind; segmental divisions well marked; each segment is
wrinkled transversely, and there is a distinct lateral skinfold ;
there is a semicircular corneous plate on back of 2nd segment.
Colour of head wainscot-brown, reticulated with black at the
sides, umber-brown in front: this latter colour is bounded by
two black parallel lines, one on each side of the median
suture. Dorsal surface either dull ochreous or ochreous-
brown; in either case delicately reticulated with black. On
each segment from 5th to 12th is a somewhat diamond-
shaped mark, either dull reddish brown, dull umber-brown,
or bistre-brown; this is very indistinctly marked on the 5th
and 6th segments, and on the 12th is reduced to a triangle,
the apex of which points forward: through this series of
marks passes the slender, ochreous, medio-dorsal line, edged
on each side by a fine dark line; it is usually obliterated in
the centre of each segment, reappearing for a short distance
on each side of the segmental division; at the division itself
it is obliterated by its dark edgings becoming there united,
and forming a spot—only visible, however, when the larva is
in motion. The subdorsal lines are extremely indistinct,
ochreous, interrupted, and only visible on the posterior
segments; they are bordered above by a fine brown line,
which ends on each segment in a slight curve at the lateral
angle of the dorsal diamond; sometimes the pale lines are
altogether absent, and their place only indicated by this fine
curved line; on each of the 11th and 12th segments the
place of this fine line is occupied by a conspicuous black
mark, one on each side of the dorsal line; those on the 11th
segment are elongated wedges in form; those on the 12th
larger and more decidedly triangular, the apices of the
triangles pointing forwards, and their bases united by a dark
brown line forming the anterior boundary of a transverse
ochreous band, occupying the posterior edge of that segment
and uniting the subdorsal lines. The lateral surface is the
same colour as the dorsal diamonds, and is delicately reticu-
a
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 163
lated with black like the back. Ventral surface and claspers
dingy ochreous-gray. Legs ochreous-brown. Usual spots
black, small, each accompanied by an ochreous spot. The
foregoing description was taken April 28th, from larve found
on bramble, the only plant on which I have found them at
large, although they eat almost anything in confinement.
They were full fed and buried at the end of April and begin-
ning of May, and the first imago emerged June 18th.—
Bernard Lockyer.
Description of the Larvaof Noctua brunnea.—Length 1 inch
when at rest, 1 inch 6 lines when extended. Head small,
retractile. Body obese, cylindrical; the segmental divisions
well marked, attenuated gradually in front, the 12th segment
slightly elevated behind. There is a distinct lateral skinfold.
Head reddish brown, with two dark marks down the front,
approximating on the crown, and each bordered behind with
a pale ochreous line. Colour of body variable; usually a
rather pale rosy brown, but sometimes clay-brown, orange-
brown, or dull olivaceous-brown. On each segment from 5th
to 12th there is a very indistinct darker lozenge-shaped mark,
its edges fading off into the ground colour, that on the 12th
segment being reduced to a triangle; through this series of
dorsal lozenges passes the slender and interrupted and some-
what indistinct medio-dorsal line, which is pale, edged
indistinctly with brown, this edging forming a dark spot at
the junction of each segment; the subdorsal lines are yellow
and much more distinct, especially on the posterior segments,
and are united on the posterior edge of the 12th segment by
a conspicuous transverse yellow line, bordered in front with
dark brown; they are dilated in the centre of each segment
from the 6th to the 12th into a distinct yellow spot; each of
these spots is the starting-point of a short, pale yellowish, and
rather diffuse oblique streak, slanting backwards towards the
medio-dorsal line, and each of these oblique lines is bordered
above by a dark shade, which runs obliquely to the centre of
the back, and is only prevented from joining the one from the
opposite side of the back by the medio-dorsal line ; each pair
of these oblique shades thus forms a V-shaped mark, the
apex of which points backwards, and each V forms the
posterior boundary of one of the lozenge-shaped marks
already mentioned. These oblique shades on the 11th and
164 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
12th segments have more the character of triangular spots,
the bases of those on the 12th segment being seated on the
yellow band across that segment, and their apices pointing
forwards; they vary in intensity of colour. The spiracular
line is slender, very distinct, and yellow or ochreous on the
2nd to 4th segments; on the other segments it is broad,
diffuse, and of the ground colour, dotted with whitish, more
thickly at the posterior than at the anterior part of each seg-
ment, and thus appearing alternately pale rosy brown and
ochreous-white; the spiracles are of the ground colour, each
in a delicate black ring. The ventral surface and claspers
are pale grayish ochreous. The legs reddish brown. The
usual spots are small, very indistinct and black; the bristles
are whitish. The distinguishing characters of this larva
appear to me to be the peculiar coloration of the spiracular
region, and the great distinctness of the yellow band on the
12th segment. When young it is a very pretty larva. It
feeds chiefly on bramble, but also on hornbeam, and {in
captivity) on dock and other plants. It is full fed about the
second and third weeks in April, and then buries under the
earth and constructs a loose cocoon, in which it turns to a
pupa of the usual Noctua form, and reddish brown and very
shining. The moths emerged June 7th to 12th.—Bernard
Lockyer.
Description of the Larva of Noctua jestivan—Eggs were
laid by a female, taken at sugar, June 30th to July 2nd, 1871.
They were pale lemon-yellow, which changed to grayish
before the larvee emerged, which event took place July 11th.
The young larve were short, stout, and cylindrical, with but
three pairs of claspers developed; they consequently looped
in walking. They had black heads and dull grayish bodies,
with the tubercular dots very distinct, black, and each
emitting a slender bristle. They fed on violet till hyberna-
tion, which took place in October, they having previously
undergone three changes of skin. Before hybernation they
had gained the use of all their claspers, and were of a ferru-
ginous-brown, marked with whitish, the dorsal and subdorsal
lines being of that colour, very distinct, and edged with dark
red. The spiracular lines were reddish ochreous, edged with
white on each side, and there was a series of dark oblique
streaks between the spiracular and subdorsal lines. They
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165
recommenced feeding in February, 1872, and fed from that
time to their attaining their full growth, first on foxglove, and
afterwards on Pyrus japonica. They underwent two moults
before they were full fed, which they were from April 4th to
12th. Subsequently I took a number of larve at large,
feeding on bramble, sallow, and hornbeam. The following is
a description of the full-fed larva:—Length, when at rest,
about 1 inch; when extended, 1 inch and 4 lines to 1 inch
and 6 lines. The head is very small, less than 2nd segment,
and retractile thereinto. The antennal papille are con-
spicuous. The body is obese and cylindrical, attenuated in
front. Each segment is full and rounded. The skin is
transversely wrinkled, and there is a lateral skinfold below
the spiracles. Both the head and body emit slender whitish
bristles. Head wainscot-brown, with two parallel dark brown
marks, one on each side of the median suture. The colour of
the body varies slightly. That of the more usual type
(which is the one always taken at large by me) is ferruginous
or olivaceous-brown, delicately reticulated with darker; the
segmental divisions usually tinged distinctly with rosy. The
dark reticulations on the back form a series of somewhat
indistinct lozenge-shaped marks, one on each segment from
5th to 12th, their edges shading off into the ground colour.
Through the centre of this series of lozenges runs the thread-
like and indistinct medio-dorsal line, which is ochreous,
finely bordered with brown on each side; it is almost
obliterated in the centre of each segment by the dark lozenge.
On the 12th segment the lozenge is reduced to a triangle,
which is usually more clearly defined than the marks on the
other segments. Its apex points forwards. The subdorsal
line is ochreous, and is to be traced throughout the length of
the larva from 2nd to 12th segment, but is most distinct and
broadest on the posterior segments; it is bordered through-
out, on both sides, by a fine brown line, and surmounted on
each of the 5th to 12th segments by a conspicuous velvety
dark brown, almost black, spot, of somewhat triangular form,
the apex of the triangle pointing forwards; the spot on the
5th segment, is, however, almost linear and indistinct; the
others increase gradually in size towards the anal extremity
of the larva, those on the 11th and 12th segments being the
largest; on the posterior edge of the 12th segment the sub-
166 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
dorsal lines are united by an ochreous transverse band; the
bases of the dark triangles on this segment rest on this line.
There is, also, sometimes a transverse ochreous line on the
13th segment, but this is by no means constant. The sub-
spiracular stripe is paler than the ground colour, but not very
distinct, and is bordered above by an indistinct brown line;
the spiracles are black, each in an ochreous ring ; just behind
each spiracle on the 5th to 12th segment is an oblique dark
blotch slanting towards the subdorsal line, and varying in
intensity, its lower part often forming a darker spot behind
the spiracle; the obliquity of these stripes is towards the
head of the larva. The ventral surface and claspers are pale
grayish ochreous, the latter almost colourless; the legs are
pale wainscot-brown. The ordinary dots are small, black, and
indistinct; each of those on the dorsal surface is accompanied
by a tolerably distinct whitish or ochreous spot. The plate
on 2nd segment is brownish, with the three lines very indis-
tinctly marked. The two following varieties were reared from
the egg. Var. 1. Umber-brown, altogether more dingy in
appearance; the segmental divisions not tinged with rosy.
Var. 2. Ground colour of back pale wainscot-brown, reticu-
lated minutely with darker; the dorsal lozenges much more
clearly defined than in either of the preceding varieties. The
triangular spots on the 12th segment are much paler than
those on the other segments. The sides are purplish-brown.
Rest as in the ordinary type; but the subspiracular stripe is
tinged with rosy, while the segmental divisions show no
trace of that colour. The 13th segment is entirely pale
ochreous-brown, with a distinct dark dorsal line. The larve
are full fed in April and May: they then bury and spin loose
cocoons, in which they turn to chrysalides, which very closely
resemble those of N. brunnea; they are of a shining reddish
brown. The moths emerge in June. The first of my imagos,
bred from the larve taken at large, emerged June 6th, though
one, bred from the egg, came out on May 3]st.—Bernard
Lockyer.
Description of the Larva of Eupithecia pyymeata.—Long,
very slender, extremely attenuated on the capital segments ;
ground colour pale dull yellowish green; central dorsal line
pale olive, connecting a series of very distinct and well-
defined urn-shaped blotches of the same colour, which
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167
become confluent on the anal and capital segments ;
subdorsal and spiracular lines pale olive, sinuous, well-
defined, and rather broad; belly without markings; skin
rough and rugose, freely studded with short whitish hairs.
In form and general appearance comes nearest to the larva
of EK. pulchellata. Feeds on petals and anthers of Stellaria
holostea. Full fed June 20th. 1am indebted to the kind-
ness of Mr. Hodgkinson, of Preston, and Mr. Hellins, of
Exeter, for an opportunity of describing this interesting and
almost unknown larva. ‘The former gentleman took a female
moth on May 25th: she deposited three eggs on a daisy-
flower, which, together with the parent insect, he forwarded
to Mr. Hellins. The eggs hatched June 2nd. Mr. Hellins
kindly sent me a larva just previous to its last moult. I had
no Stellaria holostea within easy reach, but found it feed
greedily on the petals and stamens of Cerastium tomentosum.
Mr. Buckler has taken several life-like portraits of the
interesting little stranger.—[Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe; The
Rectory, Drayton-Beauchamp, Tring, June 21, 1872.
Description of the Larva of Teniocampa opima.—It rests
in nearly a straight position on its food-plant, and when dis-
turbed appears rather flaccid and falls to the ground: I was
unable to induce them by handling to roll inaring. The
head is of the same width as the 2nd segment, highly
glabrous, and bears a few slender scattered hairs, which are
directed forward; the lobes are rather prominent and distinct.
The body is almost uniformly cylindrical, velvetty, and bears
a few scattered hairs, more particularly on the 12th and 13th
segments; it has a manifest lateral skinfold below the
spiracles. The colour of the head is testaceous-brown,
reticulated with darker brown. The body is divided distinctly
into two areas: the dorsal, dark and varied ; the ventral, pale
and uniform clear green, sometimes yellow-green; the dorsal
area has the Ist segment green, the 2nd and 8rd partially so,
that is to say, the green colour seems to gleam through the
reticulated markings ; these markings are purple-brown, and
longitudinally intersected by a narrow medio-dorsal stripe
and a broad lateral stripe, both of a subdued green colour;
the lateral stripe gradually shades off to a black, which
colour is due to the presence of black reticulations, minute
and separate, towards the back, but crowded on the ventral
168 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
margin, and forming an abrupt and distinct boundary to the
dorsal area; intermediate between the medio-dorsal and
lateral stripes are three minute pale circular spots, inconspi-
cuous until magnified; the green ventral area is without
markings ; it includes the spiracles, which are oval and pale
testaceous, surrounded by a delicate black circumscription.
I am indebted to Mr. Bryant for a liberal supply of this
interesting larva, which I had not seen when J published the
species in my ‘ British Moths.’ He informs me that the eggs
were laid on the 5th of April, the larve hatched about the
24th, and were full fed and went to pupe on the Ist of June.
—Edward Newman.
Life-history of Iodis vernaria.—The eggs are laid in July
in a very singular manner, as first pointed out to me by
Mr. Wright. The female selects a twig of the food-plant,
Clematis vitalba (wild clematis or traveller’s-joy), and stand-
ing lengthwise on a twig deposits an egg on the rind, never
on a leaf: the egg is somewhat longer than broad, and very
flat; after a short interval a second egg is laid on the top of
this, and again, after another interval, a third, a fourth, and
so on, until a little pile of twelve or fourteen stand out at
right angles with the twig, like a lateral twig or thorn. Under
a lens of moderate power, this pile of eggs exactly resembles
a stack of oblong cheeses, symmetrically arranged one on the
other. In some instances, when the parent has been restless,
or disturbed in mind, or dissatisfied with the spot she had
first selected, she has abandoned her egg-tower when only ©
three-stories high; but this is not usual; she generally
continues her labours until a dozen eggs are thus carefully
adjusted ina pile: the lowest number yet observed in this
columnal structure is three, and the highest fourteen; the
eggs are not angular as in a column of basalt, but the
arrangement is precisely similar. In one instance that came
under the notice of Mr. Jennings the pile of eggs was
branched, thus assuming the form of the letter V. The eggs
usually hatch during the first week in July, and the young larve
disappear, after feeding a little, with the leaves of the food-
plant, and reappear after hybernation, as soon as the leaves
of another season are ready for them in the spring. The most
likely spots for finding these larve are on the shoots trailing on
the ground, or at a very slight elevation. When the larve leave
the egg they are very interesting little objects: they stand on
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 169
the general or partial leaf-stalks, or sometimes on the edge of
the leaf, in a variety of attitudes; some parallel with the
object on which they are resting; others forming an obtuse
angle with it; others erect; and others looped, after the
ordinary manner of geometers when travelling: the 2nd seg-
ment has two pointed horn-like projections directed forwards,
and concealing the head if viewed from above; they are of a
pale green colour, the surface of the skin frosted with white,
the tips of the horn-like projections tinged with red, brown, or
purple, and the head deep purple, contrasting strongly with
the almost colourless body. About the middle of last June
the Rev. P. H. Jennings most kindly supplied me with a
number of the larve of Vernaria; and, when quite full grown,
I described one as follows:—Rests in nearly a straight
position, firmly attached by its anal and ventral claspers to a
twig or leaf-stalk of its food-plant, from which it projects
with the rigidity of a stick at an angle of about 45 degrees:
the head is prone, deeply divided on the crown, and the two
divisions are produced into acute points, directed forwards
like ears; the face is flat, and the mouth bent under and
brought into contact with the legs, which are massed
together, forming a lump beneath the head; the body is
dilated on the sides by the presence of a rigid skinfold,
almost resembling a lateral keel; the 2nd segment is produced
dorsally into two acute points, similar to those of the head,
but rather longer, and, like these, directed forwards; the
9th, 10th and 11th segments are incrassated; the anal flap is
triangular and pointed, it is equal in length to the anal
claspers; the body is transversely wrinkled, and every part
of the head and body is finely shagreened. The colour of the
head and legs is purple-brown; the body is green, exactly of
the same tint as the twigs of the clematis on which it feeds;
and the frosted appearance of the surface (each poiut of the
shagreen being tipped with white) makes the resemblance to
a growing and succulent twig still more exact; the spiracles
are ochreous. On the 26th of June the first larva changed to
a pupa, and on the 8th of July to an imago: the thorax of the
pupa is smooth but not glabrous, being coarsely punctured ;
it is suspended by the tail, which is furnished with minute
hooks adapted for the purpose, as in the Suspensi among the
butterflies; the colour is green, excepting the eyes and
antenne, which are tinged with purple.—Hdward Newman,
170 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.
Sesia Chrysidiformis.—I have of late been in the habit of
paying a visit to the Warren, near Folkestone, in search of
the larve of S. Chrysidiformis. On Monday, the Ist of April,
I repaired to the spot accompanied by my brother, and met
with a fair share of success, taking a good supply of full-fed
larve of the beautiful clearwing I have just mentioned.
There seems to be every prospect of a good season for
collecting the imagos, as some of the roots we obtained
~ contained from four to six larve each; singularly enough we
found the roots we had disturbed and replanted the previous
year the most productive. The following account of the
method I employ in rearing the larve may interest your
readers. Proceeding along the slopes on the sea-face of the
cliffs, I select those plants of dock or sorrel which have a
sickly appearance or stunted growth; I then dig up the roots
and gently remove the surrounding mould, being very careful
not to damage the larve, whose presence is easily discovered
by the mines and frass. If the root selected does not contain
any larve [ replant it, in anticipation of a future visit. Before
leaving the spot I collect a small portion of chalky soil for
future use. * On arriving home I transfer the roots containing
the larve to the breeding-cage. This latter greatly resembles
a fern-case: it has glass sides and ends, and the top is
covered with a sheet of perforated zinc ; the bottom is loosely
filled with a mixture of silver-sand and the calcareous soil of
the Warren: in this the roots are planted, watered from time
to time, and freely exposed to the rays of the sun. Early in
May, if matters are progressing favourably, each larva sends up
a case from the roots composed of small particles of the
fibres: these cases vary in length from an inch to an inch
and a half, and are of a conical form. At the end of May or
the beginning of June the imagos appear, leaving the pupe
cases projecting from the top of the tubes sent up by the
larve. Ihave not obtained any more moths in the second
season from the same plants. I may mention that the cliff
which furnishes the best hunting-ground is being rapidly
destroyed by repeated land-slips, one of which occurred at
the time of our visit: a mass of chalk, weighing some
hundreds of tons, fell violently to the beach, and was followed
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 171
by two smaller falls. J need hardly say that our departure
from the spot was greatly accelerated by the occurrence.
Before leaving the Warren I secured a quantity of the larve
of L. Chrysorrhcea: they are not so plentiful as in the last
three years.—J. Russell; 18, Mount Pleasant Road.
Variety of Limenitis Sibylla—While collecting this
species at Doles Wood, in company with my friend Mr. W.
H. Herbert, on Wednesday, July 10th, I saw a very unusual
variety. The whole of the upper surface of the wings was
black, with the exception of two minute white dots, one on
each fore wing near the costa; the under side of all the
wings appeared to be normally marked. The insect persisted
in pitching on some blackberry blooms, where it was just
impossible to take it with the net: three times I struck at it,
and twice had it in the net, but the net was so entangled each
time that the butterfly readily escaped. Mr. Herbert was
equally unsuccessful, although both of us could have caught
it in our hands, but that would have spoiled it for any
collection. One beautiful female of A. Iris condescended to
alight on a bunch of blackberry blooms not five yards from
Dr. Stevens, Mr. Herbert, and myself; but the instant I
moved in that direction she re-ascended to her lofty throne,
and we had, very reluctantly, to leave both it and Sibvlla, in
order to reach our friend’s house in time for dinner.—Henry
Reeks; East Woodhay, July 15, 1872.
Scarcity of Insects generally ; abundance of Hybernated
Specimens of Pyrameis Cardui.—As early as last February
I predicted that it would be a bad Entomological summer,
for | have for many years noted that mild wet winters prove far
more destructive to insect-life than dry ones with any amount
of severe frosts. When collecting Sibylla on the 10th inst.,
I was struck with not only the scarcity of that species, but
also of all the Argynnide,—Paphia, Adippe, Selene, &c.; in
fact the rides in Doles Wood (1500 acres in extent) seemed
quite devoid of insect life. Caterpillars have also been most
scarce ; but I never remember breeding so few Ichneumonide ;
almost every larva obtained in the spring produced an imago
of that tribe, although a very great, proportion of the larve
were infested with tape-worms: larve not more than half an
inch long would pass thread-like tape-worms six inches in
length! I feel convinced that these are taken into the larval
172 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
system by feeding on leaves over which snails and slugs
have crawled and fed: these latter pests have almost defo-
liated some trees and shrubs, and done more harm than ten
times the amount of caterpillars; still a seasonable check on
the latter is very beneficial. P.Cardui is almost the only
insect that appears more abundant than usual, and it remains
to see whether this year’s brood will equal in numbers the
hybernating insects of last year.—Henry Reeks.
Difficulty of discovering the Larva of Argynnis Euphro-
syne.—Some have doubted the assertion that ‘‘ leaves of the
violet may be turned over by thousands” without obtaining
this larva; and Mr. Mathew has thrown a new light upon the
matter by informing us that it frequently reposes on some
object near the food-plant. But, even if this fact is kept in
view, it is hard to detect; and I have a vivid recollection of a
morning in April, about the middle of that month, when what
was to have been “a morning with the larve of Euphrosyne,”
turned out to be a morning with spiders and ants, with an
occasional Cimex. The work is all the more laborious,
because violets rarely grow in considerable patches ; and as
the search must be made stooping, it is a back-breaking task.
From the circumstance that A. Euphrosyne is sometimes
plentiful in a place where there are few violets of any species,
it seems at least possible that other plants may yield it food.
At the suggestion of a friend I have searched for it on the
primrose, but without success.—J. R. S. Clifford; 59,
Robert Street, Chelsea.
Larva of Abraxas Grossulariata feeding on Rose.—lIt is
curious to note how the food-plants which an insect has
adopted as its own, when it has become semi-domesticated, is
rigidly adhered to year after year, despite the temptations
which surrounding plants may offer. Thus, as we know, the
larva of the above-named species is found in nature on a
variety of plants, though most frequently on oak and black-
thorn; but in our gardens gooseberry and currant bushes are
its exclusive food in ordinary seasons. This spring, however,
the mild weather early in the year brought into sudden
activity the larve of Grossulariata in our London suburbs,
and probably elsewhere. The leaves showed signs of premas
ture expansion, but received a sudden check; and, in conse-
quence of that, as the larve did not return to a state of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 173
torpidity, they had soon exhausted, in many cases, their
supply of leaves, and in some gardens they then devoured the
buds and blossoms, necessitating hand-picking. In one case
a party of them transferred themselves to a rose tree,—not an
unlikely selection if the blackthorn be, as suggested by Mr.
Newman, its natural food: therein the species showed itself
as the enemy of the gardener in another guise. Others, in
smaller numbers, settled down upon a peach tree. It was
remarkable that some of the larve did not attempt to migrate
in search of food, but died om the stems of the bushes which
they had stripped, seemingly from starvation, for I have
rarely observed the larva of Grossulariata affected by any
ichneumonideous parasite.—J. R. S. Clifford.
Early Hatching of the Eggs of Ptilophora plumigera.—
Most of us who have dabbled in insect-breeding have expe-
rienced the mortification, at some time, of opening a box
containing the eggs of a choice species, and finding that,
through too hasty emergence, the young larve have sentenced
themselves to death by starvation. In certain cases, indeed,
it does not make much difference whether we do or do not
open the receptacle, as it may be quite out of our power to
get the fitting food. At an early date in March, eggs of
P. plumigera which I had, began to hatch, and there was no
foliage upon the maple, though the mildness of the preceding
February had accelerated the larval development. It has
been found in some species that when eggs have once shown
indications of hatching they cannot be retarded, or should
they be checked then the result is the death of the enclosed
brood. However, by placing the remainder of the above eggs
in a cool spot, enclosed in a tin box, I delayed the appear-
ance of the larve until the maple buds were expanding.
This species is most obstinate in its determination to confine
itself to the one food-plant, refusing nearly-allied species, and
even willow,—so general an aliment in spring. ‘The young
lary would slightly nibble the leaves of plum, but inva-
variably died unless transferred to maple.—Jd.
Lepidoptera captured in Surrey.—| have taken during April,
May, and commencement of June, the following in Surrey :—
Omicronaria, Orbicularia, Genistea, Dolobraria, Alveolus,
Porata, Pendularia, Consignata, Decolorata, Lactearia,
Lunaria, Punctaria, Arbuti, Temerata, Taminata, Aureola,
174 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Tiliz, Bidentata, Prasinana, Strigilis, Marginata, Obeliscata,
Cherophyllata, Pulveraria, Punctaria, Silaceata, Abruptaria,
Strigillaria, Falcula, Unguicula, Spinula, Derivata. In March:
—Polychloros, Satellitia, Badiata, Croceago, Gracilis, Munda,
Pilosaria; pupze of Prodromaria and Miata. Addenda in
June:—Extersaria, AXnea, Mi, Piniaria, T. Rubi, Tages,
Arbuti. I have also taken the variety called Lavaterz in
Surrey, where the type of Malve is very plentiful; also
Piniaria and Undulataa—W. Thomas; Ray Lodge, Ling-
Jield, East Grinstead, June 13, 1872.
Larve of C. Villica on Furze.—Referring to the remarks
on this subject in June ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. 105), I
have also taken this season a considerable number of this
larve on the furze itself, and also on the grass, &c., growing
round the furze bushes on Dartford Brent. I think, however,
that the Rev. A. C. Hervey is wrong in saying that they feed
on the furze. My idea is that they simply crawl upon it, as
being a convenient place to bask on, their food being grass
and other plants surrounding the bushes.—Geo. W. Bird;
27, Hamilton Terrace, St. John’s Wood, N.W., June 6, 1872.
Eupithecia pusillata near Newcastle.—As it is not gene-
rally known that this pug is a northern species, I have much
pleasure in stating that I took a pair in May, 1871, near
Newcastle-on-Tyne.—C. Eales. ©
Aporia Crategi Larve.—I\ took a web of A. Crategi larve
in the winter off a young pear tree, and have just taken two
nests off young damson trees in our orchard, and one off a
hedge-row near.—W. J. Skelton.
Stauropus Fagi.—I\ had the pleasure of taking a very fair
specimen of 8. Fagi at Leith Hill, on the 9th of June. It was
at rest on the trunk of a pine tree, about six feet from the
ground.— FE. Munday ; 54, Driffield Road, Old Ford, Bow, E.,
June 12, 1872.
Grapta C-Album bred in July.—During the third week of
June | found a larva of Grapta C-Album nearly full fed, on
elm, in our garden hedge-row, which changed to the chrysalis
state the following week, and appeared in the imago yester-
day morning, July 10th. This specimen is of the second
variely mentioned in your ‘ British Butterflies. —Charles J.
Watkins; Kings Mills, Painswick, Gloucestershire, July
11, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 175
Rhodocera Rhamni near Carlisle.—I enclose you a speci-
men of G. Rhamni I took this morning near Orton, by
Carlisle. I think it is a new species here, for I have never
heard of its appearance before. I have found M. Artemis
larva very common here; and Orgyia Fascelina I have taken
about twenty of, on the heaths and on birch: it feeds well
on the hawthorn.—George Dawson ; 6, English Street, Car-
lisle, May 20, 1872.
Deilephila Livornica at Worcester —Last week, when
looking through the cabinet of a friend of mine residing in
Worcester, I noticed a fine specimen of Deilephila Livornica,
which was taken in a garden in that town in the month of
September, 1870. As he was unaware of your publication,
and quite an amateur collector, he failed to make known the
capture of so rare an insect, which I hope may now prove
interesting to you and the readers of your valuable little
work.—H. Stafford Gustard ; Newport, Monmouthshire,
May 20, 1872.
Lithosia quadra near Newcastle-on-Tyne.—\t may be
interesting to your readers to hear that a fine male specimen
of Lithosia quadra was taken on the town moor about a week
ago, and is now in my collection. It has, I believe, occurred
once before in this district, a specimen having been taken
not far from Sunderland.—J. C. Wassermann ; 20, Suwmmer-
hill Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Saturnia Carpini and Cucullia Scrophularie two seasons
in Pupa.—Noticing in the July number of the ‘ Entomo-
logist’ (Entom. vi. 130) the fact of Saturnia Carpini remaining
in the pupa state until the second season, I can myself vouch
for it, as | had six pupe in the season of 1870, four of which
emerged at the usual period; the other two produced fine
specimens the following season. ‘They were thrown aside as
useless with a number of other pupz, amongst which were
some discarded cocoons of Cucullia Scrophulariz, which, to
my astonishment, also produced four perfect insects the
second season.— W. G. Colbourne ; Bridge Street, Stratford-
upon- Avon, July 4, 1872.
Acronycta Alni bred.—Last autumn I recorded the capture
of two larve of A. Alni in the ‘ Entomologist.’ I now write to
say a most lovely specimen emerged from the pupa yesterday
afternoon, and is now displayed on my setting-board. I
176 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
thought this might be worthy of notice, as in your ‘ British
Moths’ you state the time of the appearance of the moth to
be June.—Samuel James Capper; Huyton Park, near
Liverpool, May 17, 1872.
Orthosia Ypsilon.—Having reared a considerable number
of this insect this year, and being too busy to kill them all as
they emerged, I had left some in a large cage together one
evening, and on going to see what was out, after dusk, was
surprised to see a pair 2 copuld: this has occurred three
times since, and | have obtained a few eggs. Is it not
unusual for Noctue to pair so readily in confinement?
There was no sponge of sugar or twig of the food-plant in the
cage. The eggs are laid under a transparent coating, like
those of S. Salicis, but differing in being orange in colour and
not white.—Bernard Lockyer.
Reproduction of Aphides in equable Warm Climates.—
Has this subject ever been attended to? In temperate
climates, with alternation of seasons warm and cold, it is
well known that the viviparous broods of Aphides succeed
each other so long as food continues plentiful and the tem-
perature permits of it; but the organic mode of reproduction
is brought to a stop by the scarcity of food and accession of
cold, when sexual individuals appear and eggs are again
laid. By means of artificial heat, however, Kyber kept up
the viviparous generations of Aphides for four years, when
organic reproduction seemed to be as active as at any
previous period; and hence what some consider to be the
repetitive prolongation of individual life would seem to be
capable of indefinite continuation, as with plants multiplied
by. layers or cuttings. Under the equable climate of at
least some equatorial regions, the conditions artificially
applied by Kyber might occur naturally, and I am unaware
that any observations have been made on the Aphides under
such circumstances.—Edward Blyth.
Calosoma Sychophanta near Penzance.—This rare British
beetle was reported to the ‘ Zoologist’? some years ago as
having occurred close by Penzance: that specimen was
found dead in a pathway. I have just seen a specimen
alive, which Mr. Vingoe’s son found yesterday near this
place, rather less in size than the first, but exactly resembling
it.— Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, July 11, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 108.] SEPTEMBER, MDCCCLXXII. [Price 64d.
Correspondence, Notes, Captures, Sc.
CLOVER-SEED WEEVIL.
a. Larva. b. Pupa. c. The perfect weevil: the short line between the
figures shows the length of the insect.
Clover-seed Weevil.—I forward you some heads of cow-
grass seed. Will you kindly tell me the name of the insect
that produces the maggot you will find in each head?
The mischief caused by it is very great; it will totally spoil
the crop of seed. I lost more than £100 by it last year, and
now find this year’s crop as bad; eight out of every ten
heads I believe are infected, consequently the loss this year
will be worse than last.—W. Herbert; Wyfield Manor,
Newbury.
[The “clover-seed weevil” appears but little known to
agriculturists, although the injurious character of its depreda-
tions is perhaps better known than that of any other of our
agricultural pests, the turnip-fly not excepted. It isa singular-
looking and extremely minute weevil, of the form represented
in the figure, which I have copied from Curtis’s ‘ Farm
Insects, p. 476: a, represents the larva; b, the pupa; and
c, the perfect insect or weevil. The earliest description with
VOL. VI. L
178 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
which I am acquainted is that published by Messrs. Mark-
wick, Marsham, and Kirby, at page 142 of the sixth volume
of the Linnean Transactions, in 1800. This account is so
complete that it leaves nothing to be desired. Mr. Kirby
calls it Apion flavifemoratum; but the older name of Apion
apricans of Herbst was adopted by the late Mr. Walton. I
may here mention, although perhaps rather a little digressing
from Mr. Herbert’s enquiry, that there are three species of
Apion which feed on the seed-pods of three species of clover,
each, so far as I have ascertained, confining its destructive
labours to a single species: Apion apricans or flavifemoratum
to the cultivated red clover, mentioned by Mr. Herbert
(Trifolium pratense); Apion flavipes to the white Dutch
clover, so common in pastures and on lawns (Trifolium
repens) ; and Apion assimile to the sulphur-coloured trefoil
(Trifolium ochroleucum), a species common iu pastures on
cretaceous soil, but not of much repute among farmers: the
last clover is rather conspicuous, occasionally by waysides,
from the persistency of its flowers, which turn brown. In the
collection of insects under my care are specimens of all these
insects, named by Walton, purposely for the information of
enquirers. With regard to the life-history of Apion apricans,
I fancy there are mistakes in its book- history, which it may
be desirable to point out as a caution against repetition: for
instance, it is commonly said to breed during the whole
year; others confine its injurious proceedings to the summer
months ; and some mention four months,—August, September,
October, and November. I believe this insect is very nearly
akin to man in its proceedings, and rather follows circumstances
than rules, times or seasons: thus, as boys gather nuts, and
farmers cut their wheat, when nuts and wheat are ripe, so do
these little weevils attack the clover-seed when it is ready
for them, without referring to the almanack. Another state-
ment is made by the older authors, and repeated on his own
authority by Mr. Curtis, which I am unable in any respect to
confirm, namely, that the grub producing this weevil has
legs. Mr. Curtis says:—“‘In the middle of November I
again examined the clover-heads, and found two larve curled
up, like those of the Melolonthide, with six distinct pectoral
legs.” If these larve had legs at all they would certainly
be thoracic, which Mr. Curtis evidently means by the term
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 179
pectoral; and they certainly would be six in number, as in
all insects that possess legs; but I have failed to find them
in any of the larve I have examined: they are all little white
maggots, without even the rudiments of limbs of any kind.
Having referred to Mr. Curtis’s work,—and [ consider it an
imperative duty to mention every author who has preceded
me,—I am under the necessity of eliminating, from the
account he has given of this minute insect, the following
statement, which he received from a Mr. William Trenchard,
of Sherborne. “I have a field of clover which has been
twice mown, and there is now a fine after-math. The part of
the field near the stack has been lately attacked by a small
black weevil, which advances in a semicircle, totally destroy-
ing every leaf, leaving only the fibre. I think there are on
some of the leaves as many as 100 or 150. Since last night
they have eaten nearly as much as would keep a sheep.”
This startling account I think can hardly apply to Apion
apricans, which is not black, and does not go to work in the
way described. It is no uncommon thing for authors thus to
intersperse in their works passages from previous writers,
which do not apply to the same insect. Mr. Curtis has,
however, done us good service by giving translations of
M. Guérin-Méneville’s valuable researches on the life-history
of Apion apricans, published in French, in 1842; and the
following passage, from M. Herpin’s ‘Memoir on Insects
injurious to Agriculture,’ indicates probable remedies.
“ Although it be not always in our power to arrest the multi-
plication of noxious insects, to destroy them, or to combat
them with success, the knowledge of the effects which they
produce on vegetation is, nevertheless, very important, since
it teaches us the true cause of an injury, which may be
attributed, but very incorrectly, to vague and inappreciable
circumstances, to deleterious conditions of the atmosphere,
or other inexplicable occurrences in vegetation. It shows us
the enemy we must attack, and of which we must carefully
study its habits, economy, and metamorphoses,”.&c. Years
previously, a writer in the ‘Entomological Magazine,’ vol. 1.
p- 33, had pointed out the necessity of this study almost in
the same words. M. Herpin has excellent observations on
the importance of encouraging the natural enemies of injurious
insects,—the minute parasitic Hymenoptera and Diptera;
180 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
but he fails entirely in showing us how this most desirable
object may be accomplished; nevertheless he adds the
following rational suggestions :—
“ Ist. Cut early, and feed-off while green, the clover crops.
which are known or supposed to be much infested by the
Apion.
“9nd. Carefully avoid allowing the clover crops to remain
more than two or three years in succession on the same
ground.
“3rd. Avoid also allowing the clover, which is much
infested by the weevil, to ripen or run to seed.
“ 4th. Alternate and vary the culture, as previously pointed
out.
“5th and lastly. We can produce the drying of the clover
by the German method, viz. fermentation, by making brown
hay (foin brun). The alcoholic vapours, the deleterious gases
which are formed during the fermentation of clover stacked
when green, the high temperature produced in the stack,
suffice to destroy the thousands of larve of the Apion, which
cannot endure so great a heat.”
In conclusion, | earnestly entreat those scientific farmers—
who are now so numerous, but who were hardly known and
totally unappreciated when, in 1832, 1 began my investiga-
tions of “ blight” so-called—to assist me in publishing in this
journal the result of their observations. ]
Gall of a Cecidomyia on Ground Ivy.—Will you kindly
oblige me by sending the name of the enclosed galls? They
are on the leaves of ground ivy, and, besides their general
interest, have a curious propensity of falling off when
touched, leaving a hole through the leaf.—Walier W.
Reeves ; Royal Microscopical Society, King’s College, July
22, 1872.
[Not recognizing these interesting productions, I forwarded
them to Mr. Albert Miiller, who has paid much attention to
these and similar productions, and he has kindly supplied
the following interesting information :—
“The enclosed little tubular bodies on Glechoma hede-
racea are galls, and produced by Cecidomyia bursaria of
Bremi. Each of these tubes is inhabited by one pale yellow
larva: when the larva is full fed the tube becomes detached
and drops to the ground, leaving in the leaf the well-defined,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 181
rounded hole, which you will notice. The gall-midge escapes
from the fallen tube within a few weeks, according to the
weather, and the female soon afterwards deposits her eggs in
the leaf. There are several generations each summer; the
last autumnal brood winters as larva in the fallen tube, the fly
appearing in April.— Albert Miiller; Eaton Cottage, South
Norwood, S.E., July 27, 1872.” |
Slug Larva of the Cherry.—Can you give me any informa-
tion as to the species and habits of the enclosed larve?
They literally occur by millions on all the cherry and plum
trees in a garden belonging to a friend of mine, and are fast
reducing them to a state of nudity. I shall be very much
obliged to you if you can suggest any method of getting rid
of them.—R. E. Brameld; Nottingham and Notts Bank,
Retford, August 8, 1872.
[It is the larva of Blennocampa Cerasi, a small sawfly.
During last summer, as well as the present, this pest has
been almost universal; and in answer to many inquiries and
complaints that have appeared in the ‘ Field’ newspaper,
“powdered hellebore” has been recommended as a cure ; but
I am not quite certain what is meant by this term; and
although chemists generally are willing to supply something
under the name, I think it is not always the same article.
Further, I would observe that the mode of application of this
or any other powder to a cherry-tree or a pear-tree (pears
are equally infested with these little slugs), requires practical
instructions, which have not hitherto been published, and I
confess I should not know how to commence operations. |
Gooseberry Grubs.—The Rev. H. A. is referred to the
preceding paragraph; and also to my paper on this insect
in the first volume of the ‘ Entomologist. —Hdward Newman.
Larve of Acronycta Aceris, dc.—The hairy larve, from
Christchurch, are those of Acronycta Aceris, described at
p- 251 of ‘ British Moths:’ the difference in colour is very
common; the variety with reddish fascicles is the usual
form. The green larva with yellow warts is that of the
emperor moth, Saturnia Carpini.—Jd.
Preservation of Colour in Dragon-flies (Entom. vi. p. 46).
—Many years ago I preserved the colour very fairly in such
dragon-flies as Libellula Virgo, as well as in grasshoppers, by
placing them in a tolerably hot oven immediately after they
182 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
had been set, the abdomen having been carefully emptied of
its contents, and filled with a slight roll of tissue-paper or
cotton-wool. Rapid desiccation appears to be the point in
treating all specimens of insects, &c., whose colours are
difficult to preserve.—[Rev.] O. Pickard-Cambridge ; Blox-
worth Rectory, Blandford, August 8, 1872.
Are there naturally Two Broods of Notodonta dictea ?—
Do you think that naturally there can be two broods of
N. dictzea in the year? I had some larve in June, which
changed to pupe early this month, and are now coming out
as imagos. In your book you say they are full fed in
September.—[Miss] E. Bethell; 54, High Street, Croydon,
July 29, 1872.
[This question was fully discussed in the ‘ Zoologist’ some
years back, without attaining any satisfactory solution. |
Notodonta dictea at the end of July.—Is it anything out
of the common way for Dictea to be coming out now?
About three weeks ago I received the larve from Miss
Bethell, which turned in a few days, and the moths began to
come out yesterday, the 27th July. I see there is another
out this morning. I expected them to have been in pup
all the winter.—W. J. Skelton.
Dipterous Parasites.—1 shall be glad if you will name the
enclosed Dipterous fly and pupa-case, which I have found to
be parasitic upon Saturnia Carpini; and also state if at all
unusual for Dipterous flies to be parasitic upon Lepidoptera.
I found the pupa by cutting open the cocoons of the
emperors which had not emerged in due time, and myself
and a friend have met with several this season.—W. D.
Roebuck ; 81 & 82, Briggate, Leeds, July 5, 1872.
[The flies are Anthomyia Larvarum. Dipterous parasites
onLepidopterous larve are very common. |
Sphinx Liguslri Feeding on Holly.—On Monday last I
had brought to me six of the above larve feeding on
variegated holly. Is not this unusual? I have found them
on privet, lilac, and ash, but never before on holly.—Arthur
W. Paul; Waltham Cross, August 14, 1872.
[I have received no less than five otber notes to the same
purport this year, all of which have been published, because
I think it unusual; no similar instances having come under
my notice during my experience in former years. |
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 183
Abraxas Grossulariata Infested by Parasites.—I notice
in this month’s ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. p. 172), Mr. J. R.
S. Clifford observes that the larve of Grossulariata are rarely
affected by any ichneumonideous parasite. My experience
with this species is just the opposite. I collected a large
number of both larve and pupe this year, bred fourteen
hundred imagos, and a host of ichneumons (of which latter
there were two kinds); of the larger size, but one emerged
from a larva, and formed into a burnt-brown chrysalis ; of the
latter. I obtained three fair varieties.—Edward F. Bisshopp ;
Museum Street, Ipswich, August 13, 1872.
Variety of Chelonia caja.—I had the good fortune to breed
a nice variety of Caja on the 15th July: all the parts
usually coloured red are of a bright yellow. Do you con-
sider this the commonest variety ?>—Jd.
[I have seen specimens of Caja with yellow hind wings;
but they are certainly uncommon. |
Variety of Limacodes Testudo.—I have a curious variety
of Testudo, a male, in which the colouring of the fore wings
is nearly as dark as the hind wings, consequently the lines
across the fore wings are scarcely perceptible; there is one
conspicuous yellow-brown mark on the inner margins of the
fore wings. I shall be very happy to lend you this specimen
for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist, if you think it worth doing
so.—Id.
[I am much obliged, but will not trouble you to send the
specimen ; the insect is too small to make a good figure. ]
Musquitoes.—As usual at this period of the year I am
assailed with specimens and enquiries whether they are not
“true musquitoes.” It is not only my pleasure, but my duty,
to give a courteous reply to every question. This is one of
the objects for which the ‘Entomologist’ was established ;
but there are some subjects, for instance, “ true musquitoes”
and “ poisonous caterpillars,” would become—like Mrs. Wilfer,
in ‘Our Mutual Friend’—a little wearing. In the first place,
I would remark that a “true musquito” is a noneuntity:
there is no such thing. Englishmen, whether travelling or
residing abroad, provide in their own persons a grateful
banquet to the nocturnal Diptera,—Culicide and Simuliida,
which are indigenous to the country through which they
pass, or in which they pitch their tents. ‘The bite of such
184 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
nocturnal Diptera, of whatever genus or species, is always
irritating, often painful, producing unsightly swellings, and
occasionally sore places. Englishmen call these musquito-
bites. Almost all European nations have their own vernacular,
name for them.—Edward Newman.
South American Wasp.—I send a few Hymenopterous
insects, which I got on the banks of the Rio San Pedro, a
tributary of the Rio de la Plata, and which I should be glad
to have the name of. They had a globular nest, which was
covered with blunt tubercles, and was of a bluish gray colour,
and of a texture resembling pasteboard. It was fastened on
a branch of a tree, the entrance to the nest being under-
neath.—John M. Campbell; 6, Carrick Street, Glasgow,
July 23, 1872.
[I am kindly informed by Mr. E. Smith that the little
wasps which accompanied this are Polybia scutellaris of
White; also that the species has been described, and a full
account of its economy given in the ‘Annals and Magazine
of Natural History.’ ]
Variety of the Larva of Smerinthus Populi.—As the other
day I obtained a larva of S. Populi that is not the same in
its markings as the common kind, I shall be much obliged if
you will kindly give me your opinion in the ‘ Entomologist.’
As far as the shagreen-like skin sprinkled with yellow, the
seven oblique yellowish stripes on each side, and the row of
red dots at the spiracles, are concerned, your description
agrees very well with it; but it has, in addition, eight rosy
spots on the back at each side: they are on the 2nd, 3rd, 5th,
6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th segments. The horn is also rosy
above and below. Is it a variety ? or will it produce a moth
of the common kind? Any information you can give me will
be very welcome.—George R. Dawson; Poundsworth, Drif-
Jield, August 13, 1872.
[I am perfectly familiar with the variety of Smerinthus
Populi which Mr. Dawson describes. Occasionally the rosy
spots, both in the upper series and those at the spiracles, are
very large, and might be called “ blotches:” such larve have
a most beautiful and abnormal appearance. 1 am not aware
that the moths produced from them exhibit any departure
from the ordinary colouring. |
Zygena Meliloti, &c., in the New Forest—When at
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 185
Brockenhurst, last July, [ was looking over some specimens
that had been captured by Mr. J. Gulliver, and specially
noticed a few very small burnets that I did not know, and
found they had been taken some two weeks before,—that
would have been the last week in June. A few days after I
took the species myself ¢m cop., and then felt certain that it
was a stranger to our list, and proves to be Zygena Meliloti.
Unfortunately I was too late to get good specimens, and only
secured three, and those not fine. I also took during my
stay,—Paphia var. Valezina, 'T’. subsequa, “TI. V. I.” var. of
Trrorella, Monacha, Cribrum, Mesomella, Strigula, Cristulalis,
Dipsacea, Oo, Turca, L. Comma, Plumaria, Immutata, Baju-
laria, Straminata, Emutaria (female, and have a few larvee
feeding), and others of general distribution. The season was
a bad one, and sugar useless the last fortnight—W. H.
Tugwell ; 3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich, S.E., Aug. 12, 1872.
Zygena Meliloti, §c., in the New Forest.—At the meeting
of the South London Entomological Society, held on
Wednesday, August 7th, Mr. Boden, of 127, Tooley Street,
exhibited two specimens of this species, which had been
captured (with others) by himself in the New Forest during
the present season. I find that I have two examples amongst
my series of Trifolii. I captured them on the 29th of June,
1871, when searching for A. caliginosa in its particular
locality,—Stubby Coppice,—and at the time considered them
merely diminutive specimens of TrifoliiiJ. P. Barrett,
Hon. Sec., South London Entomological Society.
Zygena Meliloti, a species new to Britain, discovered in
the New Forest, Hampshire-—While on an Entomological
visit to the New Forest, early in July, I took what Lat first
thought might be a diminutive specimen of Z. Trifolii; but on
the next day, taking two others exactly the same as the one
on the day preceding, I thought they might possibly be
something new. I have taken in all nine; and having
(through a friend) submitted them to Mr. Doubleday, of
Epping, for his judgment on them, he, without hesitation,
pronounced them to be Z. Meliloti,—a continental species,
but new to Britain. Harper; 37, Mansfield Street,
Kingsland Road.
[At my request Mr. Doubleday has kindly added the
particulars which follow :—
L 2
186 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
“The Zygena taken by Mr. Harper is certainly Meliloti,
a species which I always thought would occur in this
country. J have seen five specimens—four males and one
female. This species is smaller than Trifolii, and much more
slender, especially the antenne: the wings are more trans-
_ parent and more pointed; the black border of the inferior
wings is narrower; and the red spot in the centre of the
superior wings, near the costa, is always oval or oblong, not
round as in Trifolii, and it is rarely, if ever, united to the
spot below it. According to Esper, the larva feeds upon
various species of trefoil, and other small leguminous plants:
it is of a glaucous-green, pubescent, with the head and
anterior feet of a brownish black, the others are of the same
colour as the body; there is a longitudinal white line upon
the back, and each incision is marked with a yellow spot,
surmounted by a small black dot. The cocoon is elongated,
and of a pale yellow; the pupa yellowish white, with the back
and wing-cases brownish black.— Henry Doubleday.”)
Microgaster alvearius.—Last evening, as a great-nephew
of mine, Thomas Bell Salter, was looking into a dense shrub
of Thuja aurea, he found, on a dry twig in the middle of the
shrub, a caterpillar of one of the Geometride, placed over a
bunch of eggs fixed to the twig, in the position shown
a. Geometer larva. b. Mass of parasites in pupa. c. Twig to which the
mass is attached.
in the enclosed drawing. On looking further we found
numbers of similar larve, every one placed, in the same
position, over a similar bunch of eggs. As the claspers
were In every case firmly fixed on to the twig, and the head
invariably bent down in contact with the covering of the
eggs, I imagined that they were eating them, but I cannot
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 187
positively say that I saw them in the act of doing so. I send
you several specimens; and if in the transit by post the
caterpillars may be displaced, I doubt not they will soon
resume their position, when left at liberty and rest. Should
the fact be either new or interesting, perhaps.you will give it
a place in the ‘ Entomologist;” and will you kindly inform
me of the names, both of the caterpillar and of the insect to
which the eggs belong.— Thomas Bell; The Wakes,
Selborne, Alton, Hants, July 26, 1872.
(The supposed eggs are the pupe of Microgaster alvearius,
a minute ichneumonideous insect, so named from the
extreme similarity to a honey-comb of the compactly
agglutinated mass of pupz: after a few days the perfect
ichneumons made their appearance; most of them escaped,
and a few only have been preserved. Itis rather singular that
every one of the larve should have been thus attacked: not
one was found which had escaped the parasite; and the
larve found in connexion with the mass of parasites, in the
position Mr. Bell has indicated in the pencil-sketch given
opposite, were so shrivelled that I could not decide upon the
species. In this difficulty,—and seeing, moreover, that I was
unacquainted with any Lepidopteron feeding on Thuja
aurea—I sent two of them to Mr. Doubleday, who is unable
to help me. Mr. Buckler has also seen them, and suggests
they may be the larve of Odontoptera bidentata, although he
finds no trace of the supplementary claspers which characterize
that species. The name of the larva must, therefore, stand
over for future investigation. It is possibly a species new
to this country, introduced with the beautiful Thuja, now so
great a favourite. |
Captures during April, May, and June, 1872 :—K. versi-
color. March 16th and April 16th and 18th. Bred three
females from larve reared from eggs.
A. pictaria. March 27th, 28th and 30th. Bred three from
larve, on blackthorn, in July, at Loughton.
C. temeraria. April 15th to May Sth. Bred thirteen
beautiful specimens from larve, on blackthorn, at Loughton.
N. pulveraria. April 22nd to 27th. Three very fine from
larve, on hawthorn, at Loughton, in September.
N. chaonia. April 22nd and 30th. Bred two, from larve
obtained at Loughton in 1870.
188 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
N. trepida. May 5th. Bred one fine male from an egg,
found on an oak at Loughton in May.
S. lunaria. May 12th. Bred one from a larva obtained
at Loughton.
At Loughton, on the 15th of June, [ met with G. obtu-
sana, S. puncticostana and Redimitana, and a few larve of
S. Achatana; one larva of A. flexula was beat out of
Prunus spinosa, bred on the Ist of July; and the larve of
P. cytisaria, G. albipalpella, and C. genistecolella, were
comparatively common on Genista tinctoria.
At Crohamhurst, near Croydon, in the evening of the 18th
of June, I took P. rugosana and E. lobella, and P. dera-
sana were common amongst Rhamnus catharticus, and the
pretty little A. trisignella were flying in numbers along the
hedges, as were also E. cygnipennella. Gelechia tricolorella
and maculella, and Coleophora solitariella: I have bred
these three species from Stellaria holostea, the latter in
some numbers.
Eupecilia udana. I have great pleasure in recording the
capture of thirty specimens of this local insect on Hackney
Marsh, flying in the evening, at the end of May, over the
water plantain (Alisma plantago), in the stems of which the
larve feed.
Ephippiphora nigricostana. On the 20th of June I took
several of this insect, at Loughton, flying round some bushes,
amongst which its food-plants (Stachys sylvatica) were
growing.
Carpocapsa splendana. I bred this on the 6th of June,
from larve collected in 1870.—W. Machin.
L. Littoralis.—1 had an idea that the occurrence of this
species on the coast of Hampshire in suitable localities was a
well-known fact. I do not take the insect, for the simple
reason that I seldom visit the localities where it is to be met
with. Several years ago I recollect taking it in numbers in
the neighbourhood of Mudeford, when on an Entomological
trip thither with my lamented friend the late Captain W. T.
Russell; and on a subsequent visit to his house I saw rows
of the insect in his duplicate-box, so I suspect he found it
somewhat commonly. My friends, Messrs. Taylor and Stock,
have also taken the species in the same neighbourhood at a
much more recent date.— G. B. Corbin.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 189
Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) and Lepi-
doptera.—1 trust it will not be deemed superfluous if I
remind the readers of the ‘ Entomologist,’ that the blossoms
of this plant are not to be despised. If visited in the day-
time a vast number of insects of several different orders will
be found frequenting it, especially hive-bees. A few seasons
ago I remember counting upwards of a dozen different
species of butterflies upon a hedge of hemp agrimony in full
bloom; and in the evening a number of moths visited the
same flowers; and, amongst others, I took the following
species: —M. rubiginata, G. papilionaria, L. griseola,
L. stramineola, C. graminis, and E. crocealis. There is
nothing very rare, | own, in the foregoing short list of
captures, but their occurrence is a sufficient guarantee of the
attractive qualities of the plant in question, and a proof that
an inspection of it is not altogether a waste of time.—G. B.
Corbin.
Teniocampa opima.—Through the kindness of my
friends, the Rev. T. W. Daltry and Mr. Porritt, I became
the possessor of eggs of this species, with a recommendation
to feed the larve on Rosa spinosissima. That plant, how-
ever, is not found in this immediate neighbourhood, so I put
the young larve upon sallow, and they throve wonderfully
well and rapidly, spinning the leaves together, and feeding in
company in the web during the earlier part of their life, in
accordance, I believe, with the habits of the genus to which
it belongs. I also tried the larve on ragwort, which they ate,
but not so readily as sallow. I cannot recollect rearing any
species from the egg which throve better or looked healthier
than these Opima larve did; and it was a very interesting
sight to see numbers of the almost full-grown larve either
feeding upon the sallow or stretched along the mid-rib of the
leaf. A change, however, came over the whole—hitherto
prosperous—community at this particular stage of their
existence, and numbers died without the least apparent
cause. I tried change of food, and even obtained the recom-
mended Rosa spinosissima from a distance, but all without
success; the larve still died off most miserably as they
attained maturity, and I believe I have not a half dozen
pupe from the whole number of larve which fed up. What
is the experience of other collectors with regard to this
190 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
species? Early in June I found a “nest” of young larve of
T. miniosa, on an oak branch in the New Forest, and fed
them up, but quite nine-tenths of them were ichneumoned ;
that, however, could not have been the case with Opima.
Possibly the removal of Opima from its home in the north, to
a more southern latitude, might have had an effect upon its
development. I have often found that insects are difficult to
rear if removed far from their birthplace ; but in no previous
case has it been more fully illustrated than with the species
now under consideration. The subject of the so-called
localization of insects is, I think, often overlooked by a
majority of us.—G. B. Corbin.
Imago of Smerinthus Populi emerging in July.—On the
27th of April last I captured a pair of the Smerinthus
Populi, and from eggs laid by the female I reared some very
fine larve. The latter went down from about the 17th to
24th ult., and, from the pup, two perfect insects emerged on
the 8th inst., since followed by some thirty more, most of
them being fine specimens. I do not know whether this is
unusual, but should be glad to learn, as I have hitherto
always found these moths remain in the pupa state during the
winter.—H. W. Craik; 3, Queen’s Terrace, Surbiton, July
15, 1872.
Ptinus Fur settling on Water.—Observing the peculiar
colour and flight of an insect in the bright early sun, in my
bedroom, | approached it with a glass of water, and as it
made one of its rapid falls I placed the glass in the line, and
caught the creature in the water. It did not seem to be
alarmed; and in the course of a minute or so, standing on
the surface of the water, it raised its wing-coverts, spread its
wings, and rose from the water, master of the situation. It
was the small brown beetle which is too often bred in old
furniture, in the inferior wood used out of sight.—W. H.
Wayne; Much Wenlock, July 16, 1872.
Liparis dispar: Larva feeding at large.—Considerable
doubts having, I believe, been lately expressed as to the
right of Liparis dispar to be still considered a British insect,
a record of the capture of the larva feeding at large may be
of value. I took one on a fruit-tree in my garden here, in
June: the moth (a female) emerged on the 25th of July.—
Henry D. Greville; Southfields, Wandsworth, July 27, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 191
Epione vespertaria near York.—I took fifty specimens of
E. vespertaria the other day at the locale, six miles from
York. It flies only on a small piece of common amongst
dwarf sallow, on which alone the larva feeds.—J. S. Wesley ;
Wetherby, Tadcaster.
Heliothis dipsaceus in Somersetshire-—Having read the
description of Heliothis dipsaceus in your ‘ Illustrated British
Moths,’ and finding that only the counties of Dorsetshire,
Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, and Suffolk, are mentioned as
localities where it has been captured, I thought it might
interest you to know that I took a very fair specimen at light,
at about 1] p.m. on Tuesday last, July 23rd. I have carefully
read your description of it, and have no doubt that I am
correct, as the insect is very striking and unusual. Somer-
setshire may now, | hope, be included in the list of localities.
—H. W. P. Hoskins; Hinton St. George, Somerset, July
25, 1872.
Chortodes Bondii.—Having spent a few weeks in the
neighbourhood of Folkestone, and having had an opportunity
of capturing the above obscure species, I think I may venture
to give a short account of its habits, localities, &c. The
place where they are caught is a very singular one for a moth,
being a small piece of the side of the path leading from the
town up to the promenades called the Lees. About half-way
up this path there is an indenture with a seat placed, and on
this spot they abound. They flew exclusively between half-
past eight and nine o’clock, and their flight was rapid,
threading their way amongst the grass, something like the
way I should fancy Chareas Graminis would fly. There
were a few brambles about the spot, and a great quantity of
what looked like cabbages run to seed, with yellow flowers ;
but the most likely thing on which the caterpillar might have
fed was a little bed of wild rhubarb just on the spot. A
person might, by just standing in one place, catch any
number as they flew past. The moth was very like the figure
at page 276 of ‘ British Moths;’ but the black spots on the
hind margin were, in many specimens, much fainter, and in
some entirely wanting. ‘The locality above mentioned was a
most public one, both on account of its being the most con-
venient way to the town, and also to the beach, without going
down the one hundred and thirty steps.—Edward B. Poul-
ton; Victoria Villa, Reading.
192 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Epithecia Fravinata.—I have taken E. Fraxinata this
year. I believe this is the first record of its occurring here.
—E. F. Bisshopp ; Museum Street, Ipswich.
Argynnis Lathonia at Canterbury.—l have sent a speci-
men of Lathonia alive for you to see, one of four which I took
yesterday, August 4th, at Swarling Downs, the same place
where I took the species in 1868, which appeared to have been
doubted by many. I took the four specimens off the viper’s
bugloss, all in about five minutes: it was mizzling rain at the
time. There are three very fine ones out of the four.—G.
Parry; Church Street, St. Paul’s, Canterbury, August 5,
1872.
Argynnis Lathonia at Felixstow.—Whilst walking along
the coast of Suffolk, at Felixstow, a few miles north of
Harwich, on Friday, the 26th inst., I found lying dead on the
shore a specimen of the Queen of Spain fritillary (Argynnis
Lathonia). It is perfect in shape, and had antennz and legs
complete, but is slightly rabbed on the upper side. There
had been a strong east wind all night, so probably it was
blown across from the Continent.—Hdward Grubb ; Sudbury,
July 3, 1872:
Vanessa Antiopa near Cosham.—I had the pleasure ot
seeing a fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa, taken near here,
on July 29th, 1372, by a Mr. Tranter, a collector, from
Portsmouth.—George Taylor; Broomfield, near Cosham,
Hants.
Vanessa Antiopa at Scarborough.—A fine specimen of
Vanessa Antiopa was captured here this morning. It is a
little rubbed at the edges of the wings, but otherwise in
perfect condition. The marginal band is of the pale cream-
colour, usually considered typical of British specimens.—J.
H. Rowntree; Scarborough, August 22, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa in London.—I had the pleasure to exhibit
at our Society, the Haggerstone, last night, a splendid speci-
men of Antiopa, caught the day before: it flew in at an open
window near Euston Square.—J. Moore; 51, Chapel Street,
Pentonville, August 23, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa at Stamford.—On the 23rd August I
saw a fine specimen of this rare butterfly, about a mile from
the town of Stamford, just outside the boundary of Burleigh
Park. I,had an excellent view of the beautiful insect, which
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 193
was only flying a few feet above the ground, and was thus
able to identify it with certainty.—J. H. Gurney.
Vanessa Antiopa at Barnsley.—On Wednesday, the 21st
inst., a friend of mine took a beautiful fresh specimen of
V. Antiopa at rest on a manure heap. It has never occurred
here before, so I thought it worth recording in the ‘ Entomo-
logist.—John Harrison; 7, Victoria Bridge, Barnsley,
August 23, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa in Essex.—l had the pleasure of seeing
a fine specimen of Antiopa this morning, at Hockley: there
can be no mistake as to its identity, as twice it flew quite
close to me.—H. A. Fitch; Down Hall, Rayleigh, August
24, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa at Sheerness.—Mr. Joseph West, ship-
wright, of Mile Town, Sheerness, captured yesterday (August
25th), in a wood near Rochester, a very fine specimen of
Vanessa Antiopa, which is now in my possession.—A. B.
Farn; 3, Parliament Street, London, S.W., Aug. 26, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa at Tunbridge Wells.—Our boys have
seen two specimens of Vanessa Antiopa: they had no net;
and although one of the butterflies was three times under a
net it eventually escaped.—S. Tindall; Hollyshaw, Tun-
bridge Wells, August 26, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa at Newcastle—Mr. Matthew Bowman
had a very fair specimen of this butterfly brought to him on
the 24th August. It was taken two miles east of Gateshead.
V. Io, which rarely occurs here, has also been taken.—W.
Johnston ; August 26, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa at Shirley—A number of Vanessa
Antiopa were seen at Shirley, on Sunday, 25th August:
Mr. C. J. Biggs took one, Mr. Laite one, and Mr. J. Moore
one; Mr. Bryant saw three; and others were observed on the
wing. Mr. Biggs kindly showed me his capture, while
still alive.—Edward Newman.
Pieris Daplidice near Christchurch.—I had the gratifica-
tion of taking a female specimen of Daplidice, at Hengisbury
Head, near Christchurch, on the 13th of August. The
margins of the wings are perfect, but the insect has a washed-
out look, which is probably owing to its having made the
passage during the south-westerly storms prevalent at that
time.—[Rev.] A. C. Hervey; Pokesdown.
194 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Pieris Daplidice near Faversham.—I have great pleasure
in reporting the capture, by my daughter, of a male Daplidice,
on 10th July, at a quarter to 4 P.M., at the edge of a saintfoin
field, just outside Badging Wood, about half a mile from my
vicarage.—[ Rev.| B. S. Malden ; Sheldwich Vicarage, Faver-
sham, August 12, 1872.
Pieris Daplidice at Eastbourne.—On Friday, 16th August,
I caught here, on some slopes under Beachy Head, seven
specimens of Pieris Daplidice; on the day following, Satur-
day, I caught one more: all but one of them are perfect
specimens. I should feel much obliged if you would give me
your opinion as to whether they breed here, or have been
blown across the Channel. I have never heard of so many as
eight of these butterflies being caught at one spot on the
English coast: they were all caught within a hundred yards
of each other. One peculiar part of it is, that the whole
eight are males. For some days before I caught them the
wind had been blowing strongly from the north-east: I think
the specimens are too perfect to have gone through such a
rough passage.—E. Simpson; 28, Marine Parade, East-
bourne, August 18, 1872.
[I have already expressed such grave doubts as to
Daplidice breeding in this country, that I think it best to
refer my correspondent to my last published observations,
‘British Butterflies, p. 159. ]
Pieris Daplidice on Portsdown Hill.—l\ have taken to-day,
August 24, 1872, a nice specimen of Pieris Daplidice, by
appearance only just out, on Portsdown Hill, near the South-
wick Fort. The food-plant, the wild mignonette, grows near
there; and I should not think it is a blown-over specimen
from the other side of the Channel.—George Taylor ; Broom-
field, near Cosham, Hants, August 24, 1872.
Sphing Ligustri feeding on Holly.—Is not holly rather an
unusual food for S. Ligustri? I took a few of the larve last
week feeding on a holly-hedge, and have put them on a tree
of the same kind in the garden, on which they continue to
feed. I have frequently taken them off Laurustinus.—W.
J. Skelion; The Bounds, Herne Hill, near Faversham,
Kent, July 29, 1872.
Zeuzera Atsculi.—A short time since I destroyed some of
the larve of the above, feeding in some apple and pear trees
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 195
in a friend’s garden, by inserting a piece of wire in the holes
made by them; a strip of whalebone would do better.—J.
Russell.
Is the Larva of Cossus a Cannibal ?—I shall be much
obliged if you will inform me, through the ‘ Entomologist, if
it is usual for larvee of C. Ligniperda to devour one another
when in captivity. I had fifteen, found in willow, which I
kept all together in a tin box: twelve were about three-parts
grown; the others much smaller. I have now three remain-
ing, nothing but the heads of the others being left. Seven
large beetle-grubs, kept in the wood with them, were also
eaten.— [ Miss] F. H. Woolward ; Belton Rectory, Grantham,
July 20, 1872.
{I am not aware of any similar instance of cannibalism in
Cossus having been recorded.]
Lithosia quadra at Newcastle——Since I wrote to you
mentioning the capture of L. quadra, near the town, I have
myself had the luck to capture a fine male close to my
garden-gate. As I live near a square, fully a quarter of a mile
inside the town, I am rather astonished at finding it there,
particularly as no one has caught any more in this neigh-
bourhood.—J. C. Wassermann; 20, Summerhill Terrace,
Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Lithosia quadra.—Three specimens of L. quadra were
taken at Highgate the last week in July. My brother secured
one, a fine male: it flew into the ‘ Whittington Stone’ public-
house, on Highgate Hill. The others were taken on a wall
near the Archway.—J. Russell.
C. Villica.—As a correspondent in the July number seems
to doubt my statement in the June number, relative to
Villica feeding on furze, I beg to assure him that I was not
mistaken. I bred a quantity of Villica this year, and fed them
on nothing but young shoots of furze. They throve on it so
well that | had imagos out, before some Villica larve a friend
had, and was giving the ordinary food-plant to, underwent
pupation.—[ Rev.] A. C. Hervey ; Pokesdown.
Glabraria, Sinuata and Scolopacina at West Looe,
Cornwall.—Within the last month I have taken in this
neighbourhood single specimens of Glabraria, Sinuata and
Scolopacina.—Nathaniel Hearle; West Looe, Cornwall,
August 19, 1872.
196 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Captures in the New Forest, July 14th to 2\st.—
Encouraged by the success of last season, I visited this well-
known locality for Lepidoptera ; but how different would have
been my impression if this had been my first visit! The
swarms of Diurni which made the day-collecting of last
season so pleasant were reduced to individuals; the perse-
veringly applied and cunningly concocted sugar “ wasted its
fragrance on the desert air;” so that the day had to be
devoted to the more remunerative pursuit of A. caliginosa,
A. immutata, H. auroraria, and other less local species, the
evening’s mothing being perhaps the most interesting, the
following flying on heath at dusk :—A. plumaria, though more
freely in the sun; G. obscurata, larger and darker than usual;
A. straminata, a few in fine condition occurring at wide
distances apart. A small tract of swamp produced A. emu-
taria flying over rushes, L. straminea, N. despecta, and many
commoner species, but nothing to make up for the absence
of last year’s splendid sugaring.—W. England Davis.
Phycis Davisellus.—1 obtained this species again in its
habitat of last year (the Isle of Wight), on the 18th of July:
a search for the food resulted in the discovery of the larva
with its parasite. I have since bred a few specimens of both
species.—Id.
Melanthia ocellata double-brooded.—On the 12th of June,
1872, I captured a female of this insect, and obtained from
her several eggs: these hatched on the 26th June, fed up on
Galium verum, and changed about the 27th July. The
perfect insect emerged on the 6th of August, and from a
female I have another supply of eggs. I shall be glad to
know from any of your correspondents if they have noted this
insect to be double-brooded.—W. D. Cansdale; White
House, Witham, August 12, 1872.
Melanthia albicillata at Darenth: Deilephila livornica at
Sydenham.—I took Melanthia albicillata in Darenth Wood
last week. In August, 1870, I also took Deilephila livornica
flying in our garden at Sydenham.—R. D. Etheridge; 59,
Sydenham Park, Sydenham, S.E., August 9, 1872.
Ptilophora plumigera fed on Sycamore.—It may interest
your correspondent Mr. J. R. S. Clifford (Entom. p. 173) to
know that this season | reared the larve of Ptilophora plu-
migera, from the egg to full growth, on sycamore.— G. T.
Porritt; Huddersfield, August 16, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 197
Dicranura furcula double-brooded.—Last month J sent
you a paper concerning Dictzea coming out now from this
year’s larve; I have now to record the same thing with
D. furcula. I obtained eggs from moths bred in-doors this
spring, which hatched a full month sooner than they do in
their wild state. The larve fed up rather fast, and yesterday
(August 18th) a male moth came out, and of the wild larve
the first went to pupa yesterday. Have you ever known
them to be double-brooded '—W. J. Skelton; The Bounds,
Herne Hill, Faversham.
£99 Parasites.—I enclose you a leaf of sallow, on which
you will find the remains of a batch of eggs of some moth,
I believe. I also enclose a lot of small flies which came out
of them. I suppose them to be egg-ichneumons. Are they
very common, and what are they ?—Jd.
(They are minute egg-parasites, I believe of the genus
Mymar.]
Acronycta Alni and Stauropus Fagi.—On the 29th July
last I had the pleasure of taking a full-fed larva of Acronycta
Alni on a fence at Lyndhurst, and the day previous I beat
two larve of S. Fagi, one off sallow and the other off oak.—
J. E. Wilbey; 49, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, N.W.,
July 17, 1872.
Acronycta Alni.—While on a visit, two years ago, to a
relative in Warwickshire, whose place is on the banks of the
Stour, and where alder is pretty abundant, I found a larva of
Acronycta Alni, which duly appeared at the end of May, the
next year. Last month I was again visiting my relation,
and I was fortunate in taking another larva, not thirty
yards from the place where I took the former. But apart
from registering the capture, I wish to bear tribute to
the valuable hint given in your ‘British Moths’ as to the
habit of this larva of burrowing, for “ turning” purposes, into
a pithy stem. My larva was very disquieted for two days,
walking apparently purposely about, and getting somewhat
thinner with the exercise ; but in an hour after an old bit of
elder-stem was introduced to his notice, he availed himself of
the opportunity, and quickly disappeared therein, where he
now lies, in great hopes, on my part, of his resurrection in
June or thereabouts next year. 1 cannot but make a remark
on your statement (‘ British Moths,’ p. 254) that “The cater-
198 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
pillar does not exhibit any symptoms of uneasiness when
handled,” whereas I never saw in any caterpillars such pettish,
jerking, affronted manners as in the only two (as above) I
have ever taken.—[ Rev.| Windsor Hambrough ; Great Mal-
vern, August 1, 1872.
Acronycta Alni.—On the 29th of last month (July) I found
the caterpillar of Acronycta Alni feeding on an alder in a
meadow near here: the dorsal markings are very fully deve-
loped on all the segments, being of a rich yellow colour,
bordered with pale canary.—[Miss] Ada Steele Perkins ;
Ashgrove, Overton, Flintshire, August 2, 1872.
Cucullia Lychnitis and C. Asteris.—In the month of July,
1870, I collected a few larve of Cucullia Lychnitis, at Box-
hill, and also at Riddlesdown. Several specimens emerged
the early part of June, 1871; and in May, 1872, one specimen
emerged from pupa; and on examining some other cocoons,
I found several pup with the imago perfectly formed,—but
dead. Ihave now Cucullia Asteris lying over apparently in
the same way, having bred seven specimens early in June,
1872, from larve collected at Darenth in August, 1871.
I believe itis not uncommon for the species of Cucullia to so
lay over.—James Bryant ; 63, Old Broad Street, Aug. 1872.
Larve of Mamestra Persicarie.—M. Persicarie is again
abundant in the larva state this autumn ; almost more so than
it was last season. I have noticed one or two points in the
habits of this larva which I think may be of interest to some
of the readers of this journal. This year I began to search
for them early, as I found last autumn that a large proportion
of full-fed ones were ichneumoned. I find them especially
attached to mint, off two or three plants of which, in our
garden, I have taken about fifty or sixty. They rest by day,
always on the under side of the leaves, generally along the
midrib, extended at full length. When disturbed they first
elevate their anterior segments into an arched form; and if
the annoyance be continued let go their hold, and hang
suspended by a thread (a habit I do not recollect noticing in
any other Noctua larva). The position they hang in is rather
peculiar, their bodies being rolled into a ring, but the head
not held on the same plane as the rest of the body, but
elevated in the centre of the coil. In this position they hang
till the disturbance is over, when they quickly draw them-
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 199
selves up. If they are shaken to the ground they almost
immediately unroll themselves, and begin crawling with some
rapidity up the nearest stem of the food-plant. I have only
noticed these habits in the young larva; the habits of the
full-fed larva are much the same as those of other Noctue.
I think that it naturally only feeds by night, and it is then
that the greatest number can be taken. The larve hold very
tightly with their claspers, and it requires a good hard shake
to dislodge them.—B. Lockyer ; 179, Camden Road, London,
N.W., August 18, 1872.
Eremobia ochroleuca at Ramsgate.—I have the pleasure
to inform you that during a short stay at Ramsgate, this
month, I have taken about thirty specimens (the majority in
excellent condition) of Eremobia ochroleuca. They were all
taken at rest on a species of cornflower, growing at the edge
of the cliff at Pegwell Bay. This locality is not mentioned
in your ‘ British Moths’.—H. Wiitich ; 6, Lansdown Cot-
tages, Dalston, August 15, 1872.
Phycis Davisellus in the New Forest.—I took a very fine
male specimen of Davisellus in the New Forest, at the eve of
coming away. I have no doubt it will turn up plentifully if
looked for on heaths.—John Moore; 51, Chapel Street,
Pentonviile.
Acentropus niveus.—A specimen of this insect was captured
by Mr. Cowley in the Asylum Road, Peckham, at the end of
July, and exhibited by him at the South London Entomolo-
gical Society. It was seen flying round a lamp in the
window of a public-house, and attracted attention by its rapid
and curious flight. The specimen died soon after its cap-
ture; and as this agrees with the limited experience I have
had of Niveus, I am induced to ask the question: “‘ How long
will Niveus survive away from its native pond?”—J. P.
Barrett, Hon. Sec. South London Entomological Society.
Abundance of Adela Degeerella.—This species was parti-
cularly plentiful this year in the woods and copses near
Gravesend and Dartford, in Kent, and continued upon the
wing for a longer time than usual, for it is a species which
soon gets injured, and, being thus deprived of its power of
flight, it falls a prey to spiders, and other destroyers of the
smaller moths. JI attribute this speedy injury to the circum-
stance that Degeerella flies about by day in all weathers:
200 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
at the beginning of June, on days when smart showers fell
and a keen north-east wind blew in gusts, these insects were
about, when most of the Lepidoptera were hidden under the
leaves or amongst the grass. Some imagos were out the last
week in May, and fresh specimens were still appearing up to
the 15th of June, when the species ceased to be under my
observation. Venilia maculata, which was later in emergence
than its average, was numerous about the same time as
Degeerella; but this Geometer had finished its career by the
middle of June.—J. R. S. Clifford; 59, Robert Street,
Chelsea, July 18, 1872.
Habits of Bombyx neustria.—The larve of this species
can hardly be said to be more than semi-gregarious in their
habits. From one batch of eggs it will often be found that
several parties have originated, and these are not united by
any close band of connexion, for stragglers will be found of
various ages, though they seem to prefer to form a web in
common until they have undergone the last ecdysis. No
irritating effect is produced by the hairs of these larve, so far
as I can ascertain, nor does the pulverulent matter interwoven
in the cocoon affect the human skin. B. neustria has gradually
become more common in various places near London; and it
is very noticeable that wherever this species is pretty plentiful
Liparis auriflua is less abundant on the hawthorn.—Jd.
On Hunting for Larve.—lIt is no wonder that some ento-
mologists do not care to pursue the plan of obtaining larve
by beating or sweeping the foliage, for though it yields an
abundant, but very miscellaneous, return, it cuts us off from
observing the habits of the species we thus obtain, and many
objects of interest we entirely miss. Moreover, it is not a
pleasant reflection that, as the inevitable result of the appli-
cation of the beating-stick, you leave behind, as you pass
along the hedges or wood “ridings,” a trail of “squashed”
insects of all sorts. To those who hunt by eye and hand, it
is some assistance to watch the proceedings of parasitic
Ichneumons belonging to the Hymenopterous order, for
wherever these are seen running rapidly upon the leaves, or
along the twigs, it is most probable that Lepidopterous larvee
are not far off. The Diptera which attack larve are not so
frequently to be noticed in their operations, as they usually
poise themselves in the air until they descend to oviposit
on a victim.—Id.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No.109] °~ OCTOBER, MDCCCLXXIL. [Price 6d.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francts WALKER, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 132.)
TRIGONODERUS OBSCURUS.
Trigonoderus obscurus, Lelaps Sadales, and Notanisus
versicolor, are here represented, and illustrate the two nearly-
allied families Cleonymide and Eupelmide, which are
remarkable by the comparative great size of some of the
species, and by their occasionally having characters which
especially belong to other families of Chalcidiew. In fewness
of species and less frequent occurrence they contrast strongly
with the Pteromalide and the Encyrtide, between which
they are the transition. Several species of Trigonoderus
inhabit England: they may be found beneath trees, and it is
probable that they, like Cleonymus and Calosoter, are
VOL. VI. M
202 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
parasites of wood-eating insects. Lelaps is an exotic genus.
Notanisus versicolor is distinguished by the elegance of its
NOTANISUS VERSICOLOR.
form and by its several bright colours: it is the only known
species of the genus, and I have seen only one specimen,
which I found near the Mediterranean in South France.
FRANCIS WALKER.
:
5
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 203
Entomological Notes from South Australia.
By H. Ramsay Cox, Esq.
When I sailed for South Australia in the autumn of 1869,
T was in hopes that by devoting all my time to Entomology I
should be rewarded by some fine butterflies, notwithstanding
the advice of many friends, that “no butterflies in South
Australia were worth going for.” 1 have worked hard ail the
time, and dear experience has proved my friends’ advice to
be correct, and that my sanguine hopes were not to be
realized. So many times in England collectors have spoken
most disparagingly of various localities, which, when well
worked by me, have yielded many good species, but the case
of South Australia is sadly different.
During my stay there I only observed sixteen or seventeen
different species. Of those occurring in Europe, Danais
Chrysippus was pretty common (when I first landed) in the
streets of Adelaide, also in the suburbs, and as far as fifteen
miles up the country. My nets, &c., being still on board the
“ Collingrove,” I could only capture two or three poor speci-
mens; feeling confident of seeing it the following season,
this did not much trouble me. Imagine my disappointment
at only seeing one specimen during the whole of that next
season, although I rode many hundred miles in search of
Chrysippus. Fortunately, on the homeward route, we put in
at St. Helena, where we found it in profusion, and of course
made the best use of the few hours we were allowed ashore
in the way of capturing a few specimens. These were all
larger than the South Australian ones, and darker in colour.
The herbage of the island consists chiefly of cactus, which
grow by thousands: it is on these that Chrysippus delights
to sport, making their capture very often painful, on account
of the spiteful thorns with which the plants are covered. P.
Cardui (smaller than the English type) and Lampides Beetica
were abundant; the latter, especially, in lanes, near Napo-
leon’s tomb. These, and one other species I missed, being
all the butterflies I saw, it being early winter when we were
on the island.
But to return to Australia. P. Cardui was abundant every-
where: in fact, after hybernation, it becomes as great a pest
to the collector as Camptogramma bilineata is in England,
204 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
It is somewhat redder and smaller than the English type, and
the central row of black spots in the hind wing has very large
purple centres; its habits are also different: instead of
delighting in “ waste places,” it prefers shady spots, flying
among trees, often resembling Apatura Iris in its habits,
Not including Micro-Lepidoptera, we only captured about
twenty species of Heterocera, mostly very dingy, insignificant-
looking things. The English species were Orgyia auriflua,
S. hybridalis, A. pinguinalis and farinalis; also one speci-
men of Crambus hortuellus, captured by my friend Mr.
Timms, of Blakiston. Experience has proved to me that in
England the notion of Noctuze not coming well to sugar
when the moon is shining is a delusion; but in South
Australia the theory holds very good, doubtless owing to
the intensely dazzling brilliancy with which she shines
there.
Of Coleoptera I took very few species. Of scorpions,
snakes, and centipedes, there was no lack, the latter being
unpleasantly common, frequently finding their way into
one’s bed, boots, &c. Three dragon-flies and a few large
Mantis made up my miserable list. If I had, as originally
intended, worked on to Port Darwin and Carpentaria, the list
would, doubtless, have been better; but the great expense of
travelling, and much family illness, prevented me.
At the end of May insects begin hybernating, coming out
again the end of August,—the winter, or more properly the
“wet season,” being then nearly over.
The fatigue one suffers while collecting is at times very
painful, especially during a sand-storm, with a burning “ hot
wind” from the North, bush-fires burning on various ranges
of scrub around you, and the thermometer standing at 149° in
the sun, and 102° in the shade, as I frequently experienced it.
It occasionally rises fifteen or twenty degrees higher: the
highest I experienced being 160° in the sun, and 116° in the
shade; on the river Darling it stood at 118° in the shade.
A few remarks on the manner of operation (though,
perhaps, uninteresting to the majority of readers) may
possibly be useful to anyone meditating collecting in a
tropical or sub-tropical country.
My apparatus [ adapted from an article, by Mr. W.
B. Tegetmeier and Mr. Janson, in the ‘Field’ of August
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 905
J
27th, 1870; and consisted of the usual butterfly appa-
ratus, and cyanide bottle we use at home; also a
wide-mouthed bottle, one-third filled with sawdust, con-
taining a very small piece of cyanide of potassium, for
beetles, scorpions, &c., which is emptied into a sheet
of paper on returning home, the insects taken out and
put into a stock-bottle, the cyanide and sawdust being
returned to the bottle for the field; an ounce of pure
chloroform for stupifying snakes, lizards, &c.,—if the
scorpions appear unusually savage I generally pour a few
drops on to them, before attempting to get them into the
sawdust and cyanide bottle; a small bottle of oxalic acid,
‘and a pen for sticking large Lepidoptera; one or two
squares of linen, and strong elastic bands for tying up snakes,
making up the complement.
Now to the requisites for personal use :—
1. A drachm of olive-oil, with which I well smear the eye-
lids, nostrils, &c., on entering the collecting ground, to keep
off the flies. The veil, so generally used, makes one unbear-
ably hot, and at the same time interferes with the sight when
hunting small insects. The flies and thirst were my greatest
enemies while collecting.
2. Some Ledum Palustre (a homeopathic tincture) for
stings and bites of spiders, &c.
3. A charcoal or “ officer’s syphon,” as made by Messrs.
Atkins, Strand, for drinking out of stagnant pools and
ditches.
4, Half a pint of pure brandy in case of snake-bite.
5. When collecting far out in the bush, many miles from
dwellings, the “ammonia syringe,” for injecting into the
veins when bitten by snakes. Much has been said in favour
of and against this recent invention; and Dr. Gosse, of
Adelaide, and others, inform me that if the bite happens to
be a harmless one, and the ammonia cure is used, death will
quickly ensue, owing to a too rapid action of the heart.
Having taken many scientific opinions on the subject, I
determined to act on the following plan if bitten, which
fortunately was never the case. The moment a snake bites
you commence drinking the strongest brandy, taking about
a pint during, say, from ten to fifteen minutes, using violent
exercise to induce profuse perspiration. If the bite is a
206 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
venomous one the spirit will scarcely affect you. [have heard
of numerous instances of life being saved by this means. The
symptoms of a dangerous bite are sensation of suffocation,
swelling of the throat, and dark, lurid and purple colour of
the face: if these symptoms come on with any degree of
severity, then apply the syringe with all possible speed.
Many cases of death in fifteen minutes have occurred from
the “death or deaf adder,” and from the “red-bellied or
black snake” (Pseudechis porphyriacus), these being the two
most fatal snakes in South Australia; the former I have not
met with, but have been sprung at by Porphyriacus, in a
manner by no means pleasant. I also captured two other
species. The whole of the above can be conveniently
fastened on to the saddle, something in the way of refresh-
ment also being added. Occasionally I take my pole-net and
air-rifle.
Lastly. By no means omit some “weed.” I know of no
occasion when a mild smoke is so enjoyable as after six or
seven hours frying in the sunshine, especially if one is
fortunate enough to meet with a tree that casts any shade.
The woods consist entirely of blue and red gum trees, whose
foliage is miserably scanty ; the honeysuckle and blackwood
have good foliage, but were rare in the parts I visited.
I made my head-quarters at Naire, a little village thirty
miles from Adelaide, collecting sometimes on the ranges
towards Adelaide, and sometimes going forty miles in the
other direction towards Goolwa and the lake Alexandrina,
and so on along the River Onkaparinga and Murray
scrub. There is splendid sport for duck shooters in these
parts. When I first went there, being quite a “new chum,”
my surprise can be imagined at being offered by the blacks
half a dozen wild-fowl in exchange for a loaf! It is a
splendid field for the sportsman, the whole country abounding
in birds, including many most gorgeous parrots. The “ grass
parrot,” and “Adelaide paroquet” or common “ Rosella,”
are, moreover, very nice eating, especially when stewed with
mushrooms.
Finding the entomological features of the country did not
improve, I spent the last season in shooting: the skins, how-
ever, are perfectly useless, nearly all of them having been
skinned by inexperienced hands and not properly preserved,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 207
the necessary chemicals being very difficult to obtain so far
out in the country.
With my live birds I was also unfortunate, having lost over
a hundred fine parrots, and some wild cats, &c., since I left
the bush. On the whole, therefore, my visit to Australia has
been a failure, as far as Natural History is concerned. My
principal object in going there was on account of health,
which, in some respects has improved, though the exhausting
heat has debilitated it in many others.
At the Cape of Good Hope we found a few dingy butter-
flies, including our constant friend V. Cardui; also one female
C. Edusa of very small size, and shot with a fine rich purple
tinge.
The spiders in Australia are very large and savage: they
are called by everyone Tarantulas,—at least they mean
Tarantulas. ‘“ Triantelopes” is the general pronunciation,
which everybody, from a ploughboy to a “J. P.,” will persist
in giving the word!
My entomological operations were considerably interfered
with, by an accident sustained through my horse swerving
and pitching me against a gum-tree while galloping through
some bush; consequently, the fact of having one’s arm ina
sling for six weeks with a broken finger did not facilitate
collecting. This, fortunately, occurred during the wet season ;
but it has been a great inconvenience to me ever since.
Most of our readers have, doubtless, read the accounts of
the swarms of small locusts which swept over a large part of
South Australia, devastating the country and crops to a
frightful extent: in fact, devouring all vegetables wherever
they went; orange groves, vines, fruit-trees, &c., all falling a
prey to their voracious appetite. For the information of those
who have not read the details of this pestilence, I may just
say it is, fortunately, only the second time the colony has
been similarly visited. The sun was frequently totally hidden
by the denseness of the swarm, which was considered to be
half a mile in depth. A clever calculator estimated that
upwards of eight tons passed hourly.
I cannot close this rambling affair without publicly thank-
ing several gentlemen for their willing and valuable assistance
to me in collecting. First of all I must mention F. G. Water-
house, Esq., C.M.Z.S., Curator of the Adelaide Museum and
208 TIE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Institute, who gave me much valuable information, and with
whom I had some pleasant collecting. To Messrs. Alfred
and Edwin Heath, of the Treasury and Mitcham, I am
indebted for innumerable kindnesses, and for many useful
bush hints. At Nairne I was assisted by Dr. O, Weld,
MD., J.P., &c.; also by Mr. Timms.
In conclusion, | must say, with all due deference to the
Australian colonies, I soon found out that the idea in England
of its white inhabitants being so generous-hearted, frank, and
honest, was a miserable delusion. In none of my previous
travels (rather limited, certainly) at home, in France, Switzer-
land, Belgium, and elsewhere on the Continent, have I met
with such avarice and dishonesty as were evinced by the South
Australians. I allude, of course, to business transactions.
Should any of those who have sufficient patience and time
to read these notes, meditate a trip there, let me recom-
mend them to keep their eyes well open, and pockets well
shut! I speak from experience, for which I paid dearly.
With few exceptions, the inhabitants of N » Mount
B , and other surrounding villages, rival our cleverest
London “ sharpers,”—as far as dishonesty is concerned. They
have also a peculiar method of transacting business in these
parts. We will suppose you have a little account with Mr.
Brown, which you are anxious to pay. You ask him for his
bill. It is promised to-morrow. You call to-morrow: he will
make it out that evening. Another day passes: you are
leaving the neighbourhood, and time being precious you
implore him for his account. It does not arrive; in fact,
like nearly all the tradespeople there, he is too lazy to make
it out till compelled to do so. Your day of departure has
nearly arrived, and then the long wished-for accounts appear
by post, always accompanied with a polite little note (in
rather remarkable spelling) to the effect, “that if your
account is not paid immediately, you will receive a police
summons!” Above all things beware of colonial “ chemists,”
as they style themselves, who profess “to prepare prescrip-
lions accurately.” Through one of these “ chemists” I nearly
lost my life. Being in the village (or “ township”) of Mount
B , and having a bad attack of neuralgia, 1 went to a
“ chemist,’ who prescribed and gave me a bottle of medicine,
saying it was something “ strongish,” which would soon
™"
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209
relieve the pain, but not offering a word of caution as to there
being any danger if an over-dose was taken. The pain getting
much worse, I took a third of a dose more than his prescrip-
tion: this soon produced all the horrible symptoms of
poisoning by strychnine, which I need not describe. Thanks
to the kindness of Mr. Timms, at whose house I was spending
the evening, my life was saved, he driving me instantly to my
friend Dr. Weld. On subsequent inquiry the chemist
informed us that in that bottle of eight doses there was
sufficient strychnine to quickly kill three people !
Since sending you the notes, I have come across a bad
specimen of Lampides Beetica, also taken near Nairne.
The butterflies at present named are as follows :—(1) Thyca
Aganippe, a few ; (2) Callidras Lactea, one ; (3) Heteronympha
Meropa, abundant; (4) Geitoneura Klugii, not common;
(5) Junonia Villida, common; (6) Danais Chrysippus, com-
mon; (7) Vanessa Kershawii, abundant; (6) Lucia limbaria,
not common; (9) Terias Igana, a few; (10) Lampides Beetica,
one; (11) Lycena Phebe, swarming everywhere.
H. Ramsay Cox.
West Dulwich, S.E.
On some Amurland Insects. By Francis WALKER, Esq., F.LS.
PART I.
There are three principal natural divisions of land on the
earth,—Asia, Africa, and America; Europe being considered
as the western part of Asia. Each of these forms two subdivi-
sions connected at the equator, and having their base in the
tropics, and extending more or less,—the one towards the
north pole, the other towards the south pole; and the
resemblance between the productions of these six subdivi-
sions have been considered to be owing to continents which,
in early time, have gone up and down in the intervening
spaces. In America the land to the south, exclusive of some
antarctic islands, forms one compact region, which tapers
from the tropics to Cape Horn; and some of the insects in
the districts near this Cape resemble, as has been observed
many years ago, other insects in North America and in
North Europe. The land to the north is interrupted by the
Caribbean Sea and by the Gulf of Mexico, beyond which it
M 2
910 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
widens into North America, and has a large arctic expanse.
Africa differs widely in aspect from America, it being limited,
with the exception of the Isle Tristan da Cunha, the Isle of
Desolation, and a few others, to the middle part of the
earth: its north division, as.regards the insect Fauna,
includes Arabia and the countries bordering on the Medi-
terranean, and occasionally a few of its native insects appear
on the coast of England. The species in St. Helena and in
Madeira would, perhaps, be found to have greater resem-
blance to those of Africa, when the insects in the mountains
of West Africa are more known.
The tropical regions of Asia are not compact like those of
Africa and of America, but are composed of numerous
islands; and the southern part of this division is chiefly
formed by Australia and by New Zealand. Its northern
division includes more land than any one of the five before
mentioned, and is a wide field for the investigation of the
distribution and range of insect species thereon. The
migration of insects from east to west in this division will
account for the absence of many species in western districts,
owing to the difficulties they experience in surmounting
intervening obstacles before they can find suitable spots for
effecting stations. It will also account for the occurrence of
species in widely-separated localities, and for their absence
in the intervening space, where climate, or soil, or vegetation,
or cultivation, has not allowed them to make or to continue a
settlement.
It has been said that during the gradual decrease of the
glacial epoch, its retreat was followed from south to north by
insect species, and that these in many cases wholly left the
south of continental Asia, to which they were formerly
limited. In this progress they would be hindered by the
Himalayas and by other alps, and by the vast plains of
14,000 to 16,000 feet elevation beyond, and would find less
obstruction in a passage through China and Mantchouria to
Saghalian-oula or Amurland, or the large region of the river
Saghalien or Songari and of its tributaries. In this journey
some species would ascend and colonise mountains, and
thereby epitomise and anticipate the present arctic insect
race. The correspondencies between alpine and arctic
insects in Europe are well known: they have been less
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 211
observed in America; and in Africa the alpine insects when
discovered may indicate what the arctic species of that region
would have been if their abode had been called into
existence.
The advance of the race from Amurland to West Europe
is across a space of several thousand miles, and must have
occupied a long time, though attended with less difficulties
than the spreading from south to north, and favoured by
increasing mildness of climate.
The following notes mention some of the Amurland insects
that are the same or not the same as those of England. This
region, as before mentioned, is intersected by the great river
Amur and by its tributaries, and is bounded to the north by
the Stenovoy mountains. The source of this river is near
that of the Tula; the latter, joining some others which
proceed from the Altai mountains, feeds the lake Baikal,
near which is Irkoutsk: this lake occupies a large part
of the space between the Stanovoy mountains and the Altai
mountains, the latter being connected with the Oural
mountains.
Francis WALKER.
April, 1872.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Collecting in Sherwood Forest: abundance of Euperia
fulvago.—Sugaring for moths seems to have been so unpro-
ductive in nearly every district this year, that an account of a
bit of good work at this kind of collecting will, I think, be in-
teresting to the readers of the ‘ Entomologist.’ August 20th to
24th I spent in company with the Rev. G. C. B. Madden and
Mr. S. L. Mosley, at Sherwood Forest, our object being to
collect several of the local Lepidopterous insects which occur
there. Next to Amphipyra pyramidea, Cosmia trapezina, and
Noctua xanthographa, by far the most abundant Noctua
was Euperia fulvago, and in the four nights we captured six
hundred specimens of this species; and, at the same time, a
lepidopterist from a neighbouring town took four hundred:
a thousand specimens for the four of us! This looks like
slaughter, and I know we shall be charged as “ exterminators,”
but our raid upon them seemed scarcely to affect their
519 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
abundance, as when we left, to all appearance, they were
nearly as numerous as ever.
Amongst the other species we took may be mentioned :—
Argynnis Adippe. In wretched condition.
Thecla Quercus.
Orgyia pudibunda. Larve from oak.
Ennomos tiliaria.
Amphydasis betularia. Larvee common.
Ephyra punctaria and pendularia. The most abundant
larva we beat, except those of Halias prasinana.
Eupithecia minutata. Larve on ling.
Melanthia ocellata.
Cidaria russata and testata.
Platypteryx falcula. Larve tolerably common on birch.
Notodonta Dromedarius and dodonza. Larve of the
former on birch; of the latter on oak.
Cymatophora diluta. Common at sugar.
Acronycta leporina. lLarve on oak and birch.
Hydreecia nictitans.
Chereas Graminis. Not uncommon at ragwort flowers.
Cerigo cytherea. Common at sugar, but mostly in poor
condition.
Luperina cespitis and testacea.
Agrotis Tritici.
Tryphena janthina and fimbria. Common.
Noctua glareosa. Common at sugar, and in beautiful
condition.
N. brunnea, Dahlii, Rubi and neglecta.
Agriopis aprilina. Pupz at roots of oak.
Aplecta occulta. One fine specimen at sugar.
Hadena Pisi. Larvee on Pteris aquilina.
Anarta Myrtilli. Larve on ling.
Gonoptera libatrix. In lovely condition, at sugar.
Amphipyra Tragopogonis.
Stilbia anomala. A few specimens flying over long grass
and heath, also at ragwort flowers.
Crambus inquinatellus. Very abundant.
C. pinetellus. Much less common, and more local.— Geo.
T. Porritt; Huddersfield, September 5, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia near Canterbury.—On Friday, the 6th
inst., two specimens of Lathonia were taken at Swarling
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 213
Downs. On Saturday, the 7th, I took eight more, and they
are all very fine but two; one is a beautiful female. I have
sent two alive to Mr. Stevens; also four to Mr. Woods, of
Marylebone Road; two alive to Rev. H. Burney; and to
two others. The female was but just out; its wings were
limp, and not half grown when found, but they soon came
right. I searched for the empty pupa-case, but was unable
to find it—G. Parry; Church Street, St. Pauls, Canter-
bury, September 9, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia in the Isle of Wight.—In August last
I captured a specimen of A. Lathonia near the cricket-field,
at Ventnor, and saw another taken.—J. Venables; Barnes,
SW.
Argynnis Lathonia, C. Hyale, §c., at Margate.—A few
days ago some friends of mine returned from Margate with a
large number of common butterflies, captured for the purposes
of ornamental Entomology. Amongst them were three speci-
mens of A. Lathonia, two of which were taken while settling
on the road leading to Kingsgate. They were all captured at
the end of July, and are in fair condition; and I have had
much pleasure in adding them to my collection, through the
kindness of my friends. Besides Lathonia they have brought
about twenty specimens of C. Hyale, a good supply of
E. ochroleuca, and one specimen of 8. palealis, all from the
same locality.—J. P. Barrett; 33, Radnor Street, Peckham,
S.E.
Argynnis Lathonia and Pieris Daplidice at Dover.—I
was looking over the setting-boards of Mr. Whorwell (of No.
23, Market Square, Dover), with my friend Mr. Hall, when I
spied a fine specimen of Lathonia, quite fresh and in good
condition; also a specimen of Daplidice, which was rather
shattered in the right hind wing: they were both taken by
Mr. Whorwell at Dover. Mr. Whorwell has only just com-
menced the study of Entomology, and these rarities have been
taken in his first year of collecting. Mr. Hall also saw a fine
specimen of Lathonia in the box of a young collector
returning from the chase, and pointed out to him the value of
the insect, of which he was entirely ignorant. —J. Bradford
Jarvis; Harbledown, Canterbury, September 5, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia and Colias Hyale near Dover Castle.
—A specimen of Lathonia has just been brought to me by
914 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Master E. Richard, of 4, Chancellor Villas, West Dulwich.
He captured it last week near Dover Castle ; and also caught
two Hyale, and saw five or six others. The Lathonia unfor-
tunately is in a most deplorable condition.—H. Ramsay Cox ;
West Dulwich, September 3, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia at Dover.—My brother, who was at
Dover last Tuesday, met several boys entomologising, one of
whom had taken four Argynnis Lathonia the previous day,
and another seven during the last week or so. They were
principally captured in the meadow land just behind the
castle. 1 have since heard that as many as thirty specimens
have been taken in the same locality, this season, by different
collectors.—Geo. W. Bird; September 21, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia, Pieris Daplidice, &c., at Dover.—
More than a dozen Lathonia have been taken here this
season ; also two specimens of Daplidice; Edusa and Hyale
have been very abundant. A pair of Lathonia were taken
copulating.—A. W. Owen; 33, Liverpool Street, Dover.
Argynnis Lathonia at Folkestone—At Folkestone, Sep-
tember 16th, I dethroned her majesty from the bloom of
Centaurea Scabiosa.—Charles Oldham; Newton House,
Amhurst Road, Hackney, September 20, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia near Yarmouth. —During the past
week a specimen of the Queen of Spain fritillary has been
caught by a party at Bradwell Rectory.—‘ Norwich Mercury’
of August 31, 1872.
Pieris Daplidice at Deal.—In the last week of August I
took five fine specimens of P. Daplidice near Deal, two
females and three males, all as perfect as though just issued
from the chrysalis. Will the fact of my capturing this insect
three successive years in the same locality, and in the same
spot (a grassy hollow), throw any light on the question, as to
whether Daplidice breeds in this country '—W. Woods;
1)2, Marylebone Road, Regent’s Park.
Pieris Daplidice near Folkestone.—On the 15th of August
last L took a male specimen of Daplidice in a hollow at the
foot of the Downs, near Folkestone. ‘The insect was in good
condition, and could hardly, I think, have been a “ blown-
over.” On the 22nd of August, 1871, I took a female
specimen of the same insect, in a lane leading to Abbot’s
Wood, near Hailsham, Sussex. This specimen was in fair
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 215
condition, but not so fresh as to preclude the supposition that
it had been blown-over from the opposite shore.—Cecil C.
M. Dale; 2, Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London, W.C.
Pieris Daplidice in Suffolk.—A good specimen of the
Pieris Daplidice, the Bath white butterfly, was taken by Mr.
Wm. Pawsey, at Felixstowe, the other day.— Suffolk
Chronicle.’
Pieris Daplidice in Cambridgeshire.—A friend of mine
has captured two specimens of Pieris Daplidice near New-
market, and I believe others have been taken in the same
locality this year.—G. H. Raynor; Hazeleigh Rector y, near
Maldon, September 16, 1872.
Occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa in Great Britain during
the Autum of 1872.—The notices, received during Septem-
ber, of the occurrence of Vanessa Antiopa in various parts of
this country, are so numerous, that it has been found impos-
sible to insert them at length. It was necessary, therefore,
to condense them, and, in doing this, it has been thought
best to class the occurrences in counties, alphabetically. In
the list given below, when the number of specimens is not
stated, one, only, is recorded to have been seen or taken.—
Edward Newman.
Berkshire. The Warren, Reading, two specimens.—E£. B.
Poulton.
Buckinghamshire. Newport Pagnell, beginning of Sep-
tember.— Thomas Corder.
Cambridgeshire. Baitsbite, near Cambridge, seen in some
numbers, and several specimens taken.—G. Hl. Raynor.
Cheshire. Twelve miles south of Chester, on dried cow-
droppings, end of August.—C. Wolley Dod ; * Field’
Derbyshire. Peat Moss, near Chesterfield, August 29th.—
J. M. Hewitt. One in a peach-bouse in Melbourne Gardens,
feeding on a decayed peach which had fallen to the ground.
—J.J. Briggs; ‘ Field.
Durham. Durham, by Mr. F. Raine, who saw others.—
W. Maling. Darlington, one seen, two said to have been
caught.—John Law. Greatham, towards the end of August.
—H. MacDowall.
Essex. Witham, August 23rd and 25th, September 5th.
—W. D. Cansdale. Bradwell-on-Sea, September 2nd, by
Mr. G. Owen.—[Rev.] J. W. Mills. Two specimens taken
216 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
by me at Halstead, September 2nd.—S. R. Bentall. Brent-
wood, September 2nd.—H. F. Growse. Walthamstow,
September 2nd.—W. Downing. A female taken by me at
Maldon, in the High Street, September 13th.—G. H. Raynor.
Latchington, one this year and one last.—‘ Chelmsford
Chronicle. Mundon, several seen.—G. H. Raynor. Burn-
ham.—Id. Two at Colchester.—‘ Field’ Southend.—C. S.
Barnes; ‘ Field” Blackheath, near Colchester, two, Sep-
tember 2nd.—H. Aggis ; ‘ Field,
Hampshire. During August I took fourteen specimens in
the Isle of Wight, and saw others; I believe the insect to be
comparatively common there this year: my specimens were
taken at Wroxall, Shanklin, Ventnor, and Freshwater, and
were attracted by sugar—2J. Venables. West Worldham,
August 22nd.—G. Turvill; ‘ Field’ Bedhampton, Havant,
August 28th.—‘ Field” Freshwater, Isle of Wight, August
23rd.—W. J. Sterland ; ‘ Field’
Hertfordshire. Astridge Common, near Tring, middle of
August, by Mr. John Wood.—[Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe.
Hoddesdon, September 3rd, by my son; seen at Stanstead
about the same time.—W. L. Horley. Two near Brickendon,
September 12th and 16th; others heard of.— Wm. Simmonds ;
33, Villier’s Road, Hertford.
Huntingdonshire. Ramsey, September 8rd, by Mr. C. R.
Bingham.— Field.’
Kent. Dartford, end of August, several seen, and one
taken by Mr. W. Packman, with almost pure white margin;
two others seen in the Marshes.—G. W.. Bird. Two speci-
mens taken by me in Darenth Wood, August 25th and
September 8th.—Augustus Priest. Canterbury, one taken
and three seen, end of August.—G. Parry. Faversham.—
W. J. Skelton. Tunbridge Wells.—C. Seabright.
Lancashire. Taken by me at Ribchester, near Blackburn,
with the pale border, September 4th; another taken in the
neighbourhood with the deep yellow border.—A. G. Latham.
Sedgley, near Manchester.—‘ Manchester Courier,
Leicestershire. Belvoir, September 3rd.—Wm. Ingram ;
‘ Field,
Lincolnshire. In an orchard at Grantham, September 5th,
by my brother.—A. #. E’nsor. In an orchard at Waltham,
by Capt. Seddon, two others seen, with the deep yellow
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 217
border.—John Cordeaua. Boston, middle of August.—J.
W. Richards.
Middlesex. Kingsbury, a female—W. Woods. Stone
Grove, Edgeware, August 25th.— A. F. Barraud ; ‘ Field.’
Norfolk. We have seen eleven in the neighbourhood of
Cromer during the last few days, and although we have only
caught two specimens, it has been that we have been unarmed
with a net, and not that the insects seemed wild.—C. M.
Lowe. Seen by me at Northrepps Cottage on August 24th ;
one reported at Sherringham; and one on the Plumstead
Road, near Norwich.—J. H. Gurney, jun. Near Drayton,
end of August and beginning of September, ten specimens
taken by me, and one by the Rev. G. Norris; one near Diss;
and others in different parts of the county.—[Rev.] Theodore
H. Marsh ; ‘ Field.” Bradwell Rectory, near Yarmouth, end
of August, three. —‘ Norfolk Chronicle.” Honingham
Thorpe, beginning of September.—‘ Norfolk News. Near
the Cantley Station, beginning of September, by Mr. T.
Harding, Station-master.—Jd.
Northumberland. Near Newcastle, August 23rd, by a
man named Stoll.— W. Maling.
Nottingham. Near Markham Clinton, with the pale bor-
der, end of August.—R. E. Brameld.
Scotland. In the Vale of Dee, 1800 feet above the sea-
level ; at Kirriemuir, Forfar, August 21st and 22nd.— Field?
Near Forres, two specimens.—/d. Aberdeen, by Mr. James
Garrow, who observed several others flying about.—‘ Aber-
deen Free Press? Braemar, September 26; two in the
Valley of South Esk and Glen Prosen, August 2lst.—
‘ Field.’ »One on the shores of Loch Lochy, August 3rd.—J.
H. White ; ‘ Field,
Somersetshire. On the Mendip Hills, about three miles
from Wells, with the pale border, by Dr. Madden-Medlicott.
—H. W. Livett, M.D.
Staffordshire. Near Newcastle-under-Lyne, August 18th
and 22nd; at Cannock Chase about the same time, wary and
difficult to capture; taken by me at Badennall, near Kccles-
hall, September 14th, flying round a tree infested by the
larve of Cossus ligniperda, in company with many other
Vanesse, all of which seemed attracted by the exudations
caused by the presence of this internal feeder.—l. W.
Dutton.
218 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Suffolk. Cheaburgh, near Bury St. Edmunds, end of
August, by the Rev. H. K. Creed; and at Tuddenham St.
Mary’s, five specimens within an hour, by Messrs. J. and E.
Edwards.—|[Rev.] A. H. Wratislaw. Taken by me at Stow-
market, August 24th.—C. R. Collen. Ipswich, two specimens,
August 25th and September 2nd.—James Parsons. Near
Bury St. Edmunds, September 9th.—R. Kay. Bungay,
August 25th, by Mr. W. Downes.— Norwich Mercury,
Crowfield Parsonage, August 25th —‘ Field.’ I have captured
three close by Ipswich, and I think twenty specimens have
been captured in Suffolk.—C. F. Long.
Surrey. Dulwich, five specimens, end of August and
beginning of September; Lower Norwood, two specimens,
end of August; taken by me at Shirley, September 10th.—
H. Ramsay Cox. Barnes, last summer.—J. Venables. Taken
at Mickléham, by Mr. B. Haynes, at the end of August; and
seen by me, August 16th, between Ashstead and Headley.—
Francis Owen.
Sussex. Near Linch Church, middle of August, by my
uncle, the Rev. R. C. Bull.—H. H. Bull. Burgess Hill, end
of August, by Mr. Dill of Brighton.—O’ Reilly. Rottingdean,
August 24th, by the Rev. W. R. C. Adamson.—Francis
Owen.
Wales. Taken at Pensarn, Abergele, August 28th, by Mr.
R. A. Barker; the specimen has strikingly the English
characteristic—the white border.—Samuel James Capper.
About half-way up Penmaenmawr, September 2nd.—‘ Field.’
On the highroad between Colwyn and Conway, August 27th.
—Wm. Romaine Callender.
Yorkshire. Beverley, in some numbers; several are in the
habit of visiting our garden, attracted by fallen pears, &c.: I
have seen one only a few minutes since; two have been cap-
tured here a day or two ago; one at Hull, sipping at a
rum-cask ; and another at Hornsea.—F. Boyes ; August 28th.
Beverley, end of August, three specimens.—WN. I. Dobrée.
Selby, September 12th; Nunappleton, near Tadcaster, August
23rd and September 14th, two specimens; York, September
12th —Edward Milner. Spa Mill, near Huddersfield, August
26th ; and at Huddersfield, September 14th.—Geo. T. Porritt.
Taken by me between Wansford and Skerne, end of August ;
and seen at Driffield, September 38rd.—W. H. Jennings.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 219
Doncaster, August 25th, by Mr. Arion Wood; at Sandal and
in Edlinton Wood.—dA. Paterson. Richmond, September
15th, shot with a catapult by a schoolboy.—[Rev.] G. P.
Harris. Old Mill Road, Barnsley, August 21st.—T’. Lister ;
‘ Field’ Keighley, August 16th.—R. Millar. One at Old
Malton on a plum-tree.—Thomas C. Walker ; ‘ Field, Sep-
tember 21. ‘Taken at Dishforth, at Thorpe Perrow, and at
Ripon.—R. Blakeborough. Bramley Grange, near Leeds,
September 8th, by Mr. T. P. Mallorie—W. £. Clarke.
A few Mornings with Pieris Daplidice, Argynnis Lathonia,
Colias Hyale, C. Edusa, Sc.—Having just returned from a
three weeks’ cruise (on land) on our southern coast of Kent,
I give you a short account of my seeings and doings. I arrived
at Dover on the afternoon of August 3lst; the next morning
I took a walk to the favourite hunting-ground for butterflies,
the Castle-meadow, but, as it was dull, only noticed a few
common species. The following morning (Sept. 2nd) was very
fine and hot, and on my way to the Castle-meadow observed a
birdstuffer’s shop, which I entered, and enquired of Mr. Gray
if he had any insects for sale: much to my surprise, he pro-
duced two fine P. Daplidice, male and female, which he
assured me had been taken the previous week, one in the
Castle-meadow, the other at Shepherdswell, about six miles
inland; he had sold them to a gentleman, and was then just
going to send them away. After this I was not long before
I bent my steps to the Castle-meadow, and soon noticed two
young gentlemen with nets: 1 asked them what they had
taken; they said: only a few Adonis blues, but one of them
told me he had given chase to a Bath White and lost it, and
as he so fully described I felt certain he was correct. I there-
fore looked most carefully at all the dark-looking white
butterflies I could see, and suddenly I saw before me a very
fine pale clouded yellow (C. Hyale), which I captured, and
not many minutes after another a short distance off, a suspi-
cious-looking white, and just as he came up I saw he was the
one I was in search of, and the next moment he was in my
net, and he proved to be a most lovely male Daplidice that
had, apparently, only that morning come out of chrysalis.
I remained there for another two hours walking over the most
favourable looking ground, but not another could I see: one
or two clouded yellows came along the side of the hill, flying
920 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
with great rapidity. That evening | had to leave Dover, and
the next day I visited Margate, where I remained eight days,
and found in the lucerne-tields, both near the town and at
Westgate, about one mile and a half off, C. Hyale in great
plenty: two or three dozen a-day might have been taken by
anyone who was able to give active chase to them: a few
Edusas amongst them and plenty of C. Cardui, but could
meet with no varieties; but I afterwards purchased a very
fine one taken near Dover, something like that figured in
Mr. Newman’s book, but handsomer and richer in colour.
Finding no chance of getting Daplidice there, I retraced my
steps to Dover, hoping by that time the females of Daplidice
might be out. The weather kept rather cloudy and windy,
and although I remained there nine days I was not able to
meet with another, but heard of two fine ones being taken,
and I saw another female captured in the third week of August.
However, on the 13th of September, being exceptionally fine
and warm, I met with a beautiful A. Lathonia about a mile
from the Castle-meadow, and on the 18th I took three more,
one male, worn, and on a blade of grass a fine male and female
paired; they remained so twenty-four hours, and I afterwards
kept the female alive two days, but she would lay no eggs
and died: she was very fine and perfect. On the 19th I took
another male and a female, both very fine and fresh, apparently ~
only just born. I cannot agree with my friend Mr. Newman
that these specimens fly over from France, as four of my
specimens taken are as fine as bred, and the P. Daplidice was
also: from what I know of the north coast of France, having
visited Calais, Boulogne, Dieppe and Dunkirk, I am inclined
to think the south coast of Kent warmer and more favourable
for the production of both these species, and the food-plants
for both (wild mignonette, clover and heart’s-ease) are very
abundant this year in the neighbourhood of Dover. I heard
of four V. Antiopas having been seen at Dover and Folkestone,
but only one captured. How are we to account for the
appearance of this latter insect in some abundance this year
nearly all over England? 1[ can quite understand P. Daplidice
and A. Lathonia appearing in their proper habitats in greater
plenty than usual, the weather being fine at the time the
caterpillars were feeding up, and also fine at the proper time
for the appearance of the perfect insects.—Samuel Stevens ;
28, King Street, Covent Garden, September 21, 1872.
——
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 291
Deiopeia pulchella at Brighton.—My friend Mr. Howard
Nicholls, when walking on the East Cliff, between Bedford
Street and Bloomsbury Place, about a quarter before seven
on the morning of the 5th inst., found, sitting on the pave-
ment, a beautiful female specimen of D. Pulchella, which he
kindly presented to me alive a few hours afterwards. The
specimen is a fine one, measuring one inch and eight lines;
and, judging from its perfect condition, had probably only
emerged from the chrysalis a few hours before its capture.—
H. Goss; Brighton, September 21, 1872.
Colias Edusa.—While collecting with Mr. Farn in the
middle of Dulwich Wood, last week, I was much surprised
at our stirring up a pair of Edusa. Is not this a singular
locality '—H. Ramsay Cox; West Dulwich.
Imago of Vanessa Urtice with head of the Larva.—\ have
bred a specimen of V. Urtice with the head of the larva: it
has been flying about freely with the others, although it
seems impossible that it can see; the antenne are entirely
absent. The specimen has been seen alive by several
members of the Haggerstone Entomological Society.—J.
Clark; 11, Duncan Place, London Fields, Hackney.
Interbreeding of Vanessa Polychloros and V. Urtice.—In
the beginning of August [ found a specimen of Urtice
in coitu with a Polychloros. The Urtice died about a week
ago; but the Polychloros, which I suppose to be the female,
is still alive, and seems to be hybernating. Iam much afraid
I shall not get her to lay in the spring, as, although I have
confined many females on elm, I find that Polychloros
persistently refuses to lay in the spring.—[Rev.] G. A.
Raynor ; Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, Essex, Aug. 26, 1872.
Vanessa Polychloros in North Lancashire.—I\ captured
here, to-day, a specimen of the large tortoiseshell butterfly
(Vanessa polychloros). There are but few instances, I
believe, of this species having been taken in the North of
England.—James Murton ; Silverdale, near Carnforth, Sep-
tember 4, 1872.
Acronycta Alni in Charnwood Forest.—I saw a very fair
specimen of A. Alni taken at rest on a fir-tree in Charnwood
Forest, on July 15th.— H. H. Bull; Harrow.
Polyommatus Hippothoé at Hackney Marshes——While
taking a walk with a friend on the 8th inst., across Hackney
9299 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Marshes, we were both somewhat startled to see a butterfly,
which was unmistakably a beautiful (female) specimen of the
large copper: it was flying within two feet of the ground, and
it was so close to us that if we had had a net one of us could
not have failed to have taken it. We pursued it with our
hats for a few yards, but we lost sight of it amongst a number
of thistles. This statement can be corroborated by my friend
P. Boulden, of 32, Marian Square, Anne’s Place, Hackney
Road.—E.. Munday; 54, Driffield Road, Old Ford, Bow,
September 12, 1872.
Hyale, Helice, &c., at Folkestone-—During the last week
in August and the first in September I captured several speci-
mens of Hyale at the foot of the Downs, and saw many more,
but only one in their favourite place—the undercliff, in the
Lower Sandgate Road. Edusa was comparatively scarce
everywhere; but I saw two good Helice (one alive), which a
young collector had taken in the last-mentioned place; and
a gentleman also informed me he had seen two veritable
Lathonia and one Antiopa, which had been captured in the
Warren: but insects, taken on the whole, were certainly not
nearly so abundant as in 1871 and 1870.—M. N. Inman;
10, Upper Hamilton Terrace, London, N.W.
Sphinx Convolvuli at Dulwich—A specimen of Convolvuli
was last week captured at rest on a post, by a boy in the
Croxted Road: it was alive when brought to me, but owing
to its having passed through several inexperienced hands, it
is now sadly rubbed, and almost useless.—H. Ramsay Cox ;
West Dulwich, September 16, 1872.
Catocala Fraxini near Canterbury.—I have to record
the capture of a very large female C. Fraxini at sugar last
night, Saturday, about three miles from Canterbury ; it is just
a little rubbed. ‘This is the third specimen I have taken in
the same wood during the last few years; the last I took
three years ago. I have shown this specimen to the Rev. T.
Hurst and to several other collectors. 1 have not yet killed
it, thinking it may lay some eggs.—G. Parry; Church
Street, St. Paul's, Canterbury, September 15, 1872.
Catocala Fraxini at Ipswich.—A large specimen of C.
Fraxini was captured here on the 25th of August, having
entered a house at night attracted by light. It was placed in
my hands alive the next day, and is now in my cabinet.—
Henry Miller ; Ipswich, September 13, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 293
Description of the Larva of Eupithecia togata.—General
colour dull pinkish brown; central dorsal, subdorsal, and
spiracular lines whitish, indistinct, especially the two latter ;
skin wrinkled; body sparsely studded with black tubercles
and short hairs; head and collar glabrous and horny, dusky
brown. A queer internal-looking creature, strikingly like
a miniature Cossus Ligniperda. _ Feeds inside the buds and
young shoots of spruce-fir. [ am indebted to the kindness of
Mr. Hellins, of Exeter, who reared it from the egg, for the
opportunity of seeing and describing this, I believe, hitherto
unknown larva. Mr. Buckler has succeeded in taking its
portrait. Hatched, July 18th. Full fed the end of August.
—([Rev.] H. Harpur Crewe; The Rectory, Drayton-Beau-
champ, Tring, September 2, 1872.
Mosquitoes.—In England there are three genera of Diptera
Nemocera, or thread-horned two-wingers, that sting and draw
blood with their mouths; and there is no recent instance of
any foreign kind having migrated to this country. These
genera are—Culex, or gnat; Simulium, or sand-fly ; Cerato-
pogon, or midge. In Lapland, in America, and in other
countries, the gnat is called the mosquito; and the attacks
of the Lapland gnat are not few and feeble, as are those of
the English gnat. In Italy the mosquito is not a gnat: its
name is Phlebotomus Papatasii; its hum is more soft and
low than that of the gnat; the genus to which it belongs is
not found in England; the family in which it is included is
represented here by Psychoda, the little moth-like fly that
may often be seen on windows.—Francis Walker.
Orgyia Gonostigma and Papilio Machaon at Maldon.—
About a fortnight ago my brother and myself captured a male
specimen of O. Gonostigma, flying briskly in the sun, close
to Maldon. I cannot hear of the previous occurrence of this
insect in these parts. Another insect, new to this district,
was captured at Maldon about the same time. A specimen
of P. Machaon was impaled on a needle by Mr. Gutteridge,
whilst sitting on his garden wall in the middle of the town.
It does not seem possible that the insect could be a bred one
escaped, as there is but one entomologist in the town, who
does not plead guilty to having had any Machaon pupe this
year. ‘The marshy nature of the surrounding district renders
it not improbable that Machaon may breed regularly in some
924 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
sequestered nook near here. I may mention with regard to
this insect, that Wicken Fen, in Cambridgeshire, the only
locality in which Machaon can now be found with any
certainty, is diminishing in size every year; and before ten
more years have rolled over our heads Machaon may rank
with Hippothoé, as no longer a native of Britain.—G.
H. Raynor; Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, Essex, August 26,
1872.
Zygena Meliloti.—Seeing several notices in the September
number of the ‘Entomologist’ respecting this insect, it may
interest several readers to know that I took the species in
1869, in the New Forest. Mr. A. B. Farn was looking over
my collection last week, and drew my attention to a very
small Burnet, which, on examination, proves to be Meliloti.
On referring to the number in my journal, I find I caught it
in the enclosures, between those known as “ Boldrewood”
and “ Stubby Copse,” Lyndhurst, in July, 1869. This proves
the value of journalising (by means of a number underneath)
every specimen in one’s collection——H. Ramsay Cox; Sep-
tember 2, 1872.
Eremobia ochroleuca near Ware.—A few weeks ago I
found E. ochroleuca on a chalk-hill, near this place.—Al/red
F. Buxton; Easneye, Ware, September 14, 1872.
Second occurrence of Calosoma sycophanta near Pen-
zance.—Our naturalist, Mr. W. H. Vingoe, some years
since, captured a specimen of this rare beetle within the
limits of this town. I have now to report a second capture
by his son, Mr. Edward Vingoe, a few weeks since, at the
parish of St. Paul, a little to the west of Penzance. I saw the
latter alive myself; the metallic colours of both examples
were similar.— H#. H. Rodd; Penzance, September 12,
1872.
Calosoma sycophanta at Plymouth.—A fine specimen of
this beetle was taken by a friend of mine, in a street at
Plymouth, last week. The last, I believe, was captured far
inland, and is now in my cabinet.—J. Brooking Rowe ;
August 31, 1872.
Erratum.—Entom. p. 193, line 14, for Vanessa Antiopa at
Sheerness read Vanessa Antiopa near Rochester.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 110.] NOVEMBER, MDCCCLXXII. [Price 6d.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 202.)
Tue three genera here represented belong to the Eupel-
mide, a family distinguished, like the Encyrtide, by the
peculiar structure of the middle legs.
CEA PULICARIS.
CEA.
This genus is only known in these isles by two specimens,
found in Ireland by A. H. Haliday; the one figured, and
another which has wings.
CALOSOTER.
There are two British species, C. vernalis and C. estivalis ;
the former appéars earlier in the year than the latter, from
which it may be distinguished by its larger size and darker
wings. They are both, probably, parasitic on wood-eating
VOL. VI. N
926 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
insects; and C. vernalis may be found seated on wood in
buildings, and often in company with Cleonymus depressus.
C. estivalis frequents the wood of old, decayed oak-trees.
CALOSOTER VERNALIS.
EUPELMUS UROZONUS.
EUPELMUS.
This genus is very limited in the number of British
species. E. urozonus inhabits as a parasite some kinds of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 227
oak-galls, especially the oak-apple, from which specimens
may be obtained.
FRANCIS WALKER.
Notes on some Insects of Italy and of South France,
observed between the middle of May and the middle of
July, 1872. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
The opportunities for observation were few and short, and
the weather was at first unfavourable. Many researches by
many persons in different seasons and localities are required
to determine the range of Italian species of insects, and to
serve as means for the future author on entomological
geography in Italy. The interest in seeing these objects is
greatest when they occur in abundance, and thereby contri-
bute to the diversity, and, in Lepidoptera especially, to the
beauty of the aspects of natural scenery.
LEPIDOPTERA.
Pieris Brassice, P. Rape, Vanessa Cardui, Plusia Gamma,
Stenopteryx hybridalis, and Camptogramma bilineata, ap-
peared nearly everywhere, and are therefore not here again
mentioned. Macroglossa Stellatarum was also widely spread.
Avignon, May 14.—Papilio Podalirius, Aporia Crategi,
Anthocharis Eupheno, Melitea Didyma, M. Phebe, Hip-
parchia Mera, H. Megzera, Lycena Adonis, L. Alexis,
L. Sedi.
The above species were at the Fountain of Vaucluse, a
spot remarkable for its associations, and for its rocky wild-
ness and for beauty. A. Eupheno was plentiful, and flitted
slowly over the numerous wild flowers there; the others were
scarce.
Marseilles, May 16.—Papilio Podalirins, Hipparchia
Galatea, H. Pamphilus, Chrysophanus Phleas, Lycena
Alexis. Here, as at Genoa, P. Podalirius was of rare occur-
rence, and did not appear in the open country, but only in
the gardens about the town.
Nice, May 17.—Hipparchia Egeria.
Genoa, May 20, 21.—Papilio Podalirius, Colias Hyale,
Vanessa Atalanta, Hipparchia Pamphilus, Hesperia Alveolus.
228 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The wild flowers in the neighbourhood were numerous and in
great variety: Cypripedium calceolus was plentiful ; another
Cypripedium, whose specific name I do not know, was less
common.
Pisa, May 24.—Scopula ferrugalis.
Rome, May 27 to June 8, June 18 to 21.— Papilio
Machaon, Gonepteryx Rhamni, G. Cleopatra, Colias Edusa,
Pieris Daplidice, Melitzea Didyma, M. Rhodopensis, Vanessa
Io, V. Atalanta, V. L-Album, Hipparchia Egeria, H. Megera,
H. Janira, H. Pamphilus, Chrysophanus Phleas, C. Ther-
samon, Lycena Alexis, Hesperia sylvanus, H. linea, H.
Alveolus, H. Alceze, Aigeria chrysidiformis, Syntomis Phegea,
Eulepia grammica, Arctia villica, Plusia Ni, Acontia solaris,
A. luctuosa, Acidalia ornata, Lythria purpuraria, Crambus
rorellus, Pterophorus pentadactylus. H. Janira among the
butterflies and C. rorellus among the moths were the only
two species that occurred in abundance; G. Rhamni and G.
Cleopatra appeared close together, and in equally fresh con-
dition; V. L-Album and P. Ni frequented the neighbourhood
of the fountain of Egeria; A. villica was found in the groves
of Diana, near Albano; and 8. Phegea flitted in the precincts
of the villa of Hadrian and in the woods of Tibur or Tivoli.
Naples, June 11 to 17.—Papilio Machaon, Colias Edusa,
Melitea Rhodopensis, Hipparchia Megera, H. Piloselle,
Chrysophanus Phleas, Lycena Alexis, Zygena Medicaginis,
Syntomis Phegea, Deiopeia pulchella, Callimorpha Jacobee.
None of these, with the exception of H. Megera and
D. pulchella, occurred in the immediate vicinity of Naples.
Some few C. Edusa were on Vesuvius to two-thirds of the
height; the rest were near the shore of Lake Avernus.
Capri.—Gonepteryx Cleopatra, Colias Edusa, Hipparchia
Janira, H. Piloselle, and Arctia villica, were on the heights
near the cliffs, above the intensely blue sea.
Florence, June 24 to 27.—Papilio Machaon, Colias Edusa,
Hipparchia Galatea, H. Megera, Lyczena Alexis, L. Argiolus,
Hesperia linea, H. Alcez, Heliothis peltigera, Acontia luc-
tuosa. Butterflies were now more numerous; C. Edusa and
H. Galatea appeared in abundance, and H. linea in great
profusion.
Lucca, June 28, 29, July 2, 3.—Papilio Machaon, P.
Podalirius, Gonepteryx Rhamni, Colias Edusa, C. Hyale,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 229
Leucophasia Sinapis, Argynnis Paphia, Melitea Didyma,
M. Rhodopensis, Vanessa lo, V. Atalanta, Hipparchia Her-
mione, H. Galatea, H. Egeria, H. Arcanius, Chrysophanus
Phleas, Lycena Arion, L. Corydon, L. Alexis, L. gon,
L. Acis, L. Argiolus, Hesperia Sylvanus, H. Acteon, H.
Alveolus, Zygena Medicaginis, Z. Filipendule (var. with
outer spots confluent), Procris Pruni, Syntomis Phegea,
Dysauxes punctata, Callimorpha Jacobee, Ennychia octo-
maculalis, Pyrausta purpuralis, Endotricha flammealis, Spi-
lodes palealis, Fidonia atomaria, Thalera bupleuaria, Acidalia
sylvestraria, Rhodostrophia Calabraria. Butterflies and moths
at this time swarmed amongst the myrtle flowers in the
woods on the hills, near Lucca, and contributed to adorn
them by their numbers and their various flight. H. Galatea
was the most numerous, and appeared to consider Pieris
Brassica an intruder, and chased it; L. Sinapis and L. Arion
were of frequent occurrence; and the beautiful S. Phegea
hovered in great abundance, and the sight of it and the rose-
banded wings of R. Calabraria was very attractive.
Baths of Lucca, July 1.—Weucophasia Sinapis, Hippar-
chia Hermione, H. Arcanius, Chrysophanus Phleas, Lycena
figon, L. Alexis, Hesperia Acteon, Zygena Medicaginis,
Syntomis Phegea, Callimorpha Jacobez, Herminia derivalis,
Botys hyalinalis, Scoparia ambigualis, Acidalia holosericeata,
A. subpunctaria. This spot is higher in the Apennines than
the hills before mentioned, and some of the insects have a
more northern character. The Acidaliz and B. hyalinalis
abounded.
Ravenna, July 5.—Papilio Machaon, P. Podalirius, Colias
Edusa, Lyczena Alexis, besides some other kinds whose
names are not remembered. These occurred in the forest,
which is of comparatively recent existence, for the spot which
it occupies was covered by the sea two thousand years ago.
It was much enlivened by the flowers of the sweet-scented
clematis, and P. Podalirius was more common than near
Lucca.
Venice.—Vanessa Atalanta.
Bellagio, Lake of Como, July 12.—Colias Edusa, Leuco-
phasia Sinapis, Vanessa Antiopa, V. Io, V. Atalanta,
Hipparchia Egeria, Chrysophanus Phleas, Lycena Alexis.
Isola Bella, Lago Maggiore, July 13.—Scoparia ambigualis,
230 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
seated on the tree whereon Napoleon inscribed “ Battaglia,”
previous to the battle of Marengo.
Milan, July 11.—Pieris Daplidice, Vanessa Atalanta,
V. C-Album, Hypogymna dispar.
Susa, July 15.—Gonepteryx Rhamni, Colias Edusa.
Francis WALKER.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Scarcity of Butterflies last June.—The unsettled and
ungenial weather prevailing in many places at the end of
May and the beginning of June had a very marked influence
upon butterfly-life. Those species which were in_ these
weeks in the larval or pupal condition had their development
retarded, while the imagos that had hybernated, or emerged
before the cold rains and the high winds, were mostly swept
out of existence. The summer landscape in some parts of
Kent—on those days at the commencement of June when
there were occasional gleams of sunshine—presented an
unnatural aspect from the scarcity of butterflies, which give
such a charm to the rural scene. Even of the common
Brassice and Rape few individuals were about, much to the
satisfaction of the gardener. Only an occasional straggler
of Rhamni was to be seen, though in many seasons a good
number of the old imagos live on far into the summer. Of
the three familiar Vanessa, viz. Atalanta, lo, and Urtice, there
were very few about. ‘The spring brood of the latter species
had been considerably delayed. The first individual noticed
in the act of emergence from the pupa was seen on the 18th
of June, though probably some had appeared a few days
before. In former years fresh specimens have been out some
weeks earlier, both in Kent and Middlesex, and doubtless
elsewhere. In the vicinity of Gravesend there were scarcely
any young larve of Atalanta and Io; and some battered
females of Io seemed to be still flying in search of suitable
spots for oviposition. Of the larvz of Urtica I observed a
less number than usual feeding in May and June: the
females of this species are particularly nice in their selection,
passing by large patches of nettles, which look promising, to
settle in parties upon those plants growing near ditches, and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 231
rather exposed to view than otherwise. And from the occur-
rence in one spot of lJarve, adult and newly hatched, it
would seem that a succession of imagos are attracted to the
same locality, though it will sometimes happen that the
nettles have been so far stripped that the latest out have,
perforce, to migrate before they are full grown.—J. R. S.
Clifford ; 59, Robert Street, Chelsea, July 18, 1872.
Late emergence of Lepidoptera.—It would be easy, if not
particularly interesting, to bring together many proofs of the
great check given to insect-life by the ungenial weather of
early summer, though the effects were, as was to be expected,
very various in different counties. I propose to cite a few
instances, in addition to those already given, showing how
some of the moths occurring in the London district were
affected thereby. The general broods of the following larve
were two or three weeks in arrear of their usual time:
namely, Odonestis potatoria, Arctia caja, Bombyx neustria,
Liparis auriflua, Abraxas grossulariata (in open places, not
so in gardens), Cheimatobia brumata, Hybernia leucophearia,
H. rupicapraria, Selenia illunaria, Diloba ceruleocephala,
Cosmia trapezina, and Yponomeuta padella, the latter appear-
ing in good numbers at last, greatly to the discomfiture of
some persons who, priding themselves upon their hawthorn
hedges, hoped they had escaped the ravages of the species
for the present season. Of imagos, amongst the Macro-
Lepidoptera, I might cite many instances: some, however,
especially amongst the Noctuz, are so capricious, that what
is a late emergence in the experience of one observer is an
average appearance in the estimation of another. The follow-
ing were noticeably behind the wonted period in London, or
in the country south and east of the metropolis, as seen or
captured by myself:—Melanippe montanata, M. galiata,
Cabera exanthemaria, Anaitis plagiata, Camptogramma
bilineata, Iodis lactearia, Hemerophila abruptaria, Acronycta
Psi, Acidalia straminata, Euclidia Mi, and Orgyia pudi-
bunda. From the paucity of Tortrices and Crambi on the
wing in June, it was evident that in these families the
unfavourable effects of the season had also been felt.—Jd.
Agamogenesis in Sphinx Ligustri.i—Perhaps some of the
readers of the ‘Entomologist’ will recollect, or, on referring
to vol. v. p. 375, will find, a communication from me on the
232 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
above subject, with a note from the Editor requesting further
observations, and that I would report thereon; and, though I
have but little to communicate, I now send the desired
report. 1 stated in my first communication that I had nearly
fifty larve, from eggs produced by one moth; but when they
had grown larger and could be more easily counted, I found the
number was sixty-three: ten of these I retained for personal
observation; I gave nine to one friend, and six to another;
the remainder I turned adrift when they were nearly full fed.
Those in my possession all went to earth on and before the
12th of August, 1871; five of them produced moths, the first
emerging on the 17th June, 1872, followed by others on the
19th, 20th, 23rd, and 27th; the first and fifth died in a day
or two after emergence, without laying eggs, yet, on dissec-
tion, I found they contained eggs in an undeveloped state,
and that they apparently died from dropsy, their bodies being
nearly full of water; the others laid eggs respectively on the
24th, 27th, and 30th, all the eggs being unfruitful; therefore
it would appear that Agamogenesis does not descend beyond
the first generation. Some of the moths reared by my two
friends also produced barren eggs. All the moths contained
eggs, and it appears to me questionable whether there are
any males in moths in which we find Agamogenesis. It will
also be seen that but five out of ten caterpillars produced
moths this year; but, on turning up the earth in my breed-
ing-cage, I found five apparently healthy, active pupe, one
of which I dissected, and found it to be full of moisture, and
without the least appearance of change. I also found on
enquiry that my friends had but seven moths from fifteen
caterpillars; thus from twenty-five pupz there has been but
twelve moths, leaving thirteen pupz still undeveloped. I
have again buried the four pupe, with the hope that next
year they may produce moths: should they do so I think it
may account for various moths being more abundant some
years than they are at others. In an uncongenial season like
the present, pupz remain dormant until one more conge-
nial, when they emerge with others; thus increasing the
number of moths in that year to more than the usual average.
Sphinx Ligustri appear to be more general feeders than was
at one time thought: I have found them feeding on ash,
privet, teasel, laurustinus, and fuchsia; and I see they have
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. oss
been taken this year from holly; yet I have invariably found
that they will leave any other food for the privet, when it is
placed near them.—Stephen Clogg ; Looe, September 9, 1872.
The Smerinthi Double-brooded (Entom. vi. 190).—It is not
a very rare occurrence for a second brood—or at least a
portion of a second brood—of the above genus to appear in
confinement, if the weather proves favourable to their deve-
lopment. On more than one occasion I have reared S. Populi
and occasionally, though much more rarely, 8. ocellatus, in
the autumn, from eggs laid in May or June; and a few
seasons ago I caught a specimen of 8. Populi at large, in
August. I never obtained a second brood of S. Tiliz; and
my experience points to the fact that the specimens of
S. Populi bred in the autumn are inferior in size to their
spring relations, a fact, indeed, which is well known with
other species whose double-broodedness is unquestionable.
I have observed, too, that in the case of S. Populi a small
proportion of the pupz produce moths in the autumn, whilst
the rest stand over till the following spring; and I suspect
that the emergence of specimens out of doors is of rare
occurrence in the autumn: I have known but of the solitary
instance mentioned above. During a very warm season
many species, which are usually slow in their development,
pass through their metamorphoses with comparative rapidity :
for instance, in 1868 I caught two females of A. fuliginosa on
the 10th and 15th of May respectively ; both deposited eggs,
which duly hatched; but several of the larve from the first
brood outstripped their fellows in growth so much, that ten
of them produced moths between the 8th and 13th of the
following July, whilst the majority of their brethren were
busily feeding, and about half-grown. The past summer
has undoubtedly had a very peculiar effect upon the deve-
lopment of many insects; and, instead of increasing the
broods, seems to have retarded or destroyed a large propor-
tion.—G. B. Corbin; Ringwood.
Atropus niveus.——This peculiar little insect has again
occurred in the locality where I met with it last season, and
I have seen specimens from the beginning of June till the end
of August; but, compared with last season’s abundance, the
species has been scarce this. One evening in August I
caught two specimens flying rather rapidly, about ¢hree or
N 2
234 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
four feet above the surface of the water, thus, in a measure,
departing from the usual habit of the species, whose lowly
flight has more than once been adverted to in these pages.
With regard to the question asked by my friend Mr. J. P.
Barrett, viz., “‘ How long will Niveus survive away from its
native pond?” (Entom. vi. 199), I may say that my limited
experience points to the fact that they soon die when placed
in a pill-box, but some specimens live comparatively much
longer than others in such a situation. It is a species which
seems to have abundance of enemies of various kinds, as
their torn and defunct bodies, so often seen floating about on
the surface of the water, testify ; but the cause is, doubtless,
traceable to the habit of the species hiding amongst the
herbage at the water’s edge during the day-time: thus they
become an easy prey to spiders and other predatory crea-
tures. J have seen a small reddish ground-beetle—Calathus
mollis or C. melanocephalus, I believe—preying upon them
more than once; and some specimens of Niveus I have seen
completely covered with exceedingly small, leech-like crea-
tures, whose tenacious hold must have been anything but
pleasant to the poor little insect.—G. B. Corbin.
Where are the Lepidoptera ?—Whilst our ornithological
brethren in various quarters are—or were—crying, ‘“‘ Where
are the swallows?” we may with equal reason enquire after
the insects of different orders which constitute the food of
the birds, for surely there has been an equal scarcity of both.
I never experienced a worse season for Lepidoptera; for
even the species which hitherto have been abundant were
scarce, or altogether unrepresented this season. “‘ Sugar” has
been a total failure; and both diurnal and nocturnal Lepi-
doptera have alike experienced some serious drawback or
partial annihilation. Some evenings in “leafy June” I
rambled miles, net in hand, without seeing a single specimen
of any moth, large or small. What could have been the
cause! Was it the cold, damp spring and early summer;
and did its effects retard or destroy the “ game” we sought
after? Under either circumstance, what are our prospects for
next season! ‘The latter part of the summer appeared to be
favourable, as far as heat, and fine, bright weather were
concerned; still the state of things remained almost un-
changed, and the scarcity of Lepidoptera seemed to be
4
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 235
regulated by the ancient law of the Medes and Persians,
which “altereth not."—G. B. Corbin.
The fitful appearance of Rare Insects.—Can any of your
readers explain the fitful appearance of some of our rarities?
This year, V. Antiopa, frequently recorded; last year, D.
pulchella; and in 1870, D. Galii. In the ‘ Entomologist’ for
March, 1871, I recorded the capture of a considerable
number of the larve of D. Galii, at New Brighton, in the
autumn of the previous year. Indeed, they were not at all
uncommon, nor confined to any particular locality, but were
met with for miles along the sand-hills, wherever the Galium
plant grew. It was difficult to believe they had been sufficiently
sought for before. ‘This, however, was not the case, as every
year, for the last ten or twenty years, the sand-hills had been
most diligently searched by some of our best observers, and
such a conspicuous larva as D. Galii could not have been
overlooked. Again, none have been found since 1870. The
blown-over theory surely cannot account for such occur-
rences; and in the case of the V. Antiopa recorded it is
evidently genuine British, from the peculiar white margin.—
Samuel James Capper ; Huyton Park, near Liverpool.
Argynnis Lathonia and Pieris Daplidice in Jersey.—l
took Lathonia rather plentifully on the lst of April and the
Ist of June on some sand-hills near the sea-shore: few were
on the wing during July and August, but in the middle of
September they again appeared. ‘The April specimens were
evidently just out of the chrysalis: they were smaller than
autumnal ones. I took one Daplidice during May, and about
a dozen more in August.—W. Poingdestre; 6, Clarence
Terrace, St. Helier’s, Jersey, September 23, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia at Folkestone.—A specimen of Argyn-
nis Lathonia was caught on the 14th September in the
Warren, near Folkestone, by H. G. Greenish.—‘ Science
Gossip, October 1, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia and Pieris Daplidice in Kent.—On
August 26th I had the pleasure of capturing one specimen of
Lathonia, and saw two others at the foot of the hills at
Folkestone. Mr. Harbour, of Deal, reports to me the capture
of six specimens of Lathonia: one at Walmer, one at Gussen,
and four at Shepherd’s Well, by a gentleman collecting for
his first season, who also took five Daplidice. One Daplidice
236 ; THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
was also taken at the back of Dover Castle and one at
Tilmanstone, by a country lad, who sold it for the enormous
sum of one penny.—C. Seabrook ; 17, Queen Street, Bromp-
ton, S.W., September 24, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia at Ipswich.—I have been again fortu-
nate with Lathonia, and have captured two fine specimens
flying over the Phlox Drummondii.—C. F. Long, Medical
Superintendent, Ipswich Borough Asylum, Sept. 22, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia and Pieris Daplidice at Aldeburgh,
Suffolk.—l have had the pleasure of seeing a specimen of
P. Daplidice and also of A. Lathonia, taken by my cousin,
Mr. A. E. Garrod, at Aldeburgh, on the 6th and 13th of
September last.—A. L. Hunt; St. John’s College, Cam-
bridge, October 22, 1872.
Occurrences of Vanessa Antiopa in Great Britain and
Treland during the Autumn of 1872 (continued from Entom.
vi. 219) :—
Cheshire. This has been a poor season for Entomology
about here: my best acquisition is an Antiopa taken this
autumn at Neston, two miles from here, and given to me
alive-—J. F'. Brockholes.
Cornwall. A single specimen was seen, but not taken, at
Hessenford, about five miles from Looe, about the middle of
August.— Stephen Clogg.
Devonshire. It may interest some of your readers to know
that I caught a fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa in this
neighbourhood (Exeter): it was resting on a willow at the
time I captured it—W. K. Batchelor ; ‘Journal of Horti-
culture.
Durham. VY. Antiopa has been rather plentiful about here
this autumn. On August 23rd I caught a fine male in my
garden here, another was seen the same day, also one on the
24th and one on the 30th; all near here. Since then two
have been seen in the town; and I have had a worn female
sent me from near Castle Eden Dene. On September 5th
(whilst taking G. C-Album, which was very numerous, in a
wood near Helmsley, Yorkshire) I caught a fine female, and
saw another on the 6th, but was unable to catch it.—Frederic
Raine.
Ireland. Mr. Frank Fowler, Ravensdale Park Gardens,
Co. Louth, writes :—“ We have seen this beautiful butterfly
here on two occasions this season, though not able to capture
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. P37
it. I think it has a taste for fruit, having been ‘seen near the
peach-house.”—‘ Journal of Horticulture, Sept. 19, 1872.
Northumberland. My wife has seen a specimen of Antiopa
at Newbiggen-by-the-Sea, and my brother-in-law saw another
at Warkworth.—J. C. Wassermann.
Somersetshire. One seen near Taunton.—J. Gatcombe.
Suffolk. We have just taken at Oakley, August 29th, a
specimen of Vanessa Antiopa: it was seen resting on the
front wall-plate of a fig-house; it next visited the peach-
houses, where I made an unsuccessful attempt to capture it.
In half an hour it came back to nearly the same spot; and
was finally taken resting on the border close to a few peaches
that were ripening on the open wall. I think it is more than
likely it has a taste for fruit, like its near relative V. Atalanta.
—Wm. Robins; Oakley Park; ‘Journal of Horticulture,
Seplember 12, 1872.
Surrey. V. Antiopa appears to be unusually numerous
this season: a fine specimen was caught at Buxted a fort-
night ago. Subsequently another rare butterfly, Pieris
Daplidice, was caught while hovering over some lavender
flowers.—Edward Luckhurst ; ‘ Journal of Horticulture’
Sussex. On Monday, September 2nd, at Maresfield, the
seat of Lady Shelley—Hdward Newman.
Warwickshire. About ten days since I had a fine
V. Antiopa brought me that had been captured at Middleton,
a village four miles from here.—Kgbert D. Hamel; Tam-
worth, October 3, 1872. I caught, on the 19th September
ult., a specimen of V. Antiopa in Combe Wood.—ZH. Vicars ;
Rugby.
Yorkshire. On Wednesday, 21st August, a friend of mine
took a specimen of V. Antiopa at rest on a manure heap.—
Jno. Harrison; 7, Victoria Bridge, Barnsley. On August
16th, I had brought to me alive a fine specimen of Antiopa,
by a person who had taken it off a wall at Keighley the previous
day.—R. Millar; 83, Hanover Street, Keighley, York-
shire. I hear that four specimens of V. Antiopa were
seen at Hovingham, about the third week in September:
two were captured, and a third might have been, as it sat for
a long time on a window, but its value being unknown it was
allowed to escape; anda person in Driffield says that she saw
a large, dark butterfly, with a light-coloured border, fluttering
outside her window.—G. Lt. Dawson ; Driffield.
238 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Correction of locality for V. Antiopa.—In my notice of the ©
capture of V. Antiopa (Entom. vi. 218, line 7), for “ Bury St.
Edmunds,” read “ Bury, Lancashire.”—R. Kay.
Nola albulalis in the Isle of Wight.—It will be interesting
to you to know that Mr. Packman, of Dartford, has this
season (in July) taken some very fine specimens of the scarce
Nola albulalis. J cannot give you the exact locality, but it
is certainly no great distance from Dartford, as he tells me
he had plenty of time for collecting when he started in the
morning, and returned the same afternoon.—Geo. W. Bird ;
October 23, 1872.
Choerocampa Celerio.—I have recently placed in my col-
lection a specimen of this insect, in perfect condition, which
was taken in Southover, Lewes, about the middle of Septem-
ber, by my cousin, Mr. Evelyn Blaker, who kindly presented
it to me alive. The moth flew in at the open window,
attracted doubtless by the light, for which this species is
known to have so strong a predilection. S. Blaker ;
Lewes, October 21, 1872.
Zygena Meliloti.i—In the first week of July this year
I took in the New Forest (and in the part of it mentioned by
your other correspondents) male and female specimens of
Zygena Meliloti. Furthermore, I obtained a supply of eggs;
and immediately on my return to town I handed perfect
insects (the actual parents) and eggs to Mr. T. H. Briggs,
with whose paper on the“ English Burnets” (Trans. Ent.
Soc. 1871, pp. 417—440) many of your readers are, no
doubt, familiar. The aspect of the specimens and the time
of their appearance made it impossible to refer them to any
of our five-spotted forms; and if they had been either form
of Trifolii, the conclusions to which Mr. Briggs’ paper points
would have been swept away. The discovery was, therefore,
exceptionally interesting; but, after submitting scales, &c.,
and the eggs to a microscopical scrutiny (Mr. Briggs has the
notes made at the time), it was determined to wait uutil the
larvee grew, and then to renew investigations. Of these larvee
I can give no account; but Mr. Briggs has a number duly
hybernating, and he will, no doubt, be able eventually to give
full details. I hope we shall thus, in due course, have a com-
plete life-history of the moth: when this is written the ento-
mologist will have done his work. Then we must expect the
7
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 239
synonymy-man ; for I suppose there is no one not thoroughly
prepared for the announcement that “ Meliloti, Esper,” must
be promptly surrendered for the “Coribungus” of some
“prior” worthy. It may be worth while to add that this
insect is not the Meliloti of Stephens or Curtis. The former,
however, considers that Albin’s picture of a Zygeena larva
(pl. Ixxxii.), represents the larva of Meliloti, figured and
described by Esper. F can see no resemblance.—W. A.
Lewis ; Temple, October, 1872.
Callimorpha Hera at St. Leonard’s.—A specimen of Cal-
limorpha Hera was caught by a member of our household in
1868, in a garden near Warrior Square Station, St. Leonard’s,
and is still in my possession. I have also a Vanessa Antiopa,
taken on a paling near this house in 1872.—H. C. Fawcett ;
Beach View, Hollington, Hastings, October 7, 1872.
Note on Zeuzera Aisculi.—\ have more than once observed
that this moth, when newly emerged, has the wings rubbed
or torn at the margins; and this is probably the case pretty
frequently with this and other wood-feeding species, where
the moth has to extricate itself from a puparium partially
surrounded by wood and bark. The female moth rarely quits
the tree from which it has emerged until impregnation has
taken place; but the male flies about with some degree of
briskness.—J. R. S. Clifford.
R. Crategata and A, Caja.—The following facts, from
personal observation, about these two common species, have
not, I believe, yet been recorded. Many larve of Crategata
hybernate, at least in the North of England, and are found
full grown in the spring; the moths from these begin to
emerge about Midsummer, and form our summer brood:
these are half as large again as the wmagos of the spring
brood, and more brilliantly coloured. In this district Caja is
rather scarce, and the eggs are generally laid on willow or
poplar, on which the young larve thrive well tll after hyber-
nation. When found in the spring they are generally on low
plants, as in those places where the species is most abundant.
—G. P. Harris; Richmond, Yorkshire.
Teniocampa Opima—Through the kindness of Mr.
Capper, of Huyton Park, near Liverpool, I, like Mr. Corbin,
became possessed of eggs of the above species, and acting on
the advice of that gentleman, I placed them in a fine calico
240 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
bag, and tied them on a branch of the sallow. In about a
fortnight they hatched; and, like those of Mr. Corbin’s,
throve wonderfully well. When they were about one-third
grown I removed them from the calico bag, divided them
into three companies of about forty each, placing each
company in acourse muslin bag to allow of more air and
light, again tying them on to branches of the sallow, changing
them every third or fourth day according to circumstances ;
and although we had many heavy thunder-storms and drench-
ing showers, still they continued to thrive, many of them
outstripping their companions by several days in the race for
maturity; at which stage I removed them to my breeding-
cage, where they would feed for two or three days, and then
go down. I only lost some four or five, and those more by
accident than otherwise; so that I calculate I have quite a
hundred healthy pup. I may say I was equally successful
with larve of O. fascelina, sent me by the same gentleman.
—Thomas Goodyear; Church Road, Malvern Link, August
4, 1872.
Description of the Larva of E. Pimpinellata, late Denotata.
—Var. 1. Ground colour bright green, sometimes darker on
the centre of the back; central dorsal line darker green ;
subdorsal lines paler; anal tip of dorsal line crimson; head
reddish ; spiracular line pale green; belly green, paler than
ground colour; segmental divisions pale yellowish green:
resembles much the larve of Fraxinata and Lariciata.
Var. 2. Pale russet-green; dorsal line darker; subdorsal
line slightly darker; head reddish brown; anal tip of dorsal
line crimsonish red; spiracular line yellowish, margined
underneath with russet-brown; belly yellowish green; seg-
mental divisions paler. Var. 3. Neutral crimsonish red;
paler towards the spiracular line ; dorsal line madder-brown ;
subdorsal lines indistinct, reddish brown; head reddish
brown; tip of anal segment crimsonish red; spiracular line
pale straw-colour; margined underneath with neutral red ;
belly grayish; segmental divisions pale straw-colour. In
shape all resemble very much the larve of Fraxinata and
Lariciata, and are full fed the latter end of September. It
feeds on the seeds of Pimpinella magna and P. Saxifraga;
seems most partial to P. magna, upon which plant I have found
the larve rather freely. The colour of the larva seems to
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 24]
assimilate with the seeds: green ones upon green unripe
seeds, and the red ones upon the purple ripe seeds.— William
Prest ; 13, Holgate Road, York, September 16, 1872.
Variety of C. Xerampelina.—On the 22nd of August I
had the pleasure of taking a very fine variety of Xerampelina:
the ground colour, instead of being yellow, is of a dull
coppery red, the stigmata darker, and the lines forming the
central fascia pale bright yellow. It is identical with speci-
mens from the Isle of Man, now in the possession of Mr. E.
Birchall.— William Prest.
{I have this variety, and find it described in Guenée,
vol. v. p. 402.—Edward Newman.|
Chortodes Bondii and its Food-plant.—The addition of
the date of Mr. Poulton’s capture of this species (Entom. vi.
191), would render his note more valuable. What does he
intend by wild rhubarb? The rhubarb so commonly culti-
vated is not a British plant, though a straggler may now and
then be seen growing apparently wild. Is it not the buck-
wheat (Fagopyrum) that he is referring to? The yellow-
flowered plant described is probably the charlock,—at any
rate one of the common Crucifere.—J. R. 8. Clifford ; -59,
Robert Street, Chelsea.
Catocala Fraxini at Shrewsbury.—l have in my posses-
sion a specimen of this rare and beautiful insect, C. Fraxini,
which was brought to me alive by the Rev. R. Warren, the
Mount, Shrewsbury: it was taken by his daughters, while
playing on the lawn, about mid-day, on the 19th September.
This is the first specimen I have heard of, taken in the
neighbourhood of Shrewsbury.—T. Pickin; Mount Fields,
Shrewsbury.
Catocala Fraxini near Wisbech.—On the 81st of August
I took, at sugar, a fine specimen of Catocala Fraxini.—G.
D. Armitage; The Cottage, Tydd St. Mary, Wisbech, Sep-
tember 23, 1872.
Leucania L-Album and Catocala Fraxini near Canter-
bury.—A fine specimen of L. L-Album was taken at Pine
Wood, Settlebourne, by Mr. E. Edney, a collector. On
Tuesday, the 24th of September, I took one myself at sugar;
last evening, Saturday, in the same place, it was very windy,
when both were taken in the same wood, where my brother
took the only known specimen three years ago, which
949 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Dr. Harper had; and singularly enough I took Catocala
Fraxini in the same wood the same year; so also I have this
year.—G. Parry; Church Street, St. Paul's, Canterbury,
September 29, 1872.
Pupe at Derwent Water.—Last winter I dug, near Der-
went Water, pupez of the three following insects, which are
not mentioned in Mr. Greene’s list :—Notodonta Carmelita:
six, at the foot of a small birch; I reared these and got
eggs, and have now several pupe from them. Ennomos
Lunaria: two, under loose bark of a birch, if I remember
right. Halias Prasinana: spun up among the grass at foot
of an oak. These were dug in September, 1871. I may also
mention, to encourage beginners, that it was nearly my first
attempt at digging; and that I also got during the winter
pupe of Apiformis, P. Populi, Palpina, Camelina, Dodonza,
Ocularis, Ridens, Crepuscularia, Abbreviata, Castigata, and
many of the common species.—W, C. Marshall; Trinity
College, Cambridge.
Entomology at Watlington.—During a short visit to Wat-
lington I observed a few species which escaped my notice
last year: Ochroleuca frequented the flowers of Centaurea
Scabiosa during the day; Cardui had just emerged from
the chrysalis; Satyrus Semele had been taken earlier in the
season; and the gentleman who had captured it also in-
formed me that he had seen a specimen of Apatura Iris in
an oak grove near, but failed to secure it. Larve of Ligustri
and Atropos were tolerably common. Among others I noticed
Galiata, Popularis, Diffinis, Libatrix (very fine, at sugar),
Tota, Chrysitis, Tragopogonis, &c.—7’. P. Lucas; 169, Ken-
nington Road, Lambeth, London.
Prionus coriarius in Devon.—-Two specimens of this
somewhat rare beetle, male and female, were taken in this
neighbourhood in August last—John Purdue; Ridgeway,
Plympton, Devon.
Note on Phylloxera Quercus.—The recent account of
Phylloxera vitifoliz or Vastratrix, in the ‘American Natu-
ralist,’ mentions that it is oviparous in summer and hybernates
in winter, and that there are no eggs then. In this it agrees
with Phylloxera Quercus, which | have often observed, for
more than twenty years, to lay eggs in summer and autumn,
which eggs are shortly hatched, and their occupants do not
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 248
lay eggs, but pass away in early winter, except a remnant,
which must serve for the continuance of the race. As the
moving power of the creature is very little it cannot go far
from the leaf, to whose recesses it must resort in the spring ;
and the means whereby it shelters itself from severe frost has
not been observed. Other families of Aphides pass the
winter in the egg-state; and Chaitophorus Aceris is remark-
able on account of its estivation, or passing summer months
in a suspension of growth, as is the ease with some cater-
pillars: this occurs in a very early stage of its existence.
P. Quercus is represented beyond the Atlantic by another
Phylloxera (P. Rileyi of Lichtenstein), which frequents oaks
in North America.—Francis Walker.
Additional Parasites of Cynips lignicola.—\ have lately
bred seven different species of parasites, not including the
well-known Callimome (Devoniensis, Par.) and Decatoma,
from some dwarfed galls of C. lignicola, which I collected at
Burnham, Essex, last February. Mr. Walker has kindly
examined the insects, and finds some new to Britain, if not
altogether new species. The insects are (1), ten specimens
of Ormyrus punctiger, emerged from 18th June to 29th
July ; (2) one male Eurytoma, x.s.? emerged 18th April;
(3) one Pteromalus, sp.? emerged 13th May; (4) numerous
specimens of a Callimome, nearly allied to C. inconstans,
emerged between 28th April and 20th June; (5) several
females and one male of Callimome, z.s., emerged between
8rd and 17th April; (6) nine specimens of a small black
Hymenopteron, quite unknown to Mr. Walker, seven females
and two males, emerged from middle to end of March;
(7) one specimen, emerged 25th June, returned by Mr.
Walker as 7.g.? allied to Entedon. All these were bred from
a small cluster of galls on a single twig —Edward A. Fitch ;
Down Hall, Rayleigh, Essex, October 8, 1872.
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological Society,
February 5 to March 18, 1872.
Plant-lice and their Enemies.—Mr. M‘Lachlan brought
before the notice of the meeting an illustration of the manner
in which the ravages of Aphides are checked by parasitic
244 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Hymenoptera. He exhibited a portion of poplar-twig from
Dr. Knaggs’ garden at Kentish Town, which had been occu-
pied by a large family of dark-coloured Aphides: of these
nothing now remained but their empty inflated skins, each
of which presented a circular opening, whence the parasite
(probably an Aphidius) had emerged, the whole bearing much
resemblance to a collection of empty egg-shells of some large
Lepidopterous insect. The portion of poplar-twig was less
than an inch in length, and on it were nearly one hundred of
these empty skins.
Two Species of Argas new to Britain.—Prof. Westwood
exhibited specimens and drawings of the following :—
Argas reflexus, Latreille. Type of a family and genus not
hitherto recorded as British. A colony of this species had
been found by Mr. Gulliver under a stone in the crypt of
Canterbury Cathedral. It ordinarily infests pigeons on the
Continent, and the colony had probably originated from
individuals that had fallen from the flocks of those birds
frequenting the Cathedral. (Mr. F. Smith added that speci-
mens of the dog-tick had been forwarded to him that had
been found in the same Cathedral, and he has since furnished
information to the effect that the British Museum possesses
an example of the Argas from the same building.)
Argas Noctule, Westw. Perfectly round in outline, the
disk of the cephalothorax with deep and large punctures
widely scattered, and with radiating punctures towards the
margins. Long.5 mm. Taken from off a gentleman in the
church of Whittlesford, Cambridgeshire, having evidently
fallen from the larger noctule bat, of which two young
individuals had dropped close to the gentleman on whom it
had been found, and whom it attempted to bite. Forwarded
to Prof. Westwood by Mr. F. Bond. It is closely allied to
the Argas Pipistrella of Audouin, but is very much larger.
Double Cocoons of Insects.—Mr. F. Smith called attention
to the fact that mice are in the habit of devouring the dead
pup of Bombyx mori contained in what is known as ‘ silk-
waste,’ vz., the inner cocoon remaining after the external
silken envelope had been wound off. This had been brought
to his notice by one of his sons as occurring in a London
silk-warehouse, and a parcel of the said ‘waste’ brought to
him afforded an instance of a double cocoon, or, rather,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 245
a very large cocoon containing two pupz lying free within it,
and evidently constructed by two larve working in concert.
Mr. F. Moore said the cocoons were those of Bombyx mori,
from China. Double cocoons were not of infrequent occur-
rence; and occasioned some additional trouble in the winding
process. Mr. Jenner Weir alluded to the occurrence of
double cocoons of Eriogaster lanestris; and Mr. Miiller
remarked on an analogous occurrence among species of
sawflies, though this was scarcely a parallel instance, inas-
much as the sawfly larva merely used one side of an already
constructed cocoon as a foundation for its own, and did not
act in concert with its fellows.
Parasitic Larve of Pygera bucephala.—Mx. Butler exhi-
bited drawings (and a dried specimen) of parasitic larvee that
had emerged from the bodies of caterpillars of Pygzra buce-
phala, which they almost equalled in size. He had not been
able to determine the insect to which the larve belonged, as
these latter died after spinning a quantity of threads,"partly
black, partly white, on the surface of the earth in the vessel
in which they were placed. It was suggested that they
probably pertained to some large species of the family
Ichneumonide.
Ants Storing Seeds.—Dr. ¥. Buchanan White communi-
cated the following extracts from his note-book respecting
the habits of a species of ant in Italy, bearing upon Mr.
Moggridge’s remarks on the storing of seeds by ants at
Mentone, as noticed by Mr. F. Smith at the meeting on the
Ist of January, and reported in the ‘ Entomologist,’ vol. vi. p. 54,
* Capri, June 3, 1866. In the afternoon to the Punta Tragara,
where a colony of ants afforded us much amusement. These
little insects had a regular road, made by cutting away the grass
and other plants in their way. This road was about one inch
and a half wide and several yards long, and led to a large
clump of plants in seed. Along this road a long train of ants
were perpetually travelling to the nest (or formicarium), bear-
ing with them pods of Leguminous plants, seeds of grass and
of Composite (Chrysanthemum segetum), &c. The perse-
verance with which a single ant would tug and draw a pod
four times its own length was very interesting; sometimes
three or four ants would unite in carrying one burden. Near
the formicarium was a great mass of débris, consisting of
246 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
empty pods, twigs, emptied snail-shells, &c., cast out by the
ants. ‘The seeds appeared to be stored inside the nest, as in
one that I opened the other day I found a large collection.
.... The species was a black ant; the formicarium was
under ground.” The late Mr. Charles Horne had observed,
in the open plains of India, a similar habit in the species of
ants found there. Their pathways were often thirty feet in
length, and formed by cutting away the grass, &c., as noticed
by Dr. White, and the ants were constantly seen carrying
full grass seeds into their nests: the quantity of seeds was
sometimes so great that five or six handsfull could be
collected from one nest.
Do Galls of Willows ever overhang Water ?—Mr. Albert
Miiller read the following remarks :—“ In a letter I lately
received from Mr. Peter Cameron, jun., of Glasgow, the
writer asks: ‘Have you noticed that the galls on willows
overhanging rivers are only on the leaves above the land,
very few, if any, being on the leaves over the water? This is
the case in this neighbourhood.’ The gall referred to by my
correspondent is produced by Nematus Vallisnieri, Harizg.
I certainly have seldom, if ever, seen the galls on boughs
overhanging water, but the question requires further investi-
gation. Baron von Osten Sacken has recorded the same
thing of the American plum weevil (Conotrachelus nenuphar),
which, according to him, avoids trees overhanging water
when depositing its eggs. The question of ovipositing insects
thus avoiding trees in positions which may be dangerous to
their brood has some practical bearing where the conserva-
tion of foliage or fruit crops is of importance. I have myself
witnessed that certain water-beetles, namely, Dytiscus margi-.
nalis and several species of Colymbetes, have dropped down
on hothouse frames protected by glass. They made this
mistake by taking the glass to be their native element:
theirs was an error of sight. Assuming that insects injurious
to fruit-trees often discern their positions by sight, it seems
worth while to offer the suggestion that the means which
attracted the water-beetles might possibly be made use of for
keeping away such insects as avoid water, and which might
possibly be scared away by any object simulating that
element.”
Argas reflexus.—Prof. Westwood exhibited living examples
of Argas reflexus, from Canterbury Cathedral, of which he
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 247
brought dried examples before the meeting on the 5th
ultimo ; also another species of the same genus collected by
Dr. Livingstone in Central Africa, remarkable for the rounded
tubercles with which its surface is studded. This latter
species, according to Dr. Livingstone’s observations, enters
the feet of the natives, between the toes, causing pain and
inflammation.
Undescribed Species of Phycita—Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited
an apparently undescribed species of Phycita, taken near
Gravesend, bearing much external resemblance to certain
species of Crambus, and especially to C. perlellus, of which
it possessed the pearly lustre.
Ants Storing Grain.—Mr. F. Smith stated that he had
received a further communication from Mr. J. T. Moggridge,
now at Mentone, respecting the storing of grain by ants
of the genus Aphenogaster, as mentioned at the meeting on
the Ist of January. Mr. Moggridge had confined a colony of
the ants in a glass vessel, so as to observe their habits, and
he was able to confirm his previously-expressed belief that
they feed upon the stored grain.
Coleopterous Fauna of Eastern Siberia and Western
Europe.—Mxr. H. W. Bates exhibited a number of British
species of the genus Carabus, arranged side by side with the
species which were their nearest representatives in Eastern
Siberia, as illustrations of the wide difference which exists
between the Coleopterous fauna of Eastern Siberia and of
Western Europe. He added that of about fifty species of
Carabus inhabiting Eastern Siberia, only one (C. granulatus)
was found also in Western Europe, the other forty-nine
being quite distinct. He recalled the attention of the Society
to the wide acceptance which the zoo-geographical division
of the globe, as propounded by Dr. Sclater, had received
amongst zoologists. An amendment of these divisions had
been since proposed by Prof. Huxley, who, however, did not
change that portion of Sclater’s generalization which con-
cerned the subject now under consideration, and which
established the whole of Europe and Northern Asia as one
great division, termed the “ Palearctic.” This division
appeared to apply very well to the classes of birds and
mammals, but not to insects, as was shown by the great
amount of difference existing in the genus Carabus and in
other genera of Coleoptera. Each species exhibited was
248 THE ENTOMOLOGIST:
accompanied by that to which it was most nearly allied.
Thus C. nitens was represented in Eastern Siberia by
C. tuberculosus ; C. clathratus by C. canaliculatus ; C. arvensis
by C. conciliatus; C. monilis by C. regalis, &c. No greater
amount of difference existed between Northern America and
the Palearctic region, although the former had been separated
as a distinct region, termed the “ Nearctic.” In conclusion,
Mr. Bates remarked that he considered no_ philosophical
importance could be attached to vague general divisions of
the earth. What was really important was to ascertain the
districts which presented a large amount of peculiar forms,
and then to investigate the causes and origin of this
peculiarity in each case. In the course of the discussion
that followed, Prof. Westwood remarked upon the desirability
of ascertaining the range of each species, and of determining
the amount of variation or modification presented by it in
different districts; and he called attention to the similarity
between the insects of Eastern Siberia, Japan, and Western
America. Dr. Sharp said that the Spanish Carabi were
mostly peculiar to the Iberian peninsula, though some were
species known to have a wide range, but modified in this
district. He considered that species quite peculiar to moun-
tains were necessarily restricted in their range, whereas those
found in the plains were of wide distribution. He remarked
that all the species of the genus Oxytelus, seen by him, from
Eastern Siberia, were specifically identical with those of
Britain, whereas of the genus Bledius no species was com-
mon to both countries. Messrs. Weir, Miiller, Janson,
M‘Lachlan, &c., also took part in the discussion, and the two
latter remarked on additional instances of the occurrence of
allied forms in Eastern Asia and North America, as exhibited
in the genus Pteronarcys among the Neuroptera, and Cupes
in Coleoptera.
The Genus Acentropus.—Mr. Dunning read a memoir on
the genus Acentropus, in which he brought together a résumé
of all that had been written on the subject. After commenting
upon the opinions expressed by various authors as to the
position of the genus, he arrived at the conclusion that it is
truly Lepidopterous; and, furthermore, he had failed to find
valid reasons for considering that more than one species
existed, for which he retained the name Acentropus niveus.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 111.] DECEMBER, MDCCCLXXILI. [Price 6d.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 227.)
EUPELMUS DEGEERI.
This fly has a range from Italy to Sweden, where it was
first described by Degeer, whose name it bears, and there is
matter for discovery in the habits of life of it and its asso-
ciates. Of the latter the first is the Cynips of Potentilla
reptans, a maker of galls on this plant. The second is
Torymus globiceps, Nees, first noticed by Degeer, who
reared it and the gall-maker from the same gall, and observed
that the Torymus grub spared the Cynips grub, whereby it
VOL, VI. )
250 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
would seem that they partook together of the substance of
the gall. Nees, though he names the second Torymus
(= Callimome), supposes that it may be a Eupelmus, and
says that he is not aware that any one, except Degeer, has
observed it. The third is Eurytoma Abrotani: many of
these were reared by Nees from Potentilla galls, which galls
had just before produced the Cynips abundantly. Nees does
not mention whether the Eurytoma interferes in early life
with the Cynips, and J believe that different species are
included by him under the name E. Abrotani. The species
which Nees describes as Eurytoma plumata is not known as
British (there is a continental specimen of it in the British
Museum), but I believe that some of the authors which he has
cited, under the above name, have described a different and a
British species.
CEROCEPHALA FORMICIFORMIS.
This species is semi-domestic and of rare occurrence, and
may be parasitic on a house-insect. I have seen it on paper
at Killarney, in North Devon, in Lancashire, and near
London. Spalangia nigra, which belongs to the same family,
is never abundant, though it is a parasite of the common
house-fly, and there is room for inquiry as to the means by
which some Chalcidiz are exceedingly rare, while others,
such as a Pteromalus or a Diglyphus, appear in hundreds of
thousands.
The family to which Pirene varicornis belongs may be
found on flowers in fields, and one of them, at least, is
:
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 951
serviceable to the growth of corn, being a parasite of the
Cecidomyia that infests the ears.
PIRENE VARICORNIS.
FRANCIS WALKER.
Observations on Diptera. By R. H. MrEapg, Esq.
In the hope of exciting some interest in the study of
British Diptera, I am induced to make a few observations on
this almost totally-neglected class of insects.
It is difficult to tell the reason why the two-winged flies
have excited so little attention in Great Britain, since on the
continent of Europe they have always been, and still are, a
favourite group of insects. I cannot believe that English
entomologists, who have any true appreciation of the wonders
of the science which they profess to study, are only capti-
vated, like children, by the bright hues of butterflies’ wings ;
but if it be not so, why do the Lepidoptera engross so much
attention, to the exclusion of the other orders?
Though the colours of Diptera are generally sober, they
are not always so; and in some families, as the Syrphide,
they can vie with those of the Hymenoptera; but it is not
for their colours that they deserve to be studied, but, as
with Coleoptera, on account of their endless varieties and
numbers. They constitute one of the most extensive orders
of insects, both as regards the immense number of distinct
species, and also the enormous swarms of individuals of the
same species: surely the number of objects to be investigated
must increase the interest of the study. It may render the
252 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
commencement of the task more difficult; but when we admit
that novelty adds the sweetest charm to all pursuits, we must
allow that the study of Diptera is not likely to lose its
interest for want of new objects to be examined.
To the naturalist, condemned, like myself, to pass the
greater portion of his life in a large town, Diptera are
interesting, because many species may be met with in our
houses and on our windows, in our stable-yards and little
gardens, and in many suburban localities, where no Lepi-
doptera or Hymenoptera, and very few Coleoptera, could be
found. It is really surprising to note the number of distinct
species of flies which may be seen at different times on the
panes of a window, even in a large, smoky town. I will
enumerate a few, to some of which I may again have to
allude in my further remarks.
At all seasons, except when the weather is frosty, the little
flies belonging to the genus Phora, may be seen on our
windows, and at once distinguished from most others by the
vivacity of their movements, as they are continually coursing
over the panes of glass. Numerous species of gnat-like flies
(Tipulariz) may also be seen both late and early in the
season, some of which, as the species of the genus Sciara,
somewhat resemble the Phore in appearance, though not in
their movements, as they are very sluggish. I have seldom
seen the true gnats (Culicide) in the town. Besides the
common domestic fly and the blue-bottle, several species of
Anthomyia may be included in the list of house-flies, and are
constantly found on the windows, especially A. scalaris and
A. canicularis. A very pretty little spotted fly, also belonging
to the family of the Anthomyide, is not uncommonly seen on
the windows in warm weather, viz. the Spilogaster uliginosa.
It is a curious fact, that while I captured three specimens
during the past summer on my dressing-room window, I did
not meet with one out of the house, or in any other locality.
Individuals of the common dung-fly (Scatophaga stercoraria),
are of frequent occurrence on the windows, especially in the
early spring and autumn months, when the weather is chilly :
they may be at once known by their covering of downy hairs,
which are of a bright yellow colour in the males. Among the
smaller and less-highly developed Muscidae, besides the
Phore, with which 1 commenced my list, I may enumerate
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 253
the Blephariptera serrata, a little, sluggish, rust-coloured fly,
very common on the windows in the early spring; also the
Lonchea vaginalis, a little, chubby, steel-blue coloured one,
resembling an Anthomyia in form, which is occasionally met
with ; and I may conclude my list with the genera Borborus
and Spherocera, several of which are often seen on windows
in spring and autumn, especially on those near stabling, as
these little flies breed in immense numbers in horse-dung.
Diptera are among the earliest insects which appear in the
spring. If avery mild, bright day should occur, even in the
beginning of February, numerous small flies may be seen,
which appear to be hatched by the sunshine. The most
abundant of these are the little dull-coloured species belong-
ing to the family of the Borborides, which, I have already
stated, breed in manure: one of the most common of these,
the Sphzrocera subsultans, may easily be distinguished by
the length and thickness of the hind legs, which enable it to
leap as well as fly, whence its trivial name. The common
house-fly (Musca domestica) does not occur in any abundance
before the middle of summer, owing to its hybernation during
the winter, for only a few individuals escape the effects of the
cold, and from these the swarms of the ensuing season are
bred. The true house-fly is really a domestic insect: it is
seldom found far from houses, and chiefly abounds in large
towns and cities; in country houses it is sparingly met with,
and its place seems to be supplied by other species. I have
often examined the flies in the rooms and on the windows of
houses in rural situations, and instead of Musca domestica
have found Pollenia rudis, or Stomoxys calcitrans. The
latter may at once be known from the true house-fly by its
having a horny, geniculated and projecting proboscis, with
which it can make a very sharp puncture, and suck the blood
of man and animals. ‘The former, which is slightly larger
than the domestic fly, has the thorax clothed with yellow
downy hairs.
In the spring before the house-fly begins to breed, its
place is chiefly supplied in our rooms by one or two species
of Anthomyia. The flies of this family may be distinguished
at once from the true Muscide, by the disposition of the
veins or nerves of the wings. In the genus Musca the fifth
longitudinal vein (sometimes called the prebrachial) is bent
254 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
at an angle towards the extremity of the wing, so as to close
the end of the first posterior cell, while in all the Anthomyide
the fifth longitudinal vein runs more or less parallel to the
fourth, in a straight direction to the posterior border of the
wing. The most common species of Anthomyia in York-
shire, which abounds in the houses, streets, gardens, &c.,
from early spring to late autumn, is the A. scalaris, which
may be distinguished at once by having a large tubercle at
the extremity of the inner side of the tibiz of the inter-
mediate pair of legs. This fly, which breeds in stercoraceous
matters, is smaller and more slender than the true house-fly,
and is chiefly found in the neighbourhood of houses and
other buildings, its place being supplied by other species of
the family in woods and fields. Another common domestic
species (if I may so call it) of Anthomyia is Canicularis. I
find, in Yorkshire, that this makes its appearance rather
later, and disappears sooner, than Scalaris, and is never quite
so abundant; but in the more southern counties it appears to
be the more common species: it is rather smaller than
Scalaris, and has a yellow diaphanous mark on the sides of
the two first abdominal segments. Some flies, as the blue-
bottle (Calliphora vomitoria) and the pretty green bottle-fly
(Lucilia Cesar), are common in all localities; but there are
others which appear to be partial in their distribution. A
species which abounds on walls of out-houses and stable-
yards in Yorkshire, is the Curtoneura stabulans: this fly is
intermediate in size between the house-fly and the blue-
bottle, and is of a dull gray colour, with a reddish tinge to the
scutellum and legs. Although so very common in the north
of England, and, according to Zetterstedt, in Scandinavia, it
appears to be of sparing occurrence in the southern parts of
England.
In warm, and especially in showery summer weather,
while driving or walking in wooded localities, we must all
have been annoyed by the swarms of smallish flies (rather
less than house-flies), which are constantly teazing both our
horses and ourselves, by buzzing round our heads, and
settling on our faces, hats, and coats. These flies, which
may be readily distinguished by the yellow tinge at the bases
of their wings, belong to the species Hydrotea meteorica (one
of the Anthomyide) ; and it is a curious fact, which I cannot
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 255
explain, that those which we see are all females. The males
keep by themselves, and are less frequently found.
In closing these desultory observations, I may say that I
shall be very glad to afford all the information that is in my
power to any entomologist who may be induced by these
remarks to interest himself in the study of British Diptera ;
and I shall feel much obliged by the loan of any specimens
that may be entrusted to me for the purpose of examination,
particularly of those belonging to the Anthomyide, as the
British species of this family are very little known.
R. H. MEADE.
Bradford, Yorkshire,
November, 1872.
On some Amurland Insects. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
PART IL.
Motschulsky, Menetries and Stal have noticed respectively
the Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera of Amurland.
The first author observes that nearly the whole of the new
species described by him belong to the most eastern part of
Siberia, in which region 470 species have been found. Of
identical species there is 1 in 380 for the Amur and
Central Europe, 1 in 10 for the Amur and the South
Oural, 1 in 6 for the Amur and the most eastern
Siberia. Thus, the Fauna of the western region of the
Awur has thrice more analogy with that of the region of the
Pacific, in Siberia, than with that of the South Oural, and
five times more than with that of Central Europe. The
Fauna of South Oural is comparatively poorer in species
than that of Central Europe and than that of the Amur
region. In Iceland 81 species of Coleoptera have been
found; in Lapland, 967; in Jakoutsk, 120; and in Kamt-
schatka, 130. Two are common to Iceland and Jakoutsk,
5 to Iceland and Kamtschatka, 37 to Jakoutsk and Swedish
Lapland, 33 to Jakoutsk and Kamtschatka. Thus, of iden-
tical species, there are 1 in 40 for Jakoutsk and Iceland, 1 in
29 for Jakoutsk and Lapland, 1 in 8 for Jakoutsk and Kamt-
schatka; and the conclusion is that the Fauna of Jakoutsk
has five times more analogy with that of Kamtschatka than
256 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
with that of Iceland, and thrice more than with that of Lap-
land. Jakoutsk and Pekin have, of identical species, 1 in 66;
Jakoutsk and the Amur region, 1 in 10. The variation of
Coleoptera is six times more considerable in latitudes than
in longitudes. The genera of Coleoptera of the Amur
region belong in a great part to the European Fauna; and it
is only along the south part of this river, from Soungari
towards the east, that different generic forms appear, partly
those of tropical Asia, such as Metopodontus, Prismognathus,
Encyalesthus, Luperodes, Calasposoma, Nodostoma, Cop-
tocycla, Languria; partly those of North America, such as
Dichelotarsus, Cephalaon, Ophryastes, and Leposoma. All
the western part of the Amur region has forms very
analogous to those of Daouria, which, intimately allied to
those of Siberia generally, are only a continuation to the
east of the European Fauna. Some species of North Europe
appear much more southward in the Amur region, such as
Hylobius arcticus and Oiceoptoma lapponica, which extend
to America ; and in this region tropical forms are accompanied
by arctic forms, and some genera, such as Epicausta, Myla-
bris, Tentyria, and Dorcadion, extend more northward than
in Europe. Among the 470 species of Coleoptera, collected
along the river Amur and in the most eastern part of
Siberia, more than two-thirds are found also in Daouria;
500 species have been found in South Oural, and 340 in the
western part of the Amur; 126 species are common to
Germany and the region of the Amur; 140 species are
common to the South Oural and to the west region of the
Amur. The line which passes from the North Pole by the
Oural, the Sea of Aral, East Persia, to the South Pole,
represents the meridian of the productive force of organized
bodies, which force becomes more rich and more varied in
proportion as it approaches the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Austria has 3500 species of Coleoptera; South Oural, 2500,
of which 140 are found in the Amur region.
With regard to Lepidoptera, Menetries remarks thus :—In
following the course of the Amur, European species will be
found at each end of the stream, but in the middle of its
course, that is towards the south, the Fauna changes
suddenly, so that in the most southern part, or from the
mouth of the Soungari to that of the Oussouri, there are
|
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 257
many species of China and Japan, and even new species of
tropical forms. Of the species he forms five divisions,
omitting those which inhabit the whole of Europe. The first
division comprises the species that are found in nearly all
Europe: twenty-three species, which inhabit equally the
higher and lower part of the Amur. The second division
includes the species that are somewhat peculiar to North
Europe: thirteen species, which are found with those of the
first division. In the third division are twenty-three species,
which have analogy with those of Central Europe, and nearly
all of them inhabit the south part of the Amur. The fourth
division has fourteen species, which are found more especially
in Eastern Europe. The seven species of the fifth division
are found in South Europe, and not elsewhere on that conti-
nent. Of the 212 species enumerated, 38 are new; and in
the whole number there are—154 European forms, 30 forms
of the Russian Fauna, 28 forms wholly strangers to Europe.
Menetries observes that some species are found more towards
the north in the east than they are in the west, and that the
sight of half-tropical forms, in the 47° of latitude, is not
less remarkable.
In the Ent. Zeit. Stett. vol. xix., Prof. Stal has published
a list of 111 Hemiptera inhabiting Siberia and Russian
North America. Of these 36 are new, and 75 are European.
Of the 36, twenty-six are Siberian, one of Siberia and
Kamtschatka, one of Kamtschatka, and eight of Sitka.
Diptera generally being more quick-witted, sharp-sighted,
or impulsive, than any other insects, take the lead in migra-
tion, and in extending their influence over new regions. A
large part of them are especially useful in the development of
flowers and thus advancing vegetation, and in promoting the
healthiness of a climate by removing what has an opposite
tendency. Numerous British species of this order appear to
be also inhabitants of Amurland.
FRANCIS WALKER.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Description of the Larva of Xanthia citrago.—On the
9th May, 1871, I received from Mr. John Firth, of Cleck-
heaton, a larva of this species; and, on the 13th of May of
02
258 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
the present year, half a dozen from Mr. John Harrison, of
Barnsley. At this date they are about three-quarters of an
inch in length, and have still to go through the last moult:
for this purpose they enclose themselves in loose cocoons,
formed by drawing together two leaves with silken threads.
At the end of May they are full grown, and may be described
as follows:—Length about an inch, and tolerably plump in
proportion. The head is very slightly narrower than the
2nd segment, and still narrower than the 3rd segment; it
has the lobes globular, but the front rather flattened. Body
cylindrical, tapering a very little towards the head ; segmental
divisions tolerably distinct, but not deeply cut; skin soft and
smooth. Ground colour of the dorsal surface dark olive-
gray; head smooth and shining, the upper part pale brown,
the lower dark sienna-brown. Medio-dorsal line dirty white ;
subdorsal lines similar in colour, but narrower and less
distinct; spiracular region dull whitish gray. On the 2nd
segment, just behind the head, is a semicircular black mark,
divided by the medio-dorsal line; above, and bordering the
subdorsal lines, is a conspicuous series of longitudinal black
marks, having the appearance of interrupted black stripes.
Trapezoidal dots distinct, white. Spiracles enclosed in a
black mark, very minute, grayish white. Ventral surface and
claspers uniformly dirty green, the skin semi-translucent ; legs
black and shining. Shortly before spinning up, the ground
colour of the dorsal surface changes to yellowish brown.
Feeds on lime. The cocoon is formed by drawing closely
together several of the growing leaves, and the larva remains
inside for two or three weeks before assuming the pupa state.
The moths from my larve appeared at the end of July.— Geo.
T. Porritt; Huddersfield, November 11, 1872.
Occurrences of Vanessa Antiopa in Great Britain and
Ireland during the Autumn of 1872 (continued from p. 236).
Durham. I believe about twenty specimens of V. Antiopa
have been captured within a circuit of twenty or twenty-five
miles of this place.—_W. Maling ; Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Gloucestershire. A specimen of V. Antiopa was brought
me a few days ago: it was found hybernating in the middle
of a stone-heap, near Winchcomb. I never heard of one
being taken about here before. The border is white.—C.
Mace; Winchcomb, November 18, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 259
Lincolnshire. A very fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa
was taken here on Sunday, the 27th of October. It was in
perfect condition, and the markings very clear, but the border
not very deep coloured.—Mrs. Cross; Appleby Vicarage,
Brigg.
Norfolk. August 27, 1872. Mr. R. A. Rising informed
me he saw one in his garden at Horsey on this date. Four
others were caught about the same date, by my friend Mr. H.
Hickling, in a small meadow adjoining the Heigham Cause-
way, in Norwich; and I had one brought me by a lad, who
knocked it down with his cap in Pottergate Street, and it was
therefore rather damaged. On the 4th of September Mr. S.
Meachen, who was driving through Crostwick, six miles from
Norwich, counted as many as seven, near the Marl Staithe;
and further along the road, near the Horstead Marl Staithe,
he saw another. I have received information of numerous
other instances, in which individuals have been observed;
but the above instances are more specially authenticated.—
T. E. Gunn; 5, Upper St. Giles’ Street, Norwich.
Northumberland. One seen at Rothbury, near Morpeth.—
J. H. Rowntree.
Suffolk. Captured at Oakley.—‘ Land and Water, Sep-
tember 7, 1872. ;
Warwickshire. A fine specimen with pale margins was
taken near Warwick, on the 22nd August, by Mr. C. S. H.
Perceval.—J. S. Baly; The Butts, Warwick, Oct. 30, 1872.
Yorkshire. Since I sent you a notice of the capture of a
specimen of V. Antiopa in this town, several others have been
seen or taken in the neighbourhood; and I have also heard
of the following occurrences of the insect in other places, in
addition to those recorded in last month’s ‘ Entomologist.’
Four specimens seen at York, and one taken in the same city,
on the 29th of August, by Mr. Hind; one or two at Sheffield ;
and one at Bradford.—J. H. Rowntree; Scarborough.
Sphinx Convolvuli, Tillus unifasciatus, and Ponera con-
tracta, near Warwick.—I have either seen or taken the
following species, amongst others. Sphinx Convolvuli: picked
up in the street by my son, on Saturday last. Tillus unifas-
ciatus: two specimens on elm-posts, at Barford, three miles from
here. Ponera contracta: a single female, taken in my garden.
In addition, Vanessa C-Album and Colias Edusa occur
260 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
occasionally ; the former insect, forty years ago, was very
abundant in this locality—Joseph S. Baly; The Butts,
Warwick, October 30, 1872.
Is L. Rubricollis Double-brooded 2—This question was
asked in No. 92 of the ‘Entomologist.’ In the following
number I gave an opinion that it was not double-brooded. IL
should perhaps have said, regularly double-brooded. Recent
experience seems to show that it is not so. I took it this year
in our locality freely, throughout June and the greater part of
July, but did not observe a single specimen in August. This
month (November), while pupa-digging in the same locality,
I have taken several pupe of Rubricollis, and also ob-
served several half-fed larve hybernating in the crevices of
the bark and among the lichens, with which the trees are
covered. The larve are in all stages, from half-fed to those
descending the trunks to undergo pupation. Some larve
were in their cocoons, if they may be called so, unchanged.
I thought at first that this might be a different method of
hybernating; but I find they are changing one after another.
The pupe may be found on the surface of the ground under-
neath leaves, or among the fragments of lichen that have been
washed down by the rain, the favourite place being where the
earth lies high against the smooth part of the trunk, and not
under the arches of the roots. The cocoon is a very flimsy
affair, and partakes more of the nature of a web, spun by the
united exertions of three or more; each pupa, however, being
separated from its neighbour: I have taken up as many as
five, hanging in this way together. I expected to have found
the pupa spun up behind the lichens, but have not found an
instance of it yet. I hope this may throw some light upon the
seemingly vexed question: “ Is Rubricollis double-brooded ?”
The various stages from the larva to the pupa, now, will
account for the succession of imagos during June and July.
This insect seems to be exceedingly local; it is plentiful
about a few particular trees, while others in the same avenue,
seemingly as suitable, are entirely neglected. I have taken
Rubricollis in some half-dozen woods round Alton, and I
know just which trees to go to for them. In these woods I
have taken them plentifully in June, and generally during a
part of July, but never in August.—[Rev.] A. C. Hervey ;
Pokesdown.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 261
Chelonia caja Double-brooded.—\I have this day had a
Chelonia caja emerge from its pupa. I have several other
pupe. The eggs were deposited at the end of June: they
were hatched during the first week in July, and spun up
between the 9th and 14th of September. I may mention that
out of several hundred larve, hatched at the same time, about
twenty only have changed: the rest are still feeding, are
about three-quarters of an inch in length, and of course will
hybernate—W. D. Cansdale; White House, Witham,
E'ssex, November 5, 1872.
Chelonia caja Double-brooded.—About the middle of
August last I took a female Chelonia caja, and she laid me a
patch of eggs, which in due time hatched, and I put them in
a cage to feed them up, in the hope of perhaps getting a
variety: three of the larve fed up in an astonishing short
time, compared with the others, and went to pupz about the
4th of October; one of these came to the imago on the 16th
of November, while I have some of the same Jarve in a
dormant state scarcely three-quarters of an inch in length.—
E.. Holton ; 131, Holborn Hill, November 18, 1872.
[Several of the Lithosiide, Chelonide and Sphingide are
exceptionally double-brooded. All our entomologists have
noticed this; but I think there is no occasion to chronicle
additional instances of this character. The same may be said
of the Cuspidates, particularly those of the genus Notodonta.
—Edward Newman.
Demas Coryli and Lithosia caniola.—Permit me to make a
few remarks relative to D. Coryli. In‘ British Moths,’ page 40,
you say it has a tuft or brush of brown hairs on the 4th, 5th,
and 12th segments. It should be Sth, 6th, and 12th. Also two
black brushes, one on each side, and much longer, on the 3rd
segment, and pointing forwards over the head, looking like
two horns; and it is certainly double-brooded in this vicinity,
for I find the larve every year in May or June, according to
the season, and again in September, and nearly always
obtained from oak. And with reference to lL. caniola,
page 474, you state that “they feed exclusively on Legu-
minose.” I brought home last June about twenty larve,
which I found all feeding on lichens on the face of the rocks,
at Bolthead; and not knowing what my larva was, I read
up the Lithosias, thinking it was one of them, and it agreed
262 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
very nearly with Caniola, but mine was feeding on the
lichens: I saw them in the act of feeding before I removed
them, so there could not be any doubt about it. I waited
patiently for about a month, and bred sixteen perfect insects,
and they agreed with Caniola; but [ could not remove the
impression from my mind that it must be something else,
as you stated they fed exclusively on Leguminose, and per-
tinaciously refused to touch lichens which had been provided
for them. I submitted some to Mr. Bond, and he at once
pronounced them to be Caniola; and he further stated that
on the Continent they were generally found feeding on
lichens on walls, churches, &c. The insect also occurs at
Dartmouth.—Geo. C. Bignell; 6, Clarence Place, Stone-
house, Plymouth, November 19, 1872.
[I am obliged for the correction as regards Coryli, but I
need scarcely remind my correspondent that I had no know-
ledge of the work issued in my name, until after this
description was published. In his observation on my descrip-
tion of the food of Caniola, Mr. Bignell has, and I am sure
inadvertently, omitted the words “in confinement,” which
seem to me to contain the pith of my statement. This
species has always been supposed to feed on lichens. In my
translation and abstract of Guenée’s monograph of Lithosia,
I have said (Zool. 8387): “It is known that all their larve
feed on lichens ;” and of Caniola, in particular, I have said:
“ The larva lives principally, if not exclusively, on the lichens
which grow on the walls, and especially on the tiles of the
roofs”—of the cathedral at Chartres, &c. Mr. Birchall’s
discovery of its feeding on Leguminose I mention as extra-
ordinary, and as confirmed by my own observation of the
larva in confinement.—Edward Newman.]
Late Appearance of Ceruleocephala.—On Monday, Octo-
ber 28th, | caught a very good specimen, apparently just
out, resting on a lamp-post; and the same evening took
another from a lighted Jamp, and saw another flying round
it—Edward B. Poulton; Victoria Villa, Reading, Novem-
ber 4, 1872.
C. Bondii.—I regret the omission of the date of this capture,
and am obliged to Mr. Clifford for reminding me of it: it was
the first week in July. As to the wild rhubarb, I always
called it by that name, not thinking that it was a near relation
/
)
;
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 263
to the other, or, in fact, in any way similar, except in the size
and shape of the leaf. Possibly it may be a localism; but I
think it is not a correct inference to draw, that because the
vulgar name of a wild flower, with the addition of an adjective,
is the same as that of the garden plant, without the adjective,
that therefore they should be at all nearly-allied species. A
parallel instance is afforded by the common stingless plant,
called dead nettle, which has nothing to do with the common
nettle, the similarity being only in the shape of the leaf,
which similarity gives rise to the name in common use.—
Edward B. Poulton.
[L have not the most remote idea of what plant my corre-
spondents are writing: surely there cannot be a moment’s
difficulty in obtaining the botanical name of any large plant,
like rhubarb. The very object of scientific nomenclature is
defeated by these discussions.--Edward Newman}
Searching for Moths on Echium Vulgare.—On a recent
visit to the South Coast I found this to be by far the best
way of catching moths, where there are no trees to sugar on.
A few hints as to time, and apparatus needed, may be
useful. I believe the time of year best suited for this kind of
work is June and July, because the flowers are then fully out,
and you have a chance at the midsummer Sphingidz. No-
thing but Gamma flew before nine o’clock ; and then Porcellus
began to come out, and continued till it was just time to light
the lantern; after which I only captured one. One evening,
arriving a little early and waiting for the moths, I caught a
specimen of Stellataruam at half-past eight, the latest I have
ever noticed it. The locality which the bugloss is most fond
of is a chalk-bank, which is very inconvenient for catching
the moths on the upper side of the bed of flowers, since you
are certain to disengage huge pieces of earth and chalk, that,
rolling down, effectually save you the trouble of catching the
moths. Most Noctuas I could coax into the cyanide-bottle
without using the net at all, but Sphingide and Geometers
needed the net; and for them I found one with a long handle
and a light cane-ring, with a loose shallow bag, the most con-
venient form. Of the Noctuas, Batis, Derasa and Marginatus
were the most difficult to capture, behaving more like Geo-
meters than anything else. I generally searched first the
bottom of the bed, then the sides, so as to get as much as
264 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
possible before submitting it to the ordeal of the shower of
stones caused by going along the upper part. I always found
sticking to one bed, and searching it thoroughly, better than
going from one to the other. Strigilis, Exclamationis and
Segetum were nuisances, but a larger percentage, than is
generally the case at sugar, were things worth keeping.
The easiest moth to catch was Lucernea, nothing seemed
to move it from the flower. On one occasion I took a
large Newfoundland dog with me, and just as I was about
to bottle a fine Lucernea the dog brushed past, and bent
the plant to the ground; when it sprung up, there was
the Lucernea on the flower; and even then, when I had
the bottle right over it, I had great difficulty in making
it go inside.x—Edward B. Poulton.
Grapta C- Album and Thecla Betule in Essex.—As Grapta
C-Album seems to occur very rarely in this county, I think it
worth while mentioning that a specimen was captured by one
of the sons of the rector of Mundon, about three miles from
Maldon, last year: it settled on a wheat-sheaf, in a field
opposite the rectory, and was netted off this. T. Betule
occurs also in Mundon Wood; and Antiopa, as mentioned in
the October number of the ‘ Entomologist, has been seen
there several times.—G. H. Raynor; St. John’s College,
Cambridge, November 2, 1872.
Late Appearance of T. amataria.—I was very much sur-
prised at taking two specimens of this insect very late in the
year: one on August 27th, and the other on September Ist,
both netted on the wing in the evening. In your ‘ British
Moths’ (p. 84) you state that the imago appears about Mid-
summer; and Mr. Stainton gives the months of June and
July as the usual time for its appearance. Judging from the
condition, I should say those I took were decidedly a second
brood.—G@. H. Raynor.
Black Variety of Cabera pusaria.—In looking over my
cabinet I noticed a black variety of this insect, taken by a
friend, last June, in Darenth Wood, Kent.—Augustus Priest ;
l6a, Merton Road, Kensington, November 11, 1872.
Cerastis erythrocephala at Darenth Wood, Kent.—On
the evening of the 28th of last month, I captured at sugar a
very fine specimen of C. erythrocephala, at Darenth Wood.
—Geo. W. Bird; 27, Hamilton Terrace, St. John’s Wood,
N.W., November 2, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 265
Pempelia Carnella in E'ssex.—A specimen of P. Carnella
was taken here this summer at light. I believe this to be a
new locality for it.—S. R. Bentall ; Nightingale Hall, Hal-
stead, Essex.
Filaria in Larva of a Lepidopteron. I should like to
know if the following is of common occurrence. One morning
in October, when I opened my breeding-cage, I noticed a
caterpillar of some Noctua, which had the appearance of
being ichneumoned. I left it for a few minutes, and on my
return saw it surrounded by a white thread, which, on closer
observation, I discovered to be a white worm, proceeding out
of the mouth of the caterpillar: it was about six inches long,
smooth, and as thick as coarse sewing-cotton ; on leaving the
caterpillar it took refuge in the moss. The caterpillar crawled
away and concealed itself in the mould, without appearing to
have suffered in any way from the parasite.—Annie Michael ;
High Street, Sevenoaks.
[The parasite was a Filaria, a genus of entozoic worms, very
frequently inhabiting the larve of Lepidoptera; but I have
never seen one escaping by the mouth.— Edward Newman. ]
Machaon and its Haunts.—In the ‘Entomologist’ for
October a paragraph, upon the probable disappearance of
this beautiful insect within a given time, is inserted from the
pen of Mr. Raynor, of Maldon. While residing at Norwich
it was my annual custom to collect large numbers. of the
larve of Machaon,—indeed for sixteen years I continued
to collect them in the proper season without an omission:
the result of this experience leads me to doubt very much the
theory, that in ten years hence it will be banished from its
marshy breeding-grounds. Not being acquainted with the
neighbourhood of Wicken Fen, I cannot determine whether
drainage will in ten years time exterminate the species in
that quarter, and thus cause it to seek refuge at Maldon, but
of the Norfolk fens no such result is to be feared, for miles
above Horning, and thence nearly down to Yarmouth,
Machaon breeds as plentifully now as when I first visited
the locality ; neither is it probable, from the very nature of
these fens, that drainage can be introduced so to materially
affect the nature of the bogs where the larva is found: these
are composed of peat (sometimes called turf), or, in other
words, decayed vegetable matter, which can be easily
035
266 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
agitated for twenty yards around by a sudden jerk of one’s
weight. Persons residing in the locality contend, with some
show of reason, that miles of these bogs actually float; and
to bear this statement out it is asserted, that on certain spots
immense quantities of soil have been added to the surface,
but in all cases it eventually sinks to the original level;
therefore, whatever becomes of Wicken Fen, the fens of
Norfolk, where Machaon is to be found, are not likely to be
materially interfered with,—the quality of the soil is of the
poorest possible description,—if even the possibility of drain-
ing on a large scale existed. I attach but little significance
to the fact of a single specimen of this insect being found
upon a garden-wall in any particular locality. Machaon isa
strong flyer; and it being the custom now-a-days to say
when a rarity is captured that tt must be blown over
(especially by entomologists who do not happen to capture
them), can it not with propriety be conjectured that these
isolated specimens of Machaon have escaped from breeding-
cages, or travelled from a distance comparatively easy as
compared with a journey over sea. There are many reasons
which induce me to believe that but few localities are favour-
able to the natural production of this insect, notwithstanding
the fact of the plant on which it feeds being abundant in all
marshy districts. Amongst the great numbers of the larve I
have from time to time taken, not a single ichneumon has
been amongst them, yet if the larva is left exposed, away
from its native habitat, the result is the reverse. In the year
1868 the larve were as plentiful as ever. In 1869 I again
paid a visit to the Norfolk fens; but being a few weeks
earlier in the season than usual, I succeeded in finding forty-
nine eggs within a radius of about twelve yards: curiously
enough, although the young larve emerged from the eggs
nearly simultaneously, the greater portion fed rapidly, turning
to pupe, and in a fortnight produced the perfect insect; a
few others arrived at maturity after remaining in pupe till the
following May, while four remained in the chrysalis state a
year after that, thus showing that, although the eggs were to
all appearance from the same brood, the greater portion
escaped from the chrysalis in two weeks, whilst others
remained dormant for two years, although the whole were
confined in the same breeding-house. The beautiful larva of
?
*.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 267
Machaon is easily found, and easily reared upon the common
carrot-top, upon which it thrives, and ultimately produces a
finer perfect insect than is to be found in the natural state,
probably owing in some degree to being less exposed to
bleak winds, generally prevailing in marshy districts.—
Robert Last; 116, Belgrave Street, Mosely Road, Birming-
ham.
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological
Society, March 18, 1872.
(Continued from p. 248.)
Hemigynous Specimen of Acronycta leporina.—Mr. Bond
exhibited a British specimen of Acronycta leporina, present-
ing a remarkable instance of dimorphism, the right-hand
wings being coloured and marked as in the variety known as
bradyporina (which at one time was considered a distinct
species), whereas those of the left-hand were entirely typical
of leporina. The body also partook of the two forms, being
divided longitudinally into two tints.
The Common Hornet in Siberia—Mr. Smith said that
the discussion at the last meeting respecting Siberian insects
had induced him to examine specimens of the common
hornet, from Europe, Siberia, and North America, and he
found that individuals from these districts presented no
appreciable differences, and their specific identity was proved
by the genital organs being alike in all cases, whereas those
of the Asiatic V. orientalis differed considerably.
Ravages of Locusts in South Australia.—Mr, C, A. Wilson
communicated the following :—
** Some of the farmers in the North appear to have suffered
very seriously from the swarms of locusts that have suddenly
made their appearance there; and during the past three
weeks the papers have been full of letters, paragraphs, and
articles, upon the scourge, which have traversed the colony
in force from the north, and attacked Adelaide in their march
southward. As the subject is one of deep interest to every
tiller of the soil, we collect the most important items of
information and comment for the benefit of our readers. The
‘Register, referring to the subject on December 19th, says:
—‘ It will be remembered that, in alluding to the locusts in a
268 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
former issue, we requested information as to their ravages.
One correspondent has responded to that request, and the
facts he furnishes, as published below, show that the duty of
victualling for a week or two the hosts of locusts that have
billetted themselves upon the city and suburbs is far from a
trifling one. The only grain of comfort offered to relieve our
minds comes in the shape of a communication from an old
colonist, to the effect that the locusts are in the habit of
depositing their eggs this month, and that they never long
survive this domestic operation. The sooner they set about
the preliminaries for their final exit the better. Subjoined is
the communication to which reference is made above :—* I
observed in the ‘ Register’s’ leader this morning that any
particulars of ravages done by the locusts would be gladly
inserted. Perhaps the following may be worth noticing
amongst others, and you may rely upon its correctness, for I
write merely what has come under my observation :—Mr. H.
Hughes cut two sections of hay (pure wheaten and intended
for wheat) about six weeks ago, when quite green, and an
excellent crop of green feed followed, which is termed
‘second crop.’ It was quite thick with young ears on it, and
about one foot or one foot and a half high. On Saturday it
was standing fresh and green, and at three o’clock in the
afternoon there was not a stalk left. Mr. Hughes intended
turning his cows in to-day, and had been relying upon the
ground providing grazing for some time. Having reserved a
small portion of the second crop (which was too good to cut
for hay) as seed wheat, he had been unable to turn the stock
in before, and it had consequently grown without hindrance.
The ground containing the second crop destroyed is about
sixty or eighty acres. The locusts were about Burnside in
immense numbers, and produced quite a humming or buzzing
noise in the air as they passed. All seemed to be going S. or
S.W. The neighbourhood is still full of them (those left
behind), and they are eating every particle of feed down. I
am not aware of their having done damage to gardens or
standing wheat crops.””’
“* Delta, the well-known naturalist of South Australia,
writes thus :—‘ During the last few weeks, these locusts have
done more than their average amount of damage at this
season of the year, but, judging from past experiences of their
.
a aa Se a ce seta
_~
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 269
migratory habits and times of appearance, I do not think we
have more than usual to fear from their depredations this
season, except in limited localities. These creatures, just now
more particularly infesting Adelaide and neighbourhood, are
genuine locusts.
““ Tn every year this kind of migratory locust has appeared
at some part or other of the colony in a greater or less
degree, though perhaps never to such an extent in our
metropolis as during the time first mentioned,—the exact
year I forget. They were then, and often since, of four
distinct species, all flying and ‘mingling together, but not
easily distinguished, being nearly similar in size. That
spoken of by your correspondent ‘ Observer’—“ female dirty
brown, males a bright yellow”—was and has always been by
far the most numerous. In all the locust tribe, I believe
without an exception, the male is smaller than the female.
“¢In every year that 1 have observed these migrating
species at one or other part of the colony, they have in no
case been seen in any numbers after the Ist of January.
They seem to die off gradually as the new year approaches:
their time is up, their strength exhausted, and, perhaps, the
increasing heat of the weather and decrease of food aid in
their destruction. At this time, also, the females finish their
egg-laying. As to remedies against their numbers and
destructive habits, these have been asked for naturally
enough ever since their first appearance, but none can be
offered as concerns the mass, nor reasons given why they
come more one year than another, or in particular localities.
In the earlier days I could suggest but two things, and these
applied only to their very partial destruction, first stating
that the gradual cultivation and opening up of the soil would
tend as much as anything to decrease their numbers, as the
eggs (of which each female lays a good many) are deposited
about an inch under ground, thus preserving them from the
effects of the weather, but not from the action of the plough.
Of the two remedies (though only to a small extent) above
alluded to, the one was keeping a large body of fowls, to
assist the insectivorous birds that were: always seen in num-
bers about a homestead, especially at locust time; but in
these days of destruction of the smaller birds for sport, or
under the mistaken impression that they are all fruit- or
270 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
grain-eaters, and are, therefore, indiscriminately shot down,
we must not wonder that insects of many kinds, including
injurious ones, will increase ; and this I see you also mention.
On one of these locust visitations—it might have been in
1858, mentioned in your last article—I observed immense
swarms of a kind of bird, a little larger than an English
sparrow, hovering like a thick cloud over several of the
larger tracts of land where the unwelcome visitors were
flying, and soon found that they fed principally, if not
solely, on them. The name of the bird I did not learn, as it
disappeared with the locusts, as if sent for their especial
capture. The other partial remedy I mentioned at the time,
and which had been previously told me by a friend, was the
same as your correspondent ‘Observer’ speaks of, viz., the
leaves of the castor-oil plant, just for the purpose, as
he says, of protecting flowers, &c., in a garden. In past
years I have frequently tried this, and always found it
succeed best when the leaves were fresh. ‘The locusts in
their flight descended on them, as on everything else of
a vegetable nature, and died after the first few bites: more
locusts took their places, so that each leaf was nearly covered
with dead bodies, others lying all around who had only
strength left to crawl a few paces off, so quickly did the
poisonous effects of the sap of the leaf act.
“¢ Our references to locusts last week were confined to the
Northern Districts, and they occasioned very little notice in
Adelaide; but since that the townspeople have had ocular
proof of the kind of plague that the Northern farmers
suffered from. On Friday evening, December 15th, an
enormous swarm of locusts passed over the city, darkening
the air, and creating no little sensation. It appears that for
some time they had been steadily marching—if the kind
of locomotion affected by them can be called “a march”
—upon the metropolis. We have no positive proof of the
fact, but it is more than probable that the army mentioned
before as having reached Kapunda, and as being en route for
Gawler, is identical with that to which we are now referring.
It was seen approaching the city by Mr. Badge, who,
on Friday, whilst about three-quarters of a mile beyond
Athelstone, encountered a swarm of locusts so thick that his
horse refused to face it at a faster pace thanawalk. The
rider had to cover his head to save himself from injury by
a a ee ee
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 7/1
their striking him. They were making their way towards
Adelaide, passing in solid phalanx towards the south-west.
A few stragglers remained in the squares and streets, appa-
rently too much fatigued to continue the advance, but the
main body kept standing or covering a space extending over
many hundred yards in length and many yards in breadth.
The citizens flocked out from their houses to witness the
unusual sight, and examined with interest the solitary locusts
that remained behind. They appeared to be of the ordinary
type, but of large size and wonderfully strong in the wing.
Another huge swarm of locusts visited the city on Sunday,
December 17th, alighting in various parts of the Park Lands
and in private gardens, where in a very short time they left
marks of their voracity upon vines, fruit-trees, and other
specimens of vegetation. A day or two afterwards Mr.
Townsend, of Rundle Street, showed us a basket of apricots,
or rather stones, to give an idea of the devastation the locusts
had caused among some of the gardens at Glynde and in the
Torrens Valley. He states that on many trees of American
plums there is not a vestige of fruit left, the invading hordes
having thoroughly bared the orchards. We have also seen a
bunch of potato-tops and a sample of maize, taken from
splendid growths in Mr. O. Philp’s garden, Chain of Ponds.
At ten or eleven o’clock on Monday there was not a solitary
specimen of the pest about, but soon after countless myriads
arrived, and descended upon a splendid patch of potatoes,
varying their diet with other green things. It is rather
remarkable, but it is vouched for, that the locusts do not
touch thistles. Standing upright in the midst of farmsteads
and along the river-bank, where clouds of the creatures have
gorged themselves, may be seen splendid samples of the
much-abused thistle flourishing while dreariness reigns
around. All these are very much like the doings of the
locusts of 1844; for we find in the old file already referred to
the following paragraph :— During the last few days North
Adelaide has been visited by swarms of destructive locusts.
In the gardens at the back of Kermode Street they have
made great havoc, clearing the vines of their leaves, and
eating up the melons and everything else that is green. On
Monday the whole neighbourhood was alive with them, their
constant fluttering in the air not being unlike the flakes of a
heavy snow-storm. Last year they did much damage in this
bE THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
particular locality, but this year their numbers are greatly
increased.”’—‘ Register,’ November 13, 1844.
Haggerstone Entomological Society—The Fifth Annual
Exhibition of the above Society took place at the Society’s
Rooms, 10, Brownlow Street, Haggerstone, on the evenings
of Thursday and Friday, November 14th and 15th; and, in
spite of the extremely inclement weather, there was a very
fair attendance of visitors. ‘The Exhibition, if not excelling,
was in no respects inferior to those of preceding years, and
of which accounts have appeared in the pages of the ‘ Ento-
mologist.’ Amongst the many rarities exhibited were speci-
mens of Vanessa Antiopa (eight taken this season), Argynnis
Lathonia, P. Daplidice, C. Fraxini, Zygena Meliloti, N.
Albulalis, C. Erythrocephala va. Glabra, D. Galii, A. Selene
(remarkable var.), C. Dominula (black var.), C. Caja (black
var.), &c. A novel feature in the Exhibition was contributed
by Mr. E. G. Meek, and consisted of a complete set of Ento-
mological apparatus; Mr. F. Bond also very kindly lent.
several cases of extraordinary rarities from his extensive
Ornithological collection; Dr. H. G. Knaggs exhibited seve- —
ral interesting microscopic objects, illustrative of the difference
in the scales of various genera of butterflies; and Mr. Cooke,
with his usual kindness, contributed several large cases of
magnificent Exotic Lepidoptera, which excited great admi-
ration.
Errata.—At p. 231, line 31, for east read west. At p. 238,
line 4, for in the Isle of Wight ead near Dartford. At
p. 238 of Vol. V., Hesperia Comma (reported as taken near
Shrewsbury) showld be Grapta C-Album.
Death of Mr. Edleston—Robert Smith Edleston, of
Bowdon, in Cheshire, died at his residence on the 31st of
October, 1872, and was buried at Bowdon church on the
2nd of November. From an early age he had been a most
ardent collector of Lepidoptera, and had made one of the
largest collections in Great Britain: this is particularly rich
in British Tineide. Of late years Mr. Edleston turned his
attention almost exclusively to British Coleoptera; and of
these, also, he had made a very large collection. He was
fifty-three years of age-—Hdward Newman.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 112] JANUARY, MDCCCLXXIIL. [Prion 6d.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p, 251.)
rr HORMOCERUS MARITIMUS.
_ THE three genera represented by the accompanying three
figures belong to the Hormoceride, a family distinguished
from the Sphegigasteridz by the nearly sessile abdomen, and
from the Pteromalide by the strongly-marked sutures of the
VOL, VI. Bf
Q74 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
parapsides. Psilonotus is especially distinguished among the
Chalcidie by its highly-polished and glittering mesothorax.
PSILONOTUS.- ADAMAS.
Having nothing to say on the habits of these three flies, I will
conclude with a few words about other parasites.
1. Cynips viridis, Fourc. This is a Callimome, and may
be conveniently considered as a synonym of C. Bedeguaris,
as it also lives in the bedeguar.
2. Cynips Rubi, Schr. Also a Callimome, whose synonyms
may be recorded on a future occasion. Sclirank saw it pro-
ceeding from bramble-galls or swellings, concerning which
Giraud has since published extensively.
3. Cynips fungosa, Fourc. Also a Callimome, but the
species is doubtful ; however, it may be adopted in preference
to one of the more modern names bestowed upon oak-gall
Callimome species, and then it will not be afterwards brought
forward as a claimant for priority.
4. Cynips pomacea, Foure., or C. solitaria, Oliv. This is
a still more doubtful name, but it may be applied by attend-
ing to the inmates of the small, round, hard galls beneath
oak-leaves; and I purpose noticing it at some other time.
5. Ichneumon Muscarum, Linn. This is a Pteromalus, and
is a very elegant little creature, but its small size hides its
beauties. It must be well known by its continual occurrence
on windows, where it occasionally appears in great numbers. |
It prolongs the existence of many Aphides, by consuming
ladybirds and Aphis-eating flies in their infant state, and
thereby helping to adjust their numbers to their office in the
scheme of creation.
Francis WALKER.
ae
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 275
Pseudobalani, or False Acorns. By EpDwArD NEWMAN.
It is by accident that the miner first hits the auriferous
vein: it is no merit of his; it is a mere piece of good fortune
that might happen to any man in the gang. ‘The precious
metal had been there for untold ages; it only wanted the
accident of discovery ; the “happy thought,” as our ‘ Punch’
would call it; and the happy thoughts, by which I have set
brains and pens to work, were quite as natve as some of those
which our respected contemporary has rendered so amusing.
Such was the question about Acentropus; such the ‘ blown-
over theory;” such the suggestion that the Fauna of the
Channel Islands should be considered British; and such
that many of our galls are Pseudobalani, or false acorns. All
these subjects are rich veins of ore, and require only the leisure
and talent, that abound in our Entomological Societies, to
work them to great profit and advantage. It is only with
oak-galls that I have to deal at present.
I have observed—everyone has observed—that at certain
seasons of the year oak-trees produce objects dissimilar to
the familiar, normal, and, as we might say, legitimate, objects,
annually produced by oak-trees, namely, leaves and acorns:
we call these dissimilar objects, galls, or oak-galls. By
detaching these, taking them home, and treating them in the
manner I have already suggested in the ‘ Entomologist’
(Entom. iii. 171), we learn that each gall is a nursery for an
insect, or sometimes for many insects, which eventually
attain the perfect condition, and afford the entomologist an
infinite fund of amusement and instruction: some are gall-
makers (Cynips, &c.); some are parasites on gall-makers
. (Callimome, &c.); and some, which are neither (Balani-
nus, &c.), seem to seek food and lodging in the abnormal
objects I have mentioned,—for these | have suggested the
name of inquilines. So far I shall carry my readers with
me.
The next step many will hesitate to take: it is that the
oak, like every plant, has an imperative duty to perform,
a duty which, under all circumstances, however adverse, it
struggles to perform, namely, the production of certain
organs essential either to the well-being of the individual
tree, or to the continuance of the kind or species of tree,
276 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The leaves are examples of the first class of organs; the
acorns of the last. The gall-makers exercise a direct inter-
ference with this natural propensity: they set up a local
inflammation or irritation in the constitution of the oak, in
order to compel it to elaborate a certain description of food
adapted to the requirements of their young; the ordinary
productions of the oaks, in their normal or natural state, not
being adapted to this purpose.. Here, then, are two antago-
nistic forces: the oak struggling to preserve itself and its
kind; the gall-maker compelling it to produce something
quite different, namely, food suited to preserve ztself and is
kind; the struggle is never ended. The oak is required,
whether by the diversion of its sap into new channels, or by
a certain chemical change in the character of its sap caused
by the injection of a new element,—this is still a moot
question,—to elaborate new substances: it does not willingly
comply; and although unable to resist the requisition,
although unable to say, “I will not produce a nasty, fungoid,
spongy substance for food of the infant gall-makers,” it does
so with as bad a grace as possible; it seems to say, “If I
must, I must, but I do it very reluctantly, and will make your
new diseased food as much like the old healthy food as I
possibly can.” So the gall-maker strives to produce deformity
and abnormality, and the oak all it can to maintain uniformity,
normality, good order, and legitimate produce: the result is
the production of spongy food for the Cynips in the familiar
form of acorns, or rather caricatures of acorns, so grotesque
that we can scarcely recognize them.
Let us enquire how this struggle—this contention between
the giant oak and the pigmy Cynips—is carried on. Let us
examine Dr. Mayr’s_ beautiful work, ‘ Mitteleuropaischen
Eichengallen,’ and ascertain what evidence it affords of the
value of my theory. Dr. Mayr has described and figured
ninety-six species of oak-galls, many of which have been
found in Britain. His figure 5 represents the gall produced
by Aphilothrix Sieboldii; the little acorn-like objects, more
than fifty in number, represented as forcing their way through
the rind of the twig, have assumed the form of the very
young acorns of Quercus sessiliflora ; each consists principally
of an involucre or cupule, the undivided style projecting in
the centre ; this is very conspicuous and strongly pronounced ;
7
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 277
the cupule is curiously striated longitudinally. Figure 18,
which Dr. Mayr considers to be produced by Cynips Kollari,
I have always supposed to be, and have therefore called,
Lignicola; it is the one to which I have devoted more
attention than any other: in this the acorn-form is entirely
lost, the gall being perfectly spherical, a form which presents
to the superficial observer the most obvious objections; in
these, however, the projecting style was obvious in ninety-
seven galls out of a hundred which [ examined; in the
remaining three it was to be detected, but was not distinctly
pronounced; it is always exactly opposite the basal attach-
ment of the gall: the exterior surface of the gall is scarcely
distinguishable from that of the pericarp of a perfectly healthy
and natural acorn, but the interiorsurface of the pericarp adheres
to the testa, and this to the cotyledons, thus causing a much
greater appearance of continuity than is the case in an acorn:
the cupule is very disproportionate in size, very much smaller
than in the normal acorn; sometimes, although rarely, the
testa, or its homologue, is separable both from the pericarp
and the cotyledons. In the galls produced by Cynips
glutinosa (Mayv’s figures 21 a, 21b, 21c, and 21d) the con-
test between oak and Cynips seems to have been severe: the
form of the pseudobalanus is varied; of its numerous shapes,
the acorn-shape being the exception. In the beautiful gall
produced by Aphilothrix Gemmz (Mayr’s figure 28), the
scales of the involucre, or cupule, are flattened and produced
into leaf-like lamine, forming an imbricated mass of very
interesting appearance: this curious object is usually called
the “artichoke gall.” The minute, but perfect, representation
of an acorn in the centre of its leafy cup is very striking, and
I think must be convincing evidence of the truth of the
theory, so far as this species is concerned. The similarity of
the gall of Aphilothrix Glandule of Hartig (Mayr’s figure 34)
to an acorn seems to have impressed itself on that eminent
Hymenopterist, or he would scarcely have given it that
specific name. The same observation applies to the gall
produced by Spathegaster glandiformis of Giraud (figure 91
of Mayr).
In conclusion, I may say that I quite expect and hope to
hear objections to the theory here propounded, that many of
the oak-galls are pseudobalani, or false acorns, that is to say,
278 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
productions resembling acorns, but entirely without the
germinating and reproductive power of these familiar objects.
To produce an acorn has been the intention of the oak, but
the gall-fly has frustrated the attempt. Instead of sending
this trifle to either of the more learned and technical
journals, I have preferred submitting it to the more practical
readers of the ‘Entomologist, feeling sure that it cannot
there escape that searching investigation which ever tends to
the evolution of truth.
EpwARD NEWMAN.
Notes on some Insects of Italy and of South France,
observed between the middle of May and the middle of
July, 1872. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 230.)
Avignon.—Coleoptera: Anthaxia cyanicornis, Cetonia
stictica, C. hirtella, Chrysomela Tremule. Diptera: Tipula
gigantea. Hymenoptera: Xylocopa violacea.
In these notes the more minute and less-observed species
will follow those which are generally known. Cetonia stictica
and C. hirtella appear to be distributed throughout South
Europe, and therefore need not be mentioned again: the
former is much more abundant than the latter. Only one
specimen of the beautiful Buprestid, A. cyanicornis, was
seen. X. violacea is too frequent in the Mediterranean
region to require a second notice.
Marseilles.—Coleoptera: Lachnea tripunctata, Coccinella
7-punctata. Orthoptera: Gryllotalpa vulgaris.
C. 7-punctata occurred in great swarms about the harbour
here, like it may be occasionally seen on the sea-coast in
England, shortly after it has assumed the beetle state. It was
seen here and there on Mount Vesuvius; it has been found
in plenty on Mount Sinai and Mount Lebanon; it is spread
over most of North Asia; and other gregarious species of
insects are likewise very widely distributed.
Genoa.—Coleoptera: Dasytes hirtus, Crioceris merdigera,
Lachnea tripunctata, Coptocephala scopolina, Pachybrachys
hieroglyphica, Timarcha coriaria, Chrysomela Banksii, C.
intricata, Coccinella 22-punctata. Hemiptera: Eurygaster
Hottentotta.
.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 279
Dasytes hirtus was frequent in this district, but was not
seen elsewhere.
Pisa.—Coleoptera: Chrysomela cerealis. Hemiptera: Miris
ruficornis, Aphis Ros, Chaitophorus Populi.
C. cerealis was rather numerous on a rosemary bush, to
which plant this beetle seems to be much attached. C.
Americana, which I have found in the Forest of Fontainbleau,
is much larger, but has like colours. Ch. Populi was also
seen at Avignon, and appeared in great profusion at the
Baths of Lucca, where it was attended by an ant, which was
very different from any English species of that tribe.
Rome.—Coleoptera: Lebia turcica, Ateuchus laticollis,
Gymnopleurus acantharus, Pentodon punctatus, Valgus
hemipterus, Trichodes alvearius, Akis punctata, A. Italica,
Scaurus striatus, Blaps gigas, B. similis, Isomira murina,
Dorcadion pedestre, Saperda nigricornis, Stenopterus rufus,
S. preeustus, Leptura livida, Clythra taxicornis, C. meridionalis,
Lachnea tripunctata, Chetostoma bucephala, Cryptocephalus
flavilabris, C. 4-pustulatus, C. Hypocheeridis, Chrysomela
Banksii, Gastrophysa Polygoni, Adimonia rustica, Cocci-
nella variabilis, C. 22-punctata. Neuroptera: Libellula
depressa, Calopteryx Virgo. Hymenoptera: Scolia flavi-
frons, S. bidens, Stizus nigricornis, Pelopzus spirifex.
Hemiptera: Miris ruficornis, M. erraticus, M. longicornis,
M. dolabratus, Lopus tunicatus, Capsus scriptus, C. 6-punc-
tatus, C. bipunctatus, C. Chenopodii, Pyrrhocoris aptera,
Graphosoma lineata. Diptera: Usia enea, Phthiria minuta.
Lebia turcica frequents twigs in hedges. Akis Italica,
Blaps gigas and Scaurus striatus now inhabit the Coliseum.
Akis punctata and Dorcadion pedestre may be found on walls
in the outskirts of Rome. Scolia flavifrons is a very conspi-
cuous object, on account of its gigantic size. Cynips argentea
inhabits a large woody gall, which may be found in the woods
about Tusculum and Albano: it is well figured by Dr. Mayr,
in his ‘Die Mittel-europiischen Eichengallen,’ i. 14, pl. 2,
f. 15. He remarks that it occurs on Quercus pubescens, very
rarely on Q. sessiliflora; that it is scarce about Vienna, more
common in South Europe. To this fly may be applied the
words, “Sic vos non vobis.” It only inhabits a small apart-
ment in the middle of the gall, and is there not secure from
the long oviduct of Megastigmus giganteus, a luteous Chalcid
280 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
with a golden green back. Great numbers of the inquilini-
cynipids dwell in the outer regions of these galls, with their
parasites, such as Eupelmi and Tetrastichi; there are also
occasional inmates in these galls, such as a Feenus, a Chrysis,
an Osmia, another aculeate Hymenopteron; but a notice of
these and their associates, Diomorus calcaratus and species
of EKurytoma and of Callimome, may be deferred.
Naples.—Coleoptera: Ateuchus semipunctatus, Anomala
Vitis, Scaurus striatus, Elenophorus collaris, Blaps gigas,
Pimelia bipunctata, Cistela sulphurea, Omophilus picipes,
Strangalia melanura. Hymenoptera: Scolia flavifrons, Dis-
colia hirta. Hemiptera: Callipterus Quercus. Diptera:
Dasypogon teutonus.
Anomala Vitis, Cistela sulphurea and Omophilus picipes
frequent the desolate flanks of Vesuvius; and there Ateuchus
semipunctatus was abundant, and busily engaged in its
symbolical operations and constructions. Callipterus Quercus
and its Aphidius-parasite may be found on the under side of
oak-leaves. Various species of Aphides are abundant here, as
elsewhere in Italy: their life here must be very different from
that in Lapland, where I have found, near the North Cape,
the nest of an aculeate Hymenopteron provisioned with
them: there the egg-state must occupy half the year; here it
may be of very rare and brief occurrence.
Florence.—Coleoptera: Ocypus olens, Cetonia angustata,
Purpuricenus Koehleri, Stenopterus praustus, Coptocephala
scopolina, Cryptocephalus Hypocheeridis. Hemiptera: Miris
longicornis, Capsus Chenopodii, Cicada Fraxini.
In Italy, during the spring, and in Switzerland, the sharp
sound of the field-cricket fills all the valleys; but the vibra-
tion of Cicada Fraxini about the Mediterranean, in the
summer time, is more loud and incessant: it may also be
heard in the Vallais, at Sion, a spot of which the resemblance
to Italy has often been remarked.
Lucca.—Coleoptera: Geotrupes vernalis, Cetonia morio,
C. affinis, C. lucidula, Anomala Vitis, Lachnea tripunctata,
Coptocephala scopolina, Cryptocephalus Hypocheeridis,
Hispa atra. Neuroptera: Ascalaphus longicornis. Hyme-
noptera: Discolia hirta. Diptera: Laphria maroccana.
A. longicornis may be distinguished at some distance
among butterflies by its peculiar flight. I have seen it
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 281
several times in the Bernese Alps (where it has a range of
three thousand feet altitude), and two other species, A. mac-
ceronius and A. maculatus, in South France: in this district
the flight of Myrmeleon libelluloides is also a very pleasing
object. L. maroccana is the largest European of its tribe.
The hairy Laphriz, in South Europe, are an Entomological
aspect which is not witnessed in England: their large size,
strong forms, powerful flight, and dart-shaped mouths, enable
them to exercise a limitating control over many kinds of
insects.
Ravenna.—Coleoptera: Zabrus gibbus, Anomala Frischii,
Triodonta nitidula, Cryptocephalus Hypocheeridis. Neu-
roptera: Libellula cancellata, L. cerulescens, L. erythrea,
L. striolata. Diptera: Pangonia marginata.
T. nitidula was abundant in the forest, but I did not see it
elsewhere in Italy. The borders of the marshes and broad
ditches about Ravenna swarm with snakes, frogs, and dragon-
flies: of the latter some other species were in company with
those above mentioned; and the bright crimson L. erythraa
presented a pleasing contrast with the numerous white water-
lilies.
Francis WALKER,
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Description of the Larva of Boarmia roboraria.—I am
indebted to the kindness of my friend Mr. J. P. Barrett, of
Peckham, for the opportunity of watching this interesting
species in all its stages. The eggs, which [ received on the
11th of July in last year, seemed to be deposited in clusters,
were oblong-oval in shape, the colour reddish brown. On
July 14th they hatched, and the young larve were at once
supplied with fresh oak-leaves, on which they fed so long as
leaves were obtainable: this food failing in the autumn,
tender oak-twigs were substituted; and to these the larve
(then having attained a length of three-quarters of an inch)
attached themselves by silken threads spun over the twigs,
the threads being then grasped by the claspers; in some
instances the threads were also even spun over the hinder
segments of the larve. In this position they spent the winter
P2
282 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
in a semi-torpid state, but in mild weather fed with’ evident
relish on the tender bark, sometimes eating nearly through
the twigs. In early spring many of them died off; and the
only one which reached maturity was full grown early in
June, when I described it as follows:—Length about two
inches, and of average proportionate bulk. Head flat, and
deeply notched on the crown, narrower than the 2nd segment,
into which, when the larva is at rest, it is partially withdrawn.
Body cylindrical, of tolerably uniform width, but with several
prominences, as follows: the 5th segment is swollen from the
sides into two conspicuous dorsal humps, divided by a notch
on the centre of the dorsal surface; on the 6th segment is a
transverse ventraid ridge ; and on the 12th are two very small
dorsal humps; there are also two short anal points. Skin
tough and rather shining, puckered on the anterior and
posterior segments, but smooth on the middle of the dorsal
surface. The ground colour is marbled with almost every
shade of pale brown, tinged in several places with dull dark
green, and blotched along the sides with pale bluish gray.
Head chocolate-brown, the face mixed with gray. Medio-
dorsal stripe interrupted and indistinct, a little darker than the
ground colour; subdorsal and spiracular stripes scarcely per-
ceptible. Spiracles distinct, pinkish brown, encircled with
chocolate. The ground colour of the ventral surface is
variegated with the same shades of brown as the dorsal
surface, but has, in addition, several purplish marks; on each
side the ridge on the 6th segment is a pale yellow mark;
there is also the rather broad, interrupted, dull yellow, central
stripe, characteristic of the genus. Legs pointed and curved
inwards, dull chocolate-brown, the first joint paler than the
others. When at rest the larva greatly resembles a twig, the
notched head being exactly similar to two oak-buds. The
single larva went down on June 10th; and the imago, a
female, appeared on the 6th of July.—Geo. T. Porritt ;
Huddersfield, December 11, 1872.
Insects Reared during the Year (1872) :—
H. Senecionis. Bred from larve found in the seed-heads
of Senecio Jacobzea; coast.
P. Marmorella. Bred in July, from larve found on black-
thorn in May.
S. Achatana, Bred in July, from larve collected on sloe
in May,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ; 283
P. Cristana. Bred from larve found feeding between
united leaves of hawthorn.
E. Feneana. Bred freely from roots of Artemisia vul-
aris.
‘ S. Rufillana. Bred sparingly from seed-heads of Daucus
carota.
A. Badiana. Bred from larvze found in the seed-heads of
Arctium lappa.
C. Francillana. Bred sparingly from seed-heads of Daucus
carota.
C. Dilucidana. Bred in abundance from stems of Hera-
cleum sphondylium.
C. Dipoltana. Bred sparingly from seed-heads of Achillea
millefolium.
E. Angustana. Bred from seed-heads of Achillea mille-
folinm.
K. Steinkellneriella. Bred in March, from larve collected
on sloe in September.
G. Atriplicella. Bred in July, from seeds of Chenopodium
collected in October.
C. Argentulella. Bred freely from seed-heads of yarrow;
coast.
C. Splendana. I have bred a fair number of this insect
from larve collected in 1870, proving their existence as larve
for nearly two years.— Wim. Machin.
Captures at Newcastle :-—
M. Albicolon. On the coast near South Shields, in June ;
not so plentiful as usual.
M. Albicillata, M. Tristata, and Penthina prelongana.
Near Hexhan, end of June.
Stigmonota lunulana (Dorsana). Chapwell Woods, in
June.
Argyrolepia cnicana. Chapwell Woods, July 15th.
Leucania littoralis, Coremia munitata, Spilodes palealis
(one specimen, within a few yards of high-water mark),
S. sticticalis (two specimens), Crambus Warringtonellus
(plentiful), Homcesoma nimbella, Gelechia fumatella (about
thirty, but mostly in bad condition). On the coast, at
Newbiggen-by-the-Sea, July and August.
Scoparia cratzgalis and lineolalis. In Cresswell Woods,
August— W. Maling ; Newcastle-on-Tyne.
284 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Preserving Lepidoptera from Mould or Mites.—1. In the
‘Insect Hunter’s Companion, by the Rev. Joseph Greene, a
weak solution of corrosive sublimate (bichloride of mercury)
in alcohol is recommended as a remedy for mould on Lepi-
doptera: the proportions in which the sublimate and alcohol
are to be mixed, however, are not stated. Now, if the solu-
tion be too strong, it will deposit minute crystals of the salt
upon the insects. I should be much obliged, therefore, if you
would kindly inform me of the relative quantities of alcohol,
and bichloride of mercury to be dissolved in the alcohol, in
order to ensure the solution being of the right strength.
2. Also, in the same work it is stated that the insects should
be “touched” with the solution. Does this mean that the
whole of the insect is to be touched, or only the body?
3. Allow me to ask whether the ‘ Entomologist’ is published
by Van Voorst, or by Simpkin, Marshall & Co.—H. A.
Measor; 389, Leamington Road, Westbourne Park, W.,
December 5, 1872.
[1. The solution should be tested by wetting the surface of
black, brown, or any dark-coloured paper with a camel’s-hair
brush: if it leave a white deposit it is too strong, and must
be reduced. 2. “Touching” refers more especially to the
body on the under side, while holding the pin in the left
hand; the fluid will then run into the wings. 3. The ‘ Ento-
mologist,’ as stated on the wrapper, is published by Simpkin,
Marshall & Co.—Edeard Newman. |]
Argynnis Lathonia.—Three specimens taken in the neigh-
bourhood of Deal at the beginning of October: two at
Kingsdown, near Deal, and one among the sand-hills.—
‘ Science Gossip, December, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa at Barnsley.—I have taken three speci-
mens of Antiopa this year at Barnsley: one on the 2lst of
August, one on the 28th, and one on the Ist of September ;
all have white borders and are in good condition: found on
sugar-tubs.—J. Jackson; 4, Kendray Yard, Barnsley,
Yorkshire.
Vanessa Antiopa in Scotland.—One in the Forest of Glen
Tanar, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.—‘ Science Gossip, Dec. 1872.
Captures of Antiopa in Kent.—I see Antiopa has not been
recorded from here. A specimen was taken at Westerham on
the 14th September; and the man, a labourer, carefully
a
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 285
brought it to me alive in his tobacco-box: I need hardly
state the “ weed” did not altogether improve the appearance
of the insect; but the man did his best. A fine female
specimen was taken on the 26th November, and is still
alive. The borders of both were grayish (or dingy) white.—
William H. Smith; 5, Cedar Terrace, Sevenoaks, Decem-
ber 5, 1872.
Vanessa Antiopa near Leeds.—Only a small party of these
interesting strangers appears to have visited this part of
Yorkshire. I have only heard of three specimens being
captured near Leeds this autumn: one of these was taken in
the centre of our smoky town, within a few yards of the
Town Hall; and another in the yard of a woollen-mill, trying
to extract food from some empty turpentine-casks. The sin-
gular character of the places, in which many of the specimens
of Antiopa have been taken, seems to give some support to
the opinion that they are chance visitors, and rather at a loss
how to get a living in a strange country, no British butterfly,
except a puzzle-headed white, venturing near such places as
Town Halls and mill-yards. Is it an ascertained fact that
there zs a variety of Antiopa, in which the borders of the
Wings are pure white upon emergence from the pupa, or is
the white of our specimens only faded yellow, like that of the
Antiopa of the Continent after hybernation? I am told, on
the highest authority, that British Antiopas can always be
distinguished with certainty from foreign ones; but my son
caught a number of specimens of this insect in the Tyrol last
May, which appear to me precisely like those which do duty
for British in our cabinets: the borders are pure white, and
just sufficiently battered to look “unmistakably British,” and
“such as no foreigner would have thought it worth while to
capture.” I hope some of the host of Antiopa have escaped
slaughter, and gone into winter.quarters, and that we shall
hear of them in the spring; and that those who are fortunate
enough to meet with females will not kill them hastily, but
endeavour to obtain eggs and rear the butterfly, that we may
learn whether a British-born Antiopa differs from a foreigner,
and in what particular: but, unfortunately, the blown-over
people would still say,—‘‘If the child’s a Briton, the father
was nt.,— Edwin Birchall; Kirkstall Grove, Leeds, Novem-
ber 24, 1872.
286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
[The question of my valued correspondent is to the point:
—‘“ Does Antiopa ever emerge from the pupa with a white
border?” Many of my correspondents on the Continent—
and surely M. Guenée with regard to France, Mr. Riley with
regard to the United States, and so on with other countries—
could at any time settle the question. Impressions are worth
but little, but, from the inspection of a large number of speci-
mens captured in different parts of Switzerland, my impression
is that Swiss specimens have white borders, even when they
emerge from the pupa. The “blown-over theory” I must
leave for the present. JI am looking forward to the republi-
cation in the ‘ Zoologist’ of the paper on the “ Advent of
Antiopa,” which appeared some months back in the ‘ Field,’
and prefer delaying any allusion to that theory until the
statistics are more complete.—Edward Newman.]
V. Antiopa.—Will you please tell me what time we are to
look for this butterfly in the spring after hybernation '—JZ.
B. Poulton.
[The first warm days in March, and continue looking for
every warm day throughout March and April.—£. Newman.)
Is Lycena Arion still to be found at Barnwell Wold ?—
I shall feel extremely obliged if you will inform me, through
the ‘Entomologist, whether you consider Lycena Arion to
be still obtainable at Barnwell Wold.—E. Sutton; New
Kent Road, S.E., November 16, 1872.
[I regret my inability to give any information in addition
to that published at p. 140 of ‘ British Butterflies.” Doubtless
some of my readers can give later intelligence.— Edward
Newman. }
G. Dawson.—I am obliged by the offer of the two butter-
flies. I will not trouble you for them at present.—Edward
Newman.
Singularly-marked Specimens of Pieris Brassice, §c.—
Four years ago I purchased a specimen of Pieris Brassice,
male, from a collector at Middleton, because its wing-
rays, especially those in the under wings, were striated
with bright emerald-green. Feeling the man was incapable
of any trickery, and being unacquainted with any colour or
practice by which such an effect as appeared upon the speci-
men could be produced, I offered him half-a-crown for it,
and it became mine. Since then it has been examined, and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 287
consigned to my store of “ queer” things, times out of mind.
Sometimes I almost thought it had been tampered with, but
as often came the question, How could it be done? On the
upper wings the colour is so narrow and faint upon four
rays on the right side, and upon the five central rays on the
left, that I felt no manipulation could produce it, whilst the
broad bright stripes upon the five central rays of both lower
wings of various lengths, from a quarter of an inch to five-
eighths of an inch, seemed to point to some trick, especially
so with one central ray, where there is a round dot at the top
of the ray, such as might be supposed to be made with a full
brush of colour (like a pin-head), but on turning the under
side up my doubts always vanished, because here | found the
whole of the rays on the under side brightish distinct green
for a much greater length than any colour appeared upon the
upper side; and so ended every examination. Conyinced
the effect was caused by the bursting of colour-containing
cells, yet still fearing to risk such an opinion, I held my
peace on the subject, and refrained from exhibiting the
specimen. Some months ago I received a box of insects
from Fernando Po, and on one specimen of P. Calypso, from
thence, I observed faint traces of this peculiar green (Scheel’s
green) in small patches, and at once decided that the colour
in both specimens arose from the same cause. By a recent
mail-steamer I have received a box containing many speci-
mens of Lepidoptera from Calabar (West Africa), and amongst
them several P. Calypso, and on one of these this cell-colour
has burst in all sorts of places, but principally along the dis-
coidal rays upon the upper wing, making it a truly “ green-
veined white ;” there are also some small green spots upon
the lower wing and upon the under side. On seeing this
specimen all my doubts were ended; and the Middleton
specimen takes its place as one of my most interesting
aberrations. I shall be glad to hear, through the ‘ Entomo-
logist, if there are any other such-marked specimens amongst
us: to me these are quite a treat. It is utterly impossible
that the African specimens could have been tampered with,
and the effect is identical in all three specimens. The Mid-
dleton specimen was bred; the African specimens of course
captured by negro boys, and they came here, unset, in
envelopes, made by folding a piece of square paper into a
288 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
triangle, one side a little less than the other, to allow the two
edges to be turned over; when these edges are gummed
down, the most safe and perfect plan of packing butterflies is
attained.—C. S. Gregson.
Variation in the Larva of Smerinthus Populi (Entom. vi.
184).—The peculiar variety, described by Mr. Dawson, occurs
occasionally in the West of London. I have taken it about
Shepherd’s Bush and Acton, but not very recently. The
moth does not show, I think, any notable difference. I have
ascertained that the peculiarity does not occur in a whole
brood, two larve feeding on a twig, which had evidently
descended from’the same parent, being unlike in this respect.
—J. R. S. Clifford ; 59, Robert Street, Chelsea.
Second appearance of Smerinthus Populi.—I1 have ob-
served, like Mr. Craik (Entom. vi. 191), that the imagos will
emerge occasionally in confinement during July and August,
from larve matured during June and July. The cause, I
think, is that the earth into which they have descended is of
a higher temperature in the flower-pot or breeding-cage than
they would have been subjected to had they entered the open
ground. Sometimes, also, they may feed up more rapidly,
but I do not imagine the effect of that is thus perceptible
generally. Specimens of S. Populi may now and then be
taken at large in the month of July; yet it by no means
follows that these belong to a second brood, for, as I have
repeatedly noticed, some individuals will emerge much later
than the majority, even in the same district, the retardation
being occasioned by the position of the pupa, the lateness of
the larva the preceding season, &c.—Jd.
Zygena Meliloti—When reading about a small burnet of
the Trifolii type, 1 bethought me I used to have some speci-
mens sent to me by my friend Mr. Bond, with a remark :—
“May be new; hardly can be a scond brood of Trifolii.”
This must be nearly twenty years since. Last week I looked
in my lumber boxes, and find I have the specimens yet; one
I have sent on to be examined, and it has been returned
to me as Meliloti—J. B. Hodgkinson; 15, Spring Bank,
Preston, December 1, 1872.
Dicranura furcula Double-brooded (Entom. vi. 197). I
have had an imago emerge in August from a pupa of July,
but, in all probability, this is a thing which only happens in
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 289
confinement. It is singular that I never had such a thing
occur with Dicranura vinula, though I have fed up hundreds
of the larve.—J. R. S. Clifford.
Liparis dispar at Wandsworth.—I do not like to add
Mr. Greville’s record to the number of doubtful instances of
which he speaks, yet truth obliges me to state a circumstance
which makes it questionable whether this occurrence is not
capable of another explanation. Some years ago myself and
a friend discussed how it was that the species, as bred in
captivity, was so different in size, and somewhat different
also in markings, from what is presumed to be the typical
form. Some suppose that these are descended from a northern
type; others think it is dwarfed by being so bred in-and-in,
or through inappropriate food. By way of experiment, it
was resolved to liberate some larve at a suitable spot, placing
them on sallow (which is supposed to be the most healthful
food), and watch the result. The spot chosen was Wimbledon
Common,—one tolerably sheltered, and on the verge of the
Common towards Wandsworth. How many were placed in
the bushes I cannot say,—probably from fifty to a hundred,
most of them having passed the last ecdysis; but, through
unavoidable hindrances, I could not visit them until, in the
natural course of things, they would have formed their
cocoons: of these, however, I discovered no trace, nor
subsequently could I find the insect thereabouts in any stage.
This would have been in the year 1866 or 1867. But now
this question arises, as the locality is not far from South-
fields, did my liberated individuals establish the species in
the neighbourhood, and so occasion Mr. Greville’s capture,
and perhaps others? Against this it might be urged that the
moth is reputed to be sluggish in its habits, to which cause
the limitation of its distribution in these islands has been
attributed. Very few localities have been recorded where
the species occurred during the present century; and had
L. dispar bred up in Wandsworth or its vicinity for a number
of years past, it would surely have been noticed by one or
other of the many energetic collectors residing in that district.
The point must at present be undecided.—Jd.
The Hybernation of Liparis auriflua.—Rennie, and other
authors of the earlier part of this century, speak of the
hybernation of this species under a common web. I do not
PS
290 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
know whether the insect has modified its habits since the
time that our winters have mitigated their severity, but I
have never succeeded in detecting such a colony in autumn,
winter, or spring. In the’ breeding-cage each individual
spins a solitary cocoon; and, when beating during Septem-
ber, I have never found that a number fell into the net from
one bush. If our climate was more equable, no doubt these
autumn Jarve would feed up and produce a second brood of
moths, the species then wintering in the egg-state, as is
stated to occur in some parts of the Continent. Perhaps
some of the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ in northern dis-
tricts may have found L. auriflua in winter living in society.
—J. R. S. Clifford.
Acosmetia caliginosa: how to Capture it.—As I have had
an opportunity of catching this insect during the past season
in the New Forest, some account of the mode I found most
successful in its capture may be useful. The enclosure in
which J captured it was about a mile and a half from Lynd-
hurst, on the Brockenhurst Road: the growth was young,
consisting principally of fir, and the grass was very long in
the rides. I always caught these moths in the rides; and the
following is the manner I found most effectual in disturbing
them from the long grass. I walked slowly along the ride,
holding my net by the ring, and stirring the grass in front of
me, by sweeping with the end of the stick like a scythe. The
longer the stick, and the slower you go, the better; for you
lose a great many through their rising behind you. Unless
experienced, you are sure to mistake them for the common
grass-moth, flying in much the same manner: both rise and
only remain on the wing for a short time, soon returning to
the grass, where they are very difficult to see. I never saw
one fly until disturbed. A friend, who also hunted for them,
had more luck on a rainy day than on any other. Pamphilus,
Icarus, and Gamma, were always rising from the grass, and
more than once we disturbed Chrysitis. The time I caught
them was the first two weeks in August.—£. B. Poulton;
Victoria Villa, Reading, November 30, 1872.
Tinea pallescentella.—Passing through the goods’-yard of
the Great Northern Railway, at Leeds, a few days ago, I
noticed a number of small moths on the walls, and, although
they appeared to be only “clothes’-moths,” anything in the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 291
shape of a moth being acceptable at this time of the year, I
boxed a few of them. I believe the species to be Tinea
pallescentella, although the time of its appearance seems
abnormal, Stainton giving August as the usual time. ‘The
females much exceed the dimensions given in the Manual,
some of them reaching one inch in expansion of the wings.
Stainton states that the larva feeds on corn, and there are
several corn warehouses not far distant; but I did not find the
moths in or on them, but on the walls of the offices, ash-
pit, &c., and I think it probable that the larve fed on the
accumulations of rubbish therein. I shall be glad to send
examples to anyone who cares for them.—Kdwin Birchall ;
Kirkstall Grove, Leeds, November 24, 1872.
The Food of Eristalis—I have been asked by a corre-
spondent, “ What is the food of Eristalis tenax ?” the querist
having reason to believe he had discovered pollen granules
in its stomach. My answer is clear and decisive—“ Pollen.”
The hypothesis of museum and closet entomologists that the
Syrphide or Muscide cannot convey solid food into the
stomach, because of the haustellate character of their znstru-
menta cibaria, is a beautiful and convincing proof of our
disposition to accept “what ought to be,” rather than to
enquire of Nature herself “ what is,” her order in this respect.
Eristalis feeds chiefly on pollen, and most of the Syrphide
follow its example; the common house-fly eats various
solids, and masses of these substances may be found in the
stomachs of these Diptera undissolved and unaltered after
passing through the entire length of the leathery and exten-
sile promuscis.—Edward Newman.
Pairing of Butterflies of Different Species.—At the
beginning of last June I found two butterflies of different
species in the act of copulation, sitting on a plant of mustard
which had been allowed to run to seed: the male was Pieris
Rape, and the female Anthocharis Cardamines; the Carda-
mines was slightly rubbed. I plucked the plant they were
sitting on, and placed the whole thing in a large wire-cage.
They separated, however, shortly afterwards; and next morne
ing the female was found dead, without having deposited a
single egg.— _L. G. Pike; The Grove, Highgate, N., Novem-
ber 27, 1872.
Wild Rhubarb.—Noticing the observation made on this
292 THE ENTOMOLOGisiT.
term (Entom. vi. 263, &c.), I think the great burdock (Arctium
majus) must be the plant intended: the leaves are very
similar to rhubarb. I used myself to call it “ wild rhubarb.”
— Nathaniel Hearle; West Looe.
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological
Society.
Ravages of Locusts in South Australia (continued from
p- 272).—“ On Friday, December 17th, about sundown, there
was an immense flight of locusts at Glenelg from the seaward.
They were in countless myriads, and flying about nine or ten
feet high. They had every appearance of having crossed the
Gulf; at least, they were in full force at the end of the jetty,
and appeared to be making their way, against the wind,
towards the hills. One of the Glenelg fishermen states that
he has on previous occasions seen locusts crossing the Gulf,
and that he has, while out at sea, found his boat covered
with them. A few days afterwards (December 20th) the
locusts arrived in force at Glenelg, travelling rapidly south-
ward. The right wing of the army rested on the coast line,
but did not go further westward than the green herbage of the
sand-hills. On the bare sands only a few stragglers were to
be seen, and scarcely any within three or four yards of the
water. Swarms alighted upon various patches of vegetation ;
one of couch-grass, we heard of, over which the locusts
settled two deep, and were killed wholesale with whips. They
attacked less zealously a small plantation of lucerne, the
flavour of which seemed hardly to their taste. Near it a
number of fowls collected, and seemed to be well employed
in picking up specimens of Natural History. Mr. George H.
Glover writes the following from Kersbrook on the 19th
December :—‘ The locusts were first seen in this neighbour-
hood on Friday last; they still increased in what we would
now call small numbers, for at about eleven o’clock yesterday
morning (Monday, the 18th) they began to come in clouds, or
rather in one continual cloud. The work of destruction was
then commenced in earnest. In a very short time acres and
acres of potatoes were cleared of their leaves; the ground,
grass, potatoes, and fruit-trees from the bottom to the tops
are literally covered with them: they are so thick that we
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 293
have enough to do to go through the gardens where there is
anything green. The first things they eat most are potato-
tops, and reeds and grass. Of course I shall be able to tell
more about it ina few days. Their direction here is from
north-west to south-east.’ Some anxiety has been shown as
to the extent of the ravages in Dr. Schomburgk’s domain of
the marauding armies of locusts; but it is gratifying to learn
that, while verbenas and some dainty flowers have fared
badly, the gardens as a whole have not suffered much. The
bulk of the leafage of shrubs and ornamental trees would
probably have been cleared but for the pasture-land which
adjoins the pleasure-ground, and the plots of couch and
other grasses that have been so tastefully laid out. On these
spots the hordes settled in myriads, and in many places
nothing remains but the bare brown earth and a few tussocks
where there was formerly a fine bright green sward, soft as
velvet and refreshing to the eye. ‘The pests swept over the
grass and ate it far closer than sheep would have done. The
Director is yet thankful that this satisfied them, and the
locusts in consequence spared what was of vastly more
value. Well watering the plots will restore the artificial
grasses, and ere long a fresh crop will spring.
“ Other colonies as well as our own have been suffering
from a similar visitation. From Echuca we hear that incal-
culable mischief has been done to the standing crops in the
district; but the local paper adds:—‘ It may be useful to
agriculturists to learn that the larkspur is exceedingly fatal
to these insects. They may be seen lying dead in heaps in
gardens where this plant is cultivated.’
“Mr. M. Symonds Clark, in a letter to the ‘ Register,’
writes :—‘ Of birds which destroy locusts we have a great
many species. A very old colonist has informed me that
quail were formerly very abundant upon the Adelaide Plains,
and that on examining the crops of some of these birds
which he had shot he found them to be full of grasshoppers.
Probably hawks of all kinds, crows, native magpies, shrikes,
laughing jackasses, kingfishers, plover, landrail, swans, geese,
and nearly all game birds, together with many of the small
birds, lend their aid in checking the increase of the locusts.
How advisable is it, therefore, that the wanton destruction of
these birds should be put a stop to.”
294 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
November 4, 1872.
Rare British Butterflies.—Mr. S. Stevens exhibited one
example of Pieris Daplidice and six of Argynnis Lathonia
taken by himself, last September, near Dover; also a dark
variety of Pieris Napi, which he took at Leenane, Co. Mayo;
two varieties, one very fine and rich in colour, of Pyrameis
Cardui, and a black variety of Callimorpha dominula from
Dover; and Sesia asiliformis, Chcerocampa celerio, and
Deilephila livornica from Brighton. (See Entom. vi. 219.)
Fossil Butterfly in the Stonesfield Slate-—Mr. Butler
exhibited a remarkably perfect impression of the wing of a
fossil butterfly in the Stonesfield slate. It appeared to be
most nearly allied to the now-existing American genus Caligo.
Minute Book of an Entomological Society.—Mr. Smith
exhibited, and presented to the Society, the Minute Book of
the Meetings of an Entomological Society existing in Lon-
don from 1806 to 1822, in which were copied the minutes of
the pre-existing Aurelian Society. This had been given to
him by Dr. J. E. Gray. The Meeting passed a special vote
of thanks to Mr. Smith for this interesting donation to the
Society’s Library.
(There are two Societies apparently comprised in this
memorandum: the first existed from 1896 to 1813, and was
called The Entomological Society of London: the second
from 1822 to 1824, when it merged in the Zoological .Club
of the Linnean Society; it was called The Entomological
Society of Great Britain. 1 have given details of these and
four previous Entomological Societies, at p. 300 of the
‘Grammar of Entomology. —Edward Newman. |
Gnats at Oxford.—Prof. Westwood made some remarks on
the habits of the common gnat. He had observed none in
his house at Oxford till about July ; but from then up to the
present time there were swarms in certain rooms every night,
making their presence known by flying to the lights. All were
females, which sex alone is known to torment man by its
bites. They were carefully destroyed each day ; yet, although
both doors and windows were closed, they were daily replaced
by a fresh swarm, and he could only account for their pre-
sence by supposing they came down the chimneys.
[It would have been interesting if Prof. Westwood had
stated the technical name of the insect he designates as “ the
nr
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 295
common gnat.” I was at Leominster in the autumn, and
observed swarms of gnats of an evening careering up and
down the window-panes, and producing, through the multitude
of busy wings, a loud humming noise. When the lights were
extinguished for the night the noise subsided; and in the
morning the winged pests were either scattered or had
departed: they had not been carefully destroyed, as at
Oxford. This species was Culex ciliaris of Linneus,
described by Mr. Walker in ‘Insecta Britannica,’ vol. iii.
p- 247. It is of a redder colour and is much smaller than
Culex annulatus, another species that frequents houses, and
may often be seen at rest on window-panes and elsewhere
within doors, waving its black-spotted hind legs when
annoyed. I think the fact of female gnats alone tormenting
man is not confined to a single species, but consider it a
general character of blood-sucking Diptera. I am not pre-
pared to accept the chimney hypothesis for their appearance,
—Kdward Newman.)
New Part of the General Catalogue of British Insects.—
This is by the Rev. T. A. Marshall, and comprises the
Chrysididz, Ichneumonide, Braconidz, and Evaniide.
South London Entomological Society.—The first exhibition
of specimens took place at Dunn’s Institute, Newington
Causeway, on Thursday, the 12th December, from 7 to 10
o’clock in the evening, and was in every respect successful.
The company was large, indeed inconveniently large, for the
room; so much so, that it has been determined to hold future
meetings in the Assembly Room, 104, Westminster Bridge
Road. The insects exhibited were of great interest, more
particularly the varieties of Lepidoptera, and the life-history
of other groups. It would exceed the limits of a single
number of the ‘Entomologist’ to give a list of species
exhibited, but, through the kindness of the assiduous and
most courteous Secretary, Mr. Barrett, I am enabled to
publish ihe following summary :—
Lepidoptera.—By Messrs. Barrett, Bidwell, Boden, Bond,
Ramsay Cox, Chaney, Chitty, Cowley, Farn, Hoey (life-
histories), Healey (‘Tinez), Drs. Gill and Lucas, Messrs.
A. Jones, Pawsey, Shearwood, Howard Vaughan, Rev. J.
296 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Watson (a specimen of Corydon with five wings, Argynnis
Charlotta, &c.), Messrs. Sydney Webb (very remarkable
varieties), Wellman the President (bred Geometre, particu-
larly of the genus Acidalia), Wells, West, and Williams.
Lepidoptera and Coleoptera (Exotic).—By Messrs. Cox,
Jarvis, Oldham, and Sherwood.
Diptera.—Messrs. Hoey (Hippobosca, &c.), and Newman
(all the British Tabanide, and the larger Syrphide).
Hymenoptera.—Messrs. Healey (life-histories of Druidz, or
leaf-miners), Hillman (galls produced by Cynipside, or gall-
flies), and Hoey (life-history of Abia, &c.).
Coleoptera.—Messrs. Allin, Champion, Marsh, West (rare
and interesting British species).
Hemiptera.—Messrs. Champion and Marsh (rare and inte-
resting British species).
Stegoptera.— Mr. M‘Lachlan (a collection of British
Phryganide, or caddis-flies, with the cases of several of the
species).
The varieties of British Lepidoptera attracted most atten-
tion; but the fine series of bred Acidalia exhibited by the
President, the Druid exhibited by Mr. Healey, and the
almost perfect collection of Phryganide exhibited by Mr.
M‘Lachlan, were the most interesting to myself.—Edward
Newman.
Death of Mr. Lord.—John Keast Lord, the late manager
of the Brighton Aquarium, died at his residence in Dorset
Gardens, Brighton, on the 9th December, 1872, in the fifty-
fifth year of his age. Just before the opening of the —
Aquarium, Mr. Lord had a severe paralytic stroke, from
which he seems never to have completely recovered. He
was known to the general reading public as the author of two
works on Natural History: ‘The Naturalist in Vancouver,’
and ‘ At Home in the Wilderness ;’ but to the readers of the
‘Entomologist’ his name is more familiar through Mr.
Walker’s descriptions of the “Insects” he collected for the
Viceroy of Egypt, both in Egypt and Arabia. These were
named and published in the ‘ Entomologist’ by Mr. Walker;
and have been sent to Egypt for the Viceroy’s collection.—
Edward Newman,
a
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 113.] FEBRUARY, MDCCCLXXIIL _[Prtce 64.
CHELONIA VILLICA (VARIETY).
Variety of Chelonia villica.—The head, collar and disk of
the mesothorax are black, the ordinary cream-coloured spot
at the base of the fore wings being present, and of the usual
size and shape. The abdomen is yellow at the base, gradually
shading to pink, which colour occupies more than half its
length; it has a medio-dorsal series of black spots, so small
as to be scarcely perceptible, and on each side is a double
series of black spots, considerably larger than the dorsal
ones, but not visible from above. The fore wings are rich
cream-coloured, with the under-mentioned black markings;
the costal, hind, and inner margins, are almost coutinu-
ously black; this is slightly interrupted in two places on
the inner margin; on the costal margin this black border is
united with five black spots; the first and second of these
are somewhat triangular; the third is transverse, descending
to the middle of the wing, and there being almost united to a
longitudinal black spot, which extends to, but is not united
with, the first triangular black spot; the fourth subcostal
spot is small, and the fifth large, occupying the apical angle
of the wing; other black markings are shown in the figure.
The hind wings are rich fulvous, with a few very small black
VOL. VI. Q
298 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
marks, especially towards the apical angle. I am not aware
of the locality of this specimen. It has been kindly lent me
by Mr. Stevens, purposely for figuring in the ‘ Entomo-
logist.—Edward Newman.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 274.)
I HAVE mentioned in a recent publication the parasitism of
Rhaphitelus maculatus on Hylesinus Spartii: I have seen
SEMIOTUS VARIANS.
only one specimen of it in England. The genera Semiotus
and Seladerma should be united, and the former name may be
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209
annulled. The parasitism of Seladerma Capree was observed
by Linneus, and is mentioned in the Ann. Nat. Hist. 2nd
Ser. ii. 218. A woody gall on the willow sometimes produces
a Cecidomyia, more often S. Capree, and still more often a
Platygaster. Whether the second and third species interfere
with each other, or merely with the first, has not been ascer-
tained. A Callimome, that lives in a gall on the leaf of the
willow, was probably also specified by Linneus as Cynips
capree. The habits of Systasis are unknown: it belongs,
SYSTASIS ENCYRTOIDES.
like the two other genera, to the Hormoceride. I will con-
clude with the names of three Chalcids, whose ways of life
were described long ago.
Cynips Gallarum, Lin. The description of this species is
too short to apply the name with certainty, but it seems to
have a general agreement with Pteromalus domesticus; and
the substitution of Gallarum for Domesticus may soon be
adopted as an amendment in nomenclature. The species
described as Pt. domesticus must be generally well known, as
it may frequently be seen on windows, and about the holes
made in wood by other insects, and immense swarms of it
- sometimes occur in the neighbourhood of oak-trees, where it
limits the multiplication of the little green oak moth, Tortrix
~ viridana.
Ichneumon colon, Linn. This was known as Ich. quad-
rum, Fadr., till A. H. Haliday identified it with the earlier
name of Linneus; and Cynips tripunctata, Fourc., is another
synonymofit. It has since been named Cheiropachys quadrum,
300 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
and more recently Pachychiru quadrum ; and it was recorded
long ago as a parasite on wood-eating beetles.
Ichnenmon Puparum, Lin. This is the well-known Ptero-
malus Puparum, which introduces its eggs to the recently-
formed chrysalis of a butterfly; and has been lately well
received in North America, as a remedy to the encroachment
of Pieris Rapz. It was probably there in pre-historic times,
but has now the means of makin@ itself known.
Francis WALKER.
Notes on Swiss Lepidoptera. By Henry Cuas. Lane, Esq.
THE following is an account of the results of twelve days
collecting in the Bernese Oberland; also in the district
bordering on the Lake of Lucerne, and the pass of St.
Gothard. My time was very limited, these observations only
extending between the 9th and 22nd of August, 1871, during
a short stay in this part of Switzerland. Circumstances also
prevented me from doing exactly as much as I| pleased with
the Lepidoptera. My observations are, therefore, chiefly
confined to the diurnal species, and these of course princi-
pally butterflies. However, these notes may have some
interest, as they show what may be seen in a short time on
an ordinary walking tour.
From the 9th to the 12th of August I employed the time
in collecting near the shores of the lake, and in some of the
lower forests of Mont Pilate. In the lower ground the most
widely-distributed butterfly was Colias Hyale, which was
much more abundant than its congener C. Edusa, though
this occurred with its light vav. C. Helice.
Generally distributed in the fields, &c., were P. Machaon,
G. Rhamni, P. Rape, Napi and Brassice, P. Megera,
K. Janira, C. Pamphilus, P. Cardui, V. Urtice and Io,
A. Lathonia, L. Alexis and Tiresias, and Chrysophanus
Dorilis. More locally in the lower districts and chiefly con-
fined to the woods—Leucophasia Sinapis, P. Egeria, S.
Semele, A. Paphia, M. Dictynna, P. Sylvanus and Linea.
In the more elevated woods, in addition to some of those
just mentioned, I found M. Galatea, E. Medea, Ligea and
Euryale, P. Mera, Argynnis Ino, Adippe and Aglaia, 8.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 801
Malve, Comma and Tages. Apatura Iris was captured once
in a wood close to Lucerne.
On the 12th we crossed the lake to Flullen, in order to
walk up the pass of St. Gothard. The only insects noticed
were V. Antiopa and C. Edusa! one specimen of each of
these was seen flying over the lake.
The 13th was spent in the lovely village of Amstég,
situated on the St. Gothard, at a point where the river Reuss
is joined by the Maderan, which rushes along a narrow,
steep gorge between the mountains. On the steep side of this
gorge Parnassius Apollo abounded; only, however, on the
side of the stream exposed to the sun: it was accompanied
by a few of P. Delius. Though this spot is at hardly any
elevation, I found in abundance Erebia Medea, and the very
beautiful EK. Goante. Climbing the steep rocks was exciling,
work as one had to look out for safe standing-room, as well as
for insects, in order to avoid a hard and watery grave in the
torrent below. On this account I was unable to take a fine
specimen of the black variety of A. Paphia, which I watched
for half an hour, sunning itself on some valerian close ,at
hand, but in a position inaccessible to human feet. Melitea
Athalia occurred in some numbers. ‘The other insects
noticed in this locality were Pieris Brassice, Argynnis Ino,
Vanessa Io and Urtice, P. Mera and Megera, E. Janira and
Hyperanthus, Chrysophanus Eurydice, P. Phleas and Dorilis,
and Lycena Alexis. ‘The following Zygenz also occurred :—
Z. Minos, Filipendule, Trifolii, and Lonicere. Callimorpha
Hera was a conspicuous object flying in the hot sunshine.
The next day, August 14th, was occupied in ascending the
St. Gothard, as far as Hospenthal. The only insect, not
noticed previously, was P. Atalanta. At Varsew, A. Adippe
was common; and in some places P. Apollo. We noticed
on the road, besides many common species, an occasional
P. Machaon, E. Medea, and A. Lathonia.
On the 15th we turned off into the Turka pass, which
ascends, during its entire course, through wide, open mountain
pastures. Here Lepidoptera were very abundant; and, as
the top of the pass was an elevation of about 8000 feet, we
met with many species which are never found in the valleys.
During the first part of the journey, Argynnis Adippe,
iobe and Aglaia abounded, with Erebia Ligea and Medea;
802 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
and, flying about in the long grass, Coenonympha Satyrion
and P. Eurydice. As we ascended, Erebia Cassiope, Euryale
and Mnestra appeared ; at one spot Lycena Acis was taken.
Now and then, and getiing more numerous as we ascended,
specimens of two of the mountain “ clouded yellows,” Colias
Paleno and Phicomone, flew across the path. These two
species, together with Pieris Callidice, Argynnis Pales, and a
profusion of Erebia ‘I'yndarus, were to be found at the
highest parts of the pass; for although patches of snow lay
about near the road, the day was a hot one, with a bright sun.
Psodos trepidaria also occurred here abundantly, settling
generally on the roads, together with a few of E. Cassiope,
which, however, was not so abundant at this elevation as it
was slightly lower down. I have found this Erebia and
EK. Tyndarus at a greater elevation than any of the other
Erebiz: a considerably elevated position seems to be neces-
sary for their existence, as also for E. Mnestra. E. Ligea and
Euryale seem to prefer situations comparatively but little
elevated from the valleys, disappearing altogether above the
height of 3000 feet or so; while E. Medea and Goante may
sometimes be taken in the valleys, or but a very short distance
up the mountain sides. The commonest of al] the Erebia was
E. Medea.
The next day, on the jeurney from the Rhone Glacier to
Meyringen, over the Grimsel, we saw very few insects, chiefly
on account of the bad weather, and partly owing also to the
fact that the grandeur of the scenery claimed a large share of
one’s attention. We saw a few E. Cassiope, Colias Palino,
and Psodos trepidaria, on the higher ground; lower down,
P. Rape, Arge Galatea, and P. Cardui. Though we met
only with these, I should imagine that this pass, so varied in
all its natural features, was particularly rich in insects.
In the evening we reached Meyringen, after a hard day’s
walking; and spent the next day, and part of the 18th, at
this village. The weather was intensely hot,—too hot, in
fact, for active work in the way of collecting insects. Lepi-
doptera were very abundant, especially in the valley: here I
met with unusual numbers of E. Janira, P. Megera, P. Bras-
sic, Rape and Napi; also with P. Machaon, C. Edusa and
Hyale, V. Antiopa, Urtice and Io, P. Cardui, A. Paphia and
Lathonia, L. A gon, Corydon, Tiresias and Alexis, P. Dorilis,
P. Linea and Sylvanus. In the slightly elevated woods,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 803
Erebia Medea and Ligea, A. Galathea, Thecla Acacia,
Apatura Iris (once), and Limenitis Populi (seen once). Spilo-
thyrus Lavaterz occurred here: I was surprised to find it so
late in the season. On the Bruneg Pass most of the commoner
species abounded: the most noteworthy were P. Machaon
and D. Apollo. The only insect not taken by me before was
Argynnis Dia.
On our return to Lucerne, the same insects as before were
seen; P. Machaon, however, not very common. Curiously
enough, I did not see one specimen of P. Podalirius during
my whole stay in Switzerland; it must occur in this district.
On the 20th August I found Melitea Dydima abundant in
a field close to the town, accompanied by Polyommatus
Damocles. Nothing else new occurred, except one specimen
of Grapta C-Album.
I think these are all the species I had the opportunity of
noticing whilst in Switzerland; of course I expect many
escaped observation, as they must do in the hurry of a
walking tour.
The chief interest to an English collector is, to my mind,
the extreme abundance of species which are found commonly
in England, and also the wide distribution of species which
are so local here. Again, as in the case of P. Machaon, one
meets with species in localities very different from those
frequented by the same species in England. Another point
of interest is the great number of species found at the same
time and in the same place; but this is, of course, accounted
for by the greater number of “broods” in the course of the
year amongst continental species.
Out of the sixty-three species of butterflies met with,
twenty-four do not occur in Britain.
Henry CuHas. LANG.
University College, London.
Notes on some Insects of Italy and of South France,
observed between the middle of May and the middle of
July, 1872. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p, 281.)
Avignon.—Coleoptera: Malachus rufus, M. marginellus,
Omophilus lepturoides, Larinus Carline, Coccinella bipunc-
tata. Orthoptera: Qidipoda Insubrica. Hymenoptera:
304 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Amasis leta. Hemiptera: Pirates stridulus, Chaitophorus
Populi. Diptera: Pachyrhina cornicina, P. crocata, Bibio
hortulanus.
Bibio Marci, St. Mark’s fly, swarmed in and about Paris
on May 9th, and was much numbed by the cold, in which
state it was also at Lyons on May 11th.
Marseilles.—Coleoptera: Malachius viridis, Callidium
variabile.
Nice.—Coleoptera: Brachytarsus scabrosus. Hemiptera:
Rhaphigaster prasinus.
Genoa.—Coleoptera: Telephorus lectus, 'T. Redtenbacheri,
Drilus flavescens, Cionus Thapsi, Coccinella bipunctata.
Apis mellifica var. Ligustica occurred here and elsewhere
in Italy. Spinola quotes various authors, beginning with
Aristotle, who have noticed this Italian variety of the honey-
bee. Its range southward and eastward from Italy, and its
boundary line, have yet to be traced.
Pisa.—Coleoptera: Lucciola Italica, Malachius eneus,
M. marginellus, Lagria hirta. Hemiptera: Miris ruficornis.
There is much pleasure in the sight of the brilliant fire-
flies (Lucciola Italica), that flit in abundance amongst the
shrubs or over the grass, at Bologna, Rome, Lucca. A few
of the females were seen at the Baths of Lucca: it ceases to
shine when approached. The male flies from one foot to
three feet between each flash of light that it emits. It
probably entered Italy from the east, and is hindered by the
maritime alps from occupying the Mediterranean coast of
France.
Rome.—Coleoptera: Corcebus elatus, Agrilus angustulus,
Alaus limbatus, Athous longicollis, Cardiophorus ruficollis,
Dolichosoma nobilis, Telephorus melanurus, T. Redten-
bacheri, Malachius viridis, Lagria hirta, Gidemera cerulea,
QE. lurida, Epicausta verticalis, Mylabris 4-punctata, Zeugo-
phora flavicollis, Luperus flavipes, Cassida viridis, Galeruca
lineola, Podagrica fuscicornis, Crepidodera ferruginea, Sphe-
roderma testacea, Coccinella 19-punctata, C. variabilis,
C. bipunctata. Neuroptera: Libellula depressa, Calopteryx
virgo. Hemiptera: Eurygaster maurus, Atlia rostrata,
E. acuminata, Rhaphigaster griseus, Pentatoma baccarum,
P. sphacelata, Strachia festiva, Centrocoris spinigera, Gono-
cerus venator, Camptopus lateralis, Coreus denticulatus.
Diptera: Medeterus notatus.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 305
The black hue at the tips of the elytra of Telephorus
melanurus covers more of the surface than it does in more
northern specimens. . :
Naples.—Coleoptera: Coccinella bipunctata, Anthaxia
funerula, Sitones gressorius. Orthoptera: Acridium Tatari-
cum, G2dipoda cerulans. Diptera: Anthrax Iacchus.
Sitones gressorius was found on Vesuvius, at above half
the height. Anthaxia funerula and Anthrax lacchus were
in Capri.
Florence.—Coleoptera: Ocypus oleus. Hemiptera: Rha-
phigaster purpurascens, Strachia oleracea, Miris longicornis,
Capsus Chenopodii.
Lucca.—Coleoptera: Lampyris Zenckeri, Dasytes bipus-
tulatus, Larinus Carline, Clytus floralis. Hemiptera: Cop-
tosoma globus, Centrocoris spinigera, Coreus denticulatus,
Therapha Hyoscyami, Miris longicornis, Capsus binotatus,
C. scriptus, C. Chenopodii, C. miniatus.
Lampyris Zenckeri is a little larger and broader than the
English glow-worm. The flight of the male begins rather
earlier in the evening than that of the fire-fly.
Baths of Lucca.—Coleoptera: Athous longicollis. He-
miptera: Miris virgatus, M. holsatus, Phytocoris Ulmi,
Capsus Chenopodii.
Ravenna.—Coleoptera: Larinus Carline, Cleonus ophthal-
micus. Orthoptera: Gidipoda flava. Hemiptera: Strachia
icta. .
4 Bellagio.—Neuroptera: Ephemera glaucops. Hemiptera:
Miris longicornis, Capsus Chenopodii, C. scriptus, C. mi-
niatus. Hymenoptera: Perilampus Italicus, Eucharis ad-
scendens.
I am indebted to the Rev. A. E. Eaton for the name of
Ephemera glaucops; the specimens seen were in the sub-
imago state. One male and one female were all that I saw
of Eucharis adscendens: Spinola says that it is almost
gregarious in Populus tremula.
This author, whose writings have contributed so much to
the knowledge of aculeate Hymenoptera and of Chalcidia,
also observed Cynips and galls, but doubted whether his
knowledge of them was clear:—‘‘ Much concerning Cynips
and galls rests unobserved, and I do not dare deliver my
disquisitions, because they seem to me immature, and very
Q2
306 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
many doubts are still inherent in me.” Then he states three
conclusions, which he does not doubt; more recent entomo-
logists do not believe them. “1st. Each kind of gall
originates from the same species of Cynips. 2nd. One
Cynips inhabits domiciles, which are in many ways diverse
by reason of their locality. 8rd. Each species of Cynips
builds for itself the same gall in the same place. Thus I
have found Cynips Quercusfolii, Zinn.,—l1st, in nut-sized
galls on oak-leaves; 2nd, in pedunculated, fungous, one-
chambered, crowned mespiliform galls on oak-twigs,—C.
Surculi, Schv.; 8rd, in one-chambered, woolly, shaggy,
bedeguar-like galls of oak-acorns. The Linnean name,
therefore, does not suit all the specimens, for some inhabit
twigs, some leaves, some fruit. Cynips Quercus-baccarum
inhabits also the rounded, one-chambered, woody, very hard
gall of oak-twigs. The gall of Quercus toj, frequent here,
is fungous, round, one-chambered, crownless, and is fixed by
a more or less long stalk to oak-twigs. Generally the galls
of the same Cynips, which in one place are one-chambered
| or many-chambered, are found in all parts equally, but vary
in form and substance according to the locality. The Lin-
nean nomenclature is therefore manifestly faulty, and the
history of each builder of galls, as yet shadowed in darkness,
invites the attention of entomophilites.”
A few more observations are required, in addition to what
Spinola says of his Figites ruficornis, a black fly with testa-
ceous head, antennez and legs, and with black marks on the
hips and thighs. This fly seems to be inquilinous; but the
required change in its name, and also how far the history of
the gall, about to be mentioned, corresponds with the history
of the gall of Cynips argentea, may be left for future consi-
deration. The gall, Spinola says, is “ Galla tinctoria;” and
Anthribus scabrosus, various Curculionide, Formica barbara
(a female, with its wings lost), and Figites abbreviator, are
companions in the gall of Figites ruficornis. The latter, he
says, lives almost gregariously in a single gall, and builds for
itself oblong habitations with almost woody walls, which are
fixed by the base to the house of the legitimate master,
whose monarchy then ceases; and its hut being thus
straitened on all sides, the unhappy little animal perishes
immaturely in deficient space. ‘These invaders (in the case
; THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 307
of the crowned gall of C. argentea) are kept in check by other
means, and there is yet much to be learned in the study of
the limited company of insects in various galls, and in the
way whereby the balance of power is maintained between
them, these researches being inductive to others in the com-
paratively unlimited companies of insects elsewhere, and
both leading to the knowledge of the mechanism which
adjusts the agencies of the human race. Spinola relates the
history of Osmia Gallarum, a bee that I have already mentioned
as having been reared from the gall of Cynips argentea. It
does, he says, no harm to the Cynips; but the lawful mistress
having forsaken her habitation, it goes in by the way she
came out; and having enlarged the empty space within,
builds there from twelve to twenty-four huts, whose walls are
smooth within, and are of ground oak-leaves, made adhesive
by glutinous matter; and this substance closes the entrance
into the gall. Each chamber includes an egg: thence comes
the grub, which, as usual, is a pollen-eater; and having
changed into a bee, goes out by the door before used.
Perhaps Feenus and Chrysis are agents in the second house-
hold, and not in the first, and do not direct their attention
to the galls till they are tenanted by the Osmia. Leucospis
intermedia has been also found in these galls, and may be a
parasite of the Osmia. But there are other events which may
happen in the domestic matters of this habitation. Supposing
that a parasitic egg has been inserted into the Cynips larva of
the central cell, before the latter has been surrounded by
ante-chambers, then the destroyer would perish with the
victim,—the M. giganteus would be immured with the
Cynips. Supposing, also, that some of the minor Chalcids
have visited the inquilines, then the nurseries of the latter
become their graves, out of which the offspring of the
Chalcids arise. The round hole in the gall is made by the
legal Cynips, and through this hole it comes out; but how
do the other kinds come out, and how are they introduced
while they are eggs? The occupation by the Osmia indicates
that the aboriginal Cynips has been unmolested; and it is
probable that the cuckoo-flies, before mentioned, take an
opportunity, when the Osmia is absent in search of materials
for constructing its cells, to secure a maintenance for their
own offspring. The Osmia, having assumed the bee-state,
308 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
unfastens the door, and goes out; and if it has been destroyed
by a cuckoo-fly, it is probable that the latter has the instinct
to escape in like manner. Supposing the first Osmia to
return unexpectedly, and to find a Chrysis, a Feenus, or a
Leucospis, as the case might be, in its home, then there
would be materials for another page in the history of the gall,
and for an additional account of the agreements or disagree-
ments in the little nest.
Many changes thus take place in a gall. Its first state,
which is common to all galls, represents, in a small compass,
the control of vegetation by insects. The second period,
which is partial, shows the check of some insects by others,
and in two ways: by outward or by inward agency,—by
starvation without, or by consumption within. In the third
_ period, the vegetation-eaters have ceased, and the carnivorous
race alone survive. A new order begins when the gall has
ceased to grow around its inmates, when the aboriginal
_ Cynips has gone, and when the Osmia has taken possession
and has provided stores for its young ones. The gall is
lastly tenanted by mites, and is afterwards reduced to earth
by the other elements.
Francis WALKER.
Supplementary Note on the Genus Acentropus.
By J. W. Dunnine, M.A., F.LS.
By way of supplement to my notes (Trans. Ent. Soc.),
I beg to give a few additional references and localities for
Acentropus. To the list of localities there may be added :—
England (Sheerness, J. J. Walker: Peckham, Covzley).
Scotland (Loch Leven, Kinross, and Loch Gelly, Fife,
Syme).
Sweden (Ifésjén, Ringsjén, Wombsjén, Farhult, Wal-
lengren).
Belgium (Forest of Linthout, Andries ; Brussels, Fologne).
Holland (Overween, and Texel, Ritsema).
And to the list of authors :—
1859. Fologne, Ant. Soc. Ent. Belg. iii. 134.
1870. a9 5 xilil., Comptes Ren-
dus, p. XXXvi.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 809
1871. Syme, Scottish Naturalist, i. 20.
5 Wallengren, Ofv. Vetenskaps-Akad. Forhandl.
xxviii. 973, 1009.
1872. J.J. Walker, Ent. Mo. Mag. viii. 185.
_ F. Walker, Entom. vi. 107 (in a note on Ophion).
3 Newman, Zool. §.8. 3117, and Entom. vi. 153.
- J. P. Barrett, Entom. vi. 199.
> Corbin, Entom. vi. 233 (misprinted Atropus niveus).
» Roelofs, Ann. Soc. Ent. Belg., Compte Rendu,
6 July.
Ritsema has kindly sent me a print of his “ Aanvulsel tot
het geschiedkundig overzigt van het geslacht Acentropus,”
which will be published in 1873 in the ‘ Tidjschrift voor
Entomologie,’ vol. xvi. pp. 16—25. In a note on p. 25, he
tells us that he captured male specimens of the moth at
Overween as early as the 12th May, and (as also recorded by
Roelofs) in the Island of Texel on the 29th May. In this
country Boyd found it at Cheshunt on the Ist June; and
Corbin at Ringwood, from the beginning of June to the end
of August. The latter writer mentions various enemies that
prey upon Acentropus. F. Walker and J. P. Barrett both
record instances of the moth being attracted to light. Syme’s
capture of the insect in Scotland is interesting, as corrobo-
rating Leach; he mentions Potamogeton filiformis as the
species of pondweed which it frequented, whilst J. J. Walker
mentions P. pectinatus. Boyd found pupe at Cheshunt on
the American weed, Anacharis alsinastrum ; the moth and the
Anacharis were abundant, Potamogeton was very scarce in
that locality ; but there is as yet no evidence that the larve
fed on Anacharis. ‘The prominent lateral spiracles are not
confined to the pupz of Aceutropus, but occur likewise in
the pupz of some at least of the Hydrocampide. As to the
presence of tibial spurs in the perfect insect, see Snellen’s
observation quoted by Ritsema (Tidj. v. Ent. xvi. 19, n.),
confirming what is stated previously. Wallengren, in his
‘Skandinaviens Pyralider,’ published in the twenty-eighth
volume of the Stockholm ‘ Ofversigt,’ places Acentropus in
and at the end of the family Botyde, distinguishing it (at
p- 973) from the other sixteen genera by the characters—
“legs without spurs; female wingless; ocelli and superior
palpi wanting ;” or, as it is expressed at p. 1009, “legs short
310 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
and thin, without spurs; the female with short pointed rudi-
ments of wings.” According to the same author (who thus
confirms Reutti’s statement), “the female is on the move
by night, and swims on her back under the water; and
for pairing she also draws down the male, which flies just
over the surface of the water, and also runs pretty quickly on
the water; the male is chiefly on the move by night, but flies
also by day.” Wallengren (referring to Nolcken’s paper)
adds, that there are probably several species of the genus,
and that sometimes winged females occur; he, however, cites
Kolenati’s figure of A. Neve as identical with A. niveus.
With reference to Newman’s remark (Zool. 8.8. 3122), that
the conflict between the two descriptions of the eggs, noticed
previously, is “sufficient to prove that the eggs described
were scarcely those of a single species,” I may observe that
Newman has failed to notice that the conflicting descriptions
were given of one and the same batch of eggs, deposited on
one and the same Potamogeton leaf.
J. W. DunnNING.
[This supplementary note, read before the Entomological
Society, has been most kindly handed me by Mr. Dunning,
and I presume concludes what that excellent entomologist
has to offer on the difficult question—* What are the affinities
of Acentropus ?”
When I consider the position occupied by Mr. Doubleday
among living entomologists, and the universal respect in
which his judgment is held, not simply among ourselves in
England, but also on the continent of Europe and in America,
it is much to be desired that he would express his views.
Beyond the fact that the genus Acentropus is not to be found
in either Edition of his invaluable Synonymic List, we have
no indication of Mr. Doubleday’s opinion. The same may be
said of M. Guenée, whose abstention from the discussion is
equally to be lamented.—EKdward Newman.]
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Mosquitoes in the Great Lone Land.—“ There came upon
us dense swarms of musquitoes, humming and buzzing along
with us as we journeyed on, and covering our faces and heads
with their sharp stinging bites. They seemed to come with
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 311
us, after us, and against us, from above and from below, in
volumes that ever increased.
“As soon as the sun had dipped beneath the sea of
verdure, an ominous sound caused me to gallop on with
increasing haste. The pony seemed to know the significance
of that sound much better than its rider. He no longer
lagged, nor needed the spur or whip to urge him to faster
exertion, for darker and denser than on the previous night
there rose around us vast numbers of mosquitoes,—choking
masses of biting insects, no mere cloud thicker and denser in
one place than in another, but one huge wall of never-ending
insects, filling nostrils, ears, and eyes. Where they came
from I cannot tell: the prairie seemed too small to hold
them ; the air too limited to yield them space. I have seen
many vast accumulations of insect-life in lands old and new,
but never anything that approached to this. mountain of
mosquitoes on the prairies of Dakota. To say that they
covered the coat of the horse that I rode, would be to give
but a faint idea of their numbers: they were literally six or
eight deep upon his skin, and with a single sweep of the
hand one could crush myriads from his neck. Their hum
seemed to be in all things around. To ride for it was the
sole resource. Darkness came quickly down, but the track
knew no turn, and for seven miles I kept the pony at a
gallop; my face, neck, and hands, cut and bleeding.
“It took us but little time to rush over the gangway and
seek safety from our pursuers within the precincts of the
steamboat. But they were not to be baffled easily: they
came in after us in millions; like Bishop Haddo’s rats, they
came ‘in at the windows and in at the doors,’ until in a very
short space of time the interior of the boat became perfectly
black with insects. Attracted by the light they flocked into
the saloon, covering walls and ceiling in one dark mass.
“It is no unusual event during a wet summer, in that
portion of Minnesota and Dakota to which I refer, for oxen
and horses to perish from the bites of mosquitoes. An expo-
sure of a very few hours’ duration is sufficient to cause death
to these animals. It is said, too, that not many years ago the
Sioux were in the habit of sometimes killing their captives by
exposing them at night to the attacks of the mosquitoes:
and any person who has experienced the full intensity of a
mosquito night, along the American portion of the Red
312 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
River, will not have any difficulty in realizing how short a
period would be necessary to cause death."—From Capt.
Butler's ‘The Great Lone Land.—Communicated by F.
Walker.
A Plague of Larve.—I know not whether it has been the
case in other localities, but in this neighbourhood the abun-
dance of larve of P. Brassice is unprecedented. All the
cabbage tribe have been totally eaten up in some places, and
nothing but the veins and stalks remain. Not content with
that, the larve have entirely stripped the turnips of their
leaves; and even the leaves of the horse-radish have been so
eaten that only the stalks are left. Many of the gardens
present a pitiable spectacle from the ravages of these
voracious caterpillars. I have been rather amused at some
of the remarks passed with regard to the abundance of these
creatures, for it must be understood that Entomological
knowledge is at rather a low ebb in this immediate neigh-
bourhood. One old woman asked me if I did not suppose
that these larve were like the locusts of which we read in
Scripture, and were sent as a judgment for the sins of the
nation? On another occasion a man, wishing to show his
knowledge of the theory of metamorphosis, was explaining to
his neighbour how quickly the larve propagated, and that the
smaller ones were the offsprings of their larger brethren, and
he added: ‘ During the winter they hide in holes, and under
the earth in cases; and next spring we shall be swarmed
more than ever. Mr. Corbin says they come from butterflies ;
but J can prove he’s wrong.” Having overheard the latter
conversation, I explained to my learned friend that a small
and—by him—unobserved creature, in the form of a four-
winged fly, was proving a great friend to him by destroying
these caterpillars; in fact, 1 told him of the busy ichneumon
fly and its work: but he received the facts with a shrug
of the shoulder, and the words—“ I am older than you.” I
have observed that as these larve prepare to pupate, quite
two-thirds of them are “stung;” so I scarcely accept the
conclusion that next season we shall have a still greater
abundance. There did not appear to be an unusual number
of the imago of Brassice in their season; in fact, they were
not half so common as they were a few seasons ago, when
they literally swarmed everywhere; so that I attribute the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 818
abundance of the larv this season to the dry and warm
weather about the time the eggs were hatching. At present,
the little clusters of the small yellow cocoons of the parasite
are much more frequently seen than the pupz of Brassice.
Strange to say, there a are few places, even in the midst of the
destruction wrought by these caterpillars, which appear to
have been untouched by them,—where the kale, &c., are
flourishing,—and present a forcible contrast to the devasta-
tion around.—G. B. Corbin.
Lepidoptera of Ayrshire.—In sending you this list, I wish
it to be understood that it is only a very small part of what I
have really taken here, as I have omitted nearly all those
species which have been reported as common in Scotland. I
may also mention that the summer of 1872 has been a very
bad one here for entomological pursuits, as many of the most
common butterflies and moths were not even visible. Of
butterflies I took none worth mentioning; but observed on
September 4th, V. Antiopa, and in August, P. Cardui (one of
each), both of which specimens I failed to capture, not having
my net at the time.
Sphinges.
Stellatarum, July, one. Populi, last week in October, one.
Geometre.
Betularia, one. Crepuscularia, not uncommon. Papilio-
naria, two. Trigeminata, a few. Clathrata, one. Pulveraria,
abundant. Marginata, afew. Defoliaria, common. Affini-
tata, not uncommon. Viretata, one. Simulata, a few.
Obeliscata, a few. Albicillata, common. Badiata, common.
Dubitata (hybernated), two. Suffumata, common. Pyraliata,
afew. Mensuraria, common. Palumbaria, not uncommon.
Spartiata, two.
Cuspidates.
Bucephala, two (male and_female). Camelina, June, one.
Dodonea, June, one.
Noctue.
Batis, June, common. Rurea, abundant. Lithoxylea, not
uncommon. lIanthina, not uncommon. Fimbria, bred one
from larva found on thorn. Gracilis, one. Munda, not
uncommon. Cucubali, a few. Chi, one or two occasionally.
Q3
314 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Oxyacanthe, abundant. Aprilina, not uncommon. Meticu-
losa, September, a few. Nebulosa, common. Dentina, com-
mon. Lithorhiza, a few. Exoleta, abundant. Rhizolitha,
one. Umbratica, common. Festuce, a few. Chrysitis, a
few. Bractea, one. Libatrix,a few. Maura,a few. Mi,a
few.—H. Anderson; Cloncaird Castle, January 10, 1873.
Hybernating Specimen of Vanessa Antiopa.—Many of
your readers will be interested to hear that a specimen of
Vanessa Antiopa was taken here yesterday. A young lady
was passing under some trees on her way home from church
after morning service, when a large butterfly, which proves to
be a Camberwell beauty, fell in a torpid state, though still
living, upon her hat. “You have recorded many instances
last summer of the appearance of this rare butterfly, whose
annus mirabilis in England has been 1872. But that it
should have favoured us with its presence in January is a
most extraordinary fact.—J. N. Simpkinson; North Creake
Rectory, January 6, 1872.
Lycena Arion at Barnwell Wold.—In answer to one of
your correspondents’ questions in last month’s number
of the ‘Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. 286) relative to Lyczena
Arion, I can say that I lived near Barnwell Wold during
the autumn of 1863 and the season of 1864; that I was
daily on the spot during June and July, 1864, searching
in vain; that I have repeatedly visited the spot since,
in the season, unsuccessfully ; and, although I have taken
much trouble in making enquiries, I have not heard of
the capture of one single specimen since 1860. In 1858
and 1859 Arion was unusually abundant; and the wet
season of 1860, which did so much damage to insect-life
generally, was not so fatal to Arion; but, as I am informed,
dealers did their best in that year to assist the weather.
L. Arion, like others of the genus, rests on the top of field-
flowers and grasses in cloudy and wet weather, and in the
open fields in the limited locality where this species was
found: the insect at rest was a conspicuous and easy victim.
I am told that one dealer in 1860 took two hundred speci-
mens in this manner, many of which had never flown. I[
cannot believe, however, that collectors and dealers can
utterly have extirpated the species in one year, as although
the head-quarters of the insect were of limited extent, yet
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 815
stragglers had been repeatedly met with in the neighbourhood,
especially by my relative the Rev. Wm. Bree, to whom we
are indebted for our knowledge of this locality, and who
showed me places some distance off where he had seen it. It
is a curious fact that Pamphila Comma used to be abundant
in the same fields as L. Arion; and, as far as my knowledge
and experience goes, the species absolutely disappeared in
the same season as Arion, and has not since appeared. Last
time I was at Barnwell Wold the Arion fields were being
“improved” by surface-burning, so I doubt your corre-
spondent’s ever finding it in that locality. My only hope is
that, like most gregarious insects, Arion may only have
removed its head-quarters, and be still existing a few miles
off in similar localities, of which there are plenty, in the
neighbourhood. I have observed a considerable difference in
the Barnwell Wold specimens and their West of England
brethren, the Barnwell Wold specimens being rather larger,
with larger and less defined black spots, the wings more
suffused with black, and the ground colour not so bright a
blue.—Thos. H. Briggs; 6, Old Buildings, Lincoln’s Inn,
January 17, 1878.
Artificially-veined Specimen of Pieris Rape.—It may inte-
rest your correspondent, Mr. C. S. Gregson (Entom. vi. 286),
to learn that I once possessed a continental specimen of the
above insect with the veins of the hind wings coloured green in
the manner described. Being at the time doubtful whether the
peculiar markings were natural or artificial, I took the speci-
men to the British Museum, where my friend, Mr. A. G.
Butler, examined it with a lens, and at once pronounced the
green veinings to be artificial, and to have been produced by
the running of liquid containing colouring matter in solution
along the natural wing-veins.—R. Meldola.
[1 have altered the generic name from Synchloe to Pieris,
in accordance with ordinary nomenclature.—L. Newman. |
Pieris Brassice with Green Wing-rays.—Three years ago
I took four specimens marked with green, very much the
same markings as Mr. Gregson’s specimen (Entom vi. 286) ;
they are four females. The males I took the same year have
no markings.- It was my friend, Mr. Leather, who first
noticed the markings. Being at that time only a beginner, I
did not think the green was unusual.— James Powall ; Wal-
lasay, Birkenhead.
316 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Yellow Specimen of Pieris Rape.—Yesterday, the 18th
of January, a common white butterfly (Pieris Rapz) was
brought me, which had apparently only just emerged from
its pupa. To-day its wings are full grown, and the butterfly
is the most beautiful of its kind that I ever saw, having a
deep yellow tinge all over it. Is it not rather a rarity for a
butterfly to emerge so early? It could not have hybernated,
because when it was brought me it had only just emerged,
and to-day it is full grown.—C. G. Vicary; Knowles,
Newton Abbott, Devon, January 19, 1873.
[I have seen several such yellow specimens as mentioned,
Brit. But. p. 161; but this beautiful variety is far more
common in Canada, where the species is naturalised, than in
England, where it is strictly indigenous.—E. Newman. |
Deilephila Livornica at Bournemouth.—A specimen of
this rare insect, which now graces my collection, was taken
by Mr. Edmund Sandars, of The Cedars, Bournemouth,
hovering over some flowers in his garden, in 1871. The
specimen, with the exception of being rather eaten by mites,
is in good preservation.— G. H. Raynor ; St. wi Vicarage,
Stepney, January 10, 18738.
Does M. stellatarum often Fly at Night 2] have always
supposed that this insect was truly diurnal in its flight, until
one evening, about the middle of September, as I was sitting
near a bush of honeysuckle, I observed a moth come to one,
of the blossoms: it was one of the Sphingide, I could see by
its beautiful flight, although it was nearly dark at the time.
Having my net I tried to “capture it, but failed. I then put
myself in such a position that the honeysuckle-blossom hung
between me and the sky, and in the increasing darkness
I saw several P. Gamma come to the flower, and amongst
them the moth I had previously seen: this time it went into
my net; and on taking it out‘ was surprised to find it was a
Stellatarum in capital condition. It is the first time I ever
caught this pretty and interesting species at night; and I
consider its capture, at such a time, a great departure from
its usual habits. I have seen it in the early twilight, but
never before at dark. Its companions at the honeysuckle are
well known to be a pest day and night in most places.—G.
B. Corbin.
D. Galii in Berkshire-—The other day I was in Henley,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. Si?
and Mr. Stubbs, the post-master, showed me a beautiful
specimen of D. Galii, bred from a larva found near that place
on the Berkshire side of the river, about two years and a half
ago. I believe that this is an entirely new locality for it.—
G. B. Hulme; Manor House, Newton Valence, near Alton,
Hants.
Smerinthus Populi in January.—| have just met a lad
with a splendid specimen of Smerinthus Populi in his hand.
He found it at the root of a poplar, and it was evidently just
out of the chrysalis, the wings being quite limp.—W’. Sim-
mond ; 6, Townsend Road, Hertford, January 20, 1873.
Is Bembeciformis in Pupa in January ?@—In the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ for last month, I see pupe of Bembeciformis for
sale. Can it be possible there are pupe of this insect at this
time of year. I do not know whether Bembeciformis goes
into pupa in the south of England in winter; it certainly
does not here. It is feeding in the larva state until May, and
the imago comes out in June the same year.—James Powall.
fF, conspicuata.—I think a few remarks on this very local
little moth may prove interesting. It is double-brooded,
appearing early in May and again in July; flies in the hot
sunshine; and on wet or cloudy days may be found resting,
with wings closed over its back, on the under side of the
broom-bushes. I always beat the larve from the second
week up to the end of September. . They are a good deal
infested with ichneumons, one large one emerging from a
caterpillar. As far as my experience goes, it is a difficult
insect to breed. In 1870 [ took a female, in good condition,
as late as September 17th, when brushing for the larve, which
were very abundant, a good many being full fed. I know now
but of two localities near here where Conspicuata can be
taken with certainty; and in both these places, | am sorry
to say, the broom is being gradually cut down. Spartiata (in
abundance) and Obliquaria (much less commonly) are also
natives of these localities—H. F. Bisshopp; Ipswich,
January 1, 1873.
Nola centonalis at Freshwater—When in the Isle of
Wight, last July, I took what I then passed over as Cristulalis ;
but now that the busy time is over 1 find, on looking carefully
through the work of the past season, that I have a much rarer
species, namely, Nola centonalis. On comparing Centonalis
318 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
with Cristulalis, you will find that the first named is a much
whiter-looking insect, with shorter and broader wings, and
the costal margin much straighter; the first line more
decidedly angled, and the second, or elbow line runs
parallel to hind margin, and not bent back on costal margin
towards the base, as in Cristulalis; the palpi much longer;
face, head and thorax, pure white; hind wings white, of a
slight pearly hue.-—W. H. Tugwell; 3, Lewisham Road,
Greenwich.
Description of a Lepidopterous Insect (Ephestia Rox-~
eee Ne to Science.—Expands from 7 to 9 lines.
Form broad, costa rounded, wings obtuse. Head, face,
palpi and thorax gray; first third of fore wings gray; then
a broad, distinct, slightly-waved, silvery line across the
wing, pointing inwards, followed by rich, deep, brownish
gray (darkest outside the light line), extending to the cilia,
but cut beyond the second third of the wing by a well-
defined, light gray streak pointing outwards, which streak is
edged with dark suffused lines; then near the cilia is a well-
defined dark streak, and on the disk of the wing are two dark
spots, one under the other; cilia broad, gray, intersected by
a light line in it, inclined to ochreous; hind wings ample,
obtuse, light silvery gray, darkest along the cilia, which
springs from a light ochrey line outside the dark inner edge
of the wing, giving the appearance of a double cilia;
abdomen bright silvery gray. This grand addition to our
collections was bred by Mr. Roxburgh. They fed upon
débris of old Lepidoptera, &c., in a neglected drawer: how
the eggs came there is not known; but it is suspected they
were introduced with dried fruits. Several specimens were
shown to me last year; and this summer Mr. Roxburgh gave
me the specimen from which this description is drawn. I
fee] some doubt as to its being.a true Ephestia. Its general
appearance and form (not colour), in small specimens, point
to Interpunctella as a near ally, but it is larger, and has full,
rounded costa; and its short, curved palpi lead me to think
I may have a word to say on this point another time. I have
much pleasure in proposing to name this beautiful species
after, 1 may say, the most liberal, energetic and successful
collector we have in this district—C. S. Gregson; Rose
Bank, Fletcher Grove, Liverpool, December 24, 1872.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 319
Mites.—(1) Can you inform me to what species the mite
which infests insect-cabinets is referable? Also any account
of its economy would be acceptable. (2) Does the species
infest Lepidoptera when at large, and, remaining in the body
whilst on the setting-boards, get introduced in this way into
cabinets? (8) How are the mites propagated when once
introduced? (4) [I have tried camphor, benzine, mite-
destroying fluids and chemical preparations, without any
marked success. The pests are certainly diminished, but [
should be afraid to say that there is a drawer in my cabinet
which does not contain half a dozen at least, and this not-
withstanding constant attention and immediate annihilation
of mites errant. I saw some time since a recommendation, in
some Entomological book, to invert all the drawers, so that
the mites would find difficulty in walking head downwards.
When going to Cambridge in October last, I adopted this
plan, and hoped to find my cabinet free from mites on my
return in December, but was disappointed in this also. A
great objection to daubing the bodies of insects over with
liquids, as benzine and creosote, is that it generally leaves
the down on the thorax, feathered antennz, and several parts
of the body, matted together, thus spoiling the appearance of
the specimen.—G. H. Raynor.
[(1) The mite which usually infests insects in cabinets is
Acarus destructor: it has not been observed, so far as I am
aware, on living Lepidoptera. (2 & 3) Its economy is that of
hundreds of cognate species; the egg is attached to some
hard and fixed object, and when mature the perfect mite
escapes, and begins to feed on any dried substances it finds
at hand. (4) | think the difficulty in applying solutions or
liquids of any kind is rather from want of experience, which
no instructions of mine can supply. I have never tried to
make mites walk head downwards. I should be inclined to
disregard such advice, wherever I heard or read it— Hdward
Newman.|
Work on Coleoptera.—Please to state in the next number
of the ‘Entomologist’ if there be any work on Coleoptera
published, which is of a like form to those of yours on Lepi-
doptera.— W. B. Slater.
(There is no work of the kind, so far as 1 am aware. Will
other correspondents take this as a reply to similar queries.—
Edward Newman. |
320 ' THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Kensington Entomological Society.—The first meeting of
this Society took place on the 10th of January, under the
presidency of Mr. Andrew Murray, F.L.S.
Mr. Murray exhibited and described a number of the
varieties of the oak-gall—Cynips.
Mr. Stock exhibited a case of insects, all of which were
taken in Kensington Gardens.
Mr. H. Moore, a number of beautifully-executed water-
colour drawings of larve.
Mr. W. H. Kennell, a large case of insects, all of which he
had taken in his garden close to Kensington High Street.
Either Mr. Kennell, Hornton Cottage, Hornton Street,
Kensington, or myself, will with pleasure communicate with
anyone wishing to become a member. The Rooms are at the
School House, Allen Street, Kensington. The subscription
is small_—William Weils, gun.; 12, Phillimore Terrace,
Kensington, January 24, 1873.
West London Entomological Society.—This Society held
their special opening meeting at the Rooms in Tichbourne
Street, Edgware Road, on January 8th, and it_was largely
attended. A large quantity of insects were exhibited.—£.
W. Timms, Secretary.
The Aims of Local Entomological Societies.—Science
cannot fail to benefit by the multiplication of societies which
tend to spread Entomological knowledge, and bring about a
greater feeling of cordiality between collectors and observers ;
and also, it is to be hoped, make some of us less mercantile
in our views. These societies may, and do, embrace a variety
of objects; but there are two things at which, I think, they
should particularly aim, nor are they of much less importance
than the interchange of information and the formation of a
library for reference. Such a society should endeavour to
form a local museum, which should have—not series of
necessity, but representatives of the insects occurring in the
district, including both the present and past; and, also, it
ought to endeavour to check the too hasty and extensive
destruction of rare and local Lepidoptera, which is injuring
our native Fauna almost as much as the thinning of our
woodlands and the rapid increase of towns.—J. R. SV,
Clifford ; 59, Robert Street, Chelsea.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 114] MARCH, MDCCCLXXIIL. [Price 6d.
ARCTIA MENDICA (VARIETY).
Variety of Arctia mendica.—This specimen of the female
Mendica differs chiefly from the normal character in the greater
number and size of the black spots. I am not aware of the
locality in which the specimen was taken; but it is in the
cabinet of Mr. Stevens, and has been kindly lent me for
figuring in the ‘ Entomologist. —Edward Newman.
CALLIMORPHA DOMINULA (MELANIC VARIETY).
Variety of Callimorpha dominula.—The head, antenne,
thorax and body, are of the same metallic green-black, which
is the normal colour of the fore wings ; the fore wings are of the
same colour, except where the white and yellow markings
occur on ordinary specimens, and these are transformed to
the most intense opaque black, exhibiting perhaps the most
complete instance of melanic variation that occurs in any
VOL, VI. R
329 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
lepidopteron. It is a recurrent variation. Similar specimens
exist in several cabinets; there is a fine example in Mr.
Doubleday’s. The specimen figured was bred from a larva
found at St. Margaret’s Bay, Dover, 1872, and has been
kindly lent me by Mr. Stevens for figuring in the ‘ Entomo-
logist.’--Edward Newman.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francts WALKER, Esq.
Continued from p. 300.)
SPHEGIGASTER FLAVICORNIS.
THE accompanying three figures represent three genera of
Sphegigasterida. The economy of Sphegigaster and of Merisus
» aaa
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. ~ 323
is unknown, and Syntomopus has been lately mentioned
in the ‘Entomologist,’ and may therefore be passed by with the
remark that the species on which it and Elatus are founded
should be united to Chrysolampus, and that the names
Syntomopus and Elatus should be annulled.
MERISUS SPLENDIDUS.
The genus Asaphes has been placed with the Sphegigasteride,
but its biarticulate palpi indicate its affinity to the Spalangide.
Its representative is the Ichneumon Aphidum of Geoffroy, or
the Cynips Aphidum of Fourcroy and Olivier, which is said to
lay its egg in an Aphis which has been already the victim of
an Aphidius; and it is also said that the larva of the Cynips
Aphidum, being contiguous to that of the Aphidius, kills and
feeds on the latter.
In 1829 Asaphes Aphidum was printed as Mesosela elongata,
in Curtis’s ‘Guide to an Arrangement of British Insects,’ but no
description was then published. In 1834 it was described as
Eurytoma enea by Nees, in his Monogr. Hym. Ichneum. aff.,
and this author suggests that it may be Spinola’s Decatoma
metallica; but as the latter species is undescribed, any notice
of itis needless. In 1835 it appeared as Asaphes vulgaris
in the Ent. Mag., which name was altered to A. enea in the
B. M. Cat. Chal., published im 1846.
Nees observed it in the act of egg-laying in Aphides of the
rose, already dead, these having been the prey of Aphidius varius.
The original name of the latter is Ichneumon Aphidum, by
which designation, as before mentioned, its destroyer was
324 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
afterwards distinguished. This Aphidius varius, like a few
other names, was in some degree a nebula, or included several
species, which were afterwards distinctly separated from each
other. The Aphidius must have the faculty of ascertaining
whether the Aphis which it visits has previously received an
egg from another Aphidius, and the Asaphes must instinctively
know, when it inspects the shell of an Aphis including an
Aphidius-grub, whether the latter has been already punctured
by another Asaphes; or if the Aphidius be as yet unmolested,
the Asaphes will know the amount of progress which it has
made towards maturity, and whether it is in a suitable state
for the maintenance of the Asaphes-larva. In this little
lateral branch of creation (vegetation, Aphis, Aphidius,
Asaphes) each succeeding one controls its predecessor.
The compact structure of the Asaphes is in strong contrast
with that of the Aphidius, the lowest or most imperfect form
of the Ichneumon tribe. The occurrence of the Asaphes in
South America, as well as in Europe, infers a probability that
it also inhabits North America, where Aphides are numerous.
It is the genus Isocratus of Foerster.
It may be occasionally found throughout the year, and
frequents the leaves of the spruce-fir in the middle of winter ;
these leaves are a shelter for several species of insects,
though not equal to the protection afforded by the cypress,
which numerous Pteromali use as their winter home.
FRANCIS WALKER.
A List of the Bulterflies inhabiting Guernsey and Sark,
with Notes of their Occurrence. By W. A. Luer.
Argynnis Aglata.—Very common in Sark on the slopes of
the hills near the sea. My earliest date of capture was on
June 19th, 1871, when I took a beautiful specimen. They
were still on the wing towards the end of August of the same
year, but were then very much worn. I have never taken it
in Guernsey, or met with those who have.
A, Lathonia.—1 captured a fine specimen in Sark on
August 12th of last year (1872). Mrs. Boley took another in
Guernsey the September following.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 325
Melitea Cinxia.—Abundant both in Guernsey and Sark.
The earliest date I have of its appearance is May 8th, 1870.
In 1872 I did not observe one on the wing until the 27th of
May, and then they were in nothing like the abundance of the
previous seasons. I noticed a couple of battered females on
the wing as late as the 26th of July. They are met with all
around the southern coast of Guernsey, from Fermain Bay to
Pleinmont Point, but are never found far from the sea-coast.
Grapta C-Album.—A specimen was captured in Sark by
Mrs. Boley.
Vanessa Urtice.—Extremely abundant in Guernsey and
Sark.
V. Polychloros.—1 have taken it in both Guernsey and
Sark, but never in any numbers. Earliest date of capture
July 7th.
V. Jo—tIs not a common Guernsey insect, but I have
found it very abundantly in Sark.
Pyrameis Atalanta.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
P. Cardui.—Usually common in Guernsey and Sark, but
in 1871 I did not observe a single specimen, although they
were most abundant in the clover-fields in the three previous
seasons. They were again common in 1872, when the larve
were particularly abundant on thistles.
Pyrarga Egeria.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
Earliest date of capture April 12th, 1871.
P. Megera.—Very common in Guernsey and Sark.
Satyrus Semele-—Common in both Guernsey and Sark,
but particularly abundant in the latter island, where they are
by far the commonest butterfly. Last year (1872) they were
still on the wing on August 12th in large numbers, but it was
then impossible to find a perfect specimen.
Epinephele Janiva.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
E.. Tithonus.—Swarming on the blackberry blossoms in
both Guernsey and Sark.
Ceenonympha Pamphilus.—Very abundant in Sark, and
also in the little island of Herm, but I have never met with
itin Guernsey. Several other collectors have had the like
experience.
Thecla Rubi.—Common in Guernsey and Sark. In 1871
1 took a specimen fresh from the chrysalis as early as the 6th
of April.
326 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Polyommatus Phleas.—Exceedingly abundant everywhere
in Guernsey and Sark.
Lycena AXgon—Common on the southern coast of
Guernsey ; abundant everywhere in Sark.
LI. Medon.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
L. Icarus.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
L. Argiolus—Common in Guernsey and Sark. The
earliest date I have of its occurrence is May Ist, 1871.
They were extremely abundant in Sark on the 8th of
August, 1872.
Colias Hyale.——Rare in Guernsey. In the autumn of
1868 they were extremely abundant in Sark, but I have not
captured one there since.
C. Edusa.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark in some
seasons. In 1871 and 1872 I observed very few specimens,
although they were abundant in the previous seasons.
Rhodocera Rhamni.—Rare in Guernsey, but by no means
rare in Sark,
Pieris Napi.—Swarming in damp meadows in Guernsey
and Sark.
P. Rape.—Extremely abundant everywhere in both
Guernsey and Sark.
P. Brassice.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
Mr. Piquet once informed me that he had taken Daplidice,
Lathonia, G. C-Album, and T, W-Album, in Jersey; also
Edusa var. Helice.
You will perhaps be surprised at the absence of all the
Hesperide from this list. I have never seen a single speci-
men of either species in Guernsey or Sark; but Linea and
Sylvanus were extremely abundant in Jersey on the occasion
of my last visit on the 2\st June, 1871.
W. A. LuFrF.
[It is intended to follow up this paper with a list of the
nocturnal Macro-Lepidoptera of these islands; and I hope
some entomologist resident in Jersey may do ‘the same by
that interesting island. We seem to have ignored this portion
of the United Kingdom in everything but plants and mollusks.
—Edward Newman.]
od
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 327
Central African Blood-sucking Flies.
By Francis WALKER, Esq.
In ‘ How 1 found Livingstone,’ Stanley mentions three of
these, as follows :—
“There were three different species of flies which sought
shelter in my tent, which, unitedly, kept up a continual
chorus of sounds: one performed the basso profondo;
another a tenor; and the third a weak contralto.
“The first emanated from a voracious and fierce fly, an
inch long, having a ventral capacity for blood quite astonish-
ing. My men unanimously stated that its bite was fatal to
horses as well as to donkeys. It is called ‘mabunga’ by the
natives.
“The second fly, which sang the tenor note, more nearly
resembled in size and description the tsetze. It was exceed-
ingly nimble, and it occupied three soldiers nearly an hour
to capture a specimen; and, when it was finally caught,
it stung most ravenously the hand, and never ceased its
efforts to attack until it was pinned through. It had three or
four white marks across the after-part of its body; but the
biting parts of this fly consisted of two black antenne, and
an opal-coloured style, which folded away under the neck.
When about to bite this style was shot out straight, and the
antennze embraced it closely. After death the fly lost its
distinctive white marks.
“The third fly, called ‘chufwa, pitched a weak alto-
crescendo note, was a third larger than the house-fly, and
had long wings. If this insect sang the feeblest note, it
certainly did the most work, and inflicted the most injury:
horses and donkeys streamed with blood, and reared and
kicked through the pain. So determined was it not to be
driven away before it obtained its fill, that it was easily
despatched: but this dreadful enemy to cattle constantly
increased in numbers.
“ The three species above named are, according to natives,
fatal to cattle ; and this perhaps may be the reason why such
a vast expanse of first-class pasture is without domestic cattle
of any kind, a few goats only being kept by the villagers.
This fly I subsequently found to be the ‘ tsetze.’”
328 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The first fly is quite obviously a Tabanus, or horse-fly ;
and therefore Stanley’s description of it is omitted. The
description of the sucker of the second indicates its affinity to
Stomoxys. The third is Glossina longipalpis, Wiedemann,
or the tsetze; and by this name it is probable that some
other kinds of flies have been lately noticed in books.
The tsetze was unknown in Europe by name, till it was
called Glossina longipalpis in 1830. There were then two
specimens of it in the British Museum, and these I recorded
in the B. M. Cat. of Diptera, 1849: one (from the Congo) I
named G. longipalpis? and the other—which was paler and
much larger than the first, and whose locality was unknown
—I named G. fusca. In both the markings of the abdomen
had disappeared ; but several other specimens which are now
in the British Museum, and which agree exactly with
Wiedemann’s description, show clearly that they are all one
species, and that the name G. fusca must be annulled. Some
specimens are hardly larger than the house-fly; others are
much larger. It ranges from Sierra Leone to South Africa,
and thence to East Africa and to the interior; and Stanley
does not mention that it is poisonous. The genera Prosena
and Glossina may be united to Stomoxys, the differences
being very slight. Stomoxys Cytorus, from West Africa, is
quite different from G. longipalpis; and 8. Atno, from New
Zealand, hardly differs from S. irritans, a common English
species, which is often supposed to be Musca domestica, the
house-fly.
FRANCIS WALKER.
On some Amurland Insects (Part I11.).—The Linnean genus,
Diopsis, is composed of some well-known flies, with eyes at
the ends of long stalks; and the purpose of this adaptation
has not been much investigated. Its region is in or near to
the tropics on both sides of the equator, and extends from
Sierra Leone to Natal, and from thence to South Asia and to
the Eastern Isles. Achias is another and less-known genus,
which is found in South America and in the Eastern Isles,
and has also the sides of the head lengthened and attenuated
into shafts, which are terminated by the eyes; but these
appendages are not quite like those of Diopsis in structure.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 829
A connecting link between these two genera (or it may be
said the counterpart of the common ancestor of them both,
such assertions, as in other cases, being merely fanciful)
occurs in Sphyracephala, Say, of which Diopsis brevicornis,
a North-American species, is the type, and to it Diopsis
Hearseyanus may be added. Another species has been dis-
covered in North-Eastern Asia. I was first informed of it by
M. Fedtschenko; and I afterwards saw it among other Amur-
land insects. There may be a fourth and undescribed species
of this genus from West Africa. It thus has a much wider
range than that of Diopsis, though it is composed of far fewer
species, and it is not less interesting than Diopsis and Achias,
though of smaller size, and with less development of the
peculiar characters.— Francis Walker.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Does Antiopa ever Emerge from the Pupa with a White
Border ?@—To the question in your January number of the
‘Entomologist, “ Does Antiopa ever emerge from the pupa
with a white border?” I would answer that in the Atlantic
district of the United States, the “spring variety,” as it is
called, has always a white, or at least a very light-coloured
border. The summer variety has a border of deep brimstone-
yellow. I believe that in this district Antiopa generally
hybernates in the imago state, although such broods as do
not feed up till late in the fall undoubtedly pass the winter in
the pupa state. Perhaps it may be interesting to brother
entomologists at home, to know that Antiopa is one of our
earliest butterflies, appearing sometimes before the snow is
off the ground.—W. V. Andrews; Room 4, No. 117, Broad-
way, New York, January 30, 18738.
C. Hyale and Helice near Reading.—In 1870 I captured
two male Hyale, on the Oxon side of the Thames, and also
took one female on the Berks side. Last year (1872) I again
took one male in the same place where I took the former
ones, and saw on the Great Western Railway bank a speci-
men of Helice, which I had the pleasure of chasing for two
miles, and then missing. I have never before heard of the
occurrence of either of these insects in the neighbourhood of
Re
330 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Reading, though Edusa is generally common on the railway
banks.—£. B. Poulton; Victoria Villa, Reading, February
8, 1873.
Hybernal Emergence and Cannibalism of the Larve of
Machaon.—I was in Norfolk last July, and took a number of
the larve of Machaon; it was on the 10th of the month.
Many of the larve were full fed, and changed into pupe in a
day or two. I supposed they would remain in that state
until next spring; but on the eleventh day, from the time the
first larva changed into a pupa, to my astonishment I found
in my box a beautiful specimen of the butterfly; ten in all
came out in a few days. The remainder of the pupe (about
a hundred) I have still by me. You will remember the
weather at the time I allude to was especially hot, which may
account for the early development of the matured insect. I
discovered some of the pupe, before the shells were hardened,
in a broken condition, as well as diminished in size. I could
not understand the cause of this, and therefore watched my
cage very narrowly, when I discovered the newly-changed
pupe being eaten by the larve. This I witnessed; and | had
to use great precaution or I should have lost all my treasures.
I should have written to you at the time, but thinking
possibly my experience was not uncommon, I delayed doing
so.—|[ Rev.] Frederick Clere; Brighton, January 29, 1873.
Migration of Butter flies.—In a late number of the ‘ Field’
newspaper Mr. Holdsworth contributed a most valuable
paper on the “ Migration of Butterflies in Ceylon,” and stated
in the course of his observations that they flew against the
wind. To this statement Dr. Boyd Moss takes strong
objection, averring that it is contrary to his experience of
the same country. To Dr. Moss’s objection Mr. Holdsworth
makes the following rejoinder in the ‘ Field’ of December 28.
My opinion is that Mr. Holdsworth is far too good an
observer to be mistaken as to facts, and in that belief I
transferred his letter to a previous number of the ‘ Ento-
mologist.’
“JT submit with becoming humility to Dr. Boyd Moss’s
somewhat heavy lash for having said that the migration of
butterflies in Ceylon is always made against the wind. I
should have added—what I certainly meant when I wrote—
within my experience. With this addition, then, I present
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 331
my letter of last June once more for his consideration, and 1
can assure him that the flights of butterflies I have seen at
Colombo in November and December—I have seen many
of them—have invariably been travelling against the wind. [
can give him one particular instance, with the date. On
Advent Sunday, December 3, 1865, when the people were
coming out of the Galle Face Church at about half-past
twelve, the Galle Face was almost overshadowed by a great
cloud of yellow and white butterflies; they were coming in
thousands up the Colpetty Road, and flying in the direction
of the fort. Dr. Moss should know that the N.E. monsoon
sets in early in November, and that it blows hard at Colombo
in December; against this wind the butterflies were fighting
their way, and making fair but unsteady progress. During
my visit to Ceylon I was frequently staying at the Galle Face
Hotel, sometimes for weeks together, and I generally had
one of the rooms close to the beach. From that position I
have repeatedly seen scores of Papilio Hector and many
P. Darsius, in company with numbers of the smaller yellow
and white species, struggling successfully to make head
against the ‘long-shore’ wind, many of them keeping outside
of the belt of cocoa-nut trees, and flying low and close to the
beach. I have mentioned having seen during three seasons
flights of P. Hector many miles from Jand, and flying towards
the Ceylon coast from the direction of India. Dr. Moss says
the large varieties of butterflies are never seen migrating, but
are what he would call local, passing their lives where they
are born. Does he consider P. Hector a large variety or a
small one? Iam quite content to believe Dr. Moss’s state-
ment that butterflies never fly against the wind when they get
among the monsoon gusts on his estate on the hills in the
centre of the island ; they seem to lose their heads there, and
go wherever the wind drives them, but that is no reason why
they should not move with some definite purpose in the
neighbourhood of the coast; and the fact that I have always
seen them there flying head to wind, when the wind blows in
nearly the same direction for months at a time, seems to
imply some meaning in these migrations. Let me suggest to
Dr. Moss that he should make inquiries of some of his
Colombo friends, or persuade some of his planter neighbours,
when they are staying at the Galle Face Hotel, to make some
832 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
observations on the subject. The manager of the hotel used
to be an insect-man, and would, I am sure, be ready to help.
Perhaps if Dr. Moss had made these inquiries before now, he
would not have written to the ‘ Field,’ and come down so
heavily on my unhappy letter.” (Z. W. H. Holdsworth).—E.
Newman.
Migration of Urania Leilus.—Our readers are familiar
with migrations of butterflies; and now we see noticed in
‘Nature’ the migrations in “amazing numbers” of Urania
Leilus, which mimic butterflies, not only in their size and
disposition and colours of their scales, but also in this habit
of swarming, which we do not remember to have seen noticed
in other moths. This Urania was seen flying in swarms
across the Isthmus of Panama, and also by another person
near Para, Pernambuco, and Rio Janeiro :—“ From an early
hour in the morning until nearly dark these insects passed
‘along the shore in amazing numbers, but most numerously in
the evening; it was very seldom that one was seen in the
opposite direction.”—‘ American Naturalist.’
[This is strongly corroborative of my view adopted from
our best systematists, that the Uranide are butterflies and
not moths. I accept it as a valuable addition to our know-
ledge of this transcendantly beautiful family of Lepidoptera.
—LHdward Newman. |
D. Galii in Berkshire.—A friend of mine, some three or
four years ago, had three larve brought him, which he
believed to be Elpenor. They were taken up the Bath Road,
off Fuchsia, and quite close to Reading. Two came out
splendidly, and proved to be Galii. The third unfortunately
died. I have seen the two insects and the empty pupa-cases.
I have taken its near relative, Livornica, in our own garden,
and in such a condition as pointed to its being only just
emerged.—E.. B. Poulton.
Macroglossa Stellatarum Flying by Night.—I observe in
the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. 316) a notice, headed—“ Does
M. Stellatarum Fly by Night?” JI can confirm the observa-
tion of its doing so, which follows, by adding my own
experience of a similar circumstance. On my first visit to
Ilfracombe, about six years ago, the time being the month of
September, I took up my temporary abode at a cottage,
situated on an eminence that overlooked the harbour, and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 333
also Hillsborough Terrace; from this spot the whole town is
overlooked: on the right is Hillsborough, to the left the
Tors; whilst in front stretch the waters of the Bristol
Channel, the Welsh coast forming the horizontal line of the
view. The cottage in which | resided had its front entirely
covered with roses and honeysuckle. One night—a brilliant
moonlight one—I was standing at the cottage door, when I
observed numerous insects flying about and settling on the
flowers. On observing them more closely, I thought I
noticed a specimen of M. Stellataruam. To make sure of
this I fetched my net, and soon captured a specimen of that
moth. Having satisfied myself on the point of identity, I
gave the moth its liberty, and then noticed several others
hovering over the flowers. This observation was repeated two
or three nights in succession.—Frederick Smith; British
Museum, February 1, 1873.
Varieties of Jacobee, Mesomella, and Strigillaria.—On
the 17th of June last, whilst in the New Forest seeking for
Caliginosa, with my friend Mr. Tawell, I was fortunate in
capturing a splendid, perfect variety of Jacobee. The usual
type of this pretty species was abundant about its food-plant
the ragwort, and amongst them was the variety | caught,
which was easily detected whilst on the wing. It was appa-
rently fresh from the pupa, though at first sight in my
cabinet it appears to be an exceedingly worn and washed-
out looking specimen. Its fore wings are of a paler blackish
gray than the common form, whilst the usual costal stripe,
the two spots on hind margin, as well as the stripe on the
inner margin, are not so large as usual, and instead of
crimson are of a dull grayish pink; the hind wings are of the
same hue, with a black fringe; in fact, the whole of the
markings seem to be almost obliterated: indeed, a friend,
who looked through my cabinet a short time ago, accused me,
with a smile, of having passed the specimen up and down the
chimney a few times. I do not for a moment suppose the
specimen is unique, but I gather that it is not a wswal variety,
from the fact that all who have seen it pronounce it to be the
first which has come under their observation. I am aware
that several of our moths—as Trifolii and Lonicere, Caja,
Dominula, &c.—occasionally have their red or crimson
markings replaced by yellow; in fact, | have bred such a
334 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Dominula. Last summer I met with a male of L. mesomella,
with wings the same pale yellow colour as the paler speci-
mens of L. stramineola, and a female of A. strigillaria, in
which the space between the first and second bars of the fore
wings is filled up with the same colour as the bars them-
selves, thus forming a brown and very conspicuous band.—G.
B. Corbin.
Alucita Polydactyla.—To all who dabble in the preserva-
tion of birds and quadrupeds, it is well known—often from
sad experience—that they have many insect-enemies to
combat with, whose ravages to fur or feathers are sometimes
as insidious as they are destructive. It is not a pleasant
sight, after a bird or small quadruped has been in a case
for three or four years, apparently in a perfect state of
preservation, to see a Tinea tapetzella, or some other less-
decidedly marked or smaller example of the army of so-called
clothes’-moths, settled upon the inside of the glass, as it is
well known that its presence there betokens mischief. Occa-
sionally, however, such a thing will happen, even with our
most carefully-preserved and mounted specimens. Some five
years ago I fitted up a case of sea-gulls, which remain
unaltered; but during December last I was surprised to see
a moth settled upon the inside of the glass. A _ closer
inspection did not reveal a specimen of Pellionella, Fene-
strella, or any other of our usually-recognized enemies, but
an example of Alucita polydactyla. Our books tell us that
the larva of this insect feeds inside the buds of honeysuckle,
so I do not wish in the least to bring the accusation against
this pretty little insect that it had lived on any part of my
birds; but the question arises, In what stage of its transfor-
mation had it passed the more than five years of imprison-
ment, as the case had never been opened, and there are
decidedly no means of ingress or egress? If the egg could
have in any way been inadvertently introduced with the
rock-work, &c., with which the case is filled up, I scarcely
think it would have laid dormant so long a time, and
supposing it had hatched, what could the larva have eaten?
and although we are all aware that the perfect insect hyber-
nates very freely, yet such a protracted hybernation seems
scarcely compatible with what we know of the general
hybernation of insects in the perfect state. Longevity in the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 835
pupa state is also well known to be common to several
species,—as Lanestris, P. Populi, Vinula, Trepida, &c.,—
but is it so with the “‘ Plume” in question ?—G. B. Corbin.
Captures in Epping Forest in 1872.—Notodonta trepida,
and Chaonia: larva, comparatively common, end of June.
C. angustalis and S. truncicolalis were both common, but
local. P. marmorella and Suavella occurred but rarely
among sloe, Advenella on hawthorn, and H. eluviella and
P. dilutella among thistles. Early in June I took P. obtu-
sana, S. puncticostana and Redimitana; and in July D.
Grotiana, S. achatana, P. ochroleucana, 8S. rosecolana,
S. cespitana, 8. alternana, and O. funebrana; in August I
met with H. albistrigalis, P. cristana, T. caudana, and
S. spiniana and Janthinana. Daring the season I also cap-
tured the following: —S. crategella, H. scabrella and
Nemorella, Y. sylvella, Gelechia Gerronella, Basaltinella,
Rhombella, Maculella, Nanella, Albipalpella, Vulgella, Leu-
catella, Mouffetella, Gemmella, and Ericinella, and a fair
series of Laverna Stephensiella. A. albistria were abundant
among sloe, Mendicella common, and Semifusca rare;
Semitestacella occurred sparingly among beeches, Andereg-
giella and Curvella among wild apple, and Glaucinella on
trunks of oak; one specimen of X. Aurago was beaten out of
beech, one of Col. hemerobiella from wild apple, and several
of P. acanthodactylus from rest-harrow.— William Machin.
Preserving Lepidoptera from Mould or Mites (Entom. vi.
284).—I may inform your correspondent, Mr. Meason, that
the usual proportions of the mercury and alcohol are six
grains to one ounce of the spirit,—at least I use such for the
preservation of other objects of Natural History beside
Lepidoptera. The solution must be used very carefully
upon insects of a green colour, or the parts “ touched” will
become a dirty yellow; if too strong it also has an injurious
effect upon the colours of G. Rhamni, &c., but probably this
advice is unneeded.—G. B. Corbin.
Catocala Fraxini at Sandown.—In the summer of 1868, I
found a specimen of C. Fraxini at Sandown, Isle of Wight,
under rather peculiar circumstances. We had taken a house
for some time in the middle of the summer, and upon going
in we found a specimen of this beautiful moth, rather rubbed,
in a dying state, on the mantelpiece of the dining-room.—G.
B. Hulme.
336 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Food of Eristalis and other Diptera.—As to flies, it has
been until now generally admitted that they are exclusively
destined to fluid nutriment; but, in the summer of 1867, I
was surprised, while observing in my garden an Eristalis
tenax upon a flower of Ginothera media, to discover that it
was eating the pollen. Resting upon its middle and hind
legs, it thrust out its fleshy proboscis like an arm, seized a
morsel of pollen with the two valves which terminate the
proboscis, and tore it away from the anther. Since the
pollen granules of Cénothera are tied together by elastic
threads, that bit of pollen torn from the anther was attached
to others by a band of threads, and the insect, in order to free
its mouth from that inconvenient appendage, began to use its
fore legs. Raising both together towards its mouth, it seized
between them the cordon of threads, and rapidly rubbing
them one against the other, much as we do in washing our
hands, succeeded in cutting the threads, and clearing them
from its mouth and legs; then it raised them again, and
seized the two valves of the proboscis, thoroughly cleaning
them of pollen, and the threads yet adhering to it; and in
about three seconds this work of cleaning was complete. At
the same time, the valves of the proboscis, by rubbing against
each other, had masticated the morsel of pollen, and had
conveyed the single granules into the channel of the labium,
whence they were pushed into the mouth. It had hardly
finished cleaning its proboscis and eating the first mouthful
of pollen when it seized another portion, and repeated each
and all the operations I have described. It was so intent
upon its meal that I was able to observe it in the closest
proximity without its manifesting the slightest fear. The
quantity of pollen which an Eristalis can devour in this way
is surprising. Upon making a section of one and examining
the stomach, it appeared very large, and was full of a yellow
substance, which consisted of hundreds of thousands of
pollen-grains. I have had since then many opportunities to
observe this eating of pollen, not only in all the species of
Eristalis, but also in the genera Rhingia, Syrphus, Volucella,
and Scatophaga. This chewing of pollen alternates with
sucking honey, if the flowers have any; and I am of the
opinion that the singular structure of the proboscis of flies
cannot be fully explained without taking into account its
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 337
double function of sucking honey and eating pollen. In the
Tipulariz, and also in those flies which do not eat pollen,
but live exclusively upon juices, for instance, Bombylius,
the two valves of the proboscis serve no other purpose than
to protect and guide the sucking-tubes; but in the flies which
devour pollen, besides this formation there is also that of
grinding the pollen, for which they have special adaptations,
for the margins of the two valves at the point of union are
transversely dentate with fine and parallel bands of chitine.
Probably the greater or less distance of these bands in
different species is related to the different size of the pollen
upon which they feed.—Discourse delivered by Dr. Erm.
Miiller, of Lippstadt, to the Twenty-sixth General Assembly
of the Naturhistorischen Verein fur Rheinsland und West-
phalen, 1869. Translated into Italian from the German,
with annotations by Professor Frederic Delpino. Trans-
lated for the ‘ American Naturalist’ by. R. L. Packard.
[My kind friend, Mr. A. W. Bennett, who is now engaged
in studying the fertilisation of plants by insects, has sup-
plied me with the above extract, in reference to my note,
intituled the “ Food of Eristalis,” in the January number of
the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. 291). It is wonderful that we
should be compelled to gain information of this kind through
such a variety of channels,—German, Italian, and American,
—when the phenomena described are to be observed daily in
our own gardens, at our own doors. Even at the present
hour some of our leaders in Entomology are contending the
facts, because at variance with their own hypotheses. The
duty assigned to insects of fecundating hermaphrodite
flowers has been observed by Miiller, Darwin, and many
others; but its modus operandi has certainly not been
clearly explained. The great office of such pollen-chewing
Diptera as Eristalis is not to fecundate the individual
blossom which appears to undergo this spoliation, but to
transfer the fecundating principle from one plant to another.
In accordance with a law which is revealed in every variety,
race, or species, depauperation is always at work, and no
gardener, whatever his views, can possibly overlook the fact
that if he attempt to produce continuously any particular
species or variety from the seed of one plant he will fail,
because of this tendency. ‘The various beautiful asters, or
R3
338 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
“ Michaelmas daisies,” are preserved pure, because they are
herbaceous: the various portions of a herbaceous plant con-
stitute but one individual, whereas every seed originates a
new and independent individual. Well, then, if an Eristalis
confines its attention to one plant of aster, it only distributes
the pollen on that one plant, and the descendants of that
plant will resemble the parent, not only in superficial
appearance, but also in inheriting the principle of depauper-
ation. Nature endeavours to arrest this principle by causing
the Eristalis, when loaded with the pollen of one plant, to fly
off to a second plant of aster, and distribute its treasure on
this second plant, and the pollen which to the flower which
produced it was simply a principle of maintenance, when
transferred to another flower becomes a principle of reno-
vation. My friend Mr. Deane is most kindly assisting me
in this enquiry, and I trust, by his assistance, to explain
these phenomena more fully hereafter.—Edward Newman.]
Oak Galls.—In allusion to the subject of oak-galls growing
in the similitude of acorns, a view which has been repeatedly
advocated by the Natural-History Editor of the ‘ Field,’ and
ably controverted by Mr. Inchbald in the same paper, the
following remarks by Mr. Parfitt are very apposite :—
“Having paid considerable attention to these galls and
their cause, viz., Cynips Kollari, 1 venture to put a word into
the discussion between Mr. Inchbald and yourself. I have
myself combated the assertion that these galls were produced
at the expense of the crop of acorns, for the simple reason
that they were, as a rule, produced on the young shoots and
bushy growths of the oak, and that the range of the insect
was between the ground and ten feet elevation; and the
nearer the ground the more numerous were the galls, showing,
as I believe, that they require a warmer position than being
elevated aloft in the higher trees. And, to bear this out, I
have observed that where trees of moderate growth, but too
high for the insect to attack when placed on even ground,
grew in a hollow or narrow gorge, the insects have attacked
these as they had done those of low growth,—a proof, I think,
that they require a warmer stratum of air, which the heat
radiated from the ground would give, than there is to be
obtained at a greater height. Now it is well known to all
observers of the oak that it is not these young saplings that
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 389
produce acorns, but it is these very saplings that are selected
in preference by the Cynips; this then supports Mr. Inch-
bald’s observations and my own assertions, made some years
ago,—I think in the ‘Cottage Gardener’ about 1860, but I
have not that paper to refer to,—and this so far is a fact.
But the question resolves itself into this: How are these
acknowledged wood-buds transformed into fructifying buds,
if the galls are produced at the expense of the acorns? In
this way: the buds, say, were in a normal condition, and
would have produced in their normal state leaves and shoots,
as the case might be; but they are changed into what I will
call abnormal buds by the insertion of a foreign body, namely,
the egg of the Cynips, and with the egg probably some fluid
which exerts some influence over the flow of sap around the
deposited egg. Now the insertion of this egg, &c., would
cause the particular buds selected by the insect to exert
themselves, and call forth greater energy, if I may use this
term, to overcome an intrusion, and a comparatively debili-
tated condition brought about by the intrusion of this egg, &c.,
into the bud; and the only natural result would be the pro-
duction of the fruit natural to the tree. It is an effort of
Nature put forth, and which is ever lying in wait, to produce
her like through an effort of fructification; we see this in
every species of plant. ‘Take an apple- or a pear-tree and
half sever a branch, or if anything has happened to its roots
so as to cause a semi-stagnation to the free flow of the sap,
what is the result? The tree makes an effort to propagate its
like in producing an abnormal abundance of fruit. Again,
we wound a tree by cutting a ring of bark off its trunk, or off
a branch only, and it brings about the same result, namely, an
abnormal condition (you must please to take the use of this
word “abnormal” in the sense here implied, and not as it is
generally used). We see now how it is that these normal
oak-buds are converted into fructifying buds by the very
effort of Nature to secure and hold her own against an
opposing force; and, as producing fruit is her main point to
be obtained, the insertion thus of this egg into the bud causes
the otherwise wood-bud to be converted into a fruit-bearing
bud, and by this means the galls are produced at the expense
of the acorns. At the same time this is rather paradoxical,
as there would not be any acorns if the insect had not
340 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
attacked the tree, and now, when it has attacked the tree
there are no acorns produced. Suill in a physiological point
of view the former is right, as I conceive it to be. Physiolo-
gically we know that most of our fruits are metamorphosed
wood-buds, or swollen calyces, &c.; but, as this is not a
treatise on vegetable physiology, we need not go into that.”
—Edward Parfitt; in ‘ Field’ of December 28, 1872.
[It is a source of peculiar pleasure to me to find an
experienced entomologist like Mr. Parfitt giving even a
qualified assent to a proposition that appears so opposed to
what we have been accustomed to regard as the order which
Nature ought to observe. It is to the patient, pains-taking
disciple that Nature reveals all her secrets ; and it is ever the
pleasure of such disciples to sit attentive at her feet and
listen to her teachings. Mr. Inchbald, in the discussion to
which Mr. Parfitt alludes, has set forth observations and
difficulties that have occurred to all of us. I have always
seen that the bearing of acorns on these younger shoots is not
the course that the oak takes by choice; nor is it the course
which the learned would prescribe for her; and in this con-
sists the great interest of the case. It is evident that by the
introduction of a foreign element the oak can be compelled
to adopt a course equally foreign to her custom. 1 have
pointed out similar aberrant proceedings on the part of Pyrus
japonica, which at the bidding of a minute insect, a mere
touch on its accidentally-exposed roots, produces bright red
blossoms in that strange situation; also on the part of the
pear, forced into bearing by the insidious dealing of the larva
of Zeuzera Aisculi with its solid wood; and again with the
apple, obeying, with obvious reluctance, the command of
Sesia myopzformis to produce apples in the most unlikely
situations and at the most improper seasons. Such pro-
ceedings are now established as facts, but certainly facts
not dreamed of in our philosophy.—Edward Newman.]
Selling Lepidoptera.—\ am going to commence collecting
again, and wish to know whether you would recommend me
to set flat or round. I incline to flat setting. It is what
nearly everyone would do if not shown round setting, and
were unbiassed by custom and the force of imitation. It is
more natural; it is simpler; the boards are more easily
made; and the having the wings well raised above the cork
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 341
is, I know, a great advantage. I left a collection, made by
me when at Winchester school about sixteen years ago, in
London, for years not looked at: when I opened the drawers
there was hardly an insect injured. They were set flat.—
J. S. Wesley; Wetherby, Tadcaster, February 18, 1873.
(I have never seen a British collection set on the flat plan,
so I feel scarcely competent to offer an opinion on the com-
parative merits of the two plans. As a general rule, I would
recommend no one to commence a practice so contrary to
English prejudices as flat setting. I do not urge any higher
ground. Mr. Greene’s ‘Insect-Hunter’s Companion’ is the
authority on such points.—Edward Newman. |
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological
Society, November 18, 1872, to January 6, 1873.
Crambus verellus.—Mr. Howard Vaughan exhibited Cram-
bus verellus, a species recently detected as British, captured
by Mr. C. A. Briggs at Folkestone, in July; and he stated
that he had seen two other British examples in the collections
of Mr. S. Stevens and Mr. H. R. Cox respectively. He also
exhibited varieties of Pyrameis Cardui and Vanessa Atalanta.
Nephopteryx argyrella.—Mr. Meek exhibited Nephopteryx
argyrella, a species of Phycidz not in the British Lists, which
he said had been captured by Mr, Button near Gravesend ;
also varieties of Arctia caja and other Lepidoptera.
Varieties of British Lepidoptera.—Mr. Bond exhibited
varieties of the following British Lepidoptera:—(1) Lycena
‘Egon, female, having the right-hand wings plain brown,
whereas those on the left-hand were blue: he at first thought
it was what is commonly called a hermaphrodite, but it really
was a female combining the two varieties of that sex in one
individual: this was from the New Forest, (2) A fine variety
of Notodonta dodonea, captured at Tunbridge in 1872. (3) A
black specimen of Acronycta megacephala, bred near London
in 1872. (4) A curious variety of Miselia Oxyacanthe, taken
at Portsdown in 1872.
New British Ichneumon.—Mv. Bond also exhibited a new
British species of Ichneumonidz (Anomalon fasciatum), bred
by Mr. Mitford from the cocoons of the supposed variety of
Lasiocampa Trifolii obtained from larve found at Romney,
Hants.
342 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Do Queen Bees Sting?—Mr. Smith stated that Major
Munn had asked him whether queen bees ever sting?
Mr. Smith said that he had’ once had a queen bee on his
hand for some time without the insect making the slightest
attempt to sting; and Prof. Westwood said he had never
been stung by one.
New British Coleoptera.—Mr. Champion exhibited two
species of Coleoptera recently captured by him, and new to
Britain, viz. Thyamis distinguenda, Rye, from Box Hill, and
Lithocaris picea, Kraatz, from Beauly.
Figures of Stylopide.—Prof. Westwood exhibited drawings
of Stylopide, intended to illustrate Mr. S. S. Saunders’
recently-published monograph of the group.
Drawings of Japanese Sphingide.—Mr. M‘Lachlan exhi-
bited (on behalf of Mr. George Lewis) a magnificent collection
of coloured drawings of the metamorphoses of twenty-one
species of Japanese Sphingide. These drawings had been
executed, under the direction of Mr. Lewis, by a native
artist, and were remarkable for the full details shown of the
various states; in some cases three different varieties of the
same larva were figured. Mr. Lewis requested it to be
announced that he was willing to present the drawings to
any member of the Society who would undertake to publish
them.
Reticulated Lepidopterous Cocoon.—Prof. Westwood exhi-
bited the beautiful net-work cocoon of a species of small
moth from New Granada. This was attached to, or suspended
from, a leaf on which was also a species of Hesperiide
strongly affected by fungoid growths.
New Buprestide.—Mr. E. Saunders exhibited two species
of Buprestidz, from the Pelew and Caroline Islands respec-
tively, which appeared to pertain to a new genus, notwith-
standing that they bore much external resemblance to two
species of Chrysodema from the East India Islands.
New British Coleoptera.—Mr. Champion exhibited Na-
nophyes gracilis and Apion sanguineum, two species of
Coleoptera rare, or recently detected, in Britain.
Phylloxera vastatrix.—Mr. Miller called attention to a
recently-issued Government Report, intituled “ Papers .re-
specting the Phylloxera vastatrix, or new vine-scourge,”
detailing an account of the ravages of this insect in various
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. $43
continental districts, and the means that had, with more or
less success, been adopted for preventing its spread. Prof.
Westwood stated that the occurrence of the insect in England
had been noticed by him in 1862, in a paper read before the
Ashmolean Society.
Water Beetles of Japan.—Dr. Sharp communicated a list
of the water-beetles of Japan, chiefly drawn up from materials
collected by Mr. George Lewis, with remarks on the distribu-
tion of the said insects.
Colydiide and Cossonide from Japan.—Mr. Wollaston
communicated two papers. First, on a new genus (Pseudo-
tarphius) of Colydiide from Japan; and secondly, on the
Cossonide of the same islands. In the latter paper the
author commented upon the apparent absence of European
types in the districts of Japan visited by Mr. Lewis, and
stated that their place seemed to be taken by representative
forms. Mr. Pascoe thought the fauna of Japan might be
indicated as “satellite” (like that of Madagascar, &c.),
having a quantity of peculiar species mixed with others;
and a great deal in common with the coasts of China and
Siberia. Mr. H. W. Bates asked that judgment upon the
affinities of the Japanese fauna be suspended pending further
information. He said that although there were many
Western European species found also in Japan, the collective
faunas of the two regions were totally distinct.
Annual Meeting, January 27, 1873.—The council presented
the following report, in accordance with the bye-laws.
During the past year there have been two deaths among our
members, viz., Professor Pictet, one of the honorary members,
and Mr. Charles Horne, an ordinary member., But the num-
ber of members and subscribers elected is in excess of the
losses caused by death and resignation. The vacancy in the
list of honorary members, occasioned by the death of Prof.
Pictet has been filled up by the election of his distinguished
relative Dr. Henri de Saussure. The meetings of the Society
have been exceedingly well attended. According to the
librarian’s report, it appears that the library has been exten-
sively made use of by the members and subscribers, thirty of
whom, during the year, borrowed books amounting in the
aggregate to 195 volumes. One composition in lieu of
annual subscriptions has been received and invested. The
344 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
income and expenditure for the year may be roughly estimated
as follows :—Receipts, £317; Payments, £303. The volume
of ‘ Transactions,’ published in 1872, is thinner than usual,
owing to several suitable papers not having been read in
time ; but this is counterbalanced by the number of expensive
coloured plates. The receipts from the sale of publications
again show a considerable diminution, especially as regards
the sale of back stock. A further and very bulky part of the
proposed general catalogue of the insects of the British Isles
(enumerating the Ichneumonide, Braconide, &c., compiled
by the Rev. T. A. Marshall) bas recently appeared. The
following gentlemen were elected members of council for
1873 :—Messrs. H. W. Bates, Butler, Grut, M‘Lachlan,
Miiller, S. S. Saunders, F. Smith, Stainton, Stevens, Verrall,
C. O. Waterhouse, Weir, and Westwood. The following
officers for 1873 were subsequently elected :—President,
Prof. Westwood; Treasurer, Mr. R. M‘Lachlan; Secretaries,
Messrs. F. Grut and G. H. Verrall; Librarian, Mr. E. W.
Janson. The president read a voluminous and exhaustive
address on the present state of Entomology, for which thanks
were returned, and which was ordered to be printed.
Newcastle-on-Tyne Entomological Society—The annual
meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday, 11th February,
in the curator’s room of the museum. Mr. C. Eales read a
paper on his captures during the past season, amongst which
was a Tortricina, which has been found to be Cacochroa
Grandevana of Staudinger and Wocke’s list; Mr. Eales
stated that the particulars would be published in the maga-
zines through the kindness of Mr. C. G. Barrett.—J.
Hamilton, Secretary ; 13, Union Street, Newcastle.
South London Entomological Society, 104, Westminster
Bridge Road.—At the meeting of this Society, held on
Thursday, February 6th, a highly interesting and instructive
paper was read by Dr. Lucas, upon “ Botany and Ento-
mology.” He exhibited a large number of dried plants, and
furnished notes of the various Lepidopterous larve found
upon them; and, in order to comply with the wishes of the
members present, he kindly promised to continue the paper
on Thursday, March 6th.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 115.] APRIL, MDCCCLXXIII. [Price 6d.
PYRAMEIS CARDUI (VARIETY).
Variety of Pyrameis Cardui.—This variation, or certain
modifications thereof, have been represented in Herrich-
Schaffer’s ‘Schmetterlinge von Europe,’ pp. 157, 158, and
in my ‘British Butterflies, p. 64, the lower figure: the
present is, however, by far the most beautiful and striking
example I have seen; the three usual colours are present,
and occupy something like their normal position, but their
limits are widely different; the apical white markings have
lost their mormal form; the usual red colour approaching
brick-red, which commonly occupies so large a central portion
of each wing, is present, but changed to the most lovely
rose-colour; the figure very plainly exhibits the limits of this
most beautiful tint. The specimen was taken at Dover in
September, 1872, and is in the cabinet of Mr. Stevens, who
has kindly lent it for figuring in the ‘ Entomologist.—
Edward Newman.
VOL. VI. $
846 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 324.)
MEROSTENUS PHEDYMA,.
DIPARA PETIOLATA,.
THE economy of Merostenus and of Dipara is unknown ;
the close affinity of the former to Trigonoderus is very appa-
rent, and the isolation of the latter from all other Chalcidiz
by its peculiar characters has been already noticed. Dipara
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 347
and Coryna are included in the Sphegigasteride, and C.,
clavata is supposed to be identical with the Chrysolampus
suspensus of Nees, which that author states to live during its
metamorphose in the larva of Aphidius Rosarum, from which
he saw it in the act of emerging. But he does not mention
what progress the Aphidius had made in the consumption of
the Aphis before it was checked by the Coryna, and became
CORYNA CLAVATA.
subject to the like process. The history of the parasitism of
Chalcidiz must be unavoidably accumulated by fragments,
such as the above notice, and these in due time will be set
in order, and a Catalogue, preceded by comparative examina-
tion of every kind, will be a ground-work requisite for a
knowledge of the natural history of the tribe by means of
successive investigations. Much has been lately published
on the herbivorous habits of some species; and the tribe, as
regards their food, may be divided into three classes, thus :—
controllers of vegetation, controllers of vegetarian insects,
controllers of insectivorous insects.
Very numerous species of British Chalcidiz have not yet
appeared in print, and a revision is required of many which
have been published, and thereby the Catalogues of them are
unavoidably incomplete. These are three in number, and I
will mention them shortly in succession, as they will not be
noticed after the issue of a new Catalogue. The first is in
‘A Guide to an Arrangement of British Insects, by John
348 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Curtis, 1829. It includes several generic names which have
not been mentioned since, as in most instances, before an
opportunity occurred of making their characters known, they—
were published elsewhere under other names, aid in some
instances they were afterwards considered as useless sub-
divisions. I will recall them from oblivion for a little while,
and perhaps they will not be again disturbed in the graves
to which they will shortly return. The seventeen following
were formed by me:—Maretus, Leptomeres, Entranus,
Microma, Menalus, Eucercus, Sterinus, Redenus, Tromenus,
Brenerus, Ceranisus, Tranus, Tranosoma, Tranocera, Cemo-
lus, Euderus, Erythrus. Thysamus in this list is a misprint
for Thysanus; and Menalus, of which the type is Encyrtus
Pini, is more entitled than some of the rest to be considered
as a genus, but the subdivisions of Encyrtus are already too
many. Stenoderus constitutes the first division of Pteromalus
in my descriptions of the species of that genus. Entelus is a
misprint for Eutelus, and, like Seranomus, Isomus, and
Eusela, is a section of Pteromalus.
A. H. Haliday is the author of the following names :—
Cyllomus, Omphale, Diozus, Pterocelis, Platypelmus (attri-
buted by mistake to me), and Phagonia. Pterocelis and
Platypelmus are divisions of Pteromalus, and may be reunited
to that genus. The species arranged in this Catalogue under
Halticoptera, Spinola, were afterwards described as species
of Lamprotatus or of Miscogaster. Halticoptera, as it was
originally constituted, includes other genera, such as Ptero-
malus, but a definite outline was given to it by A. H. Haliday.
Colax, Curtis (afterwards Gnatho, Curtis), should be con-
sidered as a synonym of Pteromalus.
The second Catalogue of British Chalcidiz appeared in
1853, and is one of the publications of the British Museum.
It is transcribed from a general list of Chalcidiz in the
British Museum, that was prepared in 1846—1848. A few
words in it are mis-spelt, but there is no occasion here to
notice these mistakes.
The third Catalogue of British Chalcidiz is included in a
Catalogue of British Insects, by the Rev. F. O. Morris, 1865.
It is nearly all a reprint of the second Catalogue, and there
are the following typographical errors in it:—Smiera, instead
of Smicra; MHalticilla, instead of Haltichella; cornutum,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 849
instead of cornuta; Laothois, instead of Laothoe; Monodon-
tomerus, Walk., instead of Monodontomerus, Westw. ;
Enderus, instead of Euderus. Some Pteromali, which were
separated from Pteromalus without sufficient consideration,
are reunited to that genus in this list.
FRANCIS WALKER.
“ The Origin and Distribution of the Insects of the British
Isles.” By Evwin Brrcualt, Esq.
Read to the Leeds Naturalists’ Field-Club and Scientific Association, on
the 25th of February, 1873.
Mr. BrrcHati began by stating that his object was to
offer some suggestions as to whence the insects of the
British Islands have been derived.
Fossil insects were first adverted to, and the earliest-known
forms from the carboniferous rocks described. In England,
insects have been most abundantly found in rocks of the
wealden and oolitic periods; of these a large proportion are
Coleoptera, mostly of modern genera, and some cannot be
distinguished from species still existing in England. “ The
poor beetle that we tread upon” surely deserves a better fate,
when we consider that he has walked the earth unchanged
since the days of the iguanodon and pterodactyle. Com-
pared with his, how short the pedigree of the proudest noble,
or even of the human race; to the dor-beetle (Geotrupes
stercorarius) probably belongs the title of “ the oldest inha-
bitant” of the earth.
The Lepidoptera of the secondary period in England, so
far as is known, were of a tropical character, and it seems
useless to look for traces of any of our present forms until
after the glacial epoch; the conditions of climate during that
period of desolation must have been such as to destroy or
compel the migration southward of all existing species.
In the main, Mr. Birchall agreed with the propositions
laid down by the late Professor Edward Forbes, in his essay
on “The Geological Relations of the Existing Fauna and
Flora of the British Isles}’ published in 1846, and considered
that the great bulk of our species have been derived from
Central Europe, as there is not a species which is universally
350 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
distributed in these islands which ts not equally so in Ger-
many, but that traces still exist of several more ancient
Faunas and Floras which are now confined to small and
separate areas.
Forbes argued for the existence of four such sub-Floras :—
1. A Mediterranean Flora in the west of Ireland, derived -
from Spain, over Jand which we must suppose formerly
bridged the gulf of seven hundred miles, which now separates
Ireland from the Iberian peninsula.
2. The Flora of the mountain-tops of Scotland, Cumber-
land, Wales, and the North-west of Ireland, derived from
Scandinavia and Iceland, and supposed to have reached our
shores either by means of icebergs or over land of which the
Orkney, Shetland and Feroe Islands are the last remains
above water.
3. A Kentish, or chalk Flora.
4, A Norman Flora, confined to South-western England
and South-eastern Ireland.
Mr. Birchall suggested that the following species [of Lepi-
doptera], several of which occur in the utmost profusion in
the district of Western Ireland, where the peculiar Spanish
Flora is found, and are scarce or non-existent outside that
very limited area, are remnants of the old Peninsular or
Mediterranean Fauna:—Zygena nubigena, Erastria argen-
tula, E. fuscula, Lithosia caniola, Diantheecia Nisus, D.
Cesia, and Notodonta bicolor.
He exhibited a number of Lepidoptera from the mountain
regions of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and was of
opinion that such species as Crymodes exulis, Zygena
exulans, Pachnobia alpina, Psodos trepidaria, Anarta cordi-
gera, A. melanopa, and many others, had certainly reached
our shores from Scandinavia and Iceland.
As regards Forbes’s third and fourth subdivisions, he did
not think any evidence was to be obtained by a consideration
of the Lepidoptera inhabiting the district in question. There
was, no doubt, a general similarity in the species found on
the opposite sides of the English Channel, and there are a
few conspicuous insects, probably of French origin, which do
not wander far from our southern coast, but there seems no
reason to assign a remote date for the naturalization of such
insects as Sphinx Nerii, Deilephila Euphorbie, Plusia
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 351
orichalcea, Phlogophora empyrea, Pieris Daplidice, and
Argynnis Lathonia, which possess powers of flight sufficient
at any time to enable them to cross the “ silver streak.”
Mr. Birchall also exhibited a large number of British
Lepidoptera, contrasted with continental examples of the
same species, and pointed out that the variation from the
continental (or what may be considered the original) type
was so great, that in a large proportion of our species it is
easy to say, at a glance, whether a specimen is British or
foreign; thus indicating that the lapse of time, since the
migration or insulation took place, has been sufficiently long
to allow of great changes of form and colour, in many cases
amounting to what we can scarcely refuse to call the
development of a new species.
Specimens from the Isle of Man appeared to indicate that
insular conditions have there operated with exceptional
force.
Corsican and Sardinian Lepidoptera were also compared
with continental examples of the same insect, and were
found to vary from the original types still more than British
insects do, thus probably indicating a longer period of
isolation.
Specimens were also shown of Nonagria concolor, Noctua
subrosea, and Dianthecia Barrettii, the only three British
Macro-Lepidoptera not known to have occurred on the
continent of Europe.
W. D. Roesuck (Sec. to the Club).
A List of the Nocturnal Macro-Lepidoptera inhabiting
Guernsey and Sark, with Notes of their Occurrence.
By W. A. Lurr, Esq.
(See p. 324 for the Butterflies: to these must be added Argynnis Paphia,
of which Mrs. Boley took specimens in Sark several years ago.)
SPHINGES.
Smerinthus ocellatus.—1 have seen several specimens
which were taken in Guernsey.
S. Populi.—The larve are common in the autumn on
poplar trees in Guernsey, and I have found them feeding on
laurustinus in the hedges.
852 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Acherontia Atropos—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
The larve were abundant in the potato-fields in 1868, but I
have not often met with them since.
Sphinx Convolvuli.—In the autumn of 1868 this species
was very abundant in Guernsey, and a specimen was sent me
from Alderney. I have only taken two specimens since;
one in 1870, and the other in 1871.
S. Ligustri.—Not very common. I have taken a few larve
in Guernsey, feeding on privet, and one in Sark on Jaurel.
Cheerocampa Celerio.—Mrs. Boley reared two specimens,
from larve found feeding on the vine in Guernsey.
Macroglossa Stellatarum.—Abundant in Guernsey and
Sark.
Sesia tipuliformis—Common in gardens, wherever its
food-plant is cultivated, in Guernsey and Sark.
NocTURNI.
Cossus ligniperda.—But too common in Guernsey, where
the larve have destroyed many elm trees.
Hepialus lupulinus.—Abundant in Guernsey.
H. sylvanus.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
Procris Statices.—Mrs. Boley found this species very
abundantly several years ago on the Guernsey cliffs, but
occupying a very limited area. I have not taken it myself or
heard of any captures since. It must be very local.
Zygena Lonicere.—Abundant on the Guernsey cliffs, and
also in Sark.
Z. Trifolit.—\ have taken several specimens in Sark.
Z. Filipendule.—Not uncommon in Sark.
Calligenia miniata.—l1 have beaten it from hedges, and
taken it commonly at sugar, in Guernsey, towards the end of
July.
Feces complanula.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
They appear a little before midsummer, and continue till
September.
L. griseola.—Took one specimen in Guernsey, June 26th,
1871.
L. rubricollis.—I took two in Guernsey on June 26th,
1870.
Euchelia Jacobee.—Extremely abundant in Guernsey and
Sark. The larve swarm everywhere on the ragwort in
August.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 853
Callimorpha Hera.—Plentiful in both Guernsey and Sark.
I have always found them more abundant near the coast,
where they are fond of settling on the sides of the cliffs, and
concealing themselves under projecting pieces of rock. ‘They
fly in the morning in the sunshine, and also after dark in the
evening. They have several times flown to the light of my
lantern. I have only taken them twice at sugar. The yellow
variety (Lutescens) is much commoner in Sark than in
Guernsey. I have never observed Hera on the wing before
the 20th of July. They are in full force during the first week
or two in August, and continue to the end of the month. The
eggs are hatched in about twelve days after they are laid. I
have only twice found the full-grown larve. I once took
several off dead nettle (Lamium album), and on another
occasion I found one feeding on whitethorn at night. I have
reared them from the egg, feeding them on lettuce, which they
preferred to their proper food-plants.
[This beautiful species is figured and described at p. 33 of
this volume of the ‘ Entomologist..—#. Newman. |
Euthemonia russula——Common amongst the furze on the
Guernsey cliffs in June. I have only taken males.
Chelonia caja.—I have taken it in Guernsey, though not
commonly.
C. villica.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
Arctia fuliginosa.—Not rare in Guernsey.
A. mendica.—The larvee common on dock in Guernsey.
A. lubricepeda.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
A. Menthastri.—In Guernsey. I have never found it
abydantly.
iparis auriflua—Common in Guernsey and Sark. I
once found several larve feeding on holly.
Orgyia pudibunda.—The larve very common in Guernsey
on lime trees in the autumn.
O. fascelina.—I have found the larve feeding on the furze
growing on the Guernsey cliffs.
Bombyx Quercus.—Common in Guernsey and Sark during
July and August.
B. Trifolii.—The larve are found commonly in Guernsey
and Sark all around the coast, feeding on various grasses and
on clover. They will eat anything in confinement, even
whitethorn, blackthorn, and oak. I received more than a
S12
$54 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
hundred full-grown larve from Alderney in August, 1871, but
most of them were ichneumoned.
Odonestis potatoria.—l have only seen one Guernsey
specimen, which was captured by Mrs. Boley.
Lasiocampa quercifoliaa—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
The larve feed on blackthorn and whitethorn.
Saturnia Carpini.—l have found them much more com-
monly in Sark than in Guernsey. All the larve I have had
were found feeding on bramble.
GEOMETRZA.
Uropleryx sambucaria.—Very common in Guernsey,
especially on the south side of the island.
Epione apiciaria.—I took two specimens in Guernsey on
July 6th, 1872.
Rumia crategata.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark. In
1872 I took specimens as early as April 13th. They are
constantly on the wing throughout the summer and autumn.
Venilia maculata.—I have only seen a single Guernsey
specimen, which was captured by Mrs. Boley.
Angerona prunaria.— Not uncommon in Guernsey.
Earliest capture, 6th of June.
Selenia tllunaria.—Both the spring and autumn broods to
be met with in Guernsey.
Crocallis elinguaria.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
Amphydasis betularia.—I have only seen two Guernsey
specimens.
Hemerophila abruptaria.—Two specimens taken by Mrs.
Boley in Guernsey ; they flew to light.
Boarmia repandata.—Rather common in Guernsey.
B. rhomboidaria.—Not so common as the preceding
species, but still not rare in Guernsey.
Tephrosia crepuscularia.—l have taken three specimens
in Guernsey.
Gnophos obscurata.—One specimen taken in Sark, August
Sth, 1872.
Geometra papilionaria.—One specimen taken in Guernsey.
Lodis lactearia.—1 have taken several specimens in
Guernsey.
ir gy thymiaria.—Exceedingly abundant in Guernsey
and Sark.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 355
Acidalia scutulata.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
A. bisetata.—I have taken a few in Guernsey, near the
coast.
A. rusticata.—Very common in Guernsey and Sark during
July and August. They appear particularly partial to the
flowers of the ragwort near the coast.
A. incanaria.—I took two specimens in Sark on the 10th
of July, 1872.
A. promutata.— Not uncommon in Guernsey. It is fond of
settling on rocks covered with a gray lichen, where they are
with difficulty detected.
A. subsericeata.—I took one specimen in Sark, in June,
1870.
A, imitaria.—Very common in Guernsey during July and
August.
A. aversata.—Both varieties are common in Guernsey.
Timandra amataria.—One specimen taken in Guernsey
by Mrs. Boley.
Cabera pusaria.—Common in Guernsey.
Strenia clathrata.—One specimen taken by Mrs. Boley, at
light, in Guernsey.
Selidosema plumaria.—Common on the southern cliff-
coast of Guernsey. I have only taken males.
Aspilates citraria.—Common in Guernsey and Sark, espe-
cially near the coast. I have taken both broods. I have
found the larve feeding on spurge.
Abraxas grossulariata.— Swarming every where in Guernsey
and Sark in July. ,
Lomaspilis marginataa—Common in Guernsey in July
and August. Very variable in its markings.
Hybernia leucophearia.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
Anisopteryx Aiscularia.— Common in Guernsey.
Larentia olivata.—One specimen taken in Guernsey on
July 9th, 1870.
L. pectinitaria.— Common in Guernsey in June.
Emmelesia decolorata.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
Eupithecia linariatax—Two specimens taken in Sark.
E.. centaureata.—Not uncommon in Guernsey and Sark.
E. subnotata.—I took several specimens in Sark on July
10th, 1872.
E, vulgata.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
356 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Lobophora viretata.—One specimen taken in Guernsey,
by my friend Mr. Dawson, during June, 1872.
Ypsipetes elutata.—Mrs. Boley has taken one in Guernsey.
Melanthia rubiginata.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
M. ocellataa—Common in Guernsey and Sark. There
must be two broods in a year, as I have taken fresh
specimens in both June and August.
Melanippe hastata.—One specimen taken by Mrs. Boley
in Guernsey.
M. galiata.—Common in Guernsey in June and August.
M. montanata.—Mrs. Boley has taken it in Guernsey.
M. fluctuata.—Found commonly in gardens in Guernsey.
Anticlea berberata.—Rather common in Guernsey, espe-
cially near the coast. It is certainly double-brooded here.
Coremia ferrugata.—I1 have taken it in Guernsey in
August.
C. unidentata.—Mrs. Boley has captured one specimen in
Guernsey.
Camptogramma bilineata.—This is the commonest moth
in Guernsey and Sark, and many have a very dark bar
across the fore wings.
Scotosia dubitata.—I have seen Guernsey specimens,
taken by Mrs. Boley.
S. rhamnata.—Mrs. Boley has taken several specimens in
Guernsey.
Cidaria russata#—Common in Guernsey in May and
August. Very variable.
C. immanata.—Not so common as the preceding species
in Guernsey.
C. ribesaria.—Very common in gardens during July in
Guernsey.
C. testata.—Several specimens taken in Guernsey or
Sark by Mrs. Boley.
C. fulvata. Taken in Guernsey by Mrs. Boley.
C. pyraliata.—l have taken it in Guernsey not uncom-
monly, always near the coast, in June and July.
Eubolia mensuraria.—l have taken it but sparingly in
Guernsey. In Sark, on August 10th, 1872, they were flying
up by scores, as I disturbed them, out of the grass on the top
of the cliff, at dusk.
Anaitis plagiata.—I took one in Guernsey during August,
1371.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 857
A. preformata.—I took a specimen at sugar in Guernsey.
I forget the exact date, but I think it was early in the season.
Mrs. Boley has also taken one; and I noticed two amongst
some insects captured by Mr. Dawson.
[It may perhaps save some trouble if I state that the
species here indicated is the Anaitis praformata (Vell.),
Guenée, ‘ Uranides et Phalznites,’ p. 499, not the Preformata
of Stephens, iii. p. 140, or the Performata of Wood, fig. 597,
which name must be annulled, after what Guenée has said
on the subject, J. c.—E. Newman. ]
Tanagra cherophyllataa—Mis. Boley has taken one or
two specimens in Guernsey.
W. A. Lurr.
Entomologoical Notes from South Australia.
By H. Ramsay Cox, Esq.
(Continued from p. 209.)
I HAVE succeeded in getting some more of my South
Australian Lepidoptera named, of which the following is a
list.
PETIOLATI.
1. Belenois Teutonia.--One specimen captured by Mrs.
Cox, at Nairne.
2. Xenica Achanta.—One, near Adelaide.
3. Pyrameis Itea.—A few, at the base of Mount Barker.
4, Synemon Sophia.—Common at Mount Barker and near
Kanmantoo, always at a considerable elevation. This species
flies for a short time at mid-day only, and seldom when the
thermometer is lower than 145° Fahr., which, added to their
wild flight and to the rocky ground of the mountain, makes
their capture a matter of great fatigue and labour.
SESSILIVENTRES.
5. Pollanisus viridipulverulentus.—Generally common in
the densest scrub.
6. P. apicalis—Near Hahndorf. Rare.
7. Cherocampa Scrofa.—Two, in vineries, at Nairne.
8. Opsirhina fervens,—One, brought to me at Nairne.
358 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
9. Pielus ?'—One specimen, of a species very nearly
allied to Atripalpis, at light. “Hay Valley,” Nairne.
10. Dasypolia solenophora—Common, at sugar and in
houses. Adelaide and Nairne.
11. Apina Callistro—— Abundant, at Nairne; flying madly
during the hottest sunshine.
12. A. FeisthameliimCommon, at Woodside, Echunga,
and Hahndorf. The females are very difficult to capture,
owing to their wild flight.
13. Acyphas tristis—Not common. Hahndorf. Among
the thickest scrub, flying like Testudo.
14. Chlenias arietaria.—Abundant. Nairne.
15. Nyctemera annulata.—Common everywhere, espe-
cially in outhouses, stables, &c.
16. Leucania extranea.—This was the commonest insect
at sugar, being most abundant near Nairne; also flying in
long grass in the daytime, near Strathalbyn.
17. Heliothis armiger.—A few flying in kangaroo grass,
at Woodside, Crafers, &c.
18. Cosmodes elegans.—Two, at Nairne.
19. Agrotis spina.—Two, at sugar, at Nairne.
20. Pantydia recondita.—Two.
21. Hypochroma occultaria.—Scarce. Nairne.
22. Chlorochroma carenaria.—Scarce. Nairne.
22. Camptogramma strangulata.—Abundant everywhere.
23. Acidalia? rubraria. —Abundant, at Hahndorf, but
very local.
24. Acidalia? repletaria. Sy few, at Hahndorf.
25. Cidaria metaxanthata ?—The “only difference between
my specimens and those at the British Museum under this
name is, that the central band in the fore wing is slightly
broader in mine. Not common. Charlestown, Nairne, &c.
26. Melanodes atriplena.—One, by Mrs. Cox, near “ Hay
Valley.”
27. Mecyna reversalis—Common. Nairne, Mount Tor-
rens, &c.
Besides the above I have taken about twenty species of
moths, neither of which are in the British Museum lists.
With the exception of one very large Geometra they are
mostly dingy and insignificant species.
At the Cape of Good Hope I captured Lampides Hintza
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 859
and Leptoneura Cytus var. Tisiphone, the latter very abun-
dantly round Table Mountain.
Mrs. Cox also captured a species of Lampides resembling
Palemon, but with the anal spot in the hind wing larger and
farther removed from the body.
I have also eight other species of diurnal Lepidoptera
(chiefly Lyczna), of which, at present, I can find no types in
any museum.
H. Ramsay Cox,
West Dulwich, London, S.E,
On some Amurland Insects (Part 1V.).—The genus Sirex
is associated with the pine forests which traverse the northern
latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America, and with the cedars
on Mount Lebanon. The species are few, and part of them
have a wide range, and blend into one of the Faunas of the
regions above mentioned. S. gigas inhabits Europe and
North America, and its occurrence in Amurland is as yet
only a probability. §. albicornis has been found in Nova
Scotia, Canada, Georgia, and British Columbia; aud in the
examples from these regions the black hue of the antenne is
limited to three or four joints; in a specimen from Amurland
it extends over some more joints. S. Juvencus dwells in
Nova Scotia and in Amurland, and inhabits North Europe
generally. S. Spectrum inhabits Nova Scotia and the district
of Hudson’s Bay, as well as Amurland and North Europe,
and has been found in Algeria. S. flavicornis inhabits Amur-
land and various parts of North America. It thus appears
that in this genus the Faunas of Europe, Amurland, and
America are generally alike, or that the two latter have more
resemblance to each other than the second has to the first.—
Francis Walker.
Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.
Vanessa Antiopa in the United States of North America,
—Mr. Andrews will, I trust, excuse me if | say that I cannot
consider his note in the ‘ Entomologist’ for March (Entom.
vi. 329) an entirely satisfactory or conclusive reply to my
enquiry in the January number:—“ Does Antiopa ever
860 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
emerge from the pupa with a white border?” (Entom. vi. 285).
Perhaps he will be kind enough to say whether he has
actually observed Antiopa to pass the winter in the pupa
state? Iam not aware that any European Vanessa does so,
but presume there is trustworthy evidence that such is the
habit of Antiopa in the United States, as Mr. Andrews speaks
of it as an undoubted fact. From the appearance of the
butterfly in early spring, “ before the snow is off the ground,”
we should, in England, infer that the insect had hybernated
in the imago, not in the pupa state—Hdwin Birchall ;
March 12, 1873.
A, ZEscularia on the 14th of February.—I took a specimen
of this moth off a lamp-post here at this date; and my
brother, at. Winchester, bred one from a dug pupa about the
same time. The time for the appearance of this species is
given in the books as considerably later than this.—Gilbert
H. Raynor; St. John’s College, Cambridge, March 3, 1873.
Pieris Rape in February.—\n connection with early
appearance, I may mention the receipt of several specimens
of Pieris Rape during February.—L. Newman.
Description of the Larva of Plutella annulatellaa—Length
about half an inch; attenuate towards both extremities ; head
and second segment irrorated with fine dots; general colour
light green; dorsal region darker; spiracular region lighter.
An active larva, which feeds in June when young upon the
seeds and pods of the scurvy grass (Cochlearia), which
grows on the rocky coast at Howth, Ireland; at Penmaenbach,
North Wales; and in the Isle of Man. When older it eats
the fleshy leaves, principally from the under side, making
round holes and blotches in or on the leaf. When full fed it
spins an open net-like web, and changes to a beautiful light
green pupa therein, appearing in the perfect state in about
. fourteen days.—C. S. Gregson.
Description of the Larva of Sciaphila penziana.—Three-
quarters of an inch long, rather stout; colour dark, dull
brown; head horny, dark; thorax black; single black sub-
dorsal spots on the front segment; then two spots on
remaining segments above and two below, one placed above
the other, out of these spots spring single hairs; feet black,
horny; anal segment small. Feeds upon sea-pink and
sheep’s fescue-grass (Festuca ovina), and spins a fine, white
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 861
silky tubular web, about two inches long, in which it lives
and becomes a dark, robust pupa amongst its food-plant, or
often between its food-plant and a loose stone. Feeds freely
on the coast at Howth, at the Isle of Man, and at Withers-
lack, Westmoreland, remaining in pupa about two weeks, and
appearing end of June and throughout July.—C. S. Gregson.
Description of the Larva of Alucita polydactyla.—Length
three-eighths to half an inch when stretched; when at rest
rather stout, fleshy, attenuated at both extremities; colour
bright yellowish, pink or salmon-colour, slightly pellucid, and
without any markings or hair; head yellow, narrow; snout
rather darker; feet small and colourless. Sometimes the
larva is light, pellucid yellow. Feeds on the flowers of the
honeysuckle in July, and spins a slight web to make up in,
and remains about twelve days in pupa. Misled by our
books, saying this larva fed in buds of honeysuckle, I had
much trouble before I discovered its economy.—ld.
Description of the Larva of EKubolia mensuraria.—In the
middle of June last Mr. Greasley, of Wallasey, sent me a
supply of full-grown larve of this species, from which I took
down notes, as follows:—Length about an inch, and rather
stout in proportion. Head the same width as the second, but
narrower than the third segment; it has the lobes rounded,
but the face is square and flat; there is a-slight notch on the
crown. The body has the sides swollen into a puckered
spiracular ridge, which gives it a rather flattened appearance,
both from above and below; the middle segments are the
widest, and it tapers considerably towards the head anteriorly,
and from the tenth segment posteriorly. The segments over-
Jap, making the divisions distinct. Skin tough and puckered.
The ground is pinkish gray, tinged with plate slaty blue;
head pinkish gray, freckled with black. Medio-dorsal line
slaty blue; subdorsal lines pale ochreous-yellow, narrowly
edged above and below with pale brown; the swollen ridge
along the spiracles pinkish; spiracles and dorsal dots black.
Ground colour of the ventral surface pale slaty gray ; there is
a pale ochreous, medio-ventral stripe, throughout which ex-
tends a narrow pinkish line; and between this medio-ventral
stripe and the spiracular region is another pale ochreous
stripe, edged on each side with black, the outer line being
broader and more distinct than the inner; legs and claspers
s3
862 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
pinkish gray. Feeds on Vicia, and probably a number of
low plants and grasses. The imagos appeared from July 9th
to 3lst.—Geo. T. Porritt ; Huddersfield, March 3, 1873.
Bombyx Cynthia.—Having reared a good number of
cocoons of this species last summer, I placed them along
with some cocoons of B. Cecropia and E. versicolor in a cold
cellar to pass the winter. Having occasion to visit the cage
in which they were, on the 24th of December last, I was
surprised to find one pretty perfect living imago of Cynthia;
and a few days after two more made their appearance. I
examined the remaining cocoons in the cage, but found no
signs of hatching, and till now no more imagos have appeared.
—Samuel Doncaster ; Broom Hall Park, Sheffield, February
19, 1873. :
Agrotis cinerea.—\n June, 1870, I took in this neighbour-
hood a fine specimen of Agrotis cinerea, at rest, on common
scabious, in the day-time.—C. LZ. Raynor; The College,
Winchester, February 20, 1873.
To rear Duasypolia Templi.—l had a live specimen of
D. Templi (female) brought to me the other day. Can you
give me any recent additions to the breeding of this species
beyond your description in ‘ British Moths?’ If she proves
impregnated, is Heracleum sphondylium the only food-plant,
and how would you advise me to proceed ?—John Harrison.
[All the information I possess on this subject is published
at p. 277 of ‘ British Moths”—E. Newman. |
Charocampa Celerio at Brighton.—A friend of mine
obtained a live specimen of C. Celerio, on the 7th of last
October, from a man who had found it in his house at the
east end of this town. ‘The moth was in excellent condition,
but unfortunately the tip of the right fore wing was broken in
its capture.—Prederick Clere; Brighton, March 3, 1873.
Yellow Variety of Zygena Filipendule.—Your corre-
spondent, Mr. Corbin, in speaking of a variety of Jacobez he
obtained last summer in the New Forest, says:—“I am
aware that several of our moths, as Trifolii, Lonicere, Caja,
Dominula, &c., occasionally have their red or crimson
markings replaced by yellow.” ‘To the list of moths so
varying allow me to add yet another, Z. Filipendule, a
variety of which, in which the crimson markings on all the
wings were replaced by a dullish yellow, occurred in some
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 863
abundance here (Winchester) about five years ago (1868), and
of which individuals have occasionally been taken since,
especially during the past season, when they occurred in
some plenty. They were not merely faded specimens, as
some might be induced to say, because I myself have bred
at least one such, individual, which, when just out of the
chrysalis, was of the yellow colour: itis also worth notice
that specimens occurred partly red and partly yellow.—W.
A, Forbes; Culverlea, Winchester, March 1, 1878.
Variety of Iodis vernaria, §c.—Another insect, which I have
taken here sometimes, has also puzzled me nota little. It
appears to be a variety of Iodis vernaria, which is abundant
here, but the usual green of the fore wings is replaced by a
pale yellowish green, in which the usual markings are nearly
obliterated, approaching in one specimen I have to a pale
yellow stone-colour ; the hind wings are of the usual beautiful
green. This, however, after all, may possibly be only a faded
specimen, the hind wings, which of course are protected by the
upper ones when at rest, having escaped fading, whilst the
fore wings have not. Amongst insects, which I have taken
here during the past season, may be mentioned Anticlea
sinuata, Epione advenaria, and Diasemia literalis, which
have all occurred once, either in or near Crabbe Wood.
Erastria fuscula and Aventia flexula have also been taken:
the former in the Hursley Woods; the latter, I believe,
in Crabbe Wood.—Zd.
Dasycampa rubiginea.—I\ had the good fortune to take
three specimens of Rubiginea at sugar here last October, two
one night at the same tree. KE. nigra and X. rhizolitha were
fairly common about the same time. Satellitia, Vaccinii, and
Spadicea, were positively a nuisance. Last season was as
bad as it could be, if I except the heath insects, which were
common enough, Cribrum being abundant in its locality.
The warm weather is fast bringing the larve out of their
Winter quarters: Villica, B. Rubi, Littoralis, and several
common species, being on the move. Larve of B. Rubi that
I hybernated out of doors are flourishing, but those that
I tried to feed through the winter in-doors have died, to
a caterpillar. So I conclude that a warm, dry air is not
so good for them as roughing it, and that they have not the
power of spinning until after hybernation.—[Rev.] A. C.
Hervey ; Pokesdown.
364 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Butalis chenopodiella.—I am not aware that this species
has been taken in any number. It occurred last summer in
our garden in abundance; scores of pairs, 7 cop., were at
rest on the walls of the house and garden fences. The larva
is not particular in feeding on various garden plants, and
somewhat resembles that of a Depressaria, spinning a white,
silky web when changing to pupa: possibly its proper food-
plant is one of the Chenopodiums.—F. O. Standish ;
1, Glendale Villas, King’s Road North, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire.
Nola albulalis.—Last July I was fortunate in taking a very
fine specimen of this pretty and once rare species; and in
giving a friendly hint to the worthy and energetic Mr. Pack-
man, who since turned it up in tolerably round numbers.—
Id.
Pterophorus rhododactylus.—Last year I captured several of
this pretty, and doubtless the most beautiful of the British,
species, being the second year I have taken several. My first
discovery of it was by accidentally taking a plume larva out
of my net, and diligently watching its changes (which
proved successful) led me to its whereabouts, and the capture
of many others.—Jd.
Chelonia villica.—Observing the pretty variety figured in
the ‘Entomologist’ for February, it may be interesting to
know that I have one very similar in my collection, except
that it is rather more destitute of the black, and has therefore
more of the cream colour. The specimen was bred from a
larva taken, I believe, at Willesden. —Jd.
Liparis dispar in the City.—F¥our or five years ago I took
a good male specimen at rest in Mincing Lane, City. Might
this have been a Wandsworth example ?—Jd.
Liparis auriflua Double-brooded.—This_ species, like
many others, may occasionally be double-brooded in unusually
warm seasons. In the month of October, 1868, I took a
female specimen, measuring one inch when set, and it is
marked with the brown patch, which is usually the case in
the male.—Jd.
Eubolia peribolata in Jersey.—During a tour in this
island early in September, 1864, I found this pretty species
not uncommon on the heathy hills of Gréve de Lecq. I also
noticed Chareas Graminis, and the larva of Acronycta tridens
on elm.—Zd.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 365
Pupe in Birch and Oak.—I send with this pieces of small
branches of birch and oak, each containing pupe of a
Coleopteron. The wood from which the pieces were taken
formed part of some fagots cut from a young wood here
rather more than three years ago, and since lain stacked in
my garden. About every third or fourth piece I come to
contains one or more of these pupe, and, judging from the
extent of the minings, the injury to the living tree must be
considerable. ‘The wood in my possession is nearly exclu-
sively birch, but the few pieces of oak intermixed appear to
have suffered in an equal degree. I should be glad if you
would kindly tell me the name of the species.—Wm. J.
Argent; Wanstead, March 22, 1873.
[I prefer waiting for their emergence before I pronounce a
decided opinion: it cannot be long before they declare
themselves.— E. Newman. |
Blind Cave Beetles—M. Pouchet having received from
M. Perez, of Bordeaux, some living specimens of Anoph-
thalmus Leschenaultii, with a view to continuing his ob-
servations on the influence of light on insects deprived of the
external organs of vision,—having been compelled from various
causes to abandon this study for a time,—has placed them in
my hands, and I have made some observations on these
insects which may possibly be useful to others. I put them
in a little box and kept them in a cave, with a view of
imitating their natural condition, and expecting by this
means to obtain eggs, from which to rear larve; unfor-
tunately, three out of the four specimens which M. Pouchet
had transmitted to me having died, 1 abandoned this
project, and decided on publishing at once his observations
on their habits and conduct in captivity. M. Pouchet began
to feed his specimens on bodies of Musca Cesar, which
he deprived of their head and wings: two of the Anoph-
thalmus at first seemed satisfied with this provender, but
very soon they refused any longer to partake of it, although
they often passed over the body of this fly; they absolutely
refused to notice juvenile spiders, woodlice, and minute
beetles, although they constantly passed by the side of these
delicacies, and even mounted upon them, without seeming to
notice their presence. On the contrary, they comforted
themselves greatly with those little mud-worms, or blood-
aan
866 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
worms, so well known to fishermen; and although they
would sometimes pass over these worms without stopping,
yet whenever they touched one with their palpi they stopped
abruptly, seized the worm with their mandibles, plunged
both these and their maxillz into the body of the worm, and
sucked greedily, a fact of which one might easily be assured,
not only by the distension of the abdomen, which in this
state protruded beyond the elytra, but also by the red
colouring which this nourishment imparted to the alimentary
canal. It seems probable, then, that in a state of nature
these insects feed on annelides, and perhaps on larve of like
consistence ; but neither Arachnida nor Coleoptera seem to
be their prey. They run with great activity, and at first
sight present no evidence of blindness, passing by other
insects without seeming to perceive them: in passing one
another they do not stop, but, if they happen to touch each
other’s antenne in their excursion, they fall to fighting
immediately, seizing one another with their mandibles, but,
after a brief turn at fighting, each passing on one side; and
indeed they often pass without a fight. Whenever they meet
with an obstacle, or attempt to enter a crack, their antenne
bend and turn back, without this action seeming to incom-
mode them. M. Pouchet having deprived one of its antenne
could not perceive that the loss made any difference in its
behaviour. They seemed entirely insensible to light; but
heat, or the breath, or the least shock, made them retreat
instantly. I have mentioned that when they passed over
food provided for them they paid no attention to it, unless
they touched it with their palpi, and that they disregarded
entirely contact with their antenne: this seems to indicate
that the sense of smell had its seat in the palpi rather than
the antenne. As for the antenne they seem to be, under
certain conditions, very imperfect organs of feeling, for when
they touch with these any motionless insect, they pass over it
just as though it were a lump of earth.— Editor of ‘ Petites
Nouvelles Entomologiques, February 15, 1873.
Food-plant of Diphthera Orion.—A friend of mine who
has, during last July, taken this moth very plentifully in a
locality on the south coast (which he desires shall not be
mentioned) says, there was in the wood not one birch tree to
five hundred oaks. Does not this to some degree settle the
question ?—£, B. Poulton; Victoria Villa, Reading.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 867
Food of the Ailanthus Silkworm.—M. Hignel, the manager
of the silk-culture establishment of Sicle, in the neighbour-
hood of Warsaw, noticed that some of his larvae, which had
fallen accidentally from the Ailanthus on to a poisonous
plant, Datura Stramonium, growing close by, began to feed
greedily on its leaves, and on being returned to the Ailanthus
refused to spin. Next year M. Hignel intends to try this new
food for this silkworm, which is now completely naturalized
at Warsaw, and will publish the result of his experiments.—
Bembowski, ‘ Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques, February
15, 1873.
[It will place the cultivation of this silkworm within the
reach of everyone if the Datura answers the purpose, for itis an
annual which grows so freely in all our gardens as sometimes
to become a troublesome weed.—Z. Newman. ]
Method of Preserving Insect-pins from Oxidation.—
Entomologists, and especially those who collect the smaller
insects, and cannot, as in the instance of the Micro-
Lepidoptera, gum them on cards, are annoyed with the
oxidation of the pins, which so often involves the loss of
Entomological collections. Many plans of obviating this
difficulty have been suggested and tried, more particularly
the use of silver and platinum wire, and of the varnished
Vienna pins. For minute insects platinum wire is certainly
the best. The objection to the large varnished Vienna pins
is to be obviated by the following process, which has the
additional recommendation of being extremely simple.
Having furnished myself with a colourless varnish, capable
of resisting the oxidation of metals, I take hold of the pin
near its point with the forceps, and dip it in the varnish from
the head as far as the place where the forceps hold it, so that
the point may not be wetted with the varnish; then turning
the end I stick it on the cork. When I have served a suffi-
cient number of pins in this way I repeat the operation, so
that the coat of varnish may be rendered thicker. This
operation being performed cold, the pin retains its elasticity,
whereas by the German method, of using black varnish and
linseed oil, and baking the pins in a hot oven, the wire
becomes rigid, and loses its elasticity. The colourless
varnish has, moreover, the advantage of being perfectly
invisible. I am indebted to Mr. Gogordan for the knowledge
368 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of this method; and to this entomologist are due the thanks
of those entomologists who have found the utility of pins
prepared in this manner. I beg here to repeat mine for
having thus enabled me to get rid of the ugly and incon-
venient black-varnished pins of Germany.—Goosens.
[It would be an additional advantage if M. Goosens
would state the composition of the varnish he reeommends.—
E. Newman. |
C. Lilly —The larva sent is that of Tryphzna pronuba;
the pupa that of Helops ceruleus.—E. Newman.
Hybernated Antiopa.—A specimen of this insect has just
been taken on some rock-work in our garden, at Woodbine
Lodge, West End, Hampstead.—J. Edward Wilbey ; March
26, 1873.
Mr. Crotch’s Expedition.—This enthusiastic and energetic
entomologist left Philadelphia, on his way to California, on
the 14th of February. While in Philadelphia he examined
all the collections of Dytiscide, Chrysomelide, Coccinellide,
Erotylide, and Silphidz, in that city. He has prepared a
Catalogue of American Coleoptera, and written a number of
papers, which will appear in scientific journals.—E.. Newman.
A New Entomological Society—A new Entomological
Society has started under the auspices of the Clifden Insti-
tute, Goldsmith’s Row, named the Clifden Entomological
Society, and will hold weekly meetings every Tuesday
evening. The first night of meeting was March 18th,
beginning with thirteen members, and a speedy promise of
more.—P. C. Boulden, Secretary; 4, Martha Street, Hag-
gerstone.
Death of M. Wencker.—Mr. J. A. Wencker died on the
20th of February, at Viterne, after an illness which had long
interrupted his Entomological studies and his correspondence
with his fellow-labourers on the subject of Coleoptera. His
premature death, at the age of forty-nine, has deprived us of
the continuation of his most careful labours. All our
Coleopterists will recollect his monograph of the genus
Apion, and will admit that it was the work of a master-hand.
Had he lived this would certainly not have been the last to
which he devoted his rare intervals of leisure—E. Newman.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 116.] MAY, MDCCCLXXIIL. [Parce 6d.
ARGYNNIS AGLAIA (VARIETY).
Variety of Argynnis Aglaia.—The deviation from normal
position and shape of the black markings in this specimen
is more clearly shown by Mr. Willis’s excellent figure than
they could be described by words. The two colours, bright
sienna-brown and black, occupy the entire area of the wings,
but their proportions are extremely different. The specimen
belongs to Mr. Stevens, and has been kindly lent me for
figuring in the ‘ Entomologist. —Edward Newman.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 849.)
THE name of the first of the accompanying species
indicates where it is to be sought for. Very many
VOL, VI. T
370 : THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
years have passed since I have seen it alive; and when
I found it, it appeared to be limited to the heath in
PSILOCERA OBSCURA,
one spot near London. The second and third appear to
be of very unusual occurrence, as I believe that I have
not seen more than three living specimens of either of
them. While waiting for an opportunity of studying again
the names, structure, and habits of Chalcidie, I will mention
with reference to them what has appeared elsewhere, and will
a at tate
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 871
conclude with a borrowed notice of them in relation to
Aphides, allusion having been made to that subject in p. 347.
PROSODES ATER.
Dr. Reinhardt gives the following names of Chalcidiz that are
connected with Aphides, either immediately or by an inter-
vening link :—
“(1) Coryna clavata, Walk.; (2) Cyrtogaster vulgaris,
Walk.; (3) Diplolepis aphidis, Bouché; (4) Chrysolampus
suspensus, Nees; (5) Eurytoma enea, Nees; (6) Pteromalus
aphidivorus, Foerst.; (7) Mesosela elongata, Walk.; (8)
Agonioneurus subflavescens, Wesiw.; (9) Chrysolampus
aphidiphagus, Latz.; (10) Chrysolampus eneus, Ralz.;
(11) Tridymus Aphidum, Ratz.; (12) Myina Chaonia,
Walk. ; (13) Callimome auratus, Enc. M.; (14) Spalangia
nigra, Lair.; (15) Hypsicamara Ratzeburgi, Foerst.; (16)
Agonioneurus flavicornis, Foerst.”
The same author partly supplies what is wanting in this
list,—the priority of the names, the adjustment of the
number of species, and what part they take in the mutually
antagonistic agencies by which the balance of created life is
maintained, or what species destroy Aphides, and what are,
as he terms them, “ after-parasites,” or limit the number of
these destroyers.
Francis WALKER.
372 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Controlling Sex in Butterflies. By Mrs. Mary TREatT.*
TuHaT sex can be controlled in butterflies I think I have
demonstrated by careful experiment the past season; acci-
dent first prompted the experiment. ‘Two years ago this
past summer I was feeding a few larve of Papilio Asterias for
the cabinet, when one of my specimens wandered from its
food, and rested upon a book to undergo its transformations.
Not feeling inclined to give up the book to this purpose, I
placed the larva on a fresh stem of caraway: upon removing
it from the book I found its feet were entangled in silk, and
that it was in position for a chrysalis, but not yet fastened ;
so I was surprised to see it commence eating. It continued
eating some days longer, before changing to a chrysalis. I
then tried others in the same way, and also took off quite a
number of larve, shutting them away from food. Some of
the larve that I deprived of food in this first experiment
died, but all that completed their transformations were
males; while those that I induced to go on feeding, by
tempting them with the best and freshest food, proved to be
females.
This season (1872) I commenced with the larve the 17th
of June, and continued feeding broods of different ages
through the month of July. Early in July I had about two
hundred larve feeding at the same time. The room in which
I conducted my experiment faced east and south, and toward
noon, of each of those excessively hot days in the early part
of July, it was several degrees warmer than in the outside air.
The food-plant on which I fed the various broods was placed
in jars of water, which were set in a large box partly filled
with earth, the whole being covered with deep blue mosquito-
netting ; heat and moisture seemed favourable to health and
rapid growth.
On the 25th of June one lot of eggs hatched, on the 10th
of July they were chrysalides, and on the 18th of the same
month the butterflies appeared, only requiring twenty-three
days for the complete transformation. On the other hand, I
have had this same Asterias butterfly eleven months in
coming to maturity; some larve that hatched in August,
* Reprinted from the ‘American Naturalist,’ vol. vii. p. 129.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 373
1871, I fed eight weeks, but the nights were cool, and some
days were absolutely cold, when the larve would not eat.
These chrysalides I preserved during the winter, and early in
June, 1872, [ put them in this same warm room in which the
larve grew so rapidly, and they were in this room some two
weeks before the first larve of this season were hatched;
and, strange as it may appear, some half dozen butterflies of
this year’s brood came out before these last year’s chrysalides
produced butterflies.
Very soon after the last moult I shut a number of the larve
away from food, putting them in paper boxes, from five to ten
in a box, carefully labelled. If, at the end of two or three
days, the larve were still wandering about, I fed them
sparingly. In this way I did not lose a single specimen in
the larva state by shutting away from food; a few of the
chrysalides died. -
It was with the most intense interest that I watched the
coming forth of the butterflies, which began to appear in
about eight days after assuming the chrysalis stage. Thirty-
four males came from my male boxes, and then a rather small
female made its appearance. Out of seventy-nine specimens
that I labelled males, three females were produced; on the
other hand, those that I fed up, keeping them on a good
supply of fresh food, I labelled females, and placed them in
separate boxes. Out of these boxes sixty-eight females came,
and four males.
There were some boxes that I marked doubtful, which I
do not include in the above figures. For instance, I took five
larve that were eating vigorously: if let alone they probably
would have eaten a day or two longer, but I wished to try
them in all stages of growth, and these were of quite a large
size; out of these five, four were males.
Soon after the last moult | took twenty larve, and shut
them away from food for twenty-four hours. At the end of
that time I replaced ten on a good supply of food, watched
them carefully, and kept them eating, until they attained a
large size: they became chrysalides within a few hours of
each other, and emerged as butterflies eight days after. One
of these chrysalides was accidentally crushed; the remaining
nine were females. Of the starved ones, eight males came
out; the remaining two chysalides died,
374 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The butterflies, as fast as they made their appearance, were
killed and pinned up; the males arranged on one side, the
females on the other: a most brilliant display, covering a
much larger space than one would be apt to imagine.
It would seem, then, as the result of the whole experiment,
that sex is not determined in the egg of insects, and that the
female requires more nourishment than the male. Nor does
this appear strange, when we consider the reproductive
nature of the female. It has frequently been said to me:—
“If your theory is true, it makes the female higher in the
scale—superior to the male.” I believe it has always been
admitted that the female gives birth to the young. If this is
considered superiority, then the female is superior; but if
beauty of form and colour is taken into account, then the
male insect is superior; the same as with birds and the
higher animals. Carry the analogy further,—up to human
beings,—and still we find the principle holds good. To
which sex belong all our great inventors, statesmen, and
philosophers? I believe woman is physically incapable,
other things being equal, of becoming as profound a
philosopher, as deep a thinker, as man. I do not wish it
understood that I deem woman inferior to man; there is no
inferiority, no superiority. If this matter were better appre-
ciated, we should hear less of “ woman’s rights,” and equality
of the sexes, and woman would quietly take her place by the
side of her brother, with no contention for rights.
But to return to some corroborations. Toward the last of
May some twenty half-grown larve of Vanessa Antiopa were
brought to me. I placed the branch on which they were
feeding in a jar of water, turning a wooden box over them,
and thought no more of them for over a week, when I
uncovered them, and found the branch had fallen from the
jar, and the leaves were so dry 1 could powder them in my
hand. More than half of the larve were dead; eight poor,
starved-looking specimens were alive, and completed their
transformations. With this butterfly it is difficult to distin-
guish the sex by the marking on the wings, so I dissected
them, and the result proved them males.
Again, I found a larva, new to me, feeding on the soft
maple. I obtained thirty-three good specimens. I was very
anxious to rear these, so I watched them closely, and plied
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 375
them with fresh, good food: if one fell or wandered from its
food I replaced it, and continued this treatment until they
would eat no longer. They went into the earth to undergo
transformation, and in ten or twelve days thereafter, the rare,
beautiful moth, Dryocampa rubicunda, made its appearance.
Of these there were twenty-nine females, and two males. The
remaining two either escaped or died in the earth.
About the time these moths came out, another lot of the
same Dryocampa caterpillars was brought to me, but these
were purposely neglected. [I found them more than once
wandering about the box in quest of food. Some of these
were killed by a parasite, others died from lack of food; so
that the result proved only seven males, and no female.
Mary TREAT.
A List of the Nocturnal Macro-Lepidoptera inhabiting
Guernsey and Sark, with Notes of their Occurrence.
By W. A. Lurr, Esq.
(Continued from p. 357.)
CUSPIDAT.
Cilix spinula.—Both broods are common in Guernsey and
Sark, wherever the whitethorn is plentiful.
Dicranura vinula.—Mrs. Boley has found the larve on
willow in Guernsey.
Pygera bucephala.—The larve are extremely abundant
in Guernsey on lime and elm.
Notodonta ziczac.—I have taken one specimen at light in»
Guernsey.
NocTuz.
Gonophora derasa.—In Guernsey, at sugar; not uncom-
mon.
Thyatira batis—I have only taken one specimen in
Guernsey ; this was at sugar.
Bryophila glandifera.—Very common on most of the
lichen-covered walls of Guernsey and Sark. The largest
specimen | have ‘met with measures barely an inch across
the wings; they are usually much smaller.
B. Perla.—Very abundant in Guernsey and Sark. These
are also small, never measuring an inch across the wings.
376 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Acronycta Psi.—Common in Guernsey. Larve on elm;
perfect insect at sugar.
A. megacephala.—Mrs. Boley has found the larve not
uncommonly in Guernsey, feeding on poplar.
A. Rumicis.—Very common.at sugar in Guernsey.
Leucania lithargyria.—Abundant in Guernsey during
July.
LI. putrescens.—I took two specimens at sugar on July
14th, 1870, in Guernsey.
L. impura.—Common in Guernsey, at sugar.
I. pallens.—1 have taken it in Stas: in fields, sitting
on the stems of grass.
L. L-album.—I took one specimen near the coast in
Guernsey, at sugar, on September 6th, 1871. It was in fine
condition, apparently not long emerged from the chrysalis.
I have since repeatedly sugared in the same locality, but
without success.
Xylophasia polyodon.—Quite a nuisance, at sugar, in
Guernsey and Sark.
Heliophobus hispidus.—I have taken three specimens in
Guernsey, one of them at sugar, on September 10th, 1872.
Cerigo Cytherea. In Guernsey, at sugar, though not very
abundant.
Luperina testacea.—One specimen taken in Guernsey, at
sugar.
Mamestra Brassice—The larve abundant in Guernsey
and Sark.
M. Persicarie.—Not rare in Guernsey, and yet by no
means abundant.
Apameu basilinea. —Not uncommon in Guernsey.
A. gemina.—I have taken two specimens in Guernsey.
_ A. oculea.—This is by far the commonest insect, at sugar,
in Guernsey. I have taken it in Sark. They are very
variable.
Miana strigilis—Almost as common as Oculea, at sugar.
In 1872 I took specimens as early as the 20th of May.
M. fasciuncula.—l have taken several in Guernsey.
M. Furuncula.—Occurs in Guernsey, though not abun-
dantly.
Caradrina Morpheus.—I have taken one specimen in
Guernsey.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 377
C. cubicularis—I have taken a few in Guernsey.
Agrotis puta.—Not uncommon in Guernsey during August
and September.
A. suffusa.—Occurs freely, at sugar, in Guernsey, on the
hills near the coast.
A. saucia.—I have taken several, at sugar, in Guernsey. I
have only met with it late in the autumn.
A. Segetum.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
A. exclamationis.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
A. corticea—Not rare in Guernsey. I have taken a
specimen in Sark.
A. nigricans —Common in Guernsey.
Tryphena janthina.—I have reared several specimens
from larvz, found feeding on geraniums, in Guernsey.
T. orbona.—Abundant in Guernsey and Sark.
T. interjectaa—Two specimens taken in Guernsey, at
sugar. 3
T’. pronuba.—Common in Guernsey and Sark.
Noctua Augur.—Mrs. Boley has captured a specimen in
Guernsey.
N. glareosa.—In most seasons common, in Guernsey, at
ivy bloom; but in 1872 I took but one specimen.
N. plecta.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
N. C-nigrum.—Common in Guernsey, at sugar. I have
only taken it in the autumn.
N. festiva.—Several specimens taken at sugar in Guernsey.
N. conflua.—One specimen taken in Guernsey by my
friend Mr. Dawson. .
N. xanthographa.—Exceedingly abundant in Guernsey
and Sark, and quite a nuisance at sugar.
Teniocampa gothica—I have bred several specimens,
The larve fed on privet. Guernsey.
T. instabilis—Common at sallow-bloom in Guernsey.
T. stabilis—Common at sallow-bloom in Guernsey.
T. cruda.—Abundant at sallow-bloom in Guernsey. I have
taken specimens in Sark.
Orthosia lota.—I have taken a few, at ivy, in Guernsey.
Anchocelis pistacina.—Very common at ivy-bloom in
Guernsey.
A, lunosa.—Abundant at ivy in Guernsey.
Scopelosoma satellitia.—I have taken a few at ivy-bloom
in September, in Guernsey.
T2
378 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Xanthia ferruginea.—Abundant in Guernsey at ivy-bloom.
Cosmia trapezina.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
C. affinis.—I have met with one specimen in Guernsey.
Dianthecia carpophaga.—I have taken one specimen on
the Guernsey cliffs. It was flying in the sunshine in June.
D. capsincola.—I have seen a Guernsey specimen, and am
informed the larve are common on the red campion (Lychnis
dioica).
Polia flavocincta.—Common in Guernsey at ivy-bloom.
I have reared specimens from larve feeding on groundsel.
Epunda nigra.—Not uncommon in Guernsey at ivy-
bloom.
E. lichenea.—I have reared specimens, from larve collected
in early spring in Guernsey.
Miselia Oxyacanthe.—Not uncommon in Guernsey at ivy-
bloom.
Agriopis aprilina.—Mrs. Boley has taken a specimen in
Guernsey.
Phlogophora meticulosa.—Both broods extremely abun-
dant in Guernsey.
Euplevia lucipara.—Common in Guernsey, at sugar.
Aplecta nebulosa.—One specimen, taken by Mr. Dawson
in Guernsey.
Polyphenis sericina.—In 1872 Mr. Dawson took one, and
I took four specimens at sugar, during July and August, in
Guernsey.
Hadena dentina.—Two specimens, taken in Guernsey at
sugar.
Hadena Chenopodiit.—Common in Guernsey.
H. oleracea.—Very abundant in Guernsey and Sark in
_ June.
H. Pisi.—1 have taken several specimens in Sark, and
Mrs. Boley has taken one in Guernsey.
Xylocampa lithorhiza.—l\ have taken a few specimens in
Guernsey.
Cucullia Verbasct.—1 took two off a fence in Guernsey.
C. Asteris—Mrs. Boley has captured several in Guernsey.
C. umbratica.—Common in Guernsey. Often resting on
the tops of tarred fences, where they are easily detected.
Abrostola Urtice.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
Plusia chrysitis—Common in Guernsey and Sark. I have
observed both broods.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 379
P. Gamma.—Exceedingly abundant in Guernsey and Sark
at all times of the year.
Gonoptera Libatrix.—I once found several larve feeding
on sallow in Guernsey.
Amphipyra pyramidea.—Two specimens taken in
Guernsey, August, 1872, at sugar.
A. Tragopogonis.—Not uncommon in Guernsey.
Mania maura.—I have seen Guernsey specimens.
Catocala Fraxini.—Mrs. Boley captured a very fine
specimen in Guernsey, in her garden, several years ago.
C. nupta.—In Guernsey, though not very common.
W. A. LuFF.
{Three species only are added to our ordinary British
List, and two of these, Callimorpha Hera and Anaitis
preformata, have already been impatiently knocking at the
door for admission; the third is a novelty, Polyphznis
sericina, a Noctua of great beauty, and somewhat resembling
Cerigo Cytherea — EH. Newman. |
A List of the Macro-Lepidoptera taken at Buckingham or
in tts Immediate Neighbourhood, with Notes of their
Occurrence. By W. Siabe, Esq.
THE following list of Lepidoptera, taken at Buckingham
and in the immediate neighbourhood during the years 1869—
1872, is, I believe, as far at least as the commoner species are
concerned, a tolerably complete representation of the Lepi-
doptera occurring in that locality. I hope it will interest the
readers of the ‘ Entomologist.’
BUTTERFLIES.
Argynnis Adippe.—Claydon Woods, not common.
A, Euphrosyne and Selene-—Claydon Woods, common.
A. Paphia.—\n all woods in the neighbourhood.
Grapta C-Album.—Said to have been abundant formerly
in Whittlebury Forest; not seen elsewhere.
Vanessa Urtice.—Abundant everywhere.
V. Polychloros.—A number of pupe taken in 1872 by
myself and others, within a few yards of the same spot;
probably of one brood,
820 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
V. Io and Pyrameis Atalanta.—Common everywhere.
P. Cardui.—Abundant in clover-fields in September,
1872. Ihave usually seen this species every autumn, but
not so plentifally.
Apatura Iris.—Occurs in Claydon Woods. I have not
taken it.
Melanagria Galathea.—Swarming in a narrow meadow
between two woods at Claydon, in 1871; a single specimen
only in any other locality.
Pyrarga Egeria and Megera.—Common.
Epinephele Janira and Tithonus.—Abdundant.
E.. Hyperanthus.—Common in several woods.
Coenonympha Pamphilus.—Abundant.
Thecla Quercus.—Abundant in all the woods I have
visited, but frequently confined to particular spots in these
woods.
T. W-Album.—Scarce; one or two taken in gardens
surronnded with old elms.
Polyommatus Phleaas and Lycena Icarus.—Abundant.
L. Argiolus—Rare. The “ blues” seem very badly repre-
sented in the neighbourhood of Buckingham. There are one
or two localities where one might expect to find Arion, but I
have never been fortunate enough to fall in with it.
Colias Edusa.—Common in September, 1870. IL have not
seen it since.’
Rhodocera Rhamni.—Abundant in the early spring ;
seldom seen in the autumn.
Leucophasia Sinapis.—Scarce ; I have seen two specimens
only.
dnithobhakes Cardamines and Pieris Napi.—Abundant.
P. Rape and Brassice.—Abundant. Very much too
abundant in gardens in the town, which are much more
infested with the larve than those in the open country.
Hesperia Malve, Tages, and Sylvanus.x—Common on
railway-banks.
H, Linea.—Common.
SPHINGES.
Smerinthus ocellatus and Populi.—Common.
S. Tilie.—Common in the imago state. I have never
taken the larve here, nor have I heard of its being taken by
others.
|
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 881
Acherontia Atropos.—The larve have been frequently
brought me by boys, from the potato-fields.
Sphing Ligustri.—Not uncommon.
Cherocampa Elpenor.—The larve abundant in 1872,
feeding on willow-herb on the banks of the Ouse.
Macroglossa Stellatarum.—Abundant in 1869. I have
seen it occasionally since.
NocTurRNI.
Sesia Tipuliformis.—Common in old gardens.
S. Bembeciformis.—A few taken in an osier-bed, 1872.
These are the only “clearwings” I have seen or heard of in
the neighbourhood.
Zeuzera Aisculi.—Occurs, but not commonly.
Cossus Ligniperda.—Very common. Pollard willows and
pollard ash-trees are bored by it everywhere.
Hepialus lupulinus.— Abundant.
H. Humuli.--Common.
Procris Statices.—Common, but local.
Zygena Trifolii.—Common in an old stone-pit. Not met
with elsewhere.
Z. Filipendule——Common on railway-banks.
Lithosia complanula.—Common. ‘The only “ footman”
which appears to occur.
Euchelia Jacobee.—Common. The larva of this insect
occurs every year, feeding on coltsfoot, in the old stone-pit
above mentioned; I have taken it in my garden, feeding on
the common groundsel (at which I am not surprised). 1 bred
the moth from both localities: they are not to be distin-
guished ; it does not seem to vary.
Chelonia caja.—Abundant.
Arclia mendica.—Female common. I have seen the
male.
A, lubricipeda and Menthastri.—Common.
Liparis auriflua.—Abundant.
LL. Salicis—Not common.
Orgyia pudibunda.—Common. I have bred from the egg
larve of this common moth so dark in colour as to be taken
for those of fascelina.
O. antiqua.—Not by any means abundant.
Peecilocampa Populi.—Scarce,
382 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Eriogaster lanestris—Common. A friend, in the year
1869, found a nest of the larve, and bred about one hundred
pup: about fifteen came out the following February, twelve
the next, and a few have made their appearance, as the
season has come round, every year since; those left are still
alive.
Bombyx neustria.—This insect does not appear to be so
common as it used to be. I remember it, as a boy, a perfect
pest in gardens in Kent.
B. Quercus.—Abundant on every whitethorn-hedge in the
larva state. I have never seen the moth on the wing, except
as “‘assembling” to a bred female.
Odonestis potatorta.—Abundant.
Lasiocampa Quercifolia.—Rare.
GEOMETR2.
Uropteryx sambucata.—Abundant.
Epione apiciaria.—Two, at light, when sugaring.
Rumia crategata.— Abundant.
Metrocampa margaritaria, Pericallia syringaria and
Selenia illunarita.—Common.
Crocallis elinguaria.—Not uncommon.
Ennomos tiliaria.—One found in the house; probably
attracted by light.
E. fuscantaria.—One bred from larva beaten from ash.
E. angularia and Himera pennaria.—One each.
Phigalia pilosaria and Biston hirtaria.—Not common.
Amphydasis prodromaria.—Not rare.
A. betularia and Hemerophila abruptaria.—Common.
Cleora lichenaria.—Not uncommon.
Boarmia repandata.— Common.
B. rhomboidaria.—Abundant.
Tephrosia extersaria.—Two or three taken by a lad, and
brought me to name.
Lodis lactearia.—Several taken, 1872.
Hemithea thymiaria.—Common.
Note.—The Ephyride appear to be conspicuous by their
absence near Buckingham.
Asthena candidata.—Not common.
Acidalia imitaria.—Not uncommon.
A. aversata and remutata.—Both varieties occur, remutata
being the more common.
a
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 383
Timandra amataria and Cabera pusaria.—Common.
C. exanthemaria.—Abundant.
Macaria liturata.—One.
Halia wavaria.—Common.
Strenia clathrata.—Common on railway-banks.
Abraxas grossulariata.—I1 have seen hundreds of the
larvee of this common garden-insect feeding on osier.
Lomaspilis marginata.—Common, and in this locality
tolerably constant in the arrangement of the black markings.
Hybernia progemmaria, Anisopteryx escularia, Chima-
tobia brumata, and Larentia didymata.—Common.
LL. olivata.—One.
Emmelesia decolorata.—Taken occasionally.
Eupithecia venosata.—Two.
E. centaureata.—Common.
EH. exiguata.—Two.
E. vulgata.—Common.
Ypsipetes elutata and Melanthia rubiginata—Not un-
common.
M., ocellata.—Two.
Melanippe subtristata.—Common.
M. montanata and fluctuata.—Abundant.
Anticlea badiata and derivata.—Not uncommon.
Coremia ferrugala and unidentata.—I believe both these
are common. l have never bred them, and do not like to
speak positively respecting them in the perfect state.
Camptogramma bilineata——The most abundant moth in
the district.
Scotosia dubitata ? and certata?—One or other of these
insects common.
S. rhamnata.—Not uncommon.
Eucosmia undulata.—One.
Cidaria miata, russata, ribesiaria, testata, fulvata, and
pyraliata.—Common.
C. dotata.—Not uncommon.
Eubolia mensuraria.—Abundant.
Tanagra cherophyllata—Swarming on the sloping bank
of a railway-cutting. A few only seen in one other locality.
CuUSPIDATA.
Platypteryx unguicula.—One.
Cilia spinula.—Common.
384 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Dicranura furcula.—One.
D. bifida—1 have often seen the empty cocoon (as I have
supposed) of this moth on the trunks of poplars, but have
never been so fortunate as to meet with the insect itself.
D. vinula and Pygera bucephala.—Common.
Philodontis palpina.—One.
Diloba ceruleocephala.—Common.
Noctuz.
Gonophora derasa.—TYaken occasionally.
Bryophila perla.—Abundant.
Acronycta tridens, Psi, Rumicis, Leucania conigera and
lithargyria.—Common.
LI. conma.—N ot common.
L. pallens.—Abundant.
Axylia putris and Xylophasia rurea.—Not common.
A. lithoxylea—Common.
X. sublustris.—One.
X. polyodon.—Abundant. One nearly black specimen
(female) taken at sugar, 1870.
X. hepatica.—Common.
Neuria Suponarie.—A number taken at sugar by a lad in
1872.
Heliophobus popularis and Cerigo cytherea.— Taken
occasionally.
Mamestra Brassice.—A common garden pest.
Apamea oculea, Miana_ strigilis, Grammesia trilinea,
Caradrina blandina and cubicularis—Common.
Rusina tenebrosa.—Taken occasionally.
Agrotis suffusa and exclamationis.— Common.
Tryphena janthina.—Not uncommon.
T. fimbria.—I have frequently taken the larve of this moth
at night feeding on the newly-expanded leaves of osiers in
the early spring, in company with Janthina, N. tniangulum
and Augur.
T. orbona.—Common.
T’.. pronuba.—Abundant.
Noctua Augur.—Common.
N. C-nigrum.—Taken occasionally.
N. triangulum and brunnea.—Common.
N. festiva.— Abundant.
N. umbrosa.—One.
a
al i ta i
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 385
N. baja.—Not uncommon.
N. xanthographa.—Abundant.
Teniocampa gothica.—Abundant at sallow-blossom.
T’.. rubricosa.—Not uncommon at sallow-blossom.
T. instabilis and stabilis.—Abundant at sallow-blossom.
T. gracilis.—Not uncommon at sallow-blossom.
Orthosia lota and Anchocelis linosa.—Common.
Cerastis spadicea.—Common at ivy-bloom.
Scopelosoma satellitva.—Common.
Xanthia citrago.—One.
X. ferruginea.—Common.
Dicycla Oo.—One.
Cosmia trapezina.—Common.
C. diffinis.—Not uncommon.
Hecatera serena.—One.
Polia flavocincta.—Common.
Miselia Oxyacanthe.—Taken occasionally.
Phlogophora meticulosa.—Abundant.
Calocampa vetusta.—Taken occasionally.
Cucullia Verbasci and Scrophularie.—Common.
C. Chamomille.—One.
C. umbratica and Heliodes Arbuti.—Taken occasionally.
Brephos notha.—One.
Abrostola Urtice and triplasia, Plusia chrysitis and Iota.
—Common.
P. Gamma.— Abundant.
Gonoptlera libatrix.—Common.
Amphipyra pyramidea.—Taken occasionally.
A. Tragopogonis.—Not uncommon.
Mania typica and maura.—Common.
Caiocala nupta.—Not uncommon.
Euclidia Mi and glyphica.—Common.
W. SLADE.
Fallowfield, Manchester,
February 19, 1873.
Description of the Larva of Tephrosia biundularia.—
Several correspondents have at different times sent me eggs
of this species, but I had never had an opportunity of
describing the adult larva until last year, when I was enabled
T3
886 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
to do so from two specimens received from Mr. J. R. Well-
man, of London, on the 12th of June. The eggs are deposited
early in May, are slightly oval, and in colour bright green. ‘The
larve feed on oak, and become full grown about the middle
of June. Length about an inch and a quarter, and of average
bulk in proportion ; head retractile, flattened, about the same
width as the second, but narrower than the third segment,
which segment is swollen on each side into a lateral hump;
the remaining segments are of about equal width until the
12th is reached, on which there is a slight dorsal ridge;
segmental divisions tolerably distinct. The skin along the
sides rather puckered; the 4th segment is swollen ventrally,
which makes the third pair of legs appear longer than the
rest. The ground colour is dull reddish brown; from the
10th to the 13th segments reddish ochreous, and the 6th, 7th
and 8th segments dull dirty black. Head pale ochreous-
brown, spotted and marked with dark brown; medio-dorsal
line dull dark green; subdorsal stripes dark brown, with
indistinct paler central line; there are no_ perceptible
spiracular lines. Just above and a little in front of the first
pair of claspers is an ochreous-yellow mark; and on the 7th
and 8th segments, just below the dorsal line, is a pale gray
lateral mark. Spiracles small, grayish brown, encircled with
dark brown. The ventral surface is dark purplish brown,
with ochreous-yellow medio-ventral stripe. ‘hese two larve
were much darker and redder than a brood I had reared to
moderate size the year previous, which were much more
nearly like the pale grayish variety of the larva of
Crepuscularia. Probably the larve of Biundularia vary as
much as do those of that species—Geo. T. Porritt ; Hud-
dersfield, April 8, 1873.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Vanessa Antiopa near. Carlisle.—I1 took a specimen of
V. Antiopa at Orton, near Carlisle, on April 21st, and after
looking at it I found that the upper wings were very much
damaged, and the under wings much worn. | let it go again.
I think this is the first ever taken in this locality.—George
Dawson; 6, English Street, Carlisle, April 23, 1873.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 3887
Vanessa Antiopa near Grantham.—I had the pleasure of
capturing a fine specimen of Vanessa Antiopa on the side of
the canal, in the neighbourhood of Grantham. The border
is white—Thomas Walpole; Westgate, Grantham, April
18, 1873.
Vanessa Antiopa in Suffolk, and Variety of C. ridens.—A
very fair Antiopa was taken in Assington Park, Suffolk, last
week, and was brought to me to set. This morning I found
a magnificent variety of C. ridens in one of my breeding-
cages: it is almost white, with a broad central bar of the
usual colour.—W’. H. Harwood; St. Peter's, Colchester,
April 21, 1873.
Vanessa Polychloros at Doncastey.—Your subscribers in
this part of the kingdom will be delighted to learn that I have
had the good fortune to capture a beautiful specimen of
Vanessa Polychloros. I believe it is fifteen or sixteen years
since this species was taken in this neighbourhood, and that
it was bought by the late Hugh Reid,—a most enthusiastic
naturalist, and a very successful entomologist. How it
happens that insects after so many years’ absence suddenly
reappear, perhaps never has been satisfactorily accounted
for. The specimen is much lighter coloured than the series
in my cabinet. I took it on the 28th of March; evidently a
hybernated specimen: this may be a reason for its light hue.
As it is a female, and apparently full of eggs, I have decided
to let it go again, so that we have a prospect of its having
successors.—T. Potts ; 79, Spring Gardens, Doncaster.
Eupithecia irriguata.—On April 9th I was agreeably sur-
prised by the appearance of Eupithecia irriguata in one of
my breeding-cages. I was not aware that I had had the
caterpillar. This is the second time that the same moth has
put in an unexpected appearance.—[ Rev.] A. H. Wratislaw ;
School Hall, Bury St. Edmunds.
T. Gothica and Stabilis.—A few nights ago, when visiting
the sallows in a wood near this place, I was much surprised
to take a female T. Gothica zn cop. with a male Stabilis. Is
not this rather an unusual occurrence? I of course brought
them home, and the Gothica has laid about fifly eggs, which
are of a bright green colour, and from which I hope to be able
to breed the hybrid insect next spring.—. #. Brameld ;
Notts Bank, Retford, April 17, 1873,
388 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Name of a Bee.—Will you kindly name, in the ‘ Entomo-
logist,’ the enclosed bees.—Robert Kay; 2, Spring Street,
Bury, April 18, 1873.
[The bees are Andrena nigrownea of Kirby. On this
species Mr. Kirby discovered his Stylops Melille.— Edward
Newman.|
On Turkestan Diptera.—The Diptera of Central Asia will
probably be soon well known, in consequence of the events
occurring in that region, and the history of them will supply
some of the links between the Diptera of Europe and those
of Amurland and of Japan. The Diptera of Turkestan have
been already investigated by Alexis Fedtschenko, whose
discoveries therein will shortly be published. I am indebted
to him for the following summary of the Turkestan species of
some families of this order. Two hundred and forty-three
species represent the following families :—Xylophagide,
Therevide, Scenopinide, Cyrtide, Leptide, Nemestrinide,
Bombylide, Asilide, Stratiomyide, and Tabanide. The
Bombylidz include ninety-three species; the Asilide, sixty-
two species; and the Nemestrinide, ten species. This last
family takes the lead in Diptera as regards the development
of the wing-veins, and culminates on the coast of South
Africa.—Francis Walker.
Apion apricans and Clover Seed.—In the ‘ Entomologist’
for September, 1872 (Entom. vi. 177), you answered some
enquiries I] made as to what insect infested the heads of
cow-grass seed (T’. pratense) I sent you. I think it may be
interesting to you to know the effects of the mischief caused
by the insect (Apion apricans) to the field of seed I sent you
the heads from, and to show the loss sustained by farmers
from the weevils when the crop is infected; and I am sorry
to say the infected crops were greatly in excess of good ones
last year. The following will show the difference in the yield
of seed grown in the years 1869 and 1872, when the former
was free from the Apion. In 1869, eleven and a quarter
acres produced 7647 lbs., which sold for £268 14s.7d. In 1872,
eleven and a quarter acres produced only 2361 lbs., which
sold for £88 14s. 6d. Showing a discrepancy of 5286 lbs. in
seed, and £180 Os. ld. in the value; the two pieces being
equally good as to crop and quality of the seed, and sold at
the same price, namely 9d. per lb. The whole of the loss I
SN ee —— =
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 389
think must be placed to the debit of the Apion, as the few
heads of clover free from the attack were perfectly full of
seed.—W. H. Herbert; Wyfield Manor, Newbury, March
18, 1873.
Galls on the Twigs of Willows.—I enclose some galls,
which my son collected this week in Teesdale; their causing
the twig to make a sharp angle struck me as curious.—Kdwin
Birchall.
(‘The gall is caused by Cecidomyia Salicis. I have not
seen it growing for some years. So far asI recollect, the twig
on which it occurs is often straight. Wery many of the larve
are destroyed by two parasites, Seladerma Capree and a
species of Platygaster, but the oviposition of these, and the
way in which they feed on the grub, are unknown. I have
mentioned them in the ‘ Annals of Natural History,’ second
series, vol. ii. p. 218” (Francis Walker, in a letter to KE. New-
man). I observe that almost every one of these galls, which
are about the size of hazel-nuts, has been pecked by a bird,
probably a titmouse, and the grub extracted, Every one of
the specimens sent by Mr. Birchall has the twig bent in the
manner described by him, and one of them bears a leaf-bud
on the surface of the gall. It would be interesting to know
whether a bud could open in such a situation.— Edward
Newman.) |
Food of Diphthera Orion.—I took, June 15th, 1872, a
female D. Orion at rest on the trunk of an oak-tree, in a
chip-box, in which I placed an oak-leaf, hoping to obtain
eggs. Next morning I found about fifty eggs attached to the
leaf, all close together. The eggs were white and echinus-
shaped, and through a lens appeared rayed or fluted. They
-- hatched on June 22nd, and | put the young larve on a birch-
leaf, and placed the leaf in a test-tube, putting in also a leaf
of oak. Next morning they had all left the birch, and were
feeding on the oak. They commenced near the stem on the
under side of the leaf, forming two companies, getting their
heads together and marching forward, skeletonising the leaf.
They never left the leaf till all but the veins were consumed.
When they emerged from the egg they were semitransparent
and of a pale green colour, the segments being much
separated; a darker line showed itself on the back, and
a few hairs were visible on each segment. On the sixth day
390 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
they changed their skins. They grew very rapidly, and
finally assumed the appearance described at p. 248 of ‘ British
Moths;’ they “went down” July 24th, 25th and 26th. I
occasionally placed a sprig of birch with their food, but it
was never eaten by them. I also tried. plum.—Henry
Miller, jun.
Harvesting Ants——Mr. J. Moggridge, in a little book
lately published by L. Reeve & Co., has some highly
interesting observations on ants, confirming the statements
of classical writers as to the storing of grain during the past
and present years. We have had brief notices on his disco-
veries, but these have been uniformly discredited by the
would-be dictators of Entomological Science. Mr. Moggridge
has seen ants climbing the stems of cereal and other plants,
gathering the seeds, detaching them from the husks, and
finally storing them away in granaries. After rain he has
seen them bring the seeds from these granaries, spread them
in the sun to dry, and again return them to the store-house
when in good condition. The species on which these
observations were made are Pheidole megacephala, Atta
Structor, and Atta barbara; the seeds of more than thirty
species of plants were found in the granaries, but none
of these were cereals. This, however, is not uniformly the
case, for, at Hyéres, M. St. Pierre found cereals stored by
ants in such quantities that he thinks these ants might cause
great. loss to cultivators. In accordance with the course of
all such observations, these facts were known and proclaimed
by our remote ancestors, rejected and denied by men whom
we consider our scientific instructors,—Latreille, Kirby,
Blanchard, and Huber,—and are now in every detail
confirmed by observers of unquestionable veracity, and
might have been observed without the slightest trouble by
every traveller in the South of France-—Edward Newman.
Trap-door Spiders.—Mr. Moggridge has also turned his
attention to these interesting creatures, whose curious nests
would have been long since “put down” by scientific
authority, had they not been preserved in abundance, and
thus become familiar to all our museum men. I extract from
Mr. Wallace’s notice of the book, in ‘ Nature,’ the following
novel particulars. “The nests previously known have a
hinged door at the upper end of the tubular nest, but
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. $91
Mr. Moggridge found another kind with a second door lower
down, and also one with a lateral chamber, the opening to
which, as well as the main tube, is closed by the second door.
In these nests the lower door is strong, and fits closely, and
can be held fast by the spider on the inside, while the upper
door is for concealment only, being very thin, but almost
always closely resembling the surrounding surface. In many
cases it is overgrown with living moss and lichens, and
Mr. Moggridge thinks that the spider plants or sows the
mosses, having found little bits of moss stuck on to a newly-
made door. A curious and instructive observation occurs as
to the simple manner in which a protective adaptation may
be brought about unconsciously. Having cut away the top
of one of these nests, and thus left the tube exposed on
a surface of bare earth, the spider made a new door, on
which it stuck pieces of moss from the neighbouring moss-
covered bank, thus making its nest very conspicuous by the
round patch of green on a surface of fresh earth. The simple
and natural habit of covering the door of the nest with any
material that grows or lies around it, usually leads to conceal-
ment, but the above example shows that in doing so the
insect does not consciously work with this object. Even
more curious is the fact that little spiders only a few days old
construct nests exactly like those of the parent,—tubes exca-
vated in the earth, lined with silk, and provided with one or
two doors and lateral passages."-—Edward Newman.
Setting Lepidoptera——Let me venture to advise your
correspondent, Mr. Wesley, to set his insects on the round
plan, but to thrust the pin far enough through the thorax, and
to raise the specimen completely off the cork when removed
from the setting-board, thereby, as I conceive, combining the
advantages of both systems.—Fl. Jenner-Fust, jun.; Hill
Court, Falfield, March 8, 1873.
Varnished Pins.—In the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. 367)
I see a paragraph on varnishing pins. I have done this for
years. I do it in this way: take a dozen bottle-corks, stick a
dozen pins one-third of their length into the small ends, dip
the head and body into the solution in an egg-cup; put the
corks big end down until the metals are dry, then give them
a second dip; they then remain smooth and clear, and never
after change their appearance. My varnish is simply shellac
392 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
dissolved in spirits of wine, and just made a little warm; the
results are most satisfactory.—T. Polts ; 79, Spring Gardens,
Doncaster.
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological
Society, February 3, 1873.
Supposed Case of a Trichopterous Insect.—Mr. M‘Lachlan
exhibited the quadrangular case of the larva of a species of
Trichopterous insect, together with the larva itself, preserved
in glycerine. These had been placed in his hands by the
Rev. A. E. Eaton, who found them in the Dove, a swiftly
running stream in Derbyshire. He supposed it to pertain to
Brachycentrus subnubilus, as the larve of that species were
not known to manufacture quadrangular cases. Mr. Eaton,
however, stated that he was not quite satisfied that the case
and larva found by him were actually those of Brachycentrus,
for he had never seen that genus in the part of the Dove in
which he found them, though it occurred lower down the
stream.
Large Fleas in a Mouse’s Nest.—Mr. Champion exhibited
specimens of a large species of Pulex, found by Mr. F.
Walker in a miouse’s nest in the Isle of Sheppy.
Cerastis erythrocephalus.—Mr. Bird exhibited the speci-
men of Cerastis erythrocephalus, taken on the 28th of October
last at Darenth Wood, and recorded, Entom. vi. 264.
Impaled Noctua.—Mr. Meldola showed a specimen of a
Noctua impaled on a thorn, supposed to have been done by
a shrike. Mr. Weir was inclined to think that, in this case,
the insect was so impaled; but he believed that insects were
frequently impaled by other means.
Fireflies in the South of France.—Mry. Pascoe called
attention to a remark made by Mr. Walker in the February
part of the ‘ Entomologist’ (Entom. vi. 304), to the effect that
the fireflies (Succiola Italica), seen in abundance in Italy, had
probably entered that country from the East, and were
hindered by the Maritime Alps from occupying the Mediter-
ranean coast of France. He (Mr. Pascoe) had seen the
insect in abundance in France, between Cannes and the Var,
and was desirous of ascertaining if any entomologist had
noticed it further westward in France.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 117.] JUNE, MDCCCLXXIII. [Price 6d.
VARIETY OF ARGYNNIS LATHONIA (MALE).
Variety of Argynnis Lathonia (Male).—The male speci-
mens taken last year in the vicinity of Dover are so much
smaller than usual, and so much darker in colour, especially
about the base of the wings, that I have thought it desirable
to figure one of them. It is useless to describe the markings,
seeing they are so well represented in Mr. Willis’s figure,
which, like all in the series, is exactly of the natural size.
The specimen was taken by Mr. Stevens on the 18th of
August, 1872, in the Castle Field, at Dover, and has been
kindly lent me for the purpose of figuring in the ‘ Entomolo-
gist.’ For particulars of Mr. Stevens’s wonderful success, see
page 219 of the present volume.
The capture of Lathonia and Daplidice in unusual
numbers during the past season must not be regarded as
supporting any particular hypothesis; I regard it rather
as the necessary consequence of a combination of favourable
circumstances. Our entomologists now know the exact time
and place to seek these species; and the weather was
remarkably propitious for their appearance.—H. Newman.
VOL. VI. U
894 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Economy of Chalcidie, and Characters of a few undescribed
Species. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 369.)
THE first of these figures represents the female of Psilocera
obscura, and has been described as Metopon atrum, which
PTEROMALUS IMMACULATUS.
name is now annulled. The species in the second figure was
described as Eutelus immaculatus; the name EKutelus may
also be annulled, and its constituents should be considered
as a division of Pteromalus: the species of this genus are
aie See te
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 395
exceedingly numerous, and one of them, Pt. latus, is repre-
sented in the third figure. The great abundance of some
PTEROMALUS LATUS.
species of Pteromalus also indicates its importance in
regulating the increase of life in other forms; but very
little has yet been ascertained as to how these agencies
are employed, except in the well-known consumers of
the chrysalis, of the oak-apple grub (Teras Quercus-termi-
nalis), and of the grub of the corn-fly (Chlorops). Reserving
more of the parasitism of this genus for another opportunity,
I will return to the Eurytomide, with which these notes
began. Additional observations on the species seem to lead
to the conclusion that the name Isosoma should be discon-
tinued, and that its species should be annexed to Eurytoma,
in which some of them were formerly comprehended. How-
ever, for the present I will retain the name in the descriptions
of new species, and will begin with one which is larger than
all the other species of Isosoma, and, as regards the female,
seems to be the European representative of the Canadian
I. Vitis: it has some resemblance to I. eximia and to
I. sociabilis, and exceeds all the three in the slenderness of
the antenne and in the length of the abdomen. It was found
near the baths of Caracalla.
Isosoma Romana.—Fom. Nigra, longissima; caput et
thorax sat aspere punctata; caput prothorace zquilatum ;
antenne gracillime, fere filiformes, basi flave; prothoracis
latera fulya; petiolus brevissimus; abdomen lanceolatum,
396 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
apice flavum, thorace multo longius; pedes flavi, femoribus
tibiisque nigricante subfasciatis ; ale diaphane, venis pallide
flavis.
Female. Black, elongate. Head and thorax thickly and
rather roughly punctured. Head as broad as the prothorax.
Antenne slender, almost filiform; first and second joints
yellow, following joints fusiform, setulose ; club composed of
three distinct joints, which together are rather longer than
the preceding one. fProthorax quadrate; sides tawny.
Metathorax not much developed.- Petiole very short.
Abdomen convex, lanceolate, much longer than the thorax ;
extreme tip yellow. Legs yellow; femora and tibie with an
undefined blackish band on each. Wings quite colourless;
veins pale yellow; ulna longer than the humerus; stigma
very small. Length of the body almost 3 lines.
The three following species are also Italian, and were
found near Lucca, and there A. H. Haliday discovered
Philachyra, which may be associated with Isosoma, for the
male does not differ from the latter in character, though in
the female the structure of the thorax is modified on account
of the undeveloped wings.
Isosoma semilutea.—Fom. Nigra; caput et thorax sub-
tilissime punctata; antennez clavate, basi lute ; prothorax,
abdomen et pedes lutea; petiolus brevissimus; abdomen
fusiforme, thorace paullo brevius; ale diaphane; albo
venose.
Female. Black. Head and thorax very finely punctured.
Head broader than the prothorax. Antenne clavate, much
shorter than the thorax ; first and second joints luteous, the
latter mostly black above. Prothorax, abdomen and legs
luteous. Petiole very short. Abdomen fusiform, a little
shorter than the thorax. Wings pellucid; veins white.
Length of the body 1} line.
This species and I. Romana, by the great difference
between them in the structure of the antenne and of the
abdomen, represent the two extremes of the genus. I. semi-
lutea agrees most with the two British species that are
distin guished like it by a luteous prothorax, but the abdomen
is shorter, and it is the only species in which that part is not
wholly black, excepting J. Vitis, in which the abdomen is
luteous beneath towards the base.
NN
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 397
Isosoma luteicollis—Mas. Nigra; caput et thorax sub-
tilissime punctata; caput prothorace multo latius; antenne
filiformes, basi lutez; prothorax luteus; petiolus longis-
simus ; abdomen fere lineare ; pedes lutescentes, femoribus
tibiisque nonnunquam ex parte nigricantibus; ale sub-
cineree, nigricante venose.
Male. Black. UHead and thorax shining, very finely
punctured. Head much broader than the prothorax. An-
tenne filiform, rather shorter than the body; first and second
joints luteous. Prothorax luteous. Metathorax well deve-
loped. Petiole very long. Abdomen nearly linear, together
with the petiole not longer than the thorax. Legs lutescent ;
femora and tibiz occasionally blackish, except at each end.
Wings slightly cinereous; veins blackish; humerus longer
than the ulna. Length of the body 14 line.
{t can hardly be compared with I. flavicollis and with
]. fulvicollis, as no male of these two species has yet been
discovered in England; the longer petiole and the darker
wing-veins indicate that it is specifically different from both
of them.
Isosoma insolita—Fom. Nigra; caput et thorax sub-
tiliter punctata; caput prothorace paullo latius; antennz
subclavate, thorace multo breviores ; prothorax immaculatus ;
petiolus longiusculus ; abdomen postice sublatescens, thorace
multo brevius; ale diaphanez, nigricante venose. Mas. ?
Antenne filiformes ; abdomen longi-fusiforme.
Female. Black, slender, shining. Head and thorax finely
punctured. Head a little broader than the prothorax, which
is moderately developed, and has no trace of the two pale
spots which are very generally characteristic of this genus.
Antenne subclavate, wholly black, much shorter than the
thorax; club fusiform, more than twice as long as the
preceding joint. Metathorax well developed. Petiole rather
long. Abdomen slightly increasing in breadth from the base
to near the tip, very much shorter than the thorax. Legs
wholly black. Wings pellucid; veins blackish; humerus
much longer than the ulna; stigma very small. Length of
the body 1—1} line. Male? Antenne filiform, about as
long as the thorax. Abdomen elongate-fusiform, longer than
that of the female. Most allied to I. brevis.
a albipennis, a native of the South of England, also
898 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
occurs near Lucca. S. analoga, Foerst., seems to be indentical
with Kurytoma platyptera, a species that was first placed with
Systole, but afterwards transferred to Eurytoma.
The first of the two following species of Eurytoma was
found near Bellagio, by the lake of Como; the second is a
native of Japan; as is also the Haltichella, which is next
described.
Euryioma equalis—Fam. Nigra; longiuscula, non gib-
bosa; caput et prothorax aspere scabra; caput prothorace
paullo latius ; antenne subclavate, thorace breviores ; petiolus
brevis ; abdomen lanceolatum, subcompressum, thorace paullo
longius ; tarsi flavi; ale diaphane, nigro venose.
Female. Black, elongate. Head and thorax roughly
scabrous. Head a little broader than the prothorax. Antennz
subclavate, shorter than the thorax. Prothorax quadrate,
well developed. Mesothorax not gibbous. Metathorax fully
developed. Petiole short. Abdomen lanceolate, slightly
compressed, a little longer than the thorax. Tarsi yellow.
Wings pellucid; veins black; ulna slender, much shorter
than the humerus; radius much longer than the cubitus;
stigma very small. Length of the body 13—2 lines.
The longer abdomen distinguishes it from E. nodularis, to
which species it has most affinity.
Eurytoma Japonica.—Foem. Nigra, gibbosa; caput et
thorax subtiliter punctata; caput prothorace paullo latius ;
antenne subclavate; petiolus brevis, crassus; abdomen
compressum, altum, subcaudatum, thorace equilongum ;
genua tarsique fulva; ale diaphane, albido venose.
Female. Black, stout. Head and thorax finely punctured.
Head a little broader than the prothorax. Antenne sub-
clavate, wholly black, a little shorter than the thorax.
Prothorax and metathorax well developed. Mesothorax
short. Petiole short, thick. Abdomen compressed, much
deeper than the thorax, and equal to it in length. Sheath of
the oviduct forming a lanceolate tube. Knees and tarsi
tawny. Wings pellucid; veins whitish; ulna less than half
as long as the humerus, not longer than the cubitus; stigma
small. Length of the body 14 line.
It agrees with E. squamea in the paleness of the wing-
veins, but the thorax is a little shorter, the abdomen is
deeper, the sheath of the oviduct is longer, and the tibiz
are black to their tips.
a
NS eee a er lee
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 399
Haltichella includens.—Foem. Nigra; caput et thorax
subtilissime punctata; caput prothorace paullo latius;
tegule rufe; abdomen longi-ovatum, subsessile, subcom-
pressum, thorace paullo longius; tibiz quatuor anteriores
tarsique rufa, ille basi nigricantes; ale antice nigricantes,
margine postico apice maculaque costali cinereis.
Female. Black, shining. Head and thorax very finely
punctured. Head a little broader than the prothorax.
Antenne with the usual structure. Mesothorax with a red
spot at the base of each fore wing. Abdomen subsessile,
elongate-oval, slightly compressed, a little longer than the
thorax. Tarsi and four anterior tibiz red, the latter black
towards the base. Fore wings blackish, cinereous towards
the tips and along the hind border, and with a cinereous spot
adjoining the costa. Length of the body 1% line.
The following species was found near Lucca, at a short
distance from the residence of A. H. Haliday, and appears
to belong to a genus established by him, and represented by
an Algerian species, which he has described.
Chirolophus Halidayi.—Mas. Viridis, fere linearis ; caput |
thorace paullo latius; antenne nigre, quadriramose ; tarsi
fuscescentes, basi pallide flavescentes ; ale diaphane, flavo
venose.
Male. Dark metallic-green, nearly linear. Head a little
broader than the thorax. Antenne black, with four long
branches, which are of equal length. Tarsi brownish, pale
yellowish at the base. Wings pellucid; veins pale yellow.
Length 1 line.
Francis WALKER.
A List of the Butterflies inhabiting Jersey, with Notes of
their Occurrence. By F. G. Piquer, Esq.
Argynnis Aglaia.—Rare in Jersey. I took a single speci-
men on the slopes of St. Ouen’s Bay, July 20th, 1872.
Argynnis Lathonia.—This beautiful insect has not been
uncommon in this island since 1870, previous to which time
it was of very rare occurrence. My first specimen was
taken in a lucerne field, St. Bulade’s Bay, about the end of
September, 1870, since which time a season has not passed
400 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
when I have not taken several specimens, some even in the
month of April.
Melitea Cinxia.—Abundant on the Quenvais, St. Ouen’s
Bay.
Grapta C-Album.—Rare. I saw three specimens, and
captured one on a fig-tree, St. Saviour’s, August 28th, 1872.
Vanessa Urtice.—Extremely abundant.
V. Polychloros.—Rather rare. I have taken it every
season, but never in any numbers.
V. Antiopa.—One specimen was taken here some years
ago on some palings, near Longueville, St. Saviour’s; but I
have never seen a living specimen myself.
V. Io.—Of occasional occurrence. Earliest date of capture,
July 22nd.
V. Atalanta.—Common everywhere.
Pyrameis Cardui.—Generally common, but I did not take
a single specimen in 1871; last season they were again very
abundant.
Pyrarga Egeria.—Abundant.
P. Megera.—Very abundant.
Satyrus Semele.—Abundant, especially along the coast.
Earliest date of capture, June 29th.
Epinephele Janira.—Common everywhere.
E. Tithonus.—Common.
Coenonympha Pamphilus.—Very common, especially on
the Quenvais, and other dry, barren wastes.
Thecla Rubi.—Common, especially on blackberry-bloom,
all along the coast.
T. Quercus.—Rare. I only know of two localities in the
island for this insect,—Mont Musére, St. Lawrence, and in
the Valley des Vaux, St. Saviour’s, where I took one speci-
men, July 8th, 1872.
T. W-Album.—Has been taken here, but not of late years.
Lampides Boetica.—Specimens have been taken here
occasionally within the last few years. The last one I know
of was taken in the suburbs of the town, in the autumn of
last year.
Polyommatus Phieas,—Common.
Lycena Medon.—Abundant.
L. Icarus.— Exceedingly abundant.
L. Argiolus—Not common, but more so than usual last
year.
co aie be
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 401
Colias Hyale.—By no means rare some seasons. In 1871
they were very scarce, but last season they appeared again in
greater numbers.
C. Edusa.—More frequent than the preceding, though
last season they were less common than usual.
C. Edusa var. Helice-——Two specimens were taken in
St. Clement’s Bay, in the earlier part of September, 1871;
one by myself, and the other by my friend W. Poingdestre.
I took another specimen last year, also in the same bay.
Gonepteryx Rhamni.—By no means common.
Leucophasia Sinapis.—One specimen was taken, near
Claremont Hill, about the end of August, 1872.
Anthocharis Cardamines.—Has been once taken, near
Victoria Village, St. Saviour’s.
Pieris Daplidice.—By no means abundant, and very local.
I generally take twelve to fourteen specimens every season.
P. Napi.—Rather scarce; Pontac, St. Clement’s.
P. Rape.—Too abundant.
P. Brassice.—Common.
Hesperia Malve.—I had never seen this insect before or
since 1871, when I took a single specimen in the Swiss
Valley, St. Saviour’s.
Hi. Sylvanus.—Abundant.
H. Linea—Not common. St. Brelade’s. Earliest date
of capture, June 29th.
Frep. G. PIQUuET.
Entomological Notes from South Australia.
By H. Ramsay Cox, Esq.
(Continued from p. 359.)
THRovGH the aid of Mr. Hewitson I am enabled to com-
plete the meagre list of South Australian butterflies lately
captured there by me. These species appear to have been
much overlooked by entomologists: none of them are named
in the British Museum collection; and, with the exception of
Icilius and Serpentata, I could not find even their repre-
sentatives in it.
Ialmenus Icilius (Hewitson).—Common, but local, on
wattle trees, near Nairne. A lovely insect when fresh out.
U2
402 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Lycena Serpentata (Uer.-Schaffer).—Very abundant on a
small patch of lucerne at Woodside, near Port Adelaide;
also one solitary specimen at Nairne.
Hesperilla Dirphia (Hew.).—A few near Hahndorf.
Hesperia Phigalia (Hew.)—A few near Nairne? or
Adelaide ?
The species not hitherto described or named are as
follows :—
1. Lycena Heathi,n.sp. Male expands 1in. 10 lin.; female,
1 in. 1 lin. to 1 in. 4 lin. Male.—Dark lilac-purple, with the
veins pale brown. Female.—Slaty brown, with a central
pale purplish blotch, extending to the inner margin. The
veins brownish. Under side brilliant grayish white, tinged
with blue, with no markings, except a marginal row of
minute black dots, which in some specimens are scarcely
visible. Fringe unspotted. Local. Mount Barker. Novem-
ber to January.
2. Lycena Acasta,n.sp: Expands!0lin. Dark inky purple,
shot with copper colour. Under side gray, with several rows
of indistinct brown spots. A large indistinct brown blotch
near the anal angle of both wings. Fringe unspotted.
Scarce. “Bremer Ranges,” and near Kanmantoo. No-
vember.
8. Taractrocera Celeno, n.sp.? Expands 1 in. 2 lin. Very
nearly allied to T. Papyria (a Tasmanian species) in every
respect, with the exception of the band in the hind wings,
which is very much narrower and brighter in my South
Australian specimens. Scarce. Near Nairne. April and
November.
[These three new species were exhibited at the meeting of
the South London Entomological Society on the 10th of
April.— Edward Newman. ]
Note.—Lycena Phobe.—In the first part of my captures
(Entom. vi. 209) I used this name, which has led to numerous
entomologists writing to me, to know where and how I got
this name, and on whose authority it is so named. I can
only reply by saying that Mr. Janson gave it to me.
On subsequent enquiry I find it is a manuscript name in the
British Museum collection.
H. Ramsay Cox.
West Dulwich, London, S.E.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 403
Notes on some Insects of Italy and of South France,
observed between the middle of May and the middle of
July, 1872. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 308.)
Avignon.—Dermaptera: Forficula moesta. Neuroptera:
Chloroperla virescens. Hymenoptera: Allantus zona, Bom-
bus hortorum. Diptera: Paragus albifrons. Hemiptera:
Nabis subapterus.
Marseilles —Hymenoptera: Ichneumon fasciatorius.
Nice.—Diptera: Empis lepidopus. This fly was frequent
in several parts of Italy as far as Rome.
Genoa.—Hymenoptera: Ichneumon fasciatorius, Vespa
Germanica. Diptera: Myopa atra. Hemiptera: Tricophora
sanguinolenta.
Pisa.—Neuroptera: Limnephilus fenestratus. Diptera:
Chrysomyia formosa, Baccha tabida.
Rome.—Coleoptera: Elodes livida, Phytonomus punctatus.
Hymenoptera: Dosytheus Eglanterie, Athalia annulata,
Ceropales maculata, Ammophila subulosa, A. viatica, Polistes
gallica, Ceelioxys rufescens, Nomada furva, Ceratina albi-
labris, Eucera nigrilabris, Anthophora crinipes, Bombus
Hortorum, B. Pascuorum. Diptera: Empis_ pennipes,
Merodon clavipes, Paragus testaceus, Eristalis Arbustorum,
Syrphus ornatus, S. vitripennis, Platychirus manicatus,
P. mellinus, Spherosphoria scripta, S. Melisse, Myopa atra,
Gymnosoma rotundata, G. globosa, Ocyptera brassicaria,
O. interrupta. Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoris apterus (winged),
Nabis ferus, Tricophora sanguinolenta. Some of the British
species of Stenobothrus occurred here, and the Sphero-
sphoriz were very numerous.
Florence.—Coleoptera: Elater nigrinus, Athous hemor-
rhoidalis, Leptura sanguinolenta. Hymenoptera: Nomada
furva, Ceratina cerulea, C. albilabris, Bombus Hortorum.
Diptera: Usia znia, Empis pennipes, Syrpbus balteatus,
Platychirus clypeatus, P. mellinus, Spherosphoria scripta,
S. teniata, Conops rufipes, Myopa atra, Stomoxys irritans.
Hemiptera: Nabis ferus, Tettigonia viridis.
Lucca.—Coleoptera: Sericosoma brunnea, Cdemera
cerulea, CH. lurida, Attelabus curculionoides. Neuroptera:
Libellula sanguinea. Hymenoptera: Ichneumon lineator,
404 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Feenus jaculator, Ceratina albilabris, Anthophora nidulans,
Bombus Pascuorum. Diptera: Paragus testaceus, B. femo-
ratus, Spherosphoria teniata, Myopa bicolor, M. atra.
Hemiptera: Harpactor hemorrhoidalis, Dryobius croaticus.
Harpactor occurs chiefly in the Mediterranean region, and is
the representative of a division of a land-bug tribe that
abounds in warm countries. The species have a great
variety of structure, but all agree in the characteristic of a
lancet-mouth adapted for blood-drawing, whereby they con-
trol insect-life. The other land-bugs, with a few exceptions,
derive their maintenance from vegetation. Three genera,
each having a single representative, appear in England, in
addition to the little species of Nabis, which seems to be
spread over most parts of the earth.
Baths of Iucca.—Coleoptera: Cistela sulphurea, Leptura
sanguinolenta, Cryptocephalus Hypocheridis. Dermaptera:
Odontura punctatissima, Tettix bipunctata. Hymenoptera:
Allantus viduus, Andrena eximia, Bombus Pascuorum. Dip-
tera: Oxycera Hypoleon. Hemiptera: Aphrophora spumaria,
Tettigonia viridis.
Ravenna.—Dermaptera: Tettix bipunctata. Hymenoptera:
Eucera nigrilabris.
Venice.—Coleoptera: Telephorus melanurus.
Bellagio.—Coleoptera: Telephorus melanurus, Cistela
sulphurea, Cryptocephalus Hypocheeridis. Dermaptera:
Decticus brachypterus. Hymenoptera: Eumenes coarctata,
Chrysis succincta. Diptera: Empis pennipes, Chrysomyia
formosa, Syrphus balteatus, Myopa atra. Hemiptera: Nabis
brevipennis.
Milan.—Neuroptera: Libellula sanguinea. Diptera:
Pachyrhina crocata, Paragus femoratus, Ascia podagrica.
Hemiptera: Nabis brevipennis.
Francis WALKER.
Mountain Collecting in March. By C. 8. GRreeson.
Marcu 25, 1873.—Went to Llanferras, Denbighshire, on
“Pen-y-garra Win” and “Pant Moen;” took larve of
Agrotis Ashworthii and cinerea amongst mixed herbage;
the latter seems to prefer Festuca ovina, feeding downwards
een meas
Pt
THE ENTOMOLOGIST, 405
from the extreme tips of the grass, and stumping the tufts
down it has fed upon, afterwards hiding away in the tufts.
Searching for Micro-larve, I took Dicrorampha plumba-
gana, acuminatana and consortana, Solenobia triquetrella,
and Psyche inconspicuella cases, and observed the young
larve of Psychoides Verhuellella feeding freely on Asplenium
Ruta-muraria, and several cases of Diplodoma margine-
punctella. In the cases of Scabiosa columbaria young larve
of Mimeceoptilus scabiodactylus were plentiful; and on the
terminal shoots of Teucrium Scorodonia, growing in sheltered
corners, Oxyptilus Britanniodactylus larve were just begin-
ning to feed, and young cases of Coleophora alcyonipennella
were not scarce, whilst Gracilaria tringipennella were also
indicating their presence on Plantago lanceolata leaves in
warm corners, and the cases of Coleophora Virgaureella were
frequently seen attached to sticks and dead plant-stems,
whilst I was searching amongst the wild marjoram and
golden-rod, growing together, for the hybernating larve of
Leioptilus osteodactylus.
Passing into “ Colomendy” Park (Welsh for the ‘‘ Dove-
cote”), whilst tea was preparing, I took larve of Cleora
lichenaria and Gnophos obscuraria, and then changing my
ground for the night I found a good lot of Cirrhedia xeram-
pelina larve packed snugly away in their hybernacula, and
dug a few pupe up, one of which, under Geranium rubrum,
is unknown to me, and then observing an Acronycta-like
cocoon affixed to the rocks I devoted some time to them
successfully at sugar. For over a mile sugared, and at
sallows, afterwards, only common species appeared; Rubri-
cosa abundantly on the wing at dusk. Whilst sugaring, the
only note-worthy species was Depressaria capreolella, where
Daucus Carota grows freely. Leucania conigera and
lithargyria larve were feeding freely at dusk; and near
midnight Agrotis lucernea larve were stretched at full length
on the rock-faces, one or two feet from the little ledges
where their food grows, apparently enjoying the warmth the
rocks have imbibed from the hot sunshine of the day.
Epunda lichenea larve of all colours, from light green to
dark chequered brown-olive, and of all sizes, from three-
eighths of an inch long to full fed, were feeding on Sedum
acre and S. reflexum, and stretched out on various plants, or
at rest on the rocks,
406 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Next morning I devoted to larve collecting in catkins or
moss. From a fine female plant of Salix caprea I took quite
a lot of Eupithecia tenuiata, and amongst them plenty of the
young larve of Grapholita nisana, and, as a matter of
course, no end of Xanthia Cerago and Silago eggs and
larve. Afterwards going a mile down the river I filled a bag
with catkins and terminal shoots of Alnus glutinosa, in and on
which Grapholita Penkleriana are feeding. Under the tufts
of Tortule and Hypnums, which grow so freely around
Llanferras, I got larve of Eudorea muralis, crategalis and
mercurialis (but all were young), and a few common Noctue
larve hiding away there.
Returning by “Glan Alun Mine” I saw, for the second
time, Vanessa Polychloros in Wales. And thus ended
mountain collecting on March 26, 1873.
C. S. GREGSON,
Rose Bank, Fletcher Grove, Edge Lane, Liverpool.
Description of the Larva of Ennomos angularia.—In 1871
I received some eggs of this species from a friend. ‘hey
were oval in form, and in colour ochreous-brown. Shortly
before the emergence of the larve they changed to olivaceous.
The larve began to emerge in April: they did not all hatch
at once, but continued to do so in small numbers for some
weeks after the appearance of the first. The young larve
were perfectly cylindrical and rather stout; bodies olive-
green, with a paler lateral stripe; the head and anal segment
ochreous. After a moult they became pale bluish green, with
a broad lateral whitish green stripe: at this period the larvee
generally rested on the under side of the leaves of their food-
plant, attached by their claspers only. After this moult they
increased in size very rapidly; and by the end of May the
most forward of them had attained a length of 9 lines, and
the humps, characteristic of the adult larva, had made their
appearance. The larve underwent four moults in all, before
becoming full fed: they were full fed and spun up from the
last week in June to the middle of July, and | then described
them as follows. The full-fed larva usually rests attached by
both its legs and claspers, the intervening segments being
bent sideways in a peculiar manner, and forming a slight
Nar ee wee
a a ee ed
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 407
arch. Its length is from 1 inch and 5 lines to 1 inch
and 9 lines. ‘The head is flattened, somewhat spade-
shaped, as wide as the 2nd segment, and porrected in
crawling; the antennal papille conspicuous. ‘The body is
elongate, stoutest behind, and uneven in form; the 3rd
segment is dilated laterally; the 6th has a conspicuous,
transverse, dorsal hump, and also a smaller one on each
side; the 8th has a lateral projection, and both it and the
9th have two inconspicuous dorsal points; the 10th bears a
large, bifid, dorsal hump, and smaller lateral ones; and the
12th has two small dorsal points; the 13th segment termi-
nates in two inconspicuous points directed backwards. ‘The
skin is much wrinkled transversely, and there is a lateral
skinfold containing the very inconspicuous spiracles. The
colour of the head is dull blackish; of the body dull umber-
brown, mottled, and clouded with pale, dull olive-green.
There is a pale line on each side of the back of 5th segment,
and an indistinct, large, pale, somewhat oval mark on the
dorsal surface of each of the 6th to 10th segments. The
humps are very dark umber-brown; that on the 6th segment
having a short, pale greenish line down each side. The
ventral surface of the 12th and 13th segments is entirely
bright olive-green; that of the remaining segments is dull
olivaceous, with two longitudinal brown stripes, extending
from 5th to 11th segments. The legs are umber-brown; the
claspers mottled and clouded like the body; the spiracles
are ochreous, each in a delicate black ring. One of my
larve had the ground colour a dull reddish brown. They fed
on oak and birch, preferring the latter; and when full fed
spun a slight cocoon between the leaves of their food-plant,
in which they turned to pupz, which were elongate, lively,
pointed at the anal extremity, and dull olivaceous in colour,
spotted, and streaked with darker. A variety of the pupa is
pale bluish green, without markings.— Bernard Lockyer.
Description of the Larva of Fidonia atomaria.—In Mr,
Newman’s work on the ‘ British Moths,’ there is a description
of this larva, translated from the French of M. Guenée; but
it is so meagre that I venture to place on record a few notes
on the species which I took a few years ago. In the spring
of 1870 I obtained a small batch of eggs from a female,
captured at Shirley. These were small oval, and of a bright
408 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
green tint when first deposited; the colour gradually became
duller, till about the twelfth day after they were deposited
they had become of a grayish brown. The day after this
change the young larve hatched: they were pale green, with
olive-green subdorsal and medio-ventral lines. They fed
readily on clover (Trifolium) and dock (Rumex); of the
latter they preferred the flowers. They fed up rapidly, and
had attained their full growth by the middle of July, when
they rested, attached to their food-plant, by both legs and
claspers, the intervening segments forming a very slight arch.
I then took the following description of them. Head as wide
as 2nd segment, slightly notched on the crown. Body rather
elongate, perfectly cylindrical. Colour of head whitish gray,
marbled with darker. Colour of body variable. Var. 1.—
Light yellowish green; a double medio-dorsal stripe and the
subdorsal lines being paler than the ground colour; spiracular
line yellow, bordered above by a reddish stripe, which is
delicately striated with darker, longitudinal, rivulet lines;
ventral surface ochreous, having eight slender longitudinal
reddish lines; there is (on the 5th to 8th segments) a square
grayish spot at the anterior interstice, situated between the
two medio-dorsal lines; legs and claspers ochreous; inter-
stices of segments, 4th to 11th, yellowish; trapezoidal dots
(on 5th to 10th segments) distinct, black. Var. 2.—Ground
colour of back pale bluish green; rest as in var. 1, but the
red is not so vivid. Vaz. 3.—Ground colour of whole body
uniform reddish ochreous; dorsal, subdorsal and spiracular
lines indistinct, rosy; interstices of segments, 4th to 11th,
also tinged with rosy; no red band above the spiracular
line. When full fed the larve buried in the earth in the
breeding-cage and constructed loose cocoons, in which they
turned to small, moderately stout, pointed, reddish brown
pupe. ‘The first imago emerged May 30th, 1871.— Bernard
Lockyer.
Description of the Larva of Eudorea lineolalis——Length
five-eighths of an inch; colour olivaceous-green. Head
dark and corslet black; suture scarcely perceptible; seg-
ments constricted, wrinkled; on 3rd and 4th segments are
six dark, horn-like raised: spots in a ring; afterwards the
spots are placed triangularly, one being on the second
wrinkle of each segment, a little below the first spot and the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 409
third spot below them; between these spots are light,
squarish patches, giving the larva a mottled appearance ;
spiracular marks longitudinal-oval; anal segment with a
triangular black plate. Feeds under Parmelia parietina,
which grows upon the rocks at Howth, Ireland, and on the
rocks on the coast at the Isle of Man, and is full fed in June.
It goes to pupa under its food-plant in a slight web, and
appears in the perfect state in July—C. S. Gregson ; Rose
Bank, Fletcher Grove, Edge Lane, Liverpool, April 2, 1873.
Description of a Psychideous Larva.—Mr. Hodgkinson
and myself discovered the above larve on the rocks at
Howth, but though we took about one thousand in June,
1870, which produced thousands of young larve the
following season, a fresh supply was obtained in 1872,
but no perfect insects were obtained. Failing to breed
it, and there being little probability that I shall ever have
another opportunity to do so, I purpose publishing the
description thereof under the name “ Psyche Hiberni-
cella,’ leaving it to some more fortunate fellow-worker
to describe the perfect insect, when he or she discovers
it. Description made June 16, 1872:—Case obconical.
Length about two lines, broadish at the mouth. Larva
purplish brown, slightly pellucid below. Head _ shining,
black, with sharply defined corslets on 2nd and 3rd seg-
ments, having a long triangular suture through them, the
point being towards the head; on the 4th segment in the
subdorsal region there is a faintly-defined, sunk, darkish,
somewhat triangular mark; head and three segments spiny ;
dorsal region dark, with sometimes faint indications of a row
of light spots, one on each segment; from subdorsal region
to under side lighter spiracles; raised abdomen obconical;
anal segment obtuse, slightly darker, and under the slight
power of a pocket-lens I fail to see the claspers, ¢f any exist.
Legs long, spread out, the third pair especially so. The larva
leaves its case at pleasure, and roams freely. As I write Ihave
an open pill-box before me on a book, and since I commenced
this description about fifty larva have spread themselves
from the box all over the book, twenty-one having old cases,
just as they were gathered from the rocks: thirty are without
cases, having left them in the pill-box; some walking, as do
those having cases; others dragging the body along like a
U3
410 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
useless appendage; some occasionally letting the anal seg-
ment droop, but none ever using the abdominal feet; and
two or three have housed themselves in new cases constructed
of lichens, which I gathered from the rocks at Douglas Head
yesterday. Each larva can at pleasure suspend itself from a
thread. Having failed to breed it this season, so far, my
hopes are now very small.—C. S. Gregson.
Description of the Larva of Grapholita nisana, Lin.—
Length three-eighths of an inch; colour whitish green; rather
stout and rugose; spines sparse, but long on the anal seg-
ment, which is whitish. Head bright, dark, horn-like; corslet
darker, with a suture. Feeds upon catkins and young shoots
of sallows from middle to end of April; it spins a slight
web, and changes to a stout, yellowish green pupa, the
wing-cases darkest: the imago appears in May and early
June.—ld.
Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.
Vanessa Antiopa.—A very good hybernated specimen was
taken at the Warren here, about April 18th, by some boys.
The only injury is a small notch out of one of the hind wings.
This makes the fourth specimen that Reading can boast of
during the remarkable “take” of 1872—73.—Z. B. Poulton ;
Victoria Villa, Reading.
Hybernated Specimen of Vanessa Antiopa.—A specimen
was seen on the 20th April in the town of Liverpool.—H.
Durnford ; 1, Stanley Road, Waterloo, Liverpool.
Hybernated Antiopa.—A specimen was taken on the 14th
of April, at Havering Attebower, in Essex.—H. Newman.
Hybernated Antiopa near Liverpool.—l had the good
fortune to capture a hybernated specimen of Vanessa Antiopa
on Friday, April 18th, 1873, in a garden, near Knobby Ash
Village, about five miles from Liverpool.—Kdward P.
Thompson ; Thingwall, Liverpool.
Hybernated Antiopa.—On Monday last, March 24th, a
specimen of Vanessa Antiopa was seen by a gardener flying
round a hothouse in the garden in which he was working, at
Stamford Hill. Others have been seen in several localities
near London, and one has been taken at Hampstead.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 411
During the past week two specimens of Vanessa Antiopa
have been observed on the banks of the river Dee; and
one at Great Malvern, about half-way up the hill.—F7om the
* Field.’
Vanessa Urlice.—As my little boy was getting me some
nettle yesterday, on the Castle Hill, he saw a V. Urtice
laying her eggs on the top of a stem of nettle, she being so
still as to allow him to get quite close to her and watch her
for some minutes, as he says he wanted her to lay a good lot,
that he might bring them home, which he did; therefore
proving that it is the hybernated ones that produce the
summer brood. They are of a very dark green. As I have
frequently heard different opinions, this may be interesting
to some of your readers.— George Gray; 71, Castle Street,
Dover, May 7, 1873.
Sphinx Ligustri and Lobophora hexapterata near Ipswich
and Colchester.—On Friday, May 16th, a very cold day, I took
a fine Sphinx Ligustri, at rest on a gate-post at Bentley, near
Ipswich; and on the following day a nice series of Lobo-
phora hexapterata near Colchester. Considering how back-
ward most things are, | was surprised to see S. Ligustri out
so early. I am now breeding some good specimens of
S. culiciformis, B. consortaria, N. pulveraria, P. hamula,
N. trepida, &c.—W. H. Harwood; St. Peter's, Colchester,
May 22, 1873.
Variety of Epinephele Janira.—A few days back, whilst
examining my cases of Lepidoptera, I found I was in
possession of a rather curious variety of E. Janira, which, on
account of its being set to show the under side, I had not
noticed before. As to its general appearance it is similar to
most of its species; but in addition to the large circular
white-pupilled black spot present in all specimens to a
certain extent, there is a second smaller one just beneath it,
separated from the larger one by a wing-ray. This small
spot has, on the left wing, a few white scales, forming a
pupil; but of these there is no trace on the right wing. On
the under side the small spots are still visible, although
united to the larger. Thinking this a rather unusual departure
from the characters of the species, I have made mention of it.
—Thomas Barns; Oakington House, Beckenham, April
21, 1873.
412 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Cherocampa Celerio at Margate.—At the latter end of
last September a friend of mine caught a specimen of Cheero-
campa Celerio, at Margate, in his bed-room. Owing to
unskilful treatment it is much damaged. As I did not know
what it was, | showed it to a friend of mine, Mr. Jarvis, of
Brixton Hill, who told me the name of the insect.—Charles
Duncan; 128, Mildmay Road, Stoke Newington, N., May
3, 1873.
Eupithecia irriguata bred.—I have bred a pair of E. irri-
guata from larve beaten from oak, on the 25th of July;
there were no beech trees within five or six hundred yards.—
HI. S. Bishop; 4, Union Place, Plymouth, May 7, 1873.
Acronycta Alni bred.—On the 29th of last July I found a
full-fed larva of Acronycta Alni on alder. A few days after-
wards it changed to a pupa; and yesterday (May 7th) a
beautiful specimen of the moth emerged in the breeding-cage, a
month earlier than the time mentioned in your ‘ British Moths.’
The pupa had never been in a room with a fire, and latterly
was chiefly kept outside a window with a north aspect.—Ada
Steele Perkins ; Ashgrove, Overton, Flintshire, May 8, 1873.
Acronycta Alni.—\n the autumn of last year I sent you a
notice of the capture of a larva of Acronycta Alni, which 1
described as having safely ensconced itself in a twig of dry
bramble for change to the pupa state. You may therefore
imagine my disgust and disappointment this morning, on
cutting the twig open, to find nought but the enclosed. May
Task you to inform me, in your next number, what pupa
itis. It is too large for an ichneumon, as it appears to me.
Nothing (and this is strange) could have been more lively
than the Alni caterpillar previous to entering the bramble.
“Pierced” larve are, I have usually found, sluggish and
indisposed.—[Rev.] Windsor Hambrough; The Grange,
Barnes, Surrey, May 13, 1873.
[The case is that of a Dipteron; in all probability one of
the numerous species that have been included under the
name Musca Larvarum of Linneus. It is so common an
economy of the true Muscide to pass their preparatory state
in the bodies of Lepidopterous larve, that I cannot attempt
to determine the species merely from an inspection of the
pupa-case.—KHdward Newman.]
Phytometra Ainea.—1 was greatly surprised at capturing
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 413
one of these insects, while sweeping for Arbuti, at our
Warren, on Monday, the 12th of May. Do you think it
likely that there are two broods? In the New Forest, last
year, they were common in August.—Z. B. Poulton ; Victoria
Villa, Reading.
Larva of Bajularia.—I was yesterday so fortunate as to
see a larva of Bajularia perform its toilet, and have much
pleasure in sending you an account of what I saw. When I
first observed the larva it was attached by its claspers to an
oak-twig, with its head towards the cast-off skin with which
it had just parted, and which was also attached firmly to the
twig, and just within reach. I had never before seen a larva
of Bajularia without its dress, and was watching it, and had
marked it had a protuberance on each side of the 5th, 6th,
7th, 8th, 9th, and 12th segments, those on the 9th being a
little farther removed from the medio-dorsal stripe than the
rest, when it stretched itself forth, and, reaching the cast-off
garment, tore away from it by the action of its mouth and
legs one of the pieces attached to it; it held the piece for
some time, as a squirrel would a nut, turning it over and
over, and evidently covering it with a glutinous matter,
although I could not see anything proceed from its mouth:
when this was done to its satisfaction it twisted itself sharply
round, and fixed the piece on the protuberance on the right
side of the 6th segment; it then at once seized and tore away
a second piece, and placed it on the left side of the 12th seg-
ment; garment the third was placed on the 9th segment of
the same side; the fourth on the 7th segment of the right
side; the fifth on the 7th segment of the left side; the sixth
on the 8th segment of the right side; the seventh on the 6th
segment of the left side; the eighth on the 5th segment of
the right side; the ninth on the 9th segment of the right
side; the tenth on the 12th segment of the right side; the
eleventh on the 5th segment of the left side; the twelfth on
the 9th segment of the right side; the thirteenth on the 8th
segment of the left side; the fourteenth on the 7th segment
of the right side; the fifteenth on the &th segment of the left
side; the sixteenth on the 12th segment of the right side: so
that nine pieces were placed on one side, and seven on the
other. When the eleventh piece had been fixed on, a large
portion of the old skin was exposed; the larva then gave it
414 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
a tug or two, as if about to detach a piece of it to use as an
article of clothing, but instead of this it made a meal of about
half of it; it then put on the twelfth and thirteenth pieces,
when the rest of the skin being exposed, it made another
meal. The fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth pieces were
then fixed on, and the larva composed itself to rest, having
been an hour and forty minutes at work.—[Rev.] P. H.
Jennings; Longfield Rectory, Gravesend, May 17, 1873.
Floods and Hybernating Larve.—Continued dampness is,
as most of us know, not beneficial to larvae which hybernate,
for in the case of B. Rubi, &c., such a state of affairs is pro-
ductive of a white fungoid growth upon the body of the
larva, which is almost certain eventually to cause death. But
are floods equally injurious? and do they always cause the
death of such larve as are fully and unalterably exposed to
their influence? If such is the case I much fear the stock of
insects will be very limited during the forthcoming season.
A flood of short duration does not, I think, affect larve to a
very great extent, as I have known instances in previous
winters in which a certain bank—where larve of Dominula,
Caja, &c., are almost sure to be found after hybernation—has
been partially flooded, and yet in the spring I have found
larve in abundance; such, however, is not the case this
season, for the bank has been overflowed for some six or
eight weeks consecutively during the winter, and a visit of a
few days since revealed the comfrey, &c., in abundance, but
no larve were to be seen. I am inclined to suppose that
sometimes when the bank was but partly covered with water
the hybernating larve, feeling the inundation, came out from
their hiding-places, and were borne about upon the water
until drifted to a higher level, when they took advantage of the
shelter afforded by the uncovered portions. The spiny larve
of Dominula I have often found in the spring, floating upon
the surface of the water in ditches, by the side of which their
food-plants grow ; but I quite believe it was always by acci-
dent, never from choice, that such a situation was gained.
That some larvez possess an extraordinary amount of vitality
when immersed is well known. In 1870 a boy brought two
nearly full-fed larvee of C. Elpenor to my home, and supposing
they were leeches he had put them into a botile of water to
convey them more safely, and as he thought humanely. In this
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 415
strange situation the larve had travelled several miles, and
on reaching me they were still alive. How long they had
been immersed I cannot say, but on being extricated from
their imprisonment they completed their full growth upon
fuchsia-leaves; and the two moths are now in my cabinet,
proving that a short immersion is not always fatal.—G. B.
Corbin.
Do Insects recognize Individuals ?—Do you think that
insects know individuals? JI verily believe they do; and I
give you my reason for coming to such a conclusion. I was
lately in the neighbourhood of Gainsborough, im Lincoln-
shire, collecting. I was staying at the house of a small
farmer: this person had in his garden thirteen hives. In
some of my rambles Mr. Hurry, the owner, went with me,
and, to my surprise, I noticed bees came and settled upon his
hands and face, and about his coat. When I called his
attention to this novel conduct of the bees, he said :—* 'They
are my bees; they know me very well.” At this time we
were two miles from his house and garden. I saw the same
thing occur a second day, and told the two gentlemen that
were with me, W. Cook and F. Marshall; and as it was
repeated several times the other collectors witnessed it for
themselves. I think all three of us cannot well be mistaken :
they never settled on either of us, or took the least notice,
although the ground was swarming with bees. The spot
where this occurred is a beautiful heath, called Loughton
Common. I have just stated the facts as they occurred, and
made no comment, yet I thought some of your readers may
have noticed similar occurrences. I do not recollect this
principle of recognition being mentioned by Kirby and
Spence, although they give very elaborate comments respect-
ing the instinct, habits, and general movements of the bee.
Now, supposing those statements to be correct, can we doubt
that the same degree of intelligence may be met with in other
insects. I do not think we have any reason to doubt it.—
John Potts; 79, Spring Gardens, Doncaster.
[In Kirby and Spence are several passages that support
Mr. Potts’ statement, although perhaps they do not state the
fact precisely in the same way : thus we find in vol. i. p. 199,
of the 1828 edition, that the writer’s bees did not usually
attack himself, but did so on one occasion. This seems to ~
416 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
imply that they recognized him in general, or their molesting
him on that occasion would not have been exceptional, or
worthy of note. It is clear that bees recognized the cele-
brated Wildman, to whom also Kirby and Spence make
allusion; but I have the direct authority of several bee-
masters to state that their bees distinguish them from any
other individual.— Edward Newman. |
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological
Séciety, February 17, 1873.
Acronycta Psi and Tridens.—Mry. F. Bond exhibited a
series of bred specimens of Acronycta tridens and A. Psi,
with preserved larve of the two species. The specimens of
A. tridens had all been reared on the common pear. He
remarked that the dark specimens so often occurring in
A. Psi were never repeated in A. tridens; and that the latter
always exhibited a pinkish tint in fine fresh-bred specimens,
which, however, was very evanescent.
Dipterous Larve in Phlegm.—Prof. Westwood exhibited
two Dipterous larve preserved in spirits, which were probably
those of Psila Rose. These had been discharged by a female
in a clot of phlegm. He suggested, when they were sub-
mitted to him, that the person had probably been eating raw
carrots, which, upon enquiry, turned out to have been the
case. After they had been immersed in spirits for three or
four days he took them out for examination, when he was
surprised to find they were still alive. He also exhibited
drawings of a Dipterous larva (probably Merodon clavipes,
Fab.) infesting some bulbs sent to him from the Continent.
Also drawings of woody excrescences on stems of vine,
which had probably been formed by a beetle of the genus
Otiorhynchus. Mr. Miiller remarked that Mr. Riley had
recorded a similar habit in an American beetle allied to
Baridius.
Anaitis plagiata.—Mr. Briggs exhibited parallel series of
the large and small forms of Anaitis plagiata taken by him in
Tilgate Forest, in the month of June, stating that he had
found only the larger form last year, in the same place in
which he had found only the smaller form three years before.
It was commonly supposed that the smaller form was only a
second brood, but this did not appear to be the case,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 119.] AUGUST, MDCCCLXXIIL. [Price 6d.
VARIETY OF EPINEPHELE TITHONUS (FEMALE).
Variety of Epinephele Tithonus.—This female specimen
differs from the ordinary marking of the species in having
two circular black spots below the usual double-pupilled
black spot, which is constantly observable near the apical
angle of the fore wings. I have described this variety (Brit.
But. p. 93), but had not in my possession an example to
figure. It does not appear to be very uncommon; but on
looking over a large number of specimens I find many in
which this peculiarity is indicated, although not so strongly
pronounced as to attract attention. These intermediate
examples are very interesting, as establishing beyond
question the specified identity of the two extremes,—one
having the additional spots strongly marked, while in the
other they are entirely absent.
The specimen is in the cabinet of Mr. Stevens, and has
been kindly lent me for the purpose of figuring in the
‘Entomologist. —Hdward Newman.
VOL, VI. Y
442 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 419.)
THE economy of the species represented in the first three
figures is unknown: the middle legs of the first indicate its
PROSOPON MONTANUM,
MICROMELUS PYRRHOGASTER.
affinity to Enpelmus; and the second may be considered as
a section of the genus Pteromalus. The species of Entedon
are well known to be parasitic on leaf-mining grubs, and the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 443
observations on their habits here recorded were made by
M. le Col. Goureau several years ago. It is probable that
ENTEDON AMYCLAS.
the species mentioned inhabit England, and may be found
by collecting the mined leaves which are often abundant :—
Omphale palustris, Gouwr., parasitic with Dacnusa flavipes,
Gour., and Blacus? Florus, Gouw., on Agromyza nana;
Entedon Lepidus, Gouwr., parasitic with Dacnusa punctum,
Gour., on Phytomyza Scolopendri, Desv.; Entedon Gratus,
Gour., parasitic on Phytomyza Plantaginis, Desv.; Entedon
Latreillei? parasitic with Dacnusa maculata, Gour., on
Phytomyza Agquifolii, Gour.; Entedon Cyrinus, Gour.,
parasitic with Dacnusa incerta, Gour, (= flavipes?), on
Phytomyza flava, Metg.; Omphale stigma, Gouwr., parasitic
with Cirrospilus cyanops, Gouwr., Systasis celer, Gour., and
Dacnusa Lysias, Gour., on Phytomyza horticolor, Gour. ;
Entedon Coponices, Gour., with Dacnusa Chereas, Gour.,
and Opius Ambirius, Gowr., on Phytomyza minuscula, Gour. 5
Entedon gracilis, Gowr., with Dacnusa flavipes, on Phytomyza
lateralis, Macg. Observations are still required to ascertain
whether the Chalcids and the Braconids above mentioned
participate in the substance of the little Muscids, or whether
the Chalcids are dependent on the Braconids for their
maintenance, and help to adjust the increase of the latter.
Goureau mentions that there are at least two generations of
the Muscids: the spring generation, when the Braconids
444 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
are few, generally live unmolested; the autumn generation,
when the Braconids are young, seldom escape the latter.
The Braconids are thus adapted in the scheme of Nature to
regulate the number of the little Muscids, and to adapt them
for their periodical work, a remnant of them being sufficient
for recommencement in the spring of each year. The large
destruction of the Muscids must be followed by the like event
to the destroyers, and investigation is required as to howa
very small number of the latter are preserved through the
winter. Three species have been lately added by Dr. Giraud
to the genus Eupelmus here mentioned,—E. Cicade, E. splen-
dens, and EK. bifasciatus: the first is parasitic on the eggs of
a Cicada; the second is parasitic on Bathyaspis Aceris, one
of the Cynipide; and the third seems to be closely allied to
E. pezomachoides.
The first of the three following figures illustrates the
EUPLECTUS ALBIVENTRIS.
Elachistidz, of which one species, Olynx Gallarum (Ichneu-
mon Gallarum, Linn.), is familiar to all persons who have
examined oak-apples, though there is as yet no exact know-
ledge as to the proceedings of the Olynx with regard to the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 445
other inhabitants of these galls. The two other figures
represent Eulophidae, of which Eulophus albomaculatus and
EULOPHUS APHACA.
CIRROSPILUS PULCHELLUS.
E. stenostigma may be mentioned as having been observed
by Leon Dufour, in Spain, to be parasites of Trypeta Jasonize
in that country. Sympiesis sericeicornis, one of this family,
is parasitic on subcutaneous larve.
Fraxcis WALKER.
446 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Notes on Southern Indian Lepidoptera.
By WIiLLIAM WaArTEINS.
I wouLp wish, prior to commencing my notes, to explain
that the chief reason of my wishing these papers published,
is that English entomologists may become aware of the wide
distribution of the species identical with those of our native
land; having resided in India a period extending over four
seasons (during which time I have lost no opportunity of
collecting and observing the species that occur at the Neilg-
herry Hills, Secunderabad and Burmah), I have thought that
notes thereon would prove interesting to the “lovers of the
net and pin.” My first paper will be on captures at the
Neilgherries in 1872.
The Neilgherries are a range of hills running along the
south-west of India, and distant from Bombay some two
hundred miles; their height at Wellington above the level of
the sea is six thousand feet. The climate is remarkably mild,
and the seasons much like those of England: during the
months of November, December and January it is decidedly
cold; and although we do not get snow in Southern India,
still the hills are covered with hoar frost almost every
morning during those months. The average mean tempera-
ture at Wellington for 1872 was 62°. Only a very few of the
wild plants of England occur here, and I have never seen
trees identical with those we find growing wild at home;
yet almost all English fruits, vegetables and flowers can be
cultivated here in great perfection.
Arriving from Secunderabad in February, 1872, I imme-
diately commenced entomological operations, but found that
the species most common were only “hybernates:” these
were C. Cardui (extremely abundant), V. Atalanta, and
V. Orithea (a very beautiful species, in size and markings
like Urtice, but with a brilliant blue instead of red band).
Amongst the Bombyces, O. potatoria was common in all
three stages; the larve here are not so fastidious as in
England,—only eating one particular species of grass,—for
they will feed upon almost all our hedgerow-plants ; in open
glades one could not walk without disturbing the beautiful
D. pulchella. Of Noctuz, I found commonly, at rest, Dian-
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 447
theecia conspersa; at sugar, Ceropacha ridens, A. Segetum,
N. xanthographa, and N. V-nigrum. The month of May
opened terrifically boisterous, and wound up with a fearful
cyclone, causing great devastation throughout the whole of
Southern India. At Wellington, however, genial weather set
in almost immediately afterwards, and insects came out in
profusion. I had only to go a short distance to obtain the
following :—R. Rhamni, a profusion of the genus Pieris, not
omitting Brassice and Rape, both of which cut a sorry
figure with their beautiful congener Epicharis. Of the genus
Papilio I met with Sarpedon, Coon, Hector, Polymnestor,
and Demoleus (the nearest to our English Machaon), the
larvee of which, together with those of Sarpedon, Hector, and
Demoleus, I met with during the month feeding upon citron
trees. A species resembling V. Antiopa, but named Junonia
Sabina, has a peculiar habit of alighting upon the trunks of
certain forest trees (certainly not for the sap, because it is
quite bitter), and thus many came to my net; I confess they
successfully “dodged” me when on the wing. Lyczna Alexis,
Alsus and Argiolus were extremely common, flitting in com-
pany with T. Tages, Pamphila Linea, Sylvanus, Acton, and
T. Alveolus, but these were not all the Hesperide, for we
have at least thirty representatives of the family here, all of
which occur during this month; some are very large,—one,
which I catch at Lauristinus blossoms, is quite two inches
eight lines, and in colour just like shot-silk, almost dazzling
one’s eyes to look at it. The petunia flowers attracted
S. Convolvuli, D. Celerio, C. Porcellus and Elpenor ; whilst
round the hedgerows a species exactly like H. Hectus, but
in size six inches, was common, as were also P. auriflua,
Chrysorrhea, S. illunaria, and C. ferrugata. At sugar I had
graud captures. There is a very large moth here, evidently
a relation of Mania Maura, but three times its size: it hasa
splendid ocellus of purple and blue on each wing. My
pinning-box is considerably larger than one would think of
using in England, but I found when I first beheld one of
these gentlemen on my sugar that it was only when his
wings were folded that he would enter it. In company
with this species was a Noctua, exactly like the male of
Saturnia Carpini, the same sex of this species being
quite black. Besides these a host of “unknowns” made
448 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
their appearance, and this year it is my intention to devote
more time to sugaring, in order that I may see what Noctuze
actually occur here. In addition to those mentioned
already, which were also common this month, I obtained
P. Chrysitis and Gamma, and H. rectilinea at rest; I met
with L. lobulata rather commonly; besides a host of pretty
Geometre that I did not know. In June the following
English species made their appearance:—C. Pamphilus,
C. Hyale, P. Napi, A. Atropos, H. Thymiaria, &. tenebrosa,
EK. nigra. A profusion of foreign gentlemen also. There is
a prelty species, evidently a Brephos, that one meets with
commonly, flitting about the trees in the same manner as
Parthenias at home. A beautiful Bombyx, too, emerges this
month, the male of which is a beautiful emerald-green and
devoid of markings, whilst the female is a bright yellow, with
a fulvous blotch on the centre of the fore wings; the hind
wings are in shape like those of Quercifolia: thus, when at
rest, they resemble either a green or yellow leaf. I have bred
it repeatedly from eggs: the larve have the exact character-
istics of Orgyia; but the imago differs, inasmuch as the
females are not apterous, neither are they day-flying
Bombyces.
WILLIAM WATrKINS.
Convalescent Depot, Wellington, Madras. me:
On the Habits of certain Gall-insects of the Genus Cynips.
By H. F. Bassetr.
[When I first broached the idea that vegetable-galls were
not new or additional parts of the plants whereon they
occurred, but old and recognized organs produced under
abnormal and diseased conditions, it was considered so
diametrically opposed to what ought to be the order of
nature, that there was a very general expression of dissent; and
Mr. Peter Inchbald, one of our more scientific entomological
observers, felt it a duty to express his disapproval, and to
show that these things could not be. Subsequently Mr.
Parfitt, of Exeter, attempted to answer Mr. Inchbald’s
objections in the ‘ Field’ newspaper, in which they had been
published, and his remarks were reprinted in these pages.
More recent and continued observations have tended to
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 449
confirm, not only the views I originally took as regards what
I have called the pseudobalani of the oak, but to extend
them to oak-spangles, bedeguars, and other abnormal pro-
ductions of trees and shrubs. While still occupied with the
enquiry, which seems likely to extend as long as my own
life, I have been much gratified in reading the remarks,
reprinted below, of a brother observer in America. They are
perfectly independent of mine, and, as will be seen, are
introduced only incidentally in his paper on galls.—Edward
Newman. | ,
“For ten years past I have been studying the habits of
the Cynipidz to determine, if possible, whether there are one
or two broods of these insects each year. Several years ago I
discovered the flies of C. q.-operator in the act of ovipositing
in the young acorns ‘of Quercus ilicifolia, the oak on which
the woolly galls of this species are generally found. The
insect thrusts its ovipositor down between the acorn and the
acorn-cup, and, late in the summer, the acorns thus stung
proved abortive, while around them, and often protruding far
above the cup, were little acorn-like galls, each containing a
large Cynipideous larva. Several of these galls were often
found in each acorn-cup. That year nearly all the acorns were
affected, and there are more or less thus injured every year.
I have as yet failed to rear any flies from these galls, probably
because I have failed to keep the galls in the proper condition
for development. 8
‘* A later discovery, made three or four years ago, was that
of two, and I think three, species of Cynips in the act of
ovipositing in the buds of the oak, Q. alba, just as the buds
began to develope, but before the leaves were visible. ‘The
relationship of these species to any known species was only
inferentially established. It is true that the leaves of several
oaks, on which I found one species very abundant, were
almost all covered with galls of C. q.-futilis, o.s., but the
females of this species were not so large as my new bud-
stinging species.
“| have for the past three years carefully examined the
buds of Q. ilicifolia, hoping to find the producer of
C. q.-operator at work, but without success till this week,
when I found no less than thirty gall-flies ovipositing in the
buds of this oak. That they really are the producers of these
¥2
4
450 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
galls needs no further proof than I now give. The insect
C. q.-operator is distinguished from all our other species by
the projection of the ovipositor above the dorsum. In this
respect it resembles the several species of guest gall-flies that
infest almost all our species of galls. It has, however, the
neuration of the true gall-flies. In size my insects are
considerably larger than C. q.-operator, but in form, colour,
neuration of the wings, and, above all, in the peculiar form
and position of the sheath of the ovipositor, they are like this
species. Few will doubt their identity ; but to make “ assu-
rance doubly sure” I hope some one will be so fortunate as
to raise gall-flies from these acorn-galls, when a comparison
with mine will settle the question whether this particular
species (C. q.-operator) is double-brooded or not. I wish (if
my article is not already too long) to state a few other facts,
and to show their bearing upon the history of these interest-
ing insects.
“There stands not far from my house a small oak-tree,
Q. bicolor, which is almost ruined by the ravages of a species
of gall-fly, which closely resembles, and may be identical
with, C. q.-botatus, Bassett. Every summer the leaves of
this tree are so injured by the galls that scarcely one perfect
one can be found on the tree. The petioles and mid-veins
are enlarged to the size of one’s finger, and the blade shrivels
up or remains undeveloped, and each gall contains a large
number of insects which come out in June. I have reared
many thousands of these gall-flies, and find them of both
sexes—about equally divided.
“Tate in the summer another form of gall appears, this
time on the ends of the small branches, and the insects
remain in these, in the imago, through the winter. I have
reared not less than fifteen thousand of these gall-flies, and
all are females, and they cannot be distinguished from the
summer brood, except that they are a very little larger. The
flies of C. q.-futilis, o.s., are of both sexes; but among the
considerable number found ovipositing in the buds of the
white oak, and which, J have no doubt, produce the galls of
C. q.-futilis, there are no males, and the females are con-
siderably larger than the summer brood. And again, in my
last discovery the flies are all females, but larger than the
females of C. q.-operator, though they have the structural
peculiarities of that species,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 451
“From all the above facts I infer that all our species that
are found only in the female sex are represented in another
generation by both sexes, and that the two broods are, owing
to seasonal differences, produced from galls that are entirely
distinct from each other, I shall not be surprised if it shall
yet be found that all our species of Cynips proper are double-
brooded, but the allied genera Diastrophus and Rhodites
probably produce but one brood each year. Mr. Walsh’s
successful attempts at colonizing C. q.-spongifica, o.s., do
not prove that the galls he raised were the ¢mmediate product
of the flies he colonized; another generation may have inter-
vened from which his galls were descended. I have in mind
two species of Cynips that mature from the egg in less than
thirty days. They are our earliest vernal species, and are not
yet described.
“In an article published ten years ago in the Proc. of Ent.
Soc. of Philad., describing several new species of Cynips,
I ventured to remark that probably some of the species
whose galls are formed on the leaves deposit their eggs
in the embryo leaves, the leaf-buds of the following year
being formed at the time these insects appear. This seems
to be true only in part. It is at another time and by another
brood that the eggs are so deposited. In the same article I
gave it as my opinion that the woolly galls of C. q.-operator,
o.s., and C, q.-seminator, Harris, were the abnormal deve-
lopment of the embryo leaves, and that the wool was an
enormous growth of the pubescence of the leaf. To this view
the late Mr. B. D. Walsh objected, either in a published
article or in a letter to myself, saying the galls were not
connected with the leaf-buds. Last spring I was so fortunate
as to find two galls of C. q.-seminator in the earliest stage of
growth; so young that I did not recognize their true
character, being simply large buds just beginning to open,
but exhibiting on the summit a beautiful rose-coloured
pubescence. I watched them till they were mature, and had
the satisfaction of seeing them develope into two fine galls of
this not very common species.
“My friend Mr. L. S. White, of this city, like a true
chemist, as he is, suggested the idea of weighing the speci-
mens of new insects we describe, and tried his plan upon the
gall-flies taken the other day. The species taken on the buds
452 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of C. q.-operator weighed 4} millegrammes, while another
species, probably C. q.-globulus, Harris, weighed alive
18 millegrammes. This last was taken on a bud of the white
oak.
“Slowly, year by year, the above, and other quite as inte-
resting fragments in the history of the Cynipide, have come
to my knowledge, and I hope to live to see their history fully
written. It is in such investigations of the habits of insects
that our real work and our highest enjoyment as entomolo-
gists consists.
“H. F. Bassett.
“Waterbury, Connecticut.”
Forest Collecting in April. By C. 8S. Gregson.
Apri 12.—Went to Hartford Station, Cheshire, for
“Delamere” Forest; from thence to the “Chase,” past
the Monkey Lodge, a four miles’ walk through beautiful
lanes, where good work could be done; and a long day on the
Chase, and thence round by the Kennels and Sandaway at
night, resulted as follows :—
G. Rhamni, P. Rape, V. Io and Urtice were seen fre-
quently, and the beautiful green hair-streak, flitting round
mountain-ashes—then just breaking leaf,—was a sight worth
going to see itself at this season of the year. Approaching
the heather-clad Chase a few Amphydasis prodromaria were
secured, and Peronea mixtana turned out of heath-bushes
freely as I puffed tobacco-smoke under them, as did sundry
Depressariz ; passing on, D. salicella rose freely during sun-
shine; and now I got a sight of a Tinea on the wing, which
proved to be Butalis incongruella,—working well for this I
secured about fifty good specimens whilst the sun shone;
and then making for the swamp around the lake I worked for
dragonflies during about two hours. Lestes viridis, the
most beautiful species we have, was plentiful and quite
fresh, as were several other species; but more of these
another time. Reluctantly leaving this rich collecting-ground
I turned westward, and west by north to north, working every
yard of the ground I passed over, with the following results.
S. Carpini,—females sitting, males fluttering about all over
the heath; H. suffumata, Badiata, Derivata and Lobulata on
trees, and beat out G. Illunaria abundantly in one place;
%
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 4538
E. pumilata was plentiful, and E. abbreviata not scarce;
M. unimaculella in abundance, and a few Steinkellneriella
were taken from the stems and branches of mountain ash-
trees; a few Depressaria capreolella were secured in a
heather lane, but I failed to see any remains of its food-plant,
“ wild carrot,” near,—this insect flies rapidly when disturbed
when the sun shines, and but for the hawking propensity of
an Empis, which abounded, I should have secured a great
many. Perhaps the most highly-esteemed species I captured
during the day was Depressaria pallorella, a species which,
until Mr. Hodgkinson and I took it in Westmoreland, was
said to be exclusively confined to the Isle of Wight,
Delamere being one hundred miles south of our Westmore-
land locality. G. Elongella and a few Phasianipennella—the
first beaten from silver-firs, and the last from tufts of heath in
lanes—complete the list of imagos I saw or took which need
be recorded; of larva, which were in fact my leading object
on this journey, I secured a good supply, including all the
ordinary spring fir-feeding species; but perhaps the best
species which I have yet bred from this day’s work is
Sericoris signatana, the larve beaten from sloe-bushes in
bloom.
I may say of this “ derrva incognita” that it only requires to
be worked to yield its entomological treasures in abundance ;
and seeing that as yet this “ Chase” has never been worked
by any entomologist, we may hope, now the road leading to
it is pointed out, that our friends will pay some attention to
it. Ihave only been twice upon it, but on each journey I
liked it. Those who know the “Kennel Woods” may go
that way, going past the Kennels due south two miles, then
east by south to east, returning north by east to due north; a
clump of immense Scotch fir-trees, which grow at the south
end of the Chase some miles away, are a good landmark
always.
C. S. GREGson.
Rose Bank, Fletcher Grove, Edge Lane,
Liverpool.
Description of the Larva of Depressaria Douglasella—
Length fully half an inch to five-eighths of an inch; colour
light green, striate; form rather long and slender, semi-
cylindrical, attenuate to anal extremity. Head small, pointed,
454 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
yellowish green, immaculate ; corslet broad, bright light green,
edged in front lighter. Dorsal streak rather broad; sub-
dorsal darker and broader; spiracular region puckered and
spread; papille light, faint, in fact hardly perceptible. Feet
green ; claspers spread out; spines sparse. Feeds on Daucus
Carota in June, spinning the terminal pinne of the leaf
together, so as to form a tube; Jater it often spins a web
crosswise of the midrib, and, like some other carrot-feeders,
leaves the plant to go into pupa. Common at Howth and on
our Lancashire coast.—C. S. Gregson.
Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.
Entomology of the Isle of Man.—During the third week of
June I and Messrs. Roxburgh, Greasley and Leather, of
Liverpool and district, spent several days near Douglas, Isle
of Man, for the purpose of collecting some Lepidopterous
insects occurring there. Of Dianthecia cesia, about a score
specimens were taken ; Capsophila occurred not uncommonly
along with them,—this species must be on the wing a long
time, as we beat out larve of all sizes freely from Silene
maritima. After dark we searched the Statice Armeria and
Silene for larve of Polia nigrocincta, but only a few were
found on these plants. At length Mr. Greasley found several
on Plantago maritima, but had to return to Liverpool next
morning. The day turned out wet, so nothing was done;
but on the evening of the following day (our last) I and Mr.
Roxburgh worked the Plantago alone, and in a comparatively
short time had collected thirty-two larva, twenty-six of them
falling to Mr. R.’s lot. From this, Plantago maritima would
seem to be the most general food of the species. In all, about
fifty larvee were collected. Sesia philanthiformis was out, but
difficult to capture; and though a number of pupz were
collected it was far from plentiful. Amongst the other
species taken during our stay were Argynnis Aglaia, Satyrus
Semele (a full-fed larva), Lithosia complana (larve, common
on the rocks), Bombyx Rubi, Acidalia promutata, Emmelesia
albulata, Eupithecia venosata (imagos, and nearly full-grown
larve), E. pulchellata, E. castigata, Thera variata, Ypsipetes
impluviata, Melanthia albicillata, Eubolia palumbaria, Ma-
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 455
mestra anceps, Cucullia umbratica, Plusia V-aureum, Botys
fuscalis, Crambus perlellus, Pempelia palumbella, &c.— Geo.
T. Porritt; Huddersfield, July 8, 1873.
Insect-hunting in Sussex.—At the end of June I passed a
few days in entomological pursuits at Lewes. The year isa
most extraordinary one: the day-flying Lepidoptera usually
found in profusion on the South Downs are almost absent. I
was two days at Lewes and only took one insect worthy of
capture, viz., Agrotis corticea; Lyczna Adonis was very
rare; of Lycena Alsus I saw but one; and even of Alexis I
do not think [ saw twenty specimens. ‘The three species of
_ Procris, usually common on Cliffe Hill, were so extremely
rare that I heard of but three Geryon being taken, and
I myself took but one Globularia during my stay of nine
days. At Abbot’s Wood, Melitza Athalia, usually very
common, was very rare; I do not think in three days I saw
more than twelve specimens. Agrotera nemoralis was not
rare; I was too late for this lovely insect, and the males were
wasted; the females were in better condition. Melanippe
hastaria was common, even to the last day of June; so was
Odezia cherophyllata; and the oak-trees swarmed with
Lithosia rubricollis. Where last year I saw at the same
period of the year an abundance of Zygena Trifolii, this
year I saw not one. One thing that struck me most was that
May-flying Lepidoptera were in some plenty at Abbot’s Wood
at the end of June.—J. Jenner Weir.
Food-plant of Epione advenaria—Is there any other
food-plant for Epione advenaria in a state of Nature than
bilberry? I am aware that rose, sallow and dogwood are
given in Dr. Knaggs’ ‘ Lepidopterist’s Guide’ as substitute
food-plants, but some larve I had of the insect positively
refused to feed on rose (cultivated). I am induced to pen
these remarks, as I and others have lately taken the insects
in abundance in several places near here, in none of which,
so far as I know, nor indeed elsewhere in the neighbourhood,
does any bilberry grow. In the woods, where I found it most
abundant, it seemed generally to rise out of the bramble,
which abounded in them, but | am unaware that it has been
found on that plant. Its time of appearance, moreover,
differs from that given in ‘ British Moths.’ I caught it in
abundance on June 20th this year, though the insect seemed
456 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
then to be by no means freshly out; whilst last year I caught
one as early as May 21st.—W. A. Forbes; Culverlea, Win-
chester, July 14, 1873.
Phytometra enea.—On the 21st of May I caught a speci-
men of P. enea, which seems to show, as suggested by your
correspondent Mr. Poulton, that it is double-brooded.—Jd.
Anticlea sinuata.—I have again taken A. sinuata this year,
within a few yards of where I secured one last: a fine speci-
men, caught last Thursday (July 10th).—Id.
Yellow variety of Zygena Filipendule.—The yellow
variety of Z. Filipendule is again beginning to appear in
some abundance. Can any of your readers tell me whether
this variety has been noticed elsewhere in England ‘—/d.
{I shall be greatly obliged for this insect. Mr. Forbes
kindly gave me two some years back, but they were, unfor-
tunately, too much injured in transit to represent the variety
efficiently —Hdward Newman.)
The Waxy Exudation of Homoptera.—An exudation,
corresponding to that which is characteristic of Aphis Fagi,
is common to all the several thousand species of Homopterous
insects, and appears more or less, and in various forms,
throughout the tribes, from the singing Cicada to the
stationary Coccus, and often serves as a defence. In Cicada
it is slight and powdery; in some of the tribe, of which the
lantern-flies are the most conspicuous representatives, it is
excessive, and forms waxy filaments which surpass the body
in length. It hardly appears as an emanation from the frog-
hoppers; but in the next family, or Psyllidz, it may be often
witnessed in gardens by the multitude of white flecks which
proceed from Psylla Buxi on the box-trees, and fall in
showers when the branches are shaken. Next come the
Aphides, of which the types are distinguished by two pipes,
whence the streams of honey flow. ‘The beech Aphis, or
A. Fagi, is less typical and less multiplying than many others,
and is more sheltered than them from the oviposition of Aphi-
dius by the fleecy or gummy substance which it emits. The
American blight, which belongs to this family, is defended by ~
the abundance of its cottony covering. ‘The wax-insect, or
Coccus of China, has been mentioned in several books, and a
Coccus in Arabia produces a substance which is called manna,
and is supposed by some persons to be identical with the
manna in the wilderness.—Francis Walker.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 457
Insects at Sea.—Ever since we left Tunis, all along the
Malta Channel, and upwards to Italy, the sea was covered
with large brown butterflies, moths of all sizes, and dragon-
flies, evidently just dead, as they had not been long in the
water. For four or five days we sailed through many miles of
water without finding any diminution in their number, and
we began to ask ourselves the question whether they could
have been a provision of Nature for the sustenance of birds
during their passage.—J. S. Walker ; Yacht ‘Aline, Palermo,
April 5, 1873.
Vanessa Antiopa at Whitby.—I beg to inform you that
my brother, whilst staying at Whitby last week, was fortunate
enough to capture a hybernated specimen of Vanessa Antiopa.
He had no net with him at the time, and was obliged to
make use of his hat, which unluckily damaged the plumage
slightly on the right upper wing.—W. H. Danby; July 8,
1873.
Vanessa Antiopa in LEssex.—As 1 was driving through
Canewdon to-day I saw a fine specimen of Antiopa; it
settled on the hedge close to me, but I was unable to capture
it. It was the pale-bordered variety.—L. A. Fitch ; Down
Hall, Rayleigh, July 25, 1878.
Lycena Arion near Gloucester-—I caught a specimen of
the large blue, Lycena Arion, male, at Stinchcombe Hill,
near Dursley, Gloucester, on the 23rd of June.—D. G.
Lathom Brown; Winkfield, Beckenham, July 8, 1873.
Variety of Callune.—lI have just added to my collection a
nice variety of the male of Bombyx Callune, bred this month
by my cousin Herbert Porritt. The chocolate colour is
darker than in ordinary specimens, and the usual yellow
band is entirely replaced by one of dark olive-green.—Geo.
T. Porritt; Huddersfield, July 11, 1873.
Limacodes Asellus and Zygena Filipendule.—On July 3rd
I took a single specimen of L. Asellus, in Crabbe Wood,
near here; aud although I beat some time in the same place
I could not turn up any more. Several specimens of the
yellow variety of Z. Filipendule, before chronicled in your
pages, have been taken again this year.—C. Z. Raynor ; The
College, Winchester, July 20, 1878.
Lithosia Quadra at Kingsland. —I had a fine specimen of
this insect brought to me alive. It was taken in a green-
¥3
458 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
grocer’s shop, within a hundred yards from where I live. No
doubt the pupa was brought in some peas, as from its fine
appearance it evidently had never flown.—W. J. Harper ;
Mansfield Street, Kingsland Road, July 24, 1873.
Ophiodes Lunaris near Lewes.—\I captured a specimen of
this rare Noctua in this neighbourhood on the 17th ult. The
insect was at sugar, sitting with its wings raised ready for
flight, after the manner of the Catocalas, and surrounded by
several common moths. I saw at once that it was something
new and strange to me, and at the same time I perceived the
risk I ran of missing it, as it would be sure to fly as soon as
its commoner companions were disturbed; however, as there
was not much time for consideration, | made the attempt to
box the insect, and with the result anticipated: away flew
the great unknown, but by a fortunate stroke of the net I
succeeded in capturing it. The insect is in good condition,
and reminded me when on the sugar of T. pastinum, though
much larger.— WM. S. Blaker; Lewes, July 5, 1873.
Tortriz grandevana near Cullercoats.—I had the pleasure
of taking a specimen of Grandzvana, the new Tortrix disco-
vered last year (as British) by Mr. Eales, on last Tuesday
night. Mr. Eales also secured one.—J. C. Wassermann ;
Beverley Terrace, Cullercoats, near Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Endromis versicolor at East Grinstead.—I have two very
fine cocoons of this species, one of them received only
yesterday. Please inform me whether it is safe to keep them
in a cellar, as I want to keep them moist.—W. Thomas ;
Ray Lodge, Lingfield, East Grinstead, July 16, 1873.
[I should keep them in a green-house or out-house of any
kind in preference to a cellar.—H. Newman.]
Hadena Atriplicis and Aventia flexula.—Will you tell me
if H. Atriplicis is a Norfolk insect, as I took it here early
this month, and wish to know if it is worth anything? Also
to what genus is the insect Flexula (the beautiful hooktip) to
be referred, as I do not know where to put it in my cabinet?
—Henry F. Wilson; Forncett St. Peters Rectory, Long-
Stratton, Norfolk, July 19, 1873.
[Hadena Atriplicis has been found in Norfolk in the
“ Broad” district; the pupz are dug up each in an earthen
cocoon. I have proposed the name Craspedocampa for
Flexula; it is closely allied to Metrocampa margaritata and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 459
Catocala nupta: if we wish to have a natural classification of
Lepidoptera, the Geometre and Noctue must meet at this
point.—H. Newman. |
Can Butterflies be Tamed to know the Hand that Feeds
them ?—Mr. Guiney encourages me to write to you, as an
authority for habits of insects, to ask if it is true that butter-
flies can be tamed, and know the hand of those who feed them?
This is asserted, I hear, as a fact in Lord Lytton’s ‘ Kenelm
Chillingley,’ and those who have read this work in Germany
have applied to me to know the truth of the statement.—
Elizabeth de Bunsen; Abbey Lodge, Regent’s Park, July
14, 1873.
[I have not read the passage to which my correspondent
refers. My inclination is to discredit Lord Lytton’s state-
ment; but I sincerely hope some of my readers will be able
to express an opinion more reliable than my own.—J.
Newman. ]
The Reed Moth ?—1 have within these few days found a
number of caterpillars and chrysalids in the stem of the
common reed or bulrush. The chrysalis does not exactly
answer to the description of the reed moth given in your
- book of ‘ British Moths.’ Will you kindly tell me what they
are, I being but a young beginner in Entomology ?—R. E.
Burt; Flour Mills, Witchampton, Wimborne, Dorset, July
22, 1875.
[The larve have become pup, and will probably emerge
as moths in a few days, when I can answer the question with
certainty; at present I can only do so with a doubt.—Z.
Newman. |
Names of Lepidoptera.—The specimens sent by Mr. Was-
serman are Eupithecia pumilata and Phytometra enea,
variety A of Guenée, ‘ Noctuélites,’ vol. iii. p. 298. Guenée
observes that the purple tint has entirely disappeared in this
variety, and is replaced by a brown tint scarcely differing
from the ground colour.—EHdward Newman.
Names of Lepidoptera.—Will you kindly name the enclosed
three species of Lepidoptera, which I cannot make out from
description.—W. Thomas; Ray Lodge, Lingfield, East
Grinstead, July 4, 1873.
[(1) Aglossa pinguinalis, (2) Acidalia heparata, (3) Acidalia
incanaria. In answer to Mr. Thomas’s second letter,—the
460 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
moth is Rivula sericealis, and the caterpillar is the goose-
berry-grub, described at such length at pp. 148—154, of the
first volume of the ‘ Entomologist.—Edward Newman. |
Names of Insects —Will you please inform me whether
the two flies enclosed are Nematus ventricosus, as they
answer the description you have given of the goose-
berry-grub? and what is the name of the little beetle-
looking creatures I have also enclosed? I found them on the
leaves of Scrophularia. There seems to be another brood of
Ventricosus, as they have begun their ravages again.—John
Purdue.
[The sawflies are certainly Nematus ventricosus, provided
the imago of the gooseberry-grub be properly so called. The
little beetles are Cionus Scrophularia.—£. Newman.].
Chrysomela fulgida.—Will you have the kindness to give
me the name, &c., of a beetle which feeds on the tansy,—
commonly called the “ tansy-beetle.”-—Thos. W. Wilson ;
3, Bootham, York, July 11, 1873.
(The beautiful golden green beetle feeding on the tansy is
Chrysomela fulgida: it occurs in marshy places in Yorkshire,
Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, but I do not recollect receiving
it from any other county.—H. Newman.]
The Genus Cionus.—I herewith send you some little
beetles, which I found resting on the leaves of Verbascum
Thapsus, and should feel greatly obliged if you would
kindly tell me the name of them, and anything relating
to their economy, as I have not got Stephens’ ‘ Mandibulata’
by me just now.—Henry Reeks; Manor House, Thruxton,
June 30, 1873.
[The beetles are Cionus hortulanus of the Stephensian
nomenclature, but I am not certain that they retain that
name in this name-changing era. It is a true weevil,—that is,
a member of the family or section of beetles called Rhyncho-
phora or Curculionide. There are five British species of the
genus Cionus, all closely resembling one another in form,
but different in colour and in size. To the best of my belief
they feed exclusively on the mullein, and I have found them
al], as mentioned by Mr. Stephens, feeding on a single plant.
The egg I have never found, but it is in all probability laid
on the leaf of the common mullein (Verbascum Thapsus),
for I find the larva when very small digging holes in the soft
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 461
down which clothes the leaf, and feeding on the parenchyma,
actually burying themselves in their food. The stages of
existence seem to follow one another in rapid succession, for
after observing the larve in a very juvenile state, I have
returned in the course of a few days and have found them,
without exception, either spinning or having spun their
cocoons, and then, again, in a few days more I find they have
emerged and paired, and set seriously to work to obey the
imperative command—“ Increase and multiply.” The larva
is by no means an attractive object: it looks like, and is, a
small mass of dark-coloured gelatine, possessed of the least
possible allowance of locomotive power; as to head, legs,
claspers, or other implement of nutrition or motion, I have
never detected any, but this must be owing to my imperfect
powers of perception, for the creature certainly moves and as
certainly eats; the evidence of the former is to be found in
its change of position. Kirby and Spence, quoting De
Geer, mention a larva of this kind that moved so slowly as to
be a quarter of an hour in going the breadth of a hand; but
surely those larve of Cionus that I have watched would be
a week, if not a lifetime, performing this feat. The pupal
state is far more interesting and attractive: these amorphous
lumps of mucilage, apparently headless, wingless, and legless,
have yet sense enough or instinct enough to spin a most
ingenious cocoon or cradle made of a kind of net-work, just
like that I have seen spread over a balloon; the only differ-
ence observable is that the Cionus larva, more ingenious than
man, spreads the net-work without having the balloon inside
it: and in this well-ventilated and well-lighted apartment
the change to a pupa and subsequently to a beetle takes
place.— Edward Newman. |
Galls of the Oak.—Miss Weise, who has translated Dr.
Mayr’s descriptions of oak-galls, has sent me some galls,
evidently the work of a species of Euura, and precisely
resembling those produced on the leaves of Salix fragilis by
Euura Galle. In every instance an aperture on the upper
side of the gall notifies the escape of the gall-maker or its
parasite.—Hdward Newman.
Galls on Orleans-plum leaves.—My brother sends me from
Leominster a number of leaves of the Orleans plum, the under
surfaces of which are almost completely covered with small
462 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
+
galls nearly hemispherical, and about a sixteenth of an inch
in diameter. I am quite unacquainted with them, and of
course submitted them to Mr. Walker, who does not recog-
nize them, but he invited my attention to the fact that a
species of Cecidomyia inhabits galls on the leaves of Prunus
spinosa (the sloe) : this is described under the specific name
of peregrina, at p. 94 of the third volume of ‘ Insecta Britan-
nica, Diptera.’ These galls of the sloe also produce Acari.—
Edward Newman.
Biston hirtaria Two Years in Pupa.—In 1871 eggs of the
above-named species were sent me, all of which duly hatched,
and the larve in due course entered the pupa state, and in
the spring of 1872 moths were produced in abundance. At
the end of May this year I was somewhat surprised to find
two females in my rearing-cage freshly developed, and since
then three others, all females, have made their appearance:
these must have been part of the brood I had in 1871, as I
did not see the insect last season in any stage of its existence.
Such cases of retarded development often occur with other
species, as most of us know, but I do not recollect ever
hearing of a like occurrence with this particular species.—G.
B. Corbin.
Cucullia Verbasci and its Hood.—I suspect there are few
collectors of several seasons’ experience who have not reared
this insect, for its very conspicuous and brightly-coloured
larva is easily detected and reared, and consequently it is a
general favourite with beginners. Last season I took a few
off some plants of mullein (which in this neighbourhood seem
to be its exclusive food), which duly produced moths at the
end of May. In previous seasons I have noticed how strongly
the hood or crest is developed in this species, and I deter-
mined to “set” a few specimens in their natural position
when at rest: this, however, I found to be difficult, if not
altogether impossible, for the hood—which in the living
insect is pointed forward, even beyond the line of the head—
is immediately erected or thrown back over the front of the
thorax when the insect is disturbed, for it seems to possess
the power of raising or lowering this crest, or collar, after the
manner of a cockatoo. The dark streak along the inner
margin of the fore wings, one of a similar hue down the
centre of the thorax, and the edges of the projecting hood,
form one continuous dark line down the entire length of the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 463
insect when at rest; but when the insect is killed the con-
tinuity of this dark streak is destroyed by the erected crest,
the dark edges of which then form a collar on the front of the
thorax. I tried several different plans of killing the insects,
in the hope that a natural position could be obtained, but
cyanide, laurel leaves, oxalic acid, &c., all had the same
effect, and the naturally projected crest could not be made
to look life-like, for at the best it looked ragged and distorted
after the insect was “set,” and in no case could I make it
point forward as much as in the living moth, for it seemed to
be contracted as soon as life was extinct in the specimen.—
G. B. Corbin.
Phytometra enea (Entom. vi. 412).—It is no uncommon
thing to meet with this pretty little insect upon the heaths of
the New Forest in May. The earliest date I have entered in
my diary for its capture is May 6th, and I am sure [ have
seen it even earlier than that. The species seems to be on
the wing nearly the whole of the summer, for I have seen it
in the spring when I have been looking for Argiolus, and it
was also out in July and August, when the oak-loving Thecla
Quercus calls us forth to the very pleasurable forest rambles,
and when a good chase after Anaitis plagiata in the sunshine
causes one to sit down and rest; and the lively little Ainea is
often present on such occasions, dodging about almost invi-
sibly or settling almost under your nose.—Id.
The Production of Honeydew.—lI have carefully watched
the first formation of honeydew in the lime during this and
the two preceding weeks, and am satisfied that its first
appearance is wholly independent of insect agency. In each
week, on the accession of hot and sunny weather, the upper
surface of the leaves, inclusive of those on the extreme
branches, become very uniformly speckled with honeydew,
the specks appearing on the tumid spaces between the
venules, and seldom exceeding one-tenth of an inch in
diameter. These were washed away by the first shower, and
reappeared with the returning hot sun, In the first week it
was difficult to find an Aphis anywhere on these limes, and
such as | found were solitary, very immature, and confined to
the lower surface of the leaves. On the extreme twigs, the
leaves of which projected some feet beyond the rest of the
foliage, and which leaves were equally speckled, scarcely an
Aphis was to be seen. During the last week and this the
464 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Aphides have become more numerous, but are still com-
paratively rare and always solitary. That the formation of
honeydew is independent of Aphides, and is a function of the
plant unstimulated by insect agency, is clear to me; but it
remains to be seen whether the Aphides may-not at a later
period induce a more copious secretion of honeydew.—J. D.
Hooker ; in *‘ Gardener’s Chronicle, July 19, 1873.
[(‘“ You have, doubtless, observed what is called the honey-
dew upon the maple and other trees, concerning which the
learned Roman naturalist Pliny gravely hesitates whether he
shall call it the sweat of the heavens, the saliva of the stars,
or a liquid produced by the purgation of the air. Perhaps
you may be aware that it is a secretion of Aphides, whose
excrement has the privilege of emulating sugar and honey in
sweetness and purity.”—Kirby and Spence, ‘ Introduction to
Entomology, i. 210. “This fluid, which is scarcely inferior
to honey in sweetness, issues in limpid drops from the abdo-
men of these insects, not only by the ordinary passage, but
also by two setiform tubes placed—one on each side—just
above it. Their sucker, being inserted in the tender bark, is
without intermission employed in absorbing the sap, which,
after it has passed through the system, they keep continually
discharging by these organs. When no ants attend them, by
a certain jerk of the body, which takes place at regular
intervals, they ejaculate it to a distance; but when the ants
are at hand, watching the moment when the Aphides emit
their fluid, they seize and suck it down immediately.”—
Id. vol. ii. p. 88. Having times and often seen the ants
engaged in the manner described by Kirby and Spence;
having often seen the liquid emitted by Aphides; having
often tested and tasted it, and found it sweet; and having
seen honeydew on the leaves near which these scenes have
taken place; I feel reluctant to give up the long-cherished
idea that, from first to last, it is the excrement of Aphides.
Nevertheless, I think any suggestion enianating from-a
botauist of Dr. Hooker’s eminence and experience should be
received with respect and candidly considered, though it may
be entirely opposed to preconceived opinions. On this
question of honeydew and Aphides we have no one more
competent to give an opinion than Mr. Walker. Will he
oblige me by expressing it?—Hdward Newman.]
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 120.] SEPTEMBER, MDCCCLXXIII. [Price 6d.
The Elephants Louse. By Epwarp NEWMAN.
Exrernant’s Lousr, Hzmaromyzus Exeruantis (copied from the figure in
‘Science Gossip’ for 1871): length of the living insect one-twelfth of
an inch,
Tue discovery of this insect on elephants in Ceylon might
have been anticipated: the existence of such a parasite is in
VOL. VI. Zz
466 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
exact accordance with the usual order of Nature. Dr. Leach
has told us that in all probability every suckler and every bird
has its epidermic parasite ; and we find that so far back as the
time of Linneus a distinct species of louse had been found
respectively on the pig, the Guinea-pig, the camel, the stag,
the sheep, the horse, the ass, the mouse, and also on each of
the following birds :—vulture, kestrel, buzzard, owl, crow, mag-
pie, roller, swan, goose, Muscovy duck, garganey, goosander,
petrel, puffin, albatross, tern, spoonbill, heron, crane, golden
plover, coot, avocet, peacock, turkey, pheasant, quail, domestic
fowl, pigeon, corn bunting, yellowhammer, wagtail, swift,
skylark, starling, crossbill, bullfinch, greentinch, whitethroat,
and robin. Four species have been found on man, and four
each are said to have occurred on the raven and oyster-
catcher. These parasites have received specific names
indicative of the genus of suckler or bird on which they
depend for subsistence,—an arrangement of great convenience
and merit, inasmuch as no species of louse, so far as I am
aware, has hitherto been found feeding on two distinct species
of animals. The importance of settling this point induced
Redi, Degeer, Latreille, Nitzsch, Leach, and Denny, to give
the subject their most earnest attention ; and all these authors
have investigated this little group of insects with untiring
perseverance, thus overcoming in the cause of Science the
conventional repugnance to these animals. Mr. Cordeaux,
one of the most accomplished of living ornithologists, has
done the same ; and I can only regret that the vast amount of
information obtained should still remain unpublished.
These epidermic creatures received at the hands of Latreille
the general name of “ Parasita;” the name is truthful and
very descriptive, but scarcely sufficiently definite or restricted.
The group soon became divided into two families: those
found on sucklers receiving the Linnean name of Pediculus,
or, as a family, Pediculide ; and those found on birds being
called Nirmus, or, as a family, Nirmide: this division,
however, is not absolute, two of the Nirmide being attached
to quadrupeds; these are Trichodectes and Gyropus, the
former infesting the dog, the latter the badger.
Regarding, then, these parasites as naturally associated by
their parasitic economy, it becomes necessary to consider
whether they can be incorporated with either of the eight
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 467
classes (usually, but erroneously, called orders) now in general
use among entomologists; or whether they should constitute
a ninth class, of equal value with each of the other eight; or,
again, whether they should constitute a still higher and more
important group, equal in rank to the whole of the other
eight. Dr. Nitzsch, who, without doubt, has studied them more
laboriously and philosophically than any other entomologist,
considered the Pediculide to be true Hemiptera (an opinion
also expressed by myself in ‘Sphinx Vespiformis,’ p. 21),
and referred the Nimidz to the Orthoptera. Leach, in his
*‘ Zoological Miscellany,’ divided insects into two sub-classes :
—‘ Ametobolia, those undergoing no metamorphosis ;” and
“ Metabolia, those undergoing metamorphosis.” The first
sub-class is divided into two orders :—Thysanura, consisting
of the Lepismide and Poduride; and Anoplura, equivalent
to the Parasita of Latreille. Latreille divides insects into
twelve orders, the first of which is Myriapoda (the centipedes) ;
the second, Thysanoura; the third, Parasita; the fourth,
Siphonaptera (including only the flea) ; the fifth, Coleoptera ;
and the Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera,
Lepidoptera, Rhipiptera (instituted for Stylops only), and
Diptera, follow in this succession. In addition, I will only
mention Dr. Burmeister, who places the Pediculide in the
class Hemiptera, and institutes a new class or order to
receive the Nirmide, Poduride, Libellulide, Ephemeride,
Termitide, and Psocide.
I have always discountenanced guessing at the proper
location of the families (or, as I consider them, natural orders)
of insects, and had | any novel views on this subject I believe
1 shotid refrain’ from expressing them; but seeing that the
insect before us so wonderfully supports the conclusion at
which Drs. Nitzsch and Burmeister have arrived, after the most
elaborate investigation ever bestowed on a family or a tribe of
insects, I think it reasonable to accept its teachings, and
place Hzematomyzus where these two philosophers would
certainly have placed it had they been aware of its existence ;
for if they placed Hematopinus Suis, the pig’s louse, in the
Hemiptera, then, a fortior?, Hematomyzus Elephantis, which
presents many more points of resemblance to the Cimicida,
must be Hemipterous also. If entomologists make laws,
such as drawing a hard and fast line between winged and
468 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
apterous insects, or between metabolous and ametabolous
insects, the step will involve them in perplexities and
labyrinths, from which they may hopelessly seek to
extricate themselves. ‘lhe metamorphosis of the bed-bug,
like that of Hzmatopinus, is an oft-repeated ecdysis without
change of form, and without the attainment of additional
organs of locomotion. The absence of wings in insects is
generally accompanied by an absence also of compound eyes:
this is always the case in the female Psychide (Lepidoptera),
in the Pulicide (Diptera), the female Agaonidz (Hymenoptera;
see the figures and description of Apocrypta and Sycocrypta,
Entom. v. 399), and the female Stylopide (Coleoptera), and,
therefore, the exhibition of similar characters in the Nirmide
and Pediculida cannot logically be cited as an argument
against the admission of these groups respectively with the
Orthoptera and Hemiptera.
The simultaneous degradation of widely different organs in
insects is a subject worthy the closest investigation. As
might be expected, the thoracic segments are wonderfully
altered when wings are absent; the competent parts are no
longer to be recognized. We have a daily example of this in
the winged and wingless ants, and strangely enough the
winged ants are constantly in the habit of self-mutilation :
they take off their own wings, as if to show us the difference
in the structure of a thorax naturally winged and a thorax
naturally wingless; but that this should be correlative to a
similar degradation in the organs of vision may possibly seem
by no means requisite ; still such is the case, and the reason
is sufficiently obvious. A creature confined in a case (like
the female Psyche), or procuring food in the dark, buried in
the substance of a fig (like Sycocrypta), or in the body of a bee
(like the female Stylops), or crawling by means of prehensile
claws on the skins of beasts and birds, or climbing among
their hairs and feathers (like the Pediculide and Nirmide),
certainly requires no extensive powers of vision; and the
same law which denied them aérial locomotion simultaneously
deprived them of those guiding faculties which are necessary
for its government and control. Cave beetles and ants’-nest
beetles offer striking instances of this. Degradation in these
humble forms of life goes still further, for the female of
Stylops and Psyche have neither eyes, ocelli, palpi, antenne,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 469
maxille, legs, nor wings; and those of Sycocrypta, although
rejoicing in antenne and legs, exist without activity, and
these insects if extracted from their dwelling-place—the
fleshy interior of the fig—roll themselves together, and remain
absolutely motionless.
I have purposely refrained from describing Hematomyzus
Elephantis ; first, because this has been done well already ;*
and secondly, because the copied figure answers every
purpose of a description. The difference between this louse
and that of the pig is extremely small; the slightly longer
beak of Hematomyzus is only what might have been
predicted of an insect destined to feed on so ponderous a
pachyderm; and it is highly probable that intermediate
forms, even in this respect, will eventually be discovered on
Hippopotamus, Tapirus, Phacocherus, Dicoteles, Rhino-
ceros, and Hyrax, each of these animals having, doubtless, a
genus of parasite as distinct as those of the elephant and
swine.
Without entering very minutely into anatomical details,
indeed without the same patient and thorough investigation
that Nitzsch has bestowed on the enquiry, we shall never be
able to invalidate his conclusion that the Pediculide form
part of the Hemiptera, and I can readily believe that wth
such thorough and patient investigation our conclusions will
be the same as his. I think, also, that most of our reflecting
entomologists will agree with Dr. Burmeister in ranking the
Lepismidz as undeveloped or, perhaps, as degraded allies of
the Ephemeride, and therefore Neuroptera. That eccentric
little insect, Aleyrodes, in the same way, seems an imperfect
and diminished form of Stegoptera. 1 have shown, to the
satisfaction of all entomologists whose approbation I desire,
that Stylops is nothing but a Coleopteron, whose female
wears an altered form, and the elytra of whose male are
reduced almost to nonentities; and Haliday long since pro-
nounced the flea a Dipteron without wings. Thus, these
aberrant, degraded, depauperated, or imperfectly-developed
insects, as they have variously been called, seem to fall into
the ordinary ranks as arranged by general consent of
* “ WHematomyzus g.n. Piaget, Tijdschr. voor Ent. 2nd Series, vol. iv.
p. 254. Sp. H. Elephantis sp.n. Piaget, l.c. p. 254, pl. 11, figs. 1—14.”
Idoloeoris Elephantis, Walker, Sci. Goss. 1871, p. 182.
470 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
entomologists; and this new parasite, like every other
discovery, ancient or modern, seems to supply a missing link
obviously required. Just in the same way as the females of
Psyche and Stylops are degraded forms of Lepidoptera and
Coleoptera respectively, so are the Parasita of Latreille a
degraded group, or, if divided, degraded groups of the
Insecta.
Seeing the universal distribution of lice, it has occurred to
speculative philosophers to enquire into the utility, the
cut bono, of this animated tax on living beings. Some
have suggested that the irritation they occasion promotes
that gentle, but almost unceasing muscular action, which is
admitted on all hands to be conducive to health ; others have
expressed a belief that these creatures are a weapon in the
hands of Providence for the punishment of great offenders;
and the names of Pheretima, Sylla, the two Herods, Maximin,
and Philip II. of Spain, have been cited as illustrations of
this hypothesis; of course the third plague of Egypt would
have been added to the category had it occurred to these
ingenious speculators. Kirby and Spence, in their invaluable
‘Introduction to Entomology, prettily suggest that these
creatures “seem to have been created to punish inattention
to personal cleanliness ;” but this explanation will scarcely
admit of general application, since the irritation they induce
in the pig—“ the lordly pig,” as an enthusiast in the chase
has called him—produces an inclination to wallow in the
mire, and thus add a coating of mud to his customary
panoply of filth. The same work, now happily in the hands
of every entomologist, will show that Hottentots and other
tribes of our fellow-creatures in South Africa habitually feed
on these parasites, and that they were called by classical
writers—Phthirophagi. This taste, moreover, is abundantly
developed in the monkeys, which may be regarded as the
typical Phthirophagi, for it is impossible to visit zoological
gardens in any part of the world without finding proof of the
universality of this taste among our “ poor relations.” The
very eye of a monkey thus seriously engaged, whether on a
fellow-creature or on himself, is indicative of intense interest
in the pursuit.
IXDWARD NEWMAN.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 47]
Economy of Chalcidie. By Francis WALKER, Esq.
(Continued from p. 445.)
TETRASTICHUS CAUDATUS.
TETRASTICHUS and Pteroptrix belong to the Tetrastichide.
In T. caudatus and in a few other species of the genus,
which is very extensive, the oviduct extends more or less
beyond the abdomen. One Tetrastichus is parasitic on some
of the inhabitants of oak-apples; another on Hyponomeuta
evonymella; and I lately received from Mr. Rothera a third,
reared by him from dwarf rose-galls; and I have previously
472 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
mentioned some other inhabitants of these galls. Mr. Rothera
also forwarded to me the inhabitants of the cherry-gall, that
PTEROPTRIX MENES,.
TRICHOGRAMMA EVANESCENS.
grows from the midrib on the under side of oak-leaves, such
as Dryophanta Quercus-folii, the former of the gall, a Synergus
or inquiline, Eurytoma nodularis, Megastigmus dorsalis,
Callimome elegans, and another species of this genus,
probably the female of C. antennatus, and very like the
female of C. versicolor, in which the oviduct is a little
shorter. The difference of the oviduct as to length in the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 473
above-mentioned species infers a difference of distance
between the surface of the gall and the spot where the
purpose of the gall is effected. A Callimome is a nearly
invariable attendant on a gall-maker, and with these two
THYSANUS ATER.
Wa
CIRROSPILUS PACUVIUS.
alone the annals of the gall are comparatively short and
simple, but they are otherwise when Synergi, Eurytomide,
Ormyride, Pteromalide, Eupelmide, Elachistide, and
Tetrastichide, are also congregated there.
Megastigmus dorsalis, as it usually comes from the oak-
apple, is rather smaller than those from the cherry-gall above
mentioned, and the occurrence of the large M. giganteus from
the Devonshire gall in England indicates that some Mega-
stigmi considered as species may be mere modifications by
difference of parasitism.
Z2
474 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Trichogramma is the smallest and most simple form of the
Chalcidie ; it is parasitic on the earliest state of Lepidoptera,
and thus its life commences from an egg within an egg, and
a little grub emerging from the included egg appropriates the
contents of the including egg, which in that case produces a
fly instead of the usual grub.
The Myinide are next to the Trichogrammide in smallness
of size; some of them appropriate Aphides internally: when
such is the case the latter assume a deep black hue, and the
wholly yellow Myina flava is a parasite of Callipterus annu-
latus and of C. Coryli.
Francis WALKER.
Notes on Southern Indian Lepidoptera.
By WitiiAM WarKINS.
(Continued from p. 448.)
JULY was a glorious month: the weather was fine, with
occasional showers, that greatly tended to increase the
already prolific field of Lepidoptera. Whilst beating for
larve on the lst of the month I was astonished to see roll
into my net Limacodes Testudo; after which I got it com-
monly. If my recollection serves me rightly its food-plant at
home is oak; however, it is decidedly not oak in this place,
as I believe (with the exception of one tree at Coonoor and
one at Bangalore) there is no oak growing in Southern India ;
these of course have been cultivated. On the same day on
my way home I beat out Erastria venustula: the same
applies to its food-plant as to that of Testudo, for I am con-
vinced that there is no beech growing on the Neilgherry
hills; it has found something else to feed upon, as | have
caught it repeatedly since. The whole of the species
enumerated for May occurred throughout the month, together
with Macroglossa Stellatarum (common) and Pyrarga
Egeria. In August, Chortobius Davus and Satyrus Semele
put in an appearance; but by far the most interesting occu-
pation this month was the collecting and observing the
numerous species of Crambites and Tortrices, which were
swarming. I do not profess to have ever known much about
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. si 475
these families, and therefore I did not recognize many
English species; but by my captures I know that the genus
Peronea is grandly represented here, several ‘ buttons”
appearing in my store-boxes.
During the month of August J collected a good deal on the
Ghauts, as insects were more common there than at the
higher elevations, probably owing to the heavy rains that set
in about this time. My captures were something over a
hundred specimens of butterflies daily: amongst these were
nine different species of Papilio, almost all the species
occurring in May and June, besides a profusion of “un-
knowns.” I should say that I met with at least twenty
different species of Pieris. Butterflies are so abundant here
this month that you only require to put your net over a small
pool of water and obtain forty or fifty specimens of the most
beautiful species. Acherontia Atropos was very common
during the month; I found it at rest. Bryophila glandifera
was rather common on lichen-covered walls. ‘Thera variata
occurred amongst the Eucalyptus foliage, and also Fidonia
atomaria; whilst on the trunks of the same tree I met with
Kulepia Cribrum commonly.
The atlas-moth (Saturnia Atlas) together with the moon-moth
(Bombyx Luna) occur here during this month; and another
beautiful Bombyx of a pale green colour, having two long
appendages to the hind wings. I have frequently bred all
these species, the larve of which surpass any I ever saw for
brilliant colours. The beautiful Ornithoptera Amphrisius is
very common here on the Ghauts during this month; its
larve feed upon vine: they are black, with red warts, and
are most unseemly things to produce such magnificent
imagos,—rather a frequent occurrence in Entomology. Sep-
tember and October here are the best months of the year, as
almost all the species seemed to occur during these months;
and therefore it will be superfluous for me to enumerate
them, the only additions to the English species being
Macaria alternata and Boarmia crepuscularia. The season
changed greatly towards the latter end of October, and it
became foggy and cold. Rough, cold weather prevailed
throughout the whole of November, and some heavy rain-
falls occurred. In spite of the inclement weather I saw
batches of a Clisiocampa larva feeding upon Acacia; and
476 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
the imago of Colias Hyale was more abundant this month
than any other. C. Porcellus continued to come commonly
to flowers until the close of the year.
WILLIAM WATKINS.
Convalescent Depot, Wellington, Madras,
July 7, 1873.
[I feel some hesitation in accepting the names of British
insects as inhabitants of India without comparison. Perfectly
aware that the same species does occur in Britain and in
India, it still seems desirable to institute a rigid comparison
before assuming that so many Indian species are identical
with our own. I have also noticed that Mr. Watkins
mentions the Eucalyptus as native in India. I thought it
was confined to Australia. I need scarcely say that I shall
always be glad to receive a continuation of these communi-
cations.—EHdward Newman. |
Caplures in the New Forest in 1873, from June 23rd to
July 2\st; including Ten Days at Freshwater, Isle of
Wight. By W. H. TuGweE Lt.
THE season, as arule, has been a very dull one, and old
resident collectors speak of it as the worst they recollect.
Sugar was a perfect failure,—it was literally “wasting one’s
sweetness on the desert air,” and, as a consequence, com-
paratively few Noctuz were captured. Those fortunate
collectors who recollect the year 1871 there would have
been particularly struck at the scarcity of the then abundant
species,—Sibylla, Paphia, Adippe, Aglaia, Selene, and
Sinapis,—which then absolutely swarmed in the rides of the
enclosures by day; and the sugared trees, teeming with
dozens of Promissa, Sponsa, Turca, and enough Oo on dark
patches of sugar to give it the appearance of almond-rock at
night, were things of the past. Common day-flying species
were few and far between, and your sugar a blank, except an
occasional slug or beetle; and insect life, excepting that of
Diptera, was decidedly much less prolific than usual.
One of my principal objects was to retake our new burnet,
Zygena Meliloti; and by devoting twelve days to this species
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 477
I possibly took the finest series of the species ever seen,—
certainly in this country. One curious fact is I failed entirely
in finding any pupa or pupa-case, although I searched for
them on my hands and knees for a very long time, even
when I found the insect perfectly damp; one thing is certain,
they cannot spin up on the culms of grass, &c., as Filipen-
dule and Trifolii do; however, I hope to know how they do
spin, as I have about one hundred larve feeding on Lotus
corniculatus; at present the young larve eat both leaves and
flowers. As a species it is a very distinct one; and Mr.
Doubleday has very clearly defined it in the September
number of the ‘Entomologist’ for last year. It does not
appear to vary much, as I did not get any marked difference
from the type.
I collected, or had brought to me fresh, the following
species :—
Diurna.
Sinapis. The late spring brood, to end of June and first
week in July ; worn.
Cardamines. Were flying, end of June; worn.
Rhamni. Second week in July; worn. «
P. Crategi. Not rare, at flowers of rhododendron, &c.
Of this group I met with thirty-five species, and that in
one month is a good number.
Nocturni.
In this group I found nothing special:—C. Porcellus,
M. fuciformis, C. ligniperda; four species of Zygzena,
—Trifolii, Meliloti, Lonicerz, and Filipendule; and three
species of Hepialus.
S. irrorella. A fine series; one very dark-coloured male ;
and one male IVI variety, at Freshwater.
C. miniata, L. mesomella and Rubricollis, D. Jacobee.
In profusion; both imago and larva.
K. russula. Fairly common on heaths.
B. Rubi. A female; flying over a bog at night. And
many species of general distribution.
Geometre.
B. roboraria. On trunks of fir and oak; also one flying
al night: in all seven.
478 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
T. consonaria and extersaria. Not common; on tree
trunks.
G. papilionaria. Two females off alder, and missed a fine
male.
N. viridata. This species was worn and faded.
P. bajularia. Flying at dusk in the wood-ridings.
H. auroraria. Not common.
Acidalia subsericeata, straminata, and imitaria. Boggy
heaths.
A. immutata. Woods.
A. emutaria. I am not surprised that this species is a
desideratum in so many cabinets. Walking and running up to
one’s knees in bog, and at times getting a plunger not a little
deeper, is not the most pleasant collecting; but to get it at
all one must do this for two hours of an evening, and then
often fail to get even a specimen. I bred ten Emutaria from
eggs collected last year; curiously enough I took the female
the last day of Brockenhurst trip last year, and the larve
lived through the winter, and went to pupa the last week in
May and first in June: the first of the moths appeared on the
21st of June, and they continued to do so until the 30th, when
I was at Brockenhurst again; so they pretty nearly took the
twelve months to complete their transformation.
M. alternata. ‘This species | did not take personally,
although I saw four during my stay ; two of them alive, and
two had been set.
M. liturata. Fairly common if worked for.
S. plumaria. Less common than last year.
M. euphorbiata. Flying by day in woods.
P. hippocastanaria. Common on heaths.
E. pumilata. Beaten out of furze, &c.
L. sexalata. By beating hedges; not commonly.
M. albicillata. In woods; not rare.
M. unangulata. Beating hedges.
G. obscurata. Very dark form, and in fine condition.
E. lineolata. Series,.in fine order, at Freshwater.
T. cherophyllata. Common; and many species of general
distribution.
Cuspidates.
I only set one species, viz. Stauropus Fagi, very fine; this
I did not catch.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 479
Noctue.
My captures were not numerous, as sugar failed.
T. subsequa. One fine specimen flying by day, in Stubby.
A. cinerea. One, at sugar on flower-heads, at Fresh-
water.
A. lunigera and lucernea. Seven of each, at sugar on
flowers at Freshwater; and some six other common
Agrotide.
Caradrina Morpheus, Alsines and blanda. At sugar, on
flowers.
A. caliginosa. Pretty common in Stubby, &c.
T. tridens. At rest on fir-trunks, high up.
D. Orion. One, at sugar.
L. Turca. Three, at sugar.
L. conigera. At flowers.
N. despecta. In the bog at Freshwater.
N. Geminipuncta. Pupz; at Freshwater, near River Yar.
H. dipsacea. Not so common as last year.
P. V-aureum. Over flowers of Erica tetralix.
T. Pastinum. On a bog at Freshwater.
E. fuscula. Not uncommon.
P. enea. Very fine, and particularly bright coloured.
In the families Pyralide, Crambites, and Tortricide, several
good species fell to my net.
PS. I had the good fortune to get a fine specimen of
Calosoma Sycophanta on the shingle, at Freshwater, after
a very heavy gale of wind and rain; the tide had evidently
caught it, and half-drowned it. Not collecting Coleoptera I
have given it to a friend.
W. H. TueGwe..
3, Lewisham Road, Greenwich,
July 24, 1873.
Description of the Larva of Lithosia quadra.—Whilst
collecting near Lyndhurst, early in June this year (1873), I
beat off the lower boughs of oak some larve, as to the
identity of which I was uncertain, but conjectured, from
their general appearance, that they were larve of some
species of Lithosia. About the same time my friend Mr,
480 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Wilbey, of Hampstead, obtained several of these larve. We
supplied them with two or three species of lichen picked off
twigs of oak, and had the satisfaction of seeing them com-
mence feeding thereon. They fed well and grew perceptibly,
though not very rapidly, and about the first week in July
three of Mr. Wilbey’s spun up amongst the lichen. About
this time I had but two surviving larve which appeared to
be full fed, but which never attained maturity, so that we
might still have remained in ignorance as to the identity of
the larve, had not Mr. Wilbey, more fortunate than myself,
succeeded in rearing an imago. On the 31st July a perfect
male specimen of Lithosia quadra emerged from one of his
three pupe. The larve when full fed vary from one inch and
three lines to nearly an inch and six lines in length: they
are cylindrical, of moderate bulk, the segmental divisions
tolerably deeply incised; attenuated distinctly behind, and
having the second segment manifestly narrower than those
which immediately follow it. The claspers are very long.
The colour of the head is black; its surface appears as if
highly polished. The second segment is entirely dull grayish,
with a few inconspicuous yellow marks on itS posterior
portion, only visible when the larva is fully extended. The
dorsal surface of the 3rd segment is black, and it bears four
yellowish marks along its subdorsal region, the anterior pair
longitudinal, the posterior transverse. The dorsal surface of
the rest of the body, from the 4th to the 12th segment (both
inclusive), is divided into two well-contrasted areas, viz., a
pale dorsal and a dark lateral, the dorsal area being pale
gray, longitudinally striated, and minutely dotted with more
or less vivid yellow. ‘The principal yellow markings are :—
a double dorsal line, its constituent parts not parallel, but
enclosing an elongate diamond-shaped area on each segment ;
exactly in the centre of these two lines there is usually an
indistinct thread-like medio-dorsal line, and a subdorsal line
somewhat interrupted and broken up into spots, and which
follows the outline of the dorsal line. ‘The pattern above
described is interrupted three times, v7z., on the anterior part
of the 4th segment, in the centre of the 8th segment, and on
the posterior part of the 12th segment, in each of which
places it is erased by a conspicuous transverse black spot ;
that on the 4th segment oblong; the other two somewhat
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 481
diamond-shaped. Next below the subdorsal line is a deep
black stripe, having an interrupted yellow line down its
centre, and bordered beneath by a similar line. Below this
the lateral surface is smoky gray, minutely dotted with
yellow; the spiracular line is yellowish, and intermediate
between it and the above-mentioned black stripe is a much
interrupted yellow line. The lateral surface of the 3rd and
4th segments is grayish, thickly dotted with yellow. The
usual tubercles are conspicuous, and each of them is some-
what thickly tufted; at each extremity of the larva are a few
scattered hairs, much longer than any of the others. Of the
dorsal tubercles the 8rd and 4th segments have the anterior
pair the largest, and coloured bluish gray, the posterior being
dull red; on the other segments the posterior pair are the
most conspicuous, the anterior pair being very small. On the
5th to 11th segments both pairs of tubercles are dull red, the
posterior pair being seated on the subdorsal line and project-
ing into the black band below it. All the tubercles on the
12th segment are bluish gray, as are also those on the lateral
surface. ‘The hairs are very pale grayish, and have a slight
silky gloss. The ventral surface is dull smoky gray, with a
few yellow marks on each side of every segment after the 4th,
The legs are black; the claspers pale reddish gray on their
outer, almost colourless on their inner, side. The favourite
food of these larve is a common lichen (Parmelia caperata),
which grows in great abundance on all the trees in the
locality where I captured them. They will, however, eat
other species of lichens. They never fed very voraciously,
and were always very restless when feeding, scarcely ever
settling down to one patch of lichen for any length of time.
They appeared to extract nourishment from places where the
coating of lichen was so slight as to be quite invisible to the
naked eye. All the larve we captured this year were beaten
from oak; but in the spring of 1872 Mr. Wilbey took them
in some abundance on beech, but failed to rear the imago.
Probably they feed on the lichens growing on most species
of forest trees. I am indebted to Mr. Wilbey for an interesting
fact respecting this larva. For some time we neither of
us could account for the diminution in the number of our
larve. I discovered two empty skins bitten in half; I could
not conjecture by what, as I had seen no slugs or other
Z3
482 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
intruders in the cage. At last one day Mr. Wilbey discovered
one of his larve in the act of devouring another of its own
species: it began by biting a hole in the back of the larva,
and then appeared to suck out the soft interior parts, till it
left nothing but the empty skin, which was apparently too
tough a morsel for its digestive organs. He afterwards saw
another larva in the act of devouring a larva of Cleora
lichenaria, which happened to be in the same cage. This
would seem to prove that in confinement, at all events, if not
in a state of nature, this larva is a cannibal. The cannibalism
in this case was certainly not caused by want of food, as my
friend had supplies of freshly-gathered lichen up from the
forest twice a week.— Bernard Lockyer; August 8, 1873.
Description of the Larva of Depressaria Yeatiana, Fab.—
Length, quarter of an inch to five-eighths of aninch. Colour
light chrome-green. Form slender, semi-cylindrical, slightly
appressed, constricted, with yellowish rings between the
segments. Head black, broad, shining; corslet black, broad,
having a rather light edge in front. Dorsal streak faint;
subdorsal streak hardly perceptible; papille indistinct. First
pair of feet black; the remainder green. Spines yellow,
strong, but sparse. Feeds upon Daucus Carota (wild carrot),
forming a tube by turning the pinne of the leaves over, and
resides therein. It is full fed during the last week in June
and first week in July; it then descends to the surface of the
earth and spins a white, silken, but rather slight covering, and
changes to a rather flattened, bright brown chrysalis, in size
and shape very like the chrysalis of Gelechia populella, and
remains in pupa about three weeks. This larva was dis-
covered by Mr. Hodgkinson and myself, in 1871, in West-
moreland, and a drawing made then agrees exactly with
larve taken by us in North Lancashire and in South Lan-
cashire in 1872 and 1873, from which the series before me
were bred.—C. S. Gregson; August 19, 1873. -
Entomological Notes, Captures, &c.
Controlling of Sex in Butterflies —While I have pen in
hand let me say a word on Mrs. Mary Treat’s experiments in
reference to the “ Controlling of Sex in Butterflies,” and—as
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 483
the law must, of course, be universal—in other Lepidoptera.
Mrs. Treat’s experiments are not quite satisfactory. A male
may be an under-fed female; but this can scarcely be the
exclusive method of producing males. In a batch of—say
one hundred—Antiopas feeding on the same elm or willow,
and of course all similarly fed, there will, unquestionably, be
a considerable number of males. I have, however, a suggestion
to make to Mrs. Treat. We have in the Atlantic States a
moth, Thyreus Abbotii, the female larva of which is altogether
different in colour from that of the male. Now, if Mrs. Treat
will take the female larva of this moth, and, by any method
whatever, make it produce a male moth, the process by which
such a change is brought about will be worth very serious
consideration. I have heard of such changes in Hymenoptera.
Why not in Lepidoptera'—W. V. Andrews; New York,
July 31, 1873.
Argynnis Niobe (Linn.) in Kent.—Mr. Parry, of Canter-
bury, sent me two specimens of an Argynnis, to name one of
them, which he said he had sent alive to my friend Edward
Newman. They are females of Argynnis Niobe,—the typical
variety, with the spots on the under side silvery. I know
nothing of their history beyond the statement of Mr. Parry,—
that he took them twenty miles from Canterbury. Being a
sub-alpine species on the Continent, and a native of Sweden,
its occurrence in this country might be looked for in the
northern counties of England and in Scotland rather than in
Kent.—Henry Doubleday, Epping, August 23, 1873.
[Mr. Parry sent me a specimen of Argynnis alive, which I
set and returned to him, expressing my opinion that it was
A. Adippe. My friend Mr. Tugwell happened to be with me
the afternoon before I returned the specimen, and after a
careful examination entirely concurred in this opinion. In
reference to Mr. Doubleday’s observation, that Niobe might
- be looked for in our northern counties rather than in Kent, I
may just repeat that the only other British specimen (recorded
in the ‘ Entomologist, vol. iv. p. 851, and subsequently in
‘ British Butterflies,’ p. 30) was taken by Mr. Gerrard in the
New Forest, Hampshire. It is now in the collection of the
Rev. Windsor Hambrough.—Edward Newman.]
Variely of Argynnis Adippe and Lycena Aigon.—When
in the forest in July I captured, in Stubby Copse, a specimen
484 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of A. Adippe, wanting the hind marginal series of silver spots
on the hind wings and the apical ones on the fore wings, and
also differing in some other minor respects from typical
specimens. I also took a female specimen of Lycena Agon,
as large as my largest male, and with the basal portion of the
wing blue as in the male, with the wing-rays brown; it also
wants the series of marginal orange spots on the upper
surface.— Bernard Lockyer; 179, Camden Road, London,
N.W., August 6, 1873.
Melitea Dia in Kent.—On the 23rd of last month I was
fortunate enough to take two specimens of Melitza Dia on
thistles, in the open spots in a wood, in this neighbourhood ;
they were in fine condition, apparently just emerged from the
chrysalis.—T’. Batchelor; Yew Tree Farm, Southborough,
Kent, August 18, 1873.
Vanessa Antiopa in America.—Absence from home is my
excuse for not replying earlier to Mr. Birchall’s very proper
remarks on the inconclusiveness of my answer to his question :
“Does V. Antiopa ever emerge from its chrysalis with a
white border?” The truth is that I do not, upon reflection,
know that it does; it is a matter of inference. All fall
specimens have the yellow or brimstone border; all spring
specimens have the white border. All fall specimens that
have hybernated, in my possession, have the yellow border
in the spring. But, if the hybernating Antiopa does not
undergo a bleaching process during the winter, it is no very —
extravagant assumption that the spring specimens with a
white border have passed the winter in the chrysalis state.
Still, I admit that this is not quite satisfactory. Perhaps
some other correspondent may assist us in ascertaining the
facts— W. V. Andrews; New York, July 31, 1873.
Vanessa Antiopa near Horsham.—As | was driving to-day
I saw a Vanessa Antiopa flying by the road-side, near Monk’s
Green, about half-way between Lower Beeding and Horsham.
I had a very good view of it, as it flew very steadily, though
strongly, within six feet of me, for nearly a hundred yards,
when it turned over the hedge, and I saw no more of it. The
sun was shining clearly upon it, and I saw distinctly the
edging of the wings, which were bright yellow, the rest of the
butterfly appearing nearly black—Wm. Borrer; Cowfold,
Sussex, August 16, 1878.
Great Abundance of Vanessa Io.—1 have just returned
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 485
from spending a few days in Sussex, near Arundel, and have
been struck with the unusual abundance of this butterfly.
Each fine morning, in the course of a couple of hours, along
the lanes and road-sides, I must have seen from three to four
dozen, mostly in beautiful condition, sitting, and flying round
the thistle-heads and various flowers. I should like to hear
if it is abundant all over England this season, for last, if I
remember rightly, it was very scarce. I noticed only two or
three specimens, and I think several of your correspondents
remarked about the scarcity of this species. Of P. Atalanta and
Cardui I have not seen a specimen, and I have not heard of
anyone having observed Antiopa. It will be singular if these
three species should be scarce this season, or the latter be
entirely absent. The ordinary common butterflies were in
tolerable abundance, such as P. Brassice, Rap, Napi,
H. Janira, Hyperanthus, Tithonus, &c. Next week I shall
be along the Kentish coast, and if I notice any rarities, or
anything worth recording, will send you a report.—Samuel
Stevens ; 28, King Street, Covent Garden, August 18, 1873.
Variety of Pyrarga Megera.—Is it a common occurrence
for Megzra to have a double-pupilled spot near the apical
angle of the fore wing, exactly similar to Tithonus? I have
a specimen in my collection so marked (a female, caught two
years ago), and should you like to see it I shall be most
happy to send it to you.—Byron Noel; East Budleigh,
Budleigh Salterton, Devon, August 6, 1873.
[It is certainly not common for Megera to have a double-
pupilled spot at the apical angle: it may possibly be another
species. I should be obliged by a sight of the insect, if an
opportunity occurs of sending it by private hand; but I
would on no account send it by post.— Edward Newman. |
Variety of Cherocampa Elpenor.—On the 23rd of last
June I bred a fine variety of C. Elpenor: it is entirely of a
uniform olive-green colour, excepting the abdomen, which is
tipped with bright pink. This is the second variety of this
species I have bred within the last three years— Edward F.
Bisshopp ; Ipswich, August, 16, 1873.
Variely of Xylophasia polyodon.—The other night I cap-
tured a variety of this insect at sugar: it is marked like the
ordinary ones, but in addition has a broad silver band across
both wings.—George J. S. Eastham; Spring Bank, Pendleton,
near Manchester, August 1, 1873.
486 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Fecundity of Sphingide.—A female of S. Ligustri, which
I found at rest a few weeks since, laid two hundred and sixty
eggs, all of which, save one, produced larve. Is this a large
number? A female of S. Populi, captured at rest last week,
has laid one hundred and sixty eggs. In what work may be
found information as to the fecundity of Lepidoptera ?—[Dr.]
H. W. Livett; Wells, Somerset, July 23, 1873.
Smerinthus Populi only a Fortnight in Pupa.—On the
6th of August a female specimen of Smerinthus Populi came
out in my box, from a pupa bred from a caterpillar this year:
the first caterpillar having burrowed on the 16th of July, this
insect can only have been in pupa about a fortnight.—D. G.
Lathom Browne; Winkfield, Beckenham, August 13, 1878.
Zygena Lonicere and L. Trifolii—Mr. Robert Last, of
Birmingham, has sent me your note of the 11th respecting
some Zygene he sent you. I named these for him as
Lonicere, and you say they are Trifolii. How de you
separate the two? In a pair I have always considered
typical Trifolii, the spots are much larger than in those of
Mr. Last’s; the middle pair are quite confluent, the antenne
are shorter, and I think the thickening is more abrupt. In
fact, they are distinct enough to be separated by any tyro;
but when I come to look over a lot of what I call Lonicere,
I find differences not very easy to understand. In a series
gathered from various places I find a great difference in the
length of the antennz, and I have one with a short antenna
on one side. The size of the spots and width of the hind
border vary much; and I find one from Mr. Last’s lot that
might pass for Meliloti, but that the upper centre spot is
round, not oval. If you would not consider it too much
trouble I should be very much obliged if you would give me
a line or two on your distinguishing marks of the two species.
I have been wondering whether I have not two species mixed as
Lonicere, separable in length of antenne principally. Now,
I ask, is that with short antenne what you call Trifolii? If
so, what is the species spoken of before with confluent spots?
—John E. Robson; Sea View, Hartlepool.
Zeuzera Assculi in the common Holly.—On the 17th of
March last a gardener in this neighbourhood found two larve
of Zeuzera Adsculi feeding in some young holly-trees he was
transplanting. They were brought to me; one I gave away,
and the other I determined to rear if possible. [ partially
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 487
stopped up the hole in the branch with clay, and placed it
in the garden with the end sticking in the ground: it
continued feeding, and on the 10th of July emerged a fine
female. I have also found it feeding in willow.—B. W.
Neave.
Bombyx processionea in Kent.—About the middle of last
June I found a quantity of pupe of a species quite new to
me, concealed among the twigs and rubbish of an old mag-
pie’s nest built in a tall pine-tree. Some of these pupe are in
tolerably perfect cocoons, in appearance something between
that of B. Quercus and B. Neustria, but rather smaller than
that of B. Neustria; the chrysalides themselves are light
brown, and in shape almost exactly like B. Neustria: one
has just yielded me a moth, which appears to me to be a
small variety of B. processionea; there are about fifty pup
in all.—T. Batchelor ; Yew Tree Farm, Southborough, Kent.
[I shall feel obliged if Mr. Batchelor will submit both
the Dia and Processionea to Mr. Doubleday or myself, with
a view to examination and confirmation. Mr, Batchelor is
probably unknown to many of my readers.—LZ. Newman.]
Does Cossus occasionally form its Cocoon in the Ground.
—Is it the usual, or even the occasional, habit of Cossus
Ligniperda to form its cocoon in the earth, at the depth of
two inches, and at least fifty yards—with a steep hill inter-
vening—from the tree where it has fed? I found one in this
situation, with the insect just emerged, early in June, and
was much surprised, as I thought that as a rule the larva
spun up inside the tree where it has fed, at the extremity of
one of its galleries—Henry F. Wilson; The Rectory,
Forncett St. Peter, Long Stratton, Norfolk, August 21, 1873.
[I have seen Cossus wandering across roads and footpaths
far from any tree in which I should suppose it likely to have
fed; but we all may fall into error by restricting its range of
food too narrowly. All entomologists must have observed the
occasional wild and wayward wandering of larvee, accompanied
by change of colour, before assuming the pupa state. More
directly answering Mr. Wilson’s question, I have found this
larva underground in a cocoon formed of silk and earth,
without a particle of its home being made of sawdust.—
Edward Newman. |
Demas Coryli and Ligdia Adustata Double-brooded.—
Some eggs of Coryli in my possession hatched about the
488 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
beginning of June: some of the larve began to pupate on
July 2ist, and from these two moths emerged,—a male on
August 2nd, and a female on August 3rd; the female laid a
number of eggs, which hatched in less than ten days, the
larve from which are now feeding well. Coryli is, I believe,
frequently double-brooded, but I think it rather unusual for
two broods of Adustata to occur in the year. A female of this
species, taken on the wing on June 16th, deposited fifteen
eggs in a chip-box; the larve emerged on June 27th, and all
turned to pupa on the same day, July 24th. ‘The first imago
emerged on August 11th, but I did not attempt to obtain
eggs, as I have found that the larve are not easily brought
through the winter.— Gilbert H. Raynor ; Hazeleigh Rectory,
Maldon, August 22, 1873.
Platypteryx Sicula near Bournemouth.—1 obtained a
larva of this species in this neighbourhood, feeding on alder,
on August the 12th, 1873: it made up in an alder-leaf on
August the 15th.—[ Rev.] A. C. Hervey ; Pokesdown, Bourne-
mouth.
Information of Instructors.—1 went a few days since to
the Bethnal Green Museum, and looked over the cases of
Economic Entomology. I found it stated against the speci-
mens exhibited of Vanessa Ilo,—“ Feeds on various plants ;”
and of Vanessa Atalanta,—“ Feeds on all kinds of plants.”
My own experience of both species is that the larve feed
only on nettles. Will you therefore ask the question
in the pages of the ‘Entomologist?’ It appears to me
that in an educational museum the information given by
the curator on the labels should be scrupulously correct,
but I often find the reverse to be the case. It is a crotchet
of mine that the instructor should be well informed on the
subject which he undertakes to teach, but in practice I find
that those best competent are not instructors.—J. Jenner
Weir; 6, Haddo Villas, Blackheath, S.E., August 7, 1873.
Long Continental Entomological Pins.—\ should be very
much obliged if you would inform me where I can get those
extremely long, thin pins, so much used on the Continent.—
George J. S. Eastham; Spring Bank, Pendleton, near
Manchester.
[I am unable to give the desired information, having never
seen any purchased in England. Will any correspondent
kindly answer the query '—EHdward Newman. |
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Nos. 121 &122.] OCTOBER, MDCOCCLXXIII. [Price ls.
On the Brain and a Portion of the Nervous System of
Pediculus Capitis. By J. S. Bowrrsank, LL.D., F.R.S.
AxsovuT twenty years ago Mr. Topping furnished me with
one of the finest preparations in Canada balsam of a specimen
of Pediculus Capitis that I have ever seen. It possesses
great transparency, and, at the same time, by the mode of
preparation, the muscles and nerves are stained of an amber-
yellow colour, so as to be rendered distinctly and beautifully
visible beneath the microscope. The examination of this
specimen at the time I received it disclosed so many inte-
resting facts appertaining to the brain and nerves of the
creature, that | felt a strong inclination to carefully examine
its organization, in the hope of throwing some additional
light on the anatomy and physiology of insects in general,
and on the organs of sense and the habits of this one in
particular ; but other occupations have hitherto prevented me
from pursuing this subject until the present time.
The brain varies to a considerable extent in size and
form in different tribes of insects, but in this one it is a more
than usually well-developed state. ‘The two lobes of the
cerebrum are united at the upper surface of the organ, but
they are widely separated beneath and between the separated
portions; the cesophagus, deeply embedded, passes from the
anterior to the posterior parts of the head over the upper
surface of the cerebellum, which is gradually inclined down-
ward from its junction with the posterior portion of the
cerebrum. A partial constriction of the general mass marks
the junction of the posterior part of the cerebrum with the
anterior portion of the cerebellum. The fore part of the
cerebellum closely resembles the cerebrum in form, but it
VOL. VI. pawl
490 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
differs from it in having two terminal lobes, one on each side,
of a widely-shaped oblong.
The substance of the brain appears to be amorphous, and
I could not with a power of 700 linear detect the slightest
indication of convoluted structure. Two pairs of nerves are
distinctly to be seen passing from the cerebrum. The first
pair are the optic nerves, which originate at the lateral
margin of each mass of the cerebrum from a small conical
mass, the base of which is on the surface of the brain-lobe;
and from the apex of the cone the nerve proceeds in the form
of a small cylindrical thread, in a straight and tense line, to
the base of the eye, where it expands into a cone of attach-
ment very similar in form and size to that from which it
emanates. The diameter of the base of the cone measured
x7ss inch, the extreme length of the optic nerve is +4, inch,
and the nerve at about equal distances from its terminations
measured -~ + inch in diameter.
The second pair of nerves passing from the cerebrum are
the antennal ones. They originate from conical bases very
similar in form and size to those of the optic nerves, from the
fore part of the margins of the brain-lobes opposite to the
basal joints of the antenne, and pass beneath the muscles in
a meandering course into the antennz at about the centre of
the basal joints. In the right antenna, in which the nerve is
most distinct, it pursues its course in a direction inclined to
its right side until it reaches the base of the second joint,
through which it passes in a diagonal direction to the left side
of the antenna, and thence continues its course as a flexible
thread until it reaches to about the middle of the terminal
joint of the organ, when it expands into the form of a large
conical mass, the broad base of which is closely attached to
the thin terminal membrane of the antenna, on the outer
surface of which there are numerous very minute hairs. The
terminations of the antenne are not like those of many other
insects; they consist of a sunken area of thin membrane,
with a well-defined marginal ring surrounding and protecting
them from injury ; and itis on this thin circular area that the
minute terminal hairs are based.
The antennal nerves are less than the optic ones; their
diameter at a slight distance below the commencement of the
expansion into the terminal cone measured 7,+;; inch, and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 491
the broad base of the cone at its application to the terminal
membrane was 5+, inch in diameter. Small as these organs
are, those of the terminal membrane of the antenna are still
more minute. The length of two of the longest of the minute
hairs measured ;3's5 inch, and the diameter of the thickest of
the two was +-355 inch. The length of these hairs was
unequal, and they seemed to occur in pairs closely adjoining
each other.
The optic and antennal nerves are the only ones that are
distinctly visible as passing from the cerebrum; but there
appears rather indistinctly to be another pair beyond the
antennal ones that seem to pass from beneath the margin of
the fore part of the brain, and to proceed forward to the oral
organs of the insect, and are shortly lost sight of beneath the
muscles.
The general distribution of the nerves in the body of the
insect cannot be traced in the specimen under consideration,
as the viscera and the muscular system completely obscures
them ; but in the limbs the course of the principal nerve and
the branches it gives off to the hairs on the surface of the limb
is frequently distinctly to be seen and traced, and especially so
in the large terminal joints of the fore limbs, with a linear power
of 320. There appears to be but one main nerve, which tra-
verses the whole length of the limb, and from which a branch is
given off to the base of each of the external hairs, There is no
enlargement of the branch at the point at which it departs
from the main nerve, but shortly before it reaches the base of
the hair it gradually enlarges and assumes the form of a bell-
shaped cone, the broad base of which is applied to the base
of the hair. The branches of the nerves thus appropriated to
the hairs are of extreme tenuity; the one belonging to the
hair with the large basal cone measured 774,55 inch in
diameter; the length of the cone at the base of the hair was
sts inch and its basal diameter +755 inch. Each hair
evidently has its especial nerve, but it is only under very
favourable circumstances that they can be so distincly traced,
as in the right forearm of the insect under consideration ; but
in far the greater number there are unmistakable indications
of their presence.
The antenne are also furnished with hairs at the distal
portions of each joint. They are slender and few in number,
492 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
I examined their bases for nerves, and I could in several of
them trace very minute threads of nerve for short distances
from their bases, but in consequence of the thickness of the
outer integuments I could not follow them to the main
antennal nerve, nor could I detect their junctions with the
main nerve; but the direction of these minute nerve-threads
were always towards it. The whole of the hairs on the body
and limbs of this insect are evidently simple organs of touch
to guide it in its progress through the forest of hairs amidst
which it lives.
Very little appears to be definitely known regarding the
senses of insects. Burmeister states :—“ Of all the organs of
the senses the eye alone possesses a superior development ;
nose and ear are not yet proved to exist, and taste, likewise,
can only be present in a few, at least to a degree worthy of
investigation; but touch, which never properly possesses a
distinct and constant organ, but, according to the differences
of animal organization, is sometimes imparted to one and
sometimes to another organ, has, in the majority of the
orders, peculiar organs varying in their grade of develop-
ment.” Burmeister also states (‘Shuckard’s Translation,’
p. 296) :—* Sulzer, Scarpa, Schneider, Borkhausen, Reaumur,
and Bonsdorf, consider the antennz as organs of hearing.
That they are not organs of touch is proved anatomically by
the observation that insects never use them as such, this
function being exercised by other organs, namely, the palpi.”
This conclusion as regards the organs of touch in the
insect under consideration has no force, as Pediculus Capitis,
P. Vestimenti, and Phthirius inguinalis, have no_ palpi.
Shuckard writes of the antenne—* That they are not organs of
touch is proved anatomically by theirhorny, hard upper surface,
and physiologically by the observation that insects never use
them as such.” ‘This may be true, as applied to some of the
insect tribe; but it must be observed that Shuckard does not
take into consideration the probable sensitive qualities of the
numerous minute hairs with which the terminations of these
organs are furnished.
Strauss Durckheim regards the feet as being especially
appropriated to the sense of feeling, while Burmeister places
the exercise of touch exclusively in the palpi. The antenne
and palpi have each had the power of smelling assigned to
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 493
them. Owen believes the antenne to have the faculties of
touch and hearing, but thinks their precise function has not
been hitherto well defined. Thus, authors seem to differ
greatly as to the seat of the organs of the senses of touch,
smell, and hearing.
Under these circumstances it appears to me that our best
guide to the elucidation of these difficulties lies in accurate
observations on the nervous systems of the insect tribes.
They differ greatly in their habits and manners, and we may
therefore naturally expect to find them varying in their
nervous structures in a corresponding degree. In the higher
class of animals we find the senses of hearing, feeling or
touch, and seeing, have each their appropriate set of nerves,
and that their nervous systems are much more complicated
than in insects; but I am not aware that it has ever been
demonstrated by anatomists that the same nerve or nervous
system serves two different senses, and it is not reasonable to
expect such to be the case among insects. In the case of the
optic nerve, we find in insects, as in the higher animals, that
it serves the eye only. In many other warm-blooded
animals we find an exceedingly complicated division of the
nervous system, which in them are exceedingly sensitive to
injury, producing agonising sensations of pain; but that this
is not the case among insects we have numerous observations
recorded to establish that fact. Perhaps one of the most
striking instances is the experiment of Mr. Davis, an entomo-
logist well known to the members of the Entomological Club
of London, many years since. I heard him relate that while
out insect-hunting he took a large Libellula, and while
holding it by its wings, pressed together over its back, he
presented a finger to its mouth, and the insect made a
vigorous attempt to bite it, so he turned up the end of its own
tail to its mouth, and it bit a piece off of it, and this it
repeated several times. Mr. Davis at once came to the
conclusion that there was no feeling of pain in the operation.
He then, with a pair of scissors, removed nearly the whole of
that part of its body, and cutting a short length off a straw he
thrust it into the stump of the tail, but he found at first that
the artificial tail was too heavy, so he trimmed it until it
became a fair balance to the body. Away flew the Libellula,
and he commenced hawking about for flies just as if nothing
extraordinary had happened to its tail.
494 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The hairs on the joints of the antenne, there is little room
for doubt, are simply organs of feeling or touch, and as they
receive their branches from the simple main nerve of the
antenna, terminating at the bases of similar, but very minute
hairs, which, from structure and position, have every appear-
ance of being discriminative organs of feeling also, it appears
reasonable to conclude that the single main nerve of the
antenna is devoted to the sense of touch only, as the optic
nerve is devoted solely to the sense of vision. If we have
separate nerves for vision and touch, it is reasonable to
expect that a separate nerve would have been devoted to so
important a sense as hearing, and that if the antenne had
possessed that faculty we should have found a separate nerve
in each devoted to it; but as such is not the case we may
reasonably conclude that all the hairs are appropriated to the
sense of touch under ordinary circumstances, and that the
delicate and beautiful organization of the terminations of the
antenne are especially devoted to the office of discriminative
feeling ; and this conclusion appears the more probable when
we consider that for the ordinary purposes of touch each hair
of the body and limbs has a single branch of nerve, while the
broad base of the terminal cone of the antennal nerve is
applied to the bases of a congregation of very minute hairs,
based on a thin and probably elastic membrane.
The mode of the imbibition of nutriment by these insects
does not appear to have been determined by the naturalists
who have described them in a satisfactory manner. Swam-
mardam, in p. 33 in his book of ‘Nature or History of
Insects, states :—‘'The louse has neither beak, teeth, nor
any kind of mouth, as Dr. Hooke describes it, for the entrance
into the gullet is absolutely closed. In place of all these it
has a proboscis or trunk, or, as it may be otherwise called, a
pointed or hollow aculeus or sucker, with which it pierces the
skin and sucks the human blood, taking it for its food into
the body: but this proboscis cannot be shown, on account of
extreme smallness, nor can it be distinguished unless a person
happens to see it by chance.”
This description of the oral apparatus of the insect is to a
very considerable extent incorrect, arising probably from the
difficulties under which the great microscopical observers
laboured in those days. In the specimen under description
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 495
we find a short, truncated, conical, suctorial tube. The
length of this tube is 34, inch, the diameter at the base
is s+5 inch, and at the orifice -4,, inch: it appears perfectly
smooth, and is very thin at the mouth, but evidently firm and
strong. Within the orifice of this tube there are two
elliptical sponge-like bodies, with somewhat corrugated or
obscurely transversely striated surfaces ; each of these organs
is provided with a basal ligament, which may be traced
backward for a short distance, when it is seen to terminate in
a muscular fasciculus of about the same length as the
ligament. This structure irresistibly suggests an action
within the short tube, similar to that of a mechanical piston.
Such an organ applied to one of the sudoriferous ducts
would be admirably adapted to exhaust its contents by
suction for the nutrimentation of the insect. The conical
form of the suctorial tube would adapt it to any variations
that might occur in the diameters of the sudoriferous pores.
The spiral ducts in a fine wet preparation of the human
scalp in my possession measured 7,55 inch in diameter,
expanding slightly at their external orifices, so the suctorial
tube of the insect being 7255 inch at its orifice and ,4-, at its
base would scarcely ever fail in adapting itself as a suctorial
organ to the sudoriferous pore from which it might choose to
extract its contents. The application of the sucking apparatus
of the insect to the perspiratory pores of man is suggested by
Swammerdam, and he describes the organ by which he believes
it to be effected as “a proboscis or trunk, or, as it may be
otherwise called, a pointed or hollow aculeus or sucker.”
When the learned author described the entrance into
the gullet as absolutely closed, it is probable he had dis-
covered by dissection the two little masses within the
sucking-tube of the creature, and not being able to see their
ligamentous and muscular appendages he considered them as
impassable obstacles to entry of nutrimental matters. I have
not discovered in the specimen under consideration any
organism the shape of the “ proboscis or trunk, or, as it may
otherwise be called, a pointed or hollow aculeus or sucker,
with which it pierces the skin and sucks the buman blood.”
As described and figured by the author in tab. i. fig. 4a, as
very little exceeding one of the adjacent hairs in diameter,
such an organ would be quite incompetent to imbibe a single
496 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
molecule of human blood which has an average diameter of
szy1 inch. The distal orifice of the large oral tube of the
insect has a diameter only 4.5 inch, while that of the
supposititious sucker, as described and figured by Hooke and
Swammerdam, certainly does not exceed one-fourth or one-
fifth of that of the oral orifice; so that, estimating it at
one-fourth the size of the oral orifice, its diameter would not
exceed z,%,, inch, very little exceeding half the diameter of
a blood disk.
Denny, in his excellent ‘ Monographia Anoplurorum
Britanniz, represents P. Vestimenti in pl. xxvi., and
exhibits, in figs. 4, g, and h, what he designates the
haustellum in a state of protrusion. I have not seen this
organ in the state he represents, but there is no doubt of its
existence, for at a very short distance within the two
spongeous masses, which occupy a considerable space in the
conical suctorial tube of P. Capitis, there is a third spongeous
mass, the long axis of which is at right angles to those of the
other two spongeous bodies. This third mass is similar in its
apparent structure, but rather smaller than either of the
others. From the middle of its posterior side there is a short,
stout ligament or pedicle projected backward for rather more
than the greatest length of the spongoid body, and terminating
in an irregular basal mass, from which two ligaments diverge,
passing towards the right and left sides of the head, each
terminating in a spindle-shaped muscular fasciculus. I could
not detect any prehensile teeth or hook on the spongeous
mass of this organ with a power of 700 linear, but this may
probably be accounted for by my having examined these
organs in their natural condition and in a state of repose, my
specimen having never undergone desiccation, while that of
Mr. Denny’s may have been sketched from a dried specimen.
This third spongeous mass in the rear of the two formerly
described, and in conjoined action with them, would form an
exceedingly efficacious compound piston-valve in such a
suctorial tube as that of P. Capitis. These organs are faith-
fully represented in the figure of the head of the insect by the
artist, but they are so minute that a lens of two or three
inches focus may be applied with advantage to the figure.
The third species of parasite infesting the human body is
Phthirius inguinalis (the crab-louse). Specimens in my pos-
C4
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 497
session have the same suctorial organs as P. Capitis,
including the spongeous masses in the sucking-tube with
their thread-like ligaments. The antenne exhibit, but very
indistinctly, similar nerves to those of P. Capitis, and their
terminations are also the same in structure. The same
suctorial organization exists in Hematopinus Suis, the para-
site of the hog; in Trichodectes scalaris, the parasite of the
ox; and in a great number of parasites of the same and
nearly-allied genera.
If we thus read off the habits of these creatures by the
structure of their oral organs it would appear that it is not a
blood-sucking animal, and that its natural food is the fluid
exhalations of the human body through the sudoriferous
ducts, but that if blood were found there is little doubt that
it would imbibe it. All the authors who have examined and
described the two species of Pediculus agree in asserting
that they do not inflict any pain during feeding on the fluids
extracted from the human skin.
J. S. BowERBANK.
Variety of Melitea Euphrosyne.—This female Euphrosyne
has the basal half of all the wings black, and presenting a
very marked appearance; in the fore wings there is a double
fulvous spot in the middle of the black area, and in the hind
wings there is a smaller crescentic mark of the same colour:
VARIETY OF MELITEA EUPHROSYNE (FEMALE).
the situation of these several markings is distinctly shown in
the illustration. The specimen is in the rich collection of
Mr. 8S. Stevens, who has lent it to me for the express purpose
of figuring in the ‘ Entomologist.’ I have now only to thank
2A2
498 THE ENTOMOLOGIST,
Mr. Stevens for the use of a series of varieties, which must be
of great interest to every subscriber. The series is now com-
plete.—Hdward Newman.
Notes on the Mymaride. By Francis WALKER, Esq,
~D,
SS. = :
NN .
PTERATOMUS PUTNAMI.
THe Mymaride are more atom-like than all the other
Hymenoptera, and thus, in comparison with them, are
nearest on the surface of creation to spaceless infinity,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 499
Ichneumon atomus, Zinn., is probably one of the Myma-
ridz, but the mention of it as such is sufficient, the description
not being suitable for the limits of a species. Nees ab Esen-
beck established two genera—Gonatocerus and Eutriche—in
this family, which he considered as Chalcidiea. Haliday
separated them as a family, with a systematic arrangement
of the genera into which he divided them. Foerster after-
wards elaborated them, and his Synopsis is here translated as
follows :—
A. Tarsi 5-jointed.
a. Abdomen distinctly petiolated.
* Antenne of the male 10-jointed, of the female
9-jointed. - - - - CAMPTOPTERA.
** Antenne of the male 13-jointed, of the female
1l-jointed. - . - : - Oocronus.
. b. Abdomen sessile, or nearly sessile.
Male.
** Marginal branch extending to the middle of the
costa. - : - - - Limacts.
** Marginal branch not extending to the middle of
the costa.
+ Antenne 13-jointed. - - - GoNATOCERUS.
++ Antenne 10-jointed. - - - - ALAPTUS.
Female.
* Antenne 11-jointed. : - . GONATOCERUS.
*k Antenne 9-jointed. - - - - Lirtvs.
kk Antenne 8-jointed.
+ Marginal branch extending to the middle of the
costa. - - - - - Linmaots.
4+ Marginal branch not extending to the middle of
the costa. = - - - - . ALAPTUS.
B. Tarsi 4-jointed.
a. Club of the antennz with two joints.
* Marginal branch very long. Tarsi of the four
hinder legs shorter than the tibie. - - KvustocHus.
« Marginal branch very short. ‘Tarsi of, the four
hinder legs longer than the tibie. = - - Donrtctytus.
b. Club of the antenne not jointed.
* Abdomen distinctly petiolated.
+ Fore wings only widened at the tips. > . Mymar.
++ Fore wings widened throughout.
500 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
t Marginal branch punctiform. - - - Cosmocoma.
tt Marginal branch elongated.
§ Metathorax with two keels. Antenne of the
female 9-jointed. - - - CaRAPHRACTUS.
§§ Metathorax not keeled. Antenne of the male
10-jointed, of the female 9-jointed. — - - STICHOTHRIX.
** Abdomen sessile or nearly sessile.
+ Antenne of the male 12-jointed, of the female
9-jointed. Marginal branch elongated, some-
what thickened near the tip. - - ANAPHES.
+; Antenne of the male 13-jointed, of the female
9-jointed. Marginal branch linear, not thick-
ened near the tip. - - - - ANAGRUS.
They have been illustrated by five figures, two of which
accompany these notes. The first is Anaphes punctum
(Ichneumon punctum), Shaw, Trans. Linn. Soe. vol. iv.; the
second is Pteratomus Putnami, Packard, Proc. Essex Insti-
tute, iv. 137, pl. 3, f. 8, and is copied by permission of
Dr. Packard, and this American species is supposed to be
the smallest of all insects, and is especially remarkable on
account of the peculiar structure of the fore wings. The
structure of the wing-veins is more rudimentary than that of
any other tribe of Hymenoptera, and they have most affinity
with the two large tribes of Chalcidiz and Oxyura, which
come next to them in simplicity of structure. However, as
A. H. Haliday first observed, they are much more allied to
the Chalcidiz than to the Oxy ura, and there appear to be
intermediate genera, such as Thysanus and Prestwichia.
From the number of specimens that 1 have observed
I believe that the Mymaridz are considerably more numerous
than what have been recorded. Their exquisite elegance
would appear to advantage in highly-magnified figures of
each kind, and one of the “coming race” of entomologists
will do well to investigate their successive epochs of life, and
to publish his discoveries with illustrations as above men-
tioned.
The early life of this family has been observed by Loew,
who witnessed a Polymena and a Rachistus from larve of
Gymnetron villosulum in galls of Veronica anagallis; the
Polymena allied to P. longula, and the Rachistus to R. litto-
ralis. He also mentions an Anaphes from larve of Cecidomyia
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 501
Urtice, Perris, in galls of Urtica dioica. It seems (Ent.
Mag. i. 842) that A. H. Haliday often saw the oviposition of
Mymaride in eggs of Lepidoptera, and he mentions that
many are often transformed in a single butterfly’s egg, and
that Polymena Ovulorum is abundant in summer, destroying
the eggs of Pieris Brassice. Thus they attack both eggs
and larve; and such is also the case with Trichogramma
evanescens, one of the most minute of the Chalcidia. The
Telenomi are, perhaps, more exclusively ovivorous, and some
descriptions: of Ichneumon Ovulorum may have reference to
them; and Haliday remarks that Linneus and Schrank have
each described two species under this name.
Foerster mentions that he reared from the capsules of
Papaver Rhceas and P. dubium, where there were galls of
Aulax Rheeadis, Camptoptera Papaveris, Foerst., Pteromalus
Papaveris, Foerst., Cecidomyia Papaveris, Winn, Pezomachus
Papaveris, Foerst., Lochites Papaveris, Foerst., and a small
Ichneumon. In a postcript he alters the name Camptoptera
to Pteroclisis.
Sir J. Lubbock has described two species (Polynema
natans and Prestwichia aquatica, Linn. Trans. xxiv. 1838—140,
pl. 23) that live occasionally under water, and are able to
swim:—Polynema natans, according to Haliday, = Cara-
phractus cinctus, Hab.
As before mentioned with regard to the Chalcidiz, Foerster’s
works will be useful to anyone who may write the history of
the British Proctotrupii, with which that author includes the
Mymaridez. The characters which he assigns for this arrange-
ment are as follows :— .
CHALCIDIA.
Male.—Antennz always bent, or with one or more small
joints between the scapus and the flagellum, the basal joint
of the antenne being like a handle, and the apical part like a
whip, or in frequent vibration.
Female.—Oviduct emerging before the tip of the abdomen.
PROCTOTRUPII.
Male.—Antenne bent or not bent, with no small joints ;
rarely not bent, and with one small joint.
Female.—Oviduct proceeding from the tip of the abdomen.
502 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The following plan shows the position which he assigns to
the Mymaridz amongst the Proctotrupii or Oxyura.
A. Hind wings with a flap-like appendage, or the
wingless female with raptorial legs. - DRYINOIDE.
B, Hind wings with no flap-like appendage.
a. Fore tibia. with two spines. : CERAPHRONOIDE.
b. Fore tibize with one spine.
** Mandibles not dentate. - - - PROCTOTRUPOIDE.
*k Mandibles dentate.
+ Sides of the abdomen with a rim beneath.
Antenne seated on the border of the
mouth.
t Wings with a marginal branch, and sometimes
with a stigmatic branch. No ocelli when
wingless. - - - : - SCELIONOIDE.
tt Wings with no marginal nor stigmatic branch.
Ocelli always present. - - PLATYGASTEROIDE.
++ Sides of the abdomen with no rim. Antenne
seated much above the mouth.
t Hind wings with no trace of a middle vein.
§ Hind wings very small, almost linear. - - Mymarowz:
§§ Hind wings broader, not linear. - - DIAPRIOIDE.
tt Hind wings with a middle vein.
§ Fore wings either without or with a regular basal
vein. Flagellum with no small joints. - BELYTOIDE.-
§§ Fore wings with an irregular curved basal vein,
which does not extend to the hind border-
veins. Flagellum with one small joint. - $HELoromz.
FRANCIS WALKER.
On Aphides and Honeydew.—The observation, “On the
extreme twigs,” &c., quoted in the ‘ Entomologist’ for August
(Entom. vi. 468), does not seem to be conclusive that the honey-
dew is not caused by Aphides. It does not follow, because there
were no leaves directly above those on which the honeydew
was seen, that it was not caused by Aphides, for a slight
movement of the air would carry the honeydew in falling out
of a perpendicular line, and if the trees mentioned are high
there are abundance of leaves from which it might fall on the
lower leaves. The Aphis of the lime may be seen in May, and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 503
is most abundant in July; it is always solitary, and, like
all other Aphides which feed on leaves (except one on the
walnut), it is always on the under side of the leaf, and
no leaf has honeydew by means of the Aphis which is there,
but receives it from the leaf or leaves above, on whose under
side the Aphides are feeding. Nevertheless, the specks men-
tioned may not have originated in Aphides; but may they
not have been the effect of lime-flowers? The abundance of
sweet fluid in the latter is witnessed by the multitude of
humble-bees and moths that resort to them. The lime pro-
bably is only included in the observation that honeydew is a
function of the leaf, and no opinion is perhaps expressed as
to honeydew on any other kind of plant, and therefore there
is no occasion to mention any other kind; but I will conclude
with a few words about the Aphides elsewhere. The maple or
sycamore (like the lime and the oak) is only accessible to a
very small extent for the inspection of Aphides on it, and
therefore the number of these cannot be observed as they are
on shrubs and vegetables, and the insects of the sycamore,
being generally out of sight, are the cause of three phenomena
which occasionally occur. The first of the three is the
crowds of Aphides which are sometimes heaped along the
sea-shore; the second is the excessive abundance of lady-
birds which subsist on these Aphides; the third is the
immense flight of Syrphi, which are also dependent on
Aphides. The honeydew on the leaves of the sycamore
attracts many kinds of flies, some of which are driven away
by the little Sepsis, which avails itself of its ant-like aspect
to excite their fears.— Francis Walker.
Aspect on the Under Side of the Oak-leaf, July 22nd.—Of
the following appearances the first is the most conspicuous
and general. It consists of the beautiful little crimson galls,
called oak-spangles, of which there are sometimes five hundred
beneath one leaf, and their abstraction of the sap is indicated
by the pale spots on the upper side of the leaf. ‘The second
appearance is Phylloxera Quercus, which also causes yellowish
spots to appear on the leaves above; it seems to be always —
oviparous: one mother has sometimes about one hundred
eggs about her, and patches of eggs may be seen here and
there, and sometimes about a thousand little ones just hatched
from the eggs, and too small to be seen by the eye alone, are
504 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
beneath one leaf. The third appearance is Thelaxes dryo-
phila: it is generally stationed along the ribs of the leaf, and
especially along the midrib, and therein resembles Callaphis
Juglandis, which clusters along the midrib of the walnut-leaf,
and is the only Aphis which feeds on the upper side of the
leaf; the Thelaxes sometimes lives in companies in oak-
apples, the formation of which probably surrounded the sole
ancestor of the colony, and thus supplied food and shelter.
The fourth appearance is the delicate little Aphis called
Callipterus annulatus: it is scattered on the leaf, and its
semi-transparent body differs widely from the opaque, velvety
covering of the Thelaxes; it is sometimes of a blackish hue,
which is perhaps indicative of its having the grub of Myina
flava within it. The fifth appearance is the destroyers of
these Aphides, such as the larva of Anthocoris and that of
Scymnus, which latter has a resemblance to a Dorthesia.
The sixth appearance is the elegant lemon-coloured Ceci-
domyia of the oak, which, as is usual in the species of
that genus, is accompanied by a little black Platygaster.
August 23rd.—The three representatives of Aphides before
mentioned are now much diminished in number, and there
are many whitish blotches, the habitations of subcutaneous
Micro-Lepidopterous larve, but from these coverings a
brilliant green little Entedon, far more beautiful than an
emerald, occasionally proceeds. The spangles have now
generally attained their full size, and frequently one over-
laps another, and sometimes their shapes are altered by
their mutual contiguity. Some of the spangles are only
half grown, others not larger than a pin’s head, and this
difference requires some explanation, for the oviposition,
which is the first agency in effecting a spangle, seems to
be limited to a very short season. The little Synergus
is now engaged in its last work, traversing the spangles
and inspecting them by means of the sense seated in its
antenne, with regard to the selection of one suitable for
its egg. The spangle thus selected loses its simplicity, or its
whole subservience to the growth of its first inhabitant, and
is appropriated by two inmates. Here it may be enquired,
Are the two eggs in the spangle in juxtaposition, or are they
far apart, so that each grub, when it is developed, may have
half of the spangle to itself? Another actor sometimes appears
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 505
on the scene—that is a Eurytoma—which contributes an
egg to the spangle, and thus a new complication begins; but
the notice of this and of other agents may be deferred, including
the enquiry whether the Kurytoma has the faculty of detecting
the previous visit of a Synergus, or whether it is indifferent in
this matter. The spangle, unless it is appropriated by a bird
or disposed of in some other way while on the ground, may, in
the ensuing spring, or afterwards, produce a Neuroterus, a
Synergus, or a Eurytoma; and, perhaps, the latter does not
interfere till the spring, and then inserts its egg into the gall,
or into the grub within the gall. In an oak-apple the pro-
prietor and the tenant live peaceably together, but it is
doubtful whether there is a sufficiency in a spangle for the
satisfaction of the Neuroterus and the Synergus together.
There are sometimes millions of these spangles on one oak,
and the result may be imagined if each were to produce a
Neuroterus. ‘Two other insects now also occur beneath the
oak-leaf: one scale-like, and of the Coccus tribe; the other
a little larva, which runs about quickly in search of Aphides
to devour, and is one of the Hemerobide.—Francis Walker.
Note on the Appearance of Aphis Nymphee and of its
Aphidius in the middle of August.—At this time numerous
whitish specks occurred over the leaves of the water-plaintain
on the border of a pond. ‘These specks were dead Aphides,
which perished by means of Aphidii, and were not defended
by the presence of friendly ants. The living Aphis was
abundant, and was sometimes on the stalks of the leaves
beneath the water: these stalks were also inhabited by many
little leeches, and swarms of Achorutes aquaticus sometimes
occurred there. Excluding some of the Aphides on the
pond, the rest may be reckoned at about 100,000 in number,
and the Aphidii at about 10,000. A small individual, of a
species of Allotria, was with them. I observed above 100 of
the Aphidii, and they varied much in size. There is much to
be ascertained in the history of this Aphidius: its continuance
during the winter, the rate of increase, the number of broods
yearly, whether it is peculiar to A. Nymphze or resorts to it
from other Aphides, and in that case whether its appearance
is altered by the variation of its food. A. Nymphez only
infests water-plants, and therefore there is not much occasion
to diminish its numbers; but some one may have a fancy to
2a38
506 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
utilise the Aphidius, and to try if it is sufficiently forgetful of
its former habitation to provide another kind of home for its
descendants. Some thousands may be transferred while they
are secure in the Aphides, which are to them food and shelter,
to gardens, where the multitude of Aphides seem to require
their presence.— Francis Walker.
On Parasitism of Chalcidie.—I will add a few lines to
what I have already transcribed of the observations of
M. Goureau and of others on parasitism. The following
observations are incomplete, but they may be the means of
directing some one to a more perfect investigation of the
matter. He obtained an Aphidius from the Aphis of the
willow, and two species from that of the peach (one apparently
A. obsoletus, Wesm.). ‘The Aphis of the rose supplied him
with a Cynipid, black, with the head and legs red (not
erythrocephalus, Jur., nor fulviceps, Curt.), and this Cynipid
and an Aphidius emerged from the Aphis of the plum: these
two are probably the same parasites that I have acquired from
H. Pruni in England. An Encyrtus, with black-bordered
wings, came forth from Coccus Festuce, and Cheiloneurus
elegans (?) from Chermes Lauricerasi. A very minute En-
cyrtus (?) was the result of Aspidiotus Rosa, and unspecified
Aphides were the victims of Elassus (Wesm.= Ephedrus,
Hal.) parvicornis, Coryna clavata, a Sphegigaster, and an
Ormocerus. Perilampus levifrons issued from a larva that
feeds on pears. Cecidomyia Verbasci of Vallot and of
L. Dufour is the victim of Misocampus (Callimome) nigri-
cornis, LZ. Duf., and of Eulophus Verbasci, Vallot and
L. Duf.; this last species and Tetrastichus Armzus are
perhaps identical. The genus Stomoclea, L. Duf, is probably
one of the Eulophidez, and §S. pallipes, Z. Duf., has been
reared by that author from galls of Scrophularia. Eulophus
crinicornis, whose economy has been observed by Perris, is a
Tetrastichus— Francis Walker.
Notes on Southern Indian Lepidoptera.
By Witi1AM WarKINS.
(Continued from p. 476.)
TuHayetTmyo, British Burmah, is a military station, some
three hundred miles north from Rangoon, on the right bank
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 507
of the river Irrawaddy. Dense jungle encircles the canton-
ment on three sides, consisting chiefly of bamboo, mango,
palmyra, tamarind, and guava trees. The undergrowth is
very luxuriant and varied ; with the exception of bindweed I
noticed few other British plants.
I commenced operations here on the 10th of March, 1870,
but found that it was the winter season; still I met with
Vanessa Orithea, Thestis Marianne, H. Semele, and several
representations of the Lycenide; Deiopeia pulchella was
abundant amongst cholum.
Unfortunately, on the 7th of April, cholera broke out in
the regiment, and the result was very serious: this prevented
my leaving the cantonment until the 24th, when I still found
Pulchella common. On the 27th I captured Sphinx Con-
volvuli at rest. During the last eight days of the month the
mango showers, as they are termed, set in, and the vegetation
began to spring up wondrously after the long spell of dry
weather.
May opened with warm, genial weather, and the trees
round the barracks came out in splendid bloom. I had good
sport at these every evening at dusk, my captures being
D. Celerio, C. Porcellus, C. Elpenor, M. Stellatarum, and its
more uncommon brother Pterogon Ginothere, together with
lots of Geometre all unknown to me. I commenced “sugar”
this month, and operated upon the mango and tamarind
trees as a trial; the latter I found a dead failure, as almost
immediately after the sugar was put on, it would be covered
with myriads of ants. A very few small Noctuz came to the
mango trees, but the most common customers I found to be
geckoes, alarge species of lizard, abundantthroughout Burmah;
they had constituted themselves “collectors,” and doubtless
collected the moths for me, putting them in their own box;
however, several of these intruders came to grief, as when I
saw them I greeted them with a whack from a clubbed stick.
Quantities of larve were feeding this month; amongst them
Arctia Menthastri, and A. Lubricipeda, which seem commoner
here than in suburban gardens at home, albeit the same type.
Ihave seen them racing at that familiar pace across a road
as though they were hurrying out of some one’s way; and
indeed they were, too, for if the “ Indian crow” espied them
he would terminate their existence. Pulchella larve were
508 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
abundant, and it may not be out of place to describe it here,
with a hope that some of your readers may discover its
localities in England.
Description of the Larva of D. Pulchella.—Bluish white ;
between each segment is an orange-coloured band; on the
sides of each segment two black warts, each emitting a single
black hair; subdorsal lines black, with minute white dots;
spiracles black. It is extremely local. I found it in batches
along the banks of the Irrawaddy, feeding upon a small plant
much like “ forget-me-not.” It spins a loose cocoon between
leaves, and emerges in fifteen to twenty days.
There were not many butterflies on the wing, excepting
a few Pieris, P. Sarpedon, D. Archippus, D. Chrysippus, and
those mentioned for April. Beating brought to light some
beautiful moths: a species resembling H. crassalis was very
common, and also a very large Trypheena, like Fimbria, but
twice its size. The month of June, however, was the
month for this family. I commenced to sugar on the 15th,
and it would be useless to attempt to describe what I caught ;
my captures usually were about fifty to sixty specimens
nightly. Both the species spoken of as occurring at Wel-
lington, and resembling Mania Maura and Saturnia Carpini,
I first caught here; they were abundant, the latter so much
so that I desisted catching them after the first two nights. I
noticed, too, that a butterfly, evidently a Hipparchia, came
very commonly to sugar. I presume they were at rest in the
foliage, and were attracted, as their unfortunate brethren, by
the irresistible odour of the sugar. On the 16th of the month
D. Celerio, too, came, and was duly boxed. For the informa-
tion of entomologists who should ever find themselves in this
country and disposed to collect, they will find that loggery,
simmered in a little malt-liquor and the common Colombo
arrack added, is far more attractive than the most expensive
mixtures: I have tried all kinds, and find this the best by far.
July and August both slipped by without my being able to
get out, owing to a press of work. At rest I procured a few
Sphingide :—A. Atropos, S. Convolvuli, and 8. Dumelinus ;
also a very pretty Trochilium with feathered legs. In the
regimental gardens I procured L. Sinapis, a few Lycene, and
larve of Ornithoptera Amphrisius.
In September the head-quarters of the regiment were
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 509
moved to a place called Tay-au-goon, about two miles higher
up, on the opposite bank of the river. Temporary barracks
were erected, but literally speaking we were living in the
jungle. The vegetation was about the same as that of
Thayetmyo, with the exception that there were very few large
timber-trees.
Owing to the ground being so near I was enabled to collect
a good deal. ‘The mango topes produced Ornithoptera
Amphrisius, but they flew very high; so I caught a female,
and kept her in a small box with net-work over it, similar to
the “ Carpini method” at home, and I found that the males
came very commonly. Pieris Epicharis, too, was very com-
mon; D. Archippus, P. Sarpedon, A. Aglaia, and C. Cardui,
were everywhere; S. Bombyliformis were common flying over
cholum flowers. For the collection made this month I can
thank the generous-hearted government for ordering our
shift. Tay-au-goon is a delightful place, but the heat is
intense compared with Thayetmyo, which is not much to say:
plenty of insects, and plenty of Lepidopterists (for half the
regiment seemed entomologically struck), but no mosquito-
hunters; these infernal pests were terribly annoying: at
night one would bear them apparently a great distance off,
and in a second they would dart right into one’s ear.
With the exception of stray A. Atropos there was nothing
worthy of note occurred to the close of the year; and I will
conclude these remarks on Burmah by adding that I consider
its resources, in an entomological point of view, boundless ;
as although I have only mentioned Lepidoptera, still I cap-
tured numerous other insects, more especially Coleoptera
that I have not met with elsewhere, and I have crossed
several entomologists during my four years, all of whom are
of the same opinion. It is just the country for a “ naturalist”
to commence operations with, and I only regret I did not stay
longer there to have obtained more of its treasures.
WILLIAM WATKINS.
Convalescent Depét, Wellington, Madras.
Life-history of Dasypolia TempliiTwo hundred and
thirty eggs were deposited on the 4th of March, and thirty-
four more on the 7th, making two hundred and sixty-four, by
510 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
a female which had been confined in a box through the pre-
vious winter: they were attached to the side of the box, and
were at first of a light straw-colour, changing to light fawn-
colour in three days; their shape was a flattened round,
reeded from the centre of the top to the base; the centre was
darkest, and there was a faint ring round the upper edge; the
ribs or reeding were very fine. On the 24th of March a
purple zone appeared round the upper portion, broken by an
irregular, light canary-coloured blotch on one side. On the
8th of April the eggs became a warm lead-colour, inclining to
lilac, the zone expanding above and before, and the light
blotch obliterated: the centre of the egg was now dark, with
a narrow ring round it, and the ribs in the ring distinct. On
the 9th of April the eggs became more conical, and were now
lead-coloured, with the ribs light and distinct. On the 10th
of April the centre of the egg appeared darkest. On the 12th
the colour grew lead-colour; the ribs are now light and
distinct, darkest in the centre. On the 14th and 15th the
eggs were hatching. The young larva is a looper, with a large,
broad head of a grayish horn-colour; the feet large and dark ;
the body stone-colour, hairy. At first it had a rambling habit,
as if searching for a place to hide or feed in: placed on its
food-plant it ceased to ramble, and afterwards soon went
down into the root-crowns, eating its way with ease. On the
10th of May many larve removed from old to new plants,
eating the crown-leaves before they burst, and thence down
into the roots. It was now a stout, semi-transparent larva,
in general appearance like a Tortrix larva. At the end of
June the larva was one and a quarter inch in length, stout,
shining fawn-colour, and glossy. Head small, heart-shaped ;
colour reddish fawn, with the lips darker. Shield or corslet
fawn-colour, edged with black; the shield is broadest in
front, thin behind, and much the shape of a child’s hat, with
three dots under it: on the 3rd segment is a ring of black dots,
placed two and two, with three under them placed triangularly
over the spiracle; the remaining segments have the upper spots
on the back and sides as in the Tortricide, but over the spira-
cular region there are three large and one small spots, forming
a lozenge or diamond, but the small spot is a little above its
place, and below this, on the thighs, is also another black
spot; and the spots on the anal segment are continued round
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 511
under the insect. Subanal and anal plates fawn-colour; the
first edged with black, and the last dull rugose, projecting
behind, and armed with short spines; there is also a single
short spine in the lower row of black spots, and a few short
hairs on the head and body, requiring a good glass to see
them: otherwise the insect is suffused with glabrous fawn-
colour, slightly appressed below the subdorsal. On the Ist
of July, the food of the larve being exhausted, they were eating
into fibres of roots not so large as themselves, swelling the
skin of the roots out. Supplied with fresh roots of Pastinaca
sativa and Heracleum sphondylium they ate into them, and
were at home in either. On the 12th, the larve, in wild parsnip- .
roots, were full-fed: length one and a half inch; colour full rich
fawn, suffused outwards, fading to creamy ash on the sides.
Body stout, constricted at the annulations. Head distinctly
heart-shaped, bright, shining fawn-colour; the lips darker.
Corslet light fawn-colour, edged with black, broadest in
front; spots as in the last-described state, but larger and
better defined. Anal plates: first small, edged with black ;
and the second still large, rough, and projecting. This
is a stout, large, constricted, glossy, glabrous larva, round
above, but spread out below on its sides, which are puckered,
and is altogether like an overgrown Tortrix larva: it leaves
the plant-root, and makes up in the earth, in July and August,
and appears early in September, the female living through the
winter in a torpid state; in fact, | have observed them daily
throughout the winter, and found them exactly in the same
position in March which they had taken up in October.
Specimens fed on wild parsnips are larger and brighter-
coloured than when fed upon cow-parsnep and much more
liable to grease; but since Pastinaca sativa is more abundant
on our sand-hills, I usually collect it as food for this insect.
—C.S. Gregson ; Rose Bank, Edge Lane, Liverpool, July |,
1873.
Description of the Larva of Qcophora pseudospretella.—
Length half to five-eighths of an inch; somewhat hairy;
colour creamy white (wax-like); stout; slightly appressed ;
annulations deeply constricted. Head brownish, horny.
Corslet colourless; anal segments white, horn-like. Feet
light. Whole insect creamy white, stout. Spins a white
cocoon, and lives therein, feeding upon, I may say, any-
512 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
thing. This description was taken from larve which had
entirely destroyed tons of rice: they spun six or eight rice-
corns together, forming them into so many small bunches of
rice, until it was impossible to find a single corn in the
sample, or, I may say, in the warehouse. They roam at
pleasure, and eat the outside of their house, thus smoothing
it down until they give it a tapioca-like appearance, when of
course the bulk is no longer vegetable. ‘This creature has
been sent me to name, &c., in almost every sort of produce;
but its last phase seems peculiar,—I was told the “ sweeping-
brooms” (ling besoms) in the stores of one of our “local
. government” boards were being destroyed by an insect, and
on some of the larve being forwarded to me I recognized our
old friend Gicophora pseudospretella, full fed and very fat,
whilst its only available food had been heath besoms.—C. S.
Gregson.
Description of the Larva of Leioptilus Lienigianus,—
Length three-eighths to. half an inch, full; attenuate to anal
extremity; appressed; hairy. Head contractile, blunt, and
colourless. Colour whitish yellowish; on the dorsal region
is a series of faint patches on each segment, defined by four
minute dots therein, and sometimes tinged with pink; below
these are a series of wart-like protuberances, from which
spring bunches of hairs; anal segment colourless. Feeds on
the leaves of Artemisia vulgaris, eating the skins thereof. The
larva, from which this description was made, was kindly sent
me for figuring, May 19th, 1872, and was figured and
described May 25th, when about to change to the perfect
insect. It emerged June 17th, 1872.—Id.
Entomological Notes, Captures, §c.
Vanessa Io, §c.—In the last number your correspondent,
Mr. S. Stevens, amongst other species, notes the abundance
of Io this season. This is a butterfly which is usually
plentiful in this neighbourhood, but last season it was com-
paratively scarce, and I took but few specimens; this year [
have taken it in great plenty. Whilst out with a friend or two
a few weeks ago we passed a field of clover, the flowers of
which were literally swarmed with these butterflies, and we
netted over fifty in a quarter of an hour. Rhamni I find is
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 513
not so plentiful here this autumn; I have usually taken it
abundantly, but this season I have observed but few. Of
Atalanta I have taken but two, and CarduilI have not seen.
Antiopa has, I believe, been taken this season, but not in this
locality to the best of my knowledge. Of Polychloros, which
has occurred here rather more abundantly of late years, I
have seen and taken several. Machaon, I think, occurs here
rather more sparingly this year than usual, and the commoner
species, with the exception of Brassice, seem to be pretty
numerous.—Robert Laddiman; 3, Cossey Terrace, Upper
Hellesdon, Norwich.
Vanessa Antiopa near Dover.—I had a fine specimen of
V. Antiopa, taken at Watersend yesterday, September 19th,
with the yellow border. I had four specimens last year, and
all had the zhite border. I have sent it to a gentleman
alive. Watersend is four miles from Dover.—G. Graygwi i
Castle Street, Dover, September 20, 1873.
Vanessa Antiopa at Clapham.—On the 28th ult. George
Hodder, gardener to Mr. J. S. Oxley, captured in the latter
gentleman’s grounds on the pathway, settled, a splendid
specimen of V. Antiopa: the margin of the wings is of a pale
straw-colour. I am pleased to say that the specimen has
been added to my collection.—J. R. Wellman ; 14, Portland
‘Place North, Clapham Road, S.W., September 20, 1873.
Vanessa Antiopa near Brighton.—A tine specimen of this
insect was caught on Saturday, the 20th instant, at Hassock’s
Gate, about seven miles from Brighton. It was brought to
me alive this morning, and is now in my possession. The
colour of the margin of the wings is pale yellow: from this
and from the lustre on the wings, and the perfect state of
the fringes and body-hairs, I think the insect must have been
bred in this country.—H. Goss; Brighton, Sept. 22, 1873.
How is the entire absence of Colias Edusa to be accounted
Jor.—Can you give me any reason for the entire absence of
Colias Edusa from various localities in the island, where two
years ago they were very abundant ?—Cyril D. Ash; Pales«
tine House, Shanklin, Isle of Wight, September 3, 1873.
[The subject has interested entomologists ever since I have
known anything of the Science, and evidently long before, as
testified by our books. Numerous hypotheses have been
invented, few of which have survived the freezing effects of
Q2a4
514 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
neglect. One of my own which I ventured, in describing
Daplidice, at the commencement of a child’s periodical,
called ‘ Young England, suggested that specimens, occa-
sionally “ blown over” from the Continent, finding appropriate
food and conditions, ate, drank, increased and multiplied;
in fact, became established on British soil for a few years
as colonists, but did not find the conditions sufficiently
favourable to effect a permanent settlement.— Edward
Newman. |
Trichiura Crategi.—Can any of your readers tell me
when I may expect young larve to emerge from eggs laid by
this species in the beginning of September ?—G. H. Raynor ;
Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, September 22, 1873.
Deiopeia pulchella at Littlehampton.—Seeing it mentioned
in your ‘ British Moths’ how very scarce English specimens
of Deiopeia pulchella are, I think it worth while to mention
that I caught an unusually fine specimen at Littlehampton,
in Sussex, in 1870.—Cyril D. Ash.
Zygena Lonicere and Z. Trifolii.—At the request of my
friend Edward Newman I send a few remarks upon these
two species: Trifolii is one of the most variable, and Lonicere
probably the most constant, in markings, of the European
Zygenex. The antenne of Trifolii are rather abruptly clavate,
but those of Lonicere are long and slender. The fore
wings of Trifolii are more rounded at the apex than those of
Lonicerz, and the two central red spots are generally united,
which is very rarely the case with Lonicere. The width of
the black border of the hind wings varies a good deal in
different specimens of Trifolii, but it is always broader in this
species than in Lonicere. Trifolii appears on the wing early
in June, and in forward seasons I have seen it out the last
week in May. Lonicere seldom appears before the middle of
July, and is pretty much confined to the northern and midland
counties of England; it is also found throughout Northern
Europe. Trifolii is found in Central and Southern Europe,
and in the southern counties of England. The supposed
specimens of Lonicere, which have been captured in the
Isle of Wight and other localities on the south coast, are, I
believe, all Trifolii; those which | have seen are certainly
this species. Loniceree was formerly very abundant in the
moist meadows near Monk’s Wood, Huntingdonshire; the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 515
larve feed on the yellow vetch (Lathyrus pratensis). I have
bred many hundred spccimens of the perfect insect from
larve obtained in this locality, but not one of them had the
spots on the anterior wings united. Specimens with the spots
united and forming an irregular band do, however, occur
in some localities, but they are rare.—Henry Doubleday ;
Epping, September 21, 1873.
Zygena Filipendule.—As Mr. Forbes has asked, in the
August number of the ‘Entomologist, whether the yellow
variety of Zygena Filipendule, noticed by him near Win-
chester, has been seen elsewhere in England, I think it worth
while to state that, a few years ago, I saw a single specimen
so coloured flying, with others having the ordinary colours,
over the Laird Embankment, about two miles from Plymouth.
—T. R. Archer Briggs; 4, Portland Villas, Plymouth,
August 27, 1873.
Yellow Variety of Zygena Filipendule at Maidstone.—
Mr. Hubert Elgar, an assistant in the museum, caught in
July last, on the hills near this town, a peculiar burnet moth,
which we have failed to find described in your work, and an
account of which he therefore thinks will interest you. We
should also be glad of your opinion as to its identity.
Fore wings metallic-green, semi-transparent, with six yellow
spots on each; hind wings sulphur-yellow, with a border of
metallic-green ; antenne, head and body blackish green.—
Thomas G. Ponton, Curator ; The Museum, Maidstone, Sep-
tember 2, 1878.
(This interesting variety has occurred in some plenty this
year in the South of England, as appeared in announcements
in the September ‘ Entomologist.’ A similar variety of Zygena
Trifolii also occasionally occurs, but I have heard of none
captured during the past summer.—EHdward Newman.]
Teniocampa Opima.—F¥rom batches of eggs of this
species, kindly sent me by my friends the Rev. T. W. Daltry
and Mr. Wm. Johnson, I have this season succeeded in
rearing a large number of larve. They were kept in a large
roomy box, in a cool place, and supplied with plenty of fresh
sallow, though they would also eat whitethorn and plum.
After the last moult they were the most ravenous feeders I
ever saw. Those from the eggs sent by Mr. Daltry began to
go down June 22nd.— Edward F. Bisshopp ; Ipswich.
516 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Larva of Acronycta Megacephala in Aldgate Churchyard.
—tLast Friday, the 15th of August, as I was walking past
Aldgate churchyard, I saw a nearly full-grown larva of
Acronycta Megacephala crawling on one of the tombstones.
Having seen this one I looked more closely the following day,
and noticed several, out of reach, on the poplars overhanging
the corner of Houndsditch. I have no doubt as to their
identity, having bred several here; but was very much asto-
nished to find them in such a locality—Thomas Barns;
Oakington House, Beckenham, Kent, August 19, 1873.
Plusia Interrogationis in Lincolnshire.—On the 23rd July,
1873, I took a fine specimen of Plusia Interrogationis flying
over some privet bloom. Has it ever been recorded as having
been taken in Lincolnshire ?—Isaac Robinson ; The Wharfe,
Grantham, Lincolnshire.
Liparis Monacha, Eubolia meniata, §c., at East Grin-
stead.—On the 2nd of August, about 10 a.M., I found a fine
specimen of Liparis Monacha, excepting that it was a little
rubbed on the collar, on an oak-trunk in a field, about seven
feet from the ground: it was a female specimen. Also on the
4th I took, by beating, a female specimen of Lithosia quadra,
but too much torn for the cabinet. I have lately been taking
plenty of Apiciaria, which seems common this season. I also
have to record the capture of a fine specimen of Eubolia
meeniata on the 11th of August: I beat it from amongst fern
and long grass; there is plenty of broom growing in the
vicinity.— W. Thomas; Ray Lodge, Lingfield, East Grin-
stead, Sussex, August 13, 1873.
Ennomos fuscantaria.—l found a full-grown larva of
Ennomos fuscantaria on the 4th of July: it spun up and
turned to a fine female on the 16th of August.—/d.
Curious Variety of Rumia crategata.—I have a very
curious variety of R. Crategata, that might be worth your
notice. I should be glad to send it on if you thought so.
It has a portion of the wings, between the veins, on one side
only suffused with the colour of the spots, giving it a most
curious look. -I took it here some time ago.—John E.
Robson; Sea View, Hartlepool, August 13, 1873.
Cucullia Absynthit and Apamea ophiogramma in Ireland.
—A specimen of C. Absynthii was captured in our flower-
garden on the evening of July 28th, 1873: this moth is new
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 517
to the Irish list. A specimen of A. ophiogramma was also
captured in the same place, July 26th: it is a far better and
fresher insect than one captured three years ago upon the
bank of a river in our demesne. This is the third record of
this insectin Ireland. The first is mentioned in Mr. Birchall’s
List of Irish Lepidoptera, as taken by Mr. Tardy; “ locality
unknown.”—[Mrs.] F. I. Battersby; Cromlyn, Rathowen,
West Meath, Ireland.
Larve of Cucullia Gnaphalii.—} beg to inform you that I
have been fortunate enough to take a few larve of C. Gna-
phalii, feeding on the golden-rod, in company with C. Asteris.
Others were taken by brother members of the Haggerston
Entomological Society, who were down at Seal for the
Society’s annual dinner, on Sunday, August 10th. Locality:
Seal, near Sevenoaks. —W. H!. Danby; 56, Lawford Road,
Camden Town, August 14, 1878.
Eremobia ochroleuca in Surrey.—I took here yesterday,
August 13th, a good specimen of Eremobia ochroleuca. I
send you notice of it because Surrey is not one of the coun-
ties given in your ‘ British Moths’ as producing this moth.—
Waldegrave ; Bookham Lodge, Cobham, Surrey.
Spilodes palealis, Acronycta Alni, and A. strigosa, at
Whittlesford.—I took a fine specimen of Palealis last year
at this place. Is it not very unusual to find it so far inland ?
I have also taken Alni down here, and Strigosa at sugar.—
E. Thurnall ; Whittlesford, September 17, 1873.
Sphinx Convolvuli at Walthamstow.—My brother took a
fine female last evening, September 18th, whilst hovering
over flowers in his garden. During a visit to the New Forest,
in the early part of July this year, I took a good series of
Z. Meliloti, and a pair of Asellus, beside many other local
insects. Sugaring, however, was a dead failure.—Bernard
Cooper ; Higham Hill, Walthamstow.
Sphinx Convolvuli near Huddersfieldi—A fine male
specimen of Sphinx Convolvuli was taken by my friend
Mr. Charles Ramsden, in his garden at Longroyde Bridge,
on the 30th August: it was at rest on the wall. Mr. Ramsden
has kindly placed the specimen in my cabinet.—James
Varley; Almondbury Bank, Huddersfield, Sept. 16, 1873.
Variation in the Colours of Cirrheedia Xerampelina.—
During the last two weeks of August I obtained a nice series
518 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
of this species from the ash-tree trunks growing near Douglas,
Isle of Man: they varied from full, rich yellow to rich
ochreous-brown. The weather was rough and wet, and unfit
for sugaring: the modus operandi by which they were
collected was to go round the ash-trees and examine the
trunks thereof from 4 p.m. until dusk, waiting until they
stretched as they emerged from the pupa. The brown
variety occurred as one in three specimens.—C. S.
Gregson.
In the matter of Compta and Conspersa.—I wish some-
body, who has the opportunity, would place one of the so-
called British (Irish) Diantheecia compta in a relaxing-box
for a night, and see if it returned to its continental flat set, or
fell to an unset moth, and let us know the result. I once
took a wasted specimen of D.conspersa (variety) at Pen-
maenbach, in Wales. It has been said to be a Compta
repeatedly; but it laid nine eggs, which produced what I
knew were Conspersa larvz; so this settled the question. I
have also seen other specimens of Conspersa having the band
broken, &c., but knowing Compta well J have at once seen
they were not that species; and having kept a good collector
on the so-called Compta ground at Howth, in Ireland, above
two months at a time, and having repeatedly worked the
district myself without seeing anything like it (during the
months of May, June, and July), except varieties of Con-
spersa, I think it possible that the true “ Compta” has never
yet been taken there, and that the specimens, if British, are
only varieties of Conspersa.—d.
Abundance of Nemoria viridata near Poole.—During the
month of June I met with N. viridata very plentifully on a
piece of heathy ground adjoining the now famous Upton
estate, near Poole. The insect had apparently been out some
time, since although I netted some hundreds I was unable to
select more than one-third as worthy of preservation. The
extreme localness of this species is very remarkable. Although
we have many square miles of heath in this neighbourhood, I
have only succeeded in taking it in one other locality, and
there not plentifully—A. J. Spiller; Wimborne.
Leucania albipuncta at Folkestone.—As insects appear to
to be scarce this season, especially “ good things,” perhaps
you can find space in your next number for the following
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 519
capture at Folkestone :—two Leucania albipuncta, on the Ist
of September, at sugar.—Charles Oldham; Newton House,
Amhurst Road, Hackney, September 20, 1873.
Is Eulepia Cribrum Double-brooded ?-—Of late I have
been repeatedly asked the above question by my corre-
spondents; and persons wishing to take the species have
come to me asking if the second brood was out in August
and September. I cannot be positive; but I believe the
idea of its double-broodedness is altogether a mistake. How
did the notion first originate? Was it from the times at
which the insect is to be met with? One correspondent
says,—‘ Surely there must be a second brood, as I have
taken it in June and again in August.” I do not see, how-
ever, that its occurrence in these two months establishes the
fact of a second brood, for all who have taken the insect are
well aware that it is commoner in July than in any other
month. Of course a forward or backward season makes
some material difference in the time of its appearance. Did
any collector ever-rear the moth in August from eggs laid in
July? Ifso, my argument must be dropped. I have always
noliced that eggs laid in June or July—and 1 have not
unfrequently found them upon the little stems of heather,
arranged in the neatest manner—soon produce larve, but
they grow unusually slowly, and hybernate before being full
fed. We all know what strange and unlooked-for peculiarities
sometimes occur in the metamorphosis of any particular
species when thoroughly investigated and closely watched,
but in my mind it does seem strange that if there is a second
brood of Cribrum the whole transformation of such a brood
must be gone through in a month or six weeks, whilst its
duly recognized changes take a year to complete ; besides, if it
is double-brooded, is not such an occurrence a departure from
the habits and economy of the family to which it belongs?
If the insect was common in June and again in August, and
not in the intervening month, we may reasonably suppose
there was a second brood; but since July is the recognized
time of its appearance | do not think there is much founda-
tion for supposing that the August specimens are produced
from the moths which emerge in June. It may be that the
larve hybernate in different stages of growth, and indeed it
seems likely that a larva hatched in June would be nearer
520 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
maturity at the time of hybernation than one hatched a
mouth or six weeks later, and so after hybernation the fullest
fed larve produce the first moths. Certain it is that Cribrum
is met with in its especial haunts at any time from the middle
of June till the middle of August (although it is somewhat
uncertain in its flight, seeming to be a good discerner of
atmospheric differences), yet July is the month par excel-
lence for its appearance. I trust my friends and correspondents
will accept this as an answer to their several enquiries respect-
ing the occurrence of a second brood of the species in question.
—G. B. Corbin.
In what Stage do Acherontia Atropos and Sphinx Con-
volvuli pass the Winter ?—It has been frequently asserted
that specimens of both species, of these our largest Sphingide,
developed in the autumn are unfertile, or that the eggs may
be detected in a very undeveloped state, and that the species
are perpetuated by developments of the insects in June. Is
such the case? I cannot speak with regard to the rearing of
Convolvuli, never having seen the larva, but at different
times I have had a number of larve of Atropos, and all, with
one exception, produced moths in the autumn: on one occa-
sion a specimen passed the winter in the pupa state, and the
moth emerged in the following June. Thus it seems that if
the June specimens are the sole progenitors of the race, the
many are developed for an apparently purposeless life, whilst
upon the few devolve the whole responsibility of the con-
tinuation of the species. Such is, perhaps, the case with
Atropos ; but is it the same with Convolvuli, whose appearance
in the autumn is—as far as I can learn—its only one with us?
Did any reader of the ‘ Entomologist’ ever take a Convolvuli
at Midsummer? It may be asked,—Does Convolvuli ever
pair in the autumn? One instance of its doing so has come
under my observation, on October 4th, 1869, but no eggs
were deposited, thought | kept the female for some time. All
of us know how uncertain both Atropos and Convolvuli are in
their appearance, in some seasons being scarcely metwith at all,
whilst in others they are comparatively common; but in the
case of both species the autumnal specimens are, as a rule,
more numerous than those to be taken in the summer, if
indeed Convolvuli is ever met with at that season. Is it
possible that in the case of Conyolvuli we are indebted to a
a
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. S21
continental supply when they are comparatively numerous in
the autumn? We may almost answer in the negative, when
we consider the range of the species (from Kent to Cornwall,
and from Devon to Yorkshire), and the fineness and perfection
of some specimens we have taken. Iam quite aware that one
Jact is worth a whole volume of argument or theory, but for
lack of the former we are compelled to make use of the latter,
and sometimes by using one the other is found.—G@. B.
Corbin.
Lasiomnmata Megera.—I do not think the occurrence of a
bipupilled spot near the apical angle of the fore wings of
Lasiommata Megera is uncommon. I had never examined
the insect with a view to detect the variation in question
until attention was drawn to it by Mr. Byron Noel’s enquiry
in your last number (Entom. vi. 485), but I find I have in my
collection sixteen specimens,—five captured in Yorkshire,
two in Ireland (Howth), five in the Isle of Man, and four in
Guernsey: of these, three from Guernsey and three from the
Isle of Man have the spot bipupilled; the variety is not con-
fined to either sex, but, so far as my collection goes, to the
insects from Guernsey and the Isle of Man. I hope others
will examine and report on the examples in their cabinets.
The variation is, I think, of but slight importance amongst
the Satyridz, and it occurs in a considerable number of the
species, amongst which may be mentioned Hiera, Mera,
Cordula, Pasiphae, and Tithonus, of all of which I possess
specimens with a single, and others with a double-eyed spot.
—Edwin Birehall.
Bombyx Quercus a whole Year in the Pupa state.—Is it
not rather unusual for Bombyx Quercus to pass a whole year
in the pupa state? Two caterpillars of mine spun up at the
end of June, 1872, and finding that neither of the moths
appeared at the usual time I kept them till this year, when on
July 29th a fine male emerged from one chrysalis, and, four
days after, another from a caterpillar that had spun up on
July 2nd this year.—H. A. Bull; Harrow, Sept. 8, 1873.
[It would be interesting to know whether my correspondent
admits the distinctness of the two races, formerly confused
under the name of Bombyx Quercus, because they differ in
respect of the time passed in the pupa state, and this will
probably explain the fact he records—Edward Newman. |
Qad
§22 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Deilephila livornica and D. Galiit in Devon.—I think it
worthy of being inserted in your ‘ Entomologist’ that I have
just obtained a specimen of D. livornica, bred by a Mr.
Rickard, who found nine of the larve feeding on dock in a
nursery in Plymouth, and who had the good fortune to feed
them all up on that plant; and the same season, 1870, all
came out perfect insects ; one which had its wings crumpled
up I also possess. I may mention that season I took six at
petunias, and two Galii at verbenas. The above appeared to
be all dark varieties of larve.—John Purdue; Ridgeway,
Plympton, Devon.
Eriogaster lanestris.—1 shall be much obliged if you will
kindly tell me the name of the larve [ forward to you, as I
cannot find any description in your ‘ British Moths’ that
corresponds to them. They were found in May, feeding
gregariously under a web on hawthorn; the eggs were covered
with brown down, and continued hatching during June; the
young larve were almost black, without spots, and having
coral-red claspers. I expected they would prove to be
E. lanestris; but now that they are full grown they do not
answer to your description of Lanestris larve: they have no
red warts on the back; and instead of three white spots have
either two or four, and some of them have none; in the place
of the pale gray lateral stripe they have a yellow line, inter-
rupted at each segment, where it turns at a right angle
half-way up the back, and forms the border to a square,
velvety patch of short orange-brown hairs; the claspers are
still coral-red. At the end of June, when Lanestris spins up,
many of my larve were but a few days old, and they are only
now beginning to form their cocoons.—Frances Steele Per-
kins; Ashgrove, Rhuabon, North Wales, July 29, 1873.
[I suppose the larvee to be Eriogaster lanestris ; but the box
was broken and they had escaped.—Edward Newman. ]
Supposed Occurrence of Leucania commoides in Kent.—
During the first week in August I took, in a spot bordering
on Romney Marsh, four specimens of a Leucania which was
quite unknown to me, yet which I fancied might be only a
variety of some known species. I forwarded a pair, male
and female, to Mr. Doubleday, and he has sent me the
following letter respecting them :—“ Epping, September 3rd,
1873. I will return your two Leucania this morning, and
hope you will receive them uninjured. Mr. Buckler has
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. §23
made a drawing of the male, which I may send to Dr.
Staudinger when I next write. After I last wrote to you it
struck me that it was an American insect, and identical with
one my late brother took in the State of New York. Guenée
had the specimen to describe; and on referring to his
description I find it agrees exactly with the specimen we
have in the British Museum: I will look at them when I can
get there. Guenée named it Commoides.—H. Doubleday.”
—G. Parry; Church Street, St. Paul’s, Canterbury, Sep-
tember 5, 1873.
(Guenée describes Leucania commoides thus :—“ The
insect has the cut of Leucania Comma, to which species it is
certainly very nearly allied; but instead of the little detached
mark which that species has below the median ray of the fore
wings, we find in L. commoides a broad and perfectly conti-
nuous stripe, and a second on the inner margin, which is totally
wanting in L.Comma. The series of dots is very perceptible.
The hind wings of the male are like those of the female in
our Comma, that is to say, they are of a uniform blackish
gray; the under side is darker and more shining. The
abdomen of the male is much more hairy, and so are the two
last pairs of legs, the tibiz of which are provided on their
inner side with two short, stout fascicles, besides the hairs,
which are very thick. It inhabits the State of New York, U.S.”
Edward Newman.]
Species of Pterophorus requested.—The following plume
larve are particularly wanted by me that I may complete the
figures of all the British plumes. I shall endeavour to repay
any working entomologist who can oblige me with even a
single larva, and shall be delighted to give him credit for his
discovery :—Platyptilia ochrodactyla, said to feed upon
tansy; P. Bertrami, said to feed upon yarrow; P. tessera-
dactylus, food unknown to me; Amplyptilia acanthodactylus,
said to feed on rest-harrow; A. letus, food unknown to me;
A. Piloselle, food unknown to me; Pterophorus pterodac-
tylus, said to feed on dead nettle, &c.; and Cnemidophorus
rhododactylus, said to feed on dog-rose. So far I have
worked the plumes out single-handed, but now appeal for
help to my fellow-workers, who may be more favourably
located than myself—C. S. Gregson; Rose Bank, Edge
Lane, Liverpool.
Phylloxera Vastatrix.—The newspapers inform us that
524 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
this insect continues to ravage the vines in the South of
France, and it is added—“ They are all the more formidable
because they breed with such fearful rapidity. Although the
statement that the insect begins to deposit eggs when only
ten days old is an exaggeration, there can be no doubt that
many generations of the Phylloxera are born within the
space of a twelvemonth.” Both this insect and Phylloxera
coccinea appear to have been found in this country. Perhaps,
therefore, some readers can inform me if the name at the head
of this note is the one generally recognized for the vine-pest,
and also if the males of Vastatrix and Coccinea have yet
been discovered.—W. Maemillan; Castle Cary, Somerset.
[In 1868 Phylloxera coccinea is mentioned (Zool. $.S. 1333)
as British. In 1869 I found it in such abundance on the oaks
in Herefordshire as completely to disfigure them (see Entom.
iv. 316, and a valuable note at the same place by Mr. Walker).
The name “ Phylloxera Vastatrix” is usually accepted as that
of the root-pest of the vine, but this branch of the enquiry
requires further elucidation: perhaps Mr. Walker will kindly
inform us on this subject; he is at present engaged in
examining the insect, as appears from his observations
recorded in the current number of the ‘ Entomologist.—
Edward Newman. |
Insects as Weather Prognosticators.—1 have no doubt but
many of the subscribers to the ‘Entomologist’ will have
noticed what true prophets our little friends the insect family
are in foretelling changes in the weather. At the back of our
premises there is a lumber-room, where a colony of spiders
have taken up their abode; and although I have one of the
best instruments that can be got, made by the celebrated
Quadri, I can rely more upon these insects than the barometer.
Then the ants,—what wonderful little fortune-tellers we have
in them: see their hillocks on a morning when the day is
going to be fine—all is activity and life, the parents hugging
their big babies, and putting them on the side where the sun
will shortly shine: take another morning, equally fine in
appearance; but all here is still, and a sleepy look has taken
hold of the few stragglers that may be about. Our collectors
will have noticed, on a fine day, butterflies, moths, and bees,
flying from flower to flower; but like magic all disappear:
the bees are flying in twos and threes right away towards
their homes; the butterflies and moths are not to be seen;
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 525
shortly a distant rumble is heard, a black cloud is seen over-
head, and if the hapless lord of creation has not taken the
hint from these minute teachers he will most likely get a wet
shirt. Again, the cattle in yonder pasture are scampering
about like mad things. ‘‘ What is the cause?” we ask of the
farmer. ‘‘ Oh,” says he, “it’s going to rain, the gadfly bites.”
But an eminent naturalist gives us a little more information
on this matter: flies bite keenly; Nature has endowed them
with instinct to supply themselves with food, because there is
a change approaching, that they may not have another oppor-
tunity. I ought to have stated in connection with the spider,
that when the day was going to be fine the spider was out
with his net on the middle of the square of glass catching his
prey; but if the weather was likely to be wet he was in a
corner, peeping out of his web like a sentry peering from his
box.—John Potts; 79, Spring Gardens, Doncaster, July
22, 1873.
Locusts on a Balloon.—On Saturday evening last, about
half-past eight, a balloon descended in a field about a mile
from my house, and being near at the time I was on the spot
almost as soon as the car touched the ground, and was imme-
diately surprised (as was the aéronaut) to find a large quantity
of locusts flying about all round the balloon; and on further
inspection we found the balloon had a great many of the
insects clinging to it, and a number remained on it till it was
rolled up, some apparently dead from the effects of the gas
escaping. No locusts have been heard of this summer in
this neighbourhood. The balloon had come from Nottingham,
about twenty-five miles from here in a straight line. The
evening was beautiful, with a slight wind, from a little south
of west.— W. Robinson; Grantham ; ‘ Field; Aug. 2, 1873.
[I know not whether Mr. Robinson is an entomologist; if
so it would be interesting to know the technical name of the
locusts found on the balloon. In the market-gardens about
London, Acherontia Atropos is the locust; on the heaths of
Surrey, Gryllotalpa vulgaris bears that name. The great
death’s-head larva is not very likely to be found “up in a
balloon ;” still it would be pleasant for entomologists to
know what the species really was ——Hdward Newman. |
Destructive Larve of a Dermestes.—I1 shall feel greatly
obliged if you will name the larve, if they are larve, in the
enclosed box. They have eaten my carpets for the last three
526 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
years, and appear to come up the joints of the floor-boards.
I have repeatedly tried to keep them to see if they produce a
moth or beetle. JI am under the impression it is the larva of
a beetle, but they usually die after keeping them a long time
without changing into any other form. These I have had in
a box since the 20th of May last, and they frequently shed
their skins. I showed them to Mr. S. Stevens, and he advised
me to ask you.—G. Gray ; 71, Castle Street, Dover, Septem-
ber 20, 1873.
[They are the larve of one of the Dermestide ; of course
neither of the larger and more familiar species, Dermestes
lardarius or D. murinus, but perhaps of Attagenus Pellio. Of
this, however, i
Contributions to the Collection of the Entomological Club.
—S. R. Featherstonhaugh, a pair of Dianthecia Barrettii
and a series of D. Nisus (capsophila). Rev. P. H. Jennings,
a series of Angerona prunaria varieties. James A. Tawell, six
Lycena Arion and six Acidalia pulchraria (Blomeraria). W.
H. Tugwell, six Zygena Meliloti. G. Guest, six Zygena
Meliloti. ‘Thomas Eedle, a series of Antithesia salicana and
Ditula Hartmanniana. Benjamin Standish, a specimen of
Cherocampa Celerio, taken in his own garden at Peckham.
Mr. Davis, two pairs of Phycis Davisellus. For these presents
I return, on behalf of the Entomological Club, my very
sincere thanks.— Edward Newman.
Entomological Pins.—In reply to enquiry (Entom. vi. 488),
long continental (British manufactured) entomological pins
can be obtained at Edmondson’s, Barnet Street, Liverpool.—
C. S. Gregson.
Proceedings of the Kensington Entomological Society,
August 8th and 22nd, 1873.
At the meeting held 8th August—
Mr. Lord exhibited a splendid specimen of Mindi
alternata.
Mr. Cooper, a living specimen of Tropis dimidiata, one of
the Australian Longicorns, which had been taken that
afternoon in the grounds adjacent to the South Kensington
Museum. Mr. Pascoe at once identified the insect, and
remarked that no previous capture of this species in Great
Britain had been recorded.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 527
At the meeting held 22nd August—
Mr. Farn exhibited a fine series of Nonagria brevilinea,
consisting of eight pairs, in magnificent condition, lately
taken by himself at Horning; and a beautiful series of the
rare Achatinella, taken at Yarmouth.
Mr. Bird, fine series of T. W-Album, T. Betule, Cynipi-
formis, Galicifarmis; A. Urticz, Unifasciata, Expallidata, and
Asteris, all of which he had bred this season; and fine series
of Muscerda, Griseola and Stramineola; and a long series of
the female S. gigantellus, in splendid condition.
Mr. Moore, Adippe (bred), E. Expallidata, varieties of
E. Subfulvata and Absynthiata, all of which were remarkable
for their unusually large size. They were all bred by Mr.
Moore this season. Mr. Moore also exhibited bred specimens
of Cucullia Asteris, and preserved and living larve of that
species, and pointed out the remarkable difference in the
markings: the larve obtained from Wales having black
bands, while those from Sussex are entirely without these
bands; and this difference Mr. Moore observed to be
constant.— W.. W., gun.
Proceedings of the South London Entomological Society,
August 28th, 1878.
The members of this Society held a special meeting on
Thursday, August 28th, at. their rooms, for the purpose of
examining the most noteworthy insects captured by the
members during the present season. The result was highly
gratifying to those who were able to be present; and a pro-
position has been made by the president (Mr. J. R. Wellman)
that similar meetings should be held quarterly.
Mr. Wellman exhibited several larve of the Ailanthus silk-
worm; also a large collection of insects, mostly bred by
himself. The following species were reared from eggs, viz.:
—Ennomos fuscantaria, Pericallia syringaria, Angerona
prunaria, Cidaria russata, and C. quadrifasciaria; probably
this is the first occasion that bred specimens of the latter
have been obtained.
Mr. Farn supplied two cases, containing a most valuable
collection of insects recently collected by himself in Norfolk,
chiefly at Horning Fen. He had met with a very fine series
(upwards of twenty specimens) of Nonagria_brevilinea,
528 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
hitherto a very scarce insect in this country. The series
of Gigantellus, Achatinella, Ophiogramma, Haworthii, and
Canella, were magnificent, and fully prove that hard work in
this branch of Natural History produces great results.
Mr. Tugwell sent specimens of the best species he found
during the month of July in the New Forest and the Isle of
Wight. Entomologists will find an account of Mr. Tugwell’s
excursion in the ‘ Entomologist’ for September (vi. 476). The
new burnet moth, Z. Meliloti, was shown; also specimens of
Emutaria, Lunigera, Viridata, Geminipuncta, Roboraria, Orion,
and many others.
Dr. Horley exhibited a beautiful series of Tryphena
Orbona var. Curtisii, bred from the egg, the larve having
been carefully tended through last winter.
Mr. Champion brought a collection of Coleoptera from
Braemar, containing nearly the whole of the species to be
found in that northern locality in July,—the time of his visit.
In addition to this large collection he was able to exhibit two
rare beetles from Esher, called Nanophyes gracilis and Sil-
vanus similis.
Mr. Boden’s cases contained a few of his captures in the
New Forest, and a series of Palealis from Folkestone; also
curious varieties of Crambus and Agrolis.
Mr. West exhibited more than twenty species of Tortrices
from his own neighbourhood, the series of Foeneana, bred
from the roots of the mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), being
especially fine.
Mr. Allin, who accompanied Mr. Champion to Braemar,
had, during his Coleopterous excursion, picked up a few
pupez of Lepidoptera under moss at a great elevation: one
of the pupe produced a beautiful specimen of Pachnobia
Alpina. ‘This is the fourth specimen that has been recorded
as taken in Britain.
It will be readily seen from the foregoing list that no part
of the British Isles has been entirely neglected by the
members of the South London Entomological Society, with
the exception of Wales. Many insects contained in the
British lists are very local,—confined to an extremely limited
area; and these can only be obtained by paying a visit to the
particular locality. Hence the necessity for combined action
on the part of entomologists.—J. P. B.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 123.] NOVEMBER, MDCCCLXXIII. [Price 6d.
Capture of the King Crab (Limulus Polyphemus) off the
Coast of Holland; with Brief Notice of its Charaeters.
By EpwarpD NEWMAN.
Limutvus PotyrHemus (under side, or ventral aspect; the lower portion of the
animal being omitted in order to economise space). aa. Margin of the
first or upper Shell or Shield. b. Portion of Shell reflexed or turned over.
ec. Portion of the lower Shell, dd. Anterior pair of limbs. n, Pharynx.
TuE ‘Zoologist’? for October contains a record of the
capture of four specimens of the king crab (Limulus Poly-
phemus) off the coast of Holland. The record is so circum-
stantial, and the name of the recorder, Mr. Southwell, of
VOL. VI. 2B
530 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Norwich, is so familiar, and so esteemed by naturalists, that
I consider it a duty to transfer the record to these pages. If
this remarkable genus be introduced in the Fauna of Holland,
as undoubtedly it will be on the faith of Mr. Southwell’s note,
which I now reprint, there can be no reasonable doubt that it
will eventually make its appearance in that of Britain.
“ ] have examined a fine specimen of Limulus Polyphemus,
taken in July last, by the Yarmouth trawl-boats, about eleven
miles off the Scheliing Light, on the Dutch coast, in about
ten fathoms water. Dr. Norman, of Yarmouth, tells me that
certainly four have been taken, perhaps five, two of which are
recorded in ‘ Land and Water’ as I.. longispina. I have not
seen these specimens, but doubtless they are the same as the
one which | have examined. A king crab is also recorded in
‘Land and Water,’ of 26th April last, as having been taken
on the coast of North Wales: an editorial note appended
says that it is a North-American species, and could not have
been caught in North Wales. There can be no doubt, how-
ever, as to the locality of those brought in by the Yarmouth
fishermen.—T7. Southwell; Norwich, September 12, 1873.”
(Zool. 8.8. 3740.)
Limulus Polyphemus is a native of North America, and
frequents sandy shores, burying itself in the sand. Natural
History books tells us that this habit is induced by a desire
“to escape from the heat of the sun, which would be fatal to
it.” This may be so, but a few years back we had several
living specimens of Polyphemus in the fish-house of the
Zoological Gardens, and these exhibited at all times a
propensity to burrow, whether the weather was hot or cold,
sunshiny or cloudy. Other species of the genus Limulus
inhabit the waters of the Eastern Archipelago, of India,
China, and Japan: the long bayonet of one species inhabiting
the Moluccas, and called the Molucca crab (Crabe des
Moluques), is used by the natives as a spear or arrow, and is
said to inflict dangerous wounds. Jn North America Poly-
phemus is familiarly known as the “ stewpan-fish” (Casserole),
from its resemblance in shape to that useful culinary utensil ;
and the shell, after the body and legs have been removed, is
frequently used for ladling water. Leconte, the American
entomologist, tells us in addition that in the United States
king crabs are sometimes given to the pigs as food; and
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 531
Latreille, that the Chinese eat the eggs of a species of Limulus
which inhabits their seas.
The structure and entire appearance of the king crab is so
different from that of a crab, in the ordinary acceptation of
the term, that I think I may be allowed to say a few words in
the way of definition, premising, however, that my knowledge
of the creature is almost exclusively derived from books;
for, although I have possessed from time to time many speci-
mens of Polyphemus, I have never studied them with a view
of making an accurate and detailed description.
Laying the creature on its back, as in fig. 1, the anterior
margin of the shell, aa, presents a flattened edge, which is
distinct and well defined in the middle, but vanishes towards
the extremities: below this margin is a flattened area, b,
bounded below by two arcuate lines, which meet in the
middle at a small tooth or button, comparable to the key-
stone of an arch; in the figure this is equidistant from the
letters 6,dd: below this flattened area is a considerable
concavity, in the centre of which, m, is an obvious aperture,
called the “ pharynx,” by general consent of entomologists,
and around this are arranged, in a somewhat radiating
position, twelve limbs, each of which terminates in a didactyle
claw, very similar to those with which one or more pairs of
the legs of decapod crustaceans are usually furnished. These
limbs vary considerably in size and length, but they scarcely
ever project beyond the margin of the shell, and are con-
cealed when we look at the back of the animal (see fig. 2,
p- 534). We search in vain for antenne, palpi, mandibles,
or maxille, of the usual crustacean character, and it is,
possibly, from this apparent absence of these familiar organs,
that entomologists have thought it desirable to assign the
functions, or at any rate the names, of these organs to one or
other pair of the twelve limbs, but there is little accord
among authors in this repect. Notwithstanding the manifest
difference in the length and size of these limbs, there is an
obvious similarity in their form and fashion, as will be very
observable in the figure (fig. 1) which I have copied from
Savigny. The first pair of limbs, dd, are very much shorter
and smaller than those which follow, and seem to consist of
only two joints: first, the basal joint, seated on a small
flattened plate, which has been called the upper lip or
532 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
labrum; and the second, terminal, or claw-joint, which is
elbowed or bent back on the basal joint. To this definition
it may, perhaps, be reasonably objected that the articulated
or thumb portion of the claw is in reality a third joint. The
remaining limbs progressively increase in size and length
“until the fifth pair, and, counting the moveable thumb as one,
all these have six joints. The sixth pair of limbs has seven
joints: the. penultimate joint of this pair is differently con-
structed from the penultimate joint of the other pairs, since
it has five lamelle attached on its outer side; the terminal
joint is very slender, and bears at its extremity the usual
didactyle claw, both the finger and thumb of which are
moveable. Following the sixth pair of legs is a small and
somewhat obcordate plate with a median suture, and again
beyond this are certain semi-membranous plates, the sutures
in which indicate joints, and these plates, covering the
breathing apparatus, are supposed, and with much reason, to
correspond with the swimming legs of ordinary crustaceans.
The basal joint or coxa of the claw-bearing limbs is produced
on its inner margin into a kind of flattened lobe, having its
edge sharply serrated or toothed, much in the same manner
as the maxille of some Coleoptera, and evidently performing
the same function, namely, the laceration and comminution of
food: thus, without expressing the slightest judgment on the
homologues of these limbs and their constituent parts, it is
obvious that they are the analogues of the lacerating and
comminuting organs in the mouth of Coleoptera and decapod
Crustacea, for they perform exactly the same functions. The
comminuted food enters the pharynx or pharyngeal channel,
and passes forwards and upwards into the cesophagus, a
direction somewhat at variance with its course as usually
understood. I cannot express any surprise that entomo-
logists, finding in Limulus‘a structure so widely different from
that with which they were familiar in decapod and other
crustaceans, should have experienced some difficulty in
assigning appropriate names to the organs they observed, or
that there should be but slight accord in their views of the
homologues of the several organs.
The first description which I would mention, but I by no
means consider it the best, is in the ‘ Régne Animal,’ which I
believe was completed in 1815: it is cited by Savigny the
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 533
following year, 1816, in his ‘Animaux sans Vertébres,’
pp. 64 and 116, and an admirably clear figure, accompanied
by details, is given in plate viii. Limulus is again described
by Latreille in 1825, at p. 304 of his ‘ Familles Naturelles ;”
a second time, by the same author, in 1829, at p. 184 of the
fourth volume of the second edition of the ‘ Régne Animal;’
and a third time in 1831, at p. 442, of the same author’s, ‘ Cours
d’Entomologie.’ The first and third of these works are
little known, and never cited on this side the Channel, nor
have they—even in the native country of their illustrious
author—the reputation they undoubtedly deserve.
The whole of Savigny’s profound remarks are based on the
theory that all the articulated animals possess essentially the
same organs of manducation and locomotion, but that these
organs are vastly and wonderfully modified: this theory is
fully explained, and is clearly rendered feasible, if not abso-
lutely established, in the investigation of the seven classes of
hexapod insects. In my ‘Grammar of Entomology’ and
‘Familiar Introduction’ I have fully adopted Savigny’s
theory ; but now that I come to consider the king crab, and
read its character in Nature’s book, even with Savigny’s
explanations, I feel great difficulty in accepting the latter as
satisfactory. The difficulty becomes still greater when we
introduce the crab, the lobster, and that strange being Apus
cancriformis, into consideration. Hence I conclude that the
theory may without hesitation be accepted, so far as the
hexapods are concerned, but that it requires much care in
extending it to the apiropods.
Turning the animal on its stomach we see at once that its
circumscription somewhat resembles that of a boy’s kite, the
anterior margin being semicircular, and the lateral margins
oblique and connivent. This kite-shaped figure is covered by
a hard and polished shell or shield, transversely divided into
three parts or sections, united together by powerful hinges,
which stiffen and become almost immoveable after death.
The first section (1) is broad and semicircular in front,
produced into two points behind; nearly in the middle we
observe a raised portion, and on this are three ridges or
keels; one of them is shorter than the others, and medio-
dorsal; the others lateral; the medio-dorsal keel has two
ocelli, or simple eyes, at its anterior extremity, one on each
534 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Ee
Limutus PotypHemts (upper side, or dorsal aspect. 1. First or upper Shell
or Shield. aa. Facetted eyes. 2. Second or lower Shell or Shield. '
3. Bayonet-shaped tail-like portion of Shell. The King Crab is about two :
feet in length. .
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 585
side of a small projection or tooth; and each of the
lateral keels has a much larger lunate or reniform eye, aa,
facetted like the eyes of insects generally, and firmly soldered
into the substance of the shield, like the dead-eyes on the
deck of a ship, but partially concealed by the keel, of which
they may be said to form a part. The second section of the
shield (2) is much narrower than the first, and also narrower
behind than before; it terminates in a concave posterior
margin; its circumscription is somewhat triangular, but very
obscurely so; the sides are oblique, and each bears twelve
sharp teeth, six of which, placed alternately, are fixed, and
constitute an absolute portion of the shield itself, while the
other six are longer, and are articulated to the shield, but the
articulation is rigid, and imperceptible when the animal has
been dead for some time. The third section is a narrow,
solid, trigonal, scabrous, bayonet-like, instrument, having the
appearance of a tail, and gradually tapering to a point (3).
EpWwarRp NEWMAN.
Notes on the Oxyura.—Family 1. Platygasteride.
By Francis WALKER, Esq.
TpHITRACHELUS Lar, male.
536 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
’ i A f = = = =
PLATYGASTER COCHLEATUS, vertical section. Px. VELUTINUS, antenna of male;
antenna of female.
ee Se en
PLaTyGAsTER TiPuLzx, male; female, antenna; female, thorax, vertical section.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 537
PLATYGASTER RUFICORNIS, male; thorax, vertical section ; trophi.
PLATYGASTER ATTENUATUS, female; abdomen of a male and female Platygaster.
2B2
538 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
TNOSTEMMA AREOLATA, female; antenna of female; antenna of male; antenna’
of I. scrutator; abdomen of male I. areolata, vertical section.
THE wing-structure of the Platygaster tribe is quite different —
from that of the Mymaridz: in the latter the vein or bone
takes the initiative, and the membrane is wholly wanting or
is only slightly developed; in the former the vein is generally
not existent, or is merely rudimentary. Platygaster appears
in most parts of the world, and is dependent on Cecidomyzide
for its means of subsistence between the egg-state and the
perfect-state: it is much more abundant in North Europe
than in South Europe, and may, like many other minute
Hymenoptera and Diptera, have been partly expelled from
the latter region by the multitude of minute ants which occur
in the vegetation. Prof. Foerster’s synopsis of the genera is
translated as follows :—
A. Submarginal vein with a knob at the tip.
a. Tarsi 4-jointed. - - . - IJpHITRACHELUS.
b. Tarsi 5-jointed.
* Antenne 9-jointed, serrated in the male. - ALLOTROPA,
*k Antenne 10-jointed, not serrated in the
male,
+ Wings with a basal and middle vein.
t Three last joints of the flagellum much
larger than the preceding joints, forming
a club. - - - - - METACLIsIs.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
tt The last joint only of the flagellum lunger
than the preceding joints. -
++ Wings with no basal and submarginal vein.
i Lateral ocelli nearer to the third one than to
the inner border of the eyes. - -
+t Lateral ocelli nearer to the inner border of
the eyes than to the third ocellus.
§ Female with a horn on the first abdominal
segment. - - -
§§ Female with no horn on the first abdominal
segment. - - :
B. Submarginal vein with no knob at the tip.
a. Scutellum more or less elongated, not semi-
circular, or when shortened then always
compressed on the sides, with a pointed
wart-like tip.
** Thorax compressed on the sides. - :
* Thorax not compressed on the sides.
+ Scutellum elongated, without a spine-shaped
or wart-like tip.
t Furrows of the parapsides deep. Club of the
antennz of the female not determinate ;
two last joints distinct. - - -
tt Furrows of the parapsides indistinct or want-
ing. Club of the antenne of the female
4-jointed ; ; two last joints as one. -
++ Scutellum elongated, with a spine-shaped or
wart-like tip.
t Scutellum ending in a more or less stout
spine.
§ Lateral ocelli nearer to the inner border of
the eyes than to the third one. Club of
the antenne in the female 4-jointed. — -
§§ Lateral ocelli not nearer to the inner border
of the eyes than to the third one. Club
of the antenne of the female 3-jointed.
Head rhomboidal when seen in front. -
*t Scutellum somewhat shortened and com-
pressed on the sides, pointed or wart-like
at the tip.
{ Abdomen very much elongated. - -
tt Abdomen not unusually elongated.
§ Second ventral segment much contracted in
the female. - - -
§§ Second ventral segment not contracted in
the female. - : : -
539
Monocrita.
IsosTasIus.
INOSTEMMA.
AGIEROTA.
PIESTOPLEURA.
XESTONOTUS.
AMBLYASPIS.
LEPpTACIs.
IsoRHOMBUS.
EctTaDIvs.
SACTOGASTER.
SyNOPEAS.
540 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
b. Scutellum not elongated, usually semicircular
or cylindrical.
* Scutellum quite flat. - . - ANOPEDIAS.
«* Seutellum not flat.
+ Head cubical. - - - - IsocyBus.
++ Head not cubical.
+ Scutellum with a hair-tuft at the tip. - TRICHASIS.
+t Scutellum with no hair-tuft at the tip.
§ Border of the abdomen with a very broad
rim, &- wt - - - Hypocampsis.
§§ Border of the abdomen with no broad rim.
x Scutellum separated from the scutum by a
deep suture. - - - - PoLYGNOTUS.
x X Scutellum not separated from the scutum by
a deep suture. - . - - PLATYGASTER.
The genera are thus twenty-one in number, and, without
expressing an opinion whether they are or are not needlessly
numerous, a few remarks may be made on them with reference
to the British species which are included in them. Iphitra-
chelus, Inostemma, and Platygaster, are already known as
British genera. Allotropa is founded on Inostemma Mecrida,
Metaclisis on I. areolata, and Monocrita on I. Atinas. . The
next genus, Isostasius,includes Platygaster punctiger, a species
that is of much importance in agriculture, by appropriating to
itself Cecidomyia Tritici, a fly that is very injurious to wheat.
The genera Acerota, Xestonotus, Isorhombus, Synopeas, and
Anopedias, may be passed over till more can be said of the
species which they include: these are not mentioned by
Foerster. The genus Piestopleura is founded on Platygaster
Catillus; Amblyaspis is represented by Platygaster Larides,
P. Nereus, and P. Roboris; Leptacis includes P. Tipule,
P. Nydia, P. Laodice, and P. Nice; P. Craterus is the typical
species of the next genus Ectadius, which is followed by the
genus Sactogaster: in the latter there are two described
British species, P. Osacer and P. ventralis; and Foerster
mentions that he has four more, one of which is parasitic on
Cecidomyia Pisi: these four are very likely also British, and
therefore the characters of them are translated in anticipation
of their discovery. P. ruficornis, P. Erato, P. Matuta, and
P. Cotta represent Isocybas; and Trichasis claims P. Pisis,
P. Remulus, and P. Didas. <A species of Hypocampsis is
parasitic on Cecidomyia Strobi. P. striolatus is the type of
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
541
Polygnotus. Last comes Platygaster, which formerly included
all the above genera, but Foerster does not mention any of
the species which it still retains.
Platygaster Siphon of
Foerster, described and figured in one of his earlier works,
may be placed under Acerota.
genera is here abbreviated ;
F
oerster.
A. Subcostal vein abruptly clavate before the
middle of the wing. Petiole of the female
with a recurved horn at the base. -
B. Wings with no subcostal vein. Abdomen of
the female with no horn.
a. Antenne in both sexes with a 4-jointed club ;
funiculus slender; vertex of the head
narrow, bordered. Ocelli nearly contiguous
to the eyes. Dorsal lines of the mesothorax
obsolete, or none. Scutellum with a slender
apical spine. Abdomen subsessile, convex
above; first segment wholly, second at the
base, covered with thick gray down. :
b. Abdomen petiolated.
** Head twice as broad as the compressed thorax.
Club of the antenne 4-jointed. Scutellum
with an apical spine. —- -
#k Head not or hardly broader than ihe thorax.
Scutum with obsolete dorsal lines.
+ Scutellum with no basal groove, parted from
the scutum by a slight transverse line.
t Scutellum attenuated into an acicular spine.
Abdomen almost orbicular in both sexes. -
tt Club of the antenne of the female 4-jointed ;
two last joints connate. Scutellum pubes-
cent, conical, depressed. Abdomen woolly
at the base. - - - -
++ Scutellum with a distinct basal groove, parted
from the scutum by a rather deep trans-
verse line. - - - -
«kt Vertex of the head with a rim. Scutum with
two lines. Scutellum thickly pubescent
Thomson’s synopsis of the
it does not seem equal to that of
INOSTEMMA.
SYNOPEAS.
PrEesTOPLEURA.
LEPpTaAcis.
AMBLYASPIS.
CERATACIS.
at the tip. : : - Tricuasis, ANOPEDIAS.
*k&k Vertex of the head rather thick, without a
rim. Scutum with two lines.
Isocypas, Hypocampsis, PLATYGASTER.
542 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The species of Sactogaster are distinguished as follows :—
A. Third and following abdominal segments much
shortened, and together not much longer than
the second. - - : - : Osaces.
B. Third and following abdominal segments much
longer than the second.
a. Segments from the third to the sixth much curved. _curvicauda.
b. Segments from the third to the sixth almost
straight.
* Scutum sharply divided from the neck.
+ Fifth abdominal en aig shorter than the
sixth. - - - subequalis.
+} Fifth abdominal segment tqoaiards as long as
the sixth. - - - - - Pisi.
** Scutum coalescing with the neck.
+ Second abdominal segment round, when seen
sideways. - - - - longicauda.
+; Second abdominal segment not round, wien seen
sideways. - - - - : ventralis.
Francis WALKER.
Notes on Southern Indian Lepidoptera.
By Witi1aM WaArKINS.
(Continued from p. 509.)
I ARRIVED in Secunderabad the latter end of February,
1871, and was much disappointed to find that the surround-
ing country was one vast plain, almost devoid of vegetation,
a few palm-topes being the only relief. The hot season
commenced in March and lasted until August, during which
time we had no rain: everything was fearfully parched and
dry, and there appeared hardly any insect-life; indeed, I
despaired of getting anything at all, as I could see no traces
of food-plant. The first rains set in on the 26th of August,
and two days afterwards insects were abundant. I was asto-
nished at their sudden appearance, and could hardly believe
myself: hitherto J had strolled out to the most inviting place and
found literally nothing ; yet on the 29th of the month I started,
net in hand, to a place some three miles distant from the
cantonment of Tremulgherry, named Moulali, which consists
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 543
of several huge rocks piled on each other: on the summit are
the tombs of several Fakeers, and at the base is an artificial
lake, on the banks of which I obtained Papilio Hector, Coon,
Polymnestor, and Dissimilis; Vanessa Orithya, P. Cardui, a
species of Teras, Argynnis Selene, Gigocera Venulia, Dia-
dema Lyria, Lycena Alexis, Pieris Napi, Callidryas Argante,
Pontia Nini, Thestis: Marianne, and Pieris Epicharis. Several
species of Arctia came to light, some of them most beautiful ;
Lubricipeda was amongst them, but the remainder were
unknown to me. I was sitting in my quarters writing one
evening, when a friend from home visited me by flying on to
my desk: it was a male of Zeuzera Ausculi; I never saw it
before nor since in India. On the 25th of the month a large
Sphinx larva and pupa were brought to me from an officer’s
compound, and on the 29th the pupa emerged: it was a fine
female Chcerocampa Nerii; I never before saw this beauty
alive. I collected almost every evening during the month ot
September, mostly in gardens round the cantonment, and had
one whole day’s collecting at Moulali on the 14th of the
month, when I met with all the species named for the 29th of
August, besides two very pretty species of Anthocharis,—one
like Cardamines, but devoid of the underneath markings, and
the other tipped with magenta. On the 4th of the month I
was examining the foliage of a Scotch fir growing in a com-
pound near the barracks, when I found several larve, which,
although not feeding in rolled-up leaves, like Clostera, put
me much in mind of the larve of Curtula. I also found some
pupz spun up in the crevices of the bark, and on the 6th one
of them emerged ; the imago is certainly Clostera Anachoreta,
or a very closely-allied species. On the 11th I bred a male
of Chcerocampa Nerii from a larva obtained on the 25th of
August; thus it had only taken seventeen days to undergo its
changes. I obtained the following species at dusk, hovering
over flowers:—Cherocampa Elpenor, C. Porcellus (most
abundant), Deilephila Celerio, Sphinx Convolvuli (most
abundant), Macroglossa Fuciformis and M. Stellatarum,
C. Nerii, Gigocera Venulia, Plusia Gamma and P. Chrysitis,
Agrotis exclamationis and A. Segetum, Caradrina cubicularis,
and a species of Leucania; besides other Noctue. Amongst
the Sphingidze the commonest species was Porcellus, and I
notice it invariably prefers Zinnias to any other flowers, whilst
544 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Sphinx Convolvuli is caught exclusively at marvel-of-Peru
flowers; Deilephila Celerio comes only to petunia blossoms.
The weather for the greater part of the month was cool, and
nearly every day we had some showers. The Sphingide
continued common throughout October, but the butterflies
were worn; and thus it appears there are only two months in
the year at all worth collecting at Secunderabad.
Undoubtedly I could have done better than I did if I had
had the time and health: in common with many others this
failed me in that wretched station, most appropriately named
the Graveyard of India. Although not a prolific locality for
other families than the Sphingina some good Bombyces were
taken by other collectors; none of the species were British
ones. Bombyx Linea is remarkably common here. Chero-
campa Nerii was pretty common; its head-quarters I believe
to be the grounds of Tremulgherry Military Prison, as there
are several oleander shrubs there. I visited the place on the
19th of September, and found that the leaves had been much
eaten, indicating the unmistakable presence of the larve of
Cherocampa Nerii. I was told that some large green
caterpillars had been taken from off the shrubs, and killed.
In conclusion I have to remark that insects in this country
seem widely distributed, and not at all particular as to climate,
as upon analysis of the foregoing it will be seen that several
of the species occurred at all three places,—on the borders of
China, in baking Secunderabad, and at an elevation of seven
thousand feet above the level of the sea,—neither of them
varying in the least from the original type.
WILLIAM WATKINS.
Wellington, Neilgherries, East Indies,
July 21, 1873.
Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.
Vanessa Antiopa in Surrey.—I was so fortunate as to take
a fine specimen of Antiopa on the 6th of August last, on
Hindhead Hill, near Haslemere. It was flying over the top
of the hill in company with another, which, however, I could
not take—C. W. Haig-Brown; Eton College, Windsor,
October 12, 1873.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 545
Vanessa Antiopa in Kent.—While walking on the banks
_ of the Medway, about three miles from Tonbridge, on the
eastern side of the town, on Saturday, September 27th, I saw,
and nearly succeeded in capturing, a specimen of Vanessa
Antiopa. It, however, escaped, I having no net with me at
the time ; and as I have not since heard of its capture I take
the liberty of writing this—H. R. Ash; Judd House, Ton-
bridge, Kent, October 24, 1873.
Lasiommata Megera (Entom. vi. 485, 521).—Following
Mr. Birchall’s suggestion that entomologists should examine
the specimens of Megera in their cabinets, I have looked
into mine, and find what I think to be one or two rather
singular varieties. One (a female) has a second small-
pupilled black spot above the large one on the apical angle
of the fore wings; another (a male) has a similar spot, but
situated beneath it. I have a third variety (a male), the
colour of which is brown, without any fulvous markings, the
dark brown band crossing the middle of the fore wings
deepening almost into black. I think with Mr. Birchall that
the Satyride are peculiarly liable to variation: two specimens
of Tithonus I possess are very dissimilar to the normal type,
the fore wings of one being of an uniform tawny colour,
without any markings whatever, save the usual bipupilled
black spot; of the other, the ordinary bright orange-brown
being almost white.—Joseph Anderson, jun.; Alresford,
Hanis.
Sphine Convolvulii—In answer to the question, “ Does
S. Convolvuli pair in the autumn?”—having had a female
brought me about September 12th, which has laid a good
number of eggs—I may conclude they do. The eggs are
very dark brown. Can any of your readers inform me the
name of the food-plant which the larve will eat.—M. Mond ;
Lewes, October 3, 1878.
[The food-plant of Sphinx Convolvuli is traditionally the
field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) ; practically it has been
found twice on Impatiens noli-me-tangere, in the North of
England; and a score or more have occurred feeding on
balsams in the garden of the Luxembourg, in Paris.—
Edward Newman. |
Trichiura Crategi (Entom. vi. 514).—In reply. to Mr.
Raynor’s query respecting the time when the larvae of this
283
546 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
species emerge from the eggs, I may say that they usually
appear about the middle of April, but the eggs do not all
hatch at once, a few of the larve generally appearing daily
for two or three weeks. The cage in which they are kept
should stand where the morning sun can shine upon it, as
the larve are fond of basking in the sunshine.—Henry
Doubleday.
Bombyx Quercus (Entom. vi. 521).—This species occa-
sionally remains a year in the pupa state, although the
ordinary time is only a month; but there is nothing remark-
able in this, as some specimens of many species of Lepidoptera
remain two, three, or more years, in the pupa. A person
residing here has now some living pup of Cucullia Verbasci
from larve obtained in 1869.—Id.
Bombyx Callune.—The larve sent by Mr. Clogg, of East
Looe, are those of this species, the females of which drop
their eggs at random without attaching them. The young
larve seem to feed on the plant growing nearest the spot
where the eggs happen to fall. They hybernate at this
season.— Edward Newman.
Eremobia ochroleuca in Kent.—Having seen in the last
number of the ‘Entomologist’ a notice of the capture of
E. ochroleuca in Surrey, I beg to state that in August, 1872,
I took it in some profusion, flying by day, between Gravesend
and Rochester. I took at the same time specimens of
Dysthymia luctuosa. I believe the above-mentioned locality
is not given in your ‘ British Moths.’ Is it not also unusual
for E. ochroleuca to fly by day?—M. T. Madeson; Wel-
lington College, Wokingham, Berks.
Cucullia Gnaphalii in Darenth Wood.—I have two pup
of Gnaphalii, the larve from Darenth Wood, Kent, taken by
a friend last August.—Augustus Priest ; 16, Menton Road,
Kensington, October 4, 1873.
Diantheecia Compia.—My. Gregson asks (Entom. vi. 518)
if this species is British (Irish). I am somewhat surprised
that he, above all, should ask that question. Surely he must
know whether his own captures are British or not, and I would
advise him to test his own specimen in a damp box,—I mean
the one he showed me when I called upon him in Liverpool,
and which he told me he took on the Big Hill of Howth. He
also assured me he took a wasted Compta in Wales some
—
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 547
years ago. I must confess I am somewhat puzzled to know
how a moth can prove itself to be another species, after a
lapse of several years, by laying nine eggs. However, as
regards my own six specimens I must refer him to his very
intimate friend Mr. John Warrington, late of Tranmere Hall,
Cheshire, who not only saw me capture Compta (not var. of
Conspersa), but captured one himself. As regards others not
being able to find it, I may say Barrettii is not a Manx
species. I know Port Jack well, and have spent night after
night searching for D. cesia, but never took Barrettii,
although I have caught sixteen specimens in a night on the
coast of Ireland. Again, with Sesia Philanthiformis, Mr.
Gregson tells us it is common at Howth, but I have failed to
find it, although I have worked the Hill of Howth yard by
yard; also the adjacent islands, viz., Ireland’s Eye and
Lambay. Perhaps I may be more successful another
season.— EL. G. Meek ; 56, Brompton Road, S.W., October
1, 1873.
Larve of Xanthia gilvago and X. ferruginea.—On the
4th of last June I beat some larve from the bunches of green
seeds on a wych-elm: they fed only on the seeds, and about
the middle of June went down in the soil. I supposed them
to be Xanthia gilvago, as they answered almost exactly to
your description, but to my disappointment Xanthia ferruginea
emerged from the pupe. In your ‘ British Moths’ you do not
mention elm as the food of Ferruginea, but of Gilvago; and
Mr. Greene also says Gilvago feeds on the seeds of the wych-
elm. I should be glad if you could tell me how to distinguish
between the larve, for two or three years ago I bred Gilvago
from larve off the same tree, and I cannot remember any
difference in their appearance.— Anne Steele Perkins; Ash-
grove, Ruabon, October 10, 1873.
[I regret to say I am unable to give the required informa-
tion at present, but hope to receive it from a friend.—_ Hdward
Newman. |
On the Antenne of Eristalis tenax.—The terminal joint
on each antenna is flat on the inner surface and gibbous on
the outer one, and both surfaces are thickly and evenly
covered with very minute hairs, just such as terminate the
dorsal surface of the antenne of P. Capitis; but the second
joints of E. tenax are smooth and polished, with only a few
548 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
comparatively large hairs at their outer edges, and the first
or basal joints are smooth like the second ones. By a parity
of reasoning this would seem to indicate that the terminal
joints are purely sensitive organs of touch. The large hairy
bristles spring from just within the margin of the flat sides of
the terminal joints of the antennz, and around the base of
each bristle there is a transparent ring of horny substance,
while all the rest of the structure is black and opaque; each
of the very minute hairs of the terminal joint has a similar
very minute transparent circle. The small hairs on the single
long bristle on each terminal joint are all projected outward
and upward. These long bristle-like organs are probably
ordinary feelers, while the delicate hairs of the terminal joints
of the antenne are discriminative organs of touch. As to the
terminal joints being auricular organs I can see no evidence
whatever of their performing such a function, as there are no
orifices of any sort on any part of them, while the delicate
organs of touch completely cover their surfaces.—J. S.
Bowerbank.
[It having been on several occasions suggested that the
antennee of insects were auditory organs, I examined the very
conspicuous antennze of the common drone-fly (Eristalis
tenax), with the kind assistance of Mr. Henry Deane. Nothing
definite resulted from the investigation, but I found during
the examination so much to excite admiration and doubt that
I decided on appealing to Dr. Bowerbank for his opinion, and
with his invariable courtesy and kindness he has sent the
preceding note.—Hdward Newman. |
Aphides and Honeydew (Entom. vi. 463, 502).—Nearly a
century ago the Abbé Boissier de Sauvages stated that he had
observed two kinds of honeydew, one of which he considered
to be an exudation from the leaves of plants, and the second
to owe its origin to Aphides. I am strongly inclined to the
Abbé’s opinion, which is partly confirmed by Dr. Hooker’s
observations. Mr. Walker suggests that the specks on the
leaves of the limes might have been caused by the flowers;
but when Dr. Hooker began his observations the limes could
not have been in bloom. The presence of Aphides on currant-
trees soon attracts attention from the blisters on the terminal
leaves of the shoots, which are always first attacked by these
insects. Several currant-trees were trained against a wall in
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 549
my garden facing the north-west. In 1868 these trees appeared
perfectly healthy till about the end of May, when the leaves
‘were suddenly covered with honeydew so thickly that they
looked as if they had been varnished, and a drop hung at the
tip of almost every leaf. I could not see a blistered leaf or a
trace of an Aphis upon them, and there were no standard-
trees near the wall. In the course of a week or two, after the
appearance of the honeydew, the leaves began to change
colour, and soon afterwards the whole of them, and also all
the fruit, dropped off. Most of the trees died the following
winter, and the two or three which were alive in the spring
only put forth a few weak shoots. I do not believe that the
honeydew on these trees was caused by Aphides, which
sometimes exist in large numbers on trees without any trace
. of honeydew being seen.—Henry Doubleday; Epping,
| October 15, 1873.
_——Y
eS ee a ee
Extracts from the Proceedings of the Entomological
Society, March 17 to April 7, 1873.
.
:
|
Sexual Difference in Insects having Ocellated Spots.—
: Mr. Bates put some questions to the meeting, suggested to
him by Mr. Darwin, with a view to eliciting information as
: to sexual differences in insects furnished with ocellated
: spots; and also as to sexual differences among the Buprestide.
) A conversation ensued, in which Mr. Jenner Weir stated that
in Satyrus Hyperanthus the spots were more numerous in the
female than in the male, and Mr. Butler remarked that
Drusillus had double spots in one sex. It was also stated
that Mr. Saunders had detected corresponding sexual
differences in the Buprestide.
New British Diptera.—Mr. Verrall exhibited a specimen:
of Laphria flava, Z., one of the Asilide, taken in Scotland,
not having been hitherto discovered in this country. Also
the following Syrphidz, namely :—Syrphus Compositarum,
Ver., 8. flavifrons, Ver., and 8. punctulatus, Ver., all new
species; together with S. annulatus, Zelé., S. barbifrons,
Faill., and 8. nigricornis, Ver. (= obscurus, Zeit.), the last
three having been found in this country for the first time.
Dragonflies devoured by an Asilus—Mr. M‘Lachlan
— that he had been informed by Lord Walsingham that
550 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
when on his recent visit to California and Texas he had
frequently noticed dragonflies preyed upon by other large
insects whilst flying through the air. These latter were, no
doubt, some species of Asilus; but it was the first time he
had heard of dragonflies being preyed upon by other insects,
as they had hitherto been supposed to be free from such
attacks.
American Cynipide.—Mr. Miiller read the following
remarks, communicated to him in a letter from Mr. W. F.
Bassett, of Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S. “I found, early in
the spring, almost as soon as the buds began to swell, large
numbers of a female Cynips—the species unknown to me—
Ovipositing in these buds. I had seen the same in the two
preceding seasons, but in only a few instances. The insect,
standing on the summit of the bud, thrust the ovipositor
down between the bud-scales, but did not in any case, so far
as I noticed, penetrate the scales. I inferred that the eggs
were laid in or on the embryo leaf. I marked several trees
where I found these female flies, and watched with much
interest to see what species, if any, would be found on them.
I found the leaves, when developed, to contain galls of
C. q.-futilis, Osten-Sacken, and with few, if any other, species
intermixed; and the abundance of this species was in close
agreement with the number of females ovipositing before the
leaves appeared. These galls, when found at all, are usually
very numerous, and on some of these trees there was hardly
a leaf that did not contain from one to eight galls, each of
which would produce from three to five insects. The fly of
C. q.-futilis (/ownd in both sexes) is much smaller than the
species 1 found ovipositing. I think that when we come to
find out the true history of these dimorphous and, in one
generation, unisexual species, we shall find that those com-
posing the generation of females are generally larger, and
perhaps structurally distinct from the bisexual brood. What
form of gall these apparently immediate progenitors of
C. q.-futilis may come from I cannot say, though I still hope
to trace them to their gall. I repeated last spring the expe-
riment tried several-previous seasons,—that of raising a brood
of flies from the galls found in the form of irregular swellings
on the twigs of an oak growing near my residence. 1 raised
an immense number, all of which were females; and in June
i et en!
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 551
I reared still greater numbers, male and female, from enor-
mously swollen petioles of leaves of the same tree. These
two broods are remarkably alike, so much so that I could not
separate them if mixed. There is, in this instance, no per-
ceptible difference in the size of the individuals composing
the two broods. It seems to me to be settled now that most,
if not all, our species of Cynips are double-brooded, and
that one of these generations consists of females only.
Besides the two cases I have mentioned, where the con-
nexion between the two broods is apparently well established,
there are so many one-gendered species that we may reason-
ably suppose each to be the progenitor of some one of the
equally numerous double-gendered species, but whose rela-
tionships have not yet been observed. I am willing to venture
the remark that probably no one-gendered species exists—
that those apparently unisexual species, C. q.-punctata,
Bassett, C. q.-spongifica, Osten-Sacken, and those European
species which, though reared in countless numbers, have as
yet been found only in the female sex, will be found to be
double-brooded species, one of which will be exclusively
female, and the other male and female. I have two or three
years tried to raise a colony of C. q.-punctata, Bassett, by
placing the large polythalamous galls on uninfected trees just
as the insects were ready to escape. So far I have failed to
rear any galls of this species. Now if these females really
reproduce the same kind of gall I ought to have succeeded,
for I colonized several hundred individuals on a single small
tree, and many more on other trees in different seasons. Of
course the inference to be drawn from the failure of my
attempt to raise these galls has no scientific value, but had I
succeeded in raising the galls the fact would have been
received as satisfactory proof that these female flies could
produce generation after generation of females without the aid
of the male element. I take the ground that the reproduction
of gall-insects without the intervention of the male is limited
to a very few, if not even to one generation ; and that all our
unisexual species are dimorphic forms of double-gendered
species. I wish yourself and all others interested in working
out the singular history of this family would give attention to
these points. And may I ask you to inform me if anything
has been written within a year or two that throws any light
552 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
upon them, as I am aware that my non-intercourse with the
entomological world for a year or two past has left me far
behind possibly on this very point. I was able last spring to
settle, to my own satisfaction at least, a question raised by
myself in the first article I published on the Cynipide,—the
question whether the woolly galls, C. q.-seminator, Harris,
and C. q.-operator, Osten-Sacken, were or were not abnormally
developed leaves. I took the ground that they were, that the
eggs were deposited in the oak-bud, that the small seed-like
gall was only a modified leaf-stem and blade, and that the
wool was only an enormous development of the pubescence
always present on the young leaves. Mr. B. D. Walsh
opposed this idea, and, either in a published paper or in a
letter to me, denied that the gall had any connexion whatever
with the bud or leaves. Last spring I was so fortunate as to
find two galls of C. q.-seminator in their earliest stage, and
was able to watch them in their development. ‘They are
really developed from buds, and are, as I supposed, only
modified leaves. The smooth shining cell or gall is the
petiole of the leaf, and the tuft of long woolly hairs that
terminates the cell is only the enormous development of the
leaf’s pubescence.”
Haggerston Entomological Society, Exhibition.—The Hag-
gerston Entomological Society intend holding their annual
exhibition on the 13th and 14th of November, 1873, between
the hours of six and eleven o’clock. The committee will be
glad to hear from any gentlemen willing to exhibit. All
communications to be addressed to the Society’s Rooms,
_ 10, Brownlow Street, Dalston.—R. G. Bury, Secretary.
Contributions to the Collection of the Entomological Club.
—W. Machin, four Arctia Urtice, four Sideria Achatana,
six Ditula semifasciana, two Ypsolopha horridella, two
Coleophora saturatella, two C. albitarsella, two C. solitariella,
two C., vitisella, two Scotosia vetulata, four Rhodophea for-
mosella, two Euchromia flammeana, two Teras caudana, and
two Sciaphila nubilana. J. Jenner Weir, two Agrotera
nemoralis. For these presents I return, on behalf of the
Entomological Club, my very sincere thanks.—LZ. Newman.
At Home.—Edward’ Newman will be at home, at 7, York
Grove, Peckham, every Friday evening, at six o’clock, until
further notice.
ee ee eS ee eS eT
THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
No. 124.] DECEMBER, MDCCCLXXIII. [Prior 6d.
Controlling Sex in Butterflies. By Cuas. V. Ritey, M.A.*
(Entom. vi. 372.)
THE article with the above title by Mrs. Mary Treat, in
the March number of the ‘Naturalist, has attracted a
good deal of attention, and most naturalists will be proud
that a lady has set the example of making such investigations.
But while I fully concur with the authoress in the deduction
that the female in insects, and especially in Lepidoptera,
“requires more nourishment than the male,” I cannot follow
her in the other conclusion, “that sex is not determined in
the egg of insects.” Were this conclusion well founded it
would upset what most physiologists of note believe to be a
fundamental principle, viz., that, in the individual, sex is
determined at the moment of conception, no matter at what
stage of growth it becomes ascertainable by us. That such
is the case with the higher animals will scarcely be doubted,
and to reason from analogy that it is the case with the whole
animal kingdom is quite as natural, though equally as unsafe,
as it was in years gone by to argue that lucina sine concubitu
was an impossibility, or that larval reproduction, in insects,
could not possibly take place. It is, therefore, worth while
to weigh the evidence for and against the possibility of con-
trolling sex in larve.
Mrs. Treat, whom I know to be a good observer, and
whom I esteem as a correspondent, had already, in 1871,
communicated to me her belief that she could control the
sex in butterfly larve, and though I then gave her my
opinion that her experiments were by no means satisfactory
and conclusive, for the reason that many of the larve
* Reprinted from the ‘ American Naturalist, September, 1873.
VOL. VI. IC
504 j THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
experimented on died, we find her discoursing in the follow-
ing unqualified manner in ‘ Hearth and Home’ for January
13th, 1872, in treating of Papilio asterias:—“ When the
worms become of the right size cut off their supply of food,
and every one will produce a male butterfly! On the other
hand, even after they have left their food-plant and selected
their place to change to the chrysalis, disturb them, make
them leave their place, and coax them with a fresh supply of
their favourite food, and continue to feed them for about two
weeks longer, and all will be females!”
Led by Mrs. Treat’s observations to test the question, I
last summer conducted a few experiments, which resulted
very differently from those recorded in the article referred to,
and which, after briefly reviewing the article, I will detail. In
waiting for some of these results I have been obliged to defer
writing this article till the present time. In the first experi-
ment with Papilio asterias, mentioned by Mrs. Treat, some of
the larve died, and we are not told whether the number
experimented with was large or small. In the experiment
with the same insect in 1872 we are told that of seventy-nine
specimens that had been labelled males (a few chrysalides
having died) three females only were produced. On the
other hand, those that were well “fed up,” and labelled
females, produced sixty-eight females and four males. The
original number so labelled is not given, and it is not stated
whether any chrysalides failed to produce the imagines; so
that we are left to infer that seventy-two were experi-
mented with, and that they all produced the butterfly,—a
success in rearing which is remarkable. In the third experi-
ment with twenty larve, nine females and eight males were
produced, the other three failing. In the experiment with
Vanessa Antiopa more than half the larve died, and in the
trials with Anisota rubicunda some also died and were
parasitized.
Now Papilio* deposits its eggs singly, and from experience
in breeding Asterias, Troilus, Turnus, and Ajax, from the
egg, I am satisfied that it would be very difficult to get any
great number to hatch on the same day, or to become
chrysalides or imagines on the same day. The eggs must
have been gathered singly, or the larve of different ages
* T use the term in the old, and not in Mr. Scudder’s, sense.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 555
taken on the same day, or of the same age on different days.
‘Of a given number thus gathered I should expect the sexes
to be about equally divided, and we in reality find that of the
one hundred and seventy-one larve, particularly mentioned,
the sexes are almost equally proportioned in number, eighty-
eight males and eighty females having been obtained, and a
few chrysalides (which, as we shall presently see, would most
likely be females) perishing. In Anisota, on the contrary, the
eggs are deposited in batches, and it is more easy to get a
number of larve of the same age. Mrs. Treat’s experience
with her thirty-three larve is quite opposed to mine with the
same species.
Mrs. Treat does not tell us whether she did or did not use
any discretion as to the size in selecting her intended males
and females; and this is a very serious omission, as, by the
criterion of size alone, among larve of the same age, the
sexes in many species may be separated with considerable
certainty. LI regret also that she has not specified at what
age, and whether always at the same age, the treatment of
“feeding-up” and “shutting-off” was begun, though we may
infer, from what is said, that it was after the last larval
moult.
Mrs. Treat speaks of keeping larve eating beyond the
period of pupating, or rather of preparation for that change,
and of “ starving” them, as though there was hardly any limit
to these processes. Analysed, what meaning do these ex-
pressions convey? Very little. They are deceptive! Most
Lepidopterous larye, in a state of nature, would come under
the head of “feeding-up,” as they usually have an ample
supply of food at command, and eat their fill. While, there-
fore, it is perfectly possible to stunt such larve by furnishing
them with a scant supply of food, and thus to prolong the
period and diminish the amount of their development, it is
utterly impossible, in the great majority of cases, to get them
to eat after they once commence to prepare for the chrysalis
state. ‘This is my firm conviction, after ten years of pretty
extensive insect-rearing; and I think that most experienced
insect-raisers will agree with me. If disturbed after preparing
to pupate, most larve will repeatedly renew similar prepara-
tions, but if too often frustrated they will either transform
without the proper preparation or die. They are, doubtless,
556 THE ENTOMOLOGIisT.
prompted to forsake their food and prepare for the transfor-
mation by the changes already taking place in the system,
and in the great majority of cases the mandibulate is already
giving way to the haustellate mouth, and has become impo-
tent to perform its wonted labour. Larve can neither be
forced nor stuffed beyond a certain limit, and this limit is
attained by every well-fed larva in a state of nature and in the
vivarium, so that if Mrs. Treat’s theory had any real founda-
tion, almost all insects that were not “starved” ought to be
females. A high temperature will cause rapid development,
but it does not cause a greater aggregate amount of feeding.
But to my own experiments. Of the six insects chosen, the
sexes in some differ in the most remarkable manner, while all
show sufficient disparity to render mistakes in separating the
sexes impossible. They are, also, all common in this section,
so that others will have no difficulty in verifying my facts.
Except in the case of Thyridopteryx I made no attempt to
“ feed-up,” my efforts all being in the direction of “ starving,”
or, as Mrs. Treat would put it, of producing males. Neither
have I relied entirely on my own observation; for, being
necessarily absent from home, at intervals, the experiments,
with explicit directions, were at such times left in charge of
Mr. Otto Lugger and Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt, both well
practised in rearing Lepidoptera. I would also premise that
the stunting process began from the time of hatching, and
that it was carried so far that, of the less hardy species, many
died under the treatment. It was, also, especially enforced
towards larval maturity. The species chosen were:—1, Thy-
ridopteryx ephemereformis; 2, Orgyia leucostigma; 8, Cli-
siocampa Americana; 4, Hyperchiria Io; 5, Hemileuca Maia ;
6, Anisota rubicunda.
1. Thyridopteryx ephemereformis.—Two lots: lot 1, con-
sisting at first of between thirty and forty individuals, and
abundantly and constantly nourished ; lot 2, of thirty indivi-
duals, and very poorly nourished, or “ starved.” From lot 1,
twenty-eight cocoons were obtained, of which fifteen were
males and thirteen females, all of them attaining the imago
state. From lot 2, eighteen cocoons were obtained, which
produced twelve males and six females, two of the females
failing to perfect, and dying in the chrysalis state, in which
the sex is readily determined. The stunted lot produced, on
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 557
an average, smaller specimens, and were later in developing,
the first male appearing September 15th, against September
10th, on which day the first male in lot 1 appeared. Some of
them, however, were of the usual size. Besides these two lots,
which were in small vessels and very strictly watched, I had
a great number in a large breeding-cage, which were so
thoroughly neglected that fully one-half died. No accurate
account was kept of them, but of upwards of fifty chrysalides
obtained fifteen were females. This is a tough insect, and
will stand very rough treatment; and the last mentioned
were repeatedly allowed to wander around the cage for three
days or more without a particle of food.
2. Orgyia leucostigma.—Started with a lot of forty, which
were very carefully watched and very insufficiently fed. From
them eighteen cocoons were obtained, ten of which were
actually females and eight males. I naturally looked for a
different result in this case, as there is a very perceptible
difference in the size of the sexes, and the female larva grows
one-third larger than the male, requiring, in consequence, a
greater amount of nourishment. I had also noticed in previous
rearing of this species that the males often passed through but
three larval moults, while the females passed through four;
but to show that the number may vary in the same species,
according to circumstances, Miss Murtfeldt assures me that
under this stinting process the former went through four
moults like the females. Similarly, Prof. Westwood has
informed me that a larva of Megatoma ['Tiresias] serra, which
he once kept on flies and insufficiently fed, lived for three
years, and moulted no less than fourteen times.
3. Clisiocampa Americana.—Started with a batch of up-
wards of fifty just hatched. Obtained only nineteen cocoons
from them, the rest dying from hard treatment. Five small
females and nine males were obtained, the others dying in
chrysalis.
4, Hyperchiria Io.—Twelve taken from Baptisia, soon
after the fifth or last moult. Furnished very stintingly with
food. All pupated. Two male moths issued in the fall;
four males and three females this spring, three being yet in
the chrysalis state. At the same time I had two other lots
feeding, with ordinary care, on Sassafras and Amorpha, and
in both lots the males have so far preponderated.
558 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
5. Hemileuca Maia.—One brood of upwards of one hun-
dred, from an egg-belt fastened around a_peach-twig.
Endeavoured to feed them on peach-leaves, which were not
to their taste, until more than half had died. Stinted the rest
as much as possible, until only thirty-two entered the ground.
Of these fifteen produced males and eight females, the rest
being yet chrysalides.
6. Anisota rubicunda.—About fifty larvee of all ages, of the
first brood and badly stinted, gave twenty-two chrysalides ;
and these gave eleven females, seven males,—the rest dying.
Upwards of a hundred, hatched from eggs deposited in con-
finement by one of the above females, and likewise stinted,
gave fifty-six chrysalides.
I watched these with a good deal of interest, as, from the
necessarily weakened condition of the parents, I expected a
large proportion of males; but I was doomed to disappoint-
ment, as but three moths—two females, one male—issued on
the 2lst and 22nd of May. In examining the remaining
chrysalides I find them all dead, and I cannot help thinking
that this excessive mortality is attributable to the stinting
process they endured as larve, more than to any other cause,
as the earth containing them was kept in the best condition.
While these experiments were being carried on I had many
hundreds of the common silkworm (Bombyx mori) feeding on
Osage orange (Maclura aurantiaca), a great number of which
succeeded admirably out-doors under netting, and others in-
doors. ‘Two of the lots in-doors were fed sparingly, and not
well cared for. No precise records were kept, and very many
died ; but of the imagines obtained I recollect very well there
was no disproportionate number of males.
On the whole, if these experiments indicate anything, they
indicate that where more males than females are obtained
from stinted larve it is attributable to the fact that the
females, being largest and requiring most nourishment,
succumb most readily under such treatment; rather than
that the sexual characteristics are modified and determined
by such treatment. Mrs. Treat’s facts are, in some respects,
remarkable, but, bearing in mind the influence of the condition
of the parents on the sex of the offspring, it will not do to
draw conclusions too rashly ; for every experienced entomo-
logist knows that occasionally, in a particular brood of larva,
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 559
one sex or the other will greatly preponderate, where no
especial treatment was followed in the rearing.
While, therefore, I do not think that the facts yet in our
possession warrant the belief that the quality or amount of
food has any influence in determining sex in the individual
once out of the egg, I do believe, with Thomas Meehan,
Henry Hartshorne, and others, that there is a certain relation
between organic vigour and sex, and that the latter may be
determined in the offspring by the amount of vigour or vitality
—creative or organic force—in the parents, and that the
female is in some way connected with increased, and the
male with lessened, vitality, for strong arguments may be
adduced in favour of such a belief.* Certain curious facts in
the natural history of some of our gall-making Cynipide lend
singular weight to these views. From these facts, ascertained
by Mr. H. F. Bassett, of Waterbury, Connecticut, there can
be little doubt that many of the species produce two distinct
kinds of galls, alternating with each other,—the one vernal,
the other autumnal. The former produce flies with a due
proportion of the sexes, and the latter produce nothing but
large females.t In other words, the directly fecundated and
more highly vitalized eggs produce nothing but large females,
while the parthenogenetic offspring is smaller, and composed
of both males and females.
* See ‘American Naturalist,’ vi. pp. 692, 747; and ‘ Missouri. Entomolo-
gical Reports,’ iv. p. 65, and y. p. 85.
+ To give a single illustration :—A large wool-gall, the modification and
deformation of a bud, is tolerably common on our black oaks. The flies pro-
duced-from it (Cynips q.-operator) are bisexual. Mr. Bassett has witnessed
the female depositing in acorns of the same trees on which the wool-galls
oceur. The product of these eggs is a pip-like gall (C. q.-operatola of my
manuscript), which develops betw een the cupule ‘and the fruit. It is quite
irregular in form, but with the apical end tapering more or less to a point,
and the basal end rounded. It is greenish when young, yellowish when
mature, and the larva rests in a cream-coloured oyoid cell, easily freed from
its pip-like covering. The gall is generally numerous enough to render the
acorns abortive, and I have known it since 1869. In August, 1871, while
visiting Mr. Bassett, I collected a number from Quercus ilicifolia, and brought
them home in the hope of rearing the flies from them. This spring, after a
lapse of about twenty months, and just as the oak-buds were bursting, I suc-
ceeded in obtaining a number of flies, every one of them females, and agreeing
with C. q.-operator, except in being larger. Singularly enough this very year
Mr. Bassett succeeded, for the first time, in finding the producer of the woolly-
gall, C. q.-operator, ovipositing in buds; and his description leaves no doubt
that the flies he thus discovered are identical with my bred specimens,
560 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
The curious facts, as now understood, in the economy of
the common bee-hive, seem at first to militate against the
conclusion that food has no influence on the sex of larve, but
in reality they do not, though they indicate that the sex may
be altered or determined after partial or imperfect conception
has already taken place. All eggs not directly impregnated
produce drones or males (not females, as “A.S. P.,” by a
singular lapse of thought, has stated on p. 177 of the March
number of the ‘ Naturalist’), while those which are impreg-
nated at the will of the mother produce females either partly
or fully developed, z.e., workers, or queens. The rule with
animals is that the eggs perish unless vitalized by the direct
influence of the male spermatozoa. Nevertheless, parthenoge-
nesis in many of the lower forms of animal life, and especially
in insects, is an admitted fact. And what does it imply? To
my mind it implies that in exceptional cases the male element
is sufficiently potent to vitalize the eggs in the second gene-
ration, or that it may endure until succeeding generafions ;
that, in short, to use Owen’s words, “the spermatic virtue of
the ancestral coitus” may influence the descendants. Von
Siebold does not accept this explanation, but there are many
facts which indicate that it is a true one, and the male element
becomes exhausted in time, and is needed sooner or later for
the continuance of the species.
Parthenogenesis has repeatedly occurred in species which
normally cannot multiply without direct sexual intercourse, e.g.,
in Bombyx mori, Sphinx ligustri, &c., while in a great number
of others the embryo, in eggs not directly fecundated, develops
up to different stages. What in some species is the exception
becomes the rule with others, of which the hive-bee is an
example. The male element may be said to possess all
degrees of potency in its influence on the reproductive
function of its immediate issue, as the embryo in eggs not
directly fecundated attains all degrees of development before
death. In cases of parthenogenesis it is potent enough,
vital enough, to cause full development of the offspring for
one or more generations, though, in the majority of instances,
and especially where this mode of reproduction does not
occur as a rule, this offspring is most frequently male.
Finally, it may be so potent, as in what is termed thelotoky,
that females instead of males are produced.
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 561
The eggs in a virgin queen bee may, therefore, be said to
be already partially fecundated,—sufficiently so to produce
males or drones ; but they must be more thoroughly vitalized,
by the direct male influence, before the female sex can be
stamped upon them. Even here, however, the sex is not
changed after the deposition of the eggs, and it is not the
influence of food which produces the change.
Though I believe that the evidence is against Mrs. Treat’s
conclusion, | hope she will continue her experiments, with
that thoroughness and exactness of which she is capable.
Nature’s contrivances for the maintenance of life in all its
wonderful and varied phases are inexhaustible, and we are
ever laying down rules and theoretical laws, only to find them
violated and upset, as we more truly interpret her ways. She
is as watchful of the myriad invisible atoms that mantle o’er
the pond with green, or of the unseen swarms that fill the air,
“though one transparent vacancy it seems,” as she is of the
higher forms of life. Plastic, she conforms in every con-
ceivable and inconceivable way to the wants of her immense
family. She shows us—
‘The ant’s republic and the realm of bees;
How those in common all their stores bestow,
And anarchy without confusion know ;
And these forever, tho’ a monarch reign,
Their separate cells and properties maintain,”
and calls loudly on us to read aright and solve her yet many
untold secrets.
Cuas. V. RILEy.
Entomological Notes, Captures, Sc.
Larva of Sphinx Convolvuli (Entom. vi. 545).—I think the
answer to Mr. Mond’s query in the last number of the ‘ Ento-
mologist’ about the food-plant of the larva of Sphinx Con-
volvuli is an unsatisfactory one, and as but little is known
about this caterpillar in England I send a translation of Dr.
Boisduval’s description of it. He says :—“ This larva varies
greatly, not only in the markings, but also in the ground
colour, which is sometimes of a bright green, sometimes of a
263
562 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
dark green, very often of a light brown, and sometimes of a
dark brown. Among the green individuals we have observed
three varieties. The first is of a bright green, with two rows
of black spots along the back, and seven oblique white
lateral stripes, and the horn is fawn-coloured on the upper
side and black beneath. The second variety is of a dark
green, with two black lines along the back, and seven oblique
stripes of the same colour on the sides. The third variety is
green, with six longitudinal rows of black or brown spots, and
the head and horn ferruginous. The brown individuals are
equally variable. The first variety, which is rather common,
is of an olive-brown, with two black lines along the back, and
seven oblique stripes of the same colour on the sides; the
head and the Ist segment of the body are of a ferruginous-
red; we may also remark that there is upon the sides of each
segment a large white spot. In the second variety the three
anterior segments have whitish longitudinal lines. The third
variety is entirely brown, with the back darker than the sides.
Besides these six varieties intermediate ones are not rare, and
sometimes almost the whole of the body of this larva is inter-
sected transversely by a multitude of very fine black lines.
This caterpillar lives upon various species of Convolvulus, but
particularly upon the Arvensis; it is rarely found upon the
Sepium; it is sometimes found upon plants of Convolvulus
tricolor and Ipomea coccinea, which are cultivated in
gardens. To obtain this caterpillar it should be looked for in
July in fields where Convolvulus arvensis grows among
plantations of potatoes or beans, where it is rather common,
and from its large size is easily discovered. The perfect
insect is disclosed in September, but a part of the pupz
remain through the winter, and the moths appear in May and
June of the following year.” My friend M. Constant says
that Sphinx Convolvuli is commoner at Autun than SS.
Ligustri, and adds that the presence of the larve in potato-
. fields is easily detected by the excrements lying round the
plants of Convolvulus arvensis; and upon lifting them up the
larvee will be found beneath them. Some years ago one was
brought to me with some larve of Atropos, and another
which was found upon a garden-hedge which was overgrown
with Convolvulus sepium, upon which the larva had doubtless
been feeding —Henry Doubleday ; Epping, Nov. 14, 1873.
a yt
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 563
Dianthecia compta (Entom. vi. 518, 546).—Haworth
erroneously considered Dianthacia conspersa to be the
Compta of continental authors, and he was the first person
who introduced the name into our list. Mr. Gregson asks if
the true Compta is really British. I may say in reply that I
have never seen a British specimen; examples probably
existed in some of the old cabinets, as the dealers of that
time were not more scrupulous than some of those of the
present day, and many continental and also American speci-
mens were sold as British. Nearly thirty years ago the late
Richard Weaver bred a number of specimens of D. conspersa
from larvze which he found in Ireland on Silene maritima;
several of these strongly resembled Compta. I sent one or
two of them to my friend M. Guenée, who said that at first
sight they might easily be mistaken for this species. Mr.
Meek did not show me one of his lrish captures, and
therefore I cannot say to which species they belonged.
I have seen some reputed British specimens of Compta (two
of which were sent to me for examination by the Rev. Henry
Burney), but they were most certainly continental specimens,
which had been relaxed and re-set. The larva of Compta is
very different from that of Conspersa, and feeds upon various
species of pinks (Dianthus): it is common on the garden
pinks in the neighbourhood of Paris. I do not think it has
ever been found upon any species of Silene, and I am not
aware that any of the Dianthi grow upon the coast of Ireland.
Having had the opportunity of examining a considerable
number of specimens of some of our rarer Lepidoptera which
had been sold as British, nearly all of which proved to be
re-set continental specimens, | unhesitatingly say that I
believe a very large majority of the specimens of Daplidice,
Lathonia, Leucophza, Albipuncta, Nigrocincta, Purpuraria,
and many others, which now exist in collections of professedly
British Lepidoptera, are in reality continental: they can be
purchased at from threepence to sixpence each; and so long
as collectors will give as many pounds for them as they cost
pence, I am afraid there is no probability of a stop being put
to these disreputable proceedings. It is now almost impos-
sible to say what insects are really British, as living pup of
various species are regularly obtained from France and
Germany ; and the fact of an insect being exhibited alive is
564 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
no proof of its British origin,—living butterflies and moths
can be easily obtained from the Continent by post. All
interest in collections of Lepidoptera as British is destroyed
by the introduction of these continental specimens, which
often differ considerably from ours.—Henry Doubleday ;
Epping, November 15, 1873.
Cheerocampa Celerio at Southport.—I beg to inform you
that on the 12th September a specimen of C. Celerio was
brought to me by a gardener, who found it at rest upon an
outhouse early in the morning. It is a fine specimen, and
was apparently just out of the chrysalis, as the silvery lines
on the wings were very bright and distinct.— Hartley Burton ;
The Warren, Birkdale, Southport.
Charocampa Celerio at Bolton.—On the 7th of October a
fine male Celerio was taken at Bolton, and is now in my
possession.—J. B. Hodgkinson.
Yellow Variety of Zygena Filipendule.—In answer to
Mr. Forbes, I have just seen a yellow variety of Zygena
Filipendule, taken this year, near Finchley, by a collector
living here.—C. G. Thomas; The Grove, Highgate, N.,
October 15, 18738.
Chesias spartiala.—I captured on the 27th September a
specimen of Chesias spartiata, which was attracted by the
lamp on the dining-room table. I mention the circumstance,
as in your ‘ British Moths’ you merely name Glasgow as a
Scottish locality.— W. B. Simson ; Marler House, by Blair-
gowrie, October 8, 1873.
_ Occurrence of Xanthia aurago at Llangollen.—Whilst
staying at Llangollen recently I sugared in various localities,
“ prospecting” around the district, and on September 25th I
took the first Xanthia aurago I ever saw alive, at sugar,
which I had spurted on to the leaves of birch-trees, in the
celebrated birch wood, where S. Scolizformis is taken. I had
sugared about a mile through this wood, but only took one
specimen. J am not aware of any capture of X. aurago on
this side of England or Wales before. Llangollen is forty
miles south south-west from here, and its nearest registered
capture before is York, which is about twice that distance
east of us.—C. S. Gregson; Rose Bank, Fletcher Grove,
Liverpool, October 5, 1873.
Dasypolia Templi attracted by Gas-lamps.—After leaving
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 565
church last evening a friend and I took a walk, and, as is my
usual practice, I cast a glance up at the lamps, and espied a
specimen of D. Templi inside a lamp, which I secured by
climbing; then another turned up, and the same modus
operandi had to be gone through, which was by no means an
easy one, for one suffering through rheumatism. Finally, an
outside lamp seemed to be worth exploring: my friend let me
stand on his shoulders, and I could see more than we had
pins for, so we set off to borrow some, and again I mounted
the lamp; by sheer necessity I managed to get astride of the
cross-bar to keep both hands at liberty, and there I pinned
five specimens and lost two, making seven in all in one lamp.
—J. B. Hodgkinson; 15, Spring Bank, Preston, October
20, 1873.
Cueullia Gnaphalit and C. Asteris larve in Kent.—I had
the pleasure of taking the larva of C. Gnaphalii on the 10th
of August, near Seal, Kent; and again on the 17th and 24th.
Also a good number of C. Asteris larvz on the 4th, | 0th, 17th,
24th, and 25th, at the same place, and at Darenth Wood.—
James Bryant.
Sesia Allantiformis near Greenhithe.—It may be interest-
ing to the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ to know that I
was fortunate enough to capture a male specimen of Sesia
Allantiformis of Newman in the month of July, 1872,
near to Greenhithe Station. It was exhibited at the monthly
meeting on the 6th of November, and at the annual exhibition
on the 13th of November, 1873, of the Haggerston Entomo-
logical Society.—d.
Hyponomeuta padellus.—The enclosed moths have just
come out of their cocoon, and, as I can find no description
of them in your ‘British Moths, I shall feel very much
obliged if you will inform me what they are. I have just
found its caterpillar in a web: it feeds on hawthorn.—J.
Benson ; Hawnby, near Helmsley.
[I have some doubt as to the name of this common and
most destructive insect. Haworth calls it Erminea Padi,
considering that the same species infests both the apple and
the hawthorn; but he describes five varieties. Mr. Stainton,
our only other English author who has described these
insects, also considers the apple ermine and hawthorn
ermine to constitute but a single species, which he calls
566 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
Hyponomeuta padellus, and says “On apple, hawthorn, &c.,”
‘ Manual,’ vol. ii. p. 308. I believe the apple-feeder is the in-
sect described by Guenée as Malinellus. The reason why these
insects are not described in my ‘ British Moths’ is that they
belong to the section called Micro-Lepidoptera, whereas I
have only described the Macro-Lepidoptera. — Edward
Newman. |
Epunda lutulenta at West Wickham.—I have lately taken
two specimens of Epunda lutulenta, both males, at sugar, in
our garden here (West Wickham): one on the 15th, the
other on the 22nd of September. This is, I think, a new
locality for this species.—W. A. Forbes; West Wickham,
Kent, October 4, 1873.
Description of the Larva of Depressaria Capreolella, Zell.
—Length under quarter of an inch; form rather slender;
colour bright yellowish grass-green, slightly irrorated above.
Head glabrous, green ; eyelets pronounced ; lips dark. Corslet
bright green, bordered across the top. Dorsal and subdorsal
regions faintly defined; the upper papille, two on each
segment, small, the lower ones larger, and the spiracles
plainly indicated. Spines few and small, except on the anal
segment, on which there are a few strong spines. General
appearance slender, cylindrical, bright green, irrorate. First
discovered by Mr. Hodgkinson and myself, on the Lindal
New Road, from Grange, in Cartmell, to Witherslack, feeding:
on the leaves of wild carrot (D. Carota), July 29, 1871.
Since taken by both of us in distant localities,—Lincoln-
shire, Westmoreland, Cheshire, and Denbighshire.—C. S.
Gregson; Itose Bank, Fletcher Grove, Liverpool, October
15, 1873.
Note on Coleophora albicans.—In August, 1870, I collected
a lot of the young larve of Kupithecia succentureata, feeding
upon Artemisia vulgaris growing around New Brighton sand-
hills, and upon the flowers of this plant I observed plenty of
young larve of C. albicans just forming their curious cases,
so brought a bag-full of plants home, and planted them near
my bee-house on a waste place, where they could grow unin-
terfered with. In September, 1871, 1 observed a few cases of
the moth doing well; and in September, 1872, there were
plenty of cases, but I failed to see a single moth in any year
yet. Now, in October, 1873, there is no end of fine fat cases
a
y
THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 567
of C. albicans, in which are full-fed larve, some on
the mugwort flowers and seed, and others sticking here
and there about on anything; these latter having evidently
taken up winter-quarters, happy in a new locality.—C. S.
Gregson. .
A New British Coleophora.—During the past winter I
have taken rather freely the cases and larve of a new
Coleophora from the seed-heads of Juncus maritimus. The
larvee form their cases in the seed capsules, and are difficult
to discover, unless these are rubbed off the plant over paper,
when those tenanted by larve will be seen walking away.
The imago emerges in June and July, and resembles very
closely C. Cespititiella, but appears to be less glossy and
somewhat smaller, with shorter, broader wings. It is more
abundant in our salt marshes than Cespititiella, and will no
doubt be found mixed with that species in most collections.
It passes the winter and spring in the larva state. Mr. Stainton
has seen the larva and imago, and has pronounced it new.—
Henry Moncreaff; 145, High Street, Portswood.
[I would propose this new species of Coleophora should be
called C. maritimella of Moncreaff—Edward Newman. |
Curious Instinct in Bees—I1 have heard to-day of a
curious feature in the instinct of bees. In and around San
Franscisco there were no bees. Several swarms were
imported from this country: they in their usual manner
stored up honey, &c., for the winter. Of course no winter
came; and from that time the bees gave up storing honey,
and simply devoted their energies to the propagation of their
species, and procuring food for themselves. Is this a known
circumstance in connection with these interesting creatures ?
[Rev.] G. C. B. Madden ; The Vicarage, Armitage Bridge,
Huddersfield, Yorkshire, November 4, 1873.
Living Insect in African Gum.—We hasten to send you
an insect found alive this morning in a piece of gum in which
itis embedded. It is common enough to find “ flies in amber”
and other gums, but never to our knowledge have they been
found alive. One of our assistants seeing an insect in a
nodule of Sierra Leone copal, broke it, and perceiving it to
move its head brought it to us for inspection. So far as we
can see it appears to be the larva of a beetle nearly half an
inch long, with some of its legs and its head free; it has been
568 THE ENTOMOLOGIST.
very lively, and has moved its mandibles continually. We
have sent it to you in a box, but fear that it will not reach
you alive; but to place the fact of its being so now beyond
dispute, we have shown it to a number of scientific and other
credible witnesses, who can certify the fact. You will per-
ceive that it is in a nodule of gum without flaw, so that it will
furnish an interesting enquiry how the insect can have existed
as it has done for several months at the least. We have no
information respecting the age of gums, but since the insect
was first entrapped in the viscous gum it must have required
many months before it could have hardened as we now find
it. Doubtless the readers of the ‘Entomologist’ will be
interested in this case.—J ander Brothers ; Wolverhampton,
October 29, 18738.
(The insect did not reach me alive, having been delayed in
transit, owing to an unfortunate misdirection of the packet ;
nevertheless there is no reason to doubt the fact of its having
been alive when forwarded. It has now been carefully
removed, and exhibits all the characteristics of having recently
possessed life. If an insect is enclosed alive in gum, ina
cavity which is considerably larger than its body, which has
been the case in this instance, the length of time it will live
will depend upon various circumstances. I would suggest
that the insect crawled into a miniature cavern, and that the
entrance closed afterwards, for the gum becomes soft at a
comparatively low temperature, and I find by experiment the
present specimen does so at a temperature below 140° Fahr.
Of course if an insect gets entangled in a gum or resin that
is viscous, its life is soon over. This has not been the case in
the present instance: the limbs were free from any viscous
adhesions ; therefore the insect must have entered the cavity
sponte sua. The finding an insect alive in such a situation is
extremely interesting, but it must on no account be considered
analogous to the phenomenon of “ flies in amber:” the gums
imported from the coast of Africa are recent exudations, and
are daily in the course of formation. Knowing something of
the nature of these African gums, for there are many, and
very variable as to the temperature at which they soften,
I must decline expressing any opinion as to the period this
insect had passed in confinement.—Hdward Newman. |
EDWARD NEWMAN, PRINTER, DEVONSHIRE STREET, BISHOPSGATE,
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