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THE
TRANSACTIONS
J/ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF
NEW SERIES.
VOL. I.
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1853.
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VSI SPENGCES HSC, BsEU. ssi Cc Ceillcleloieisia/eleicialel oie/a\elaielejeielerely)s\nie Vice- Presidents.
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J. Curtis, Esq., F.L.S. ...... so @ondon eons sooUPAoODOGCNS
PDWIN SHEPHERD, PSs cc's sis cicee bes sicle cleciclec veces cece
| Other Members
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Bi Wr JANSON, EISG. sesececsssceciessccccccecrccessonne Curator.
Library and Cabinet Committee.
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ane
TRANSACTIONS
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THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF LONDON, 1834—1849.
Vol. I. twenty-four plates, 25s. 6d.—to members 12s. 9d.
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
Prifectstatet ie: SOCIEtV iy, su venice why dete. aft) si) = lhe ePimawa | outa we I
PeAICeOMshcunransactons) «Wii cols /anennted S tii. stseues| aimee es ao Tv
Explanation of the Plates . . . ag : : <) s+ o, Mile
Additions to the Library from 1st «anwar, 1852, to 31st Saas
HGS}. sou Gobel wee none eeu Sy at ol eet a arated Ths eon sa eR
Additions to the Collections from 1st pes 1852, to 31st als
ISS Wes Wig Wao : Sieh i ien chy Soke ene ute tae Lion, Teme NOY
List of Members, bas ona, USA des cigs cis Les abner cts. bs RVI
Journal of Proceedings from February, 1852, to January, 1854. . . 1
INTE gs ODay APA ghar: SE RAR re amram ee OUP a aan a SSRI
MEMOIRS.
J. Description of Doubledaya Viator, an apparently undescribed
Sub-genus and Species of Coleoptera belonging to the Family
Languriade. By Avam Wuirt, Esq., F.L.S. . . . . . 1
II. Note on the Pediculus Melitte of Kirsy. By F.Smirn, Esq. . 4
III. Descriptions of some new Species of Hemipterous Insects belong-
ing to the Tribe Scutata. By W.S. Datuas, Esq. F.L.S. . 6
IV. Description of a new Species of the Genus Dinidor, belonging to
the Hemiptera Scutata. By W.S. Datuas, Esq., F.L.S. . 18
V. Apparatus for destroying Mould on Insects by the Vapour of Spirits
of Wine. Invented by M. Vicror Guitiant, Employé au
Museum Royal de Turin. Communicated e Joun Curtis,
Bigg Fela — ants. os : oo oe le
VI. Descriptions of Five new ae of Batteries, of the . Family Pa-
pilionide. By W.C. Hewitson, Esq. . . . . . « « 22
vi
CONTENTS.
PAGE
VII. Descriptions of undescribed Coleoptera, brought from China by
MITT,
IX.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
TV,
XY.
AVL:
VLE:
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
R. Fortune, Esq. By W. Witson Saunpers, Esq.;-
BES. &e. 4). 4 = 25
Descriptions of some new av ‘apparently didessritied Aone
nopterous Insects, from North China, collected y R. For-
TUNE, Esq. By F. Smitu, Esq. . . . . 33
Descriptions of some Hymenopterous Insects far Neuer
India. By F. Situ, Esq. . 5 45
. On the Habits of the Species of the Chleoperens ree ‘Megs:
cephala, inhabiting the Amazonian Region of South America.
By H. W. Bares, Esq.; with a Synopsis of the Species,
by J. O. Westwoop, Esq., F.L.S. . . . . Ho 9a a
On the Lamellicorn Beetles, which possess exserted Mandibles
and Labrum, and 10-jointed Antenne ; being a Supplement
to a Memoir published in the Fourth Volosnte of the Trans-
actions of the Entomological Society. By J. O. West-
woop, Esq. F.L.S. . . . 59
Contributions to the Natural Fidtory of British Deicpolepido-
ptera. By J. W. Doveuas, Esq. . . . 75
Notes on the Development of Osmia parietina and “athlon British
Insects. By F.Smitu, Esq. . . . 5 tell
Descriptions of some new Species of the Coleonierane Family
Pausside, with a Synopsis of the Family. By J. O. Wesrt-
Woon, Esq... Fics 2) <i. 84
On the Identification of the yet undetermined Species of Mi-
crolepidoptera mentioned in the “* Mémoires” of Réaumur.
By J. W. Douetas, Esq. < = ; 2 97
Descriptions of some Longicorn Beetles, discovered in Northen
China by R. Fortune, Esq. By W. Wiison SaunpErs,
igs: PSeh as 6 sly. «ie. ade eae eee
Notes on the Habits of ents sbrasene “By Mr. WiriiaM
VARNEY Voy). Ts . 113
Contributions to the Nefel Fiatons of Britich ‘Mier olepiae
ptera—(coniinued). By J. W. Dovctas, Esq. . . . . 116
Notices of some new Species of Strepsipterous Insects, from
Albania; with further Observations on the Habits, Trans-
formations and Sexual Economy of these Parasites . . . 125
On the Duration of Life in the Queen, Drone and Worker of
the Honey Bee; to which are added, Observations on the
Practical Importance of this Knowledge in deciding whe-
ther to preserve Stocks or Swarms; being the Prize Essay
of the Entomological Society for 1852. By J. G. Des-
BonouGH, Bsq. +.) 14.0) % ihars . 145
Descriptions of new Genera and Sieeies of Ciiteuliuteen ‘By
G. R. Watrrnovse, Esq. F285: 0. «2-3 = eee
XXII.
XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
CONTENTS. Vili
PAGE
Contributions to the Natural History of British Microlepi-
doptera. By J. W. Dovetas, Esq. . . . 207
Monograph of the Genus Cryptocerus, eloneioe to ‘thie
Group Cryptoceride—Family Myrmicide—Division Hy-
menoptera Heterogyna. By F. Smitru, Esq... . . . . 213
A Revision of the Synonymy of the British Species of the
Coleopterous Genera Hydrochus and Ochthebius. By G. R.
WATERHOUSE, FSGe EZ Se. yoy ie Gn veal e aul: . 229
Descriptions of some new Species of Coleoptera, fro Ching
and Ceylon. By J. O. Wesrwoop, Esq., F.L.S. . . . 232
On the Insects used for Food by the Indians of the Amazon.
By A. R. Waurace, Esq... = . 241
Descriptions of some new Species of Butterflies fom South
America. By W.C. Hewitson, Esq. .. . . 245
Notes on the Habits of a Bee-parasite, Melittobia Ailes
By Freperick Smitu, Esq. . . . 248
On the Habits of the Butterflies of the ‘Atiazen Valley ‘By
Ace Lvs MUR DACE Rasa timc! cl elle niet Us) dou gs . . 253
Cauvaliae)
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
—
Prater. Fic. PAGE
il 1. Oplomus elongatus, Dallas ..--cecvsseccececesceess 6
QowSciocon7s| atustnalis wa allepevnelceeyercteteters|oteieieleveeiorere\s}-fel=to mame y|
Daas Memtn aise Dalle tersretelatetelelels teleisyelstonele Boooooade. UC
4& 4a. Dinidor lineatus, Dall., and details .......+00 0 Sooo. ill
Ouglinonccorusylatius alley werepelevetetetersreieterofela/enelstalalersieteeer- mane
6 & 6a, Amphaces virescens, Dall., and details ........-...+++ 14
7 & 7b. Dinidor gibbus, Dall., and details.........-.-- mocos, ile
1 Apparatus for destroying Mould on Insects ....-..-.. 19
Ts 5 ae a. : . Cosmiomorpha modesta, Saunders, and details..-..... 29
3 & 3a. Rhomborhina nigra, Saund. .sscceseeeee pacocoooncg PY)
4& 4a. Bs Fortunei, Saund....... feuncoododtecn 31))
5. Teniodera ornata, Saund. dhoooouonuodMUDOb oo Sill
6. Protetia intricata, Saunds «sees 1-2 ele selels\arevenerse mel
7. Porphyronota Sinensis, Sina SodpenoacdvacsDGc0De 8
IV. 1. Glenea Fortunei, Saund....... S008 On tO OC ererssepetorote rer wil,
2. Colobus sericeus, Saund.......-- SODODOODOCOOG0ON ero ated
AAD ie e : Philus inconspicuus, Saund., and details...+..++++e++6 110
5. Burypoda antennata, Saund. 6000025 0s c00s es clare 110
6. Cerosterna hispida, Saund. ..........-- sleliefalerese) Siaveners 112
7. Callichroma Faldermannii, Saund..... ddouoopoug oc ore) ell
V. I, Bapilio)Sakontala, Hewitson elec vc1s'seielelelciels eietetee ete 24
24s ty UOrellana Sew s siis 'e eieeine nm oe eimereieeeers 23
VI. i ys. (Chabrias; Hews ss clos sacle» crete te siete oo eS
Ze 99° | Pawsanias: THEW.(/x\siset=o.s'<iars «orate leicasionerciemenee
3. 5s 9, Lelearchus,) Flew. tic cise e/teieinte SOOO GOOG Apion 9274
VII. 1. Megacephalaveurta, Perty ss 'sisiv's oa eves o'n's clo oon Oe
2. Larvaof M.curta? 2a, head rotiley cet eceecc cesses 04
3. Megacephala Martii, Perty.......... eerceceseceene OF
A plbanvarot Uv mVlcmtiiimeetarstetertietstele ado boo ous eee 54
onMecacephalalSpiniy, Brule. mrelstelece sister cieielslcetetos . o4
6. Larva of M. ——? 6a, dorsal segment, showing the
hooks); 76/b\protileiofidos-stererietce selcteeeneieteiohe nea
7. Megacephala quadricollis, Laferte?..+0..++eeeeceeees 55
8. o MSPerUla;. VWiESLWeil tole + sicleiercieletaiielelsiontalelomod
Puate.
VIII.
IX,
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
Fic. PAGE
1. Vespa Mandarina, Smith......20-+++. So ponsoudod de: wal:
2. Cryptus purpuratus, Smith..... jopgapdoobougunuaKe oe
3. Bombus atripes, Smith ......+.20-00- sAndeddcnoas eee
4. 3» Untfasciatus, Smitlecisvicercescscccacccceecs 40
5. Se GRU TOC, Shave On Hein GOOmOe Riatetelereteveislieie ste Ad
6. 3) jserrugineus, Smith’ fence. ecceecsecccee 47
7. sp tUNICATUS, SMIth ssc ove siete ¢ Ristcleleielete slevcloiata eter mn 4a
Gh Wail! comings Sain SoohooooopdadboooodanGouc0dn co
QRIPisonine cal is poimit i welete/s}.opeyelelelelaielererel sie Sonesocncsa. St!
10. Rhynchiwm ornatum, Smith ......2eeeeeeees ponooo) Cie
1 tole. Ochode@us lutescens, Westw., and details .....+...20. 64
2 to 2e, 7 pictus, Westw., and details...0...2..-0es TOD
3. 95 Americanus, Westw. (mandibles and clypeus) 67
4, Ap luridus, Westw. (IDM) Noo soce 67
5 todd. 50 rugatus, Westw. and details .......+- doooo 0//
6 to 6 i. Liparochrus geminatus, Westw., and details........ -- 69
7 to7 6. “3 sculptilis, Westw., and details ...+-+ee++ 70
8 to 8 i. Glaresis Frivaldsskyi, Westw., and details ........ jen nati,
9 to 9c. Triodontus Owas, Reiche, and details ........+0.--2. 74
1 to 1c. Imago and transformations of Gelechia contigua ...... 76
2 to 2c. Imago and transformations of Gelechia blandellu ...+.. 77
3 to 3c. Imago and transformations of Gelechia fraternella .+2» 77
1 to 1 c. Imago and transformations of Coleophora albitarsella .. 79
2 to 2c. Imago and transformations of Culeophora Alcyonipennella 80
3 to 3c. Imago and transformations of Coleophora solitariella.... 80
1 to 1 d. Rhipicera tessellata, Saund., and details ....++s+++-. 236
2 to 2f. Callirhipis Championii, Westw., and details .......... 235
3 to 3 g. Lichas funebris, Westw., and details.ceesessesreeeee 238
4, Callirhipis Templetonii, Westw.....esesrsevsecceees 204
5 tod e. Eugeusis palpator, Westw., and details......+2..00++ 239
6 to 6e. Clytellus methocoides, and details ......+- SoMoOOOUOC 240
1 to 1 J. Imago and transformations of Lithocolletis trifasciella .. 120
2 to 2b. Imago and transformations of Lithocolletis Scabiosella .. 121
3 to3d. Imago and transformations of Lithocolletis Emberizepen-
“nasa onabeng 6400 bacs oo ob nobb BOSH Spo000n e- 122
1 to 1 b. Imago and transformations of Gracilaria Franckella .. 123
2 to 2 c. Imago and transformations of Gracilaria stigmatella .. 124
3 to 3d. Imago and transformations of Gracilaria auroguttella .. 124
1—8. Details of pseudo-nymph of Xenos Rossii @........ -- 144
9—15. Oplopus Rubicola, with Xenos Klugii ¢ enclosed in its
pupa skin, &C. sssereeeesces efsiele\ euehsla\a) sisiere sis e» 144
15—24. Ancistrocerus deflendus, with Xenos Heydenii, &c. »».. 144
1. Xenos Rossii, escaping from abdomen of Polistes Gallica 144
2—17. Hylecthrus Rubi, escaping from abdomen of Hyleus
Inne, SXKOs 6G aSOb DO DOO Ue CauOoe Ob booe boca - 144
18. Pupa of Hylecthrus Querciis g..... whevokeieleriereieiaerepsroe ela
19. Prosopis variegata, with cephalothorax of Btylectinas
Sieboldii exposed »+...++- corse crsecccevereccces 144
x
Parte.
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.
XXII.
XXIII.
Fic.
1—le.
Qe
l—le.
2—2 c.
3—3 c.
15
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
PAGE
Imago and transformations of Bedellia somnulentella .. 208
Polyommatus Alewis, vat. «evseseesesesecs Proceed. cxiv.
Imago and transformations of Elachista subnigrella, Doug. 210
Imago and transformations of Elachista Megerlella .... 211
Imago and transformations of Elachista Cygnipennella .. 211
Cryptocerus atratus 9 ; 1a, labium of do.; 16, maxilla
of do.; lc, labrum of do.; 1 d, mandible of do.;
le, labium of do. (neuter) ; 1 f, maxilla of do. (neuter) 228
2. Cryptocerus atratus (neuter) ...-+.... Cece caccreccs - 228
3. op elegans ; 3a, antenna of do. ......+-++0. 228
4. iy VAT ANEOLUSTaAstelele eleleietere te stele BEROOOLOOOIEO: 2253)
OF * D’Orbignyanus ..crcescceccrecceces a. pets}
6. Cataulacus parallelus ; 6a, front view of the head of do. 228
7. Cryptocerus argentatus ; 7a, antenna of do..... Soonno CP!
8. mp quadrimaculatus .....+ POORTOMC S000 DO P75:
9. a0 UNUNACWIATUS oie c0esssvcee cee nooodnOre 228
1. Cryptocerus dubitatus se .ccscseseececescerecceseses 220
2. Ap GiSCOCEPNALUS Teieivicie o w'e)eT wlele eleislateteelviaisron tO
3. 5 JiGUREES G6 -obabocopCoBoEC Sel erate eietalsiele MOaO
4. Ss pubescens ; 4a, antenna of do. ...-.+e. bi. P48
5. Cataulacus Guineensis ; 5a, underside of the head, show-
ing the grooves for the reception of the antenne .... 228
6. Meranoplus bicolor ; Ga, antenna of do. ..+.ee+-eeee 228
8. 3 petiolatus; 7a, antenna of do. ......... 5 DPAS
8. Cryptocerus pusillus; 8 a, antenna of do. ...+ee+sse++ 228
8. 33 LBW OS -AoooD0dUN00 CO URAd adhere ctcterete 228
9. Cataulacus Taprobane ......2.....e00e GoooncndCG 7etE)
1. Cryptocerus clypeatus, Q ..++s+creveerecesceee eee 228
2. ss p Gio dd ondcuadacdooco5aee sees 220
3. + COTES rterntai etaholeleloislchelsi cietetelsisieiehsialelaieremee acs
4. 7; MEMDTANACEUS + eeesesceceee aisibleherstniclemeee
5. Head of C. clypeatus (neuter) .....scecccceevecrese O20
6. Thorax of doc wiei-'- ccrele's cies «= S:altetesterelisicliete qeccooucdg fee
7. Daceton armigerum, S ...... aie lei cle’ «ei eletelaleislsleleieiele OG
8. iD iy 9) ooo ASOD OO AD DOOD DE Aodooe 228
9. Orectognathus antennatus (neuter) ; 9a, mandible of do. ;
9b, antenna of do.; 9c, metathorax of do......... 228
- Erycina Saundersii, Hewitson ......seeeseeeeee ere 245
. Acrea Amida, Hew. ..--+.-. Sisleiv/elevelsietelclele eisia eee een
» apilzo (Conon, Gwe avielel oll cial +/otolel ele ielevevalo stele) cfals(ieeune AO
Hetera Hortona, How. siecle osienic cc ssc ociseesaineaO
» Hypaesia, Hew. .....+- SAAC ISO ESOOOD C 247
Dircennn Duwillia, Hews as ae\ee'e's ols sielas,cis leis) oloisieloretaeoate)
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
FROM THE Isr JANUARY, 1852, TO THE 31st DECEMBER, 1853.
Abstract of the Seventh Census of the United States.
ADMIRAL, Lepidopterous Insects. Folio, 1774.
ALBIN, Historia Insectorum Angliz. 4to. 1731 (two copies).
» History of Spiders. 4to. 1736.
American Zoological, Botanical and Geological Biography for 1851.
Atheneum. 1852 and 1853.
Booru and Morritt, Report on recent Improvements in the Chemical Arts.
CEDERHOLM, Fauna Ingrica Prodr. (Insecta). 8vo.
Cuapuis and CANDEZE, Catalogue des Larves des Coléoptéres.
CHEYVROLAT, Descriptions des Coléopteres nouveaux.
ne Descriptions des trois Coléopteres.
Ap Rappel des Coléoptéres décrits par Pallisot et Beauvais.
CuERCK, Aranei Suecia. 4to. 1757.
CornELIvs, C., Beitrage zur nahern Kenntniss von Periplaneta orientalis.
Cox, C. J., On the Destructive Powers of Scolytus destructor.
CrameER, Papillons Exotiques, et Supp. 5 vols. 4to. coloured.
Curtis, J., A List of Insects and other Animals either injurious to Agriculture or
of interest to the Farmer. :
A British Entomology. Royal 8vo. 16 vols. in 8.
CyRIL1I, Entomol. Neapol. Spec. 8 plates.
Dauuas, W. S., Description of a new Hemipterous Insect Atelides centrolineatus.
Denis and SCHIFFERMULLER, Syst. Verz. der Schmetterlinge. 4to. 1776.
De GEER, Genera et Species Insectorum.
A Mémoires pour servir a |’ Histoire des Insectes. 7 vols. 4to.
DonovA\, British Insects. 8vo. 16 vols. in 8,
Drury, Insects. 3 vols. 4to.
», Illustrations of Natural History. 4to. 3 vols. in 1.
Entomological Magazine. 5 vols.
Ericuson, Die Kifer der Mark Brandenburg. 1 band, 1—2 abth.
Exhibition of 1851, Second Report of the Commissioners.
a Reports of the Juries.
Fapricivs, O., Fauna Groenlandica. 8vo, 1780.
Fasricius, Entomol. Philosoph. 8vo.
is Entomologie Systema et Suppl. 5 vols. 8vo.
i» Genera [nsectorum. 8vo.
- Mantissa Insectorum. 2 vols. 8vo.
Xll ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
FISCHER DE WALDHEIM, Entomographie de la Russie. Tome v.
FIscHER, SEBASTIAN, Abhandlung tber Daphnia aurita and D. laticollis.
2 ss nB der Ordnung der Branchipoden und En-
tomostraceen.
die in der Umgebung von St. Peters-
burg vorkommenden Crustaceen.
FREEMAN, Rev. J., Life of Rev. W. Kirby.
Friscu, Beschreibung von Allest. Insecten in Deutschland. 1 vol. 4to.
FueEssty, Archives des Insectes.
5 Nues Magazin der Liebhabe. 2 vols. 8vo.
By Verz. der Schweitz Insect.
29. ” ”
GEOFFROY, Histoire Naturelle des Insectes de Paris. 2 vols. 4to.
GisTL, J., Isis. Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 6, 1850.
53 Systema Insectorum. Tom. 1, Coleoptera, fasc. 1.
GoEDART, Metamorph. &c. Insectorum. 12mo.
GYLLENHAL, Insecta Suecica. 4 vols.
HAGEN, H., Ueber die Lebensweise der Termiten und ihre Verbreitung.
Harris, Mosks, Aurelian. Folio, 1778.
3 Exposition of English Insects. 4to.
a6 Treatise on American Insects. Royal 8vo.
», T., Insects of New England injurious to Vegetation. 1852.
Haworta, Lepidoptera Britannica. 8vo.
Hewitson, W.C., Exotic Butterflies. Parts 1—9.
Hope, F. W., Catalogo dei Crostacei Italiani e di molti altri del Mediterraneo.
” Descrizione di alcune Specie d’ Insetti Fossili.
HoORSFIELD and MAcCLEAY, Annulosa Javanica. 4to.
Insecta Britannica, Diptera. Vol. 1.
», Saundersiana, Diptera. Parts 3 and 4.
Kirpy, Fauna, Boreali Americana. 4 vols. 4to.
», Monographia Apum Angliz. 2 vols.
Kirby and SPENCE, Introduction to Entomology. 4 vols. 8vo.
Kouuar, V., Beitrag zur Acanthochermes Quercits.
Beitrage zur Kenntniss des Haushaltes und der geographischen Ver-
breitung einiger in 6komischer und technischer Hinsicht nichtigen
Insecten.
Af Ueber ein bisher noch nicht beobachteten Feind des Weinstockes.
ap Ueber Weinbeschadigung durch einen kleinen Nachfalter Tortric
Roserana, Frohl,
KoLLAR and REDTENBACHER, Ueber den Character der Insecten-Fauna von
Sud -Persien.
LAcorDAIRE, T., Monographie de la Famille des Phytophages.
a Révision de la Famille des Cicindélides.
LATREILLE, Considérations Générales. 8vo.
- Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum. 4 vols. 8vo.
ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY. Xi
LEcontTeE, J. L., Attempt to Classify the Longicorn Coleoptera of the North of
Mexico.
‘3 Descriptions of new Species of Coleoptera from California.
_ On the Pselaphide of the United States.
55 Synopsis of the Cleride of the United States.
LEDERER, Versuch die Europidischen Spanner.
Lewin, Prodr. Entomol. (Lepidoptera of N.S. Wales.)
LinnI Fauna Suecica. 8vo,
53 Museum Ulrice. 8vo.
Literary Gazette. 1852 and 1853.
Lussock, J., Description of a new Species of Calanide.
ee. On Two new Sub-genera of Calanide.
a On Two new Species of Calanide, &c.
LYONET, uvres Anatomiques.
=n Recherches, &c.
Magazin der Entomologie. 2 vols. 8vo.
MEIGEN, Europaische Schmetterl. 3 vols.
MELVILLE, D., Nature’s Teaching, a Lecture.
MERIAN, Histoire des Insectes de |’ Europe.
55 Insects of Surinam. Folio.
MovurFfet, Theatrum Insectorum. 1634. 2 copies.
Murray, A., Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Scotland.
NEES AB ESENBECK, Hymenopterorum Ichneumonibus affinium Monographie.
Vol. 2.
PASSERINI, Signor, A Portrait of.
x. Notizie relative ad Insetti Coleotteri dannosi della planta el
Fico.
PERCHERON, Bibliographia Entomologica. 2 vols. sq. 8vo.
Raupen-Kalender Naturgeschichte, &c. 8vo.
RAy, Historia Insectorum. 1710. 4to.
REAuMUR, Memoires des Insectes. 6 vols. 4to.
Revue et Magazin de Zoologie. 1851, 1852, 1853.
ROEMER, Genera Insectorum. 1789. 4to.
ROESEL, Insect. Belust. 4 vols. 4to.
Rossi, Fauna Etrusca. 2 vols. 4to.
», Mantissa Insectorum. 4to.
SAMOUELLE, Entomologist’s Compendium. 8vo. 1819.
Saussure, H. F., Monographie des Guépes Solitaires. Cahir 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Say, American Entomology. 3 vols. 8vo.
SCHAFFER, lcones Insectorum. 4to. coloured.
ScHaum, Bericht uber die wissenschaftlichen Leistungen im Gebiete der Ento-
mologie wahrend des Jahres 1849, 1850 und 1851.
Scopout, Entomologia Carniolica. Two copies.
Sepp, Histoire Naturelle des Insectes de Surinam. 3 parts.
Sm1TH, F., A List of the British Aculeate Hymenoptera.
* American Insects. 2 vols. folio.
XIV ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY.
SMITHSONIAN Contributions to Knowledge. Vols. 3, 4 and 5.
» Institution, Directions for Collecting Specimens of Natural History.
y .; Fifth and Sixth Annual Report of the Board of Regents.
SmyTH, Capt. W. H., Ades, Hartwellianz.
SocIETIES—ANNALES, MEMOIRES, TRANSACTIONS, &c.
Academia Real de Ciencias de Madrid, Memorias. . Parti 2.
Académie Royale des Sciences, &c. de Belgique, Memoires, &c. 1851,
1852.
Akademie Konigliche Bayerischen. VI. Band. 2 Abth.
Art Union of London, Report of the Council for 1853.
Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club Proceedings. 1851, 1852.
Lyceum of Natural History of New York, Annals. Vol. 5, Nos. 2—8.
Société Entomologique de France, Annales. 1851.
Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou, Bulletin. 1851, No. 2—4.
Société de Physique et d’Histoire Naturelle de Geneve, Memoires. Tom. 13,
Ire partie.
Society of Arts, Journal of. 1852 and 1853.
Society, Linnean, Proceedings. i851, Nos. 45—51.
5 Transactions of. Vol. 21, parts 1 and 2.
Society, Royal, Proceedings. Vol. 6, Nos. 82—97.
5 Transactions. 1853, parts 1 and 2.
Society, Royal Agricultural, Journal. Vol. 13, parts 1, 2; vol. 14.
Stettin, Catalogus Coleopterorum Europe. 1852.
» Entomologische Zeitung. 1852 and 1853.
» Linnea Entomologica. Band 6, 7 and 8.
Zoological, Proceedings. 201—226.
Py Transactions. Vol. 4, parts 2, 3.
SpINOLA, Tavola Sinnotica dei generi spettanti alla classe degli Insetti artroidignati
Hemiptera, Lin.
Srarnton, Bibliotheca Stephensiana.
STEPHENS, J. F., Illustrations of British Entomology. 12 vols.
AA List of Animals in the Collection of the British Museum—Le-
pidoptera. 1852.
a Manual of British Beetles.
op Systematic Catalogue of British Insects. 8vo.
STOLL, Cigzses et Punaises. 4to, 1788.
SWAMMERDAM, Biblia Nature. 2 vols. folio.
VoGEL, Verhandlungen der Insecten. 8vo.
i Ueber den Chemismus der Vegetation.
WILKES, English Butterflies and Moths. 4to.
Woop, Index Entomologicus. 2 copies.
ZELLER, P. C., Lepidoptera Microptera que J. A. Wahlberg in Caffrorum terra
collegit.
ZETTERSTEDT, J. W., Diptera Scandinaviz. 11 vols. 8vo.
% Insecta Lapponica. 4to.
Zoologist for 1852 and 1853.
ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTIONS
FROM THE Isr JANUARY, 1852, TO THE 31st DECEMBER, 1853.
——~
ANOPILURA.
Rev. L. Jenyns ....A collection of British species.
ARACHNID.
Mr. R. H. Meade ..A collection of sixty British species.
COLEOPTERA.
Mr. Ed, Bowring....Apate Bambuse.
Mr. Douglas....... Do. do.
Mr. Foxcroft....... Boletophagus crenatus, two specimens.
Mr. Gwynn....... . British, various.
Mr. T. J. Stevens... Larva, with a Spheria attached.
Mr. A. R. Hogan... Diglossu mersa, two specimens.
Rev. H. Clark...... Haltica pubescens, eight specimens.
Mr. D. W. Mitchell. . Lucanus Cervus, a specimen from the Pyrenees.
Mine Prativareystere .---Oryctes Martabani, a specimen.
Miss Hornby. ..... Zophorus Mexicanus, a specimen.
CRUSTACEA.
Miss Hornby......- Phyllosoma clavicorne, a specimen.
DIPTERA.
Mr Spence........ Glossina morsitans.
HYMENOPTERA.
Mr. J. Lubbock ....Sirex duplex, specimens.
Mr. F. Smith....... Vespa Britannica, Illustrations of natural history of.
LEPIDOPTERA.
Mr. A. F. Sheppard. . British, various.
Mr. Douglas....... Do. do.
DU re BONG 2) chess s1s16 01 Do. do.
Mr: Bedell... 3... <<. Do. do.
Mindi OyGls ~cieris D0. do.
XV ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTIONS.
LEPIDOPTERA —continued.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd . British, various.
Mr. P.H. Vaughan.. Do. do.
Major Sheppard .... Do. do.
Mr. Bond......--+e Do. Aglossa cuprealis, six specimens.
Rey. Jos. Greene..-- Do. Boarmia Abietaria, &c. &c.
Mr. J.B. Hodgkinson .Coremia erutaria, &e.
Mr. Shield.........Hydrelia Blomeri.
Mr. N. Greening.... Hydrecia Petasitis.
Mr. Foxcroft. ...... Lelia cawnosa, two pairs.
Mr. T. J. Stevens.... Morpho Cytheris, a specimen.
Mr. R. S. Eldeston .. Plusia bractea.
Rev. J. Johnson ...-Plutella Dalella, six specimens.
Mr. J.Scott........ Sciuphila, new species.
M. Becker..... . +++ Various, European.
Mr. J. Stevens...... Various, from Bogota.
STREPSIPTERA.
Mr. 8. S. Saunders .. Illustrations of the natural history of some Albanian species.
MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS.
Professor Thompson .A collection of Chinese.
Mr. J. C. Bowring -.A box of Chinese.
Viscount Goderich ..A box of Brazilian.
Mr. Thwaites ...... A collection of Cingalese.
Signor Passerini ....A collection from Florence.
Mr. Weaver........ Various, British.
Mr. J. Scott......-. Do. do.
Hist of Members
OF
THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF LONDON,
JAN UGATRE Yas 2) algo4:
VOL. Il. N. S. PART VIII. —APRIL, 1854. b
C xr ®
LIST OF MEMBERS
OF
THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF LONDON.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
Wonovary English Member.
Witxiiam Spence, Esq., F.R.S. F.L.S. 18, Lower Seymour Street, Portman
Square.
WBonorary foreign Members.
Epwarps, M. Milne. Le Musée d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris,
Gravenhorst, Prof. J. L. C. Breslau, Silesia.
Haan, Herr W. de. Haarlem.
Hammerschmidt, Herr L.
Klug, Dr. Frederick. Royal Museum, Berlin.
Kollar, Herr. Royal Museum, Vienna.
Lefebvre, M. Alexandre. Bouchevilliers, prés Gisors, Département de 1’Eure.
Passerini, Signor Carlo. Professor of Zoology, at the Royal Museum, Florence.
Zeller, Professor P. C. Gross-Glogau, Silesia.
Zetterstedt, Professor J. W., Ph. D. &c. University of Lund.
C* xix’)
ORDINARY MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS.
Date of
Election.
1849
TR
S.+
+
Marked * are Original Members.
Marked + have compounded for their Annual Subscriptions.
Marked S. are Subscribers.
Autts, T. H., Esq. York.
Babington, C. C., Esq., M.A. F.L.S. F.G.S. St. John’s College,
Cambridge.
Baly, J.S., Esq. 13, Southampton Terrace, Kentish Town.
Barlow, F., Esq. Cambridge.
Bates, F., Esq. Leicester.
Beaumont, Alfred, Esq. Huddersfield.
Bedell, G., Esq. 10, Gloster Terrace, Old Kent Road.
Bell, Thomas, Esq., Pres. L.S. F.G.S._ 17, New Broad Street, and
Selborne, Hants.
Bell, William, M.D. 19, Sackville Street.
Bevan, Edward, M.D. Hereford.
Biadon, J., Esq. Pont-y-pool.
Bond, F. Esq. Kingsbury.
Bowerbank, J. S., Esq., F.R.S. F.G.S. F.L.S. 3, Highbury Grove.
Boyd, Thomas, Esq. 17, Clapton Square.
Brown, Edwin, Esq. Burton-on-Trent.
Burlington, William, Earl of, M.A. F.R.S. F.G.S. 10, Belgrave
Square.
Buxton, E. C., Esq. Spikelands, Liverpool.
Charlesworth, E., Esq. York.
Christie, Arthur, Esq. 9, Stanhope Street, Hyde Park.
Clark, Rev. Hamlet. Northampton.
Cooke, Henry, Esq. London and County Bank, Hastings.
Cox, Capt., Charles James. 21, Langham Place.
Curtis, John, Esq., F.L.S., &c. 18, Belitha Villas, Barnsbury Park,
Islington.
Dallas, W. S., Esq, F.L.S. 23, Crane Grove, Holloway Road.
Darwin, Charles, Esq., M.A. F.R.S. Down, near Bromley, Kent.
Dashwood, John, Esq., B.A. Barton-under-Needwood, near Lich-
field.
Dawson, John, Esq. Carron, near Falkirk, Stirlingshire.
Dawson, Rev. J. F., L.1..B. The Woodlands, near Bedford.
b 2
XX ORDINARY MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS.
Date of
Election.
* + Desvignes, Thomas, Esq. Fir Tree Cottage, Woodford.
1851 Dossetor, T., Esq. 12, Poultry.
* Doubleday, Henry, Esq. Epping.
1845 Douglas, J. W., Esq., Secretary. 6, Kingswood Place, Lee, Kent.
1849 Dunning, J. W., Esq. Elmwood Lodge, Leeds.
1851 S. Dutton, James, Esq., M.D. Hammersmith.
* Engleheart, N., Esq. Blackheath Park.
1853 Evans, Henry, Esq. Darley Abbey, near Derby.
1838 Evans, W. F., Esq. Admiralty.
1847 Fortnum, C. D. E., Esq. 12, Grosvenor Street West.
1853 Garland, John, Esq. Dorchester.
1849 S. Gear, Robert, Esq. 19, Oxford Square.
1853 Goderich, Viscount, M.P. F.L.S., &c. Carlton Gardens.
a Gould, J., Esq., F.R.S. F.L.S. F.Z.S. 20, Broad Street, Golden
Square.
1835 + Grant, Dr. Richmond, Surrey.
1848 Grant, Fred., Esq. Putney.
1850 Gray, John, Esq. Wheatfield House, near Bolton-le-Moors.
1842 + Gray, J. E., Esq., Ph.D. F.R.S. British Museum.
1850 S. Greene, Rev. Joseph. Dublin.
1853 Groves, W. Esq. 12, Morden Place, Lewisham Road.
1846 Grut, F., Esq. 10, Westbourne Terrace Road, Bayswater. :
1850 + Guyon, G., Esq. Ventnor, Isle of Wight, and Richmond, Surrey.
1852 Hamilton, Captain T. India.
a Hanson, Samuel, Esq. Botolph Lane.
1852 S. MHaselden, Henry. 25, Whiteheads Grove, Chelsea.
= Heales, G. S., Esq. Doctors’ Commons.
1847 Hearsey, Lieut.-Col. John Bennett. India.
1846 Hewitson, W.C., Esq. Oatlands, near Esher, Surrey.
* Horsfield, Thomas, M.D. F.R.S. F.L.S. F.G.S. M.R.A.S. East
India House, and 21, Downshire Hill, Hampstead.
1853 S. Hudson, Mr. F. T. Stockwell Street, Greenwich.
1851 Hunter, John, Esq. 24, Bloomsbury Street.
1849 S. Ingall, Thomas, Esq. 16, Park Road, Stockwell Park.
1843 Janson, E. W., Esq., Curator. 61, Gracechurch Street.
1853 Jekel, M. Henri. Paris.
* Jenyns, Rev. L., M.A. F.L.S. F.G.S. Upper Swainswick, near
Bath.
1849 S. Jobson, Henry, Esq. Carron, near Falkirk, Stirlingshire.
1842 Kuper, Rey. C. Trellich, Monmouth.
Date of
Election.
1849
1839
1853
1849
1835
1851
1849
1850
1850
1851
1850
1850
1853
1849
1851
1841
+ Pap
+~nDM in
ORDINARY MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS. Xxl
Labrey, B. B., Esq. Manchester.
Lamb, ——, Esq. Beauport, Hastings.
Langeake, T. H., Esq. Beeston, near Leeds.
Lee, John, LL.D. F.R.S. F.S.A. F.R.A.S. Hartwell House, Ayles-
bury.
Lingwood, R. M., Esq., M.A. F.L.S. F.G.S. Lyston, near Ross,
Herefordshire.
Lodder, Captain H., 47th Infantry. Malta.
Logan, R. F., Esq. Hawthornbrae, Duddingstone, near Edinburgh.
Lowe, Dr. Balgreen, Slateford, near Edinburgh.
Lubbock, John, Esq. High Elms, Farnborough.
McIntosh, J., Esq. 5, Middle Street, Taunton.
Meade, R. W., Esq. Bradford, Yorkshire.
Murray, Alexander, Esq. Shenley, Herts.
Moore, F. Esq. 4, Molesworth Place, Kentish Town.
Newman, Edward, Esq., F.L.S. F.Z.S. M. Imp. L.C. Acad., President.
7, York Grove, Peckham.
Newman, H. W., Esq. New House, Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Owen, Richard, Esq., M.D, LL.D. F.R.S. F.L.S. F.G.S._ Royal
College of Surgeons.
Parry, F. J. S., Esq., F.L.S. Steyne, Worthing.
Pickersgill, J. C., Esq. 36, Gordon Square.
Preston, T. A., Esq. Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Quin, C. W., Esq. 25, Clarence Street, Islington.
Salt, G. M., Esq. Shrewsbury,
Saunders, 8. S., Esq. Albania.
Saunders, W. F., Esq. East Hill, Wandsworth.
Saunders, W. W., Esq., F.L.S. East Hill, Wandsworth.
Saussure, M. H. F. de. Geneva.
Schofield, R. G. Glenmohr Villa, Greenwich.
Scott, John, Esq. Ferry Road, Renfrew.
Shepherd, Edwin, Esq. 176, Fleet Street.
Shepherd, James, Esq. Brown Street, Blackburn.
Sheppard, Augustus F., Esq. Bellefield House, Parson’s Green,
Fulham.
Sheppard, Major E., F.L.S. Ditto.
Sheppard, Edward, Esq. 5, Ladbroke Place, Notting Hill.
Shield, Mr. R. 6, Fleet Street, Dublin.
Signoret, M. Victor. Paris.
Simkiss, Rev. J. M. St. Mary’s, Oscott, Birmingham
Smith, Frederick, Esq. British Museum.
XX
Date of
Election.
*
1836
1848
1851
1837
1841
1836
1853
1854
1850
1853
1845
1838
1853
1850
1849
1849
1850
1850
«&
1850
1850
*
1845
*
1839
1849
1849
1847
1853
1843
1851
wp
+
ORDINARY MEMBERS AND SUBSCRIBERS.
Spence, W. B., Esq.
Spinola, le Marquis Maximilian. Genoa.
Stainton, H. T., Esq. Mountsfield, Lewisham.
Steuart, H. J., Esq. 76, Jermyn Street.
Stevens, S., Esq., F.L.S., Treasurer. 24, Bloomsbury Street.
Tatum, T., Esq, 3, George Street, Hanover Square.
Taylor, R., Esq., F.L.S. F.S.A. F.G.S. M.R.A.S. Red Lion Court,
Fleet Street.
Tebbs, H. V., Esq. Southwood Hall, Highgate.
Thompson, Miss. Barn Hill, Stamford.
Thompson, Thomas, Esq. Hull.
Thomson, William, Esq., F.L.S. 11, Dartmouth Villas, Forest Hill,
Sydenham.
Thurnell, Charles, Esq. Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
Thwaites, G. R. H., Esq. Ceylon.
Tompkins, H., Esq. Worthing.
Tweedy, J. Newman, Esq. 47, Montague Square.
Vaughan, P. H., Esq. Redland, near Bristol.
Vines, Mrs. Lyndhurst.
Walker, John, Esq. Chesterfield.
Walker, Francis, Esq., F.L.S. Arno’s Grove, Southgate.
Walton, John, Esq., F.L.S. Byard’s Lodge, Knaresborough.
Ward, S. Nevill, Esq. Hon. E, 1. C. Civil Service, Madras.
Waring, S., Esq. Norwood.
Waterhouse, G. R., Esq., F.Z.S. British Museum.
Weir, J. J., Esq. 20, Maismore Square, New Peckham.
Westwood, J. O., Esq., F.L.S., &c. St. Peter’s, Hammersmith.
White, Adam, Esq., F.L.S. British Museum.
Wild, W. J., Esq. Herne Hill, Camberwell.
Wilkinson, S. J., Esq. 7, Jefftey’s Square, St. Mary Axe.
Wing, Wm., Esq., F.L.S., Secretary. 17, Priory Road, South Lam-
beth.
Winter, John N., Esq. Sussex County Hospital, brighton.
Wollaston, T. V., Esq., B.A. F.L.S. 25, Thurloe Square, Brompton.
Yarrell, W., Esq., F.L.S. F.Z.S., &c. Ryder Street, St. James’s.
Zuchold, Ernst A. Halle, Prussia.
Date of
Election.
1842
1844
1844
1846
1846
1846
1847
1847
1849
1850
1839
1844
1844
1852
1839
1850
1846
1841
1839
1847
1847
1849
1844
1846
1846
1846
1848
1839
13840
( xxi)
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.
INSTITUTED NOV. 5rn, 1838.
Boys, Capt. India.
Buonaparte, Prince Lucien.
Barnston, George, Esq. Hudson’s Bay.
Blagrove, Lieut. Thomas. 26th Bengal Infantry.
Bowman, John, Esq. Bombay.
Brain, T. H., Esq., Principal of Sydney College, New South Wales.
Bowring, J. C., Esq. Hong Kong.
Bowring, L. B., Esq. Bancoorah, near Burdwar, Bengal.
Blair, Daniel, Esq. Surgeon General, British Guiana.
Bach, Herr M. Boppard-on-the- Rhine.
Cantor, Dr.
Costa, Signor Achille. Naples.
Chiaga, Signor Stephano Deila. Naples.
Cox, F., Esq. _ Van Diemen’s Land.
Downes, Mr. Ezra.
Dalton, H. G., Esq. George Town, Demerara.
Elliott, Walter, Esq. Madras.
Fraser, Louis, Esq. H.M. Vice-Consul, Whidah.
Griffith, W., Esq.
Gilbert, G. A., Esq.
Gray, W., Esq. St. Petersburg.
Goding, F., Esq., M.D. Barbadoes.
Harris, Dr. Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Layard, F. P., Esq. Bengal Infantry.
Layard, E. L., Esq.
Leconte, Major. New York.
Low, Hugh, Esq. Labuan.
M‘Lelland, J., Esq. Calcutta.
Mitchell, Sir Livingstone.
XXIV LIST OF CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.
Date of
Election.
1846 Pope, John, Esq. Hong Kong.
1846 Peters, Francis, Esq. Zanzibar.
1839 Schomburgh, Sir R.
1839 Sayers, Lieut.
1842 Stevenson, —.
1846 Smith, Dr. G. Madras.
1852 Stevens, T. J., Esq. Bogota.
1849 Thomas, Grant, Esq. Barbadoes.
1841 Wiegand, Sir F.
1845 Wilkinson, Sir J. Gardner.
1847 Wilson, C. A., Esq. Adelaide, South Australia.
1849 Wallcott, R. B., Esq., M.D. Barbadoes.
1841 Younger, Lieut. John Robertson.
EFRANSAGEIONS
OF THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY
OF
LONDON.
I. Description of Doubledaya Viator, an apparently unde-
seribed Sub-genus and Species of Coleoptera belonging to
the Family Languriade. By Anam Wuirte, Esq., F.L.S.
[Read May 6th, 1850. ]
Tue family Languriade contains a not very numerous set of in-
sects, which, among the Trzmera, in some way represent the Ela-
teride among the serricorn Pentamera. ‘Their form is elongated,
the elytra in most of the species are of a metallic blue or green,
and the thorax in several is red, or red with a black mark or line.
In the genus Languria the antenne are not quite the length of
the head and thorax put together, and they terminate in a flat-
tened expansion, consisting of five joints. In the genus Fatua of
Dejean, the joints of the antennz are much lengthened; and the
club or mass at the end, excepting its three terminal joints, which
are small, is not much wider than the other joints. The legs too
are much longer, the fore ones being not much shorter than the
whole length of the insect, and the two other pairs are at least
as long as the abdomen.* In both the tarsi, though well de-
veloped, are not particularly remarkable for size. The genus
Triacus of Thunberg (Kongl. Vetenskaps Academiens nya Hand-
lingar, xxv. 1804, p. 184), is synonymous with Languria, or
nearly so. Its generic character is having perfoliate antenna,
with a4-jointed club; three of the joints are lunate, and the last is
globose; the thorax is quadrate and the angles are acute. The body
* In the genus Macromera, Hope (Trans. Zool. Society), the legs and antenne
are very long.
VOL, Il. N.S. PARTI,—JUNE, 1852. B
2 Mr. Adam White’s Description
is linear-oblong, and the joints of the tarsi are three in number —the
species is 7’. clavicornis—the thorax is of a shining blue, and the
elytra are green; the thorax and abdomen beneath are blueish,
washed with red. The genus Languria was established by La-
treille in 1802, in the Hist. Nat. des Insectes, the type being L.
bicolor, a North American species first described by Fabricius as
a Trogosita. he following brief description may serve to make
known the chief external characters of the sub-genus
DouBLEDAYA.
Head decumbent, in front at the base of the jaws expanded
and wider than the thorax (fig. 3). Antennz moderate, with a
longish club of four rather than five joints. Eyes small, prominent,
but not projecting. Thorax as wide as long, margined on the sides,
bisinuate at the base, grooved down the middle. Elytra elon-
gated, sides nearly parallel, slightly margined, the margin thick-
ened at the apex, which is abrupt. Legs very long, the two first
pairs somewhat the longest, the femora and tibize compressed.
Tarsi very wide, dilated, flat, all the joints wider than long; basal
joint shortly cordate, second joint transverse, slightly cordate, third
joint smallest, slightly cordate. The tarsi of first pair of legs the
largest (fig. 4), those of the third pair not half so wide; the sides
of the feet covered with short, uniform, dense hairs, arranged in
transverse lines.
Lanouria (Dousiepaya) Viator (Fig. 1, 2).
This insect is a native of Madras, in the East Indies; the spe-
cimen described is unique, in the collection of the East India
of Doubledaya Viator. 3
Company, and was kindly lent me by Dr. Horsfield. The head
and thorax are highly polished and ferruginous, the elytra are of
a pale ochreous red, and have from eight to nine thickly punc-
tured, longitudinal, parallel striz, some of them joined near the
apex. The antenne and legs are blackish and smooth, the tibiz
being furnished with some silky hairs at the apex; the soles are
of a lively yellow. The under side of the body is ferruginous.
The figure is carefully drawn on wood by Mr. William Wing, and
engraved by Miss E. Bridges. Fig. 2 represents the profile of the
insect of the natural size.
This singular insect is named after the late Mr. Edward
Doubleday, Secretary of this Society, whose collections of insects
in North America were about equally rich in all departments ;
for his mind was not content with running in one channel, however
wide. Although at the British Museum he limited himself chiefly
to the arrangement of Lepidoptera, his knowledge of other de-
partments of Natural History was far from restricted, and the
general collection of Languriade contains at least one species *
collected during his travels in North America. This is not the
place to eulogize one, whose monument will be—“ The Genera
of Diurnal Lepidoptera.” ‘The memory of his many virtues and
ever ready assistance with heart, head and hand, cannot ever be for-
gotten by those who saw and experienced them. Capt. Smyth, late
President of the Royal Geographical Society, at the annual address
to that Society, alluded in a pleasing way to Mr. Doubleday’s
general geographical information. In matters connected with the
United States he took a special interest. Mr. Bennett’s account
of our late secretary, read at the anniversary meeting of the Lin-
nean Society, gives a very good account of his labours. The
portrait of him, published by the Ipswich Society, and lithographed
by Mr. Maguire from a Daguerrotype by his friend Mr. Bower-
bank, will recall his intelligent and manly expression to his
friends, while the profile medallion by Mr. Bernhard Smith, of
Foley Place, is ‘“ likeness itself.” Mr, Ford made an able litho-
graph from this medallion.
It may be objected, that it is contrary to the Linnean canon to
name genera of insects after entomologists; but there can surely
be no more reason for calling a showy or singular plant after a
botanist, than a curious or fine insect after one who loved to
study them. It would be well, however, if zoologists and bota-
ists would follow Mr. Westwood’s plan in naming Erichsonia, and
not use the privilege till the naturalist was dead.
* L. bicolor (Fabr.) Say. Amer. Ent. t. 39, lower fig. (Ohio.)
B2
4 Mr. F. Smith on the
II. Note on the Pediculus Melittee of Kirby.
By F. Smrru, Esq.
[Read 2nd February, 1852. ]
As everything connected with the history of the genus Meloé
must be highly interesting to the Entomologist, I have considered
it desirable to lay before the Society a circumstance which, how-
ever perplexing it may appear, and however unsatisfactory it may
be pronounced to be, is still intimately connected with an insect,
the economy of which long proved a problem in natural history.
Mr. Newport, in his admirable paper on Meloé, published in
the Linnean Transactions, mentions having found a larva resem-
bling that of Meloé in form, but of a deep black colour, and having
brown eyes, on a specimen of Osmia spinulosa; and he further
observes, ‘this is certainly not the larva of either of the species
of Meloés which I have observed ;” although he says, “ I am
equally satisfied that it is the larva of some genus of the same
family.”
Now however probable this assumption may appear, and cer-
tainly it receives considerable support from the fact that the larvee
of several allied genera bear a striking resemblance to that of
Meloé, still the assumption requires confirmation, based upon
actual observation; for without such evidence we may hereafter
learn that it was founded in error, so frequently do we see the
early stages of one animal represented in the perfect state of
another. M. Leon Dufour considered this animal to be an apte-
rous perfect insect,* as also did Mr. Kirby, who named it Pedi-
culus Melitta. The opinion of Entomologists, generally, has been
against these assumptions, but I think it will become a subject of
greater perplexity than ever, and, at the same time, one of greater
interest, when I relate the following observation.
On the 6th of April last, I visited a bank containing a colony
of Anthophora Haworthana ; at that period the bees were in asemi-
torpid state, it being about six weeks earlier than their usual time
of appearance. I placed a number of bees separately in pill
boxes, and on examining them some days afterwards I was sur-
prised to see several living specimens of the Pediculus running
over the bees. ‘This observation appears to me to render the
question even more perplexing than before, or it is confirmatory
* Ann. des Sc, Nat. 1828,
Pediculus Melitta of Kirby. 5
of Leon Dufour’s opinion, that these supposed larvee are in fact
perfect insects.
In the history of all parasites, with which I am acquainted,
their development is simultaneous with that of the insects upon
which they are parasitic; but here we have a supposed parasite,
in a supposed early stage of development, found in company with
the perfect bee upon which it is supposed to be parasitic; it is
certain that as the Anthophore had never quitted their cells, the
Pedicult must either have found their own way into the nest, or
have been conveyed thither by the parent bee of the previous
season.
Assuming the latter to be the case, we find a creature in every
respect similar to those deposited, after twelve months have
elapsed, neither changed in form or colouring, and Mr. Newport
has shown, that although he found full grown larva of Meloé in
plenty in the cells of Anthophore, he did not meet with any in
earlier stages, so that it is reasonable to suppose that the larva of
Meloé conveyed into the bees’ cells arrives at the perfect condition
by the following spring. Further observation will, I hope, enable
me to elucidate this subject; in its present position I am inclined
to regard the Pediculus as being a perfect insect, which resides in
the nests of bees, feeding on the pollen, and depositing its egg
and undergoing its metamorphoses in the cells of bees; in fact
it may be regarded as an insect of similar habits to the Acari
which infest Humble-bees, and live in great numbers in their
nests, feeding on the honey and wax, and to be observed there
during summer in various stages of development.
* In the Rev. W. Kirby’s own interleaved copy of the ‘‘ Monographia Apum
Anglia” I observed a manuscript note appended to the description of Anthidium
Manicatum to the following effect :—‘‘ On opening one of the cells of this bee,
I was surprised to observe a Pediculus exactly corresponding in form with the
Pediculus Melitta, but of a bright yellow colour.” It does not state whether the
cell contained a larva, a perfect insect, or any thing besides the Pediculus.
6 Mr. W. 8. Dallas’s Descriptions of some
III. Descriptions of some new Species of Hemipterous In-
sects belonging to the Tribe Scutata. By W.S. Dallas,
Esq., ELS:
[Read 2nd February, 1852.]
My principal object in the present paper is to publish descriptions
of various species of Hemiptera, belonging to some of the smaller
genera proposed or adopted by me in the first part of the Catalogue
of Hemipterous Insects contained in the Collection of the British
Museum.
Most of these insects are in my own collection; for two of them
I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. Westwood, and one is unique
in the collection of this Society.
Family ASOPID.
Genus Optomus, Spin.
Oplomus elongatus, n. s. (PI. I. fig. 1.)
O. elongatus, ceruleus, virescenti-nitens, punctatus; elytrorum
corio opaco; abdominis maculis 3 spinaque basali, femori-
bus omnibus tibiisque posticis et intermediis fulvis; geniculis,
tibiis anticis totis, alterisque apice, tarsis, antennis rostroque
nigris. 3.
Long. lin. 53 (m. 0.012).
Hab. in Brasilia? In Mr. Westwood’s collection.
Very elongate, deep blue, shining, tinged with green. Head,
above, rather thickly punctured, but with two smooth longitudinal
bands on the vertex between the ocelli; beneath thickly and finely
pinetured. Eyes brown; ocelli yellow.. Antenne black, clothed
with a pale pubescence ; basal joint tinged with blue. Rostrum
pitchy black, becoming pitchy towards the apex. Pronotum with
the lateral margins waved, the lateral angles very slightly promi-
nent; the surface convex, rather thickly and finely punctured, with
a narrow smooth line down the centre. Scutellum rather sparingly
and finely punctured at the base; the apical portion with a smooth,
impunctate, raised line down the middle, on each side of which
the surface is very thickly and finely punctured ; the lateral mar-
gins thickly and finely punctured, leaving a narrow impunctate space
on each side between the margin and the band of punctures which
accompanies the central raised line. Breast thickly and finely
punctured, with a smooth space on each side of the medipectus ;
new Species of Hemipterous Insects. 7
the posterior margin of the medipectus, and the margins of the
orifice of the odoriferous apparatus, black; mesosternum with a
slight yellow keel. Coxe brown; thighs and trochanters orange,
the former with their apices blackish; anterior tibiae violet black,
shining, sparingly punctured ; intermediate and posterior tibiz
orange, blackish at the base, violet black at the apex, finely pu-
bescent; tarsi black, tinged with violet, pubescent ; claws reddish
orange. Elytra with the coriaceous portion deep blue black,
opaque, very faintly and not thickly punctured ; the outer margin
shining, with two rows of coarse punctures; apical margin smooth
and shining; membrane brownish violet, shining. Margins of
the abdomen very thickly and minutely punctured. Abdomen
beneath rather thickly and finely punctured on the sides; disc
smooth, with three large orange spots, placed on the third, fourth
and fifth segments ; basal spine orange, reaching the intermediate
coxe.
This insect is distinguished from all the species of Oplomus
hitherto described, by its very elongate form, and the prominence
of the lateral angles of its thorax ; in other respects, however, it
agrees precisely with the other species of that genus.
Family SCIOCORIDA.
Genus Scrocoris, Fall.
The genus Sciocoris appears to be peculiar to the eastern he-
misphere, throughout which it is pretty generally distributed,
species being found in the three old continents, in the eastern
archipelago, and in Australia. Of the typical group of the genus
(or Sciocoris prop.), however, including S. wmbrinus and its imme-
diate allies, no Australian species has hitherto, as far as 1 am aware,
been described. This want will be supplied by the present species,
for which I propose the name of—
Sciocoris australis, n.s. (PI.1. fig. 2.)
S. pallidus, fusco-punctatus ; capite subelongato, lineis 2 fuscis
approximatis ; scutello basi utrinque vitta parva albida; ab-
dominis marginibus nigro-maculatis, ventre lineis 2 e punctis
fuscis ; antennis tarsisque apice nigris. @.
Long. lin. 3 (m. 0.006).
Hab. in Nove Hollandiz parte Australiore. In my own col-
lection.
Ovate. Head longer than broad, with the lateral margins sinu-
ated in front of the eyes; above pale yellow, thickly and finely
8 Mr. W.S. Dallas’s Descriptions of some
punctured, with the lateral margins brownish, and two approxi-
mated brown longitudinal lines converging in front, running from
base to apex; beneath testaceous, rather thickly punctured. Eyes
black. Antennze with the three first joints pale brown, the second
and third joints about equal in length; fourth and fifth joints black,
fourth longer than the preceding, fifth longer than the fourth.
Rostrum brown, becoming black at the apex. Pronotum tes-
taceous, rather thickly and finely punctured with brown. Scu-
tellum rather narrow, elongate, with the sides nearly parallel, very
slightly narrowed towards the apex ; testaceous, finely punctured
with brown, thickly at the base and on the sides, more sparingly
on the disc; with a small black impression in each basal angle, and
within this on each side a small, slightly elevated, impunctate
whitish spot, from which a slightly elevated, impunctate line runs
towards the apex of the scutellum, which bears a small brown spot.
Breast testaceous, rather thickly punctured, the punctures of va-
rious sizes, and either brown or colourless; postpectus with a large
dull yellowish patch, punctured with brown, on each side at the
orifice of the odoriferous apparatus. Legs testaceous, clothed
with shortish hairs ; tarsi with the apical joint and the tips of the
claws pitchy black. Elytra with the coriaceous portion pale tes-
taceous, thickly and finely punctured with brown, with a double
row of larger brown punctures parallel to the suture of the clavus,
and two longitudinal impunctate lines on the apical portion ; the
membrane opaque, brownish, with brown nervures. Projecting
margins of the abdomen pale testaceous, sparingly and finely
punctured with brown, with a small black spot at the junction of
each segment. Abdomen beneath yellowish testaceous, thickly
covered with very fine pale brown points, and with a longitudinal
band of dark brown points on each side, considerably within the
stigmata ; stigmata black.
Genus Mecipea, Dall.
It may not be out of place to mention here, that the genus
Cerataulax, proposed by M. Victor Signoret at p. 335 of the last
volume of the Annales de la Sociéte Entomologique de France,
is identical with the above-named genus; the species described
by him being, however, quite distinct from both those previously
described by me in the British Museum Catalogue. ‘The distinc-
tive characters of the three species are subjoined.
new Species of Hemipterous Insects. 9
*Antennarum articulo secundo tertio multo longiori.
1. Mecidea quadrivittata.
Cerataulax quadrivittatus, Signoret, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 2me
ser., ix. 336, pl. 10, f. 9 & 9a.
M. albida, supra fusco-punctatissima; linea media thoracis et
scutelli, thoracis linea utrinque marginibusque elytrorum
albidis ; corpore subtus utrinque fascia longitudinali e punctis
fuscis; antennis fuscis. ¢.
Long. lin. 5—6 (m. 0.011—0.013).
Hab. in Insula Mauritius. In Mr. Westwood’s and M. Sig-
noret’s collections.
2. Mecidea Indica.
Dall. Cat. Hem. 139.1. Pl. 3, fig. 3.
M. pallide testacea, punctatissima, linea media thoracis et
scutelli impunctata; antennis obscurioribus. ¢ ¢.
Long. lin. 5 (mm. 0.011).
Hab. in India Orientali. In the collections of the British Mu-
seum and of Mr. Saunders.
+ Antennarum articulis secundo et tertio longitudine fere
zequalibus.
3. Mecidea linearis. Dall. Cat. Hem. 139. 2.
M. griseo-lutea, fusco-punctata ; membrana hyalina; corpore
subtus utrinque fascia longitudinali fusca. ¢.
Long. lin. 43 (m. 0.009).
Hab. ? In the collection of the British Museum.
Genus Aipnus, Dall.
I have proposed (British Museum Catalogue of Hemiptera,
p- 144), the formation of a genus under this name, for the recep-
tion of a species of the family Sceocorid@, distinguished by the
large size of its scutellum, which reaches nearly to the apex of
the body, and thus gives it a considerable resemblance to some
members of the Scutelleroid group, especially the Podopide. 1
have now to lay before the Society the description of a second
species of the genus, which still more closely resembles the
Podopide in its general form, and might easily be mistaken for a
10 Mr. W.S. Dallas’s Descriptions of some
Podops at the first glance. The structure of the elytra, however,
removes it at once from the Scutelleroides, for no portion of the
inner or apical margins of the corium is covered by the scutel-
Jum: whilst in all Scutelleroides the inner margin, with a portion
of the apical one, passes under the edge of the scutellum.
The species described by me in the British Museum Catalogue,
under the name of Mdnus obscurus, inhabits the Philippine
Islands and Java; the present species is from Hong Kong.
fdnus ventralis, n. s. (Pl. I. fig. 3.)
/E. fusco-griseus, nigro-punctatissimus ; abdominis disco nigro ;
antennis testaceis, apice fuscescentibus; pedibus luteis, nigro-
punctatis. g ¢.
Long. lin, 3—33 (m. 0.006).
Hab. *“‘ Hong Kong.” In my own collection.
Ovate, rather convex, pale greyish brown, very thickly and
finely punctured with black. Head rather small, very minutely
punctured with black both above and beneath. Eyes pale; ocelli
yellowish. Antenne slender, rather sparingly clothed with short
hairs; three first joints testaceous, fourth joint pale brown, with
the base testaceous; fifth joint pale brown. Rostrum yellow.
Pronotum very thickly and finely punctured with black, with the
punctures more distant on a slightly impressed space, which
crosses the disc about the middle, forming a pale transverse
band; immediately in front of this impressed space are four
small pale tubercles. Scutellum very large, reaching very nearly
to the apex of the body, constricted a little before the middle;
very thickly and finely punctured with black, more thickly
punctured and somewhat rugose towards the base, where there
is a small smooth whitish point on each side within the basal
angles; the basal angles themselves black. Breast rather darker
than the upper surface, very thickly and finely punctured with
black. Legs yellow; thighs with numerous black or brown
points, the anterior pair with a double row of small black spines
on the lower surface; tibize with a few brown points, and with a
few minute bristles along the edges. Elytra with the coriaceous
portion rather less thickly punctured than che thorax and scutel-
lum ; membrane transparent, colourless. Wings semitransparent,
iridescent. Abdomen beneath deep shining black, slightly brassy,
very thickly and finely punctured; the margins pale griseous,
new Species of Hemipterous Insects. 11
thickly and finely punctured with black ; the edges with small
black spots at the junctions of the segments.
Fam. HALYDIDE.
Genus Dinrpor, Lap.
Dinidor lineatus, n. s. (PI. I. fig. 4.)
D. testaceus, fusco-punctatus, pilosus; thorace lineis 4 nigris;
scutello elytrisque nigro- vel fusco-lineatis; antennarum ar-
ticulis 1 et 2 testaceis, subtus et secundo apice nigris, 3 et 4
basi albis, apice nigris. ¢.
Long. lin. 8 (m. 0.017).
Hab. in Americe meridionalis provincia “ Para” dicta. In my
own collection.
Ovate, testaceous. Head bifid in front; above rather thickly
and coarsely punctured with brown, pilose, with a brown line
down each side of the central lobe and two others on the vertex ;
beneath smooth, with a few brown punctures, pilose ; antenniferous
tubercles black above. Eyes brown; ocelli reddish. Antenne with
the basal joint greyish testaceous above, black beneath and on the
sides ; second joint above greyish testaceous, with the apex black,
beneath black; first and second joints clothed with rather long
slender hairs; third and fourth joints yellowish white at the base,
black at the apex, with the extreme tip of the fourth joint whitish,
both joints clothed with short fine hairs. Rostrum yellowish tes-
taceous, with the tip black. Pronotum hexagonal, with the postero-
lateral margins shortest, the antero-lateral margins slightly waved
and fringed with longish hairs, the lateral angles rather acute but
not prominent; irregularly punctured with brown, but with two
rows of the punctures so placed as to enclose between them a
central longitudinal impunctate line; the disc with four black lon-
gitudinal lines, of which the two central run from immediately
behind the ocelli, becoming more distant towards the posterior mar-
gin; the two lateral, which are slightly waved, run from a little within
the anterior angles to the postero-lateral margins a little way from
the posterior angles. Scutellum rather long, somewhat pointed at
the apex, pilose, punctured with brown, more coarsely at the base,
more finely towards the apex, with a blackish line on each side at
the base, within each basal angle, and two black lines on the dise
neither reaching the base nor the apex, and enclosing between
them a slight flat ridge, which is on a level with the elevated
12 Mr. W.S. Dallas’s Descriptions of some
basal portion. Breast somewhat fulvous, punctured with brown,
with an indistinct blackish band on each side close to the lateral
margin; sternum deeply furrowed, impunctate. Legs fulvous,
very pilose; claws tipped with black. Elytra with the coria-
ceous portion testaceous, not very thickly punctured with brown,
the punctures of the disc finer than those of the margins ;
the disc with a brown line along the course of the submarginal
nervure, and an indistinct line of the same colour within this,
running from about the middle of the disc to the middle of the
apical margin; membrane brown, with white nervures. Margins
of the abdomen testaceous, punctured with brown, and fringed
like the thorax with hairs, with a black mark at the junction of each
segment. Abdomen beneath fulvous, pilose, punctured with brown
on the sides, the disc impunctate; with a band formed of con-
fluent black points on each side close to the lateral margin; apical
portion of the basal vulvar plates black.
Family PENTATOMID.
Genus Troricoris, Hahn.
This genus, established by Hahn for the reception of the Cimex
rufipes, Linn., has hitherto contained only that species. It is placed
among the Rhaphigastrides by Amyot and Serville, the typical spe-
cies having a very minute spine at the base of the abdomen, but
it must be considered rather as a transition from that group to the
true Pentatomides,—the species which I have now to describe not
possessing the slightest trace of a ventral spine, although in most
other respects agreeing precisely with the 7". rufipes.
Tropicoris latus,n.s. (PI. I. fig. 5.)
T. supra griseo-fuscus, nigro-punctatus, subtus cum pedibus
fulvus; capite, thorace antice, abdominisque marginibus
nigro-eeneis, his albido-maculatis; puncto albido in singulo
elytro. 9.
Long. lin. 6 (0.012).
Hab. in Brasilia? In my own collection,
Broadly ovate, above brown, very thickly and finely punctured
with black. Head above blackish, tinged with brassy green, with
the tip of the central lobe orange; the lateral lobes in this speci-
men scarcely meet in front of the central lobe; beneath pale ful-
vous, with a few scattered punctures. Eyes brown; ocelli reddish.
new Species of Hemipterous Insects. 13
Antenne with the basal joint yellow; second joint whitish, with a
blackish line on each side; third joint a little shorter than the
second, pitchy, with the apex black, the base white; fourth joint
longest, black, with the base white; fifth joint wanting; third and
fourth joints sparingly clothed with fine hairs, Rostrum reaching
the base of the abdomen, pale fulvous, with the apex and a line
down the suture pitchy black; labrum with a slender black line
down the middle. Pronotum transverse, with the lateral angles
produced into large truncated processes, having their anterior angles
rounded off, the posterior acute; antero-lateral margins faintly
denticulated ; dise brown, very thickly and finely punctured with
black, and with two minute whitish points towards the anterior
margin; anterior and antero-lateral margins and lateral processes
blackish, tinged with brassy green. Scutellum triangular, nearly
equilateral, brown, very thickly and finely punctured with black,
especially towards the base, and with a minute whitish point in
the centre of the base; apex concolorous. Elytra with the coria-
ceous portion brown, thickly and finely punctured with black,
especially along the outer margin, the basal portion of which is
brassy green; the disc with a small whitish point a little behind
the middle; membrane brown, margins of the abdomen black,
tinged with brassy green, thickly and rather coarsely punctured,
and with a small whitish spot in the middle of the margin of each
segment. Thorax beneath pale fulvous, thickly punctured; the
punctures near the insertions of the legs and all those on the meta-
thorax blackish or brown; metathorax with a small, raised, dull
space, marked with five or six distinct wrinkles on each side, close
to the orifice of the odoriferous apparatus. Legs fulvous, with a
few pale reddish brown points. Abdomen beneath fulvous, thickly
and very finely punctured, with the central line of the disc smooth.
Genus Ampnaces, Dall.
This genus, proposed by myself, at p. 295 of the Catalogue of
Hemiptera in the British Museum, is nearly allied to Acanthosoma,
but is readily distinguished from it by the slight development here
attained by the sternal keel and ventral spine. In the work above
quoted I have described two species, which closely resemble each
other in form and colour, differing principally in size and the rela-
tive proportions of the joints of the antenne. ‘The species which
I have now to describe, and of which a single specimen exists in
the collection of this Society, is of a much more elongated form
than either of these, and is entirely of a pale green colour. Like
the other species it is from Australia.
14 Mr. W.S. Dallas’s Descriptions of some
Amphaces virescens, n.s. (PI. I. fig. 6.)
A. elongato-ovata, virescens, punctata; oculis fusco-rufis, ocellis
rufis; antennarum articulis 4to. et 5to. fulvescentibus; rostro
apice nigro. é. *
Long. lin. 6} (m. 0.013), hemelytrorum membrana inclusa.
Hab. in Australia. In the collection of the Entomological So-
ciety of London.
Elongate-ovate, pale green. Head above minutely punctured
and very finely wrinkled transversely; beneath finely wrinkled
near the eyes, and with the disc minutely punctured. Eyes red-
dish brown: ocelli red. Antennz with the three basal joints pale
green, clothed, the basal joint very sparingly, the second and third
more plentifully, with short hairs; basal joint rather strongly
curved outwards at the apex; fourth and fifth joints fulvous (fifth
darkest), very thickly clothed with minute hairs, which render their
surface opaque; fourth joint nearly as long as the second. Ros-
trum passing the posterior coxze, longer than in the other species,
and with the fourth joint nearly as long as the first; pale greenish
yellow, with the tip black. Prothorax above rather finely but not
thickly punctured, with a slender smooth line down the centre,
and a transverse impunctate patch on each side near the anterior
margin; lateral margins very slightly reflexed ; dise with a faint
transverse furrow across the middle; postero-lateral margins
tubercular a little behind the lateral angles; posterior angles very
indistinct ; prothorax beneath rather faintly punctured ; scutellum
rather elongate, with the apex acuminated; the disc rather con-
vex, especially towards the base, rather thickly punctured, with a
narrow smooth line down the middle; meso- and metathorax
beneath nearly impunctate, but with a large common dull patch
on each side, surrounding the orifice of the odoriferous apparatus,
from which a short curved canal, with raised margins, runs towards
the lateral margin of the metathorax; sternal keel whitish. Legs
pale; thighs smooth, naked; tibiz and tarsi rather sparingly
clothed with hairs; claws tipped with black. Elytra with the
coriaceous portion rather strongly, but not thickly punctured ; the
lateral margins very slightly reflexed; the membrane whitish,
semi-transparent, with the nervures concolorous. Abdomen be-
neath strongly keeled in the centre, the keel smooth, becoming
wider posteriorly so as to include the anal plate; the sides finely
wrinkled transversely ; basal spine just passing the posterior coxz
new Species of Hemipterous Insects. 15
and touching the posterior point of the sternal keel; anal plate
heart-shaped, dusky.
The anal plate in this specimen is raised so as to exhibit the
more internal generative organs (fig. 6a), as is also frequently the
case in Acanthosoma ; in some species of which genus (4. forfex, m.
and elongatum, m.), the crescent-shaped dorsal plate (a*) attains
avery great development. The same thing takes place in several
instances in the males of the Urostylide.
Family UROSTYLIDZ.
The next insect that I propose to describe belongs to a group
which includes insects presenting such singular characters as to
render their location in any of the great groups of Hemiptera a
matter of some difficulty. Mr. Westwood, who, in 1837, first
described three of the species comprised in it, placed them at the
end of Mr. Hope’s Catalogue of Scutelleride (Scutati, Burm.),
and this is probably as nearly as possible their true position.
Mr. White, in 1839, in describing (Mag. Nat. Hist. N.S. ii. 543,
and Ent. Trans. iii. 94 [1842]) a new species belonging to the
group, under the name of Calliprepes Grayti, considers it to be
allied to Capsus; and Dr. Herrich Schaffer, in the same year
(1839), in describing one of the species described in Hope’s
Catalogue, under the new name of Typhlocoris semicircularis, re-
gards it also as belonging to the Capsini, in which family, he says,
if we do not consider the structure of the elytra as one of its
characters, it may form a peculiar group, the character of which
would be, ‘‘ Membrane with several distinct longitudinal nervures ;
corium without an appendix.” As, however, the essential cha-
racter of the Capsini is derived from the structure of the elytra,
it would be manifestly absurd to admit into that family a group
which was distinguished by not possessing that character. The
error in both these cases arose from the authors referred to possess-
ing only mutilated specimens of species of the genus Urolabida, in
which the ocelli are wanting, giving them to a certain extent a more
doubtful character than properly belongs to them. In the ninth
volume of the Wanzenartigen Insecten, Dr. Herrich Schaffer re-
curs to his genus Z'yphlocoris ; and whilst quoting as synonymous
with it, Mr. Westwood’s genus Urostylis, which he must have
known had five joints in its antenna, places it “ without doubt”
amongst the Cecigeni of Amyot and Serville, in which the number
of joints never exceeds four, and from which it differs in all its
characters quite as much as from the Capsinz, In the first volume
16 Mr. W.S. Dallas’s Descriptions of some
of the New Series of the Transactions of this Society (p. 1), in
describing a new genus and species ( Urochela 4-punctata) belong-
ing to this group, I stated it as my opinion, that the true posi-
tion of these insects was in the tribe Scutala ; and in accordance
with that view I have proposed, in the British Museum Catalogue
of Hemiptera, the establishment of a distinct family for their re-
ception under the name of Urostylide. The insects included in
this family are arranged under three genera, Urochela, Urostylis,
and Urolabida, the last of which is distinguished from the other
two by the want of ocelli, and includes the Urolabida tenera of
Hope, originally described as its type, the Urostylis histrionica of
Hope (T'yphlocoris semicircularis, H. Sch.), and the Calliprepes
Gray of White, which is distinguished from the other two species
by having the female generative organs of the ordinary form, and
not produced into large forceps-like processes.
In the other two genera, as in the Scutata generally, the ocelli are
present. The first, Urochela, which is distinguished from Urostylis
by its stout antenne, the first joint of which is not much longer
than the head, contains three described species, viz., the typical
species U. 4-punctata, and U. bimaculata and obscura described in
the Museum Catalogue. The genus Urostylis, distinguished by its
very long slender antennz, of which the basal joint is as long as
the head and thorax together, also contains three described species
—U. punctigera, Hope, and U. gracilis and pallida of the Museum
collection. I have now to add a fourth species to this genus.
Genus Urostytis, Westw.
Urostylis notulata, n. s.
U. supra testacea, fusco-punctata; elytrorum corii margine
apicali fusco, medio flavo; corpore subtus fulvescenti, ab-
dominis lateribus rufis, margine summo luteo ; antennis
fuscis, articulo basali testaceo, fusco-punctato, ¢.
Long. lin. 6—6} (m. 0.0125—0.0135).
Hab. in Indiz orientalis parte boreali. In Mr. Westwood’s and
my own collection.
Ovate, above pale testaceous. Head rather small, triangular,
broader than long; impunctate, faintly wrinkled, with a small
oblique pit on each side within the eyes; the apex of the lobes
and the whole underside of the head pale yellow. Eyes dark
brown; ocelli reddish. Antenniferous tubercles brown. An-
new Species of Hemipterous Insects. ee
tenne clothed with very small whitish hairs; the basal joint
testacecus, becoming dusky towards the apex, and covered with
very minute brown punctures; second, third and fourth joints
brown, the fourth rather paler than the others. Rostrum pale
yellow, with the extreme tip black. Pronotum broader than long,
trapezoidal, with the anterior angles rounded off; pale testaceous,
rather thickly punctured with brown, with an abbreviated longi-
tudinal red line on the centre of the anterior portion; the disc
with a faint transverse furrow or impression before the middle ; the
portion between this furrow and the anterior margin elevated ; pro-
thorax beneath testaceous, finely punctured with brown, and with a
pale reddish patch within each antero-lateral angle. Scutellum
testaceous, rather thickly punctured with brown. Meso- and
metathorax beneath pale fulvous, smooth, impunctate, with a
large dull pale brown patch on each side. Legs clothed with fine
whitish hairs; thighs yellowish testaceous, covered with fine
brown points ; tibize and tarsi dusky; claws brown. Elytra with
the coriaceous portion testaceous, thickly and rather finely punc-
tured ; the punctures pale brown, the apical margin brown, with
the central portion yellow; membrane transparent, colourless,
with a dark brown spot in the inner basal angle. Wings semi-
transparent, brownish. Abdomen above bright red, shining, very
finely wrinkled transversely, with a blackish line on each side
within the margins ; the margins brownish testaceous, edged with
brown. Abdomen beneath with the disc pale fulvous, flat, shining,
finely wrinkled transversely, covered with very minute brown
points; the sides red ; the margins testaceous.
VOL. Il, N.S. PARTIL—JUNE, 18052. c
18 Mr. W.S. Dallas’s Description
[V. Description of a new Species of the Genus Dinidor,
belonging to the Hemiptera Scutata. By W.S. Dallas,
Esq., F.L.S.
[Read 3rd May, 1852.]
As an addition to a paper which I had the honour of commu-
nicating to this Society at its February meeting, I beg leave to
lay before the Society the following description of a singular insect
belonging to the genus Dinidor, Laporte.
Dinidor gibbus, n.s. (PI. I. fig. 7.)
D. fuscus, nigro-punctatus ; thorace spinoso; scutello basi valde
elevato, gibbo, apice subemarginato, bituberculato, et tuber-
culo obtuso pone medium; membrana fuscescente, fusco-
reticulato. Q
Long. lin. 8. (M. 0.017.)
Hab. in Brasilia. In Mr. Dossetor’s collection.
Broadly ovate, brown, punctured with black. Head entire, and
somewhat pointed in front, the lateral lobes meeting in front of
the central lobe, with their lateral margins slightly reflexed;
above spotted and punctured with black; beneath with two
longitudinal black stripes. Eyes brown; ocelli reddish. Antenne
black, sparingly pilose ; last joint wanting; basal joint with a few
small orange-brown spots; second joint very long, with a slight
constriction near its base ; third joint about twice as long as the
first, with its base reddish. Rostrum reaching the base of the ab-
domen, pitchy brown, with the tip blackish, and the base of the
second joint somewhat fulvous ; labrum testaceous. Pronotum
with a small tooth at each anterior angle, its antero-lateral margins
strongly waved, smooth, and its lateral angles acutely spinous ;
the disc convex and coarsely punctured posteriorly, with an irre-
gular thickly punctured black band across the middle; the an-
terior portion sparingly and irregularly punctured. Scutellum with
the base elevated into a large rounded tubercle, and with a small
orange tubercle on each side on the basal angles; the dise with
a small obtuse tubercle at the commencement of the narrow por-
tion; the apex black, somewhat emarginate, with a slight tubercle
on each side. Breast blackish, finely punctured, with a few orange-
brown spots on each side; at the base of each leg a testaceous
of a new Species of the Genus Dinidor. 19
spot punctured with brown; mesosternum brown. Legs brownish
orange, mottled with black; tibize with an indistinct orange ring
in the middle ; tarsi reddish, with the basal joint, the apex of the
third joint, and the tips of the claws, black. Elytra; coriaceous
portion brownish testaceous, rather thickly and finely punctured
and mottled with brown; membrane brownish, semi-transparent,
closely reticulated with brown nervures. Margins of the abdo-
men fulvous, punctured and spotted with black. Abdomen be-
neath brownish fulvous, very flat, with a distinct, smooth central
furrow, the sides covered with small, black, somewhat confluent
spots.
This species is rendered very remarkable by the form of its
scutellum, of which the base is elevated into a large rounded
tubercle, and the apex slightly emarginate, and bituberculate.
The membrane of the elytra is also much more closely reticulated
with brown nervures than in any other described species of
Dinidor.
V. Apparatus for destroying Mould on Insects, by the
Vapour of Spirits of Wine. Invented by M. Vicror
Guitiant, Employé au Museum Royal de Turin. Com-
municated by Joun Curtis, Esq., F.L.S.
{Read 1st March, 1852. ]
One of the most important objects, after amassing a collection of
insects, is to secure its preservation ; and one of the most essential
requisites is a substantially-built and dry house. I need not
enumerate the difficulties in tropical countries to secure preserved
specimens of natural history from destruction ; and even in North
America the conditions of the climate, in some parts, are so pecu-
liar, that at certain periods it seems next to an impossibility to
preserve such objects from the effects of damp. In England there
are three enemies to contend with—lIst, insects, such as the larvee
of Tinea, Anobia, Anthreni, Acari, and an Atropos; 2ndly, grease
exuding from dead specimens; and lastly, mouldiness.
With any degree of care, none of the insect enemies are to be
feared, excepting the Atropos ; and in glazed drawers or air-tight
boxes, with a constant supply of camphor, the contents are secure
from these active little pests. Thanks to the experiments of
Lepidopterists, a remedy is found against the greasing of insects,
c2
20 Mr. Curtis on an Apparatus
either by embowelling the larger moths, especially the males, or
saturating them with pure spirits of turpentine or camphine, and
then covering them with pipe-clay or magnesia.* The last plague
is mouldiness; and I believe, as houses and villas are now built
around the metropolis, with walls one brick thick, often on a clay
soil, as well as in damp and wooded districts, this disease is not
to be avoided. In the various houses I have inhabited in the
west end of London, and even at St. John’s-Wood, my collections
never suffered from mould; but when I resided at Hayes, in
Middlesex, on a tenacious soil, I found my collections, after four
years, suffering so extensively from mould, that I determined on
returning to town; and, by regular attention, I observe it is fast
disappearing.
As this is so important a subject to many of our scientific friends
residing in the country, I made it one of my objects, in visiting the
museums on the continent, to learn the best means of restoring a
mouldy collection to a clean and healthy state ; and I am happy
in being able to communicate a mode, safe, cheap and expeditious.
Instead of washing the specimens individually with alcohol, or sub-
mitting them to the vapour of bruised laurel leaves—by the pro-
cess I wish to submit to the Society, forty drawers may be cured
in a morning, without removing a single specimen, at the expense
of half a pint of alcohol.
My friend M. Ghiliani gave me permission to make known
this admirable plan, and was so obliging as to put it in practice,
that I might be convinced of its efficacy, and, at the same time,
entirely comprehend the process. It was a box of large mouldy
beetles, &c., which was subjected to the operation, and in three
minutes every specimen was freed from mould.
The apparatus consisted of a stool, a pan and a lamp, which I
will now describe. (Pl. II.) The stool (fig. A.) must have a flat
top (1), larger than the, drawers or boxes infected, say two feet
square(C). A circular hole (2) is cut in the centre, large enough
to admit a tapering pan (B). Round this aperture is a square
frame attached (3), about two inches broad, and one and a-half
inch deep; upon two sides of this a little spline (4) is fixed,
about half-an-inch square. The pan (B) should be of block-tin, .
four and a-half inches deep in the clear, three or three and a-half
inches broad at the top, with a rim (5) three-quarters of an inch
broad, having the two edges slightly raised. A small hand-
lamp (6), with oil and a cotton-wick, is necessary, and three or
four pieces of wood, like bungs (7).
* All these remedies have been described in the Zoologist and other periodicals.
for destroying Mould on Insects. o 2!
When required, fill the pan (B), (not more than half-full of Pirits
of wine (see the dotted line 8), otherwise it might boil over,) and
drop it into the aperture (2); then light the lamp, and place it
upon as many of the blocks as will raise it sufficiently for the flame
to heat the spirit. As soon as it boils, take the drawer of insects,
reverse it, and place it upon the frame, over the pan, from which
the vapour is arising, keeping it close down for one, two or three
minutes, according to the size of the insects, when the mould will
have vanished : then hold the drawer before a brisk fire, or place
it in the sun for a short time, and the operation is terminated.
Where many drawers are to be cleansed, as soon as one is taken
off the stool to be dried, another may be placed over the bath, and
thus a dozen may be done in half-an-hour. Great care must be
taken not to let the spirits boil over, which is scarcely possible if
the pan be only half-filled ; and the raised edges of the rim not only
strengthen the pan, but prevent any spirits from running over. If
a lid be placed over the pan, it will very soon boil, when of course
it must be removed. j
There is another advantage by this process. All mites and de-
structive larve of insects are instantly annihilated, without the
slightest injury to the collection.
Dr. Chavannes, of Lausanne, tells me he purifies his collections,
when infested by destructive insects, by admitting into his boxes
sulphuretted hydrogen, but that is an operation which it would not
be safe to entrust to any persons who are not accustomed to che-
mical experiments.
EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE, (¢P1. If.)
Fig. A, A 4-legged stool drawn in perspective.
1. The top.
2. A circular hole.
3. A raised square frame.
4. A spline or bead to confine the drawer and keep it in its place
during the operation.*
6. A lamp.
7. Three small blocks of wood.
B. The pan of block-tin.
5. The rim, with raised edges.
8. Level of the alcohol.
C. Diagram to show nearly the relative proportions of the top of the
stool ; the figures according with those employed in Fig. A.
* When smaller drawers or boxes are to be purified, a smaller frame may be
placed inside of fig. 3 for them to rest upon, so that no vapour may escape; and
as this is a sketch of M. Ghiliani’s first idea, many other improvements may suggest
themselves to those who employ the apparatus.
22 Mr. W. C. Hewitson’s Descriptions
VI. Descriptions of Five new Species of Butterflies, of the
Family Papilionide. By W. C. Hewirson.
[Read 3rd May, 1852.]
a
Papilio Telearchus. (Pl. VI. fig. 3.)
Upperside. Anterior wing of a rich purple, triangular and
pointed at the apex, with an oval spot of blue at the end of the
cell, a submarginal row of eight triangular spots of blue and white
further from the apex than the rest of the outer margin. Half
way between this row of spots and the spot at the end of the cell,
a second parallel row of seven larger triangular blue spots, that
nearest the anal angle double. Posterior wing brown, with a
submarginal line of indistinct black spots, those nearest the upper
margin pupilled with blue.
Underside light rufous brown, with a submarginal line of white
spots corresponding with those above. Anterior wing with a basal
white spot. Posterior wing with two.
Exp. 44/5 inch.
Hab. Sylhet.
In my own collection.
This species is very closely allied to the P. Paradoxa of Java,
from which it scarcely differs in marking, except in the relative
distance of the blue spots from the outer margin. It is, however,
very different in the contour of the anterior wing. Whilst that
of P. Paradoxa is rounded at the tip, the wing af P. Telearchus
is lengthened to a point. It is, too, a much larger butterfly, and
bears no closer likeness to P. Paradoxa than some of the Eupleas
of different species (which it represents in the genus Papilio) do to
each other.
Papilio Pausanias. (Pl. VI. fig. 2.)
Upperside black, the base of each wing glossed with bluish-
green; anterior wing oblong and narrow, rounded at the tip, the
outer margin nearly straight, with a central spot of yellow—one
half of which is in the middle of the cell, the other below the median
nervure and tripartite. At the apex around almost transparent
patch. Posterior wing very short, dentated, with a submarginal
row of white lunular spots. '
Underside brown. Anterior wing in markings as above. Pos-
terior wing with the white lunules of the upperside, and above them
a row of similar lunules (but more pointed) of crimson, with parallel
of Five new Species of Butterflies. 23
rays of light brown between them and the cell. The ray nearest
the inner margin joined to a line of crimson proceeding from the
base of the wing. Some basal spots of the same colour.
Exp. 33 inch.
Hab. Surinam and the River Amazon.
This species is most nearly allied to P. Choridamas (Boisduval),
and is especially interesting from the close resemblance which it
bears to Heliconia Clytia.
The first specimen which I have seen was added to my collec-
tion by the liberality of Mr. Charles Simm, of the Royal En-
gineers, who brought it from Surinam; others have since been
sent home by Messrs. Bates and Wallace, from the River Amazon.
Mr. Bates states that it is found “at the edge of the water in the
Lake of Ega, when the river is falling.”
Papilio Chabrias. (P1. VI. fig. 8)
Upperside black. Anterior wing with three small oval spots
of dirty white in a line parallel to the outer margin ; one near the
apex, the other two near together, and half-way between the first
and the inner margin of the wing. Posterior wing strongly den-
tated, with a large spot of yellow below the middle, divided by
nervures into six unequal parts.
Female without the spots on the anterior wing. The posterior
wing with the spot of yellow divided into four oblong parts below
the cell.
Exp. 23 to 3 inches,
Hab. River Amazon.
In the collection of Mr. Saunders.
Nearly allied to P. Triopas, from which it differs in the form
of the anterior wing, and in having the spots on both wings much
nearer to the outer margin.
M. Lacordaire, speaking of P. Triopas, says that it flies low
and near the ground, having probably met with the female only.
Mr. Bates tells me that “the male flies rather high in pathways or
thinned parts of the deep forest, but that the female flies low over
the fallen leaves and low plants.”
Papilio Orellana. (PI. V. fig. 2.)
Upperside black. Anterior wing pointed, glossed with purple
except near the apex, which is lighter. Posterior wing also
glossed with purple near the base, dentated, one of the teeth
slightly prolonged. The whole of the space below the cell (in-
24 Mr. W.C. Hewitson’s Descriptions.
cluding a part of the cell), the margins excepted, of a dull vinous
crimson, with four bright clear crimson spots near its lower margin.
A spot of crimson on the anal fold.
Underside black, with the four bright spots only of the upper-
side, and a fifth at the anal angle.
Exp. 3, inch.
Hab. River Amazon.
The only specimen of this very distinct species which I have
seen is in the private collection of Mr. Bates, at whose suggestion
I have named it after one of the explorers of the Amazon.
Mr. Bates (who has kindly sent me some interesting notes on
the diurnal Lepidoptera), in speaking of that section of the genus
Papilio to which this species belongs, says, “ that they are seen
only in the shades of the forest, most frequently in the moister
portions of it. They are generally of slow flight. Whilst the males
are rather bolder and aspire to the flowers of the lower trees, the
females wander about threading» the mazes of the forest and
settling on leaves of low plants, on which I have frequently seen
them depositing thgir ova. The boldest flier of the beautiful
creatures is the male of P. Sesostris, which sweeps grandly at
times from near the ground to the summit of the lofty forest.”
Papilio Sakontala, (P1. V. fig. 1.)
Upperside black. Anterior wing pointed, with numerous in-
distinct rays of a lighter colour between the median nervure and
the outer margin, and in the cell. Posterior wing oval, dentated,
one of the teeth produced into a short tail; crossed near the
middle by a curved band of indistinct unequal white spots, the
three between the median nervules larger than the rest, and oval.
A very small lunule of scarlet af the anal angle.
Underside. Anterior wing as above, but lighter. Posterior
wing with the central band more distinct and formed of seven
spots, decreasing in size towards each margin. The first four
spots of this band (counting from the upper margin) followed be-
tween them and the outer margin by yellow lunules; the sixth by
two lunules, one near the band obverse and lilac, the other
near the margin, scarlet; the seventh (at the anal angle) by a
large oblong spot of the same colour, with a black centre.
Exp. 3,8, inch.
Hab. Sylhet. s
The only specimen I have seen is in“my own cabimet. It is
most nearly allied to P. Polytes of Cramer, which is said by-some
to be the female of P.. Pammon.
( 25.)
VII. Characters of undescribed Coleoptera, brought from
China by R. Fortune, Esq. By W. Witson Saunpers,
F.LS., M.E.S. &e.
[Read 3rd May, 1852.]
Tue Entomology of China is yet but very imperfectly known,
notwithstanding that the Collections of Entomologists have been
abundantly supplied with specimens from that country during a
long series of years. This peculiarity is chiefly to be attributed to
the restrictive system of the Chinese, which, until within a very late
period, prevented travellers and collectors from investigating the
natural productions of this remarkable part of the world, and to the
fact that the only entomological specimens to be obtained were those
collected for sale by natives in the vicinity of Canton. The China-
man, with little of the philosophy of Entomology about him,
during his researches after insects kept chiefly in view the bright,
beautiful, and large in size, his object being to please the eye only.
He cared little about the less showy and small species, these not
suiting his purpose ; and we therefore find, in the Chinese collec-
tions, the same species occurring over and over again, and ar-
ranged into cases with the same precision and uniformity; the
object being to make a pretty picture, by placing the specimens in
curves or radiating lines having a common centre, and without
any attempt at classification or putting allied forms together.
Flies, bees, moths, and beetles, were placed side by side without
distinction, and the species were only valued for their various
hues and tints, and for their beauty and brightness; and the
ruling idea in placing the specimens in the cases seems to have
been to form a pretty and lively pattern, much in the same way
that the worker in inlaid woods contrasts his materials to pro-
duce a pleasing effect. Collections so formed came to Europe
of ancient date, and the species contained in them have been well
described by Entomologists, exciting much interest from their
great beauty and remarkable forms. This interest, however,
gradually declined, from the want of novelty in the increasing
number of specimens which found their way to Europe; so great,
indeed, was the supply at last, and so little the demand, that a few
years back more than 200 cases of these insects, each on the
26 Mr. W. W. Saunders’s Descriptions
average containing more than 100 specimens, could not find a
purchaser at two shillings and sixpence per case.
These picture collections gave a pleasing idea of the entomo-
logical riches of China, containing, as they did, many beautiful
species and peculiar forms; and the naturalist only longed for
some chance which would increase his knowledge of an entomolo-
gical fauna apparently so rich. From time to time, however, it
may be remarked, a few specimens of Chinese insects, from locali-
ties far from Canton, were sent home, the result chiefly of govern-
ment expeditions, and the exertions of missionaries, or of indivi-
duals to whom chance had given an opportunity of collecting.
These extra sources were, however, not frequent, and the addi-
tional number of species obtained from them were very limited,
but still full of interest.
The opening of the trade with China, a few years since, was the
first opportunity which offered for obtaining a more extended
knowledge of the natural productions of the country ; and although
at first jealousies and restrictions prevailed, these are now begin-
ning to wear away, and we are at last, as far as Entomology is con-
cerned, beginning to reap the advantages of the change.
The exertions of R. Fortune, Esq., a gentleman who has been
able to penetrate into a very remarkable portion of the country,
and whose very valuable and interesting narrative of his journey
has just been published, has brought many new and remarkable
species to light, adding greatly to our knowledge of the subject ;
and J.C. Bowring, Esq., our corresponding member at Hong Kong,
whose sphere of action is more limited, has shown by the very
interesting collections he has sent to this Society, that he is ably
investigating the Entomology of his district, and doing much for
the science.
It is, however, to the labours of the former gentleman that I
am desirous of drawing the attention of the Society, as I purpose
in this and other communications to describe a portion of the new
species discovered by Mr. Fortune; and the remainder, excepting
the Lepidoptera, 1 am happy to say, will be taken in hand by other
Entomologists, who have offered their services, and who will do
the subject full justice. I except the Lepidoptera, for a part of
this order has been undertaken by Mr. G. R. Gray, who has
read an interesting paper before the Zoological Society on the
diurnal species ; and it is to be hoped that the new species belong-
ing to the nocturnal families may be described by one so well
qualified for the task.
of undescribed Chinese Coleoptera. 27
Much praise is due to Mr. Fortune for the attention he was
able to give to the subject of insects during his interesting journey
after plants and seeds of the tea shrub, for it must be borne in
mind, that Entomology formed no portion of his arduous duties,
and it was only a desire to make himself generally useful to the
scientific world which induced him to collect insects, he well
knowing how interesting they would prove to the Entomologist.
Mr. Fortune has kindly furnished me with a short account of
the district from whence the greater portion of the specimens were
obtained. He informs me, that this district is included between the
parallels of 26° and 32° north latitude, on the east coast of China.
Some were taken on the Island of Chusan and on other members of
the Chusan Archipelago, but these form only a very small portion of
the whole collection. Looking to a map of China, the country which
he visited will be perceived at once. From the Islands of Chusan his
researches were extended westward to 116° east longitude, that is to
say, from about 122° to 116°; and hence it will be evident that he
penetrated some considerable distance into the interior of the coun-
try. With the exception of the great plain of Shanghai, the country
visited is of a mountainous character, running into elevations from
1000 to 2000 feet in height. The chief of the larger and more
interesting species were obtained from this elevated district. Clay,
slate, and granite, are the most abundant rocks in this hill country.
The soil is generally of a reddish colour, composed of clay, sand,
and vegetable matter, and much mixed with particles of the rocks
of the country. The vegetation of the district appears to be lux-
uriant and abundant.
Turning now to the specimens which Mr. Fortune collected—
they consisted of insects of all orders, among which were a con-
siderable number of well-known forms, combined with others of
very great rarity, and a large number of altogether new species.
Of the latter, those described hereafter will fully establish the
value of Mr. Fortune’s researches; and I may mention, among
insects of great rarity and interest, the following Coleoptera as
particularly worthy of notice.
Dicronocephalus Wallichii 4, which had only previously been
obtained from Nepaul. A single ¢ specimen was procured, and
this has all the characters of the Indian examples, except that the
jborns on the clypeus are less elongate, and but little curving
upwards at the extremity. In this respect the specimen much
resembles the figure in Gory and Pecheron’s monograph of the
Cetoniade (pl. 26, fig. 1). The female’ of this interesting and
remarkable insect is still unknown, and should be carefully sought
28 Mr. W. W. Saunders’s Descriptions
after by collectors who are in a situation to clear up the dif-
ficulty.
Xylotrupes dichotoma, a fine scarabeus, with a remarkably
branched and elevated horn arising from the head.
Oplophora Horsfieldi, Hope, figured in the Transactions of this
Society, Vol. IV. Pl. I. fig. 1, a longicorn of great beauty, and
large size. This specimen, described by Mr. Hope, was taken
in Chusan, by Dr. Cantor.
I shall now proceed to the description of several new Melito-
phila, commencing with a very well marked and new genus of
Goliath beetles.
CosmiomorPHa, new Genus. (Kéopiog Mop¢n.)
Head porrect, with the clypeus subquadrate, rather longer than
broad, the sides parallel, the anterior margin slightly emarginate,
the fore angles obliquely truncate, and the contour slightly
elevated. Mandibles with the horny blade regularly lanceolate
and pointed. Mazille with the upper lobe small, lanceolate,
pointed, and incurved, externally covered with rigid hairs; the
inner lobe ending above in an angulated point ; palpishort. The
mentum oblong, narrowed in front, and having the anterior
margin slightly emarginate, with the labial palpi short.
Thorax very gibbous and rounded in front, about as long as
broad, the lateral margins nearly parallel, slightly emarginate
in the centre, the posterior margin straight, with the angles
prominent.
Elytra rather broader than thorax, narrow and rounded at the
apex ; the shoulders prominent, with the lateral margin immedi-
ately behind slightly emarginate. r
Legs long and slender, the anterior pair in the é having the tibize
elongate, with slight traces of two obtuse teeth on the outer margin,
and one long spine on the underside, near the apex, projecting
downwards; those of the @ shorter, more robust, and the tibize
bidentate. Mesosternal process rounded in front, with the sides
nearly parallel, moderate in size.
The nearest relationship of this genus appears to be with
Jummos, W. W. Saund., although from the long and slender legs
and colour of the only species known, it might seem to come Neat
to Dicronocephalus of Hope. Its unarmed clypeus, chafacter
of fore tibiz in 6, and the resemblance of the females, are the
reasons which induce me to place it immediately before Jummos,
from which it is distinguished, as well as from Rhomborhina of
of undescribed Chinese Coleoptera. 29
Hope, by the slender legs, shape of clypeus, and arming of the
fore tibiz in the ¢, as well as by the dull colour of the insect,
which is very unusual among the Goliath beetles.
Cosmiomorpha modesta, mihi. (PI. HI. fig. 1 4; fig. 2 9.)
Head with the upper stirface deeply punctate, pitchy black, with
the antennz dark chesnut brown. Thorax with the upper
surface flat and deeply punctate, blackish brown, covered with
short, stout, adpressed yellowish hairs, especially near the margin,
Seutellum concolorous with the thorax, with patches on the basal
angles of yellowish adpressed hairs, Elytra with two slightly
elevated longitudinal ridges on each, parallel for the most part, but
joining near the apex, the surface deeply and rugosely punctured,
dark, dull, castaneous brown, with the suture and shoulders
shining pitchy black ; the whole surface covered with stout, ad-
pressed, short yellowish hairs. Underside of body dark castaneous
brown, thickly covered with yellowish hairs, except the mesosternal
process and medial line of abdomen, which are smooth, shining,
and slightly punctate. Legs dark castaneous brown, with the
hinder tibize fringed with yellowish hairs. Tarsi elongate.
The g is rather smaller than the ¢, and has the anterior angles
of the clypeus less sharply truncate obliquely. In one specimen
the colour is nearly black.
Length of ¢ 1 inch; @ of 4% inch.
Fig. 1 a, maxilla ¢; fig. 1b, mesosternum ¢; fig. 1c, claws ¢;
fig. 1d, fore tibia and tarsus ¢; fig. 2a, mandible ¢; fig. 20,
maxilla 9; fig. 2c, mentum ¢.
In the collection of the British Museum, and @ also in my own,
Three specimens only of this insect were brought to England,
one male and two females.
Rhomborhina nigra, mihi (PI. III. fig. 3.)
Shining black. Clypeus large, somewhat broader in front and
slightly rounded anteriorly, with an elevated rim, deeply punctate.
Thorax with the hinder angles acute, the surface smooth and finely
punctate. Scutellum moderate, the apex very acute and finely
punctate. Elytra smooth, with the suture and two parallel equi-
distant longitudinal lines on each, very slightly elevated, finely
punctate, shallowly emarginaie behind the shoulders. Under-
surface of body finely punctate, with apex of abdomen covered
with brownish hair. Mesosternal process obtusely spatulate,
rounded and broader in front, fringed with short hairs. Legs
30 Mr, W. W. Saunders’s Descriptions
striato-punctate, the fore posterior tibie fringed with yellowish
hairs ; fore tibize with one large tooth externally in the 9, unarmed
inthe g. ‘Tarsi short, robust.
Length 1,1, inch. z
In the British Museum and other cabinets.
This species is a near ally to R. hyacinthina of Hope, which is
rather common in collections from Sylhet and Assam, but is
smaller, having the clypeus less broad in front, and without any
trace of the hyacinthine hue, which the Indian specimens always
possess on the legs and underside of the body, whatever may be
the dark tone of colour of the upper surface. The mesosternal
process is also much less broad, and spatulate. Fig. 3a, me-
sosternal process.
Rhomborhina Fortunei, mihi. (PI. III. fig. 4.)
Head with the sides of the clypeus parallel, the margin slightly
elevated, the upper surface flat, and minutely punctured, with a
slight rounded elevation between the eyes, dark blueish green.
Antenne and eyes pitchy brown, Thorax trapezoidal, with the
upper surface uniformly and minutely punctate, bright uniform
dark green. Scutellum large, trigonate, sparingly punctate, uniform
in colour with the thorax, Elytra rather broader than the thorax,
slightly emarginate behind the shoulders, without any trace of
longitudinal ridges, and transversely marked with minute wavy
striz, dark shining green. Underside of body finely punctate,
dark shining green, with the joints of the abdomen narrowly
margined with black. Mesosternal process moderate, with the
sides parallel, and the apex obtuse. Legs with the femora dark
shining green, tinged with brown. Tibiz and tarsi black, the
former edentate in the $, inthe 2 with one strong tooth near the
apex.
Length 1 inch.
In the British Museum and other cabinets.
Inhabits the borders of woods in the hill country.
This species, it appears, belongs to the section which includes
japonica, dives, &c., and approaches nearest to the former species
in general characters. Two specimens of the ¢, which I possess,
have a slight golden tint on the elytra in certain lights. Fig 4a,
mesosternal process.
of undescribed Chinese Coleoptera. 31
Teniodera ornata, mihi. (PI. IIT. fig. 5.)
Head with the clypeus broader anteriorly, emarginate, deeply
and rugosely punctate, black, with two short longitudinal yellow
lines near the eyes at the base. Antenne castaneous brown. Eyes
pitchy brown. Thorax much rounded in front, produced pos-
teriorly into a central, slightly projecting lobe, deeply and rugosely
punctate, black, with a long central golden yellow streak, and two
elongate yellow spots on the outer margin. Scutellum black, mo-
derate in size, with a broad golden yellow central streak. Elytra
considerably broader than thorax, the shoulders prominent, nar-
rower, and rounded at the apex, with a central longitudinal
elevated rounded ridge on each elytron, and five or six thread-
like, wavy, elevated lines between the ridge and the suture, and
between the ridge and the lateral margin a reticulated surface of
oblique, short, wavy raised lines ; black, with the lateral margins,
the apex, and anterior portion of the elevated ridges, bright casta-
neous brown, and having a golden yellow diamond-like marking
on the centre of the suture, two rounded transverse spots between
this marking and the apex, and two points on the lateral margin,
all of a golden yellow colour. Legs black, shining, covered with
castaneous hairs.
Length 56, inch.
In the cabinet of the British Museum.
One specimen only of this species was taken by Mr. Fortune.
It has a near relationship to some of the Indian species, both in
shape and character of the colouring.
Proteetia intricata, mihi. (PI. III. fig. 6.)
Head with the sides of the clypeus nearly parallel, the fore
angles rounded, and the margin slightly elevated, deeply punctate,
dark, bronzy green, more viridescent and shining in front. An-
tennz and eyes pitchy black. Thorax rounded in front, with the
posterior angles obtuse, and the basal margin receding near the
centre to receive the scutellum, covered with broad shallow punc-
tures, dark, bronzy brown, with two longitudinal rows of pale, irre-
gular, yellowish spots, one on each side of the central line,
between which and the outer margin are some faint, irregular,
yellowish markings. Scutellum with the apex obtuse, dark,
bronzy brown. Elytra rather broader than the thorax, deeply
emarginate behind the shoulders, with two faint elevated longi-
tudinal ridges, shallowly but broadly punctate, dark, bronzy
32 Mr. W. W. Saunders’s Descriptions.
brown, with various yellowish speckle-like markings, and a trans-
verse, wavy line of dots on each elytron of the same colour, nearly
crossing the disk a little below the centre, between which and the
apex is another transverse, somewhat lunate, dotted, line-like
yellowish marking, nearly touching the suture. Underside of
body bright shining green, with the joints of the abdomen spotted
laterally with yellowish white. Podex with two converging rows
of yellowish spots. Legs dark, bronzy-green, robust. The two
posterior pairs rough, with deep punctures, and fringed with yel-
lowish hairs.
Length 56, inch.
In the British Museum and other cabinets.
This is a species resembling in some respects two or three
others, but its characters are distinct and apparently constant.
Porphyronota Sinensis, mihi. (Pl. II. fig. 7.)
Ttead small, black, with a large patch on the after portion pale
chesnut-brown. Antenne of the same castaneous colour. Thorax
rounded in front, with the sides nearly parallel, the hinder margin
convex and emarginate to receive the scutellum, pale chesnut-
brown, with two small round black spots immediately behind the
head, and a black central x like marking on the posterior half of
the disk, the upper portion of the x being in shape of a broad vu,
and the lower portion with a decided angular projection on either
leg, and having also four rounded somewhat confluent spots on
either side of the x like marking. Scutellum trigonate, chesnut-
brown, with the apex and a discoidal spot black. Elytra broader
than the thorax, slightly emarginate behind the shoulders, faintly
furrowed longitudinally, chesnut-brown, with numerous short,
black, line-like wavy markings, mostly dispersed transversely
across the ridges, and two subquadrate black spots on the disk, a
little below the centre. Podex black. Underside of body shining
black, with the mesosternal process, a patch near the shoulders,
and some spots on the side of the abdomen, castaneous brown.
Legs robust, black.
Legth -7, inch.
In the British Museum and other cabinets.
Taken in hedges by the roadside, generally in the valleys among
the hills. It also occurs in the vicinity of Shanghai.
This species very closely resembles some members of the genus
from South Africa, and it is curious to observe forms so closely
allied in parts of the world so far apart.
7
© dda)
VIII. Descriptions of some new and apparently undescribed
Species of Hymenopterous Insects from North China,
collected by Robert Fortune, Esq. By F. Surru, Esq.
[Read May 3rd, 1852.]
Tur Hymenoptera collected by Mr. Fortune, during his late travels
in China, contained a number of species with which we were
previously unacquainted ; such I believe those to be described in
this paper. If an estimate may be formed of the abundance of
any particular family from an inspection of the collection, I should
conclude that the Vespide are the most numerous in North China.
A species of the genus Rhynchium is particularly interesting, from
the circumstance of its being stylopized, thus adding to our
knowledge of the geographical range of these parasites. But
perhaps the most interesting insect is a species of the genus Pison,
the largest hitherto discovered; in Australia many species are
found, that country appears to be their metropolis; in other
localities they appear to be very rare. One or two of the species
of Bomb: from North China have also been met with in Northern
India. The Zchneumon belonging to the genus Cryptus, described
in this paper, is probably the most beautiful species of the family.
The precise locality, in some instances, is given from information
kindly communicated to me by Mr. Fortune himself.
Trogus Pepsoides.
Female.—Black; head and antenne pale yellow, the latter
dusky towards their tips. The prothorax, mesothorax, tegulze
and scutellum, reddish yellow ; the mesothorax has two divergent
longitudinal pale yellow stripes; the breast beneath suffused with
yellow; the legs yellow, excepting the coxe, intermediate femora
beneath, and the posterior femora, which are black ; wings yellow,
their apical margins dark fuscous; the apical margins of the first
and second segment of the abdomen more or less ferruginous.
Length 11 lines.
This species is in the collection of the British; Museum.
Hab. Ning-po-foo.
Cryptus purpuratus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 2.)
Entirely of a brilliant purple; between the antennz and the
base of the clypeus is a prominence, the sides of which are trans-
versely striate; the clypeus with deep punctures. The meso-
VOL, Il. N.S. PART I1,—SEPT. 1852. D
34 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions
thorax has a deep longitudinal incision, which is margined by
elevated carine, on each side of which, double divergent carinz
pass forward from the scutellum to the anterior margin of the
mesothorax ; the scutellum with deep punctures; the meta-
thorax rugulose, the sides sculptured with irregular transverse
carinz, some of which recurve and enclose on each side an oblong
deep incision. Wings hyaline, and having a fuscous cloud occu-
pying the first discoidal cell, and extending over a portion of the
cells adjoining. ‘The anterior tibize slightly ferruginous in front.
The abdomen petiolate, gradually increasing in width and ter-
minating in a quadrate club.
Length 9 lines.
Hab. Ning-po-foo.
The only specimen brought by Mr. Fortune of this insect is
in the Museum collection ; it is the most beautiful species of the
genus with which I am acquainted.
Pison regalis. (Tab. VIII. fig. 9.)
Female.—Black; the head and thorax closely and strongly
punctured; the face, as high as the notch in the eyes, clothed
with hoary pubescence, that on the clypeus black; the clypeus
truncate in front; the labrum slightly exposed, smooth and
shining; the collar divided from the prothorax by a deeply im-
pressed channel. The metathorax above has a deep central
incision, crossed by transverse raised caring, which branch off
laterally, and become obsolete before reaching the sides; towards
its apex the metathorax is transversely rugose-striate ; the
tegule rufo-piceous ; the wings smoky, and having an indistinct
pale nebulosity towards the apex of the anterior wings, crossing
the third submarginal cell. Abdomen shining and finely punc-
tured, covered with a thin, short, black pubescence; the apical
margins of the segments slightly constricted, and clothed with a
thin, changeable, sericeous pile. The tibiz and tarsi are densely
clothed with pile of a similar colour.
Length 9 lines.
Male.—This sex only differs from the female in having a
shorter silvery pile occupying the depressions of the face at the
sides of the clypeus, which is nearly naked, and in having the
sculpture more strongly impressed on the metathorax.
Hab. Ning-po-foo.
This is the largest species of the genus hitherto discovered,
and the first from China. It would come partly into the second
of undescribed Chinese Hymenoptera. 35
division of the genus according to Shuckard, who formed a sub-
genus for those species which receive the first recurrent nervure
towards the apex of the first submarginal cell; it would therefore
belong to his genus Pisonitus ; but the second recurrent nervure
is in accordance with the species of Pison, and therefore I prefer
including it in the latter genus, to making a second subgeneric
division. Species of this genus are rare from all localities except
Australia, which appears to be its metropolis.
Cerceris Zonalis.
Female.—-Black, deeply punctured; the face yellow below the
base of the antenne ; a narrow yellow line running between the
antenne up to the anterior stemma; a minute dot at the vertex
of the eyes, behind; the mandibles yellow, their apex black; the
antennze beneath, and their scape above, ferruginous, the latter
yellow in front ; the collar, tegulee, post-scutellum, and a minute dot
on each side of the metathorax, yellow; the legs fusco-ferruginous ;
the anterior femora and tibia in front, their tarsi in front, the in-
termediate and posterior femora at their apex above, their tibia in
front, and the basal joint of the intermediate tarsi, yellow; the
apex of the anterior wings dark-fuscous. The basal segment of
the abdomen ferruginous, the third and fifth segments yellow,
having their basal margins black.
Hab. North China.
Rhynchium flavo-marginatum.
Male.—Black; the head and thorax closely punctured; the
clypeus, a minute spot between the antenne, and the scape in
front, cream-coloured; the entire margin of the clypeus black ;
the apical recurved joint of the antenne ferruginous. An in-
terrupted yellow stripe on the margin of the prothorax; the
tegulz have a ferruginous spot; the wings smoky, darkest at their
anterior margins, and beautifully iridescent; the intermediate and
posterior femora ferruginous above and the anterior pair at their
apex; a cream-coloured stripe on the anterior tibize in front; the
claws testaceous. Abdomen deeply punctured, the margin of
the first and second segments yellow, slightly interrupted in
the middle; beneath, the margins of the segments are rufo-
piceous.
The specimen described is doubly stylopized ; the heads of two
female stylops project beneath the third abdominal segment.
D2
36 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions
Rhynchium ornatum. (Tab. VIII. fig. 10.)
Female.—Black ; the head and thorax coarsely punctured, the
upper half of the clypeus, a spot between the antennz, the scape
in front, and a dot at the base of the mandibles, yellow; the
mesothorax has a central short impressed line in front, and towards
the scutellum a central slightly raised portion, smooth and
shining, less closely punctured than the other part; the sides of
the metathorax are roughened with separate deep punctures ; the
anterior margin of the prothorax has a bright orange stripe, at-
tenuated in the middle; the outer margin of the tegule slightly
ferruginous; wings fuscous, darkest towards their anterior margins ;
the anterior tibia have a yellow line in front, and the intermediate
pair also an indistinct stripe; the knees slightly ferruginous ;
claws of the anterior tarsi testaceous. The first segment of the
abdomen is orange-yellow, having at the base a triangular black
patch; the second segment black, and having a broad orange-
yellow fascia at its apical margin, deeply notched in front; the
insect is entirely black beneath.
Hab. Tein-tung, near Ning-po, amongst the mountains.
Ancistrocerus flavo-punctatus.
Female.—Black ; the head and thorax deeply punctured; the
clypeus, a spot between the antenne, the scape beneath, and a
minute spot at the base of the mandibles, orange-yellow; the
tegulze rufo-piceous ; wings fusco-hyaline; the sides of the meta-
thorax coarsely rugose; tips of the femora, the anterior tibize in
front, and the claws, ferruginous ; the legs have a beautiful golden
reflection; the abdomen coarsely punctured, except the second
segment, which is finely and distantly punctate; the margins of
the first and second segment have a bright orange-yellow fascia on
their apical margins above ; the second segment is considerably
wider than the basal one, and has a beautiful sericeous reflection ;
the body beneath entirely black.
Length 8 lines.
This beautiful species I have not seen from any other locality
than Ning-po.
Eumenes decoratus.
Female. —Black ; the head and thorax coarsely and closely punc-
tured ; the clypeus, a spot between the antenne, triangular-shaped
towards the vertex, and two-thirds of the basal portion of the
scape in front yellow; the two apical joints of the antenne yellow
—_
of undescribed Chinese Hymenoptera. 3”
beneath; a narrow yellow line traverses the inner margin of eyes
from the apex of the clypeus to their notch; a short narrow
yellow line behind the eyes towards the vertex; the apical half
of the mandibles ferruginous. The prothorax, the tegule, two
lines behind them, the apical half of the post-scutellum, and an
obscure spot at the sides of the metathorax, orange-yellow; the
wings sub-hyaline. The margins of the coxe and trochanters
beneath, the femora towards their apex, the tibize and the claws,
ferruginous ; the entire legs are clothed with a reflective golden pile.
The basal segment of the abdomen closely punctured, its apical
margin above, as well as those of the second segment, broadly,
and the following segments narrowly, orange yellow ; the abdomen
has a beautiful sericeous reflection, and the second, third and
fourth segments beneath have their margins yellow.
Length 12 lines.
The male, in colouring, does not differ in any respect from the
female.
Length 9 lines.
Hab. Tein-tung.
Only two specimens of this fine insect have come under my
notice; the species is in the British Museum Collection.
Eumenes quadratus.
Female.—Black ; head and thorax roughly punctured, a yellow
spot between the antenne, and a line along the margins of the
eyes from the base of the antenne to their notch; the third, and
the two or three following joints of the antenne, rufo-piceous
beneath; a yellow stripe on the collar in front; the legs rufo-
piceous at their knees; the wings dark fuscous. Abdomen, the
petiole elongate; its apical margin, as well as that of the follow-
ing segment in the middle, yellow; the puncturing deep, but
scattered on the petiole, closer on the second segment, becoming
rugose towards its apical margin.
Length 93 lines.
Male.—Black ; the clypeus, the face above as high as the in-
sertion of the antenne, their scape in front and apical joint, yellow ;
the prothorax in front, a narrow line extending to the tegule,
a line behind them, the post-scutellum, the anterior and inter-
mediate tibize in front, the posterior tibize towards the base, and
the knees, yellow. Abdomen, the apical margin of the basal seg-
ment, a minute spot on each side of the second, and an arched
macula at its apical margin, yellow, the entire segment is covered
38 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions
with a beautiful sericeous reflection; punctured as in the female,
but the wings paler.
Length 73 lines.
This species somewhat resembles the punctata of Sausseur, but
it is larger, the sculpture is very different, its wings are darker,
and its petiole more elongate; from the exact similitude in form
and sculpture I have placed these sexes together as constituting
one species. They also agree in the form of their peculiar-shaped
abdomen, which, viewed laterally, is square, having the upper
angles rounded.
Hab. near Ning-po-foo.
Polistes sulcatus.
Female.—Black ; the head, excepting the face above the insertion
of the antennz as high as the vertex of the eyes, ferruginous ; the
scape and the mandibles rufous ; the prothorax, two spots on the
disk of the meso-thorax, the scutellum and post-scutellum, the
femora, tibize within, and the tarsi, ferruginous; the metathorax
transversely sulcate. Abdomen, the second segment has an in-
distinct macula on each side, its apical margin, and those of the
following segments, obscurely ferruginous ; the apical one entirely
so, and having a dark line down its centre.
Length 12 lines.
Male.—Black ; the clypeus, and a line along the inner margins of
the eyes, as high as their emargination, yellow, and covered with
silvery pile; a broad ferruginous stripe down the centre of the
clypeus ; the scape beneath, and the tips of the joints of the an-
tennze beneath, ferruginous. The prothorax, tegule, the mar-
gins of the scutellum and post-scutellum, and the legs, ferru-
ginous. Abdomen as in the female—the wings in both sexes are
hyaline, having a ferruginous tinge, particularly at their anterior
margins.
This species, although closely resembling the Gyrostoma Orien-
talis of Kirby, is very distinct, and, independent of sculpture, &c.
is a smaller species.
Hab. near Ning-po-foo.
Vespa Mandarina. (Tab. VIII. fig. 1.)
Female.—Black ; the head, as well as the scape of the antennez,
of a reddish-yellow; the eyes, the pit in which the ocelli are
placed, and the tips of the mandibles, black ; the clypeus notched
in front; the three apical joints of the antennz slightly ferru-
ginous beneath, the cheeks broadly dilated. The scutellum,
of undescribed Chinese Hymenoptera. 39
which is divided by a central channel, has on each side an indis-
tinct ferruginous spot, the tegule have a stain of the same colour
outwardly, and the wings rufo-fuscous, with a darker colouring
towards their base; the legs are rufo-piceous at their joints, and
also the front of the anterior tibiee. The basal and apical margins
of the first segment of the abdomen have a broad continuous
yellow band; a similar band on the apical margin of the second
segment, and another towards its base which becomes pointed at
the sides of the abdomen; the third, fourth and fifth segments
have yellow bands on their apical margins, and the sixth is entirely
yellow; beneath, the second and following segments are margined
with yellow, the bands increasing laterally in width; above, the
abdomen is beautifully aciculated, and the entire insect has a
changeable sericeous reflection.
Length 1 in. 9 lines.
Worker.—Differs from the female in the following particulars :
a ferruginous spot on the shoulders, the post-scutellum tinged
with the same colour.
Length 1 in. 3 lin.
Hab. Tein-tung, near Ning-po-foo, amongst the mountains.
This is one of the finest species of the genus yet discovered.
Mr. Fortune informed me that this insect constructs large globular
nests in the topmost branches of trees, and is very abundant.
Vespa ducalis.
Female.—Ochraceous ; the head large, the cheeks broadly
dilated, the clypeus and mandibles rugose, the teeth of the latter,
the region of the stemmata, a line on the scape behind, and a deep
depression above their base, black; the prothorax, mesothorax,
and anterior margin of the scutellum, black; the tegule black,
their outer margins yellow; wings slightly fuscous near their
base ; the metathorax below the post-scutellum, the thorax be-
neath, and the femora, black; the apex of the coxe, trochanters
and femora, the tibize and tarsi, of a reddish yellow; the first and
second segments of the abdomen entirely ochraceous, having above
a central, transverse, black band, that on the second segment more
or less interrupted, the rest of the segments totally black.
Length 1 inch 6 lines.
Worker.—Head as in the female, but of a redder hue; the an-
terior portion of the prothorax, the outer margins of the tegule,
the scutellum and post-scutellum, tibia and tarsi, of a reddish
40 Mr, F. Smith’s Descriptions
yellow, the post-scutellum palest, the tarsi above fuscous. Abdo-
men, the first and second segments of a reddish yellow, having
bright yellow marginal fascia, in front of which is a narrow band
of a deep red-brown colour; the rest of the segments are black,
the third has a bright yellow marginal fascia; the yellow fasciz
are continued beneath on the second and third segments, the rest
are narrowly piceous.
Male.—The head ferruginous, the region of the ocelli and that
between the base of the antenne, also the teeth of the mandibles,
black ; the antennze fusco-ferruginous above. The anterior mar-
gin of the prothorax pale ferruginous; the mesothorax has two
small ferruginous spots in front; a spot on the tegule, and also
the posterior portion of the scutellum, ferruginous, beneath which,
on each side, is a bright yellow dot; the anterior tibia in front,
also the tips of the femora, ferruginous. The first segment
of the abdomen ferruginous, and at the base divided from the
apical portion, which is yellow, by a black band; the second seg-
ment ferruginous, having a broad apical yellow band; the third
and fourth are yellow, each having at their base a black band; the
fifth, sixth and seventh segments are black; beneath, the second,
third and fourth segments have a yellow band on their apical
margins ; the abdomen and legs are covered with a changeable
golden iridescence.
Length 13 lines.
Habitat Tein-tung, near Ning-po-foo.
This species, as well as the preceding, were both first discovered
by Mr. Fortune, and are fine additions to our Vespide.
Vespa Crabroniformis.
Female.—Nigro-fuscous ; the head orange-yellow, the antennz
yellow beneath, the basal joint ferruginous ; the mandibles ferru-
ginous, their teeth black ; the prothorax yellow, a broad central
indistinct stripe on the mesothorax anteriorly, the tegule ferru-
ginous; the wings fusco-hyaline, their anterior margins, from their
base to the first submarginal cell, rufo-fuscous; the legs covered
with an iridescent pile. Abdomen fusco-ferruginous ; at the base,
laterally, a bright ferruginous spot, the apical margin has a
narrow yellow fascia; the second segment has also the apical
margin yellow, rather more broadly so than the basal segment ;
the following segments are yellow, the third has at its base a
tridentate, transverse, fusco-ferruginous fascia ; the fourth merely
two lateral spots of the same colour; the abdomen has a similar
reflective pile. The entire insect naked, except a few black
of undescribed Chinese Hymenoptera. 41
hairs on the vertex, and a little yellow pubescence on the sides
of the metathorax.
The male exactly corresponds with the female, differing only
in having the antenna, as usual, elongated, and in having on each
side of the second segment of the abdomen an oblique, indistinct,
pale stripe running inwards, and also two minute pale dots.
Crocisa decora.
Female.—Black ; the face, below the base of antenne, clothed
with pale blue pubescence ; most sparingly so on the clypeus; a
continuous fringe of similar pubescence behind the eyes and along
the margin of the vertex. Thorax, a stripe on the collar, another
in the centre of the mesothorax, reaching the disk, a dot on each
side opposite the tegule, which have a spot behind, and also an
epaulet, and two round spots on the posterior margin of the meso-
thorax, of blue pubescence; on the sides of the metathorax a
patch of long white pubescence ; beneath the wings is a stripe of
blue pubescence, curving forwards, and then recurving under the
wings; the basal joint of all the tarsi above, the anterior and inter-
mediate tibiz above, and a spot at the base of the posterior tibie,
of blue pubescence. ‘The scutellum slightly rounded at the sides,
and deeply notched behind. The first segment of the abdomen
has a transverse fascia at its base, and another a little before its
apical margin, united to each other at the sides; the four following
segments have a central fascia, very slightly interrupted in the
middle, of blue pubescence; the anterior wings dark fuscous,
having the externo- and interno-medial cells, the first discoidal,
and a spot in the first submarginal cell, hyaline. The entire in-
sect deeply punctured.
The only species of the genus, which closely resembles this, is
one which comes plentifully from Africa, but that species may at
once be recognized as distinct, by its being delicately punctured,
and the pubescence of a much paler colour.
Xylocopa appendiculata.
Female. —Black; the antenne slightly piceous beneath; the
thorax, above and on the sides, clothed with bright yellow pubes-
cence ; the wings fuscous, darkest towards their apical margins,
and having a bright prismatic reflection ; the abdomen punctured,
and fringed at the apex with black hair.
Male.—Black ; the clypeus, the scape of the antenne in front,
and the apical joints beneath, yellowish white; the thorax, above
42 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions
and on the sides, clothed with bright yellow pubescence ; wings
as in the female; the anterior tarsi fringed with fulvous hair ;
the posterior tibia have at their apex a somewhat obleng pro-
jecting appendage. The abdomen punctured, the basal segment
clothed with bright yellow pubescence; the apex fringed with
long black hairs. .
Hab. near Ning-po-foo.
‘ylocopa rufipes.
Female.— Black; the apical joints of the antenne piceous be-
neath, the head nearly as wide as the thorax; the thorax above
clothed with fuscous pubescence; on the metathorax and on the
sides it is pale ochraceous, as it is also on the basal, and basal half
of the second segment of the abdomen; the wings fusco-hyaline,
and having a dark cloud on their apical margins ; the intermediate
and posterior tarsi, and the apex of the posterior tibiz, densely
clothed with fulvous pubescence; the sides of the abdomen towards
its apex fringed with pubescence of the same colour, as are also
the margins of the abdominal segments beneath.
Xylocopa pictifrons.
Female.—Black ; the head as wide as the thorax, the pubescence
very short, and thinly scattered; the upper margin of the clypeus
smooth and shining, a deep depression on each of its lateral mar-
gins; the disk of the thorax very smooth and shining, sparingly
punctured; the wings fuscous, having a bright iridescent coppery
reflection, the anterior pair have their medial and discoidal cells
transparent; legs entirely black; the posterior tarsi furnished with
a dense brush of black hair. Abdomen elongate, its disk sparingly
punctured, its sides densely so; thickly pubescent at the sides.
Length 10 lines.
Male.—Black; clothed entirely with fulvous pubescence; the
face has two broad yellow stripes extending from the vertex to
the base of the mandibles, the intermediate portion below the an-
tennze clothed with black hair. The wings sub-hyaline, slightly
clouded towards their apical margins ; the tarsi within are clothed
with ferruginous pubescence. Abdomen, down the centre the
pubescence is less dense, giving it the appearance of an obscure
black line.
Length 9 lines.
Hab. Chusan.
of undescribed Chinese Hymenoptera. 43
Bombus tunicatus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 7.)
Female.—Head black; thorax clothed with white pubescence,
and having a black transverse band between the wings, which are
dark fuscous ; the two basal segments of the abdomen have white,
the third black, and the rest of the apical segments bright fulvous
pubescence ; the legs entirely black, as well as the body beneath.
Length 10 lines.
Worker.—This sex differs in having a broader black band on
the thorax, in having only the basal segment white, the second
being in this sex fulvous; otherwise as the female.
Length 6 to 8 lines.
Hab. Chusan, on the top of hills.
The workers only were brought by Mr. Fortune from North
China, but specimens of these, and also of females, are in the
Museum Collection from northern India. It is one of the most
beautiful species of the genus.
Mr. Fortune informed me that all the Bomb: were found on the
top of hills in Chusan, and adjoining main land.
Bombus hemorrhoidalis.
Female.—Black; the head and thorax clothed with black pubes-
cence; the wings dark brown; the two basal segments of the
abdomen clothed with bright yellow pubescence, the rest of the
segments with bright fulvous red.
Length 11 lines.
Worker.—Differs only in size. (8 to 9 lines.)
Male.— The head and thorax clothed with long sooty-black
pubescence ; the antennz as long as the head and thorax; the
pubescence on the legs is long sooty-black, intermixed with pale
hairs; the legs are elongate, their tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen,
the two basal segments clothed with bright yellow, the rest with
bright fulvous pubescence.
Length 8 lines.
Hab. Chusan, on the hills.
In the British Museum there are specimens of this species from
northern India.
Bombus trifasciatus. (Tab. VIII. fig. 4.)
Female.—Black ; the head clothed with black pubescence, the
thorax with yellow, the legs with black, their tarsi ferruginous,
Abdomen, the two basal segments clothed with yellow pubes-
Seg
6 SBR
44 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions
cence, the third and fourth with black, and the apical one with
bright fulvous.
Length 10 lines.
Worker.—Resembles the female.
Length 7 lines.
Hab. Chusan.
I have not seen this species from any other locality.
Bombus atripes. (Tab. VIII. fig. 3.)
Worker.—The head entirely black; the thorax above clothed
with fulvous pubescence, the wings dark fuscous, the legs en-
tirely black. Abdomen clothed above with a deep, rich, fulvous
pubescence.
Length 9 lines. :
Male. —This sex exactly corresponds with the worker in
colouring.
Length 9 lines.
From the fact of the two sexes corresponding in size, I take
them to be male and worker. The male Bombi are usually con-
siderably smaller than the females.
Hab. Chusan.
Bombus nasutus.
Worker.—Head one-third longer than broad, entirely black,
except a few yellow hairs on the vertex ; the thorax clothed with
ochraceous pubescence, as well as the two basal segments of the
abdomen; the wings dark fuscous, the legs entirely black ; the
body beneath black.
Length 6 to 9 lines.
Hab. Chusan.
Bombus breviceps.
Worker.—Head entirely black, as broad as long; the thorax
clothed with bright fulvous pubescence, and the two basal seg-
ments of the abdomen with bright golden yellow ; the rest of the
abdomen with black ; the wings dark fuscous; legs and body be-
neath black.
Length 9 lines.
Hab. Chusan.
There is considerable general resemblance between this species
and nasutus, and probably in faded specimens it would be still
greater, but the form of the head is decisive of their difference.
of undescribed Chinese Hymenoptera. 45
Bombus flavescens.
Male.—Entirely clothed with pale yellow pubescens ; the wings
hyaline, their apical margins clouded ; the legs testaceous red.
Length 8 lines.
Hab. Chusan.
This species is at present unique in the collection of the British
Museum.
IX. Descriptions of some Hymenopterous Insects from
Northern India. By F. Surru, Esq.
[Read 5th July, 1852.]
As an appendix to my descriptions of Chinese Hymenoptera, read
3rd May, I beg to present the following descriptions of Indian
Wasps and Bees.
Vespa magnifica.
Female.—Black ; head and basal joint of the antennz of an
orange-yellow ; the mandibles are darker than the head, and have
their teeth black; the head is finely and the clypeus coarsely
punctured ; the prothorax laterally is indistinctly tinged with red ;
there is also on each side of the mesothorax anteriorly a very
obscure spot of the same colour, and another on the outer margin
of the tegule; the wings fuscous; the anterior tibiz in front have
more or less of a ferruginous colouring, and the entire legs have a
changeable sericeous pile. Abdomen, the segments one to five
have a narrow orange-yellow marginal fascia, continued beneath ;
that on the fifth sometimes interrupted above; the sixth entirely
yellow ; the entire abdomen covered with a beautiful bloom.
Length 21 lines to 2 inches.
The Worker is similarly coloured, having the claws and anterior
tibiee and knees orange-yellow; the bands on the abdomen not
quite so entire.
Length 12—14 lines.
Hab. Nepaul.
The specimens of this fine species, which are in the collection
of the British Museum, were obtained from Major General
Hardwick’s collection,
46 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions of
Vespa auraria. (Tab. VIII. fig. 8.)
Female.—Orange-yellow ; the head has some black pubescence
on the vertex, and the mandibles have their teeth black; the
thorax beneath is black; the mesothorax fuscous, and having a
broad central stripe reddish yellow, the scutellum, and a lateral
spot beneath, of the same colour; the tegule have a fuscous
spot in the centre; wings hyaline, their anterior margins some-
what ferruginous towards their base; the anterior femora in front
towards their base, the coxe behind, and the intermediate and
posterior coxee and femora, black; the intermediate tibia, except
their apex outwardly, the posterior pair in front and a spot
towards their apex within, black; the entire legs being covered
with a reflecting golden pile. The basal half of the first segment
of the abdomen, and rather more than the basal half of the
second, are rufo-fuscous ; the basal segment has its apical margin
narrowly pale-yellow ; and the fuscous band on the second seg-
ment is slightly produced laterally; beneath, the segments are
laterally more or less bright pale-yellow ; the entire abdomen has
a brilliant golden reflection.
Hab. Northern India.
This beautiful species is in several collections; but I am only
acquainted with the six described.
Vespa basalis.
Female.—Black; the head, antennz and mandibles, ferruginous,
the latter black at their tips; the prothorax, tegulz, a spot beneath
the wings, a square spot on the mesothorax posteriorly, the scu-
tellum and post-scutellum, and the sides of the metathorax, more
or less ferruginous; the wings have a fuscous cloud on their
anterior margins occupying the externo-medial cell; the mar-
gins of the coxee and trochanters, the knees, the tibie and tarsi,
ferruginous ;_ the legs entirely covered with shining yellow or
ochraceous pubescence. The basal segment of the abdomen has
a transverse ferruginous macula forked at each end, and the
apical margin has a narrow yellow band; the rest black. ‘The
entire insect is covered with a short thick pubescence, which
somewhat obscures the colouring.
Hab, Nepaul.
There are two specimens of this species in the collection at the
British Museum. I have not seen any other.
some Hymenopterous Insects from Northern India. 47
Vespa obliterata.
Female.—Black ; head ferruginous; the eyes and teeth of the
mandibles black ; the prothorax, a spot on the mesothorax touching
the scutellum, the scutellum, post-scutellum, the space between
them, the base of the wings, the tegule, and a spot beneath
the wings, reddish-yellow; the legs are of the same colour; the
cox, intermediate and posterior femora, except the apex of each,
black ; the apical joints of the tarsi fuscous. Abdomen black ;
the apical margin of the basal segment narrowly piceous; the
entire insect densely covered with pubescence, that on the head
and thorax being yellow, but that on the abdomen black.
Hab. Northern India.
I have only seen one specimen of this very distinct species ; it is
in the cabinet of J. S. Baly, Esq., who obtained it from Captain
Boys’ collection.
Bombus eximius. (Tab. VIII. fig. 5.)
Female.—Black ; head, thorax and abdomen clothed with black
pubescence; the tegule nigro-piceous; wings hyaline, with a
ferruginous tinge towards their base; the nervures ferruginous ;
the intermediate and posterior tibiz, and tarsi, ferruginous, and
clothed with ferruginous pubescence, as well as the anterior tarsi
beneath.
Length 14 lines.
Hab. Silhet.
In the British Museum there are specimens of this fine species.
I have not seen it in any other collection,
Bombus funerarius. (Tab. VIII. fig. 6.)
Female.—Black; the clypeus very smooth and shining, its
anterior margin ferruginous; the mandibles also ferruginous, having
two longitudinal deep sulcations, their apex rounded ; the face has
a little black pubescence above the clypeus and also along the
vertex, intermixed with a little silvery grey; the thorax above,
and the basal segment, clothed with silvery grey pubescence,
very dense and shining; the thorax beneath, the coxe, tro-
chanters, and femora, clothed with long silvery hairs; the apical
joints of the tarsi ferruginous, claws black ; the three apical seg-
ments of the abdomen clothed with silvery pubescence, the ex-
treme apex intermixed with fulvous, particularly beneath; the
wings fusco-hyaline.
Length 9 lines.
48 Mr. F. Smith’s Descriptions, &c.
Hab. Northern India. From Captain Boys’ collection.
The only specimen which I have seen of this beautiful insect is
in the collection at the British Museum.
Bombus rufo-fasciatus.
Female.—Head black; the thorax black, with a transverse band
of silvery-white pubescence on the collar, and another on the
metathorax; the basal segment of the abdomen clothed with white
pubescence, the second with black, the third with bright fulvous-
red, and the three following with white; the wings hyaline; the
thorax beneath, and the legs, clothed with black pubescence ;
towards the apex of the abdomen beneath there is a little white
pubescence.
Length 10 lines.
Hab. Northern India.
I have only seen two specimens of this beautiful Bombus; one
is in the collection of the British Museum, the other in that of
J.S. Baly, Esq.
Bombus simillimis.
Female.—Entirely black, except the three apical segments of
the abdomen, which are red; in some specimens there is a little
pale pubescence on the basal segment of the abdomen; the wings
dark fuscous, semi-transparent.
This species is very like the Lapidarius of Linn.; it is, however,
larger, and has dark wings.
Hab. Northern India.
a toue)
X. On the Habits of the Species of the Coleopterous Genus
Megacephala, inhabiting the Amazonian Region of South
America. By. W. Batss, Esq., with a Synopsis of the
Species by J. O. Westwoop, Esq., F.L.S., ¥c.
[Read 7th June, 1852.]
Turovucuout the whole country, from the city of Para to Ega, on
the upper Amazons, I have found eleven species of the genus
Megacephala. They are all inhabitants of sandy soils in exposed
situations, none being found in the shades of the humid forests
which cover nearly the whole surface of the country. I believe
they are all nocturnal in their habits, except perhaps the M. sepul-
chralis, Fab., in the daytime being concealed several inches deep
in burrows in the sand. I have never observed any one make use
of its wings, which the Cicindele and Odontocheile so readily do,
but their powers of running exceed anything I have ever observed
in this style of insect locomotion ; they run in a serpentine course
over the smooth sand, and when closely pursued by the hand, in
endeavouring to seize them, they are apt to turn suddenly back,
and thus baffle the most practised hand and eye. Nearly all the
species are confined to the margins of the river, on the sandy
beaches and extensive sand banks in mid-river; and are found
chiefly in the dry season, most abundant when the sinking waters
have left exposed the largest extent of sand. The pallid-coloured
series of species, of which I have observed five, are quite confined
to the most extensive of the sandy beaches, where the sand is
finest and whitest, which begin only at the altitude of Santarem.
In their pale colours, with dusky marks or patches on the elytra,
they resemble the Nebria complanata of the sandy sea shores of
Europe, which has a similar aspect and habits, and in taking these
Megacephale { have been forcibly reminded of the Nebrie, their
colours respectively agreeing with those of the locale they inhabit.
There is another instance of the same relation here, in a large
species of Forficula, of the same pallid colours, and found also on
these sandy shores. There are, throughout the various branches
of Zoology, many instances of this relation between the colours
of species and the locale they inhabit, and all such facts, when
observed, appear to me deserving of record, although it may be
far in the future of the history of science before any useful gene-
ralization be drawn from them.
The Megacephale are closely allied to the Cicindele, and the
VOL. Il, N.S. PART I.—SEPT. 1852. E
50 Mr. H. W. Bates on the Habits
two genera are naturally placed in close vicinity in the same group —
of genera of Cicindelides. Relatively to the Cicindele, the former .
have a body more robust, a broader and stronger head and thorax, ©
with, consequently, stronger mandibles, showing a habit of preying ~
upon larger subjects, and greater force in tearing their food; their
antenne are longer and more tapering, showing probably an
acuter sense, whatever that sense may be which resides in those
organs. Lastly, their legs are much more robust, agreeing with
their terrestrial habits. They may be defined shortly as robust,
terrestrial (cursorial), and nocturnal Cicindelide.
The larve of Megacephale inhabit the same sandy districts as
the perfect insects, in cylindrical burrows, where they lie in wait
for prey. I have taken two or three species, none of which differ
in any essential particular from the descriptions of the larva of
Cicindele. The head is broad, semicircular, concave above and
concave-convex beneath, with the mandibles curved upwards, so
as to be able to seize anything falling on the concave upper surface
of the head. They are so rapacious or irascible, seizing anything
that disturbs them, that they are readily taken by inserting a
straw in their burrows, which they seize instantly and retain with
pertinacity.
Of the eleven species which I have taken, five are of the pale-
coloured series; five of the brilliant-metallic species, copper-
coloured green or blue, all with an ovate pale spot at the apex of
the elytra; and one is obscure black. The last-mentioned (MM.
sepulchralis, F.) is different in its habits, as well as in its colour
and form, from the other two groups. It is found in dry gravelly
places, in open grassy spaces in the forest, running rather slowly
about the roots of grass in the daytime. I have taken it only at
the Barra of the Rio Negro, where the country is dry and undu-
Jating, and the forest somewhat low and thinned. The largest
of the pale species, about an inch long, is the robust MM. testu-
dinea, which I took in company with three other species of the
genus on the sandy shores of the Teffé at Ega, at night. One
small, smooth, pale species (JZ. laminata, Perty), having a diamond-
shaped dusky spot over the suture of the elytra, I have found on
all the more extensive sandy beaches, more or less sparingly, from
Carefé, near Para, to Ega. One pale, nearly spotless species
(M. cruciata), 9 lines long, I took only at the Barra, whence I
sent a small series to England. Another nearly resembling this
(M. bifasciata, Brullé) I have taken more abundantly at Ega
and at Santarem. A fifth species (JZ. asperula), small, and
covered with elevated granulations, I took only two specimens of,
on the sand islands in mid-river, on the Upper Amazons. In the
s
metallic coloured group one species (the beautiful M7. Spat) I
found rather abundantly at Villa Nova, on the light earthy or
sandy margins of the river, where the fluctuating level of the
waters leaves a succession of terraces. By cutting away the edges
of these terraces I was able to get at their burrows readily, and
took as many as I wanted. Another copper-coloured, very hand-
some species, more robust in form (VW. curta, Reiche), is found at
the moist edges of the water, under stones and sediment. Of one
fine green species (JM. spinosa ?), distinguished by a small tooth
at the sutural angle of the apex of the elytra, I, at present, have
only a single specimen from the extensive sandy campos of Santa-
rem. The fourth species, which is elongated in form, of a fine uni-
form blue or blue green colour (MM. Marti:), I have found also at
Santarem, very circumscribed in its localities; it prefers dry gra-
velly situations, and is only seen after sunset. The fifth and last
species is the smallest of the metallic group, having the elytra
much narrowed towards the apex (JM. quadricollis, Laf.). TI have
met with it only at Ega, in company with M. testudinea and two
other pale species. H. W. B.
of the Coleopterous Genus Megacephala. 51
List of the Species mentioned in the preceding Memoir.
A. Black species (4niara, Hope).
Sp. 1. Megacephala sepulchralis, Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth. p. 233,
n. 9 (Cicindelas), De}. Sp. Gen. v. 199, n. 7.
Meg. variolosa, De}. Sp. Gen. 1. 14, n. 7.
B. Pale coloured species. (Ammosia, Westw.)
Sp. 2. Megacephala testudinea, Klug, Jahrbucher D. Ins. p. 6,
pi. i, fo.
M. Klugit, Moritz, MS,
Mr. Bates’ specimens of this species are chestnut red on the upper
side, without any gloss, and with paler lateral margins and luteous
buff beneath. The head is smooth above, except between the
eyes, where it is finely striolated, the striole of the disc being
almost obsolete, the inner margin of the eyes black. ‘The labrum
is transverse, pale luteous, the lateral angles rather porrected and
rounded, the centre porrected and armed: with two obtuse black
teeth; half-way between the produced middle and the lateral
angles is another small tooth on each side ; the mandibles are pale
luteous, with black teeth, the right one in the male. having the
second tooth from the tip very minute, and the third oblique
emarginate at its tip, whilst in the female it has three large terminal
E 2
52 Mr. J. O. Westwood on the
teeth, and the left one in both sexes has the first and third large, with
a small one between them; the labial palpi are remarkably long,
the antennz pale luteous, with the first four joints more or less
marked with black on the upper side. The pronotum is nearly
smooth above, with two transverse punctured impressions, the
ordinary longitudinal one only slightly impressed, the portion
behind the second transverse impression is black. The elytra
are broader behind the middle. and covered with extremely
numerous and very minute conical granulations, those of the dise
being the largest, the points of which are directed backwards ;
at about one-third of the width of the elytra, on each side of the
suture, is an irregular row of deeper punctures, forming an in-
distinct longitudinally impressed striola on each elytron; beyond
the middle, and towards the side, is a somewhat oval black spot,
its inner margin oblique, and produced behind into a small, slender,
curved mark, directed towards the suture, beyond which the elytra
are pale Juteous, as well as at the sides. The whole of the under-
side of the body, palpi and legs are luteous, the four posterior
femora having a black spot near the tip on the upper side.
Long. corp. ¢ lin. 154.
Having no typical specimen of MM. testudinea for comparison, it
is not possible to decide with certainty whether Mr. Bates’ spe-
cimens are specifically distinct from that species, several of the
characters mentioned above being omitted in Dr. Klug’s de-
scription.
Sp. 3. Megacephala laminata, Perty, Del. An. art. Bras. 1, p. 2,
pl. 1, f. 3.
M. nocturna, Klug, MS., Dej., Sp. Gen. v. p. 203.
Sp. 4. Megacephala bifasciata, Brullé in D’Orbigny, Voy. Amer.
menid. V1. i. ps lyiplids te 1:
M. equinoxialis, Fabr., Dej., &c., but not of Linnzeus,
which = Brachinus complanatus, F.
Dr. Erichson, Jahrbucher Entomol. 1837, n. 209, considers that
the name M. equinoxialis should, however, be retained, as having
been used by Fabricius in a genus far removed from Brachinus ;
but it is quite evident, from the words of Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth,
i, p. 243, n. 60, ‘Species mihi obscura,” that he had never seen
it, but had merely taken it up from the writings of Linnzeus.
According to M. D’Orbigny this species rests, during the day,
at the bottom of holes, which it burrows in the margins of rivers,
coming abroad only on the approach of night, and running with
extreme velocity.
Coleopterous Genus Megacephala. 53
Sp. 5. M. cruciata, Brullé in D’Orbigny, Voy. Amer. merid.
NTA pee. cpl. l, f.72.
Depressa, flavo-rufa, subtus pallidior ; ore, antennis pedibusque
flavis ; elytrorum vitta suturali fasciaque fuscis. Mas. Long.
74, lin.
Northern part of Corrientes, on a sand bank at Parana.
One-fourth smaller than M. bifasciata, with the elytra very
strongly punctured, and without the black band between the eyes ;
the denticulations of the labrum are also more porrected. It runs
with very great agility, and ‘semble plutét voler que marcher.”
Messrs. Tatum and S. Stevens regard this supposed species as
a very pale variety of the preceding, which, indeed, greatly differs,
in the extent of its markings, some specimens having the disc of
the elytra almost entirely black. Mr. Bates’ capture of spe-
cimens in a single locality, apart from that which afforded the
true M, bifasciata, is in favour of their specific distinction.
Sp. 6. MW. asperula, Westwood.* (Tab. VII. f. 8.)
Testaceo-lutea; antennis, palpis et pedibus albidis; capite in
medio fusco, elytrorum sutura late, fasciaque utrinque abbre-
viata pone medium fuscis, pronoto antice et postice elytrisque
undique granulato-asperulis, his brevibus latis obovatis.
Long. corp. lin. 5.
Syn. MW. brevis and M. brevipennis, MS. in museis.
* Obs.—The five species above mentioned are the only ones hitherto known
belonging to the pallid division of the genus, I therefore take this opportunity
of describing another new species, from the collection of T. Tatum, Esq., who
received it from the Jardin des Plantes, without any indication of its locality.
Megacephala Oxycheiloides, Blanchard, MS.
M. nigricollis, Reiche.
M. nigra, haud nitida, depressa; capite antice, antennis, pedibus, elytris
utringue macula magna triangulari laterali, alterisque duabus apicalibus
albidis 9. Long. corp. lin. 83.
Precedentibus magis depressa coloreque nigro corporis, capitis et pronoti dis-
tincta. Caput subquadratum, oculis prominulis, vertice planiusculo sub lente
striatulo, macula antica semicirculari albida. Labrum transversum, albidum,
medio antice valde porrectum, denticulis duobus centralibus acutis alterisque
duobus lateralibus, dentibus apice castaneis. Mandibule albide, dextera
dentibus tribus validis apicalibus, sinistra tribus intermedio parvo. Palpi
albidi, labiales articulo penultimo valde setoso, ultimo paullo securiformi.
Pronotum truncato-cordatum, subdepressum, impressionibus duabus trans-
versis ordinariis fere obsoletis, media longitudinali tenui, disci medio levi,
antice et postice sub lente tenuissime coriaceo. Elytra suboblonga, depressa,
fere parallela, depressa, disco undique granulis minutis conicis (apicibus
postice directis) ; nigra, singulo macula magna laterali irregulariter trian-
gulari, suturam haud attingente, e basi ad medium lateraliter extensa, altera-
que subovali apicali. Corpus infra nigrum, lve, subnitidum ; apice seg-
menti apicalis abdominis albido, Pedes omnino albidi.
54 Mr. J. O. Westwood on the
M. laminate magnitudine et forma proxima, differt imprimis
pronoto et elytris aspero-granulatis, granulis nigris. Caput
breve, pronoto latius, fere lave, disco parum convexo in
medio fusco, margine interno oculorum tenue nigro. Labrum
luteo-albidum, angulis lateralibus rotundatis, margine antice
denticulis 4 minutis equalibus et aequidistantibus. Man-
dibulz albide, dentibus apice castaneis, dextera dentibus
tribus validis, sinistra etiam tribus intermedio parvo. Palpi
albidi, maxillares articulo 2ndo parum inflato. Antenne
graciles, albidz, articulis 2do, 3tio, et 4to supra fusco parum
tinctis. Pronotum lateribus antice fere rectis, pone medium
sensim angustatis; disco convexo, impressionibus binis or-
dinariis transversis indistinctis, media longitudinali tenui sat
distincta, antice et postice granulato. Elytra brevia, obovata,
albido-lutea, undique granulis minutis nigris aspera, cruce
fusca reversa notata apice crucis acuminato, apice suture
albido relicto; margine tenuissimo laterali fusco. Pedes
graciles, albidi. Corpus infra fusco-luteum, abdominis apice
pallidiori.
Obs. —The specific names attached to this insect in several col-
lections, without any author’s name attached, are equally ap-
plicable to MM. laminata, whilst the remarkably granulated surface
of the elytra suggests a name at once indicative of the species.
C. Metallic coloured species. (Tetracha, Westw.)
Sp. 7. Megacephala Spixi, Brullé in D’Orbigny, Voy. Amer.
merid. VI. ii. p. 3, pl. 1, fig. 3. (Tab. VII. fig. 5.)
Obs.—Dr. Erichson, Jahrb. Entomol. 1837, p. 209, considers
this as not distinct from MZ. Martz, to which indeed it is very
closely allied in form, sculpture and colour of the limbs. The
observations, however, of an intelligent collector like Mr. Bates
upon these insects in their native country, warrants their reten-
tion as distinct.
Sp. 8. Megacephala Marti, Perty, Delect. An. Art. Bras.
p- i. pl. 1, fig. 1. (Tab. VII. fig. 3.)
Sp. 9. Megacephala curta, Reiche? MS. (Tab. VII. fig. 1.)
Coleopterous Genus Megacephala. 55
M. capite, pronoto et elytrorum disco lete purpureo-cupreis,
horum lateribus cyaneis, apice singuli macula elongato-ovali
lutea notatis ; pedibus luteis, geniculis posticis nigris.
Long. corp. lin. 8.
Affinis M, geniculate, Chevrolat, et M. Chiliensi, Laporte. Caput
late cupreo-purpureum, antice et lateraliter viridi-tinctum,
vertice sub lente tenuissime striolato et areolato, punctis
duobus parvis ad marginem internum oculorum, impressioni-
busque duabus minus profundis inter partem anticam oculo-
rum. Labrum, mandibule et antennz lutescentes, illarum
dentibusnigris, harum articulis 4 basalibus supra fusco-notatis.
Pronotum valde convexum, levissimum, colore capiti simile,
impressionibus ordinariis profundis. Elytra quam in MM.
Martii breviora et magis ovata, disco antice coloris capitis et
pronoti, hoc colore ultra medium suturee extenso at sensim
angustato; lateribus elytrorum cyaneis viridi-tinctis, macula-
que elongato-ovali lutea, ad apicem costz angustius producta,
disco punctatissimo. Corpusinfra nigrum, coloribus metallicis
tinctum. Pedeslutescentes, femoribus 4 posticis prope apicem
supra fusco-tinctis.
Obs.—I cannot distinguish this species from the insect in the
British Museum collection with the name of Meg. remota, Reiche,
MS. attached to it.
Sp. 10. Megacephala 2
Obs.—Mr. Bates’ unique specimen of this insect has not yet
reached this country, but from his notes it is most probably either
M. spinosa, Brullé in Voy. D’Orbigny, Amer. merid. VI. ii. p. 3,
n, 7, or M. acutipennis, Dejean, Sp. Gen. i. p. 13, n. 6.
Sp. 11. Megacephala quadricollis, Laferte? MS. (Tab. VII. fig. 7.)
M. prothorace subquadrato, elytrisque ad apicem spinosis ;
supra viridis; elytrorum lateribus postice luteo-albidis ; ore,
antennis pedibusque luteo-albidis.
Long. corp. lin. 63.
Species parva, forma prothoracis et elytrorum spinisque apices
horum armantibus primo intuitu distinctissima. Caput supra
cupreo-viride, vertice subconvexo, sublzevi, prope marginem
internum oculorum longitudinaliter striatulo, impressionibus
56 Mr. J. O. Westwood on the
inter partem anticam oculorum obsoletis. Labrum trans-
versum, lutescens, fusco tenuissime marginatum, denticulis
duobus mediis parum prominentibus. Mandibule et antennz
lutescentes, illarum dentibus nigris, harum articulis 4 basali-
bus supra fusco-notatis. Prothorax subquadratus, capite
paullo angustior, postice vix angustior, lateribus fere rectis,
sulco profundo angusto sinuato antico, alteroque recto postico
transversis ; lineaque media ordinaria profunde impressa ;
dorso levi, cupreo-viridi, lateribus sulcoque antico tenuissime
punctatis, parte postica pone sulcum posticum irregulariter
granulata. Elytra elongato-ovalia, disco granulis conicis
minutis scabro, cupreo-viridia, singulo macula elongata laterali
lutescenti postica, ad apicem suturee extensa, singuloque in
spinam acutam sensim desinente. Corpus infra viride, ab-
domine lutescente. Pedes lutescentes, femoribus 4 posticis
ante apicem fusco-nebulosis.
The following is a tabular classification of the species of Mega-
cephala, showing the position of the subgenera indicated above,
founded for the most part on the variations in the dentition of the
mandibles. This is a character which has been generally over-
looked by Entomologists, although the use made of it in the
higher branches of zoology show its great value. It is true indeed
that in most modern generic descriptions the form of the mandible
is given, but this is drawn almost universally from the inspection
and figure of a single jaw, whilst the comparative form of the two
mandibles, and the mode in which their combined action modifies
the form and position of their relative toothing, is generally
neglected. The genus Megacephala was first divided by Serville
and St. Fargeau, in the Encyclopédie Méthodique, into two
sections, from the wingless and winged condition of the species,
the name of Aptema being given to the former group, the type of
which was however that of the genus Megacephala, whilst a second
species was added (M. 4-signata), which is certainly winged.
Mr. Hope, in the second part of his Coleopterist’s Manual (p. 6),
restored the generic name Megacephala to the type M. Senegalensis,
dividing it into two sections, 1st, that containing the type, destitute
_of wings, and, 2nd, that containing M. 4-signata and Euphratica,
both of which are winged, adding two new genera, Tetracha,
Westw., containing Cic. Carolina, Linn., and its allies, natives of
the New World, having the mandibles armed with four apical
teeth, and Anaira, the type of which is M. sepulchralis. A nearly
similar arrangement was adopted by M. Lacordaire in his revision
Coleopterous Genus Megacephala. 57
of the family published in the first volume of the Memoirs of the
Natural History Society of Licge. A careful examination of the
characters of the Megacephale has convinced me that a more
extensive division is requisite ; in other words, that the characters
employed to separate Tetracha and Anaira will render the esta-
blishment of several other sections necessary when applied to the
Old World as well as to the pale species of the New World.
MEGACEPHALA.
A. Elytra humeris rotundatis, haud angulato-prominentibus.
* Corpus apterum, subcylindricum. Mandibule dentibus
acutis. Color viridi-metallicus, elytris totis concoloribus.
(Aptema, Serv. and St. Farg.) Type M. Senegalensis,
Latr., Dej.; Cic. megalocephala, Fabr. (Senegal.)
** Corpus alatum, latius, subdepressum.
a. Mandibule dentibus intermediis oblique truncatis.
Color metallicus, elytris ad apicem macula lutea
notatis. ‘Types M. 4-signata, Dej. (Senegal); MV.
Bocandei, Guérin-Ménéville, Rev. Zool. (Congo.)
b. Mandibulz dentibus intermediis acutis, sinistra
dente 2ndo (apice acuto mandibulz pro dente 1mo
computato) parvo vel 3tio minori. Color luteus.
(Ammosia, Westw.) Type M. bifasciata, Brullé
(Aquinoctialis, Dej.) (Amer. merid.)
B. Elytra humeris angulato-prominentibus.
* Mandibula recta, dentibus tribus apicalibus armata
(dente basali composito denticuloque ejus supero haud
computatis).
‘+ Mandibula sinistra dente 2ndo minuto. Color me-
tallicus, elytrorum apice macula lutea notato. Type
M. Euphratica, Oliv., Dej. (Persia, India, Spain,
Barbary.)
++ Mandibula sinistra dente 3tio fere obsoleto. Color
totus niger. (Anaira, Hope.) Type M. sepul-
chralis, Fabr., Dej. Sp. Gen. v. 199 (MM. variolosa,
Dej. Sp. Gen. i. p. 14) (Amer. merid.)
** Mandibula recta dentibus quatuor apicalibus armata.
Color metallicus, elytris macula lutea apicali notatis.*
* Obs.—The pale apical spot of the elytra is wanting in M. virginica, Fab.,
M. femoralis, Perty—and a few others.
58 Mr. J. O. Westwood on Megacephala.
+ Mandibula sinistra dente 2do minuto. Labrum
denticulatum. Type M, Australasia, Hope. (Port
Essington, New Holl.)
Proc. Ent. Soc. Nov. 1841; Annals of Nat. Hist,
ix. 425; White, in Append. to Stokes’ Voy.
Ins. pl. 1, fig. 1.
++ Mandibula sinistra dente 2ndo 8tio majori vel
sequali. (Tetracha, Westw. Hope). Type Cic.
Carolina, Linn. &c. (Amer. merid.)
J. O; We
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VII.
Figure 1. Megacephala curta.
. Larvaof M. curta?
. Megacephala Martii.
- Larva of M. Martii?
- Megacephala Spixii.
. Larva of M. 2
- Megacephala quadricollis.
. Megacephala asperula.
2a. Head of larva of M. curta? profile.
6 a. Dorsal segment showing the hooks.
6 b. Profile of do.
onan fp oo wv
(2 OSH )
XI. On the Lamellicorn Beetles which possess exserted
Mandibles and Labrum, and 10-jointed Antenne. Being
a Supplement toa Memoir published in the Fourth Volume
of the Transactions of the Entomological Society. By
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., F.L.S., &c.
[Read 7th June, 1852. ]
Durine the ten years which have elapsed since my paper upon
those genera of Lamellicorn beetles which agree in possessing
exserted mandibles and labrum, and 10-jointed antenne, was pre-
sented to the Entomological Society, I have neglected no oppor-
tunity of searching for any additional allied types of form not
contained in that communication, and have now the pleasure of
laying before the Society descriptions and figures of several new
genera and species by way of supplement to my former memoir.
With respect to the distribution of the Lamellicorn insects into
families, a highly important modification of the views of Latreille
and MacLeay has been published by the late Dr. Erichson, in his
work upon the Coleoptera of Germany (Naturgeschichte der In-
secten Deutschlands, pp. 563, 717). We here find the Lamelli-
cornia (including the Lucanide@) divided into two primary groups.
The first (corresponding with MacLeay’s Thalerophaga, with the
addition of the Dynastide and the exclusion of the Glaphyride)
named
ScARABHIDES PLEUROSTICTI.
(Ligula mento connata. Spiracula abdominalia 2—6 in seg-
mentorum ventralium parte dorsali sita, septimum liberum.
Segmentum penultimum dorsale ventraleque connata, Larve
maxillarum malis connatis)—
And containing the families Dynastide, Cetonude, Rutelide,
and Melolonthide (with the Anoplognathide).
The second primary division is named
ScARABHZIDES LAPAROSTICTI.
(Ligula a mento discreta. Spiracula abdominalia inter segmenta
ventralia dorsaliaque sita, omnia ab elytris obtecta, Larve
maxillarum malis discretis.)
It will be at once perceived that the three characters upon
which these divisions are founded involve important physiological
60 Mr. J. O. Westwood on
considerations, and are therefore entitled to more weight than
merely artificial characters,—such as the number of joints in the
antennze or the number of spines on the tibize. The separation
or junction of the ligula (or labium) with the mentum of the
perfect insect, as well as the separate or connate condition of the
lobes of the maxille of the larva, are of course intimately con-
nected with the nature of the food of the insect, whilst the posi-
tion of the spiracles of the abdomen in the imago intimates cor-
responding variations in the nature of the residence or relative
exposure to the air of theperfect insect.
The Scarabeides laparosticti are divided into two groups, cor-
responding with the remaining families of the Linnean Scarabex
and the Linnzean Lucani.*
The following is Erichson’s plan of distribution of the Scara-
beeideous portion of the Laparosticti :—
A. Abdomen with six ventral semisegments.
a. Epimera of the metathorax free.
I, Guarnyripz. LEpimera metathoracis libera. Antenne
10 vel 9 articulate. 4bdomen segmentis ventralibus 6 liberis.
Genera Glaphyrus, Amphicoma, &c., with Aclopus, Er., and the
remarkable Australian genus Phenognatha of Hope, described
and figured in the fourth volume of our Transactions, p. 113,
pl. VI. fig. 5, as forming a natural transition to the Hybosoride.}
II. Hysosorips. Die fiihler 10-gliedrig. Die bauch-halbringe
mit Ausnahme des letzten, mit einander fast verwachsen.
Genera 1. HHybosorus, Macleay.
2. Silphodes, Westw., Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 160; Atimus,
De}. ; Pheochrus, Lap.t
3. Bailes Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 163.§
4, Dicraeodon, Erichson;|| Chetodus basalis, Westw.
Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 166.
* Notwithstanding the relations involved in the employment of Erichson’s
primary characters, I cannot but think that the views of Linnzus and Latreille, in
dividing the Lamellicorns into two groups, Scurabeus and Lucanus, are to be pre-
ferred to those of Erichson.
t Phenognatha appears to me to be much more nearly related to Pachypus,
which Dr. Erichson places in the family Melolonthide.
¢ Erichson adopts Laporte’s name for this genus. The names however of
genera, so slovenly characterized as not to be recognizable, are no better than MS.
or catalogue names, and must give way to names attached to correct detailed de-
scriptions and full accompanying figures.
§ Erichson hypercritically has altered this name to Coelodes.
|| The type of this genus is the insect which I described under the name of
Lamellicorn Beetles. 61
5. Apalonychus,* Westw. Trans, Ent. Soc. iv. 168
( T'richops, De}. Cat.).
III. Georrurint. Epimera metathoracis libera. Antenne
11-articulatae. Abdomen segmentis ventralibus 6.
Genera Geotrupes, Lethrus, Odonteus, Bolboceras, Athyreus.
Obs.—Ample details of the generic structure of the last three
genera are given in the plates illustrating my three papers on the
Athyrei and Bolbocerata in the twentieth and twenty-first volumes
of the Linnzean Transactions. Monographs of the genera Athyreus
and Bolboceras have also been published by Dr. Klug in the Nova
Acta.
(. Epimera of the metathorax concealed.
1V. Coprives. Antenne 9 vel 8-articulate. Abdomen seg-
mentis ventralibus sex connatis. Tibie postice calcare
singulo.
V. Arnopiipz. Antenne 9-articulatee. Abdomen segmentis
ventralibus 6 liberis. Tibia posticze spinis terminalibus
binis.
Obs.—The genera Euparia, Aigialia, Chiron, Ryparus, De}.,
Corythoderus, K)., and Chetopisthes, Westw., are assigned to this
family.
VI. Orpunipz. Antenne 10-articulate. Abdomen segmentis
ventralibus 6. Z%bie posticze spinis terminalibus binis.
Genera 1. Hypalus, De}. (Geobius, Brullé, Laporte, and Westw.
Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 1717).
2. Orphnus, MacLeay, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 175.
3. Triodontus, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 172.
4. Aigidium, Dej., Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 173;
and
5. Ochodeus, including Codocera, Eschsch. (Stomphaz,
Fischer ; Psephus, MacLeay, MS., Kirby and
Spence, Intr. i. 678),
B. Abdomen with five ventral semisegments.
“« Chetodus? basalis,” from a specimen ia Mr. Melly’s collection, of which the
head was wanting. Dr. Erichson, having perfect individuals from Peru, gives the
following as its generic characters: —‘‘ Dicraropon, Er. Mandibule extus acute
bidentate. Tibie graciles posteriores extus medio obsolete transversim carinate,
antice extus crenulate, apice acute bidentate. Unguiculi simplices.” Conspect.
Ins. Col. Peru, Arch. f. Naturg. 13 Jahrg. 1 Bd. i. 104.
* Erichson writes this name Hapalonychus.
t Erichson adopts Dejean’s uncharacterized name instead of Geobius, the latter
being previously used for a genus of Carabide by Dejean.
62 Mr. J. O. Westwood on
VII. Trocipx. (Metathoracis epimera obtecta. Antenne
clava globulosa perfoliata. Abdomen segmentis ventralibus 5.)
Thus divided :—
I. Die Augen ungetheilt.
A. Die Fihlerkeule einfach durchblattert.
Genera 1. Trox, F.
2. Omorgus, Er.*
3. Cryptogenius, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 169.
B. Das erste glied der fiihlerkeule napfformig, die folgenden
umschliessend.
Genera 1. Anaides, Westw., Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 167.
2. Chetodus, Westw., ib. 165.7
3. Liparochrus, Erichson (see post).
II. Die Augen durch den einspringenden Kopfrand unvollstandig
getheilt.
Genera. Spheromorphus, Synarmostes, Cloeotus and Acantho-
cerus, MacLeay. See Germar’s Memoir on these
genera in the Zeitschrift f. d. Entomol. iv.
This separation of the Geotrupide into two families, Geotrupide
and Hybosoride, and of the Trogide also into two families,
Orphnide and Trogide, is an evident improvement. I cannot
however but think that the variation in the number of segments
in the abdomen is a character of too slight importance to be em-
ployed as the distinctive mark of the higher divisions in families.
* Omorgus (Er. Arch. f. Nat. 13 Jahrg. 1 Bd. p. 111) is a dismemberment
from the genus Trox, characterized thus:—‘‘ Ligula prominula cornea. Palpi
labiales articulo 1mo longiore 2do. Mavzillarum mala interior uncis duobus corneis
armata, inferiore simplici, superiore bifido, Prothorax haud ciliatus:” it is
divided into two sections: A, with the scutellum hastate and the hind tibie un-
armed, Tr. squalidus, Ol. verrucosus, K, Australasie, Latr., &c.; and B, with the
scutellum oblong, and the hind tibiz armed with small spines. Six South American
species, one wingless, 77. bullatus, Curtis, the others winged, Tr. brevicollis, Er.
(leprosus, Dej.) &c.
Phoberus, MacLeay, (Hore Ent. i. 137,) founded on Tr. horridus, Fab., a
Cape of Good Hope species, is overlooked by Erichson in his list of genera of
Trogide. Itis described by MacLeay * scutello haud distincto.” The scutellum
is, however, distinct enough in two specimens in my Collection.
t The characters employed by Dr. Erichson to distinguish his primary divisions
and families are, I think, fully proved to be unsatisfactory and unnatural, when we
see Chetodus removed from Silphodes, Apalonychus, &c. (amongst Erichson’s Hy-
bosoride) and arranged far apart from the preceding in the family of Trogide.
A comparison of the structural details of Silphodes and Chetodus, given in plate XI.
of the fourth volume of our Transactions, will, I think, convince every one of the
extremely intimate relation of these two genera.
Lamellicorn Beetles. 63
The additions which I have now to make to my former memoir
belong to the last three of the subdivisional sections in the table
of the genera given in p. 158 of my former memoir, which termi-
nated with the genera Orphnus and 4 gidium.
Ocnopevs.
Ocnopaus, Megerle, MS., Dej. Cat. Ist ed. p. 56; St. Farg. et
Serv. Enc. M. x. 360; Mulsant, Lamellic. de France, p. 341 ;
Psephus, MacLeay, MS., Kirby and Spence, Introd. to Ent.
iii. p. 678; Codocera, Eschsch. Germ. Mag. iv. 397; Stom-
phax, Fischer, Entom. Imp. Russ. ii. p. 158; St. Farg. et
Serv. Enc. M. x. p. 501.
The 10-jointed structure of the antennz of this genus, men-
tioned in my previous paper (Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. p. 156), (con-
trary to the descriptions of St. Fargeau and Serville, Latreille and
Mulsant), has been confirmed by Erichson (Naturg. Ins. Deutsch.
p- 922). The structure also of the antennz, labrum, mandibles
and maxillz of the type O. chrysomelinus having been represented
in the same memoir, (pl. 12, figs. 3a, b, c, d, e,) it will only be
necessary in this place to notice the structure of the lower lip and
its various parts, the epimera of the metathorax, the tibial ungues,
and the ventral articulation of the abdomen, with the view of
showing its affinity with Orphnus and Agidium, as indicated in
my tabular arrangement of the genera (Trans. Ent. Soc. iv. 158),
and as given by Erichson as above mentioned in the family
Orphnide.
The number of species of Odonteus is small, five only having
yet been described. They appear however to be widely dis-
tributed, being found, according to Dr. Erichson (who mentions
his knowledge of five species), in all the quarters of the globe
except Australia. The following is a synopsis of all the species
hitherto described, with the addition of two new ones from my
own Collection :—
Sp. 1. Ochodeus chrysomelinus, Fabricius, &c.
Ovalis, subconvexus ; fulvus, supra setulosus; clypeo ad latera
bisinuato, capite et pronoto aspere granulosis, elytrisque
ciliatis his striato-punctatis, interstitiis punctatis ; femoribus
posticis subtus dente versus apicem parvo armatis.
Long. circ. lin. 2.
Habitat in Gallia, Germania, Austria, nec non in Albania.
(Dom. S. 8. Saunders. )
64. Mr. J. O. Westwood on
Sp. 2. Ochodeus rufus, Guérin-Méneville, Icon. R. An. Ins. p. 83,
pl. 225 fg.16.
«“ Trés voisine de l’Ochodeus chrysomelinus de Fabr.; mais elle
est un peu plus grande; tout son corps est d’un roux assez
vif, luisant ; l’extremité des mandibules, les yeux et le bord
antérieur du corselet sont bruns; la téte et le corselet sont
ponctués ; les elytres ont des points plus forts, avec une petite
strie prés de la suture, et quelques faibles traces de stries sur
le reste de leur surface; les pattes sont velues et ciliées, les
intermediaires et posterieures ont la jambe dilatée au bout et
terminée par une couronne de l’épines assez longues.”
‘“¢ Habite le Senegal.”
Mus. Guérin.
Sp. 3. Ochodeus miliaris, Klug, Col. Madagascar, p. 76.
“« O. brunneus ; capite thoraceque granulatis; elytris punctato-
striatis, in interstitiis elevato-punctatis.”
Long. corp. lin. 3.
Habitat Madagascar.
Mus. Reg. Berol.
Statura O. chrysomelini. Obscure brunneus, ferrugineo-pilosus.
Caput punctis elevatis scabrum; postice obsolete punctatum,
labro emarginato producto; mandibulis arcuatis, validis, intus
1-dentatis, antennis palpisque concoloribus. ‘Thorax ubique
confertim elevato-punctatus. Pectus vage impresso-punc-
tatum. Segmenta ventralia vix punctata, testacea. Scutellum
vage punctatum. Elytra punctato-striata, punctis magnis
impressis, in interstitiis punctis sparsis elevatis scabra. Pedes
concolores.
Sp. 4. Ochodeus lutescens, Westw. n. sp.
Luteus, obscurus; capite, pronoti medio postice scutelloque
brunneis, supra undique granulis minutissimis obsitus, et
luteo-setosissimus ; mandibulis porrectis, 5-dentatis, dentibus
regularibus.
Long. corp. lin. 4.
Habitat in India Orientali. D. Boys.
In Mus. Westwood.
O. chrysomelino multo major et magis depressus. Caput supra
planum, margine antico paullo elevato et porrecto, carina
semicirculari submarginali; tuberculisque duobus obliquis
Lamellicorn Beetles. 65
intus carinam. Labrum porrectum, lutescens, angulis rotun-
datis, in medio emarginato, longe setoso. Mandibule porrecte,
supra concave, lutescentes, singulo dentibus 5 castaneis
(apicali incluso) sensim majoribus, duobus apicalibus acutis.
Antennz pallide lutescentes, articulis 6 et 7 intus angulatis
setisque nonnullis instructis, clava ovali compressa. Prono-
tum transversum, margine postico curvato, luteum, opacum,
undique granulatum et luteo longe-setosum; regione ante-
scutellari brunnea. Scutellum elongato-triangulare, brun-
neum. Elytra late ovata, subdepressa, pronoto concoloria,
granulata et setosa, singulo striis novem punctorum, striis
2 et 3, e scutello, magis approximatis, duabus externis fere
obsoletis. Corpus infra cum pedibus lutescens,
Plate IX. fig. 1, Insectum magnitudine auctum; la, caput supra visum ;
16, labrum; 1c, maxilla ; 1d, instrumenta labialia; 1e, ungues tarsorum.
Sp. 5. Ochodeus pictus, Westw. n.sp. (Pl. IX. fig. 2.)
Niger, parum nitidus, pronoti angulis lateralibus anticis et
posticis elytrisque fulvis, horum humeris, fascia irregulari
media apiceque nigris, supra undique minutissime granulatus
parum setosus, mandibulis irregulariter dentatis.
Long. corp. lin. 33.
Habitat in India Orientali. (D. Boys.)
In Mus. Westwood.
Caput supra fere planum, utrinque ante insertionem antennarum
tuberculo elevato instructum, supra granulatum et parum
setosum. Labrum nigrum, lateribus luteis. Mandibule
nigree, dente apicali acuto, dentibus duobus parvis mediis,
supero (presertim in mandibula sinistra) fere obsoleto,
dentibusque duobus conjunctis basalibus. Antenne picee,
clava magna nigra, apice luteo. Pronotum nigrum granu-
losum, parum setosum, lateribus fulvis, colore fulvo in angulis
anticis et posticis in maculas magnas dilatato. Elytra brevia,
lata, subdepressa, minutissime granulata et parum setosa,
fulva, singulo striis novem punctorum. Podex, corpus infra
et pedes nigri, tarsis piceis.
Fig. 2, Insectum magnitudine auctum ; 2a, mandibula dextra ; 26, mandibula
sinistra ; 2c, maxilla; 2d, instrumenta labialia ; 2e, antenna.
VOL. Il. N.S. PART I1l1.—DEC. 1852. F
66 Mr. J. O. Westwood on
Sp. 6. Ochodeus bituberculatus, Erichson, Col. Peru, p. 111.
O. testaceus, testaceo-setulosus, fronte bituberculata, femoribus
muticis.
Long. prope lin. 3.
Habitat Peru.
In Mus. Reg. Berol.
Sp. 7. Ochodeus ferrugineus, Westw.
Lethrus ferrugineus, Eschscholtz in Mem. Acad. Sc. St. Petersb.
vi. 151.
Codocera ferrugineum, Germar, Mag. d. Ent. iv. 398.
Stomphax crucirostris, Fischer, Entomog. de la Russie, ii. p.
159, tab. 32, f. 1.
Magnitudo Aphodii fimetarii, at latior ; obscure fulvus, setosus ;
mandibulis elongatis, acutis, supra antice emarginatis apice
cruciatis ; antennarum geniculatarum articulo Imo magno,
valde hirto; oculis nigris, elytris striatis.
Long. corp. lin, 3.
Habitat Caucasus, and Teflis in Georgia.
This species was proposed as a genus to be placed among the Lu-
canideé by Fischer von Waldheim, near the genus G/salus, to which
it bears a strong analogy. Dr. Erichson, however, who had doubt-
less an opportunity of examining the insect, refers it to the present
genus, with the observation that it is “ einer art welche durch
langere, gerade, mehr vorgestreckte mandibeln von den tbrigen,
namentlich von dem allgemeiner bekannten O. chrysomelinus
abweicht und deshalb fir einen Lucaninen angesprochen wurde.
Irrthumlich ist von Fischer die fihlerkeule als 4-gliedrig be-
schrieben, und abgebildet, sie ist ebenso als beim O. chrysomelinus
gebildet von dem die obige art, ausser in der form der mandibeln,
keine erheblichere abweichung zeigt, als eine der vier anderen
mir bekannten arten.”
The three following additional new species are unique in the
Collection of M. Reiche, to whom I am indebted for an oppor-
tunity of describing them, and by whom the specific names adopted
below have been proposed.
Sp. 8. Ochodeus Americanus, n. sp.
Piceo-castaneus, nitidus, punctatus, luteo-setosus ; mandibula-
Lamellicorn Beetles. 67
rum margine interno 3-dentato, vertice carina transversa
media; antennarum clava lutea.
Long. corp. lin. 34.
Habitat in America Boreali.
In Mus. Reiche.
Individuis majoribus O. chrysomelini magnitudine equalis at
magis elongatus, coloreque obscuriori. Caput punctatissi-
mum, margine antico clypei magis elevato nitido et bi-angu-
lato. Mandibule supra concave, apice subacute, margine
interno tridentato, sinistra inter apicem et dentem primum
paullo producta; vertex carina tenui levi polita transversa
abbreviata notatus. Antenne lutescentes. Prothorax punc-
tatus, valde setosus. Elytra punctato-striata, spatiis inter
strias punctis minutis setigeris obsitis, punctis fere in lineas
tres longitudinales inter paria striarum dispositis. Pedes picei,
femoribus magis rufescentibus, tibiarum anticarum dentibus
duobus apicalibus magnis, 3tio basali minuto.
Plate IX. fig. 3, mandibule cum clypeo.
Sp. 9. Ochodceus luridus, n. sp.
Oblongo-ovalis, punctatissimus, luteo-testaceus, capite castaneo,
vertice tuberculis duobus inter oculos transverse positis, man-
dibula dextra dente 1, sinistra 2-dentata.
Long. corp. fere lin. 4.
Habitat in Mexico.
In Mus. Reiche. (An O. bituberculatus, Erich. ?)
Precedenti paullo major, et magis ovalis. Caput punctis parvis
obsitum. Clypeus sub-concavus, medio marginis antici recto.
Mandibula dextera apice acuto, denteque acuto in medio
marginis interni armata; sinistra dente acuto sub apicem,
cum incisione profunda ovali dente minori infero instructa ;
vertex carina transversa recta in medio interrupta, inter
oculos. Antenne lutescentes. Pronotum scabrum, punctis
numerossimis. Elytra striato-punctata, interstitiis inter
strlas punctis minutis setigeris triplici serie fere regulariter
ordinatis. Pedes lutescentes, tibiis anticis ut in specie pre-
cedenti formatis.
Plate IX. fig. 4, mandibulez cum clypeo.
Sp. 10. Ochodeus rugatus, n. sp. (Plate IX. fig. 5.)
Piceo-castaneus, elytris magis piceis, punctatus; capitis ver-
tice haud earinato, elytris profundius striatis, punctisque
majoribus insculptis ; tibiis anticis 3-dentatis.
F2
68 Mr. J. O. Westwood on
Long. corp. lin. 33.
Habitat in Nova Granada.
In Mus. Reiche.
Przcedenti magnitudine aqualis, at magis depressus et subinde
latior; rugositate elytrorum, tibiarumque anticarum struc-
tura primo intuitu e ceteris distinctissima. Caput supra fere
planum, profundius punctatum, haud carinatum; clypei mar-
gine antico haud angulato, subrotundato. Antenne picee,
articulo basali castaneo (clava deterita). Mandibula dextera
apice acuto, dente parvo acuto in medio marginis interni;
sinistra dente majori interno, incisione profunda media, mar-
gine infero incisionis haud in dentem producto. Prono-
tum convexum, punctis majoribus et magis distantibus in-
sculptum. Elytra profundius striata punctisque profundis
in striis dispositis, interstitiis inter strias rugosis, punctis
paucioribus setosis. Pedes piceo-castanel, tibiis anticis den-
tibus duobus zqualibus apicalibus, denteque 3tio minori
obtuso fere medio armatis.
Plate IX. fig. 5, Insectum magnitudine auctum; fig. 5a, caput supra visum
cum labro; fig. 56, mandibule; fig. 5c, maxille; fig. 5d, labium.
Obs. Ochodeus chrysomelinus habitat in Albania (Dom. S.
S. Saunders), nec non in India Orientali (Dom. Hearsey). Indi-
viduum Indicum in Mus. Reichei vidi cum nomine Ochodeus In-
dianus inscriptum, ex Europeis haud differre videtur. Alterum
amico Hearseio transmissum majus, dentibus mandibularum dis-
tinctioribus, elytrisque magis setosis, setis in seriebus quatuor
fere regularibus inter strias dispositis ; vix tamen species distincta.
Liparocnkrvus, Erichson. (Ranidia, Westw. MS. olim.)
This genus has been merely indicated by Dr. Erichson in his
distributions of the Z’rogide (above detailed) with the following
short note: ‘ Eine neue-hollandische gattung welche in der kér-
perform an Acanthocerus erinnert, aber nicht kugeln kann; die
hinteren schienen sind auch nicht schildférmig erweitert sondern
dick und mit borsten reihen besetzt: das erste glied der fihler ist
ebenfalls nicht erweitert und die augen sind nicht durchsetzt.”
(Naturg. Ins. Deutschl. p. 925.)
The following are the characters of this curious genus :—
Corpus breve, ovale, gibbosum, glabrum, nitidum ; capite parvo
inermi; prothorace elytrorum fere latitudine, Jateribus re-
flexis. Caput subquadratum, angulis anticis lateralibus rotun-
datis, margine antico parum reflexo. Labrum breve, trans-
Lamellicorn Beetles. 69
versum, integrum. Mandibule porrecte breves, basi lato,
interne in laminam tenuem producte, apice subfalcatee supra
versus apicem subemarginate. Mazille lobis duobus cori-
aceis, setosis, inermibus. Palpi maxillares satis breves,
articulo 2do et 4to longioribus. Mentum subquadratum,
valde setosum. Labium breve, transversum, in medio emar-
ginatum. Palpi labiales brevissimi, 3-articulati, in scapos
duos latiores insidentes. Antenne breves, 10-articulate,
articulo basali crasso setoso, tribus ultimis clavam subsemi-
globularem formantibus, articulo 1mo clave majori reliquis
duobus recipienti. Prothorax transversus, convexus, angulis
anticis porrectis, marginibus lateralibus parum reflexis. Scu-
tellum parvum, triangulare. Hlytra gibbosa, tuberculo hume-
rali prominenti. Pedes breves. Tibie anticee 3-dentate
basique externe denticulatze et calcari unico longo terminali
instructe. Tibie 4-postice extus sensim crassiores, subtri-
quetre, angulis serratis et setosis, calcaribus duobus longis
instructe. Jars? cum unguiculis simplices,
The general appearance of the species of this genus is very
similar to that of some of the more oval formed Acanthocerides,
but the eyes are not divided by a canthus at the sides of the head,
nor are the four hind tibize dilated; the clypeus is also much
more quadrate, and the first joint of the club of the antenne is
cup-shaped, receiving the second and third joints, which, especially
the last, is very much smaller than the first joint of the club. In
its structural details it approaches very closely to dnaides, Westw.
Trans. Ent. Soc. IV. Pl. XI. fig. 6, and details, and Hybosorus,
ditto, Pl. XI. fig. 1.
Sp. 1. Liparochrus geminatus, Westw. (Plate IX. fig. 6.)
Piceo-niger, nitidus ; capite transversim rugoso, pronoto et ely-
tris vage punctatis; his striis gracillimis per paria dispositis
impressis.
Long. corp. lin. 4.
Habitat in Nova Hollandia, prope Adelaidam,
In Mus. Westwood.
Caput subquadratum, angulis anticis lateralibus rotundatis,
supra subconvexum; margine antico parum reflexo, supra
transversim punctatum. Antenne et mandibulz castaneo-
piceze. Pronotum nigrum, nitidissimum, convexum, punctis
parvis vage impressum, lateribus parum reflexis, subcastaneis
et magis rugosis. Elytra convexa, nitida, sutura subcastanea,
70 Mr. J. O. Westwood on
parcius punctata, singulo striis 9 gracillimis, suturali impari,
reliquis per paria dispositis. Pedes nigri.
Fig. 6, Insectum magnitudine auctum ; 6 a, caput a latere visum; 6, clypeus,
mandibula, labrum et antenna; 6c, antenna; 6d, apex clave antennarum ;
6e, mandibula; 6f, maxilla; 6g, instrumenta labialia; 6h, tibia et tarsus an-
licus; 67, tibia et tarsus posticus.
Sp. 2. Liparochrus fossulatus, Westw.
Niger, capite punctatissimo obscuro, pronoto zeneo-nitido,
punctis minimis vage impresso, lateribus castaneis; elytris
nigris, nitidis, callositate humerali castaneo, striatis, striis dor-
salibus punctis magnis notatis.
Long. corp. lin. 4.
Habitat in Nova Hollandia, prope Adelaidam.
In Mus. Westwood.
Caput subquadratum, angulis anticis rotundatis, disco puncta-
tissimo. Mandibule et antenne piceze. Pronotum glaberri-
mum, punctis minimis vage impressum zeneum, lateribus
reflexis castaneis. Elytra nigra, nitidissima, singulo striis
novem, dorsalibus per paria dispositis, punctis magnis ovali-
bus parum profundis impressa. Pedes nigri.
Sp. 3. Liparochrus sculptilis, Westw. (Pl. IX. fig. 7.)
Piceo-niger, subnitidus, marginibus pronoti castaneis, undique
punctatissimus, punctis pronoti et elytrorum transversim plus
minusve confluentibus; elytris striatis, striis per paria dis-
positis, tibiis anticis 2-dentatis.
Long. corp. lin. 5.
Habitat in Novee Hollandiz partibus orientalibus, prope flu-
vium Mundarra dictum.
In Mus. D. Bond.
Przecedentibus duobus fere duplo major, minus convexus, sub-
nitidus, punctatissimus. Caput parvum, subquadratum, an-
gulis anticis rotundatis, punctis numerosis, distinctis et pro-
fundis impressum; vertice postice transversim elevato nitido,
vix tamen carinato. Maxille lobi interni apice in dentem
obtusum brevem producto, Pronotum punctis minutis ob-
longis transversis numerosissimis undique insculptum. Elytra
rotundata, dorso parum depressa, undique punctis minutis
curvatis plus minusve confluentibus, striisque novem simpli-
cibus longitudinalibus in singulo ornatis, per paria dispositis ;
suturali sola impari. Pedes picei, tibiae anticee ante medium
Lamellicorn Beetles. ra
parum dilatata, extus serrata, dentibus duobus apicalibus
tantum armatis.
Plate IX. fig. 7, Insectum magnitudine auctum; fig. 7a, maxillarum lobi api-
cales; fig. 7b, tibia antica.
Graresis, Frivaldszky, MS.
This is another remarkable genus, merely indicated by Dr.
Erichson, at the end of the Lamellicorn beetles, in the following
note: ‘‘ Der noch unbeschriebene gattung Glaresis, Friv., gehort
auch vermuthlich zu den Trogiden, ich habe zu indess noch nicht
naher untersucht. Ein merkwiirdiger kafer (Gl. rufa, Friv., aus
Ungarn), welcher in seinen Aeussern auch an Psammodius erin~
nert. Die fiihlerkeule ist sehr gross. Die mandibeln sind an
der wurzel breit, die spitze ist schmal und scharf. Die augen
sind vom erweiterten kopfrande halb durchsetzt. Der hinterleib
ist ganz hautig, von unten durch die verdickten hinterbeine
gedeckt. Die hinterschienen sind an der spitze hackenformig
velangert; die hinterfusse sehr kurz. Von den tbrigen T'rogiden
weicht diese gattung auch dadurch merklich ab, dass die beine
keine scharr,—sondern wirkliche Grabbeine sind.”—WNaturg. Ins.
Deutschl. Col. p. 925, note.
The following are the detailed characters of this little genus,
which, in the structure of the mouth, appears to me to approach
much nearer Orphnus and Aigidium than to Trogide. The struc-
ture of the antenne, mandibles and maxille clearly proves that
there is no real relation between this genus and Psammodius.
Corpus obovatum, antice angustius, convexum, setulosum. Caput
(fig. 8a), breve, latum, inerme, utrinque ante lobum oculos
secantem incisum, oculi septo semidivisi (fig. 8b). Cly-
peus brevissimus. Labrum breve, transversum, vix emargi-
natum, angulis lateralibus rotundatis, ciliatum. M/andibule
porrectze, corneze, extus rotundate hirsute, basi latiores,
dente acuto curvato terminate, intus ante apicem lobo lato
truncato, et incisione prope basin, membrana obsita, in-
structe (fig. 8c). Mazille elongate bilobate, lobis spinulis
seu ciliis robustis curvatis armatis, extus setis longis in-
structee. Palpi maxillares breves, articulo basali brevissimo;
ultimo crassiori elongato-ovale (fig. 8d). Mentum subqua-
dratum, antice paullo latius, valde setosum. Labium vix
productum, setis obtectum. Palpi labiales, breves, clavati,
articulo basali brevissimo, tertio magno subtruncato (fig. 8 e).
72 Mr. J. O. Westwood on
Antenne breves, 10-articulate, articulo Imo apice clavato,
2ndo robusto, 3—7 brevissimis oblique transversis, 8vo max-
imo reliquis duobus subincludenti (fig. 8f). Prothorax
transversus, capite latior, antice paullo angustior, lateribus
subrotundatis, angulis posticis acutis. lytra magna, con-
vexa, podicem tegentia, profunde sulcata, spatio angusto
inter sulcos elevato setoso. Pedes antici breves. Semora
crassa, tibia extus tridentate (fig. 8g). Pedes intermedii
graciles, tibia prope medium spinula parva armate (fig. 8h).
Pedes postici breves, femoribus valde incrassatis, tibiis bre-
vibus latis pone medium extus emarginatis, apice in lobum
crassum oblique truncatum producto (fig. 8 2).
Species unica. Glaresis Frivaldszkyi, Westw.
(P1. 1X. fig. 8.)
Glaresis rufa, Frivaldszky, MS.
Totus luteo-rufescens, opacus, pronoto subnitido, capite tenu-
issime punctato, pronoto punctato, sulco medio impresso,
elytrorum singulo 9-sulcato, spatio angusto inter sulcos
granulato et setoso.
Long corp. lin. 2.
Habitat in Hungaria.
Mus. Hope, nostr. &c.
Fig. 8, Insectum magnitudine auctum; 8a, caput cum mandibula dextra ;
8b, oculus septo semidivisus; 8c, mandibula; 8d, maxilla; 8e, mentum cum
palpis lateralibus ; 8f, antenna; 8g, pes anticus ; 8h, pes intermedius; 8%, pes
posticus.
The family Zrogzd@ has been further enriched with a new genus
by M. Mulsant, the distinguished Entomologist of Lyons, under
the name and character of
EREMAZUS.
‘‘ Pieds intermédiaires aussi rapprochés que les autres a leur
naissance. LEcusson visible. Elytres embrassant l’abdomen dans
son pourtour, et cachant le pygidium. LEpistome tronqué en
devant. Labre transverse; débordant faiblement l’epistome, et
laissant a découvert la majeure partie des mandibules, qui sont
cornées. Antennes insérées au devant des yeux, sous un faible
rebord de la téte: a premier article hérissé de cils. Yeux trés-
rétrécis en dessus par les joues et par le front, faiblement visibles
prés des angles de devant du prothorax ; celui-ci non sillonné.
Lamellicorn Beetles. 73
Palpes maxillaires 4 dernier article plus long de tous, rétréci de la
base a l’extremité. Ventre moins long que les deux derniers
segments pectoraux. Cuisses renflées. Jambes de devant forte-
ment tridentées au cé6té externe. Tarses rétrécis 4 partir de
Yextremité du premier article ; celui-ci en triangle allongé. Ongle
unique. Corps suballongé.
‘“‘ Les insectes de cette coupe, par la forme de leurs corps, se
rapprochent des premiers Pleurophorates, dont ils s’éloignent par
la grosseur de leurs cuisses. Ils ont plus d’analogie avec les
Psammodiaires, et semblent servir 4 unir ceux-ci aux Trogidiens.”
It is to be regretted that M. Mulsant has omitted to describe
the form of the scutellum, and to state whether the elytra are
soldered together, or whether the insect is winged, as well as to
describe the structure of the mandibles, maxilla, mentum, and
labium ; so that, in the absence of these particulars, we are quite
unable to determine the precise affinities of the genus.
The genus consists of a single species.
Eremazus unistriatus, Mulsant, Proceed. Acad. des Scienc.
Lyon, 13 February, 1851.
“« Suballongé et subparallele; d’un fauve obscur sur la téte et
sur le prothorax, plus pale et plus roussdtre sur les elytres:
celles-ci rayées d’une strie naissant du calus, et offrant posté-
rieurement les traces de deux autres stries.”
Long. corp. 14 lin.; lat. 2 lin.
Habitat Algeria.
I take the opportunity of adding two further communications
having reference to the previously-published Memoir upon these
Lamellicorn insects, with which I have been also favoured by M.
Reiche, of Paris.
Orphnus Verreauxii, Reiche. (Westw. in Trans. Ent. Soc. IV.
p: 179.)
M. Reiche informs me that this insect is the true Scarabeus
Corydon, Olivier, Ent. n. 227, t. 28, f. 245; Oliv. Abb. Sturm.
i. p. 113, n. 227, t. 52, f. 4; Schonherr, Syn. Ins. i. p. 15.
Scarabeus Silenus, Jablonsky, Nat. S. ii. p. 87, n. 70, t. 10,
£2.
Scarabeus Rhinoceros minor, Voet, Col. t. 18, f. 119, ed. Panz.
fips 9; mn. 219.
74 Mr. J. O. Westwood on Lamellicorn Beetles.
Triodontus Owas, Reiche, MS. (PI. IX. fig. 9.)
Castaneo-piceus, nitidissimus leevis, capite cornu erecto armato,
pronoto antice retuso, 6-dentato, elytris striisque longitudina-
libus gracillimis vix punctatis.
Long. corp. lin. 7.
Habitat in Madagascar.
In Mus. Reiche, Parisiis.
Tr. nitidulo (Westw. Tr. Ent. Soc. IV. 173) triplo major, pro-
notoque magis armato. Caput semicirculare, nitidum, leeve,
margine antico parum elevato; vertice cornu valido erecto
armatum. Mandibule acutissimz, singula dentibus duobus
marginis interni acutis (in dextera magis approximatis.)
Maxille lobo supero dentibus duobus validis curvatis acutis
armato; lobo infero etiam bidentato. Pronotum leve, niti-
dum, antice valde retusum, in medio dentibus duobus con-
tiguis alterisque duobus in utroque latere, margine postico
nec non basi elytrorum serie transversa impressionum profun-
darum. Elytra leevissima, nitida, singulo striis 9 gracillimis
vix punctatis notata. Pedes castanei.
Plate IX. fig. 9, Insectum magnitudine auctum ; fig. 9a, mandibule ; fig. 96,
maxillarum lobi apicales; fig. 9c, antenne.
COVES")
XII. Contributions towards the Natural History of British
Microlepidoptera. By J. W. Dovetas, Esa.
[Read Sth July, 1852.]
Unper this title I propose to give a descriptive account of the
early state of our native Tineid@ as the particulars may from time
to time be discovered, accompanied by illustrative figures from
the pencil of Mr. William Wing.
When the importance of such a labour is considered, with respect
to the natural history and determination of species, the facility of
acquiring rare species by a knowledge of their habits and food as
larvze, and also with reference to the wide field there is for re-
search, I trust I may be pardoned for entering on such an extensive
arena, and for requesting, as I now do, to be furnished with ex-
amples of such larvee as may occur to collectors. I am also not
without hope, that seeing how much light is thrown upon the
species of our smaller moths by such investigations as these, our
collectors will direct more attention to larvee than they have hitherto
done, and rival our brethren of France and Germany.
While it will thus be seen that the elucidation of the natural
history of species is the intention of these memoirs, it may also
probably happen, although I see no reason to give the first place
to characters derived from larvae, that some assistance may be
derived therefrom towards deciding difficult points in the generic
association of species.
Genus Getecuia, Zeller.
At a cursory glance the three species, Gelechia contigua, blan-
della, and fraternella, might easily be taken for varieties of one:
the difference between contigua and blandella appears to be more
one of colour than of marking, and fraternella comes so near to
contigua that at first it was placed as a variety of it. That these
are three good and distinct species will now be satisfactorily
shown, and it is hoped that no long period may elapse before the
distinctness of G. marmorea, junctella, maculiferella, and Hiibneri,
species also very similar to each other, may be as decidedly made
out by the discovery of the earlier states of each.
If in the month of March we walk by the side of a hedge where
Stellaria holostea grows, we may observe that many of the terminal
shoots of the plant are drawn up and frequently discoloured; if
we investigate more closely the cause of these appearances, we
shall find that the leaves are drawn together by a small whitish-
76 Mr. J. W. Douglas’s Contributions towards the
yellow larva with pink stripes, which devours them from within :
later in the season, towards the middle of April, we may notice
the flower shoots drawn together in the same way, and on opening
them we generally find that the young buds have all been de-
voured, and the excrements of the voracious larva left in their
place. All this is by G. contigua.
If we examine the same plant early in May we shall again find
the young shoots drawn together, but no longer by the same larva.
We now meet with a pale greenish-yellow larva, without any pink
stripes: and later, when the seeds are nearly ripe, we find, on
opening the capsules, that many of them contain the same greenish-
yellow larva, nearly full fed. This is G. blandella. The S. holostea
has thus its young shoots devoured by two enemies, one of which
afterwards leaves them for the flower buds, while the other takes
to the seeds.
At the beginning of April, if we bring our eyes near the ground
in places where Stellaria uliginosa grows, and push aside the grass
or withered leaves that may cover it, we shall find the young
shoots, many of them hardly an inch above the ground, but
instead of being of a regular form as healthy shoots should be,
they are knobbed and twisted in a very singular way: each of them
contains a dirty brown Lepidopterous larva. It may seem incredible
that this should be the larva of so scarce a species as G. frater-
nella, for a glance around will show us it is evidently no rarity,
but it is the habit of the perfect insect to keep very quiet, and
hence it is rarely seen; whereas, judging from the abundance of
contorted shoots of the S. uliginosa, there are few insects more
plentiful.
Gelechia contigua, Haworth, Douglas. (Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. V.
p. 196.) .
Larva (Pl. X. fig. 1).—Length 4 lines.—Robust; pale dull
whitish, with a greenish-yellow tinge, and with many short hairs
placed in rows. Head black, second segment black above, with
a slight pinky line in the centre; a pink stripe down the centre of
the back, on each side of which are two other stripes of the same
colour, that nearest the centre being broader than the other and
wavy ; a still slenderer line of the same colour just above the legs.
On the top of each segment after the second are four smal] black
dots, the two anterior ones, on the central segments, being nearer
to the dorsal] stripe than the two posterior; a row of black dots
on the side between the second and third pink stripes, and another
row above the legs, one dot being on each segment: on the third,
Natural History of British Microlepidoptera. 77
fourth, and last segments these dots are placed nearly in a trans-
verse line. Six pectoral legs black, eight ventral and two anal
legs the colour of the body.
This larva, the discovery of which is due to Mr. Stainton, is
found, generally full grown by the middle of April, in the young
terminal shoots of Stellaria holostea (fig. 1a), the leaves of which
it agglutinates and twists into a habitation, in and on which it
feeds, removing therefrom and forming other similar dwellings as
occasion requires.
Pupa (fig. 1 b).—Brown, with a short anal spine; formed on the
ground within a cocoon spun by the larva, to which small particles
of earth, &c. adhere.
Imago (fig. 1c).—Appears in June and July.
Gelechia blandella (Fischer v. R.), Zeller, Douglas. (Trans, Ent.
Soc. Vol. I. (N. S.) p. 246.)
Larva (PI. X. fig. 2).—Length 4 lines.—Light greenish-yellow.
Head black, second segment black above, with a fine white central
line, and asmall black dot on the side. Each of the other segments
bears six very small black dots, whereof four are on the back, placed
as in G. contigua, and one on each side, from each of them pro-
ceeds a short hair: there are also some minor dots, one or two on
each segment lower down on the side forming a row: more or less
visible according to the age of the larva. Six pectoral legs
brownish, the first pair are darker than the other two pairs, the
eight ventral and two anal legs are of the colour of the body.
Feeds at first on the young shoots of Stellaria holostea, the
leaves of which it draws together just like G. contigua. It after-
wards feeds upon the seeds of the same plant (fig. 2a) within the
capsules, and is full grown about the middle of June. These par-
ticulars were discovered by Mr. Stainton.
Pupa.—Like G. contigua and fraternella, and formed in a
cocoon.
Imago (fig. 2c).—Appears in July.
Gelechia fraternella, Douglas. (Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. I. (N.S.)
p- 101.)
Larva (Pl. X. fig. 3).—Length 4 lines.—Robust, light dirty
brown, with many short dark hairs, placed in rows. Head small,
black ; second segment black above, with a fine central white line;
four black dots with a white pupil, on the back of each of the
other segments, the posterior two being further from the centre
than the anterior two, especially on the middle segments, being on
78 Mr. J. W. Douglas’s Contributions towards the
the third, fourth and last disposed more in a transverse line ; on
the side is a row of black dots, one on each segment, and another
similar row lower down above the legs. Six pectoral legs black,
eight ventral and two anal legs the colour of the body. |
Found from the beginning of April to the middle of May on
the young shoots of Stellaria uliginosa (fig. 8a), the leaves of
which it fastens together, making a habitation in which it lives and
eats, and from which it removes and forms another as often as the
supply of food becomes exhausted. Unlike its congeners, it is
very dull and inactive in its movements.
Pupa (fig. 3 b).—Brown, with a short anal spine ; changes from
the larva on the surface of the ground, within a cocoon of earth
and small fragments of vegetable matter.
Imago (fig. 3c).—Appears in July. I described this species in
the Transactions of this Society (Vol. I. (N.S.) p.101) from a
specimen taken in Mr. Stainton’s hedges, but now, compared with
a bred specimen, the colours are dull and faded.
First the perfect insect and then the larva were discovered by
Mr. Stainton at Lewisham, and I found the latter at Penge and
West Wickham.
Genus Cortrornora, Zeller.
The larvee of this genus are singularly interesting. They make
cases, which in the several species differ greatly in form and colour;
in these they live and literally move, for they carry them about
throughout the whole period of their existence. ‘They feed on
the leaves of plants, subsisting on the parenchyma, to obtain
which they partially emerge from their cases, and thrust their
bodies into leaves between the cuticles, often so far that but a
small portion remains in the case, but they appear to have no dif-
ficulty in returning. As they grow they enlarge their cases by
adding portions of the leaves of the plant upon which they feed,
the sutures of the pieces joined on usually remaining visible ;
they also have the power of forming entirely new cases. As might
be expected from these larvee having to carry such cumbersome
cases, their movements are not very active, and in some instances
are very grotesque. When full-fed they turn round in their cases,
after having made the mouth-end fast, and then become pupe ;
and when they assume the perfect state, the pupa skin does not
project from the case, but remains within, so that it frequently
happens to the collector that he takes cases fastened up, but from
which the tenant has escaped.
Natural History of British Microlepidoptera. 79
The habits of the perfect insects are very retired, and it is
quite possible for a species to be in abundance in a locality, and
yet never be seen; the larvee, however, cannot so easily escape
observation, for from their mode of feeding, ingenious though
it seems, and apparently likely to retard their discovery, they
are in fact readily detected. The larva attaches its case to the
underside of a leaf, and penetrating the lower epidermis, feeds on
the parenchyma. The case is out of sight, under the leaf, the
larva is partly in the case, partly in the leaf, thus also out of sight;
but by eating the parenchyma, it discolours the upper surface,
which at that spot appears white, yellow or brown, or at any rate
of a different colour from the rest; so soon therefore as we ob-
serve this discoloration of the leaf, we turn it over, and there, fast
to the underside, find the case of the larva.
The three species of Coleophora here mentioned have been dis-
covered within the last few years.
If in February or March we look in a hedge-bottom where
Glechoma hederacea grows, we shall frequently find white blotches
on the leaves, and under these leaves the long brown cases of
albitarsella.
If early in May we search the Centaurea migra, we may per-
chance find some transparent pale brown blotches, caused by the
larvee of Alcyonipennella; it does not appear nearly so generally
distributed as albitarsella.
If in April we examine the Stellaria holostea, we may observe
many plants in which half the leaves have become white ; this is
the work of solitariella, the cases of which will be found attached
to the undersides of the leaves.
Coleophora albitarsella, Zeller. (Linn. Ent. IV. p. 378.)
Larva case (Pl. XI. fig. 1)—Length 5 lines.—Black, cylin-
drical, slightly curved, brownish and flattened at the apex, and
there produced on one side into a thin projecting structure like
a keel or the blade of an oar ; a slightly raised suture also extends
along the same side the whole of the remaining length of the case.
The margin of the mouth is slightly expanded.
Larva (fig. 1 a).—Length 33 lines.—Dull, greenish white, a few
fine hairs at each extremity; head pale brown; second segment
pale brown above, the anterior margin still paler, a faint light line
down the centre; third segment with two large black spots, divided
by a pale line; fourth segment with two oval black spots; there
is also a black dot at the side of the second, third and fourth seg-
80 Mr. J. W. Douglas’s Contributions towards the
ments, and a quadrate black patch on the anal segment. Six
pectoral legs slightly brownish, eight ventral and two anal legs
concolorous with the body.
The larvze feed on Glechoma hederacea growing in hedges and
shady places, adhering to the underside of the leaves, and betray-
ing their presence by the white spots made by the extraction of
the parenchyma (fig.1 6). They are hatched in summer, and feed
till quite late in the autumn, and are again found active in March,
which is the best time to take them, for although they feed till
May, they are not easily seen when the plant has grown up.
Imago (fig. 1 c).—Appears in June and July.
This species was exceedingly rare in England until Mr. Stain-
ton found the larve.
Coleophora Alcyonipennella, Kollar, Zeller. (Lin. Ent. IV.
p: 208.)
Larva case (Pl. XI. fig. 2).—Length 4 lines —Black, with a
whitish line along the side, cylindrical, straight, behind the mouth
abruptly and shortly curved, the apex triangular.
Larva (fig. 2a).— Length 3 lines. — Dull whitish-yellow, a
few fine hairs at each extremity. Head black or black-brown ;
second segment black above, with a fine white line in the centre,
and a black spot on each side; third segment with a long, black,
transverse, posterior spot, at each end of which, but anterior, is a
somewhat oval black spot, and a small dot below; fourth seg-
ment with two black spots on each side; anal segment with a
black patch. Six pectoral legs whitish, annulated with brown ;
eight ventral and two anal legs the colour of the body, the latter
pair with a slight spot of black.
This larva feeds on the leaves of Centaurea nigra in April and
the beginning of May, causing the appearance of white spots (fig.
2b). It was discovered last year at Birkenhead by Mr. C. S.
Gregson, and this year I took it at Sanderstead and Lee.
Imago (fig. 2 c) appears in June.
Coleophora solitariella, Zeller. (Lin. Ent. LV. p. 397.)
Larva case (Pl. XI. fig. 3).—Length 4 lines.—Straight, slender,
three-fourths of the circumference dull brownish-grey ; the other
fourth whitish, with a very fine raised suture on each portion ;
apex whitish, triangular; mouth widened, and just behind it the
case is curved obliquely.
Larva (fig. 3a).—Length 33 lines. —Pale dull ochreous.
Head light brown; second segment dark brown above, with a fine
Natural History of British Microlepidoptera. 81
white line down the centre, anterior margin pale, at the side a
black dot; third segment with two posterior, triangular, brown
spots divided by a fine white interval ; anteriorly and towards each
side is a pointed black dot, and a black dot on each side; fourth
segment with two black dots somewhat removed from the centre,
and on the side one similar black dot; the anal segment with a
nearly quadrate black patch, and a small black dot at the base of
the short anal legs. Six pectoral legs pale brownish, eight ven-
tral and two anal legs the colour of the body. Feeds on the
leaves of Stellaria holostea (fig. 3b), which thereby become dis-
coloured.
Last autumn Messrs. Grant and Dunning found several of the
cases at Putney on Stellaria holostea, and the larva lived through
the winter. In April this year, Mr. Stainton discovered the
larvee on the same plant growing in hedges at Lewisham. The
specific name has proved to be singularly inappropriate, for the
larvee are quite gregarious, five or six being commonly seen on a
shoot of the plant Scellaria: but they are difficult to rear.
Imago (fig. 3c) appears in July. Zeller described this species
from a single specimen bred from a case found by him attached
to grass; it is very rare in collections in this country.
XIII. Notes on the Development of Osmia parietina, and
other British Insects. By F. Smiru, Esa.
[Read August 2nd, 1852.]
In the ninth volume of the ‘“ Zoologist’” I published some account
of the habits of Osmia parietina, a little bee which had selected
the under side of a stone on which to affix the balls of pollen on
which to deposit its eggs. This stone was discovered in early
spring on the Grampian Hills, near Perth, too early in the
season for any of the brood to have issued from the cocoons. At
the time of its discovery about one-third of the cocoons were
empty, showing that at least that portion of the mass had been
developed during the previous season. The only difficulty was
this—had the parent bee or bees deposited on the same stone two
successive seasons? ‘The stone came into my possession in the
autumn of 1851; and in the month of November, finding that a
number of the cocoons were still unopened, I cut one or two in
such a manner that I could raise as it were a trap-door and watch
the progress of the bees. All that I opened contained larve.
After closing them, and carefully preventing the admission of air,
VOL. Il. N.S. PART UI.—DEC. 1852. G
82 Mr. F. Smith’s WVotes on the Development
I left them undisturbed until the month of April of the present
year. I found them at that time still in the larva state, in which
they remained until the beginning of June, when they changed to
pupee. On the fourth of July a male came forth, and subse-
quently a female. ‘The rest perished in the cocoons during my
absence in the country, having been exposed to the intense heat
of the sun. This was a matter of little consequence; an impor-
tant discovery had been made. A portion of the deposit of eggs
made in 1849 had been three years in arriving at their perfect
development. It were vain, in my opinion, to attempt to account
for the circumstance. In the first instance, the whole mass of
eggs had been subject to the same influences, and had produced
larvee, some of which had become perfect bees in 1850—others in
1851,—leaving about twenty-five out of 230, about the original
number, to be developed in 1852. This, I believe, is the first
instance on record of such a circumstance occurring in the aculeate
Hymenoptera, although numerous instances have, I believe, been
observed in other orders. I have before noticed the non-deve-
lopment of numerous individuals out of a quantity of the larve of
Anthophora retusa during the first season; and any one who will
examine a colony of Anthophora in the month of November will
find both larvee and perfect insects. Circumstances such as I have
recorded may serve in some measure to account for the abun-
dance or scarcity of certain species during different seasons; but
I must confess myself quite unable to advance any opinion as to
the cause of this arrest of development.
I feel that I am justified in stating 1849 as the time when the
deposit of eggs took place, and I believe it to have been made by
several bees using the same spot for that purpose. It is clear that
in 1850 about one-third were developed, and a portion having
been retarded until 1852, I think it a fair presumption that the
whole deposit was made in the same and not in successive seasons.
In the month of March last I observed that many young shoots
of the aspen, in Turner’s Wood, Hampstead, were much swollen,
at distances varying from four to six or eight inches apart,—on
splitting them, I found a channel, varying from three to four inches
in length, up the middle of the stick; at the extremity of which
was either the larva of a longicorn beetle, or that of some dipterous
insect ; in one or two instances I found the dipterous larva within
the dried skin of that of the longicorn; the dipterous larve were
as ten to one of that of the longicorn. From these shoots, which I
kept exposed to all the vicissitudes of the weather, during the first
week in May the flies began to appear, and proved to be Tachina
of Osmia Parietina and other British Insects. 83
nitidula. The longicorn Saperda populnea did not appear until
the second week in June.
Many Entomologists, like myself, must have observed towards
the end of summer those little cartridge-like rolls on the leaves
of young oaks in woods, &c. and have understood them to be the
production of Attelabus curculionoides ; my impression was, that if
so, they were formed by the larvee of that insect as a nidus, in
which to undergo their transformations. I have now succeeded
in satisfying myself that I was mistaken in this particular,— they
are formed by the perfect insect. I found these leaf-rolls in great
numbers in Yorkshire, in July, also the perfect insect; and,
although I did not observe them in the act of rolling them, still,
on unrolling many recently formed, I found an egg of a yellow
colour.
Last year, in the month of September, I found the leaf-rolls
very abundant in a wood near Hampstead, and collected as many
as would fill a half pint measure ; after opening about twenty, all
of which were empty, I found one containing a full-grown larva.
I placed the rest in a flowerpot, on mould, Jeaving them exposed
to the weather until the month of April, when I covered the pot
with fine net, and about the middle of the month of May, I had
several specimens of Attelabus developed, but a much larger num-
ber of a species of Chalcididous insect, which will probably in
some measure account for the small number of Aéttelabus deve-
loped, as compared with the number of cases collected. I found
on digging into the mould that the larva had buried itself to
undergo its transformations.
Last year, 1851, in the month of May, I observed numbers of a
little wood-boring beetle, Scolytus destructor, busily engaged in
burrowing in the bark of an elm branch. In autumn I cut off a
portion, in order that I might observe their transformations; on
examining the progress of the insect in April following, I found
the beetle still in the larva state. At the extremity of every sixth
or eighth gallery formed by the Scolytus, I observed a small
Hymenopterous larva. About the end of May the beetles began
to appear, and also a number of a small Chalcididous insect,—
Cheiropachus quadrum.
From another piece of wood, containing the larve of Ptilinus
pectinicornis, 1 bred numbers of another parasite, also belonging
to the Chalcididea,—Caloseter vernalis.
I have also, again, bred specimens of a species of Hyleus from
G2
84 Mr. F. Smith’s Notes on Osmia Parietina.
a bramble stick ; the larvee were five in number, placed at about
half a line apart, without any separation constructed between
them, in fact exactly agreeing with the description which I pub-
lished of Hyleus signatus five years ago; but, as far as I know,
it was Mr. Thwaites who first proved the Hylei to be working
bees, and the subsequent observations of myself, and also of Mr.
S. Saunders, have confirmed his observations, made in 1841. The
species which I have bred this year is my own, Hyleus hyalinatus.
XIV. Descriptions of some new Species of the Coleopterous
Family Pausside, with a Synopsis of the Family. By
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., F.L.S.
[Read 2nd August, 1852.]
Havine already on several occasions brought under the notice of
the Entomological Society the very remarkable insects composing
the family Pausstde@, I should have hesitated in again doing so
were not the additions which I purpose describing in the present
paper of considerable importance. ‘The description of a single
species, and that not even a novelty in science, may, it is true, be
rendered most worthy of attention when treated by a Reaumur, a
Lyonnet or an Audouin, but the zoological, technical descriptions
of a few isolated species can scarcely expect to obtain notice. In
the present instance, however, although so short a time has elapsed
since I published a revised and extensively-illustrated Monograph
of the Pausside in the second volume of my ‘‘ Arcana Entomolo-
gica” (1845, containing fifty-three species), together with the
addition of ten new species subsequently described in our Trans-
actions and Proceedings, and seventeen new species in the Pro-
ceedings of the Linnean Society, I am able by the exertions of
several friends to extend the limits of the family still further; and
now that the natural habits of the insects have been discovered,
there is likely—to use a very poor pun—to be no pause in the
discovery of new species of Pausside. Major Champion, for
instance, discovered several specimens belonging to two distinct
new species under a single stone at Hong Kong, and Mr. Benson
found so many specimens of P. Parrianus in their natural haunts
at the Cape of Good Hope, that he was able at leisure to watch
their habits in detail. (See Trans. Ent. Soc. vol. v. p. 30.)
The species recently described, and those now for the first time
noticed, form portions of collections made by different collectors
in various parts of Asia, Africa and Australia. Of these a consi-
Mr. J.O. Westwood’s Descriptions of the Pausside. 85
derable number from the Port Natal country were communicated
to me by the late A. Melly, Esq., who received them from the
Royal Museum of Berlin. Others from the same locality were
contained in the fine collection recently sold by auction in this
country, and four of the new species, also from Natal, described
in the present paper, have been communicated to me recently by
Herr Dohrn, the worthy President of the Entomological Society
of Stettin. Among the insects from Angola recently arrived in
Paris were also several fine species now in the collection of the
Marquis de la Ferté-Senectere, who kindly forwarded them to me
for description. M. Deyrolle has also obtained another species
from the same country, and three species have been received from
Eastern Africa (Abyssinia and Nubia). Several fine species from
South Australia have been sent me by C. A. Wilson, Esq., one
of them being the largest insect in the family, and which I have
inscribed with his name. I have also given descriptions of three
species collected at Hong Kong by J.C. Bowring, Esq., and
Major Champion, now deposited in the British Museum. The
fine series of species formed in India by Captain Boys, several of
which were described by him in the Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal, was also placed in my hands for examination by that
gentleman previous to his again quitting England for India, by
which means I was able to determine the species. Dr. Bacon’s
Collection also, which contained several species described by Mr.
Benson in M‘Clelland’s Calcutta Journal of Natural History for
1845, was also submitted to me for examination previous to its
sale to M. Deyrolle. Captain Boys’ collection was sold by auc-
tion, but his types were purchased by various English collectors,
chiefly Messrs. Melly, Hope and Saunders.
In addition to the recent notes on the habits of these insects,
which I have published in the ‘“* Arcana Entomologica” and
Transactions of the Entomological Society, those of Dr. Benson
published in our Transactions, vol. v. p. 30, and those of Herr
Guenzius, published in the Stettin “ Zeitung,” 1851, p. 227, of
which a translation was given by Mr. Douglas in our ‘ Proceed-
ings,” 1851, p. 105, Mr. Bowring has favoured me with the fol-
lowing particulars relative to the captures of the three species
near Hong Kong, which correspond very nearly with what has
been elsewhere observed of the habits of these insects, leading to
the conclusion that the number of the species is very much greater
than has hitherto been supposed, the rarity of the specimens (and
it is a remarkable circumstance that at least half the species are
known only by single individuals) being caused by their obscure
underground habits.
86 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Descriptions of some
Mr. Bowring observes that “all the three species were originally
discovered by Major Champion (a very zealous entomologist, who
has formed considerable collections both in the neighbourhood
of Hong Kong and in Ceylon) on Victoria Peak, under stones
in the nests of a minute species of ant, the whole being found in
one morning, two specimens of one and three of another species
being taken under the same stone; and on a subsequent occasion,
while entomologizing on the same mountain with that gentleman,
I was fortunate enough to capture a pair of the species named by
him P. sinicus, also in an ant’s nest. Major Champion had pre-
viously mentioned to me that he thought he had observed some-
thing like crepitation in this insect; and in the present instance
this was confirmed, for on the capture of one of the specimens I
distinctly heard a noise resembling the ticking of a watch, and my
finger was immediately discoloured as by the discharge of a Bra-
chinus. Considering the locality where these insects are found, it
does not appear probable that they are lignivorous, as has been
supposed, and further observation will no doubt prove their affi-
nity to the carnivorous Carabide. The pair I took I kept alive
for some time, but without discovering their proper food. I am
indebted to the liberality of Major Champion for specimens of the
remaining two species, of which one is unique.”
The opportunities recently afforded me of determining the
synonymy of several of the species, have induced me to give a
complete list of the family, thereby showing the great increase
which it has undergone since the last summary which I published
in 1845. The number of species now known is not less than
eighty-five, one or two only of which are doubtful. Of these six
are now for the first time described.
The folloning Synopsis of the Family embraces all the Species
described up to the present time (November, 1852).
Family PAUSSID, Westw.
Genus 1, Crraprerus, Swederus.
Subgenus 1. Ceraprervs proper.
1. Cerapterus latipes, Swederus, Kongl. Vet. t. 9, 1788, p. 203,
pl. 6, f. 1; Westw. Linn. T. t. 16, p. 669, —t. 18, p. 382;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 6, pl. 49, f. 1; Mac L. Ann. South Afr.
pl. 4, fig. inf. sinistr. Ceylon.
2. Cerapterus Horsfieldii, Westw. Linn. T. 16, p. 672,—18, p. 583;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 7, pl. 49, f. 2; Mac L. Ann. So. Afr.
pl. 4, fig. sup. dext. Java.
10
13.
14,
New Species of the Coleopterous Family Pausside. 87
. Cerapterus quadrimaculatus, Westw. Linn. T. 18, p. 583; Are.
Ent. 2, p. 7, pl. 49, f. 3. Java.
Subgenus 2. Ortuorterus, Westw. Ent. Mag.
Cerapterus (Orthopterus) Smithii, Mac Leay, Ann. So.. Afr.
p- 74, pl. 4, fig. sup. sinistr.; Westw. Linn. T.18, p. 583;
Ent. Mag. 5, p. 502; Are. Ent. 2, p. 7, pl. 49; f. 4:
South Africa.
. Cerapterus (Orthopterus) concolor. Westw. Proc. Linn. S. 19
June, 1849. Vix C. Smithi var. Natal.
. Cerapterus (Orthopterus) La-Fertei, Westw. Proc. Linn. S. 19
June, 1849. Gambia.
Subgenus 3. Arruroprerus, Mac Leay.
Cerapterus (Arthropterus) Wilsoni, Westw. Proc. Linn. S. 19
June, 1849. Adelaide.
. Cerapterus (Arthropterus) Mac-Leaivi, Donovan, Ins. N. Holl.
pl. 3; MacL. Ann. So. Afr. pl. 4, fig. inf. dext.; Westw.
Linn. T. 16, p. 672,—18, p. 384; Ent. Mag. 5, p. 503;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 8, pl. 50, f. 4. New Holland.
. Cerapterus (Arthropterus) parallelocerus, Westw. Proc. Linn,
Soc. 5 Nov. 1850, and in Annals Nat. Hist. 7, p. 491
(1851). Australasia.
. Cerapterus ( Arthropterus) brevis, Westw. Proceed. Linn. Soc.
5 Nov. 1850, and in Annals Nat. Hist. 7, p. 491 (1851).
Australasia.
. Cerapterus (Arthropterus) Hopi, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 8,
pl. 50, f. 5. New Holland, Port Philip, &c.
. Cerapterus (Arthropterus) subsulcatus, Westw. Proc. Linn. S.
19 June, 1849. King George’s Sound.
Cerapterus (Arthropterus) denudatus, Westw. Proc. Linn. S.
19 June, 1849. New Holland, near River Mundarra.
Subgenus 4. PHymatoprerus, Westw. Ent. Mag.
Cerapterus (Phymatopterus) piceus, Westw. Ent. Mag. 5, p. 503;
Linn. Tr. 18, p. 5845; Arc. Ent..2, p. 9,pl. 50, f. 3.
Cerapterus Mac-Leaii, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. 2, p. 95, pl.
10, f. 7. New Holland.
Subgenus 5. Homorrerus, Westw.
. Cerapterus (Homopterus) Brasiliensis, Westw. Linn. T. 18, pl.
88 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Deseriptions of some
38, £.Cos “Are. Ents 2, p.0F pl.100 a aes Corcovado
Mountain, near Rio Janeiro.
Subgenus 6. PrevroprEerus, Westw.
16. Cerapterus (Pleuropterus) Westermanni, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2,
p- 9, pl. 50, f. 1. Java, Ceylon.
17. Cerapterus (Pleuropterus) alternans, Westw. Proc. Linn. S.
19 June, 1849. Mozambique and Natal.
18. Cerapterus (Pleuropterus) hastatus, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc.
19 June, 1849. Mozambique.
Genus 2, CreratopEerus, Westw. Proc. Linn. S. 1 June, 1841;
Trans. Ent. Soc. 5, p. 23.
19. (1.) Ceratoderus bifasciatus, Kollar in Ann. Wien. Mus.
1826, t. 31, f. 7a, b (Paussus b.) Westw. Trans. Ent.
Soe. ii. 91, pl. 10, fig.3; Proc. Linn. S. 1 June, 1841;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 87, pl. 58, f. 1. Ind. Orient.
Genus 3. Merismoprerus, Westw.
20. (1.) Merismoderus Bensoni, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. vol. 5,
p. 23, pl. 2, £ 2.. Cab. Orient. Ent. p.184; plage
4, Ind. Orient.
Genus 4. Pentartatarturus, Westw. Linn. Trans. v. 16.
21. (1.) Pentaplatarthrus Paussoides, Westw. Trans. Linn. S. 16,
pl. 33, f. 1—14; Are. Ent. pl. 2, p. 38, pl. 58, f. 2.
Var. Pentaplatarthrus Natalensis, Mus. Berol.
South Africa, Natal.
Genus 5. Lesioperus, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soe. v. ii.
22. (1.) Lebioderus Gori, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. ii. pl. 9, f. 8;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 39, pl. 58, f. 3. Java.
Genus 6. Hytororus, Dalm.
23. (1.) Hylotorus bucephalus, Gyllenhal in Sch. Syn. Ins. 1, p.
3, App. p.15, pl. 6, fig. 2; Dalm. Anal. Ent. p. 103;
Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 10, p. 654; Arc. Ent. 2, p.
40, pl. 58, f. 4. Sierra Leone.
Genus 7. PLatyruopatus, Westw. Trans. Linn. S. v. 16.
24. (1.) Platyrhopalus denticornis, Donov. Ins. Ind. pl. 5, f. 1
Paussus d.); Westw. Trans. L. S. v. 16, p. 657, tab.
ti,
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
New Species of the Coleopterous Family Pausside. 89
33, f. 43—48,—v. 19, p. 50; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 77, pl.
68, f. 1; Burmeister, in Guér. Mag. Zool. 1841, Ins.
pl. 76, f. 2. Ind. Orient.
(2.) Platyrhopalus Westwoodu, Saunders in Trans. Ent. Soc.
ii, 84, pl. 10, fig. 5; Westw. in Trans. Linn. Soc.
19, p.51; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 78, pl. 68, f. 2. Ind. Orient.
(3.) Platyrhopalus intermedius, Benson in M‘Clelland’s Cal-
cutta Journ. Nat. Hist. 1845; Westw. Trans. Ent.-
Soc. 5, p. 25. Ind. Orient.
(4.) Platyrhopalus angustus, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 78, pl. 68,
f. 3; Boys in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal. n. ser. n. 54,
sp. 2.
Platyrh. suturalis, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 161, and see p.
190, note, pl. 88, f.1, la. Ind. Orient.
(5.) Platyrhopalus acutidens, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p.
66) pl. 38) fig.50 —19, p. 51; Are. Ent: 2; p. 79:
Ind. Orient.
(6.) Platyrhopalus unicolor, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16,
p: 659; Arc. Ent. i. p. 79.
Paussus denticornis, Megerle, Il. Mag. 3, p. 113, not. ;
Gyllenhal in Schénh. Syn. Ins. 1, part iii. App. 14,
tab. 6, f. 1,—p. 19, No. 5.
An var. Pl. denticornis, Donovan ?
Ind. Orient.
(7.) Platyrhopalus Mell, Westw. Trans. Linn. S. 16, p. 685 ;
Trans. Ent. Soc. 2, pl. 10, f.4; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 162,
pl. 88, f. 2; Guérin, Icon. R. An. Ins. pl. 40, f. 11.
Malabar.
(8.) Platyrhopalus aplustrifer, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16,
p- 664, pl. 33, f. 51; Arce. Ent. 2, p. 163, pl. 88, f. 3.
Bengal.
Genus 8. Pavssus, Linn.
Sect. A. Prothorax quasi bipartitus.
Subsect. a. Antennarum clava postice haud excavata.
(1.) Paussus microcephalus, Linnzus, Dissert. big. Ins. tab.
ann. f.6—10; Afzelius, Trans. Lin. Soc. vol. iv. pl. 22,
f. 1—5 ; Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 631, pl. 33,
f.21; Arc. Ent. 2, p.169, pl. 88, f.4. Africa Occid.
tropic.
90 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Descriptions of some
33. (2.) Paussus Jousselinii, Guérin-Ménéville, Revue Zool., No.
2, p. 21. Rangoon.
34, (3.) Paussus Linnei, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 634, pl.
33, fig. 22—24; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 170, pl. 89, f. 3. ——?
35. (4.) Paussus Burmeisteri, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. ii. p. 86,
pl. 9, f. 35 Ave. Ent./2,.p. 171, pl. 89; f. 2. Cap.
Bon. Spei.
36. (5.) Paussus rufitarsis, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 638,
pl. 33, f. 25—27; Are. Ent. 2, p. 172, pl. 89, f. 4.
Paussus Baconis, Benson in McClelland’s CalcuttaJourn.
of Nat. Hist. 1845, n. 1; Westw. in Trans. Ent. Soc.
5, p. 24. Ind. Orient.
37. (6.) Paussus pilicornis, Donovan, Ins, Ind. pl. 5, f.4; Westw.
Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 643, pl. 33, f. 34; Arc. Ent.
2, p. 173, pl. 89, f. 1. 9 Bengal.
38. (7.) Paussus Sinicus (Champion, MS.), Westw. Proc. Linn.
Soc. 19 June, 1849. Hong Kong.
39. (8.) Paussus granulatus, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc. 19 June,
1849. Natal.
40. (9.) Paussus Humboldtii (Dohrn. MS.), n. s.
P. prothorace bipartito, antennarum clava postice haud exca-
vata, piceus, elytris metasterno et ventre castaneis; nitidus,
capite levi, vertice in tuberculum crassum conicum, apice
obtusum producto, antennarum clava crassa, ovali, glabra,
basi oblique truncata et supra in cornu breve conicum paullo
curvatum sensim producta, disco supra et infra convexo,
apice rotundato, margine antico acuto, postico vero rotun-
dato; palpis maxillaribus articulis 2, 3 et 4 sensim magni-
tudine decrescentibus; labialibus filiformibus gracilibus,
articulo ultimo longissimo; prothorace capite vix longiori
sed evidenter Jatiori; in partibus duabus magnitudine et
latitudine fere zqualibus diviso, partis anticae margine antico
fere recto, angulis lateralibus rotundatis, lateribusque obli-
quis, disco transversim elevato et in medio paullo depresso,
fossula media transversa profunda, partis posticz lateribus
rotundatis, disco in medio longitudinaliter subdepresso ;
elytris latis, vage punctatis et breviter luteo-parum setosis ;
pedibus mediocribus, tibiis compressis ; podice plano, margine
tenui elevato.
Long. corp. lin. 5.
Habitat in Natalia. In Mus. Dohrn.
New Species of the Coleopterous Family Pausside. 91
41, (10.) Paussus Turcicus, Fridvaldszky in Hungar. Trans. v. 2
42
43
44
4.5
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
(1835), pl. 6, f. 5; Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. 2, p.91;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 174, pl. 88, f. 5. Turkey, Balkan
Mountains.
Subsect. b. Antennarum clava postice excavata.
Divis.* Species Asiatic.
. (11.) Paussus tibialis, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 19, p. 47;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 174, pl. 90, f. 1. Bengal.
. (12.) Paussus fulvus, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 19, p. 47;
Are. Ent. 2, p.175, pl. 90, f. 3. Ind. Orient.
. (13.) Paussus Stevensianus, Westw. in Trans. Linn. Soc. 19,
p. 48; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 176, pl. 90, f. 2. Ind. Orient:
. (14.) Paussus hystrix (Champ. MS.), Westw. in Proc. Linn.
Soc. 19 June, 1849. Hong Kong.
. (15.) Paussus Boys, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 177, pl. 92, f. 2,
and pl. 90, f. 6.
Paussus, No. 6, Boys in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal. N.S.
No. 54, p. 433, tab. ann. f. 6. Ind. Orient.
» (16.) Paussus denticulatus, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 179, pl. 92,
fA; and pl..90,.f. 17.
Paussus, No, 1, Boys in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, N.S.
No. 54, p. 426, tab. ann. f. 1. Ind. Orient.
. (17.) Paussus Bowringu (Champ. MS.), Westw. in Proc. Linn.
Soc. June 19, 1849. Hong Kong.
. (18.) Paussus politus, Westw. in Proc. Linn. Soc. June 19,
1849. Ind. Orient.
- (19.) Paussus Nauceras, Benson in M‘Clelland’s Calcutta
Journal, Nat. Hist. 1845; Westw. in Trans. Ent. Soc.
5,p.25. Ind. Orient.
. (20.) Paussus phloiophorus, Benson in M‘Clelland’s Caicutta
Journal, Nat. Hist. 1845; West. in Trans. Ent. Soe.
5, p. 25. Ind. Orient.
. (21.) Paussus Jerdani, (Hope, MS.) Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc.
5, p. 26, pl. 2, f. 1; Cab. Orient. Ent. p. 84, pl. 4],
f. 5. Ind. Orient.
Bh $56
. (22.) Paussus thoracicus, Donovan, Ins. Ind. pl. 4, fig. 2;
Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 640, pl. 33, f. 28—
30; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 180, pl. 90, f. 4.
92 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Descriptions of some
Paussus trigonicornis, Latreille, Gen. Crust. &c. iil. p. 3,
pl. 11, fd.) IndsOrient.
54, (23.) Paussus Fichtelii, Donovan, Ins. Ind. pl. 4, f.3; Westw.
Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 641, pl. 33, f. 31—33; Are.
Ent. 2, p. 181, pl. 90, f. 5, 8, 9; Saunders in Trans.
Ent. Soc. ii. p. 83, pl. 9, f.1; Boys in Journ. of Asiat.
Soc. Bengal. N.S. No. 54, p. 429 and tab. ann. fig. 4
and 5. Ind. Orient.
Divis. ** Species African.
55. (24.) Paussus excavatus, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 637,
pl. 33, f. 60—61; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 182, pl. 91, f. 2.
Paussus crepitans, Dupont, MS. Senegal.
56. (25.) Paussus Audouini, Westw. n. sp.
P. prothorace subbipartito, antennarum clava postice excavata;
totus piceus, subleevis, parum nitidus, punctis minutissimis se-
tulosis vagis; capite subquadrato, antice in medio angulato-
emarginato, vertice convexo, punctis duobus profundis inter
partem anticam oculorum, inter se et oculos aquidistantibus ;
antennarum clava capite majori, oblonga, apice rotundato,
fere plana, margine postico parum crassiori oblique excavato,
excavatione in fossulas sex divisa, margine supero-postico
recto, infero-postico parum sinuato, disco punctatissimo ;
pronoti parte antica capite e quarta parte latiori, lateribus
recte angulatis, disco postice elevato, in medio autem im-
presso ; parte posticae praecedenti fossula profunda setosa se-
parata, angustiori, capite fere equali; breviter cordato-trun-
cata, in medio profunde impressa, lateribus in discum angu-
Jato-elevatis, medio postice in lobos duos ovales elevato ;
elytris pronoti parte antica latioribus, postice sensim paullo
latioribus, apice recte truncatis, podice levi plano, margine
omni tenui elevato luteo-setoso; pedibus latis, valde com-
pressis, tibiis fere triangularibus, palpis maxillaribus articulo
2ndo ovato compresso; corpore infra nigro, metasterno et
ventre rufis, hujus segmento ultimo nigro.
Long. corp. lin. 3.
Habitat in Benguela Africze occid. tropicalis.
In Mus. Jekel, Parisiis.
57. (26.) Paussus ruber, Thunberg, Act. Holm.1781, p. 170, n. 1;
Afzelius, Trans. Linn. Soc. 4, p. 272; Westw. Trans.
Linn. Soc. 16, p.635; Trans. Ent. Soe. 2, p. 81, pl. 9,
f.5; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 183, pl. 91, f.1. Cap. Bonz Spei.
New Species of the Coleopterous Family Pausside. 93
58. (27.) Paussus cucullatus, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc. 19 June,
1849. Natal.
59. (28.) Paussus cochlearius, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. 2, p. 88,
pl. 9, f.6; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 183, pl. 91, f. 3. Cap. Bonz
Spei.
60. (29.) Paussus Dohrnii, West., n. sp.
P. prothorace bipartito, antennarum clava postice excavata ;
totus fusco-castaneus, elytris magis castaneis, setulis brevis-
simis luteis sparsim obsitus; capite convexo, antice punc-
tato, emarginato, inter partem anticam oculorum spina conica
obtusa armato, collo angusto Jevi; antennarum clava sub-
ovata, utrinque convexa, tenuissime punctata, setosa, basi
supra in spinam obtusam producto, apice parum angustato et
recurvo, margine supero excavato, marginibus canalis parum
sinuato-undatis, discoque prope marginem sulcis 4 obliquis ;
palpis maxillaribus subincrassatis ; pronoti parte antica ele-
vata lata punctata, lateribus rotundatis, medio marginis ejus
postici parum impresso; parte postica e pracedenti canali
profundo intus luteo-setoso separata, medio profunde im-
presso, lateribus elevatis glabris, utrinque spina brevi armato;
elytris latis, subconvexis et suboblongis, punctatis, apice
oblique truncato; pedibus sat gracilibus, tibiis subcylindricis,
calcari tibiarum brevissimo; corpore infra concolore, tenuis-
sime punctato.
Long. corp. lin. 33.
Habitat in Natalia Africze Orientalis. In Mus. Dohrn.
61. (30.) Paussus Chevrolatu, Westw. n. sp.
P. prothorace bipartito, antennarum clava vix postice exca-
vata, totus brunneo-rufus, fascia lata media elytrorum nigra,
coriaceus subopacus ; capite et pronoto punctis minimis ely-
trisque punctis majoribus setiferis ; capite supra fere plano;
fossulis duabus parvis rotundis inter partem anticam oculo-
rum, margine antico clypei fere recto acuto, angulis anticis
rotundatis; antennarum clava oblonga paullo curvata, dimidio
basali depresso, apicali magis convexo, margine antico fere
recto acuto, apicali rotundato, acuto, postico inter basin et
medio sat profunde emarginato; puncto profundo, prope
angulum subobtusum basalem externum, carinaque acuta e
puncto versus medium disci extensa et emarginature para-
lella; palpis maxillaribus articulo 2ndo maximo fere rotundo,
subdepresso, 3tio et 4to parvis subeequalibus; palpis labia-
libus articulo basali minuto, 2ndo rotundato, 3tio magno
94 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Descriptions of some
ovali, apice suboblique truncato; prothorace oblongo, angulis
lateralibus partis anticee capite latioribus obtusis, parte pos-
tica capitis latitudine; fossula profunda media oblonga utrin-
que ad basin luteo-setosa, carinaque parva longitudinali
utrinque notata; elytris capite multo latioribus, humeris
rotundatis; pedibus gracilibus elongatis.
Long. corp. lin. 2.
Habitat in Abyssinia. In Mus. Chevrolat.
62. (31.) Paussus Parrianus, Westw. in Trans. Ent. Soe. 5, p. 29,
pl. 2, f. 3. Cap. Bon. Spei.
63. (32.) Paussus Germari, Westw. n. sp.
P. prothorace bipartito, antennarum clava elongata subensata,
canali tenuissimo longitudinali in margine supero (vel postico) ;
supra testaceus, obscurus; elytris (basi excepto) nigris ; totus
granuloso-coriaceus; capite antice subquadrato, clypeo in
medio emarginato, disci medio longitudinaliter late impresso,
carinis duabus lateralibus elewatis, alteraque transversa
postica, utrinque inter oculos tuberculo elevato oblongo-
ovali punctoque postico connexa; antennarum clava valde
compressa, sub-elongata, ensem brevem curvatam simulante,
basi supra in spinam brevem producto, margine supero in
canalem vix distinctum excavato; disco sublzevi; palpis
maxillaribus articulo 2ndo maximo, valde dilatato, duobus
apicalibus minutis subaequalibus ; pronoti parte antica capite
vix latiori; lateribus subangulatis, carina subacuta media
transversa, in medio interrupta, ibique longitudinaliter im-
pressa, biloba; parte postica angustiori e precedente canali
profundo transverso separata, lateribus in discum in tubercula
dua angulata nigra nitida elevatis; medio fossula longitudi-
nali centrali impresso ; elytris oblongis, pronoto multo latio-
ribus, sub lente granulatis subopacis nigris, basi obscure
testaceis, singulo sulcis quinque longitudinalibus parum pro-
fundis, setulis minimis luteis obsitis; corpore infra rufo-
piceo, nitido; pedibus subelongatis, haud dilatatis, parum
compressis, brevius setosis, tibiis ad apicem sensim paullo
angustatis, calcari minuto armatis, piceis, tibiis tarsisque magis
rufescentibus.
Long. corp. lin. 3.
Habitat in Natalia. In Mus. Dohrn.
64, (33.) Paussus Schaumii, Westw.
P. prothorace bipartito, antennarum clava elongata subensata,
canali tenuissimo longitudinali marginis postici; fulvus, sub-
New Species of the Coleopterous Family Pausside. 95
laevis, paullo nitidus, elytris nigris; capite antice angustiori,
margine antico in medio emarginato, disco longitudinaliter
impresso, punctis duobus profundis inter oculos ; pone oculos
in collum sensim angustato; antennis et palpis ut in P. Ger-
mari: pronoto capite latiori, parte antica e collo sensim
latiori, lateribus obliquis rectis, disco elevato, in medio bilobo,
parte postica preecedente latiori subquadrata glaberrima, e
preecedenti sulcis duobus profundis obliquis Juteo-setosis
separata; lateribus in discum oblique elevatis, fossula centrali
longitudinali parum profunda et postice abbreviata; elytris
elongatis, fere parallelis, pronoti parte postica haud multo
latioribus, humeris valde declivibus ; nigris basi fulvis subni-
tidis, tenuissime punctatis et luteo-breviter setosis ; corpore
infra fulvo-castaneo nitido, pedibus ut in P. Germari for-
matis; podice glaberrimo, margine omni elevato.
Long. corp, lin. 28.
Habitat in Natalia. In Mus. Dohrn.
65, (34.) Paussus Klugii, Westw. Trans. Ent. Soc. 2, p. 85, pl. 9,
f.2; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 183, pl. 91, f.4. Cap. Bon. Spei.
66. (35.) Paussus Latreillu, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 184, pl. 91,
f.5. Sierra Leona, Senegal.
Sectio B. Prothorax subcontinuus.
Subsectio a, Species Africane.
67. (36.) Paussus spherocerus, Afzelius, Trans. Linn. Soc. 4,
p- 270, pl. 22, f. 2—6; Sturm. Catal. Ins. Sammi. pl. 4,
f 81; Westw: Trans. Linn.’ Soc. 16, pl. 33, f. 35;
Arc. Ent. 2, p. 184, pl. 92, f. 3. Sierra Leona.
68. (37.) Paussus armatus (Dej.), Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16,
p. 645, pl. 33, f. 62—64; Trans. Ent. Soc. 2, p. 89;
Are. Ent:2, p> 185, pl. 93, f. 1.
Paussus cornutus, Chevrolat in Guérin, Mag. Zool. Ins.
pl. 49. Africa Tropic. Occid.
69. (38.) Paussus cilipes, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 185, pl. 93, f. 3.
Sierra Leona.
70. (39.) Paussus A’thiops, Blanchard in Régne Animal, ed. Cro-
chard, Ins. pl. 61, f. 8; Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 186,
pl. 93, f. 6. Nubia.
71. (40.) Paussus verticalis, Reiche in Append. Voy. Abyssinie
de Galinier, p. 390, Zool. pl. 24, f. 5, 5a. Abyssinia.
72. (41.) Paussus dentifrons (Dej.), Westw. Trans, Linn. Soc. 16,
96
84.
Mr. J.O. Westwood’s Descriptions of the Pausside.
p- 662, pl. 33, f. 68—70; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 186, pl. 93,
f. 4. Senegal.
. (42.) Paussus curvicornis, Chevrolat in Silberm. Rev. Ent. 4,
p- 263; Guérin, Icon. Régne An. Ins. pl. 40, f. 8;
Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 187, pl. 93, f. 5.
Paussus cornutus, var. Chevrolat,in Guérin, Mag. Zool.
No. 49, fig. la, 2, 2a. Senegal.
. (43.) Paussus spinicoxis, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc. June 19,
1849. Natal.
. (44.) Paussus cultratus, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc. June 19,
1849. Natal.
. (45.) Paussus setosus, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc. June 19, 1849.
Guinea.
. (46.) Paussus levifrons (Dej.), Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16,
p- 661, pl. 33, fig. 65—67; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 187, pl. 92,
f. 4. Senegal.
. (47.) Paussus Shuckardii, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 187, pl. 92,
f. 5. Africa Austral.
. (48.) Paussus lineatus, Thunberg, Act. Holm. 1781, p. 171,
pl. 3, f. 4, 5; Fabricius, Syst. Eleuth. 2,75; Westw.
Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 647; Arc. Ent. 2; p. 188;
pl. 94, f. 1. Cap. Bon. Spei.
. (49.) Paussus affinis, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 646, pl.
33, f. 36, 37; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 188, pl. 94, f. 2. ——?
. (50.) Paussus Faviert, Léon Fairmaire in Ann. Soc. Ent.
France, 2 ser. t. 10 (1852), p. 76, pl. 3, f.4. Tangier.
Subsect. b. Species Asiaticze.
. (51.) Paussus cognatus, Westw. Arc. Ent. 2, p. 189, pl. 94,
f. 3. India Orient.
. (52.) Paussus Hearseianus, Westw. Proc. Linn. Soc. April 19,
1842; Boys in Journ. Asiatic. Soc. Bengal, N.S.
No. 54, p. 422 (No. 31), tab. ann. f. 3; Westw. Arc.
Ent. 2, p. 189, pl. 94, f. 4. Ind. Orient.
(53.) Paussus Hardnicki, Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. 16, p. 649,
pl. 33, fig. 39, 40; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 189, pl. 94,45;
Eoys in Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, N.S. No. 54, p. 4:34
(No. 8), and tab. ann. f. 8. Nepaul, Almorich.
. (54,) Paussus Saundersii, Westw.; Arc. Ent. 2, p. 190, pl. 94;
f. 6. India Orient.
Cer Qe)
XV. On the Identification of the yet undetermined Species
of Microlepidoptera, mentioned in the ‘“ Mémoires” of
Réaumur. By J. W. Dovauas, Esa.
[Read 4th October, 1852.)
Tue Memoirs of Réaumur and De Geer contain a fund of useful
information respecting the food, times of appearance, and habits
of insects, but as in neither work the species bear scientific names,
an unassisted reader is rather doubtful what particular species are
alluded to. The determination of such species of Tineid@é as our
present knowledge enables us to make will therefore be interest-
ing to the Micro-Lepidopterist of the present day, though many
species will still remain unrecognized.
The progress that has been made in the investigation of these
small tribes, since the publication in the “ Isis,” 1838, of Zeller’s
elaborate review of the Lepidoptera mentioned by Réaumur, en-
ables us to correct many errors into which he fell from the then
deficient state of knowledge.
In order to make fully intelligible the following notes on Réau-
mur’s observations on Lepidopterous larve mining in leaves of
plants, it was necessary to translate the whole of those which
occur in his first memoir of the third volume. The accuracy of
these notices, and the fact that they are nearly unknown to English
collectors, would be additional reasons, if any were required, for
occupying therewith so much valuable space.
Special reasons are given, in some instances, for coming to
a conclusion different from that at which Zeller arrived, in 1838.
Zeller’s Memoir was the result of an offer by the ‘Isis von
Oken” of a prize for the best discriminative essay on the subject
of the Lepidopterous insects in Réaumur’s works; of those sub-
mitted in competition, it obtained the first place; and it is very
desirable to follow up, from time to time, as our knowledge in-
creases, a work so well begun.
The idea of so doing is due to Mr. Stainton, who also has fur-
nished rough notes of the following matter, which his present
avocations have not left time for him to put into form, a work I
have endeavoured to do, at his request, adding here and there a
few remarks.
Réavumur, Vol. 3, Mem. I.
On tue LARvV# WHICH MINE IN THE LEAVEs oF PLants.
* Of all kinds of caterpillars which live in the interior of some
VOL. Il. N. S. PART IV.—MARCH, 1853. H
98 Mr, J. W. Douglas on the
parts of plants, the smallest are those which find sufficient accom-
modation in the interior of leaves, and even in the thinnest. These
insects insinuate themselves and form paths between the upper
and under skins of the leaves, where they are well sheltered ; they
mine in the fleshy substance of the leaf and loosen the paren-
chyma; no rubbish from the space that they enlarge inconve-
niences them; they eat all that they loosen, and so their labour
answers two purposes; for at the same time that they are en-
larging their habitation they are procuring their food.
‘*The insects which mine in leaves, though small, are easily
found. One needs only to see the outside of a leaf, to know
whether there is a mining larva within; though green and healthy
every where else, itis dried up, yellowish, whitish, or at least of a
different hue from the rest, at the places which the insect occu-
pies, or has inhabited. The form of these mined places shows us
that these insects have three different ways of conducting their
labours in the interior of leaves. Some form only narrow, long,
and tortuous galleries, the forms of which are extremely irre-
gular; others, wishing to have more room, mine irregular, ob-
long, larger places; and others, which when young have mined
in galleries, when full grown mine in large patches.”
Note.—Those larve living in galleries are all, as far as we are
at present informed, of the genus Nepticula; possibly T'rifurcula
also mines in galleries, but that is not yet ascertained, no species of
the latter genus having been bred. The gallery of a Nepticula may,
I believe, be always distinguished from that of a Dipterous larva
by the excrement forming an uninterrupted line; in the galleries
mined by Dipterous larvae, the excrement is scattered here and
there, as may be easily seen in the leaves of buttercup, holly,
honeysuckle, meadowsweet, &c. &c.
‘“‘ Although the class of insects which mine in leaves has as yet
(1737) been little observed, it already includes a great number of
species. There are few trees or plants, if there are any, that are
not attacked by some mining larva. There are even miners of
different species in the leaves of the same plant or tree; and we
see not only the different leaves of an apple tree, but even one
leaf of the same tree, mined both in galleries and blotches. Pro-
bably the same tree furnishes food to gallery-miners and blotch-
miners of several species.”
Note.—I have in one apple leaf observed several larvae of each
of the three species, Lithocolletis Pomifoliella, Cemiostoma scitella
and Nepticula ......?
“Tt is sometimes difficult to perceive in what these species of
such small insects differ from each other; besides, it is not cer-
Identification of Réaumur’s Microlepidoptera. 99
tain that the insects that mine in the leaves of different plants are
always those of different species. Yet, as miners of different
species and different genera feed in the same leaf, it is very pro-
bable that there are as many or more species of insects mining in
leaves, as there are species of trees and plants.”
Note.—It is true that this is not certain, but excepting in the
ease of closely allied plants, the probability is that each species of
plant nourishes a different species of moth.
“The greater part of these mining larve live entirely alone ;
each gallery and blotched place being the habitation of only a
single larva, which has no communication with those of other in-
sects of the same or different species, though made in the same
leaf. There are, however, leaf miners, which having passed a
large portion of their life in solitude, meet when the period of
their metamorphosis approaches. After living till then in narrow
galleries, they wish for more spacious dwellings, and mine to-
gether in blotches. It is not difficult to find oak leaves, before
the end of spring, in which are several narrow and tortuous gal-
leries, which all converge and terminate in a whitish blotch, which
is sometimes half as large as the leaf (Coriscium substriga). The
upper epidermis of this leaf has been loosened by several little
caterpillars, for which it forms a closed tent, under which they
eat the fleshy substance of the leaf without fear of interruption ;
at first they had each lived separately in narrow paths.
There are also miners which from their birth are in companies
of twenty or thirty in the same blotch, which they enlarge daily as
they feed. Such societies are found in the leaves of lilac (Gra-
cillaria Syringella) ; the caterpillars are white and smooth; they
have six true legs, but no prolegs; their anal segment helps them
to walk, and serves as a seventh leg.”
Note.—It is only when young that the larve of Gracillaria
Syringella have no prolegs; when fully grown, they have fourteen
legs, as other larvee of the genus.
** Among the mining caterpillars, it is easy to recognise the cha-
racters of two different classes; there are some with sixteen legs ;
others have only fourteen legs, having only six ventral prolegs ;
the first pair of prolegs is only separated from the last pair of
true legs by two segments without legs. Probably there are
several other classes.
“ Among the mining larvee, some, except in size, are very
similar to ordinary smooth caterpillars; but others have the seg-
ments more marked, more indented than those of ordinary cater-
pillars ; the bodies of some, and especially the posterior portion,
seem composed of beads, threaded like those of necklaces. The
H2
100 Mr, J. W. Douglas on the
anterior segments are more flattened; the second or third is
the broadest of all; hence it follows that the anterior portion of
the body forms a kind of isosceles triangle. The second segment
of some seems widened by two appendages, portions of spheres
that have been added on each side; this may be observed in the
larva which mines the leaves of the rose in blotches. But what
appears most remarkable is, that one seems to perceive on each
of those parts that extends beyond the others a fissure which can
only be a stigma or organ of respiration; thus these stigmata
are placed much nearer the middle of the back than in ordinary
caterpillars.”
Note.—The breadth of the second and third segment is very
striking in most of the larve of the genus Lithocolletis.
Note.—The larva which mines the leaves of the rose in blotches
is unknown to me. Coleophora Lusciniepennella, it is true, makes
blotches on the leaves, but so accurate an observer as Réaumur
would never have mistaken a Coleophora for a miner; and it is
remarkable that he repeatedly mentions this rose miner, and in
one place states that there are no shrubs on which blotch miners
are more common than the roses; this larva was an incognita to
Zeller, in 1838, and still remains lost to us. Whether the species
be really extinct, or only wants looking for, time must prove.
But although we do not know this species, I think we know what
is intended by the widening of the anterior segments by an ap-
pendage like a portion of a sphere, for in a larva mining the
leaves of black thorn, the black head deeply set into and working
up under the wide and pale next segment, imparts thereto its own
colour, and makes the rounded sides of this segment, which pro-
ject beyond the sides of the inserted head, look like semi-spherical
appendages.
‘‘ All these mining larvee have a tender, transparent, and smooth
skin, but all are not of the same colour; the greater part, how-
ever, are whitish, or greenish white; some are of a pale flesh
colour, and others of a deeper flesh colour, approaching to red.
‘There are also a great many species which are of a beautiful
yellow, resembling the colour of amber: this is the colour of the
blotch miners of the apple tree (no doubt Lithocolletis Pomifoliella,
the colour well agrees) and also of the gallery-miners in the leaves
of the bramble (Nepticula aurella). A blotch miner of rose-
leaves, already mentioned, is of a greyish olive. Commonly, these
colours are not clouded, varied and combined by spots and rays
as are those of many caterpillars which feed on leaves. However,
we find in the leaves of the goose-foot and orach a larva mining
in blotches, which, if as large as common caterpillars, might be
Identification of Réaumur’s Microlepidoptera. 101
put among the well-coloured ones. The ground colour is a yel-
lowish white, but all along the back is a reddish-brown stripe,
and on each side are two rows of spots, redder than the dorsal
stripe, and well defined, one spot being placed directly above the
other on each segment.”
Note.—Gelechia neviferella is here alluded to, and not G. Her-
mannella, as Zeller, in 1838, had imagined. Hermannella makes
a green blotch, afterwards becoming yellowish, but neviferedla
an extremely white and transparent one; the description of the
Jarva agrees well with that of neviferella, but not, as Zeller had
remarked, with that of G. Hermannella.
“The place at which a gallery miner (just emerged from the
eg@) has entered a leaf is easy to recognize; it is so narrow as to
be hardly as wide as the finest thread; but the path gradually
widens, and at the other end is nearly as wide as a narrow riband ;
for by degrees, as the miner excavates and opens out a road be-
fore him, he eats and grows, the diameter of his body increases,
and requires a wider habitation. If we take a leaf mined in this
way, and hold it up to a light, or better still, to the sun, such
places being transparent, we shall not fail to see the insect, if in-
deed it has not already quitted the Jeaf; and its head will be
always at the broadest end of the gallery. In the entire space
which it has previously inhabited (Neplicula), we observe little
black grains, which are nothing but the excrement it has made on
its road. These grains are placed in a row behind one another,
but in the wider galleries there are several rows placed side by
side. In the leaves mined in blotches, the excrements are all col-
lected in a little heap; some species place them in the centre of
the mined place, and others in a corner.
“If, when we examine the mining larva, it happens to be’
at work, we shall see it seize between its teeth, as between
pincers, and detach the parenchyma of the leaf; or at least we
shall perceive that a part of the leaf previously opaque has be-
come transparent, because the fleshy portion has passed into the
body of the insect. The two jaws, which form a point in front of
the head, are well fitted to open a road in the substance of the
leaf and to seize minute portions. One can very easily observe
the blotch miner of the rose, while excavating in the thickness of
the leaf(?) We observe still more easily that of the goosefoot,
or orach, because in the places which it mines it only leaves a
white and very fine skin (G; neviferella).
*‘The labours of the blotch miners, roughly considered, seem
to have in them nothing more singular than those of the gallery
miners, except that whereas the latter always mine before them,
102 Mr. J. W. Douglas on the
and advance as they mine, the former mine all round the place
they inhabit; this place is marked on the leaf by a white or yel-
lowish blotch, being in fact the portion of the leaf that has been de-
tached. Had this portion been simply loosened, it should be every
where even and smooth, as when it was attached; consequently,
it appeared to me very singular, when for the first time I observed
on a portion of the membrane of an oak leaf a ridge (arréte) pro-
jecting above, which went from one end of the mined place to the
end diametrically opposite. It was at first natural to suppose that
this ridge was nothing but a large fibre loosened from the leaf;
but its direction and figure destroyed this idea, and showed that
it was not a fibre of the plant. I have since constantly observed
this ridge on all portions of the epidermis which had been sepa-
rated from the parenchyma of the oak leaves by certain species of
miners, and I was puzzled how it could be produced, till I ob-
served the mined blotches in apple and elm leaves. These mined
places showed me why the loosened epidermis of certain oak
leaves has a ridge, what is the use of this ridge, and how it may
be formed. The elm leaf miners (Lithocolletis Schreberella) are of
the largest insects of this kind, yet the space included between
two parallel fibres which start from the mid rib bound the space
in which each excavates and feeds; these fibres are for it two
chains of mountains, which stop it on each side ; hence it makes
its abode longer than broad, somewhat oblong. It is the lower
epidermis of the leaf which it first loosens, and it afterwards eats
all the pulp that is between this and the upper epidermis. In-
stead of one ridge, such as I had seen on the oak leaves, I have
often seen two or three, and sometimes more, on the loosened
epidermis of an elm leaf. The structure of each of these was
easier to recognize than that of those of the oak; it was evident
that each was only a fold of the epidermis, and that the summit of
the fold which rose above the rest formed the ridge in question;
this was shown in tracing each ridge from one end to the other,
because towards one end were seen the two portions of the epi-
dermis which began to curve towards each other, and a little
further they were almost contiguous, whence it was easy to judge
that in the rest of their extent they were applied exactly one
against the other.
“ The effect produced by these folds of the membrane is evi-
dent, they contract it, and consequently force the fibres to which
it is attached to approach each other; the opposite membrane on
which the substance of the leaf rests is also thereby compelled to
curve and become convex on the outside of the leaf. The advan-
tage to the insect is apparent; it obtains a tenement of greater
Identification of Réaumur’s Microlepidoptera. 103
height, it forms a cavity proportioned to its size, and the move-
ments it has to make; the membrane no longer rests on its body,
as it otherwise continually would, and it has no longer so many
rubbings to fear.
«‘ Nothing is more confirmatory of the idea that this is the true
use of the folds in the epidermis of the leaf, than the form that
our blotch miners cause the apple leaves in which they reside to
assume. Above the places where they reside we observe folds
similar to those of the elm, but often there are more; on the
loosened side of the epidermis, which is here generally the upper
(Lithocolletis Corylifoliella?) two parts of the leaf, which in their
natural position were seven or eight lines asunder, are sometimes
brought so close together as almost to touch: there the folds of
the epidermis have been so multiplied, so squeezed together, that
it only retains a small portion of its first extent of surface, but
the insect has thereby obtained a deeper cavity in which to live.
The time when the miners of this species are most numerous, and
when their labours on the apple leaves are most advanced, is when
the latter are ready to fall, that is, towards the middle or end of
October; if we then observe those leaves which more than others
are folded along the principal nervure, or which appear folded in
some other places, that part where the fold is most considerable is
the abode of the insect. We often find two or three similar
abodes on the same leaf. Some insects take up their quarters on
the under side (Lithocolletis Pomifoliella), but these are few in
number. At the same period we also find most in the elm
leaves.”
Note.—Réaumur apparently supposed that the larva mining the
upper side of the apple leaf was the same as that mining the
under side; the whole of our recent experience however shows
us that the same species keeps constantly to the same side of the
leaf, and consequently an upper side miner cannot be specifically
identical with an under side miner. Iam not aware that the larva
from the upper side of the apple leaf has yet been bred; it is
probably identical with the larva of the upper side of the hawthorn
Jeaf (Lithocolletis Corylifoliella, Haw.). Here it is not nearly so
common as the larva of the under side of the leaf (L. Pomi-
foliella).
“ The three kinds of miners of which we have spoken—those
of the oak, those of the elm, and those of the apple—are larve
with fourteen legs, and which have only six ventral prolegs, so
placed that between these and the anal prolegs are three segments
without legs. The miners of the apple leaf are of a yellow, ap-
proaching to amber; the miners of the cak leaf are white, slightly
104 Mr. J. W. Douglas on the
tinted with greenish; the colour of the contents of their stomach
and intestines may probably give this tint to their transparent skin.
It would not be safe to decide that these three larve belong to
the same or different species, if the insects into which they changed
did not show it, and if we could not say that the mode of preparing
for their metamorphosis is different. If in the month of October
we remove the epidermis that has been folded by one of the apple
leaf miners, we find a chrysalis which has not been enclosed in a
cocoon. If at the same time we open the mined part of an oak
leaf we also find a chrysalis, but enclosed in a small cocoon of
fine white silk, to fortify which the larva has covered the exterior
with its excrement.”
Note.—It is not possible to identify with precision Réaumur’s
oak miner ; the pupa of several species of Lithocolletis that feed on
the oak is enclosed in a cocoon covered with excrement as he
mentions: his figure of the imago would appear to indicate
L Cramerella.
“ Finally, if we open the mined part of the elm leaf we find a
very small but pretty silky cocoon, which has on a small scale the
form of the cocoon of the silkworm; it is however rather more
elongated and more pointed. The colour of the silk of these
cocoons is not of the ordinary colour, it is of a bluish-green.”
Note.—Zeller had here suspected Lithocolletis Kleemannella,
but the proofs are so strong for Schreberella that I have no hesi-
tation in pronouncing that to be the species, the greenish-blue
cocoon giving a climax to this supposition.
“ Among the miners of which we speak some go into pupa in
June or July, and it was only to point out the time when most are
to be found, that we said they should be looked for towards the
end of October; when the leaves fall, the chrysalides which are
in the leaves fall with them. Those which are enclosed in cocoons
are at least in some degree sheltered, when the leaf decays; I
know not wivether the others are able to resist moisture, or whe-
ther many do not perish during the winter.
“IT have omitted to seek for the moth of a miner of the leaves
of the pear, which is not so frequent as the miner of the apple
leaves. It folds, like the latter, the epidermis which it has
loosened; it has also fourteen legs, but it is greenish white,
whereas the miner of the apple tree is yellow.”
Note.—It is probable that a pear tree miner would not differ
from the miner of an apple tree; probably in this case Réaumur
alludes to the upper side miner, his yellow larve being the under
side miner.
“But at the beginning of spring I had the moth from a cater-
Identification of Réaumur’s Microlepidoptera. 105
pillar which mines in blotches the leaves of the nut, and which
makes a ridge on the epidermis of the mined part. This moth
may vie with all others in beauty, its anterior wings are streaked
transversely with clouded gold and shining silver; on each wing
are six or seven gold stripes, and four or five silvery.”
Note.—As the larva of Lithocolletis Coryli, Nicelli, mines the
upper side of the nut leaf in blotches, and the larvee of LZ. Nicellit,
the underside, and Réaumur does not mention on which side his larva
fed, it would have been impossible to identify the species but for
his description of the perfect insect, which, though none of the
best, sufficiently points to Nicellii in preference to Coryli to indi-
cate that as the species. In other cases I have omitted to refer
to his descriptions of the perfect insects, as in few instances are
the species recognizable. The descriptions were probably made,
as Zeller has suggested, from specimens which had been allowed
to die in boxes, and afterwards injured in pinning.
«Since these mining larve are able to spin, as they make
cocoons, we need no longer wonder how they can form those
kinds of ridges, those folds of the epidermis, which they have
loosened, and under which they lodge. We have elsewhere (Vol.
II. Mem. V.) seen the proceedings of the larve which roll and
fold leaves by means of thread, which they place in different di-
rections, and then load with the weight of their body; let us
suppose a similar industry in these miners, and this is all that is
necessary on their part to cause the loosened membrane to
assume these folds. It is true that in these folds, among those
which only form a simple ridge on the leaves of the oak, the
parts approximate far more closely than when leaves themselves
are folded, but then our mining insects have to deal with a mem-
brane incomparably finer and thinner than a leaf. They spin
webs on the interior portion of their cavity, and it is these webs
which force the membrane to bend. Their webs are so fine and
close that I should not have recognized them had I not known
that our insects must have made them.”
‘¢ All the miners which mine in blotches do not, however, form
folds in the membrane which covers them. M. Vallisnieri has
mentioned a larva which mines galleries in the rose leaves of our
gardens.”
Note.—The gallery miner of the rose leaves in our gardens is a
Nepticula, but unfortunately for deciding on the specific name, it
happens that two species feed in the rose leaves. However, that
which seems the most common is Nepticula anomalella; these larvee,
when full grown, emerge from their galleries, and generally form
their yellowish-brown cocoons at the base of the footstalk of the
106 Mr. J. W. Douglas on the
leaf, a fact first observed, or at least made known at one of our
meetings, by Mr. Westwood. Where the cocoons of other species
are placed is not yet known.
** We also find on the same roses and on the dog rose blotch
miners; indeed, there are no shrubs on which these miners are
more common. ‘The membrane of the upper side only makes a
little protuberance outwards. We also find on the holly, nut,
oak, &c. great places mined and covered by the epidermis, which
forms a convexity outside the leaf, without having a sensible ridge.
“This epidermis, in drying, might easily become more stretched,
but the shortening of its fibres cannot force it to assume a convex
form; it is by spinning one or several very fine webs that the
miner has obliged it to separate, and to keep apart from the por-
tion of the leaf from which it has been loosened. These webs
are, however, as already mentioned, hardly perceptible but by the
effects they produce; but in order to convince myself that the in-
sects do spin them in places where they may be necessary, I
pierced with the point of a penknife the thin membrane that was
above the mined place of a rose leaf, and made a small rent which
allowed me to see the insect exposed. When I wished to ex-
amine the same gap twenty-four hours afterwards, I found the
edges reunited by a web which the miner had spun on the in-
terior surface of the torn epidermis. I cut in the same way the
membranes which covered the blotch miners of the apple, and
they behaved in the same manner as the rose miner.
“We may, however, assure ourselves without this experiment that
the miners of the apple carpet with web the epidermis they have
loosened; if we open their small abode it is best to do so on the
thick side, and we see all the edges of the fleshy part, which is
joined to the epidermis, are whitish, though at a short distance
from these the fleshy part is quite green. The web which is
spread over the epidermis goes a little beyond the place where it
is joined thereto.
“We only perceive the green of this fleshy part through a white
veil spread over it.
‘‘ Besides the insects which form a ridge on the portion of the
epidermis of the oak leaves which they have loosened, there are
caterpillars, as we have just seen, and even of different kinds,
which mine the same leaf, and which only cause the epidermis of
the mined part to assume a slight convexity. If we observe at
certain times the portion of the epidermis which has been raised
by some larve, it seems to have in its middle a circle more
opaque than the rest; this I have observed, more than at any
other time, towards the end of July. If we raise this portion of
Identification of Réaumur’s Microlepidoptera. 07
the epidermis we shall see that this white circle does not belong
to it; that opposite the place where it appeared is a little cocoon
of white silk; it is nearly circular, and fastened to the leaf itself.
Towards the 15th August small moths made their escape from
these little cocoons (T%scheria complanella).”
Note.—I have not yet bred this species, and no modern writer
has given a detailed account of the mode of living of the larve
and pupa; Ratzeburg, it is true, described and figured the larva,
but he states that the larve ninter in the leaves, and makes no
mention of the singular circular cocoon. Mr. Stainton once
found such a cocoon in a leaf of Centaurea nigra at Mickleham,
in August, but the tenant died, and he much doubts whether it
was Lepidopterous.
‘** Karly in spring we may observe thousands of oak leaves, of
which very large portions of the upper epidermis have been
loosened ; that of more than half or three quarters of the leaf is
raised, and forms very frequently a slight convexity; but these
large mined places are also the work of several miners, which,
after living in solitude during a portion of their life, have united
to labour at the same work. If we look at the part of the leaf
which is between the large mined place and the foot stalk, we
shall see several narrow and tortuously mined galleries, which are
the roads in which the insects have lived and grown, and which
they have followed to arrive at a point where they should mine
together on a large scale. If we, towards the beginning of June,
remove the epidermis of the large mined place, the part of the
leaf which we expose to view is very green, and sometimes very
smooth; it does not appear that its substance has been eaten,
neither do we see any excrements therein, but we immediately
observe two, three, or four places, according to the size of the
mined portion, which are raised and white. ‘They resemble small
portions of, as it were, a second epidermis, which had been
loosened, or places which had been mined a second time. These
places are those where each little caterpillar has spun a cocoon so
thin, and of so close a texture, that it appears only to be an epi-
dermis of the leaf; it has, at any rate, the colour of it; but we
can convince ourselves that this covering has been spun; for if
we tear it we can distinguish the threads of which it is composed,
and see that the texture does not at all resemble the epidermis of
a leaf.”
Note.—There seems little doubt that Corisctum substriga is the
insect here alluded to, but, according to Mr. Sircom’s observa-
tions, the larvee quit the leaves previous to spinning their white
cocoons; whereas Réaumur describes them as spinning their
108 Mr. J. W. Douglas on Réaumur’s Microlepidoptera.
cocoons beneath the epidermis of the leaf: as that is contrary to
the rule in other species of the Gracillaria group, I am inclined to
fancy some mistake.
“The cleanliness of a miner which makes blotches on the leaves
of the oak does not admit of our confounding it with many others.
There is, however, nothing particular in its labour; the space
which it mines is nearly circular; the epidermis which covers it
has a slight convexity, without having a ridge. When not mining,
it is very generally bent as a bow. If we remove the epidermis
that covers it, we perceive no excrement in its abode; it has the
precaution to make it outside its dwelling. In observing one
of these larveze, I saw it walk backwards, till its anus was close
to the edge of its abode; it even made it go beyond, for there was
a little slit for it to go through, which the larva knew where to
find, and it then ejected a little black grain, and immediately the
larva retired into the middle of its dwelling. When I afterwards
examined with a lens the places mined by the larve of this
species, I recognized that they had all a little slit on the upper
surface of the leaf. The excrement which they eject at this
opening very frequently falls to the ground, being hard grains,
which roll on a smooth surface. In vain did I examine this insect
with a powerful glass, and in a strong light, I could find no legs
even when it tried to walk. Its body is white, but the head and
tail are brown; the anus is beneath, and has a wide border; the
head is very flat; the jaws, which are the most marked parts of
it, form a point where they meet. The exterior form of each is
an arc, which seems a portion of a circle.”
Note.—This “ clean miner,” as Réaumur called it, is very pro-
bably Zischerta complanella: at any rate, a larva which corre-
sponds to Réaumur’s account, and also to Ratzeburg’s observations
of that species, makes blotches on the oak leaves in September
and October.
@ 10g)
XVI. Descriptions of some Longicorn Beetles discovered in
Northern China, by Ros. Fortunes, Esq. By W.
Wixson Saunpers, Esq., F.L.S., /c.
[Read 7th February, 1853.]
Wuen I had the pleasure of laying before the Entomological
Society, a short time since, a paper on the new species of Ceto-
niade, found in China by R, Fortune, Esq., (ante, page 33,) I
expressed an intention of giving descriptions of some more of
this gentleman’s discoveries in the way of Entomology, and in
furtherance of this object, I beg leave now to offer the following
paper on Longicorn Beetles. It may not be out of place here to
observe, that by the mail steamer in December last, Mr. Fortune
left this country on his return to China, with the full intention of
paying as much attention to the Entomology of the districts he
_ might visit as his more important duties would permit. The
result of his continued researches will, there is every reason to
expect, greatly enrich our collections, and add many new facts to
our Entomological knowledge, for he is now well prepared for
collecting insects, and knows the wants of Entomologists, and has
had his attention drawn to various points in the natural history
of the insects of China which want clearing up, and which require
particular observation.
EvurypopA, n. g. (eipve rove.)
Head broad, subquadrate, flattened above, with a shallow
furrow between the eyes. Mandibles. exserted, incurved at the
point, strong. Palpi short. Labrum fringed with hairs, yes
large, reniform, surrounding the posterior portion of the base of
the antennz. Antenne not quite equalling the length of the
body, stout and cylindrical. First joint short, pyriform, slightly
curved outwards; second very short, obconic; third long, sub-
cylindrical, longer than the fourth and fifth combined; the
remaining joints subequal, shorter than the fifth, gradually
tapering ; the terminal joint the longest, somewhat curved and
pointed. Thorax broader than the head ; quadrangular, flattened
above, broader than long, with the sides smooth, and the posterior
angles rounded. lytra rather broader than the thorax, with the
sides parallel and rounded at the apex. Scutedlum sub-triangular,
with the apex obtuse. Legs stout, the femora and tibie broad
and flattened. TZarsi short.
110 Mr. W. W. Saunders’s
This genus is a close ally to Mallodon, from which it differs in
the respective lengths of the first and third joints of the antennez,
the short, stout and flattened femora and tibiae, and in the sides of
the thorax being free from serratures or roughness.
Eurypoda antennata, mihi. (PI. IV. fig. 5.)
Head, thorax and antenne dull brownish black, deeply and
broadly punctate, the thorax having on the disk some slightly
raised shining elevations. Elytra flat, bright castaneous, deeply
punctate, with two well marked longitudinal ridges on the disk,
and a third near the apex externally. Under side of the body
bright castaneous, finely punctured, shining. Legs brownish
black. ‘Tarsi castaneous; the joints fringed with yellow hairs.
Length, 1 =, inch.
Habitat North of China.
In the collection of the British Museum.
Puiwus, n. g. (Pédoe.)
Head vertical, constricted behind the eyes, with the mandibles
long and pointed, and the palpi long and exserted. Eyes very
large and prominent, especially in the males, broadly reniform,
surrounding the base of the antenne. Antenne in the ¢ longer
than the body; in the ¢ about half as long as the body; 11-
jointed ; in the ¢ with the first joint short, robust, second very
minute, third and following joints subequal; the terminal joint
longest and pointed ; in the 9, the third joint the longest. Thorax
subcylindrical, in front narrower than the head, with the sides and
disk without elevations. /ytra much broader than the thorax,
with the shoulders prominent, gradually tapering towards the
apex, and terminating in an obtuse point. Legs and tarsi mode-
rate. Whole insect hairy.
This genus should be placed somewhere near Erioderus, and not
far from T’ragosoma, which appear to be its nearest allies. From
the former, which it most resembles, it differs very essentially in
the joints of the antennae—the third joint in Erioderus being very
long—and in the general shape of the insect.
Philus inconspicuus, mihi. (P1. 1V. fig. 3, 6; Pl. IV. fig. 4, 9.)
Dull castaneous brown, covered with fine erect pubescence.
Head and thorax finely punctate. Elytra with longitudinal striae,
and deeply and broadly punctate. The ¢ is larger than the g,
with the sides of the elytra more parallel.
Length of g 9; inch; of 9 14/5 inch.
Habitat North of China.
In the collection of the British Museum.
Descriptions of some Longicorn Beetles. 111
Catuicuroma, Latr.
C. Faldermannii, mihi. (Pl. LV. fig. 7.)
Head inclined, with the neck broad and short, bronzy green,
rugose. Palpi prominent. Antenne black, with the seven termi-
nal joints ferruginous. ‘Thorax subcylindrical, broader than long,
with a raised anterior and posterior margin, spined at the sides,
and with five rounded tubercles on the disk; purplish green,
with the disk and sides castaneous, shining. Scutellum triangular,
purplish green, shining. Elytra broader than the thorax, with
the shoulders prominent, gradually tapering to an obtusely rounded
apex, finely and rugosely punctate, with two longitudinal ridges,
more apparent at the base ; bronzy green, with the centre of the
disk browner; legs purplish black, shining, with the femora
clavate, and the fore tibiz fringed with yellow hairs internally.
Tarsi castaneous.
Length 13 inch.
Habitat North of China.
In the collection of the British Museum.
This species has some resemblance to the beautiful C. Cantori
of Hope, but differs in many respects, particularly in the colour
of the thorax and antenne. It also nearly approaches the
C. Bungii, Fald., particularly the variety called cyanicornis of
Dupt.
Co.osus, Serv.
C. sericeus, mihi. (Pl. IV. fig. 2.)
The whole surface of the insect is covered with fine silky pu-
bescence. Head vertical, with a very short neck ; dark chesnut
brown, with the eyes and five or six terminal joints of the antennz
black. Antenne nearly as long as the body; palpi exserted ;
thorax rather broader than the head, orbicular, truncate before and
behind, with a slight protuberance on each side, and four slight
rounded elevations on the disk; above dark chesnut brown,
margined anteriorly with black; below black. Scutellum small,
triangular, black brown. LElytra broader than the thorax, not half
the length of the body, ovate, pointed posteriorly, and with the
suture gaping, and shoulders prominent; dark chesnut brown.
Wings bright chesnut brown, voluminous, exserted considerably
longer than the body. Abdomen and underside of body purplish
black brown, with the pubescence on the basal joint of the former
silvery on the underside. Legs long,—particularly the hinder
pair, which have the femora and tibiz flattened,—bright chesnut
brown, with the tarsi a little darker.
112 Mr. W. W. Saunders’s
Length 1 inch.
Habitat North of China.
In the collection of the British Museum.
A remarkable insect, nearly allied to an undescribed species
from Silhet, which is in my collection, and which differs from it
chiefly in the colouring of the underside of the abdomen.
Crerosterna, Dj.
C. hispida, mihi. (PI. IV. fig. 6.)
The whole surface of the insect is covered with pubescence, in-
terspersed with long, erect, rather distant bristles; colour dark
purplish brown, mottled with black, with small white specks pretty
generally and equally distributed among the black mottles. Head
vertical, with a broad cylindrical neck. Eyes very narrow and
elongate, black. Joints of antennz free from tufts of hair.
Thorax a little broader than the head in front ; subcylindrical,
armed on each side with an acutely pointed spine, and having on
the disk an elevated mass of rounded tubercles. Scutellum small,
trigonate. Elytra much broader than the thorax, with the shoul-
ders very prominent; the sides nearly parallel; apex rounded.
Legs long and stout. ‘The intermediate tibize toothed externally
near the apex; fore tibiz slightly curved, and all fringed with
short black hairs at the apex, on the front and posterior margins.
Length 1 to 1 inch.
Habitat Northern China.
In the collection of the British Museum and other cabinets.
This species comes close to the C. histriz, but differs in wanting
tufts of hair on the antenne, which are much darker in colour,
and in being hispid, not spiny.
Gienea, Newman.
Fortunei, mihi. (PI. 1V. fig. 1.)
Head vertical, immersed up to the eyes in the thorax. Face
yellow, with a central obsolete blackish heart-shaped mark, hairy ;
forehead black. Antenneze black, with the apex of the third joint
greenish yellow above. Thorax a little broader than the head,
quite cylindrical, rather broader than long ; slightly carinated lon-
gitudinally above ; greenish yellow, with two round black spots
on the disk, one on each side of the raised line, covered with dis-
tant fine erect black hairs. Scutellum trigonate, rounded behind,
greenish yellow. Elytra much broader than the thorax, tapering
to a rounded apex, with the shoulders prominent ; black, with a
Descriptions of some Longicorn Beetles. 113
broad central greenish-yellow wavy band, and having a greenish-
yellow spot on the apex and shoulder of each elytron partly
covered with fine erect distinct black hairs. Under side of
body greenish yellow, pubescent. Legs black, with greenish
yellow undersides to femora and tibie, Tarsi greenish yellow
above.
Length 55, to 38 inch.
Habitat North of China.
In the collection of the British Museum.
This pretty species varies considerably in the nature of its
markings, being sometimes without the yellow green spots near
the shoulder, and sometimes with the spots produced into a
narrow transverse wavy band.
XVII. Notes on the Habits of Various Insects, By Mr.
WiuuiAmM VARNEY.
[Read 2nd August, 1852.]
Sting of Bee-—Hiser says, that “the sting by which this little
animal defends itself is composed of three parts, the sheath and
two darts. The sheath, which has a sharp point, makes the first
impression. The sheath sometimes sticks so fast to the wound,
that the insect is obliged to leave it behind ; and to the bee itself
the mutilation proves fatal.” The sheath, however, makes no
impression, and I have never found it to enter or make a wound ;
it is large near the base, and gradually tapers to a point, and is
quite smooth, and if it did make an incision the bee would be
able to draw it back again without hurting itself. The barbs
which do the mischief are very sharp; and when they penetrate,
they hold fast to the wound like a fish-hook, and the bee is mostly
unable to draw them out of the wound, always leaving the darts
with the sheath; and it seems impossible to leave the sheath
behind without the darts, as they are all rooted firmly together.
I. know not whether, when thus mutilated, they die, or whether
they are killed or driven away by the other bees.
Moss-carder Humble Bees.—Respecting the humble bee,
Réaumur says, that “ the community, which numbers from 20
to 300, consists of females of two sizes—the very largest and
the small ones; males, which are stingless; and neuters. It is
VOL, II. N. S. PART IV.— MARCH, 1853, I
114 Mr. W. Varney on the
very probable that, alone and unattended, the female lays the
foundation of the future little village. The nest is composed of a
tuft of moss.” On asloping bank, near Hanwell Asylum, among
the shrubs, I found one of these curious little nests; it consisted
of a small lump of moss, one large bee, one cup filled with honey,
and six small Jarvee of the bee feeding upona mass of pollen, of a
darkish brown colour. I found another nest on the same bank, —
about ten yards distant, which was a little larger than the first—as
large as a hen’s egg; it consisted of a lump of moss, one large
bee, one cup filled with honey, and six larvee feeding upon a mass
of bee bread; and six cocoons, spun by the full-grown grubs of
the bee. Each nest was founded by a large bee, the largest of
the class. I think the small ones are not females, but workers
only.
Wasp-nests.—Réaumur says that “ the material from which the
common wasp’s nest is constructed is vegetable fibre. As the first
step in the process of paper-making is to soak the vegetable fibre
in water, so the wasp takes as special care to select the filaments
which it intends to use from wet wood, which has rotted in the
rain.” In the summer of 1850, I saw a great many common
wasps gathering wood from a post which was quite dry; each
load which the wasp carried away was quite wet. This lasted
many days ; and as I stood near, and paid attention, I could see
how they acted. The wasp ran about the post a little, and as
soon as it found a place suitable, it wetted the wood, then scraped
a little bit together, and put it between its fore legs, then it
scraped another bit and put it to the first, and so it went on, until
it had got a load; it then worked it all together into a ball, took
it between its mandibles, and flew away to its nest. I could see
the wet upon the wood when the wasp had gone away. The wasp
scrapes the wood very fine, which would all fly away in dry
weather, if no fluid was used. The wasp, by wetting the wood,
can gather a load with little trouble, and with no loss of labour.
Mason Wasps.—On the south side of a brick wall, at Hanwell,
I found a mason wasp at work, building a cell with mortar, which
it finished in about anhour. It went seven times to some water,
which was about twenty yards from the wall; with each supply
of water it made two loads of mortar, very near the wall; when
the cell was finished, the wasp laid an egg, and filled the cell with
living food. JI then opened the cell, which contained eighteen
larvee; they were not all of the same size, but each one had
sixteen legs. I put them back into the cell, and closed them up.
Another time, I broke down part of a cell when it was finished,
Habits of Various Insects. 115
but the wasp mended it again in a short time. Another time, I
took away six caterpillars, and put thema short distance from the
cell; the wasp found them, and put them back into the cell.
Again, I took away the egg of the wasp, and when the cell was
finished I opened it, and found another egg in place of the one
which I had taken away. When the wasp brought a caterpillar to
its cell, it held it ina straight line, under its belly, carrying one
end between its jaws. The caterpillars appeared dead, and were
packed very close in the cell. The wasp slept in the cell at
night, with its head out, and when the cell was nearly full, it
remained with more than half its body out. I touched it several
times, but it would not quit the cell. I then put an ant to it,
which it crushed with its jaws. It made six cells in a week, and
made mortar in one place the whole time, and continued to get
water in another place; when it was making mortar the ants
disturbed it several times, which made it fly up sometimes; at
other times it would move a little, but it refused to leave the spot.
I have never found these wasps to make a hole ina solid brick or
stone, but when they find a cavity with loose rubbish in it, they
will clean it out. These wasps are much smaller than the common
social wasps, and are known by having a large black ring round
the middle of the abdomen. They build cells in the cavities of
walls.
Wasps killing Flies.—The common wasps catch a great number
of flies in the summer time; and when they find a spot well
stocked with these insects they will go there a great many times,
until itis exhausted. When a wasp catches a fly, it first cuts off
its legs and wings; then bruises it into a mortar, and carries it
away to the nest. Having caught a fly, I puta bit of string
round the middle of it, and offered it to a wasp, which took hold
of it, and cut off its wings and legs, as usual; then it took hold
of it to carry it away, but finding it could not move it away, it
pulled first one way, then the other; at last, it found out the
string, which was very fine, and cut it off close to the fly, which
it then carried away.
Honey Bees.—I have observed that the honey bees gather
honey from some flowers whilst they never touch others. They
are very fond of the mignionette, but I have never seen the
humble bees touch it. I have seen a great number of wild bees
upon the snapdragon, the fox-glove, the everlasting peas, and the
nasturtium, which the hive bees never touch. Both the hive bees
and the wild bees are very partial to the Canterbury bells, from
the cups of which they gather a great deal of pollen and honey.
12
116 Mr. W. Varney on the
The scent of the blossoms of the Scabious is very much like
honey; and upon this flower I have seen a great number of
insects. At one time I saw a mason bee, several humble bees,
various kinds of butterflies, some other flies, and several hive
bees, upon the flowers of this plant.
Bees fond of Water.—Réaumur, Hiber, and many other natu-
ralists, have paid great attention to, and tried many experiments
with the hive bees, but I do not find them to say any thing about
water. I find these little creatures make use of a great deal
of this fluid. In the summer time, in very dry weather, they
may be seen drinking water between stones, and round about
water-taps, and such like shallow places, immediately returning to
the hive. They thus continued to get water every day in dry
weather. I think they use it to moisten and prepare the wax: or
perhaps they drink some of it, which remains to be ascertained.
Leaf-cutter Bees—In the fine warm weather, having observed
a rose-leaf-cutting bee cut a piece of leaf from the rose-tree, and
carry it away and settle upon a wall, and go intoa cavity where
it was building its nest, repeatedly performing the same operation,
I watched it more carefully, and observed that when it settled, it
would examine two or three leaves before it found one to suit its
purpose ; it then settled upon a Jeaf, with its head towards the
leaf stalk, and cut a piece out, which it did in a very short time.
It held on to that part of the leaf which it was cutting out, and
when it had cut it out it fell down, like a stone, for a short
distance, before it took wing. When it had cut out the leaf
it was not prepared for flight, and it always fell down like a stone
before it took wing. One time, it fell on the ground with its
load. It fell down several times among the leaves of the tree,
and it found some difficulty in getting out with its load, which
it held in a kind of half circle under its belly. I made a
tube of bark, and put it in the wall ; it was about six inches long,
and about one-third of an inch in diameter. ‘This was found in a
few days by a rose-leaf cutting bee, in which it constructed a nest
of rose-leaves. I split the tube before I put it in the wall, so
that it could be opened without damaging the cells. Whenit was
finished, I took it out of the wall, and found it contained eight
cells, which were fitted together like thimbles. The tube was not
full, it would have held several more cells ; but the entrance was
blocked up with several pieces of leaf, which prevented any other
insect from entering the nest. In cutting a leaf, it sometimes
makes a mistake, and when it has cut it about half through, it will
suddenly leave it and go to another, but this does not often occur.
Habits of Various Insects. 117
Transformation of Caterpillars.—I have seen many of the cater-
pillars of the common butterfly in the act of fixing the threads
over their backs, the average number being about twenty-six ;
some pass as many as thirty over their backs, and some only
twenty-four. Every time it carries a thread over its back it glues
it to the others which have been passed over its back before, which
are all glued together into one thread ; it then withdraws its head,
assumes a straight line, and waits to cast its skin and become a
pupa. Some of them cast their skins at the end of three days,
some at the end of six days, and some not till the end of the tenth
day, when they become pup, from which the butterfly makes its
escape in the following spring.
Winter Midge.—Contrary to the assertion of a writer, I find a
remarkable difference between the male and the female of the
winter midge; the male has a slender body and fine feather-
like antenne ; the female has a short body, and such small
antenne, that it is difficult to perceive them with the naked eye.
The swarms of these beautiful little creatures which are seen
sporting im the air in such multitudes, in the winter evenings in
mild weather in sheltered situations, are composed of males and
females. As they sport together in the air they choose partners ;
and while they struggle together they fall to the ground, where
they become united, and remain together about ten minutes, when
they separate, and fly away. There is another winter midge,
found about the same time, in similar situations, which sports in the
air in the same manner, and in large clusters ; the male and female
fall down upon the ground, and remain together about the same
time as the above, Ihave found the pupe of these flies among
very rotten rabbit manure. I kept a few of them in a box, which
in a few days produced flies exactly like, in shape, size, and colour,
to those which I caught sporting in the air. These flies are a
great deal larger than the ones above-mentioned ; in fact, they are
a little larger than the common gnat, but destitute of that long
tube in front of its head, which denotes the bloodthirsty gnat.
Caterpillars of Bryophila perla—On old walls, which are
exposed to the weather, I have found a great many caterpillars,
which feed upon the fine particles of a silver colour which grow
upon such places. They make their cocoons in the holes of the
wall, weaving a web over the hole ; then they bite off bits of stone,
brick, mortar, or moss, and fix it to the webbing, so that it is
difficult to find them out in some places, as the cocoon so nearly
resembles the wall, brick, or mortar, to which it joins. They are
found in the winter months, and when the weather is mild they
118 Mr. W. Varney on the
bite a hole through their cocoons, and come out and feed ; then they
return back to their cells, and put out their excrement ; then they
close up the hole, which makes it complete. They do not travel
more than four or five inches, or at most a foot, from the cell, as
they find food close at hand. They generally return to the cell
which they had occupied before; but when several of them are
feeding near together, they sometimes go into the wrong ones;
and some of them cannot find their own cells, and are obliged to
wander about till they can find a place to build a newone. They
feed in the morning, and return to their cells about nine or ten
o’clock, which I have witnessed many times. This morning,
Thursday, 5th February, 1852, I saw a great many of them
feeding upon a brick wall ; and I saw three of them go back to
their own cells and eject their excrement ; then they closed up the
entrance as neat as though it had never been opened. In cold
weather they remain in their cocoons three or four days ; and in
very sharp weather, as many as nine or ten days, or even more,
without food; but as soon as the weather becomes mild, they
feel the change, and break through the cell, and feed as fresh as
ever. TI put one in the wall, in a small cavity, and put a piece of
glass over it to see how it would begin its cell; and I saw it carry
several threads over the hole. It then bit off several bits of moss,
and pushed them between the threads, until it became quite thick,
and I could not see it any longer, as the caterpillar was inside the
cell. The cells are quite smooth inside. These larvee are about
half or three-quarters of an inch long when they are full-grown,
and are marked with blue and yellow stripes across the body.
They change to a pupa, from which the fly makes its escape in
about three weeks, in May. The eggs of these flies are a long
while before they produce caterpillars, as the latter do not appear
before the latter end of November, or the beginning of December,
when the weather is damp and cold; and although they are very
small, they seek for a small cavity, in which they construct them-
selves anest. They are provided each with sixteen legs; some
are of deeper blue than others, and most of them are marked
with blue on each side, a yellow line along the back, and a few
small brown spots.
Blow Flies—Speaking of the species of blow-flies which pro-
duce lively larve instead of eggs, Réaumur observed, that ‘“ there
is no danger of the maggots being destroyed in the midst of the
putrifying mass, which might have been the case had eggs been
placed there.” When these flies find a piece of meat, or a dead
carcase, they search about and find an opening, in which they
Habits of Various Insects. 119
deposit their eggs, and always put them as near to the centre as
they can; and as soon as the maggots are developed, they eat
their way to the interior, where they find the most food. There
is no fear of the eggs being killed in the middle of the dead
carcase. The flies put their eggs as far as they can into the
meat or carcase, where they find moisture, which hastens their
development. The eggs are not to be seen on the exterior part
of a dead carcase, or on the outer part of a piece of meat of any
kind; but the flies take care to put them in the hollow and moist
places, where they soon hatch; and if you open the mouths of
any dead animals, you may find the eggs in large quantities.
When they deposit their eggs on a living sheep, they are close
on the skin, where it is moist.
XVIII. Contributions towards the Natural History of
British Microlepidoptera. By J. W. Doveias, Esq.—
(Continued from page 81.)
[Read 6th December, 1852. ]
Genus Lirnocottetis, Zeller. (Pl. XIII.)
Tue perfect insects of this genus may be known at a glance by
the slenderness of their structure, the smallness of the thorax,
and the characteristic markings of the anterior wings. These
latter are fine lines on the apical half of the wing, sloping from
either margin towards the apex, frequently meeting on the disk,
and forming angles more or less acute. The general similarity of
many species has caused great difficulty in recognising their
distinctive characters ; but though by practice they become more
easy to separate, yet the most satisfactory mode of determining
them is to rear them from the caterpillar state. Zeller has
observed (Linnza Entomologica, i, 169), that on account of the
cilia of the anterior wings being coloured and scaled like the wings
themselves, the true form of the latter is only to be seen on the
under side.
The larvz have but fourteen feet, the fourth ventral pair being
absent; the whole body is flattened, the head small, and the
three thoracic segments generally much widened; this last fact
being the more remarkable when contrasted with the narrow
120 Mr. J. W. Douglas on the
thorax of the perfect insect. ‘These larvee mine in the leaves of
many plants ; some species on the upper and some on the under-
side; each kind, however, keeping invariably to one side, and
having its own characteristic method of working, and each indi-
vidual passing its whole life in one leaf. When first the larva
begins to feed on the parenchyma, it loosens the cuticle, which on
this spot then appears as a whitish film: it soon, however, con-
tracts into folds, the colour becomes darker, and as the hollowing
process proceeds beneath it, the leaf contracts, and curves, more
or less, forming a spacious tenement for the miner, whose age
may be known by the appearance of its dwelling. The means by
which it accomplishes its purpose have been described by
Reaumur (vide ante, p. 102.) Of many, perhaps of all species,
there are two broods ina year,
When about to change to a pupa, the body of the larva becomes
contracted, and of a clearer colour, having been cleansed of all
remains of food. The change always takes place within the
mined place ; in some cases, within a silken cocoon, made by the
larva; in others, the pupa is loose. When the imago escapes, the
pupa-skin is left projecting through the skin of the leaf.
The characters of the genus are laid down by Zeller, in the
** Linnzea Entomologica,” (Band. I., 167, 1846); and descriptions
are given of all the then known species. In Curtis’s ‘ British Ento-
mology,” all the British species are placed in the genus 4rgyromiges,
but unfortunately the author has drawn its characters from
autumnella (T. Clerckella, L), which differs from the species
with which it is there associated, in the form and neuration of
its wings, in the enlarged basal joint of the antennee, in the larva
having sixteen feet, and in its habit of quitting the leaf it has
mined, previous to forming its suspended cocoon, so that it cannot
stand as the representative of a genus whose larve have but
fourteen feet, and change to the pupa state within the substance
of leaves.
Lithocolletis trifasciella, Haworth, Stainton. (Zool. 2088.)
Larva (Pl. XIIL. fig. 1 a)—Length 23 lines.—Citron yellow,
shining, transparent, hairy, with a green dorsal stripe. Head of a
more dull yellow, mouth brown. Six pectoral, six ventral, and
two anal legs yellowish. The upper surface of the segment
bearing the last pair of ventral legs is orange.
Mines the underside of the leaves of honeysuckle (Lonicera
periclymenum), the skin of which it wrinkles and detaches,
forming a small pouch, in which it lives and feeds on the
Natural History of British Microlepidoptera. 121
parenchyma. Soon the leaf begins to curve, and eventually it
becomes so much twisted, that the apex approaches the base, and
again turns upwards. (PI. XIII. fig. 1 6.)
Pupa brown, with several curved light brown hairs, and a short
anal spine. Formed loose in the mined place.
Imago (Pl. XIII. fig. 1).—The first brood of caterpillars
occurs in March and April, producing moths in May ; the second
appears in June, perfecting themselves in July; and a third is
found in September and October, transforming to the perfect
state in October and November.
This species is not rare in woods and hedges near London; but
Mr. Stainton tells me, that in the hedges of Devonshire it is not
uncommon to find every leaf on a young shoot of honeysuckle,
four or five feet in length, tenanted by a larva.
Lithocolletis Scabiosella. Douglas, n. sp. (Pl. XIII. fig. 2.)
Alis anticis saturate croceis, niéidis, lineola basali alba, strigis
tribus introrsus nigro-marginatis, strigulaque apicali argen-
teis, macula obliqua pone strigam tertiam, apiceque nigris.
Exp. alar. 33—4 lin.
Flead and thorax concolorous with the anterior wings, face
whitish, antenne black, narrowly annulated with whitish. Ante-
rior wings rich deep saffron, very glossy, with a fine, very short
white basal streak: three equidistant bright silvery strigee, mar-
gined interiorly with black; the first nearly straight; the second
angulated in the upper half; the third composed of two long
opposite spots, broad on the margins of the wing, and meeting
with pointed apices on the disk, but curving outwards, and forming
an angle; two other white spots forma short apical striga, the
apex itself and a long oblique spot, stretching from the third
striga to the anal angle, being black. Cilia concolorous with the
wings. All the tarsi broadly annulated black and white.
Most nearly allied to ZL. trifasciella, the white markings of the
anterior wings being almost identical in form; but the dark
margins of the three strigaee are much narrower, and of a more
uniform width; the ground colour of the wings is much darker,
the whole surface is more glossy; the strigee especially being
conspicuous by their bright silvery hue, and the average size Is a
trifle less than in that species.
Larva (Pl. XIII. fig. 2 a).—Length 23 lines.—Light yellow,
with short hairs of the same colour, and a dark dorsal line.
Head small, of a light testaceous colour; thoracic segments
122 Mr. J. W. Douglas on the
widened, the others gradually tapering to the extremity of the
body. Six pectoral, six ventral, and two anal legs the colour of
the body.
Feeds in the radical leaves of Scabiosa Columbaria (Pl. XIII.
fig. 2 b), mining on the underside, detaching the epidermis, which
becomes wrinkled in longitudinal folds ; the upper surface becomes
convex in consequence, but preserves its colour.
Pupa light brown, with a few very fine hairs, and a stout anal
spine.
There are two broods in a year. I first found the larve, very
small, on the 9th of April, 1852, at the side of the old tram-way
beyond Croydon, and they were perfected at the end of May.
The second brood of caterpillars appeared in July, and the moths
in August.
This is the only species of this genus whose larvee are known to
feed upon a herbaceous plant, all the others being found on the
leaves of trees and shrubs.
Lithocolletis Emberizepennella, Bouché, Zeller. (Lin. Ent. i. 241.)
Larva (Pl. XIII. fig. 3 a).—Length 3 lines.x—Greenish white,
widest in the centre, tapering a little to each end; thus differing
from all other known larve of this genus, inasmuch as in them
the thoracic segments are widest. Herr v. Nicellihas noticed this
peculiarity in his paper on Lithocolletis, in the ‘‘ Entomologische
Zeitung,” for 1851 (translated by Mr. Stainton, Zoologist, App.
elxiii). Head pale greenish, margins and mouth brown. Six
pectoral, six ventral, and two anal legs, the colour of the body.
Mines the underside of the leaves of honeysuckle (Lonicera
periclymenum), making a large cavity (Pl. XIII. fig. 3 ¢), in con-
sequence of which a large fold downward of the leaf occurs, and
the cuticle appears white on the upper side, but the leaf does not
twist round at right angles, as in the case of L. trifasciella. Found
in July and September.
Pupa (Pl. XIII. fig. 3 b).—Light brown, robust ; obtuse at the
head and tapering to the other end, on which is no spine, but a
scarcely visible blunt prolongation. ‘There area few hairs along
the whole extent, and projecting from under the head towards
the side, apparently from the margin of the next segment, are
two stout hairs, or spines, curving outwards. The covers of the
antennz are longer than the wing cases, but the pair of hind legs
along which they are laid are still a little longer, and all are joined
together in one piece, which at the apex is free from the body.
Natural History of British Microlepidoptera. 123
(The figure was made from a specimen from which the moth was
about to emerge, and the markings on the wings are seen through
their cases.) The pupa is formed within the mined place, in a
dark greenish brown, bluntly pointed, oval cocoon, of silk (PI.
XIII. fig. 3 d), which is either loose or slightly attached to the
leaf.
Imago (Pl. XIII. fig. $).—Found in May and August.
Genus GracitiariA, Haworth. (PI. XIV.)
The most striking characteristics of this genus are the general
slenderness, the length of the antennz, the length and narrowness
of the antericr wings, the development of the maxillary as well as
the labial palpi, and the position of the moths in repose—sitting
with the fore legs advanced, the head elevated, the antennz laid
back under the wings, and the apices of the anterior wings
touching the surface on which they sit. Haworth has briefly
characterised the genus (Lep. Brit. 527, 1828); Zeller more
fully (Lin. Ent. ii. 313); and also Stainton (Trans. Ent. Soe. i.
N. 8. 115). Mr. Curtis has given the characters, founded on
dissections of G. Syringella, of which he has also figured the
preparatory states (Brit. Ent, Pl. 479).
The larvze feed on the leaves of various plants, probably all the
species in the first instance, as miners; then each rolls a leaf into
the form of a cone, at least the greater number of species do so,
and feed within it. Some species are always miners. These
larve have but six ventral legs.
The pupa is enveloped in a cocoon,
Gracillaria Franckella,, Hiibner, Zeller, Stainton. (Trans, Ent.
Noc.as N.S. LL8;)
Larva (Pl. XIV. fig. 1 a).—Length 3 lines.—Greenish white,
semi-transparent, slightly hairy, the dark green of the dorsal
vessel showing conspicuously through. Head yellowish, the
mouth and two spots on the inferior side brown. The six pec-
toral, six ventral, and two anal legs the colour of the body.
Curls up the end of one of the lobes of leaves of the oak (PI.
XIV. fig. 1 b), in which it feeds, discolouring its habitation, and
removing to other leaves several times in succession. Found in
August, September, and October.
Pupa, in a cocoon attached to a leaf.
Imago (P|. XIV. fig. 1).—Found in September and October,
and hybernated specimens from April to June.
124 Mr. J. W. Douglas on British Microlepidoptera.
Gracillaria stigmatella, Fabricius, Zeller, Stainton, (Trans. Ent.
Soc. i. N. 8S. 120.)
Larva (Pl). XIV. fig. 2 a).—Length 33 lines. —Greenish white,
head yellowish, with two brown spots at the side; jaws brown;
short white hairs on the whole length. The six pectoral, six
ventral, and two anal legs are of the same colour as the body.
Feeds on the leaves of sallows, poplars, and willows, rolling and
fastening up the ends into the form of a cone (PI. XIV. fig. 2 6),
within which it lives, consuming the portion rolled up; taking
care, however, not to destroy the outer epidermis. This soon
becomes discoloured, and when the supply of food is exhausted,
the larva removes, and makes another similar habitation, and so
on several times in succession. Found in August, September,
and October.
Pupa, ina cocoon attached to a leaf (Pl. XIV. fig. 2 c).
Imago (Pl. XIV. fig. 2).—Found in September and October,
and hybernated specimens in March and April.
Gracillaria auroguttella, Stephens, Stainton. (Trans. Ent. Soe. i.
N.S. 187.)
Larva (P|. XIV. fig. 3 a).—Length 23 lines.—Pale whitish
green, slightly shining, with short hairs on its whole length. The
dorsal vessel shining through, of a dark green colour. The six
pectoral, six ventral and two anal legs are of the colour of the
body. Head pale brown.
It first mines the leaves of Hypericum perforatum and H.
humifusum in the centre, and as the gallery increases in length and
width (though it never becomes very wide), the under side of the
leaf is contracted, and the edges turn down. After living as a
miner until the gallery is one-third or half an inch in length, it
quits it and turns down the end of a leaf in a conical shape (PI.
XIV. fig. 3b), and feeding within, the cone at first green, soon
becomes whitish, and then brown, and it removes and forms
several of these habitations in succession, each larger than the
previous one. When full fed, it rolls a leaf no longer across
and conically, but lengthwise, and as a tube; and this (soon
becoming brown) resembles a miniature cigar (Pl. XIV. fig. 3 c).
In this, after spinning a closely fitting silken web, it becomes a
pupa (Pl. XIV. fig. 3d). There are two broods in a year; the
first in the beginning of July, producing perfect insects in
August; the other in October, remaining all winter in the pupa
state, and transforming in May.
Imago (PI. X1V. fig. 3).
CO 19BS)
XIX. Notices of some New Species of Strepsipterous
Insects from Albania, with further Observations on the
Hlabits, Transformations, and Sexual Economy of these
Parasites. By 8.8. Saunpers, Esq.
[Read 6th December, 1852. ]
Havine met with several new Strepsipterous parasites, obtained
from different species of Hyleus and Odynerus, and having had
frequent opportunities of witnessing their metamorphoses at
different periods, whereby many of the questions which had arisen
as to the mode of effecting ingress and egress, the relative posi-
tion of the dorsal and ventral surfaces on emerging, the expansion
of the vaginal orifice in hexapod-bearing females, and other
debateable points, (alluded to in my former communication pub-
lished in the Transactions of the Entomological Society, vol. i.
N.S. p. 43,) may receive further elucidation, I now proceed to
lay before the Society the result of my observations, as classed
under the following heads.
1. Saltatorial Powers of the Hexapod Larve.
These hexapod larvee, when their segments are distended, are
of a semi-transparent piceous hue, with minute black eyes, the
thoracic region being somewhat inflated, and the segments thence
gradually tapering towards the anal extremity; each distin-
guished, where superposed, by a fine transverse line of deeper
brown, the three anterior segments having the posterior margin
more broadly banded, the anal apex inclining to castaneous, with
the base of the setze piceous.
Those of Xenos Rossii are enabled to leap to the distance of full
half an inch, but by what means this movement was effected I
could not determine. They did not appear to double themselves
round for this purpose, as in the case of the cheese-maggot
(Tyrophaga casei, Curt.) ; nor did I observe that the effect was
produced, as may be conceived, by the action of the tail and caudal
setae, as practised by the Podurelle, Latr. They also repeatedly
lept upon the brush wherewith I had been inciting them to the
performance of this feat, after having removed it, as I thought,
above their reach. I afterwards observed the same process
repeated in the hexapod progeny of the Strepsipterous parasite
obtained from a species of Ancistrocerus.
2. Mode of Attack by the Hexapod Larve.
Having captured about the middle of July a large female
126 Mr. 8. 8. Saunders’s Wotices of some
Polistes, with three prolific female parasites protruding from the
dorsal segments of the abdomen, I selected from a Polistes nest
a variety of its inmates, in different stages of development ;
namely, first, a well-conditioned ovum, with the yelk concen-
trated, the head and eyes partially discernible, but the embryo
exhibiting as yet no signs of activity ;—secondly, one in a more
advanced state, the larva within ready to burst the superin-
cumbent pellicle, and making vigorous efforts to do so,—but on
placing some of the hexapods upon these, they invariably effected
their escape.
I next chose two larve of moderate dimensions, carefully
extracted, whereunto the hexapods very readily attached them-
selves in a singular manner, affixing both head and tail like
leeches.
I had already noticed a similar proceeding on the part of certain
hexapod larve of Hylecthrus, which, in the absence of any larvae
of Hyleus, I had placed upon some other larve of diminutive
size, obtained from a Polistes nest, to which the former readily
attached themselves in the manner aforesaid; sometimes com-
mencing with a wriggling motion, and shortly afterwards remain-
ing perfectly still, assuming by degrees a gibbous distended form.
Fearing at first, from their apparently inanimate condition, that
they might have been injured in some manner, I supplied several
in succession, with the like results ; when, disturbing one of the
earliest so placed, I found it still alive, the body being moved
about from side to side without withdrawing the head. The
following morning, finding the hexapods still motionless, I again
disturbed one of them, when it commenced coiling about with the
same activity as before, retaining the head immovable, and appa-
rently endeavouring to effect a breach; or perhaps already
imbibing nourishment, as practised by the larvee of certain Dip-
tera, in which the resemblance to the leech is also carried out.
The Polistes larvee, together with the hexapods, perished within
two or three days, without any further operations on the part of
the latter; but the subsequent experiment with the Xenos
hexapods proved more conclusive.
At 2 p.m., one of these hexapods had affixed itself upon the
back of the first of the two Polistes larvae aforesaid (which by way
of distinction may be designated as A. and B.), and at 5 p.m.,
had completely buried itself beneath the skin, in a transverse
position ; while another, which had stationed itself upon the cate-
nulated lateral margin of the segments, remained at the same
period in statu quo. By the morning, however, the latter had
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 127
shifted its quarters, and was observed nearly buried beneath the
skin, at no great distance from its companion, and later in the day
both were completely out of sight.
The other larva, B., which had two hexapods placed upon it
at 3 p.m., one of which had taken up its position on the breast,
was found at 5 p. m., having this half-buried beneath the skin,
“the remaining portion recumbent, and attached outside. The
second hexapod had fixed itself upon a lobe of the head, near
the mentum, from which I was unable to detach it; but it sub-
sequently removed, and in the morning was nowhere to be found,
while the first had entirely and deeply penetrated within.
Other hexapods, placed upon a soft yellow Polistes pupa, left
this unmolested.
3. First Moult.
About a week later, viz., on the 24th, seeing little prospect of
rearing the said Polistes larve, to which I had administered in
the interval moistened sugar, diluted honey, fruit, &c., with no
appearance of relish on their part, I determined to institute a
search for the hexapods within, in order to ascertain what their
condition might be. On carefully opening B, and removing a
dark globular mass, which is always met with in those larve, I
found the hexapod which had penetrated on the 17th and 18th,
in a somewhat distended condition, perfectly motionless, the head
deflexed, the anterior segments humped, and obviously preparing
to undergo its first moult, as seen in the silkworm.
In about half an hour, I observed that the juices of the
Polistes larva were rapidly inspissating, while the hexapod itself
appeared to have undergone some alteration; and on further
examination, I perceived that the latter was then in the act of
discarding its hexapod skin, the anterior portion being now
pellucid white, without any trace of legs, furnished with two
minute but very distinctly marked black eyes, and having the
lower region still enveloped in the fuscous folds of the hexapod.
During the day, I also opened the other Polistes larva, A,
and soon found the two hexapods which had penetrated on the
18th,—one having its head turned towards the anal extremity,
the other lying transversely ; neither, however, having undergone
any metamorphosis.
4, Position in the Feeding State.
It would seem, from the foregoing remarks, that the position of
the Strepsipterous larve in the incipient stage exhibits no uni-
formity, and that the hexapods indiscriminately attack any part
of their victims, although eventually restricted to the abdo-
128 Mr. S. 8. Saunders’s WVotices of some
minal region, preparatory to their ultimate exit. The relative
direction of the head appears to vary up to a late period, even
when the Hyleus or other victim has assumed the pupa state.
Among the specimens presented will be found a Hyleus nymph,
wherein, on removing the terminal segments to the fourth, exclu-
sive, I perceived the anal extremity of a Strepsipterous larva
projecting. On separating the fourth segment, the head of the
parasite was found directed towards the thorax, in which position
it is still retained within the disrupted segment. After this, the
third segment was in like manner removed, when three more
larvze of smaller dimensions were observed ; one of which was
lying transversely, the other two with their heads directed
towards the anal extremity, and apparently in the act of forcing
a passage between the adipose tissue and outer tegument of the
bee, which operation had been commenced higher up. The
whole were, however, of much smaller size than might have been
expected at this period of their growth; but whether in con-
sequence of there being four to be sustained by one bee, or from
some other cause, must be left to conjecture.
5. Mode of effecting Exit.
The nymphs of those Hylei which are likely to produce the
pale-coloured specimens (HZ. versicolor), which prove, as antici-
pated, to be only a variety of the H. rubicola consequent upon
parasitic absorption, may usually be identified within one or two
days of their final metamorphosis, by assuming a yellow tinge,
and may be set apart as certain to produce male parasites. I
have not unfrequently been enabled to detect the eye-shades of
the latter before the Hyleus nymph has discarded its pellicle,
working to and fro beneath the dorsal tegument ; although more
conspicuous when the bee first attains the imago form, the head
of the parasite being then seen turning from side to side, and
steadily pressing all the while upon the rostrum, as the axis about
which it revolves, in the ratio of one-eighth of a circle, for the
purpose of introducing this between the abdominal folds. Thus
when one eye-shade advances the other recedes, both being some-
times carried deeper below, when the greater strain appears to
operate upon the upheld rostrum. As soon as a lodgment is
effected, this is gradually pushed forward by a continuation of the
same process, until sufficiently advanced, the entire operation
occupying from one hour in some cases, to two hours in others,
and immediately following the ultimate transformation of the bee
in its then moist state; after which the parasite remains perfectly
motionless.
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 129
I have sometimes seen three parasites thus engaged simul-
taneously within the same Hyleus; and should the attempt not
prove successful, the locality is changed for the segmental division
next in succession; or, if foiled again here, the parasite some-
times remounts to the preceding one. These efforts have been
continued for upwards of an hour after a newly developed imago
Hyleus, within which the eye shades were discerned, had been
immersed in spirits, until at length the parasite appeared to have
attained the extreme verge of the segmental threshold ere its
career was finally arrested.
The same absorbent influences upon the Hyleus not being pro-
duced in the case of female parasites, nor any indication of their
presence being supplied, as might be expected, by a distension of
the abdominal region, no opportunity has been afforded, as in the
case of the males, of observing their proceedings at the period of
exit.
6. Occasional Exit from ventral Surface.
Instances have occurred when male parasites have effected their
exit between the ventral segments of the Hylai. A similar oc-
currence in the Xenos has been alluded to by Jurine, who states
that he found their “ tumeurs placées ordinairement entre les 3°,
4° et 5° segmens abdominaux, plus frequemment en dessus qu’en
dessous.”
This anomaly having been witnessed in the Hyl@i in those cases
only where several parasites had been nurtured by the same indi-
vidual, may be ascribable to impediments derived from want of
space, although in some instances three fully developed pupa-
cases have been protruded between the dorsal folds, and the
imago duly produced from each.
Whenever any of the parasites have presented themselves on
the ventral surface of the abdomen of the bee, the pupa-cases
have been reversed, their relative position as regards the body of
the bee being the same as usual, the rostrum pointing towards the
abdominal segments.
7. Subsequent Metamorphoses.
a. Of the Male.
The head of the male Hylecthrus at the moment of protrusion
is white, the eye-shades of a castaneous hue, and the rostrum
presenting a semilunar piceous margin, forming an indurated
apex, with a curvilineal lateral prolongation at the base towards
VOL, Il. N. S. PART V.— JUNE, 18093. K
130 Mr. 8. S. Saunders’s WVotlices of some
the eyes. The eye-shades are found to present at the time of
exit the usual fenestrated disc, consisting of a number of minute
transparences disposed in regular rows, In the course of a few
hours the pupa-case assumes a light castaneous tinge, which con-
tinues gradually darkening as the occult nymph approaches ma-
turity, until at length discarding its slender pellicle, and advancing
from its previous retractile position closer to the operculum, the
black head from within produces a darkening effect upon the
whole. If previously to this moment a needle be passed trans-
versely through the operculum, the nymph remains uninjured
thereby, nor does the removal of the operculum leave the head
prominently exposed. When the operculum has retained a cas-
taneous tinge, and not separated readily on pressure, the parasite
may be considered as still immature; or should the bee die before
the parasite is well advanced towards its ultimate metamorphosis,
the latter may be expected to perish, from the want of the accus-
tomed moisture; nor indeed, if in a more forward state, does it
appear able to accomplish its final moult under such circumstances,
remaining therefore perfect in all its parts, but still enveloped in
the pellicle of the nymph.
b. Of the Female.
When first porrected from the abdomen of the bee, the cepha-
lothorax of the female Hylecthrus is nearly diaphanous, with a
piceous marginal induration, corresponding anteriorly with the
proboscis in the operculum of the male, the deflexion of which in
both would appear to indicate a similarity in the position and pro-
ceedings of the larve prior to egress.
The convex shield on the upper surface exhibits anteriorly two
glossy protuberances seated in an angular recess on each side of
the disc, being at first of a brown colour, which afterwards disap-
pears by the dispersion of the subjacent humours, leaving, how-
ever, the site more transparent. On the lateral margin, at the
extreme corners of the occipital suture beneath the shield, are two
piceous tubercles, occupying the place of the eyes; the discal
shield extending at first in close proximity to the indurated
piceous apex of the cephalothorax, where, shortly after protru-
sion, a separation is effected in the natural course of development,
whence the upper region of the true head becomes partially ex-
posed. The superior lip, broad and rounded at the sides, tra-
versed at the base by a delicate sutural line, is furnished in the
centre with a small quadrate emarginate plate, having on each
side a kind of obtuse palpiform process, terminating in a glossy
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 131
tubercle, corresponding in position with those seen on either side
of the rostrum in the operculum of the male ; and in approxima-
tion to these, curving round from the base, are two deflexed shining
corneous appendages, which may be considered equivalent to the
mandibular organs of the male; the inferior lip curling over
beneath.
In the course of a few days the apical region of the squamous
disc becomes so much vaulted and foreshortened, that by a com-
parison of two female parasites bred from the same bee, it would
appear as if in one of these an anterior lobe had been thrown
off as an operculum, on a line corresponding above with a well-
defined sutural curve on the concave surface below, marking
the extreme limit of the true larva head, having, however, the
vaulted prothoracic segment still partially carried forward hood-
like above.
On a front inspection of this semi-lunar arched aperture in
prolific females, a delicate membranous pellicle may be discerned
within, (sometimes attached to the thoracic hood, and at other
times separated,) presenting a well defined arcuate anterior mar-
gin, porrected beneath the convex shield, and corresponding with
the prothoracic arch, whence it may be inferred that this dis-
junction is produced in like manner by a natural separation of
parts; the base of the orifice being connected by piceous lateral
nervures, swerving upwards from the lower region of the ceso-
phagus towards the larva mouth in front.
On removing the superincumbent convex shield, the quadri-
lateral thoracic duct, already perceptible through the disc, is
found covered throughout with this flatly distended pellicle,
which, for reasons afterwards explained, must be considered to
extend over the whole of the thoracic region. This duct, hence-
forth serving as the vaginal channel, continues gradually widen-
ing until it reaches the soft abdominal segments; and eventually
is used by the hexapod progeny as a kind of vestibule or mar-
supium for egress and ingress, according to circumstances, as
noticed by Dr. Siebold, and witnessed also by myself. It has
never occurred to me to find ova or immature larve therein, as
in the instance alluded to by Mr, Newport;* in which case,
however, the abdomen of the parasite having been previously
ruptured,” the ova may possibly have been displaced.
At the origin of the mesothorax, where the disc of the shield
is much inflated, a minute stigma may be traced on the lateral
* Linn. Trans. vol. xx. p. 337.
K 2
132 Mr. 8. 8. Saunders’s WVotices of some
margin; the metathorax exhibiting a more conspicuous protu-
berance towards the basal angles of the thoracic shield, preceded
by a well-defined stigma, visible on the marginal rim at the
origin of this segment, and communicating with a deflexed
nervure or tubular process, carried obliquely to the base of the
thoracic channel on each side. These meso- and metathoracic
stigmata may be considered to offer an analogy to the sockets of
the pseudelytra and wings in the male.
Looking also to the original condition of the hexapod larve,
and to their subsequent metamorphoses, it may be assumed that
up to the moment of their protrusion from the abdominal seg-
ments of their victims in the pseudo-pupa state, both males and
females have undergone similar and corresponding changes ;
whence it follows that the ultimate larva-skin or pupa-case, dis-
carded by the male, and the exuvie of the nymph, must co-exist
in the female, which does not divest herself of either.
In fact, after having removed the upper region of the cephalo-
thorax as aforesaid, on making a horizontal section of the sub-
jacent parts, the existence of a separate inferior region of the
cephalothorax, forming with the upper a complete exterior sheath,
may be readily perceived, leaving the internal cephalothoracic orga-
nization distinct, with the vaginal duct entire; the pellicle covering
which, and next in succession, (corresponding anteriorly in extent
and arch with the apical margin of the prothoracic hood,) being
equivalent pro tanto to the exuvial skin of the nymph; the
true imago remaining intermediate, and exhibiting on the trans-
verse sutural line at the base of the head, occupying a retractile
position beneath the said porrected pellicle, two minute rufescent
discal tubercles on the upper surface, which may possibly indicate
the rudimentary condition of the antenne. Thus an incomplete
metamorphosis, analogous to that of the male, may be traced in
the female, the desiccated outer tegument of the cephalothorax
being only the incipient pupa-case of the real pupa and imago
conformation within.
8. Relative Position of the Dorsal and Ventral Surfaces.
Whenever opportunities have presented themselves of ascer-
taining the position of the males prior to exit, I have found that
the Xenos and its allies (namely, those parasites obtained from
Polistes, Oplopus, Wesm., and Ancistrocerus, Wesm.) emerged from
the pupa-case, as recorded by Dr. Siebold, with the ventral
region uppermost; whereas the Hylecthri, as well perhaps as
Stylops and others parasitic upon the softer bodied Mellifera,
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 133
usually present themselves in a converse position, with the dorsal
region upwards ; the back of the parasite in the former case being
turned towards the back of the wasp, and in the latter case the
ventral surface of the parasite resting on the back of the bee.
On the other hand, from the corresponding indications in the
opercula of Xenos and Hylecthrus, and from a comparison of the
projecting hood of the prothorax in the pupa-cases of the former
with the analogous vaulted orifice in the females, &c., it is scarcely
questionable that the relative position of the whole of these para-
sites on emerging from the abdominal folds is uniform in all cases,
unless when protrudéd from the ventral segments of their victim.
Upon examining the orifice of the pupa-case of Xenos Rossi,
presented to the Society (No. 2), from which the operculum has
been separated, a sharp angular prolongation bent upwards is
visible on the inferior margin, as if the abdominal segments of
the wasp, between which the parasite had penetrated, had exer-
cised too stringent a pressure upon the under side of the pro-
thorax, thereby interfering with the aperture, which is rather
oblong than circular, and bipartite in consequence of the bent up
prolongation mentioned above, which must considerably impede
the egress of the imago, as experienced by myself on one occasion
when endeavouring to extract from the pupa-case the male of
Xenos Heydenu after death.
No such obstacle is encountered in the pupa-cases of Hylec-
thrus, where the orifice retains the original circular form of the
full fed larva, and the nymphs are found with the ventral region
downwards, although I once observed in a reversed position a
male of H. rubi, which had perished when in the act of divesting
itself from the pellicle of the nymph.
The following inferences would appear to be deducible from the
above recited eet: namely,
1. That the pupa-cases of the males in Xenos and Hylecthins:
&c. correspond in position.
2. That the position of the perfect males on emerging usually
differs in Xenos and Hylecthrus.
3. That one or other must therefore turn within the pupa-case,
a faculty which both appear to possess as nymphs.
4. That the females of all Strepsipterous parasites obviously
coincide in position.
5. That in the pseudo-pupa state the males and females protrude
between the abdominal segments of their victims in a similar
position.
6. That it would lerctare seem scarcely doubtful that the
134 Mr. 8. S. Saunders’s Notices of some
convex upper surface in the females corresponds with the dorsal,
and the concave under surface with the ventral region.
9. Exit of the Imago Male.
After the first burst, produced apparently by the parasite press-
ing forcibly against the operculum, the head and shoulders being
instantaneously protruded on this falling off, a slight effort suffices
to liberate the pseudelytra and first pair of legs; when all these
organs idly beating the air and agitating incessantly, much exer-
tion is made to effect a passage for the second pair of legs, where
the principal detention occurs; after which a few jerks up and
down speedily serve to release the metathorax and abdomen ; the
imago forthwith winging its flight towards the light, where it con-
tinues flitting up and down until its fragile frame becomes ex-
hausted, and it sinks powerless below, still vibrating its wings but
unable to rise again.
I have never succeeded in retaining them alive beyond the day
of exit, and indeed they have not often survived more than a few
hours, generally between two and three. Jurine, who was equally
unsuccessful in this respect, suggested that their premature death
might be occasioned by the continual blows received when coming
into contact with the glass; but the same effects have been pro-
duced when I have allowed them to emerge within a pill box
covered with fine muslin at top and bottom, and freely exposed
to a current of air, with moistened cotton placed in front. Yet
during their brief term of existence they are not so weak and
helpless as may be supposed, for on one occasion when three male
Hylecthri were obtained alive from a dead Hyleus, the first which
exhibited itself commenced dragging the bee about behind him,
together with his unemancipated comrades, until he succeeded
eventually in effecting his escape from the pupa-case.
Sometimes the parasite has been observed to twist round upon
the dorsal segments of the bee while making its exit, and then
resume its original position, the whole operation occupying usually
but a few minutes, and occasionally less than one. ‘The ordinary
period for quitting the pupa-case, in the Hylecthri, would appear
to be about the eighth day after their first protrusion; nor upon
careful investigation have I found any complete their final meta-
morphosis sooner than this, although sometimes protracted a day
or two later. The darkening of the operculum serves to indicate
the immediate presence of the imago in contiguity to the fenes-
trated lattices, watching for a fitting opportunity to effect its exit ;
when exposure to a full light, without sun, is sufficient to induce
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 135
it to make the necessary efforts for this purpose; nor are the
parasites dependent on such occasions upon any assistance from
their foster parents, I having on several occasions found them ac-
complish their deliverance by their own unaided exertions after
the death of the latter, by placing the still moist bee in a glass
tube on the window frame, having the operculum of the parasite
directed towards the light.
To whatever cause the early death of the male parasites may
be attributed, it is certainly retarded by detention within the
pupa-case. I once found one alive five days after the death of
the bee, and the thirteenth from the first appearance of the pupa
between the abdominal folds: and in the case of Mr. Pickering’s
stylopized Andrena, found on Christmas Day, the parasite would
probably have retained its pupa domicile for a much longer
period.
10. Uniformity of Sex in collaterally developed Parasites.
I now proceed to offer some remarks upon the sexual economy
of these parasites, and in the first place to notice the marked
tendency which exists in those nurtured by the same Hyme-
nopterous insect, to exhibit, when more than one is produced,
a uniformity of sex.
These coincidences have been witnessed on so many occasions
that they can hardly be ascribed to accident alone ; twenty males
and fourteen females of Hylecthrus having been obtained in corre-
sponding pairs; twelve males and three females occurring by
threes, and similar effects being also noticed in the parasites ob-
tained from Polistes, Oplopus, and Ancistrocerus ; nor have I ever
found both male and female parasites associated in the same indi-
vidual.
On the other hand, it is certain that both sexes of Stylops
Spencii were met with by Mr. Pickering in one Andrena, as the
figures given thereof clearly indicate ;* so that in attempting to
account for this agreement in sex as the usual, though not inva-
riable, concomitant of such association among Strepsipterous para-
sites, subjected to the like conditions and influences during the
whole period of their larva-growth, the result would seem to be
attributable rather to the operation of some causes antecedent to
the primary attack, than to influences derived subsequent thereto;
and hence, following up the inquiry to the hexapods, and the ova
from which they emanate, we are led to consider from what start-
* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. Vol. I., p. 172, and Pl}. XVII.
136 Mr. §. 8. Saunders’s Notices of some
ing point that divergence originates which eventually conduces
to so marked a contrast between the highly developed external
organization of the male, and the retroactive internal concentra-
tion of the vital energies in the female; or, as Dr. Hermann
Burmeister has described these opposite tendencies, the active
and passive agency displaying itself by “‘ preponderance of evolu-
tion” in the one case, and ‘ predominance of involution” in the
other. *
Some analogous instances of homogeneous development are met
with among those Hymenopterous insects which construct their
larva abodes in a consecutive series, the sexes being retained dis-
tinct and separate, the cells of the one terminating before those of
the other commence. So also among the Vespide, and in Polistes
especially, a complete series of cells is at one time exclusively
devoted to males, and another of larger dimensions set apart for
females only, the ova producing which are consequently deposed
in a continuous series: and the development of the fecundating
principle being promoted by a difference in the quantity and
quality of the food supplied.
It would seem, then, not unreasonable to attribute to Strepsip-
terous insects the tendency to disseminate their ovoviparous pro-
geny in a sexual series, those attaining maturity about the same
time, and emanating from the same ovarial division, being endowed
as such with the constituent characteristics of one particular sex ;
although instances may occur in which both sexes have been nur-
tured by the same bee under precisely identical conditions and
influences.
ll. Effects produced by the Parasites upon the reproductive Powers
of their Victims.
In attempting to account for the aforesaid associations, a pre-
liminary difficulty presents itself in the supposed sterility of the
insects attacked, whose vital functions are obviously affected
thereby to a considerable extent, as many well-attested facts
serve to establish.
That such a result should ensue in cases like that of the 4n-
drena tibialis, from which three specimens of the Stylops Spenci
were obtained, is scarcely problematical; and may also occur
whensoever the highly-developed organization of male parasites
has been acquired at the expense of their victims, the effects pro-
duced being frequently exhibited in the absorbent influences upon
* Burmeister’s Manual, translated by Shuckard, sects. 133 and 206. .
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 137
‘the abdominal region, which is crippled and distorted also to a
considerable extent by the desiccated conical pupa-cases of the
male parasite, but apparently scarcely incommoded by the pres-
sure of the female.
Mr. Newport indeed on one occasion, when only a single spe-
cimen of a female Stylops had been nurtured, found the oviducts
of the bee ‘of ordinary length and size, but the ovaries entirely
undeveloped, and scarcely larger than they are at the period when
the bee-larva passes to the state of nymph. They contained only
the germs of a few very imperfect ova.” *
On the other hand, when speaking of the manner in which the
hexapod larve of Stylops are transferred to the cells of their
victims, he observes, “ they cling fast to the hairs on the body of
the wasp or bee in which they have been hatched, and are trans-
ported by the insect to its nest.”t+ And again, “the Stylops
hatched within its parent in the abdomen of the bee, issues forth
and clings to the hairs which cover the body of the fated insect,
and thus at once has a means of conveyance on the bee to her
nest, in which it is to be fed.” t
These remarks, which necessarily assume the victim to be
capable of constructing brood-cells, and of depositing eggs
therein, are in perfect unison with Dr. Siebold’s views upon this
subject, as expounded under his seventh result, wherein he states,
“ Die sechsbeinigen Strepsipteren-Larven kriechen auf dem Ab-
domen der Hymenopteren, in welchen ihre miitter wohnen, munter
umher. Diese Strepsipteren-Larven lassen sich auf diese weise
in die nester der Hymenopteren tragen, wo sie alsdann gelegenheit
finden, sich durch die weichen Kérper-Bedeckungen der Hyme-
nopteren-Larven hindurch zu arbeiten, und in die Leibeshohle
derselben zu gelangen.” §
If, indeed, in accordance with the opinion first suggested by
Kirby, and generally assented to by others, as to the probable
effects upon the reproductive powers in the case of the male para-
sites, the same results be also attributable to the females, and
their hexapod progeny consequently be always dependent upon
fortuitous means of access to the larva-cells of prolific individuals ;
the circumstance of the subsequent co-ordination of the sexes in
these parasites, indiscriminately dispersed in the first instance and
assembled at random afterwards, could only be ascribed to some
* Loc. cit. p. 335. + Loc. cit. p. 334. ¢ Loc. cit. p. 350.
§ Weigmann’s Archiv fur Naturgeschichte, 1843, p. 139.
138 Mr. 8. S. Saunders’s Wotices of some
influence operating during the period of larva-growth, which we
should scarcely be warranted in assuming.
How, moreover, should we account for the circumstance of the
Polistes, the Hylai, the Andrene, the Odyneri and others visiting
simultaneously the same flowers and localities, being always
attacked by their own peculiar species of parasites, and these re-
taining unimpaired their consistent associations in one unbroken
line of descent ?
If, again, it be averred that out of a number of hexapods pro-
miscuously conveyed to the cells, those only which may prove to
be of precisely suitable condition and habits obtain an available
domicile, this would scarcely hold good among nearly-allied
groups, nor can it be conceived that the hexapods themselves
should be enabled to discriminate their appropriate abode, where
no palpable difference may exist in the store, before even the
larvee upon which they are to subsist are extant in the cells ;
still less that these hexapods, produced in such myriads, should
not, that I am aware of, like the yellow hexapods of Meloe, de-
scribed by Mr. Newport, be frequently met with in profusion
upon certain flowers, as well as upon various Dipterous and Hyme-
nopterous insects.*
While, therefore, the sterility of the victims in certain cases
may be deemed incontestable, the general enunciation of this prin-
ciple would appear to be incompatible with the known conditions
affecting the perpetuation of the species in the parasites, although
a large proportion of these must necessarily perish in the hex-
apod larva state, without obtaining a suitable abode—excessive
numbers serving to provide, as in many other well-known in-
stances, a compensating medium in this respect.
Some hexapod larvee of Hylecthrus having on one occasion
been placed by me upon a very diminutive Polistes larva, I found
them attach themselves without hesitation in the usual manner,
remaining affixed thereto, without, however, succeeding in pene-
trating, nor did they afterwards abandon the position so taken up.
If, however, the hexapod larvee of all Strepsipterous insects be
left, in the ordinary course of events, to chance conveyance by
any bee or wasp to any cell to be reared, as occasions may offer,
upon the larve of any victim answering to certain required con-
ditions, the manner in which those conditions would often be
found fulfilled among allied genera and species must lead to in-
terminable confusion in the distribution of the parasites, instead
* Loc. cit. p. 310, et seq.
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 139
of each being retained, as at present, within its own allotted
sphere.
12. Inferences as to double-brooding in the Xenos.
Having been induced, on a former occasion,* to hazard a con-
jecture as to the existence of double broods in Xenos, from cer-
tain deductions drawn in connexion with the known economy of
Polistes, and the early appearance of the hexapod larve of the
parasites, as noticed by Dr. Siebold (their identity,f however, with
those of Xenos requiring confirmation), the following facts, which
have since come under my observation, may be deemed to afford
some corroborative testimony in this respect.
On the 4th of July, I captured at large a male Polistes, bearing
a well-developed female Xenos, having the vaginal orifice fully ex-
panded. This Polistes was necessarily reared from a larva of the
same year, since none but females hybernate. ‘The Xenos must con-
sequently have been produced from a hexapod deposited in the
larva cell of the Polistes about the same period. But this male
Polistes was doomed to perish before the ensuing winter; there-
fore, any progeny to which its parasite might have given birth, if
available for the continuation of the species, would require to be
introduced forthwith to the larva cells of another Polistes, in con-
junction with whose female brood the young hexapods might again
be enabled to fulfil the required conditions of maturity and fecunda-
tion, and thus transfer their posterity, together with the hyber-
nating Polistes, to the following year. Under any other circum-
stances, it must be assumed that all female parasites met with in
the males of Polistes (which Rossi states to be more subject to
such attacks than the females {) can take no part in the continua-
tion of the race.
Similar deductions may also be drawn in the case of the female
Polistes, exhibiting three prolific females of Xenos, already ad-
verted to when describing the proceedings of the hexapods so
obtained. This was on the 17th of July; yet in the preceding
instance of the male Polistes, it has been shown that an early
brood or series of hexapods had already finished their transfor-
mations and attained the perfect state at least a fortnight earlier.
On the other hand, it is manifest that these hexapods produced
subsequently, must secure a larva-domicile and accomplish their
metamorphoses before winter, in order that when the Polistes
quit their hybernacula in the spring»the Xenos females may dis-
* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. Vol. I. (N.S.), p. 50.
t Loe. cit. p. 143; Results 29 and 30.
¢t Faun. Etrus. Mant., Append., p. 115, note.
140 Mr. 8. S. Saunders’s Notices of some
pose of their hexapod progeny as required, and thus complete
their destined cycle of existence.
13. Impregnation of the Female.
It only remains to notice some experiments made as to the
pairing of the sexes in the Hylecthri, having on various occasions,
when male parasites were obtained, selected bees bearing speci-
mens of their apterous partners for the purpose of introducing
these into the glass tubes containing the former. More difficulty,
however, being experienced in retaining the bees alive when nur-
turing female parasites than when encumbered with the conical
pupa cases of males, these experiments were for some time limited
to newly-protruded specimens of the former, which the males were
in nowise disposed to notice; although, while the latter were in-
cessantly quivering up and down towards the light, 1 was enabled
to bring the females conspicuously before them by keeping the
bees turned in that direction, so that the male parasites were con-
tinually traversing their path, or even crossing over them.
Conceiving at length that these female parasites had possibly not
attained the required degree of development, I selected one which
had emerged five days previously, placing the bee in the same bottle
with two male parasites whose exit from the pupa-case had just
been accomplished, when impregnation was several times at-
tempted on the part of both males; but the Hyleus being in a
feeble condition, and in fact dying later in the day, was frequently
falling from side to side, having no power to retain a firm footing
anywhere. The abdomen of the male was on each occasion
strongly recurved in the direction of the squamous cephalothorax
of the female, the same proceeding being noticed ten or a dozen
times, the males flying off and returning at intervals. They,
however, as usual, only maintained their activity for about the
space of two hours, after which they remained exhausted and
helpless, so as to be shaken out on paper without risk of escape.
About a fortnight later another opportunity presented itself of
witnessing similar results. A bee exhibiting a female parasite,
having completed its transformations on the 25th June, was placed
the same day in a phial containing a newly-issued male Hy-
lecthrus, without the slightest notice being taken of the former,
although repeatedly brought in the way of the latter. The fol-
lowing day the experiment was renewed with other males, some
of these inclosed in a muslin-covered box, but without effect.
On the third day, having introduced the same Hyleus to a phial
containing a male parasite which had just quitted the pupa-case,
ihe latter immediately settled upon the abdomen of the bee, qui-
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 141
vering his expanded and uplifted wings, while recurving the
abdomen considerably in the direction of his secluded partner,
and returning on several occasions to repeat the same process,
although the pairing may not have been fully consummated on
any of these occasions, the Hyleus being, as in the former in-
stance, in a disabled state, and dying in the course of the day.
DEscRIPTIONS OF NEW SPECIES.
1. Xenos Heydenii.
Long. corp. +45 unc., mas.
The male is much smaller and more elongate than that of the
Xenos Rossii, having also the antenne less lanceolate. The female
has the cephalothorax more acuminate and of a dark piceous
hue, with a strongly-marked longitudinal impression near the
lateral margin on each side of the prothoracic disc.
Inhabits the bodies of Ancistrocerus deflendus.
Of the male I only obtained a single specimen, extracted in a
bad condition after death, the Ancistrocerus bearing the pupa of
which, having been taken on the 5th July, died on the 8th, when
on partially removing the operculum the nymph of the parasite
was found still pale; but it changed from white to black on the
9th, and was extracted dead in the imago state on the 13th. The
operculum also, on internal inspection, differs from that of Xenos
Rossuv in its markings and transparent portions.
Of the female I obtained several specimens, captured from the
29th June to the 10th August, and among these some producing
hexapods on the 13th July and 9th August. The Ancistroceri
were chiefly met with on the flowers of the wild peppermint in
localities sheltered from the wind.
I have been induced to attach to this species the name of the
Senator Van Heyden, who is recorded in our Transactions* to
have met with a new Xenos in a small Odynerus, which, however,
he conceived to have been the O. auctus.
Found in the neighbourhood of Prevesa and the Ambracian
Gulf.
The Ancistrocerus from which this was was obtained, apparently
an undescribed species, has the clypeus black, with a well-defined
broad yellow band across the base and embracing the angles on
each side, a truncate frontal mark, a spot in front of each eye, and
a streak behind their posterior margin, yellow. Antenne black,
the basal joint yellow beneath. Mandibles straight, somewhat
rufescent, yellow at the base, with the inner dentate margin
* Trans. Ent. Soc. Vol. I. p. xxiv.
142 Mr. 8. S. Saunders’s Wotices of some
black. Thorax anteriorly banded with yellow; the scapula of the
wings and a spot beneath the same of variable size, the posterior
angles more or less, and two transverse bands across the scutellum,
the anterior one usually broadest, entire or bilobed, yellow. Abdo-
men having the posterior margin of each segment except the last in
the female, and the two last in the male, broadly yellow, which in the
first segment is dilated on each side towards the base; the second
segment campanulate, with a large isolated basal pustule of the
same colour on each side, sometimes entirely absent; all the seg-
ments having the yellow margins traversed by a close irregular
double series of black punctures. Legs yellow, with the base of
the femora black, and the apex of tarsi testaceous; body somewhat
piceous beneath, the posterior margin of the second abdominal
segment yellow. Wings hyaline.
The male differs in having the clypeus entirely yellow, or with
only a small discal black marking, and the penultimate and anal
abdominal segments bearing a yellow pustule.
Long scorpa 4) -<isievoydis oxele ecole 15) apes
Alar: xp. SOR. slaejewre's os, arpueier oO) lie
I propose to designate this species by the appellation of 4. de-
Jflendus, in allusion to its parasitic infliction.
2. Xenos Klugi.
I have only seen males of this species, parasitic on the Odynerus
(Oplopus, Wesm.) rubicola of Dufour, which were obtained after
the death of the Odynerus, extracted from its earthen cells in
briars. It is somewhat smaller than the X. Rossw, the body black,
the legs and antennz pale, the latter elongate and tapering, and
the operculum materially differing from that of the pupa-case of
the former, nor, considering the very different economy of the
Polistes and the Odynerus, can this parasite coincide in habit with
the X. Rossii, or transfer its progeny through the medium of
hybernating females.
Found in the same localities as the preceding.
Hylecthrus Sieboldi.
This species is parasitic on the Prosopis variegata, Panz., several
specimens of the latter, producing female parasites, having been
captured during June, July, and the beginning of August, on the
flowers of the wild peppermint, and one of these with a brood of
hexapod Jarvee on the 5th July. Another of the same bees, bearing
the exuviz of a male parasite, was taken on the 16th July. The
cephalothorax in the female of this species is distinguished by a
broad yellow longitudinal band dilated towards the apex, and by a
New Species of Strepsipterous Insects. 143
dark transverse line at the base, interrupted by the passage to the
abdominal region.
Found in sheltered places on the peninsula of Prevesa. This
Presopis does not, however, nidificate in briars.
DiacGnosis oF SPECIMENS PRESENTED TO THE SOCIETY.
1. Xenos Rossii $ in the act of emerging from the pupa-case,
having already cast off the pupa skin; the venéral region upper-
most. (With Polistes 9 captured July 15th.)
2. Pupa-case of another from the same species of Polistes, ex-
tracted entire, showing indented orifice; together with the oper-
culum of the same; the cast off pellicle of the nymph at the
extremity within.
3. Xenos Rossii, two females, protruding from the abdominal
interstices of Polistes. (Captured July 5th.)
4, Hexapod larve of Xenos Rossu. (From another Polistes,
July 18th.)
5. Xenos Heyden 2, with Ancistrocerus deflendus &.
6. Hylecthrus rubi in the act of emerging from the pupa-
case; the dorsal region uppermost. (With Hyleus rubicola, var.
versicolor &.)
7. Hyleus versicolor 9 bearing two pupa-cases of Hylecthrus
rubi @, with circular orifices.
8. Pupa-cases of Hylecthrus rubi 6, with the opercula in sitd,
one of which protruded from ventral segments of the bee. The
parasites apparently immature within. (With Hy/e@us versicolor.)
9. Hylecthrus rubi $ in imago state.
10. Hylecthrus rubi 9 on first emerging; a bred specimen.
(With Hyleus rubicola $.)
11, Another bred specimen of the same in a more advanced
state.
12. Pseude-pupa of Hylecthrus rubi 8 previously to protru-
sion. (With nymph of Hyl@us versicolor; the apical segments
removed. )
13, Feeding larve of Hylecthrus, in different positions. (In
section of abdomen of nymph of Hyleus versicolor.)
14. Nymph of Hylecthrus rubi 8, with pellicle longitudinally
separating preparatory to exit.
In Spirits.
15. Nymph of Hyleus versicolor, the last three segments of
abdomen removed, showing two male pseudo-pupe of Hylecthrus
rubi, not previously apparent.*
16. Pseudo-pupa of male parasite, as recognized by eye-shades,
and proboscis working for egress within abdomen of the bee.
(With newly-developed Hyl@us versicolor.)
* From the rostrum of that to the right (the left in Pl. XVI. fig. 5) a portion of
yellow fluid was ejected on handling the nymph of the bee, whence the buccal
orifice may be considered in a normal condition at this period.
144 Mr.S. 8. Saunders on Strepsipterous Insects.
17. Immature white pupa of male parasite as just emerged
from abdomen of the bee. (With newly-developed Hyl@us ver-
sicolor.)
18. Pale nymph of Hylecthrus querctis , extracted from the
pupa-case. (Largest specimen.)
19. Pale nymph of Hylecthrus rubi 3, the wings distended.
(Smaller pale specimen.)
20. Nymph of Hylecthrus rubi $ in a more advanced state,
with the limbs of the imago more distinctly shown. (The larger
dark specimen.)
21. Extremity of body of Hyleus rubicola, with bred specimen
of the female parasite (H. rubi), extracted entire after the protru-
sion of the cephalothorax.
“ DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.—PLATE XV.
Fig. 1—8. Details of pseudo-nymph of Xenos Rossii @.
1. Head-case seen from above; 2, sideways; 3, from front;.4, from within;
5, body, with head-case removed ; 6, front orifice, showing raised conical
under edge; 7, one of the spiracles; 8, extremity of body wrinkled,
inclosing pellicle of true pupa.
9. Oplopus rubicola, Duf., with Xenos Klugii, S.8.8., g, inclosed in its
pupa skin, with the head of another pseudo-nymph ¢ ; 10, antenna
extracted from pupa skin of X. Klugii ¢ (basal joints not clearly seen) ;
11, head-case of pseudo-nymph ¢ from below; 12, from the front;
13, from within ; 14, sideways; 15, portion of ventral surface near the
head-case pointed (accidentally ?).
15. Ancistrocerus deflendus, S.S.S., with Xenos Heydenii, S.S.S., 9 ; 16,
pseudo-nymph of X. Heydenii ¢ in pupa skin; 17, antenna extracted ;
18, head-case of pseudo-nymph ¢ from below; 19, sideways; 20, from
the front; 21, from within ; 22, cephalothorax of 9 , 23, front of ditto
magnified more strongly ; 24, front margin seen in front.
PLATE XVI.
Fig. 1. Xenos Rossii g escaping from dorsal articulation of abdomen of Polistes
gallica.
2. Hylecthrus rubi,S.S.S8., ¢, escaping from dorsal articulation of abdomen
of Hyleus rubicola; 3, pupa of Hyl. rubi g ; 4, ditto with pellicle
longitudinally splitting preparatory to exit; 5, abdomen of pupa of
Hyleus, with terminal segments removed, showing two pseudo-nymphs
of Hyl. rubi g not previously apparent (eye covers not coloured) ;
6, pupa of Hyleus with pseudo-nymph of ¢ parasite working for egress,
the dark eye shades visible through tegument of bee-pupa; 7, head-
case of immature white pupa of H. rubi g just emerged from within
the abdomen; 8, head-case sideways; 9, front of head-case more
magnified ; 10, extremity of body of Hyleus, with exuvie of two males
of Hyl. rubi after removal of their head-cases showing oval aperture ;
11, extremity of abdomen of Hyl. rubicola, with Hyl. rubi 9 ; 12,
front of cephalothorax @ ; 13, ditto seen laterally; 14, upper pellicle
of cephalothorax of Q removed from fig. 15, which thus shows the
thoracic duct covered with its membranous pellicle ; 16, cephalothorax
of Hyl, rubi @ (bred) with fuscous markings in place of eye shades ;
17, ditto with outer dorsal pellicle of upper membrane of thoracic duct
removed, showing articulations.
18. Pupa of Hylecthrus quercts @.
19. Prosopis variegata, with cephalothorax of Hylecthrus Sieboldii Q exposed ;
20, the latter magnified greatly, showing two larve within the thoracic
duct.” 9[JO. W,]
( 145 )
XX. On the Duration of Life in the Queen, Drone and
Worker of the Honey Bee; to which are added Observa-
tions on the Practical Importance of this Knowledge in
deciding whether to preserve Stocks or Swarms: being
the Prize Essay of the Entomological Scciety of London
for 1852. By J. G. DesBoroveu, Esq.
“* Tn tenui labor at tenuis non gloria.”
For ages past the bee has many times occupied the attention of
the naturalist, and numerous works have appeared under various
titles, some treating of the management of the honey bee alone,
and others of its management, as well as natural history ; yet it is
somewhat remarkable that none of them have treated on ‘“ The
duration of life in the honey bee;” and although in some of the
bee books an occasional sentence touching the age of bees may be
observed, no connected or definite information or argument on
that portion of the subject is to be found.
The poet Virgil in his fourth Georgic, alluding to this subject,
says, ‘“ Neque enim plus septima ducitur estas,” but it is not
very clear whether he alludes to the age of the bee individually,
or to the duration of life in a stock of bees. “Stat fortuna domus,”
would incline us to think that the stock was here spoken of, and
not the single bee.
A degree of mystery likewise pervades the volumes of the early
writers on bees, and even at the present day “ bee superstitions”
are prevalent in all parts of the kingdom, and their influence is so
powerful, that any attempt to alter the system of bee management
practised by the forefathers of the cottage beekeepers, is looked
upon with a suspicion scarcely to be credited unless experienced.
The system usually adopted by cottagers in keeping their bees
affords but little scope for observation; indeed the only observa-
tions which can possibly be made under such a system are the
external appearances of the hives or stocks; the queen is never
seen, the combs containing the brood cannot in anyway be in-
spected, and even after the murderous hand of their master has
deprived the stock of its existence, the bees are unceremoniously
buried without notice; we cannot, therefore, expect much assist-
VOL. II, N. S. PART V.— JUNE, 1853. L
146 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
ance from such a system to aid us in our present research, but
still an occasional inference may be drawn from the little that may
be thence gathered, as will hereafter be seen.
When, however, bee keeping is treated as a science, and the
beekeeper’s study is to adopt every expedient to secure the comfort
and well-doing of his bees,—when his hives are constructed in such
a mode, that daily and hourly observations may be made on the
proceedings of his bees,—when he can proudly say, by care and
management he has preserved his stocks in health and prosperity
for years, instead of killing them ruthlessly in the first season of
their existence,—any steps tending to assist him in so laudable an
object, or to encourage him to persevere, deserve to be hailed
with delight ; even on the score of profit it might be easily shown
that the old system of taking honey by killing the bees ought at
once to be abolished, but such a course of argument would be
foreign to the present essay.
Apart from any consideration on the ground of bee manage-
ment, the hives in use under a scientific mede are much more
adapted for observation of all kinds, and therefore it will be to
them. we must look for help in treating our present subject; and
when a record of observations has been kept, and a series of
comparatively unimportant notes are brought into one focus, the
information contained therein will assume so different a shape,
that even the observer himself will scarcely be persuaded that his
conclusions are faithfully drawn, so valueless did the notes appear
in their crude state.
The writer of this essay has kept a series of memoranda as to
the proceedings of the stocks of bees in his apiary, more parti-
cularly as to their swarming, since the year 1839; and although
such notes were originally commenced as an amusement, it was
soon perceived that for practical purposes they were of great im-
portance: a careful digest of such memoranda, in the nature
somewhat of a pedigree of his stocks, is the groundwork of this
essay.
It will hardly be necessary after the above remarks to add that
he has pursued the humane system of bee management, that his
hives are therefore constructed so as to afford sufficient means of
observation; but a short digression from the subject for the pur-
pose of saying a few words on a hive, which may truly be called
“* An Observatory Hive,” may not be deemed out of place. This
hive is so constructed that each cell is distinctly visible to the
bottom. The hive is in its principle unicomb; at the same time, by
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 14:7
a peculiar arrangement of the combs, the bees are not so widely
distributed as in the ordinary unicomb hive. Both sides of every
comb can at any moment be inspected, and this without the least
interruption to the labours of the bees; the queen can at all times
be found, and the laying of eggs by her has been so frequently
seen, that it has ceased to be a matter of curiosity (he will not
say of interest) to the writer. The difficulty heretofore has been to
keep the stock in this hive alive during the winter, and this has not
yet been attained (three trials having proved unsuccessful); but this
season the hive, instead of being in an apiary, has been established
in one of the rooms of the writer’s dwelling-house,—in fact his bed-
room; and at this period (December) he has the satisfaction of
seeing the stock in perfect health and strength, and has every
prospect, by the means he is adopting, of overcoming the difficulty
before experienced of keeping the bees with which the hive is
stocked alive, and thus actual daily observation can be made
throughout the winter.
After these few introductory remarks, and the above short
sketch of the means we possess for observation, we proceed at
once to the consideration of the subject of the essay.
AGE OF THE QUEEN.
From the very peculiar habits of the queen bee, differing in all
respects from the other inhabitants of the hive, in her constantly
abiding within the hive or stock of which she is solely the monarch,
and from the difficulty and almost total impracticability of any at-
tempt to identify her by marking or mutilation of any kind, nothing
short of the closest observation during a number of years, a diligent
noting of facts, and a careful and unprejudiced examination of the
whole, will enable an apiarian to venture an opinion, much less to
form a conclusion, as to the duration of life in this insect.
That the queen hee exists for a longer period than one year is
easily to be shown, but for how much longer is a question not so
readily answered. Trace the existence of a queen; and for this
purpose select a stock of bees which has already thrown off its
swarm led by the old queen, and also its cast led by a young
queen; the stock will then be left to the government of one young
queen, which was in embryo at the departure of the swarm (all
the other young queens we will presume to have been killed with
the exception of the one selected to reign); this young queen was
of course produced from an egg laid at some period of the
summer,* say of the year 1849, and for sake of identity we will
* Proved by my observatory hive, see note in p. 149. |
, L2
148 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
call this stock A. The same season, 1849, our young queen com-
mences her work of laying eggs, thereby recruiting the population of
the hive, now so greatly reduced by the departure of the swarm
and cast; and as the eggs she produces at this period are all
workers, the numerical strength of the hive is so far re-established
as to enable it to brave the dangers of the winter season. The
next year, 1850, our young queen of the previous year may be
styled an old queen, her progeny in hive A has increased the po-
pulation of the hive so much as to render a swarm necessary to
be thrown off, and the swarm of 1850, which we call B, is led by
the queen of the year 1849. The same proceeding occurs with
our swarm of 1850, and the same necessity is occasioned in the
year 1851; and the swarm issuing in that year, which we will call
C, is again led by our queen of 1849: this would go on ad infi-
nitum were not the insect tribe under the same sentence as man
and all things on the face of nature, ‘‘ once born and once to die.”
When that death takes place in the queen bee is our important
question.
We have traced a queen from the summer of 1849 to the
summer of 1851, and the proof that the same queen has existed
for these three years is this, that the stock of 1849 threw off a
swarm in 1850, and from the swarm of 1850 a swarm issued in
1851; and as swarms are led by an old queen, both the swarms
of 1850 and 1851 are led by the same queen, being the one pro-
duced in the year 1849, under the circumstances with which we
started the history of our selected queen. ‘That it is the same
queen is proved by the fact that all the young queens would be
left in the hives A and B at the time of the issuing of the swarms
therefrom ; and as the swarm issued from hive A in the first
summer after the birth of our selected queen, and from hive B in
the first year of its existence after being hived as a swarm, it
must be apparent (unless the fact of the swarm being led by an
old queen is disputed) that these swarms, respectively identified
by the letters B and C, were led by the queen brought forth in the
year 1849 from the hive A; but had the stocks marked A and B
omitted to send forth a swarm at the times we have stated, then
it would not be the fact that the swarms issuing from hive A and
B were led by the same queen, as we shall presently endeavour
to show.
Now the swarm of 1851 (C), although living in the year 1852,
does not in that year send forth a swarm; still the stock lives and
flourishes, the bees are numerous, and apparently the population
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 149
is strong enough to follow the usual order of nature; the multi-
plication and the preservation of the species by the natural division
of swarming has not this year taken place. Why has this instinct
in the bee, at other times so strong, been disregarded? Why has
the natural economy of the hive been disturbed? What is the
solution of this paradox ?—the natural death and the renewal of
the queen. Age and decay have done their work, the natural
powers of the insect have become exhausted, and she has quietly
and peacefully departed, leaving her subjects to mourn her loss
for a short space of time only, for she has left behind her an
offspring of the royal stock, a successor to the throne is in embryo,
and all this taking place whilst numbers of drones are in the hive
produced from eggs laid by the late queen; no fear need be enter-
tained of the impregnation of the new queen in order to ensure
the future existence of the stock. The young queen accordingly
comes forth, is impregnated, and carries forward the necessary
routine of the hive. This young queen, like her predecessor,
begins to lay eggs within five days of her coming to maturity,*
and at the end of a further period of twenty-one days worker
bees are again added to the population of the hive and all is again
well; in fact the hive is now precisely in the same state as the
hive with which we commenced our proposition, with this excep-
tion, that in the first case the old queen had been disposed of by
departing with the swarm, and in the present case she has paid the
debt of nature—death.
But what proof have we of this state of things taking place
from the outward appearances of the hive and the proceedings of
the bees themselves? We have this: towards the end of the
month of May, or the beginning of the month of June, we may
often observe a large quantity of bees hanging on the outside of
the hive, sometimes extending a considerable way underneath the
alighting board, or in any place where a convenient hold can be
obtained, apparently listless and idle; no work is going on,
although honey might be obtained in abundance were the bees in-
clined to work, and even if the weather should be what the most
anxious apiarian could desire the bees still remain in this extra-
ordinary state. Although stimulated in other years to seek another
abiding place for the over abundant population of the hive by
swarming, this year they seem to have no desire or intention to
do so; their natural instinct seems to be blunted; in a word, the
* 1852 July 16 Stocked observatory hive with a cast.
ae » 21 10,”.m. Queen depositing eggs.
150 Mr, J. G. Desborough on the
stock will not swarm: (of course we are now speaking of a stock
of bees in a common straw hive, having no means of affording
extra room for the increased number of bees. Yet even ina stock
of bees, where ample means are at hand for affording working
room, the bees will occasionally use the extra space for this lying
out, as it is termed, instead of using it as a storehouse for honey).
What then is the explanation of all this? We may occasionally,
when a hive is in this state, see the bees which are lying out
drenched with rain; yet there they still pertinaciously hang. Why
then will not the bees remedy the inconvenience by forming an
independent colony? simply because they have no queen in a
proper stage to lead them forth. The old queen has died a natural
death, leaving young queens in various stages of forwardness, and
until one is matured the swarm cannot go forth; the time for this
perfection of the queen has been passed in the listless idle state
we have been describing, and by the time the young queen is
matured, particularly if unfavourable weather should ensue, the
season will be so far advanced that the stock will not swarm.
Here then is the secret of the stock not swarming, the renewing
of the queen is the cause of all; the queen existing in the year
1852 in the stock we marked C has been the leader of swarm
after swarm, has successively reigned in the hives A, B and C, has
left her liome time after time until nature has become exhausted
and she has died full of years, and her successor reigns in her
stead.
That this change of queens takes place in the summer after the
hatching of drones, or at all events after the laying of drone eggs,
is very evident; for were it not so the young queens would be
barren for the want of the drones to impregnate them, and the
inevitable loss of the stock would be the consequence.
It does not invariably happen that the change of queens is
always preceded by the hanging out of the bees, that will depend
in a great measure on the numerical strength of the stock, and
the amount of space provided for them in the hive; but still the
stock, though strong enough to swarm, will not do so, and when
the great inconvenience and danger to the bees in hanging out is
taken into consideration, it strengthens the argument that some
dire necessity compels them to endure the inconvenience and risk
the danger. Again, the renewal of the queen may take place
without any other symptom being present than the nonswarming
of the stock; the honey gathering may not be interrupted in any
degree, nor the ordinary labours of the hive suspended,
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 151
This renewal of queens, it may particularly be observed, is in
every respect analogous to the natural state of a hive in swarming,
with only one exception; viz. that the old queen, instead of going
off with the swarm, dies. The state of the hive at the period of
the death of the queen in the one case, and the departure of the
swarm in the other, is exactly the same: in both cases drones and
drone brood exist in the hive, young queens are in embryo ready
to come forth in a few days, and worker bees and worker grubs
are to be found in abundance; the stock in both cases is thereafter
left to the government of the young queen, and with the solitary
exception of the departure of the queen with a portion of the
population, the two instances of swarming and renewal of the
queen are exactly similar: to the stock therefore at the end of the
season the result is the same.
Much difference of opinion has existed whether the swarm is
led by the old queen or a young one, and in support of the view
that the swarm is led by a young queen, the analogy of the swarm-
ing of ants has been sometimes alluded to, where undoubtedly the
young queen leads; but the queen ant, immediately her colony is
settled, casts aside her wings, as no longer needed, thereby utterly
preventing herself from ever afterwards leading a swarm. The
queen bee does not do so, and therefore the analogy no longer
exists ; but, on the contrary, it may be contended that the queen
bee retains her wings expressly for the necessity of leading the
swarm.
It may here be observed, that if the view taken above as to the
renewal of queens is correct, when a stock of bees throws off its
swarm late in the season, and after such renewal (but which will
rarely happen), strictly speaking it is not a swarm, but only a
cast: a swarm, properly so called, is led by the old queen capable
of producing eggs of all kinds, — queens, workers, and drones,
whilst the queen leading the swarm thrown off under the circum-
stances just detailed is a young queen, and will produce in that
season only worker eggs. That the queen leading a swarm is
capable of producing queen eggs, is at once evident from the fact,
that such swarm in favourable seasons will throw off a mazden
snarm, and of course under such circumstances drone eggs must
also have been produced, or the young queens left in the hive at
the departure of the maiden swarm would be barren, and the loss
of the stock ensue. In the case of a maiden swarm the old queen
will have changed her habitation twice in the same season; whe-
ther this double swarming has any effect on the duration of her
life future observation must prove.
152 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
Several singular facts should be here noticed with reference to
the proceedings of a cast, viz. that in the comb built by a cast in
its first season, all the cells are of the small size used for rearing
worker bees; no drone cells are built; the hive or box, unless
very small, will not be filled with comb, and the space left unoc-
cupied will be found to be that usually the position of the drone
cells. It has occurred to our recollection in the preparation of
this essay, that occasionally a hive stocked with a late swarm has
been found not filled with comb, but the observation was not car-
ried to the extent of noticing whether drone cells were absent; if
such should hereafter be found to be the fact, that drone cells are
wanting in the comb built by a late swarm, it will be a complete
confirmation of the theory, that such late swarm was in fact only
a cast, led by a young queen, and a complete proof likewise that a
renewal of queens had taken place.
A cast, it will be seen, can never throw off a swarm in the first
year of its existence, for the simple reason, that only worker bees*
are produced, and no drones or queens are produced until the
spring succeeding its establishment as a stock.
The winter of the year 1851, and spring of the year 1852, was
singularly fatal to the stocks of bees in the immediate neighbour-
hood of the writer of this essay, and a post-mortem examination
with some certainty points to the death of the queens as the cause
of the loss of the stocks. An opportunity was embraced of exa-
mining six of such stocks; scarcely a single bee was found in any
one of the hives, and no trace whatever of the queen was visible ;
each hive was well stored with honey, so that starvation was not
the cause of death; the hives were dry, and the bees had been
apparently healthy, but they had in each case dwindled away, or had
gradually deserted the hives, Four of these stocks had swarmed
in the summer of 1851, so that the queens would be young ones ;
two of the stocks were alive as late as February, 1852, but there
was no trace of breeding in the combs: what, then, was the cause
of death in these instances? In the four stocks which had swarmed
barrenness of the young queen might be suggested, but in the two
stocks which had not swarmed such could not be the case. From
a careful examination and consideration of these appearances, and
the attendant circumstances, it must be admitted that the death of
the queen was the source of all the mischief, but what was the real
cause of her death is a mystery not so easily cleared up.
* Having stocked my observatory hive this year with a cast I can speak to this
fact.
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 153
As a contrast to the fatality amongst queen bees just noticed,
we have made the following extract from the Note Book mentioned
in this essay at page 146, and as an instance of the extraordinary
number of queens produced from three of the stocks in an apiary
of six, during that year (1847); and it is remarkable that in the
same apiary, comprised of the same number of stocks, not one
queen bee was killed in the year 1852, not a single swarm having
issued from any one of the stocks in the apiary.
That the season must have considerable influence in the pro-
duction of queens must be self-evident, otherwise why should
stocks of bees in 1847 produce an over abundance of queens, and
in 1852, under precisely the same management, produce none?
Had only one stock omitted to throw off a swarm, it would be as-
suming too much to attribute the omission to the season, but when
the influence extends to all the stocks in an apiary, and to great
numbers of stocks in the immediate neighbourhood, the cause may
then fairly be attributed to the peculiar season. ‘Two of the stocks
now living (1852) are the indentical stocks mentioned in the Note
Book of 1847, numbers 2 and 4, one of them having been hived
in 1845, and the other in 1846.
“© YEAR 1847—Stock No. 2.
* June 12. Swarmed; deprived the swarm of the queen, and
returned them.
sy 20. Cast ; caught two queens ; returned,
» 25. Came out again, and joined bees from Nos. 3 and 4.
» 26. They set to work well.
‘© Stock No. 3.
“June 5. Saw appearance of swarming after they had worked
comb in a glass on the top of the hive; a queen’s
cell visible.
», 6. Inverted the hive, hoping to destroy young queen
thereby.
», 12. Swarmed; deprived them of the queen, and returned
the swarm.
»» 20. Cast, and I caught queen on the alighting board be-
fore she took wing.
», 23, Cast again, and I caught queen again in the same
manner.
», 25. Came out again, and joined bees from Nos. 2 and 4
This stock died in March, 1848.
154 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
‘* Stock No. 4.
“ June 8. Heard piping, but never saw swarm rise, and never
missed the bees as to numbers, either from the
stock hive or glasses.
10. Found young queen dead on alighting board.
», 11. Aswarm or cast issued; caught queen, and returned
the bees.
15. Came out again, and I killed queen as she was coming
out of the hive.
19. Came out again, and I killed two queens after they
had settled ; returned them.
20. Caught another queen on alighting board.
22. Came out again; deprived them of queen, and re-
turned them.
25. Came out again, and joined bees from Nos. 2 and 3.
The bees from 2, 3 and 4 having all joined in one
lump on swarming, I took them in two common
straw hives; I afterwards dashed them all out on
a white cloth, picked out three queens, and then
distributed the bees amongst each of the hives 2,
3 and 4, and they all afterwards worked well.
No. 4 produced 40 Ibs. of honey in glass.”
99
99
9
In the preparation of the portion of this essay treating of the
age of the queen, the actual pedigree of a stock in the writer’s
apiary is stated; but upon making up, from the notes previously
mentioned, the pedigree of other stocks, the period of the change
of queens, evinced by nonswarming, was found not uniformly to
correspond with the three years. In several cases the time was
found to be four years, and in only one instance two years (the
notes in the latter case were rather imperfect, in consequence of
the stock having swarmed whilst the writer was absent from home,
and it is not deemed safe to depend upon them); and although it
may be deemed too presumptuous to assert that the age of the
queen bee is in reality three or four years, yet the facts adduced
above from personal observation, and the deductions and conclu-
sions drawn therefrom, will be deemed a sufficient apology by the
writer in thus stating his belief that his opinion is correct.
Before concluding this portion of our subject treating of the
age of the queen, we may merely notice the experiments of Huber
the naturalist, detailing the production of a queen bee from worker
eggs; but as this renewal of a queen cannot be considered as a
natural, but rather as an artificial one, it does not strictly fall
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 155
within the province of the present essay, and the only point in
which such experiment can assist us, would be to fix the date of
birth of the queen bee, a date which can be as accurately fixed
without the aid and risk of the experiment. So much doubt also
has been thrown upon the existence of the power of the worker
bees thus to create a queen, that we felt any argument, founded
upon the production of a queen in the mode detailed by Huber,
would be open to the same doubts as Huber’s experiments. The
question as to the power of the worker bees to produce drones is
still entirely an open one, and it would seem that the reproduction
of a queen bee alone from worker eggs, before the period at which
the drone eggs are to be found in the hive, would only prolong
the misery of the stock, ultimately to die from the barrenness of
the queen; for without drones how could the young queen so
produced become fertile? and unless the worker bees also possess
the power of rearing drones from worker eggs, the mischief arising
from the loss of a queen at those particular seasons when only
worker eggs are to be found in the hive would inevitably be fatal.
It would therefore be exceedingly important if the attention of
apiarians was drawn particularly to this subject, that experiments
might be instituted to prove the fact.
The writer of this essay is free to confess, that he was a sceptic
regarding the production of a queen bee from worker brood, even
up to the time of some portion of this essay having been witten,
but an apiarian friend having two dead stocks not broken up in
his apiary, which had died in the winter of 1851, gave them to
the writer for examination, and in one (a stock of at least ten
years old or more) he found, and has preserved, a most unique
specimen of a queen cell in the midst of worker cells, wherein
evidently a plebeian queen had been reared; this, of course, at
once settles the matter in his mind.
AGE oF THE Drone.
In entering upon this part of our subject we do not labour under
so many difficulties, in collecting materials to form our conclusion
as to the duration of life in this insect, as we do with respect to the
queen bee. When drones are existing in a hive they are daily
coming forth for an aérial trip, should the weather permit ; and in
every hive, whatever may be its construction, if it is in any way
provided with a glass window, the drones may invariably be ob-
served: still, however, the difficulty of individual identity exists,
Drones, or male bees, are not found in the hive at the time the
queen commences laying eggs in the spring. Every one had been
unmercifully killed or disabled, and expelled from the hive, in the
156 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
preceding autumn by the worker bees; we can therefore date the
birth of drones with accuracy. The drones generally make their
appearance in May, in stocks unusually strong; they may occa-
sionally, but rarely, be seen in April, and drone brood may be
found in hives so late as August; and it is not uncommon to see
drone grubs and the pupa in various stages brought out from the
hives at the time the annual massacre of the matured drones takes
place; total extermination of that class being evidently the object
of the workers.
The ordinary limit to the life of the male bee may thus with
certainty be embraced in the period extending from April to Sep-
tember, but that period is only the one allowed to the drones by
the worker bees, and the natural life of the drone may be con-
sidered more the object of inquiry in the present essay than the
period during which the drones are permitted to live.
That the drones would exist for a longer period if the workers
did not destroy them, is evinced by the fact, that in a hive when
by any accident the queen is not impregnated (and this more fre-
quently happens to a cast), the drones still remain in the hive long
after the month of September; but the very circumstance of their
remaining in the hive unfortunately deprives us of the means of
noting the duration of life in the drone, because the stock being
in an unnatural state from the barrenness of the queen, dwindles
away and dies, drones as well as workers, generally about the
month of December, or it may be January, and this closes the
scene of our observations; whilst were we to remedy the evil by
furnishing the stock with a fertile queen, an immediate slaughter
of the drones would take place. It may here be observed, that it
is not always permitted to the drones to exist so late as July or
August, but occasionally in a very populous colony the drones are
killed and turned out of the hive in May or in the early part of
June, and frequently, though not invariably, a second destruction
of drones takes place at the usual period ; this double destruction
of drones has not yet, as we are aware, been satisfactorily ex-
plained, but one fact may be recorded which may assist in solving
the mystery—that when an early slaughter of the drones takes
place, the stock of bees will not swarm that season.
Having thus seen, that under all circumstances whilst the hive
is in a natural state, the existence of drones is a merely permis-
sive one on the part of the worker bees, and that whenever the
state of the stock is such as to cause the workers to permit the
drones to live, they exist as long as the workers themselves; we
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 157
shall not be assuming too much in concluding, that the natural
duration of life in the drone is the same as in the worker bee.
AGE oF THE WorKER BEE.
Here again we are beset with the difficulty of individual iden-
tification, and the worker bees are so numerous that any marking
of the whole number existing at any one period in a hive is almost
out of the question. The marking of a portion would not help us
in any great degree; indeed, were a worker bee to be marked by
any substance being attached to its body, or by a dot of varnish,
paint, or any thing of that kind, in all probability it would lead to
its untimely end in one shape or another, so that an experiment
of that kind could not be depended upon; and were the marking
not to be of a permanent character, the extreme cleanly habits of
the bee would speedily lead to the obliteration of the mark. We
cannot therefore obtain assistance in our research by any mecha-
nical means of this nature.
Worker bees exist in the hive or stock at all seasons of the
year ; but whether they are the same bees is the question more
particularly now to be discussed.
Let us enter into a calculation as to the number of bees pro-
duced in a hive at various periods of the year; and this though
seemingly impossible, when reduced to a system is rendered
simple, and the result accurate. It is a well-known fact, that in
the month of January, from some cause or another, whether na-
tural or otherwise will hereafter be seen, the worker bees are
reduced to a comparatively small number, though that month is
not always the time when the smallest number of bees are
present in the hive. This number must be estimated, and it
will be the only quantity which cannot be determined by actual
calculation. It is true we might by fumigation determine the
real number; but such a proceeding at this period of the year
would very likely lead to the death of the stock. We may safely
take the number in a fair stock at from 6000 to 8000; on fumi-
gation the stock would be found to contain about three pints of
bees; and as 2000 bees are contained in a pint, this estimate of
6000 is as nearly accurate as possible.
Breeding commences in the month of January, and we should
find on examination that the space of comb occupied by brood at
that season will be about six inches in width and four inches in
depth, giving a superficial surface of twenty-four square inches.
158 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
Now brood is always present on opposite sides of the same comb
in the regular seat of breeding in a hive (in glasses and at the
sides of the hive in the heat of summer this is not uniformly the
case) ; we therefore multiply the twenty-four by two, giving forty-
eight square inches of brood in January.
If a piece of brood comb containing worker cells be measured,
it will be found that on an average twenty-seven cells are con-
tained in a square inch;* thus we have 1296 cells containing
brood in the month of January. In February this breeding sur-
face will have been extended to three combs, the centre one
having a larger surface occupied than in the preceding month,
and the comb on each side of the centre one having about the
same quantity in February as the centre one had in January.
This gradual progression extends until the month of June, when
the greatest number of cells will be found to be occupied with
brood.
Subjoined is a table showing the number of combs used in each
month for breeding purposes, the number of cells in each comb,
and therefore the number of bees reared during the eight months
from January to August inclusive. The actual time required for
a worker bee to arrive at maturity is twenty-one days. In the
table we have calculated each cell to produce one bee during the
month; but in fact there is an excess of nine or ten days in each
month. This may be allowed for the cells which are occasionally
missed by the queen in depositing eggs,—for inequalities in the
shape of the space occupied by brood comb (our calculation of
space in each case being a regular parallelogram),—for the time
which elapses between the young bee emerging from the cell and
its being again used,—and for the interregnum occurring between
the time of the departure of the old queen with the swarm, and
the establishment of the young queen in the monarchy of the
hive, during which period no eggs are laid. These deductions
for all practical purposes will pander the calculation of one bee
per cell per month as nearly accurate in its result as possible.
We have presumed that the stock forming the subject of our cal-
culation in the table swarms in the middle of June; if it does not
swarm, the number of cells occupied with brood in July will
* A piece of comb 4 inches square will be found to contain 22 rows of cells of
193 cells in each row. A piece 3 inches square will contain 17 rows of 143 in
each row. The average of the calculation on these data will Ne 27 cells to the
square inch as nearly as possible.
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee.
159
somewhat exceed the number stated in the table; in other respects
it will not differ.*
Month.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MarcnH ,..
APRIL...
MAYS: 13%;
JUNE sis:
MULvesse 2
AvuGustT ..
Maer Sos SS oS a:
Number and] Space occu-
Dispesition |pied in each} Superficial
Area of the
of Combs oe-
cupied by
Brood, each
Comb having
two Surfaces
in use.
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
One
Comb, ex-
Total
Total
pressed in |two Sides of Breeding | Quantity of
Inches.
Width.
WMOMMWDAHDMDDDADAADAWDDAARAHMDDAADALAHLESD
Depth.
AARAAIRADAGPARARADEPAADEADAHAKP HE LS &
each Comb Surface of
in Square
Inches.
each
Month.
od
(os)
—
—
ras)
—"
Ne}
res)
ras)
ioe)
oO
384
480
Se Se eee ee eS Ser
Motalie.
Bees
hatched in
each Month.
10,368
12,960
1,776
5,184
53,568
Taking this table as our guide, we shall find that the number
of bees bred from January to the middle of June (the usual period
of swarming in the district of the writer of this essay) amounts to
34,128; add to this the 6000 bees existing in January,} and we
* In this table the centre comb of those bracketed together in each month is
supposed to represent the centre comb of the hive, and the disposition of the other
combs will also be as in the table.
+ This addition is for the purpose of calculating the total number of bees
dying ; we shall hereafter see that not one of these bees was alive at this time.
160 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
have 40,128 as the population in the middle of June. Let the
stock now throw off a swarm of 20,000 bees; this reduces the
number to 20,128. We now add the remainder of the bees bred
in the month of June, which raises our number to 26,608; let a
cast now be thrown off, which sometimes will nearly equal in
bulk the swarm—take the quantity of bees at 12,000—which
reduces our population to 14,608. We now add the bees pro-
duced in July and August, bringing our numbers up again to
27,568, as the total quantity of bees existing in the hive on the
1st September. Breeding may be prolonged a short time subse-
quently to this date; but the number produced is small, and of
no importance to the discussion of our subject.
Now every observant apiarian will be aware that on the Ist
September in any season, he will not have 27,568 bees existing in
a stock, even if it happens to be exceedingly strong and has not
swarmed ; but according to our calculation that number ought to
be existing, and forming the population of the hive. We must,
therefore inquire how and to what amount their numbers have
been reduced. The answer is, partly by accident, partly by ene-
mies, such as birds, spiders, &c., and partly by natural death,
the numbers have been brought down to something like 12,000;
so that by taking the census of the original stock, we find a loss,
and we have to account for the disappearance of 15,568 bees in the
course of eight months.
It cannot, it is true, be said that all these bees die a natural
death; the enemies and casualties to which the worker bees are
exposed are so numerous, that the deaths arising from these
causes must evidently form a large proportion; but at the same
time it must be conceded that natural death has been the great
agent at work to cause the disappearance of so large a number as
15,568 from one stock in so short a time, and we shall therefore
be justified in assigning the limit to the duration of life in the
worker bee to the period answering to the general result of our
calculation.
Now if we add the 32,000 bees which departed with the swarm
and cast from the hive, we have a total of 47,568, and we find
that this number will absorb all the bees produced in the hive to
the end of June and a few days further, and including therein the
6,000 bees existing on the lst January;* it follows, therefore,
* Bees produced to the end of the month of June, see table, p. 159 .. 40,608
Bees existing in January ........ saicl olaleisicleleis{e\s ‘sles ole wltiele!sle wie mm O,OUO
46,608
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 161
that no bee living in the hive on the Ist January can have sur-
vived later than the Ist September, except it is existing either
in the swarm or the cast; this, therefore, fixes the maximum
duration of life in the worker bee at eight months at this period of
the year (we use the expression “at this period of the year,” because
we shall presently see that the duration of life in the worker bee
is not uniform).
Let us further examine how far our figures carry us out in the
reminder of the vear. On reference again to our table, we shall
find that 12,960 bees are produced subsequently to the Ist July ;
and as it would seem from our last calculation that all the bees
produced previously to the Ist July are absorbed in the number
missing on the Ist September, it follows that these 12,960 bees
will form the population with which our stock is to brave the
dangers of the winter season, and from natural death and other
causes it will even be reduced to 6,000 or 8,000 by the succeeding
January, thus bringing us again to our starting point: taking
eight months as the maximum of the life of the worker bee, the
whole of these 12,960 bees will die by the Ist May, and as a
large proportion of these bees will be eight months old on the Ist
April, previously to which time but a small number of bees will
have been produced to supply their loss, the month of March may
well be termed a critical period for a stock of bees, simply for the
reason that if the breeding has not been carried on with sufficient
vigour to replace the bees dying off at this time of the year, so
great a diminution in the number will take place that the stock
will be in danger of death on that account; and even if it survive
it will not be until the weather becomes mild and genial in Mey
and June, that the stock will be able in any way to recruit its
strength. Loss of stocks at this season of the year need not
therefore surprise us.
Although we have demonstrated that the life of the worker bee
does not exceed eight months, yet we have not shown that it
reaches that period; and although we can assert as a fact, that
of the 6,000 bees existing on the Ist January all were dead on
the Ist September, yet we have not ascertained the time of
their deaths, and as those bees were some of them six and some
four months old when we commenced our investigation (having
been produced between the Ist July and the Ist September
in the preceding year), we must inquire when they die, in order
to state their age. Now we find that 4,320 bees are produced in
the months of January and February, and as a matter of course
these young bees will form a great proportion of the population
VOL. Il. N. S. PART V.—JUNE, 1853. M
162 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
of the hive at that season, yet the population will exceed that
number, consequently some of the bees in the hive on the Ist
September in the previous year must be still alive; if we repeat
this calculation on the Ist April we shall again find (making
allowance for the loss of some of the bees produced since January
by accidents, enemies, &c.) that the population again exceeds the
number of young bees, thus showing that some of the 6,000 bees
have still survived. If we take the census of the hive on the Ist
May, we shall find that 17,280 bees have been bred since the
Ist January, and this number (even after deducting for losses
by enemies, bees lost in the showers of April and other causes)
will exceed the whole population of the hive at that period ; conse-
quently we arrive at the fact that all the bees living on the Ist
September in the previous year are dead prior to the Ist May
in the next year, thus confirming our previous calculation that
eight months is the maximum period of life ; and we have also
seen that, though all the bees are dead at the end of eight months,
yet that some have lived longer than seven months.
The portion of the year comprised between the Ist Septem-
ber in one year, and the 1st May in the succeeding year, being
that in which the life of the bee is passed in the most quiet state,
in the depth of winter even approaching torpidity, and conse-
quently the wear and tear of the muscular as well as the nervous
system of the insect is least, it is fair to suppose that the duration
of life is the longest, and that therefore eight months is in truth
the maximum duration of life in the worker bee.
We ought now to inquire into the minimum duration of life :—
we have plainly shown that all the bees produced previously to
the 1st of July are dead or gone by the 1st September, a period
of two months; and as this is the season when the vigour of
the worker bee is called into the greatest activity, when the mus-
cular system of the insect is taxed to the utmost, when the nervous
system is subject to the greatest excitement, and when in fact
night or day there is scarcely a moment’s rest, it is reasonable to
assert that the frame of the insect is sooner worn out, and there-
fore that the duration of life is shortened to the minimum period
of two months. It will as a natural result follow, that the limit of
life will vary from two to eight months, according as the powers
of the insect have been taxed, so that those bees produced in
January may survive six months, February a shorter period,
March a shorter period still, down to the minimum of two months.
The non-uniformity in the duration of life in the honey bee is
not a singular instance in Entomology; in all double brooded
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 163
insects the duration of life in the same species at different periods
of the year is unequal;* and when a palpable reason can be
adduced why the frame of an insect should be sooner worn out at
one period of the year than another, it will be a justification to
our assigning a shorter period to the life of the worker bee at that
particular season, more especially when the various calculations we
have followed out lead us to the same result ; and we may remark,
that some months of the winter season, the period of the longest
duration of life in the bee, is passed in a state of quiescence
nearly approaching that of the chrysalis of the double brooded
insects.
We must now turn our attention to the 20,000 bees composing
the swarm thrown off in the middle of June, and follow up the
calculation with respect to them. Now these bees we have here-
tofore seen were all young bees of that year, as we proved that
none of the 6,000 bees existing in January had lived beyond the
Ist May, and the swarm does not depart until June.
On the 1st September we shall find that the population of this
swarm does not reach 20,000, nor nearly so; we shall also find
that the old queen, after establishing this new stock, will have
produced above 12,000 brood, and as this number (12,000) does
not exceed the actual population of the hive at the period of
which we are now speaking, it follows that the whole number of
bees leaving the stock hive as a swarm have died, and their place
supplied with young bees.
If the same test is applied to the cast, the same result will
follow, so that this is confirmatory of our assertion in the former
part of this essay, that all the bees produced previously to the Ist
July have died prior to the Ist September.
We are now able to appreciate the advantage possessed by a
stock of bees which has not swarmed, in point of working num-
bers, over one which has swarmed.
The loss sustained by the hive swarming is that of 20,000 bees
ready for work, and ready to take advantage of the season in
gathering and storing honey. If these bees were to remain, and
the season proves favourable, the whole of the honey gathered by
them will be surplus store, and will amount to a large quantity ;
if they depart as a swarm, but just sufficient bees are left to carry
on the ordinary operations of the hive, no surplus honey store
will be produced. The departure of a swarm, therefore, is a
serious loss in an economical point of view to the stock from
* The swallow-tailed butterfly is a familiar example.
M 2
164 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
which it departs, and to the bee keeper it entirely destroys his
prospect of obtaining honey from the stock, except he is bent
upon its total destruction to obtain the little store they have,
Surplus honey, unless the swarm rises very early in the year, and
the season is very favourable, is quite out of the question.
It may appear strange, yet it is not more strange than true,
that the 20,000 bees composing the swarm, after toiling to in-
crease the store, do not help to consume it, but die, leaving the
produce of their labours to support the life of their successors
for the long period which is to elapse before the store can be
replenished, What provision, then, is made to obviate the danger
of absolute loss of the stock, whether in the hive or in the swarm,
from the death of the 20,000 bees? We answer, if the parent
hive has not swarmed, the numbers are kept up from eggs laid by
the old queen; if it has swarmed, the numbers in the swarm are
kept up by the old queen, and in the parent stock her place is
supplied by a young queen, who, although she does not imme-
diately commence laying eggs on the departure of the swarm, yet
does so sufficiently early to produce brood to replenish the stock,
so as to withstand the vicissitudes of the winter.*
This brings us to consider whether a double swarm, or, more
properly speaking, the bees of two swarms joining in one, Is ad-
vantageous or not. When a number of hives are kept near each
other, two swarms, and sometimes three, will settle together; and
although it may at first sight appear extremely advantageous to
have so large a quantity of bees in a swarm, yet, when we reflect
upon the fact that the whole number, large though it be, will die
previously to the autumn, we must concede that the advantage in
point of numbers continues for only that one season. It is true
the vast number of matured workers will be enabled more speedily
to build the necessary combs to establish the swarm, and the
apiarian may without risk give the swarm extra space for surplus
honey, whereby he may reap a present profit by taking honey
from a swarm the first season ; whereas, had it not been a double
swarm, it would scarcely have been possible to do so without the
risk of impoverishing the hive. Here the advantage ends, for
notwithstanding two queens would rise with the double swarm,
only one would be allowed to live; and the number of bees pro-
duced in the hive by the queen governing this double swarm,
* 1852 Aug. 5 Counted 4,090 celis of brood sealed over in observatory hive.
N.B. These same cells, to the extent of about two-thirds,
were afterwards occupied by a second batch.
», Aug. 19 Second course of brood beginning to be sealed over.
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 165
would not be larger than if she were the monarch of only a single
swarm; in the autumn the population would not be greater, and
therefore the benefit ceases with that season. Far greater ad-
vantages result from the union of stocks in the autumn, a subject
we shall notice in a subsequent part of this essay.
We conclude this portion of our essay with one more observa-
tion respecting swarming, viz., that at the time a swarm is thrown
off, the greatest number of cells are occupied by brood, and by
the time they are hatched off, a young queen will be ready to de-
posit eggs and continue the breeding, so that swarming does not
in any great degree alter the total numbers actually produced in
a stock during the year, whether it swarms or not: the young
queen, though she does not begin to lay eggs immediately on the
departure of a swarm, continues to lay later in the season than
the old queen, so that the brood produced is thereabouts equal in
both cases: the reduction in the number of matured workers by
the emigration of the swarm and cast is nevertheless a serious
consideration with respect to the quantity of surplus honey which
may be expected from the stock.
Having successively treated of the age or duration of life
of the queen, drone and worker bee, and having pursued at length
the arguments supporting our views on the subject, at the same
time noticing the observations on which our arguments are
grounded, we now proceed to the consideration of the practical
question, whether it is more expedient to retain swarms when it
may be necessary to reduce the number of hives in an apiary, and
destroy old stocks, or vice versa.
In speaking of stocks, we must be understood to include hives
in their second season, and upwards.
It must be obvious that we are in a great measure prepared to
enter upon the discussion of this subject from the consideration
of the various circumstances brought to bear in elucidating the
duration of life in the bee, more especially that of the queen bee ;
and notwithstanding the strength of a stock of bees may be greatly
dependant upon the number of workers, yet the future well-being
of the stock must mainly be owing to the age, health and fecun-
dity of the queen, and in this latter particular the queen is again
dependant upon numbers, in order as it were to bring into play
her extraordinary multiplying powers: the state of the queen
therefore must particularly be considered in coming to a decision
on this point.
We have seen that in respect to population, the difference be-
tween a swarm and a stock at the usual period of taking up hives
166 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
is pretty nearly the same, and that the number of young bees in
each case will also be nearly the same, so far therefore the balance
is equal; but there are many other circumstances tending to
show that the first winter of a swarm is a critical period, and on
that account, it is preferable to retain stocks of one year old or
upwards, instead of swarms, when it is absolutely necessary to
reduce the number of hives in an apiary.
We now set forth the advantages possessed by stocks, and the
disadvantages attending swarms, in parallel columns.
Disadvantages attending the
retention of Swarms.
The hive peopled by aswarm
may very probably not be en-
tirely filled with comb; if so,
the open space will render it
much more cold and uncom-
fortable than if the whole in-
terior were filled with comb,
and the bees will be more lia-
ble to be chilled when they
begin to traverse the comb in
the spring.
A swarm may in truth have
a greater weight of honey than
a stock, yet it may not have a
sufficient quantity of pollen, or
bee bread to consume, before
the advance of the spring will
enable the supply to be re-
newed.
The queen will certainly be
one year old; she may be two,
and even three, and therefore
so much nearer the time of her
natural death, rendering the
hive liable mm a succeeding year
or two, to the danger and risk
attending her renewal; and
being an old queen, she does
not continue the breeding so
Comparative advantages pos-
sessed by a Stock.
In the second season, when
the swarm becomes a stock,
the hive will be filled entirely
with comb.
A stock will always be plen-
tifully supplied with pollen, and
generally with honey: although
it sometimes occurs, it seldom
happens, that an old stock dies
of actual starvation.
The old queen having de-
parted with the swarm, the
queen now governing will be a
young queen of that year, and
this most important advantage
is possessed by the stock in
consequence, viz., that the
breeding by the young queen
being carried on later in the
season than by an old one, and
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 167
Disadvantages attending the |, Comparative advantages pos-
retention of Swarms. sessed by a Stock.
late in the season as a young let us suppose that even 500
one.* | or 1000 bees are produced
after the 1st of September,
their thread of life will not
be run out so early in the
succeeding spring, and it must
be apparent that the aid and
assistance of these 500 or 1000
bees for a fortnight or three
weeks, at the critical time
pointed out in our discussion
of the age of the worker bee,
will be of paramount import-
| ance in ensuring the future
strength of the stock, as it is
almost a maxim in bee econo-
my, that a strong hive at that
particular time will become
stronger, whilst a weak one will
become weaker.
Against the advantages thus possessed by a stock over a
swarm, we must not lose sight of the disadvantage in a stock
arising from the cells having become so contracted with the
cocoons left by the bees after continuous breeding, as to be ren-
dered unfit for use; but as this will only happen in a stock
much advanced in years (more than five or six), the preponde-
rating advantages possessed by a stock of two or three years over
a swarm are so great that we may safely conclude to give the
most earnest advice to select stocks for stores instead of swarms;
even the single disadvantage attached to a stock, alluded to
above, may be obviated, if the hive is so constructed as to allow
the combs being readily cut out at the proper season of the year,
to enable the bees to renew them.
We have already seen that a double swarm is in reality not of
much permanent service to the apiarian, but a few moments’ re-
flection will convince us that the case is very different with the
autumnal union of the bees then composing stocks or swarms;
* In the observatory hive the young queen was laying eggs in the second week
in September, though very slowly.
168 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
and as we admit occasionally an absolute necessity may occur for
reducing the number of stocks (the idea of murdering the bees
ought to be completely banished from the mind of the apiarian),
and when reasons can be shown why a union is really an advan-
tage, it is hoped that the brimstone match may speedily become
a mere matter of history. Referring therefore to the portion of our
essay treating on the worker bee, we may perceive that if the
union is delayed until after the 1st September, or it would be
safer to say until towards the end of that month, all the bees then
in the hive would be bees which would survive the winter; and if
the bees of the swarm are added to those of the stock it will have
the effect of doubling the population of the hive during the whole
of the winter season. The consequence will be, that the increased
heat of the hive will sooner induce the queen to deposit eggs; and
a perusal of the preceding pages of this essay will carry convic-
tion as to the benefit a stock of bees will receive from the renewal
of the population of the hive being commenced earlier, or carried
on with more vigour in the spring of the year than under ordi-
nary circumstances: if instead of 8024 bees being produced in
February, 5000 were produced, and a corresponding increase were
also to take place in the numbers produced in the succeeding
months until the time of swarming, the advantages must be pal-
pable, and all owing to the surplus population obtained from
autumnal union of stocks and swarms.
In thus as it were parading the advantages of autumnal union,
we must not be understood to advocate the system generally,
but only that it may be practised in cases of necessity. The opera-
tion of fumigation necessary to complete the union is a very deli-
cate one, and requires to be performed with extraordinary care to
be successful; in the practice of it we have found nothing to in-
terfere with the operation so much as the sticks usually placed
across the ordinary straw hives by cottagers; these sticks create so
much difficulty in extracting the combs, that we have several
times declined to operate for our friends solely on that account,
being desirous that we should not personally be blamed for the
failure of an experiment arising from impediments which we
could not remove.
By a little management and foresight the union of stocks and
swarms, we will not say destruction, may be prevented; and as
prevention is better than cure, we will, even at the risk of being
charged with prolonging the essay to an immoderate length, de-
vote a few lines to this important question. In the swarming
season let the apiarian consider well and determine his intentions
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. 169
and wishes respecting the future number of his stocks. In case he
does not wish to increase the number of his stocks, when a
swarm rises let it be returned; then let him watch carefully the
proceedings of the hive or stock for the next nine or ten days. If
young queens are brought out dead, exceeding three or four, he
may be quite certain the stock will not cast; if the stock com-
mences honey gathering with energy he may also rest satisfied
that it will not cast. Should however the bees be determined to
follow their natural course, and cast, they must be returned again
and again until the whole of the young queens are disposed of,
when the stock will quietly settle down, and the apiarian may
look forward to his honey harvest. He will by this means have
the increase of his stocks entirely at command; he will have the
benefit of the labours of bis surplus population; and if quality
and fineness of honey is his aim, he can by no other means secure
his object so certainly and safely as by returning his swarms,
because in a stock when the swarm has been returned, no fear
need be entertained of the queen depositing eggs in the glasses
or boxes intended for surplus honey, and therefore extreme
purity of the honey as well as whiteness of the comb it attained.
This process of returning is an exceedingly simple one, and
certain of success: the bees are hived in an ordinary straw hive,
and when they are settled (probably about twenty minutes after
being taken), they should be dashed out on a white cloth by sud-
denly striking the hive mouth downwards on the cloth—the
sharper the stroke the better; the hive should immediately be
lifted up, and the bees will be seen in a confused lump on the
cloth; they will not rise or take wing, but will spread themselves
on the cloth. The queen must now be watched for diligently;
when seen, she should be covered with a wine-glass, then slip
under the glass a card or a piece of zinc, and care taken that she
does not escape: she must be removed and killed. The bees may
then be left to themselves, and they will, when they miss the
queen, take wing and return to the stock whence they issued ;
but what is better, the cloth may be taken up by the corners, laid
on a board sloping towards the mouth of the hive, and a commu-
nication made between the bees of the swarm and the stock: as
soon as this is done, the bees of the swarm will be as anxious to
return as they were to come out of the hive, and the operation
will be complete in less than half an hour.
There is no danger in the operation whatever; we have per-
formed it scores of times without covering of any kind, and with-
170 Mr. J. G. Desborough on the
out being once stung in completing it, and we are quite sure that
any apiarian who has once seen the experiment carried out, and
has noted the advantage to be derived therefrom, will be certain
to adopt it. Plain practical directions may be given for perform-
ing the operation, but our strong advice to every one is, not to omit
seeing it done by an experienced apiarian, if possible ; more may
be learned and more confidence gained in seeing once, than in
reading a dozen times. We have practised this system entirely
for the last six years, and during that time have never had occa-
sion once to resort to any expedient to reduce the stocks in our
apiary: the extract from “my note book,” of the year 1847,
given at pp. 153 and 144, will show how far the increase of stocks
was prevented in that year; from the number of queens killed,
the probability is, that had not the system been persevered in,
the stock No. 4 would have been split up into numerous colonies,
and forty pounds of honey in glass would certainly not then have
been obtained.
We cannot better conclude this essay than by suggesting an
experiment which occurred to us in the year 1851, but from the
extraordinary circumstance of our not having a single swarm in
our apiary in 1852 it was impossible for us to carry out; and in
thus making it known, we may probably induce some of our
apiarian friends to try the plan, and thereby it may the sooner be
established as successful, or not, and the benefit, if successful,
may be the sooner promulgated ; in doing this, we feel we are
not overstepping the bounds of this essay, inasmuch as the experi-
ment bears practically on the prevention of the increase of stocks.
In the year 1851, by accident, the bees of a swarm were returned
to a hive to which they did not originally belong; that hive had
been previously not much inclined to work (it is true, the popu-
lation was not over large); immediately the bees of the swarm
had joined this hive, the whole population commenced working
vigorously, end produced in the season a fair proportion of honey ;
the stock from whence the swarm issued was a strong one, and
although it did not produce as much honey as it would have done
had the bees of the swarm been returned to it, yet it gathered
strength and produced three glasses of honey, one being thirteen
pounds in weight.
Now it occurred to us, that as the accession of the quantity of
strange bees to the lazy hive immediately induced work, that it
would be prudent, instead of returning the bees of a swarm to
the stock from whence the swarm issued, to join them to another
Duration of Life in the Honey Bee. V1
hive (if the queen be taken away, any hive will readily receive
them); and the next swarm which issued from any other hive
might be joined to the first hive which had thus lost its swarm,
and so on, keeping up a continuous change of the quarters of the
bees when they swarm.
We have always observed, that, after returning a swarm to
the stock to which it originally belonged, such stock does not
generally set to work steadily until after the lapse of four or five
days; and we argue the reason to be this,—when the bees are
returned, they find their own hive in precisely the same state as
when they left it, and there is therefore no inducement to work,
in fact the bees are disappointed ; but if these bees are joined to
a hive where a different state of things exists, then that they are
instigated to pursue their natural labours and gather honey. This
is merely the idea of the writer; but the accidental experiment
having succeeded so well, he has ventured to mention it, at the
same time explaining that he has not yet had the opportunity of
testing its invariable success. ,
172 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
XXI. Descriptions of New Genera and Species of Cur-
culionides. By G. R. Wateruouss, Esq., F. Z.58.
[Read 7th February, 1853. ]
Oxyrhynchus Fortunei.
Oblongo-ovatus, pulvere cervino tectus ; thorace remote punc-
tato, albo-tri-lineato; elytris seriatim ocellato-punctatis, in-
terstitiis alternis elevatis, singulis linea alba ab humero ad
medium suture ducta, notatis.
Long. corp., rostro excluso, lin. 7; latitudo lin. 22: ¢, long.
52; lat. 24.
Patria, China Boreali.
Considerably larger, and proportionately broader, than O, discors;
the dilated basal portion of the rostrum broader and shorter; the
puncturing both on thorax and elytra less distinct, the punctures
being smaller and more remote; the interstices of the strize of the
elytra broader, and the alternate interstices very distinctly raised,
and subearinated. The ridges formed by the. fourth and sixth
interstices are united at some distance from the apex of the elytra;
the suture, on the hinder half, is also raised, and from the apex
there is a short ridge which runs obliquely forwards and slightly
outwards to meet the second interstitial ridge. A series of very
minute tubercles, each bearing a single pointed scale at its sum-
mit, is seen on each of the ridges mentioned. The general colour
is sometimes ashy, sometimes very pale rufous brown. The
middle pale band on the thorax does not extend quite to the base.
On the forehead is a small fovea, and on the basal portion of the
rostrum is a longitudinally-impressed line; in front of this the
rostrum is keeled; in the female the keel is very short, but in
the male it reaches about half way to the apex of the rostrum:
here the rostrum is rather shorter than in the female, and
strongly punctured; the scales extend beyond the point of in-
sertion of the antenna, whilst in the female scales extend only to
the points mentioned, and the fore part of the rostrum is nearly
smooth.
Several specimens of this insect were brought from North
China by Mr. Fortune, so well known for his travels and re-
searches in that quarter of the globe. It is after this gentleman
that I have named the insect.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 173
Oxyrhynchus Philippinensis.
Elongatus, niger, pulvere grisea tectus; rostro basi canalicu-
lato; antennis longioribus, articulo tertio longiusculo, obco-
nico; thorace elongato, lateribus postice rectis, antice rotun-
dato-attenuato, supra rude punctato, pallide tri-lineato ;
elytra breviora, basi utrinque prope scutellum elevato-pro-
ducta, in medio dentata, supra profunde punctato-striata,
punctis subquadratis, interstitiis angustis, linea laterali, cruce
obliqua, scutelloque, pallide squamosis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 6%; lat. lin. 23.
Patria, Insule Philippinenses.
Much larger and broader than O. discors; thorax propor-
tionately longer, and the elytra shorter; antennz longer, the third
joint more distinctly longer than the rest, than in other species.
The specimen from which this description is taken is discoloured,
having been preserved in spirits; but the markings may still be
traced. ‘They resemble those of O. discors; but the three pale
bands on the thorax are broader. The mesial longitudinal band
is somewhat impressed. ‘The bands on the elytra are also broader,
and there is a broad undefined pale band across the base of
the elytra. The sides of the thorax are quite parallel from the
base beyond the middle; they are then contracted gradually, with
a gentle curve, to the apex. The elytra, which are shorter than in
other species, are depressed in the region of the scutellum; and
on each side of this depression, the anterior margin is much pro-
duced in the form of a lobe, which is directed forwards and up-
wards, and leaves a cavity beneath; external to this lobe is a
tolerably deep notch, and this is followed by an angular tooth-like
process, which is placed nearly in the middle of the base of the
elytron. The punctures of the striz are rather larger and more
approximated than in O. discors, being separated from each other
by narrow transverse ridges. ‘The legs are rather longer, and
the tibiz more curved than in the last-mentioned insect.
The peculiar form of the basal portion of the elytra is, in all
probability, sexual, as in other species of Oxyrhynchus there are
sexual differences noticed in the part in question.
TEeTRALOpHus,* nov. gen. ENTIMIDE.
Antenne breviusculz, crassiuscula, scapo brevi oculos non
attingente ; funiculo 6-articulato, articulis brevibus, sub-tur-
* From térpa, four, and Ada, crest.
174 | Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
binatis, clava breviter ovata. Rostrum crassum, supra bicris-
tatum, apice infra incrassatum; scrobs obliqua antice pro-
funda. Caput immersum; fronte utrinque depressa; Oculi
ovati, sub-depressi. Thorax transversus, utrinque angulatim
productus, apice utrinque emarginatus, pone oculos lobatus,
postice sub-truncatus, dorso bicristatus. Scutel/um nullum.
Elytra oblonga, humeris antrorsum et extrorsum productis,
lateribus sub-parallelis, apice rotundata, singulis apice breviter
mucronatis. Pedes tenues; tarsis longis, subtus haud spongiosis.
Corpus oblongum, valde inzequale, glabrum, apterum, majus-
cule magnitudinis.
Tetralophus sculpturatus.
Oblongus, niger, rostro supra bicristato, medio sulcato; capite
postice subtiliter rugoso, fronte bifoveata, medio breviter ca-
rinata; thorace supra alte bicristato; lateribus angulatim
productis, antice obliquis, postice emarginatis ; elytris seriatim
et profunde punctatis, singulatim bi-seriatim tuberculatis ;
tuberculis plerumque validis acutis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin, 52; lat. lin. 23.
Patria, Nova Hollandia. .
Rostrum short and incrassated, very deep at the apex, with two
longitudinal crests above, which are distinctly punctured, and
separated by a deep groove; the apex with a triangular plate,
deeply indented in the middle, and with apex joining a short
middle ridge behind. Head very finely rugose; forehead with
two deep depressions, separated by a small narrow ridge. Thorax
broader than long, with a transverse indentation near the apex ;
the sides produced in the middle into a horizontally compressed
process, which is truncated externally, rounded in front, and emar-
ginated, and presents an acute angle posteriorly ; the dorsal sur-
face with two longitudinal crests, which diverge somewhat in the
middle (where they are much elevated) and are indented near the
fore part, and have two or three transverse indentions on the
hinder part; the summits of these crests (as well as those on the
rostrum) are distinctly punctured; the surface, on either side and
between them, presents a few rug, but is impunctate. Elytra
oblong, about equal in width to the thorax, the sides nearly
straight, parallel, and perpendicular, and the apical portion much
bent down; dorsal surface of each elytron with two rows of
tubercles, of which the outer row is the longer; the foremost
tubercle of this series is very large, and somewhat compressed
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 175
and sub-acute: it is produced outwards and forwards; the ter-
minal tubercle of the same series is also very large, and it is
acutely pointed; between the two, are from three to five* smaller
(though still tolerably large) pointed tubercles. The hindermost
tubercle of the inner row is situated at about the commencement
of the posterior third of the elytra, and is tolerably large; the
remaining tubercles of this series (five in number) successively
decrease in size. ‘Three rows of strong punctures are seen on the
sides of the elytra, and a row of smaller punctures runs parallel
with, and close to, the lateral margin. ‘The legs are slender, and
moderate as to length; the joints of the tarsi long and narrow,
the penultimate joint not dilated; claws moderate, diverging and
simple. The antenne are clothed with small black hairs.
LeprosTETHUS,} nov. gen. PachyrHyNCHIDA,
Antenne breves, validiuscule ; scapo brevi, crasso, oculos non
attingente; funiculo 7-articulato, articulo primo obconico,
breviusculo, 2do brevissimo, obconico, reliquis subturbi-
natis; clava ovata, acuminata. Rostrum breve, latum. Oculi
laterales rotundati, modice convexi. Thorax subtransversus,
basi apiceque subtruncatus, lateribus equaliter rotundato-
ampliatus, supra paulo convexus, infra pone gulam emargina-
tus, pone oculos lobatus. Scutellum triangulare. Llytra
elongata, basi truncata, elevato-marginata, apice conjunctim
subattenuato-rotundata, ad suturam paulo producta. Pedes
mediocres, validi, pilosi, antici paulo longiores, ad basin
paulo distantes ; femoribus in medio crassioribus; tibiae intus
denticulate. Corpus elongatum, modice convexum.
Type ZL. marginatus.
This genus is near Polyphrades in its characters; the general
form is more elongated, the scape of the antennz is proportion-
ately stouter, and rather shorter, since it does not reach the eyes ;
the rostrum is not carinated, and the terminal portion is differently
constructed ; the tarsi are rather larger, and the anterior cox
are separated. The generic name will serve to call attention to
this last character, which distinguishes Leptostethus from other
genera of Pachyrhynchide, to which family it undoubtedly belongs.
Leptostethus marginatus.
Elongatus, linearis; ater, femoribus ferrugineis; capite ros-
troque rugosis, irregulariter punctulatis ; thorace confertim
* Three on one elytron and five on the other in the insect before me.
+ From Aewrog, small, slender, and orf$os, the breast,
176 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
granulato; elytris crenato-striatis; thorace elytrisque late-
ribus flavo-squamosis ; pectore ventreque flavo-squamosis,
nigro-maculatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 73; lat. lin. 22.
Patria, Africa meridionali occidentali.
Head very broad, convex, covered above with small shallow
depressions, in each of which are minute punctures; the hinder
part rugose. Rostrum rather narrower than the head, though
still very broad, subquadrate, nearly flat above, with a shallow
transverse depression at the base; and at the apex are two shal-
low, oblique depressions, leaving a triangular area between them,
the base of the triangle being in front, and having a fovea in the
middle; jaws short and stout; the whole upper surface rugose,
and thickly punctulated. Thorax fully one-fourth broader than
long, rather narrower in front than behind, the sides rounded, the
upper surface but little convex, covered with small and but little
raised tubercles; a dorsal furrow extends from the base nearly to
the apex; the posterior margin slightly raised, and the posterior
angles somewhat acute. Scutellam broadest at the base, con-
tracted and elongated behind; thickly punctured. Elytra much
elongated, about three times the length of the thorax, and about
equal to that part in width; the sides nearly parallel, but towards
the apex they are slightly attenuated, and at the apex rounded, with
the sutural portion (which is here considerably raised) produced so
as to form projecting angle; the base of the elytra is nearly
straight, the margin raised, and the humeral angle slightly pre-
minent, and somewhat acute; the punctures of the striz are
tulerably large, nearly square, and separated by transverse ridges;
interstices slightly convex, and, under a strong lens, they appear
to be nearly covered with minute round scales.* The sides of
the thorax and elytra, the under part in front of and between the
legs, the chest, and abdomen, are clothed with bright yellow
scales, which have an undefined outline, and a dull velvet-like
surface; the central portion of the abdominal segments, nearly
the whole of the terminal seginent, and the central portion of the
chest, are denuded, and on the whole of the scaly parts are seen
minute black punctures. ‘The remaining parts are black and
slightly glossy, if the femora be excepted, these being red; small
* It is rather remarkable that these minute particles, which certainly have
all the appearance of scales, exhibit no colour, but are glossy black, like the
elytra which they cover ; if they be discoloured, how could the broad bright band
on the sides of the elytra have escaped discolouration ?
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 177
pale hairs are scattered over the thighs, and longer pale hairs are
seen_in tolerable abundance on the tibize and tarsi; at the apex of
the tibia they are very dense. The*spongy substance on the
underside of the tarsi is dusky brown on the two basal joints, and
yellowish on the penultimate joint. The tibiz are distinctly den-
ticulated within. The claws are of moderate size, simple and
diverging.
Leptostethus Waltoni.
Oblongus, niger, squamulis pallidis flavescentibus vestitus ;
femoribus rufis; rostro apice sub-gibboso, quadricarinato,
basi rugoso, sub-canaliculato, transversim leviter impresso ;
thorace confertim nigro-granulato; elytris punctato-striatis,
singulo ad apicem paulo producto, subacuto.
Long. corp., rost. excl., lin. 5; lat. lin. 2.
Patria, Africa meridionali-occidentalis.
This insect differs considerably from Leptostethus marginatus,
and more particularly in the form and structure of the rostrum,
a circumstance which at first caused me to hesitate in placing it
in the same genus; after a minute examination, however, I found
so many points in common, that I was led to believe that the two
insects will probably hereafter be found to constitute species of
different sections, possibly of a tolerable extensive genus, and
peculiar perhaps to the as yet little known south-western portions
of Africa. Whereas LZ. marginatus is remarkable for its very
broad, nearly quadrate rostrum, the upper surface of which is
nearly flat, the present insect has a rostrum very like that of Poly-
phrades in its proportions; it differs, moreover, in being some-
what humped between the points of insertion of the antennz ; and
anterior to the hump the rostrum is bent down so as to form an
obtuse angle with the hinder part. This anterior portion of the
rostrum is of a pitchy brown colour, finely punctured, and has
three oblong depressions, which are bounded and separated by
ridges. The hinder part of the rostrum is somewhat convex in
the transverse direction; is separated from the head by a shallow
transverse depression; punctured; has a slight groove in the
middle at the base, and several indistinct longitudinal rage.
The head (very like that of a Polyphrades) is rugosely punctured.
Thorax considerably broader than long, with the sides rounded,
the fore part rather narrower than the hinder part; the posterior
angles in the form of right angles; the fore part emarginated
above and below; the upper surface covered with smalf sub-
depressed granules, between which are pale dirty yellowish scales,
VOL, Il. N.S. PART VI.—SEPT. 1853. N
178 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
and in the middle is a longitudinal groove. On the lower part of
the sides of the thorax the scales are more dense, and of a more
decided yellow colour. Scutellum transverse ; elytra at the base
equal in width to the part of the thorax which they join, they
then swell out very gradually, and assume an elongate oval form ;
each elytron is slightly produced at the apex; the upper surface
is moderately convex ; the punctures of the striae remote, and of
moderate size; interstices flat, or very nearly so, and very in-
distinctly setose: the third and fifth interstices are rather broader
than the others. The tibia: are but indistinctly denticulated
within. The terminal segment of the abdomen is destitute of
scales; the femora dusky at the apex. The anterior coxe are
separated as in L. margiatus.
I have named this species in honour of Mr. Walton, who has
determined with so much care the British species of Curculio-
nides.
AcHLAINoMUuS,* nov. gen. PACHYRHYNCHID.
Antenne mediocres, scapo oculos fere superante, clavato; articulis
duobus basalibus funiculi longiusculis, obconicis, reliquis
turbinatis; clava oblongo-ovali, acuminata. Rostrum brevius-
culum, apice paulo incrassatum, supra planum, canaliculatum ;
mandibule breves, crassz, exserte. Caput paulo exsertum.
Ocul rotundati, convexi. Thorax suborbiculatus, basi apice-
que truncatus, ab elytris remotus ; postice elevato-marginatus.
Sculellum minutum. Llytra oblongo-ovata, basi constricta ;
humeris obliquis. Pedes mediocres, antici paulo longiores
et robustiores; tibiis intus crenulatis, anticis valde curvatis,
posticis apice interne laminato-productis ; tarsis mediocribus,
unguiculis parvulis, ad basin connexis. Corpus oblongum,
parum convexum, glabrum, media magnitudinis.
This genus I am inclined to place near to Prostomus ; the form
of the head is nearly the same as in that genus, but the eyes are
less prominent, and rather more remote from the thorax ; the ros-
trum has the same general proportions, but wants the two grooves
and three longitudinal ridges ; the antennal groove takes the same
direction, and terminates at a little distance below the eye; the
joints of the antennz are rather shorter; the thorax presents
nearly the same outline, but is rather less convex, as are also the
elytra, which differ, moreover, in not having the humeral angle
produced. The fore legs are longer than the rest; the anterior
* A priv., and yAaivogea, an outer garment.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. Nag
femora very stout: all the tibiz are denticulated within, but the
much curved anterior tibiz have the denticulations unusually pro-
minent, especially near the apex. The middle tibiz are somewhat
dilated externally, and internally at the apex, and the posterior
tibize are much dilated at the extremity, on the outer side, as in
Prostomus, but there is an inner produced portion which is larger
than the outer. The tarsi are rather slender; the claws very
small, and they appear to be united at the base, and at the other
extremity they diverge very little.
Achlainomus ebeninus.
Oblongus, niger, nitidus, parum convexus ; antennis articulo-
que ultimo tarsorum piceo-rufescentibus ; capite rostroque
punctulatis ; rostro canaliculato; thorace crebre et subtilis-
sime punctulato, in medio fere plano et canaliculato ; elytris
punctato-striatis, interstitiis coriaceis, postice pilis minutis
fuscescentibus sat dense obsitis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 43; lat. lin. 12.
Patria, India Orientalis.
This insect is rather larger than Psalidiwm maaillosum ; its form
is more elongate, and much less convex, and in fact approaches
nearly to that of Prostomus scutellaris. The thorax is equal in
length and breadth, and has the sides equally rounded; it is
slightly constricted close to the anterior margin, and there is a
transverse depression near the hind margin. The elytra are trun-
cated and constricted at the base; the humeral angles are very
oblique, the sides in the middle portion nearly parallel, the apical
portion gradually attenuated, and the apex obtusely rounded : on
the fore part the elytra are subdepressed, but on the hinder part
they are moderately convex. The under parts of the body are
very thickly punctulated. The narrow and sharp denticles on
the inner side of the anterior tibia are red,—if we except the
smaller denticles near the base. The legs are pubescent. The
constricted base to the elytra and thorax, and the two being
somewhat separated, reminds of that form of the parts in question
which is common in the Scaritide.
Enaptorhinus,* nov. gen. BRacHYDERID&.
Anterne mediocres, validiuscule ; scapo oculos vix attingente ;
articulis duobus basalibus funiculi obconicis, reliquis bre-
vibus, subturbinatis ; clava ovata, acuminata. Rostrum breve,
* From évéarw, to gird or bind; and py, snout.
N 2
180 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
crassum, capite angustius illoque paulo longius subangulatum,
basi supra convexum, per strigam transversam a capite dis-
tinctum, apice emarginatum ; scrobe profunda subito subtus
flexa. Caput paulo exsertum, supra modice convexum.
Oculi. parvi, rotundati, convexi. Thorax oblongus, basi
truncatus, apice supra paululum rotundato- productus, late-
ribus equaliter rotundato-ampliatus, dorso parum convexus.
Scutellum minutum. Llyira elongato-ovata, apice attenuata,
Pedes \ongiusculi, pilosi; femoribus clavatis; tarsis medio-
cribus, articulo ultimo biunguiculato. Corpus elongatum,
parce squamosum, mediocris magnitudinis. Elytra thorace
parum latiora, dorso depressa; tibiae posticz pilis longis-
simis vestitee.
The genus Geotragus, it appears to me, approaches most nearly
in its characters to the insect upon which the present genus is
founded. Enaptorhinus is of a more elongated form; the rostrum,
instead of being depressed above, is somewhat convex; the
pterygii (or side pieces at the apex, beneath the rostral groove)
are more prominent, and there is a constriction at the base, sepa-
rating the rostrum from the head; this transverse groove is some-
what curved, bending forwards in front of each eye; the antennal
groove descends more suddenly: the antennez are much stouter,
and have the joints shorter, and there is scarcely any trace of
crenulation on the inner side of the tibiae.
Enaptorhinus Sinensis.
Elongatus, piceus, parce squamulosus ; capite rostroque punc-
tatis, sat dense fusco-cinereo squamosis; thorace rugoso,
canaliculato, vittis tribus pallide squamosis, notato ; elytris
elongato-ovatis, dorso depressis, squamulis pallidis, ad latera
densioribus, adspersis, punctisque duobus subapicalibus, al-
bidis, notatis, punctato-striatis, interstitiis alternis lateralibus
elevatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 42; lat. lin. 13: 2 (2) long.
Imse5*3, lat. 12:
Patria, China borealis.
Amongst the Coleoptera brought from China by Mr. Fortune
were several specimens of the insect here described, and the series
consisted of individuals in which the elytra were very narrow, the
whole dorsal surface of the elytra flat (or even slightly concave),
and the hind tibize rather densely clothed with long pale hairs ;
and other specimens in which the elytra were more ovate, broader,
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 181
and with the dorsal surface very slightly depressed; the hinder
tibize rather shorter, and clothed with small hairs only, like the
other legs. The specimens agreed so perfectly in all other
respects, that I was convinced these differences were sexual, and
I also conelude that the individuals with the broader elytra are
the females. I will only further add that the slightly concave
back to the elytra gives to the apical portion a somewhat humped
appearance in the male, and that there are numerous longish stiff
erect hairs on this humped part.
Cusicosomus,* nov. gen. CLEONIDE.
Anlenne mediocres ; scapo oculos vix attingente ; articulis duo-
bus basalibus funiculi longiusculis, obconicis, reliquis brevi-
bus, sub-turbinatis ; clava oblongo-ovata. Rostrum longitu-
dine capitis cum thorace, angulatum, apice crassiusculum ;
scrobs obliqua. Caput angustum; fronte impressa, utrinque
sub-gibbosa. Oculi oblongi, parum convexi. Thorax parvus,
postice truncatus, antice profunde rotundato-emarginatus,
pone oculis lobatus; lateribus fere rectis. Scutellum nullum.
Elytra ampla, thoracis basi duplo latiora, sub-quadrata ; hu-
meris obliquis angulatis; apice valde declivi. Pedes me-
diocres; angulis parvulis.
Near Leptops, but differs in the general form; the rostrum
being rather longer than in the species of that genus; the head
narrow, the forehead depressed, but with an oblong, slightly
raised gibbosity on either side over the eye, which latter is placed
in a depression and has a raised orbit; the antenne present but
two elongate obconic joints to the funiculus, the remaining joints
being turbinate; the thorax small; the elytra ample and nearly
cuboid in form,
Cubicosomus Whites.
Ater, sordide fusco-squamosus; rostro longitudinaliter im-
presso, basi obtuse carinato; fronte utrinque sub-gibbosa,
medio depressa; capite postice rugulis minutissimis crebre
obsito; thorace angusto, lateribus fere rectis, ante medium
perpaulo latiore, supra valde inzequali, medio longitudinaliter
impresso, pone medium transversim impresso; elytris in-
zequalibus, sub-seriatim profunde punctatis, interstitiis trans-
versim rugosis, biseriatim obtuse tuberculatis,
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 533 lat. lin. 33.
Hab. Nova Hollandia, apud “ Richmond River.”
The insect from which the above description is taken appears to
* From xvfixdc, cubical, and c&me, body,
182 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
have been originally covered throughout the upper parts with *
dirty brown scales, but these have been in a great measure rubbed
off. Each of the rows of tubercles on the elytra consists of four
large, nearly equal, rounded tubercles, the foremost being very
near the base of the elytra, and the hindermost far removed from
the apex; besides which there are two or three small tubercles
near the apex, and there is a small tubercle on the anterior margin
on either side at some distance from the scutellum. The trans-
verse and longitudinal depressions on the thorax are bounded by
large rugee, and there are, moreover, a few large punctures and
some small and slightly raised tubercles on the thorax. The ros-
trum has a longitudinal groove on each side, and a triangular
elevated plate at the apex.
Eurycuirus, nov. gen. Moryrip&.
Antenne breviuscule, scapo clavato, oculos attingente ; articu-
lis duobus basalibus funiculi obconicis, reliquis brevibus, sub-
rotundatis; clava elongato-ovata, acuminata. Rostrum bre-
viusculum, capite vix longius, teres, versus apicem sensim
crassius, supra leviter carinatum. Ocul: magni, sub-rotun-
dati, modice convexi, in fronte sub-approximati. Thorax
basi apiceque truncatus, convexus, lateribus ante medium
rotundatus, postice elevato-marginatus. Scutellum triangu-
lare. Elytra ampla, bumeris productis, obtuse angulatis.
Pedes magni, longi, femoribus pone medium valde incrassatis ;
tibiz apice mutice ; tarsis latis, articulo ultimo crassiusculo,
biunguiculato. Corpus breve, modice convexum, squamo-
sum, medize magnitudinis.
The rostrum in this genus is very like that of Phytonomus, and
is a trifle longer in proportion and less thick than in P. punctatus ;
the head is rather more exserted, and hence the eyes are some-
what removed from the lateral margin of the thorax, which pre-
sents no trace of lateral lobe: excepting that the scape is rather
less thickened, the antenne are very nearly the same—they spring
from the apex of the rostrum. The eyes are very large, for the
most directed forwards, and encroach upon the forehead. The
elytra differ in having the humeral portion more produced, oblique
at first, then obtusely angular. The legs are remarkably large ;
the femora very long, and much incrassated: the tarsi are very
large, the joints much expanded, and differing but little in width ;
the claw joint is very stout, and provided with moderate sized,
diverging, simple claws.—I have no hesitation in placing this
genus in the family Molytides, and near to Hypera.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 183
Eurychirus bituberculatus.
Breviter ovatus, niger, squamulis virescenti-cinereis, sub-metal-
licis, vestitus ; antennis ferrugineis; rostro piceo, punctu-
lato, leviter carinato, capite subtilissime punctulato ; fronte
fovea minuta impressa ; thorace crebre punctulato; elytris
ocellato-punctato-striatis, singulo tuberculo sat magno, fere
in medio, tuberculoque minore subapicali instructo ; inter-
stitiis 5° et 7° elevatis; plagis punctisque nonnullis denudatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 43 ; lat. lin. 23.
Hab. in Nova Hollandia.
PLacoDERES,* nov. gen. CycLomMIp&.
Antenne longiuscule, scapo clavato ; funiculo 7-articulato, arti-
culis omnibus obconicis, duobus basalibus longioribus ; clava
angusta, ovata, acuminata. Rostrum breve, crassum, carinatum,
supra os plaga triangulari, elevata, medio depressa, munitum.
Caput postice convexum, inter oculos fere planum. Oculi
laterales, oblongi. Thorax transversus, basi apiceque sub-
truncatus, lateribus valde rotundato-sub-angulato-productus ;
supra fere planus, pone gulam rotundato-emarginatus. Scu-
tellum vix observandum. £lytra a thorace remota, oblongo-
ovata, convexa, basi truncata, humeris rotundatis; apice
conjunctim rotundata. Pedes longiusculi, sub-aquales ; tarsis
sub-angustatis, subtus spongiosis. Corpus oblongo-ovatum,
squamosum, majuscule magnitudinis.
Nearly allied to Acantholophus, but differs in having the funi-
culus of the antennz distinctly seven-jointed,—the terminal joint
not being elongated and closely applied to the club as in that
genus,—in the head being more produced, and without spines,
the eyes being oblong; the thorax destitute of spines, much
broader than long; the sides being much produced and almost
forming an angle in the middle; the elytra being rather widely
separated from the prothorax, and by the tarsi being broader: the
joints of the latter are all of them very nearly equal in width, if
we except the claw-joint, which is stout and furnished with diverg-
ing simple claws. The rostrum is about equal to the head in
length, and is separated from the latter by two slight oblique
grooves which meet at the forehead; the antennal groove is very
deep in front and opens upwards; it expands and is very shallow
towards the eye: the jaws are very stout.
* From maag-axdg, a flat body, tablet, &c., and Sepn, the neck.
184 Mr. G, R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
Placoderes variegatus.
Elongatus, niger, squamulis minutissimis angustis flavescentibus
fuscisque tectus; capite rugoso sub-coriaceo, linea longitudi-
nali umbrino-squamosa notato; rostro tricarinato, basi supra
utrinque oblique impresso; thorace lateribus valde productis
in medio sub-angulato, supra fere plano sat crebre granulato,
dorso leviter canaliculato; elytris remote punctato-striatis,
interstitiis sat crebre granulatis, parum convexis, alternis
paulo elevatioribus, nigro-variegatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 62; lat. lin. 22 ¢?: 9 ? long. 9,
lat. 32 lin.
Habitat
I strongly suspect this is a New Holland insect,* but I had no
habitat with it. In the smaller specimen, which I take to be the
male, the thorax and elytra are about equal in width, and in the
jarger specimen the elytra are rather broader than the thorax.
The under parts of the body are very sparingly clothed with
scales, and are rather finely and irregularly punctured; on the
abdominal segments (more especially the terminal segment) are a
few very minute scattered granules. The scales along the mesial
line of the thorax are rather paler than on other parts, if we
except two small spots in the middle of each half. The scales of
the elytra vary in tint, some being umber brown and others
brownish yellow; they form small patches of either colour; and
there are small irregular black markings in parts formed by dark
scales, but on the sides of the body, where they are most distinct,
they are seen to be denuded patches. The little rounded tubercles,
or granules, both on the thorax and elytra, are denuded and glossy.
The antennee are clothed with black hairs—the scape as well as
other parts; and so are the legs.
2 /
EcrreMnoruinus,f nov. gen. Poytiopipa.
Antenne longiusculz, scapo thorace attingente, clavato, basi
inflexo; articulis duobus basalibus funiculi longiusculis, ob-
conicis, reliquis brevibus, sub-turbinatis; clava ovata, acu-
minata. Rostrum capite brevius et vix angustius; scrobe
brevissima, postice supra flexa. Caput pone oculos elon-
gatum. Oculi laterales, breviter ovales, parum prominuli.
* M. Jekel, to whom I have shown this insect (since this paper was read),
informs me he possesses a species very like, if not identical with it, from the Cape
of Good Hope. It approaches very near to the genus Somatodes ; indeed, M. Jekel
had provisionally placed his insect in that genus: we both, however, think that it
presents characters which render it desirable to form a new genus for its reception.
+ From éxréuvw, to cut out, notch, and fly, the rostrum.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 185
Thorax parvus, antice posticeque truncatus, lateribus parum
rotundato-ampliatus. Scutellum triangulare. Elytra elongato-
ovata, pone medium ampliata, humeris rotundatis, sub-
angulatis, supra parum convexa, apice singulatim rotundata.
Pedes mediocres ; femoribus muticis.
This genus is near Phyllobius in its general characters ; the head
and thorax are proportionately smaller, the elytra more elongated,
less convex, and each elytron is distinctly rounded at the apex ;
the rostrum is shorter and narrower, and the antennal groove is
differently formed—it is represented by a small and short curved
fovea placed towards the apex of the rostrum; the fore part of the
fovea opens outwards, and the hinder part is curved inwards, and
forms a notch on the upper surface of the rostrum, and the space
between the notches entering from opposite sides of the rostrum
is much contracted. On the upper surface of the terminal por-
tion of the rostrum is a slightly raised plate, nearly of a quadrate
form, the posterior angles of which extend partly over the an-
tennal fovee. The eyes are less prominent than in Phyllobius,
and the claws are larger and less diverging. The antenne scarcely
differ.
Ectemnorhinus viridis.
Elongatus, piceus, supra squamulis piliformibus viridi-sericeis
tectus; corpore subtus, antennis pedibusque piceo-rufis ;
fronte punctulata, foveolata; thorace leviter carinato; elytris
tenuiter punctato-striatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 32; lat. lin. 13.
Patria, terra Kerguellen.
The outline of the head is continuous with that of the rostrum
both above and at the sides, in the latter interrupted only by the
eyes, which are of a short oval form, very little convex, and placed
longitudinally. The thoraxis very small in proportion to the
elytra, about equal in length and breadth and nearly cylindrical,
but with the middle part somewhat swollen. The elytra are
ample, much elongated, about four times the length of the thorax,
have the humeral angles prominent, almost in the form of right
angles, the angle Paap slightly rounded off; they gradually in-
crease in width till sie have attained their maximum diameter,
at a point considerably behind the middle, and then decrease
again with a gentle convex curve towards the apex, where each
elytron is rather obtusely rounded. The green scales which cover
the upper parts have a silky, metallic lustre.
Specimens of this insect will be found in the collection of the
British Museum. Of course, considerable interest attaches itself
186 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
to the insects found in islands so far removed from any mainland,
such as Kerguellen’s land.
I REPANODERES,* nov. gen. PHYLLOBID2.
Antenne mediocres; scapo crassiusculo, paulo curvato; arti-
culis duobus basalibus funiculi longiusculis obconicis, reli-
quis turbinatis; clava angusta, elongato-ovata, acuminata.
Rostrum breve, sub-quadratum, supra carinatum. Scrobs
brevis, recta. Ocult ovati, convexi. Thorax transversus,
utrinque in spinam acutam, retrorsum curvatam, valde pro-
ductus. Scudtellum triangulare. Elytra oblongo-ovata, con-
vexa. Pedes mediocres; femoribus dentatis. Corpus ob-
longo-ovatum, convexum, alatum, minoris magnitudinis.
The most striking peculiarity in this genus is in the form of the
thorax, and has no parallel in the Curculionides ; there are genera,
such as Deracanthus and Acanthotrachelus, in which the thorax is
armed with a lateral spine, but in Drepanoderes the side of the thorax
is, as it were, itself produced into a large lateral process. Almost
immediately in parting from the apex of the thorax, the outline
runs obliquely outwards, and with a gentle curve is likewise di-
rected backwards, to form the upper margin of the process in
question; the outline of the under margin is concave, the point of
the process is raised very little above the level of the base of the
elytra, but terminates external to the line of the side, hence the
thorax measured across from the points of the processes is
broader than the elytra; the base of the thorax, however, 1s about
one-third narrower than the elytra at the corresponding part; the
humeral angles form right angles; the sides of the elytra are at
first nearly parallel, but behind the middle they are slightly
dilated; the apex is rounded. Besides the very slender central
keel to the rostrum, there is a delicate longitudinal ridge on either
side of the upper surface.
Drepanoderes viridifasciatus.
Oblongo-ovatus, niger, viridi-squamosus, antennis pedibusque
rufis; capite postice nigro; thorace punctulato, fasciis tribus
longitudinalibus atris notato; elytris atris punctato-striatis,
fasciis quatuor, utrinque et in medio plus minusve interrup-
tis, maculisque apicalibus, viridi-squamosis.
ae
Long. corp. 22 lin.
Patria, India Orientalis.
* From 3perdyn, scythe, and dépn, neck.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 187
The under parts in this insect are but imperfectly covered
with scales; the head and rostrum are covered by them, if we
except the slender mesial ridge of the latter, and a triangular
patch on the former. Scales cover the sides of the thorax, but
on the upper part there are three longitudinal denuded bands, of
which the central one is very broad; the large recurved sub-
sickle-shaped processes have but few scales on them. ‘The punc-
tures on the thorax are small, and rather widely separated. On
the elytra the scales are so disposed as to form very irregular
bands and spots; at the base is a broadish transverse band ex-
tending almost to the suture; behind this is a second band, which
stops short of the suture; the third band is considerably shorter;
the fourth is rather longer than the third; and lastly, on the
hinder third of each elytron there are about six or seven spots vary-
ing in size; neither the bands nor the spots quite correspond in
the two elytra, and they no doubt will be found to vary in dif-
ferent individuals. None of the bands extend to the outer sides
of the elytra. Towards the apex of the femora are some scales;
the tooth beneath is very small but acute; all the scales are of a
brilliant metallic green colour.
The only specimen of this species which I have seen is in the
collection of the British Museum, and is from Bengal.
Drepanoderes fuscus.
Oblongo-ovatus, fuscus; antennis pedibusque testaceis ; capite
punctulato, fronte foveolato; rostro leviter carinato; thorace
crebre punctato; elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis sub-
convexis, pilis minutis sat dense obsitis; femoribus subtus
dente parvulo, acuto, armatis.
A trifle smaller than D. viridisquamosus, and readily distin-
guished by its colouring, the want of scales, and the thorax being
more thickly punctured.
Synaptonyx,* nov. gen. ErtrHINIDz.
Antenne mediocres, tenues, ante medium rostri insertze; scapus
clavatus, oculos non attingens; articulis duobus basalibus
funiculi longiusculis, obconicis, reliquis obconicis, gradatim
brevioribus; clava ovata. Rostrum longiusculum, ante me-
dium deflexum, dimidio apicali sub-planum utrinque cari-
natum, postice sub-carinatum; scrobe sub-superna, postice
® From cvvarrds, bound together, and 4v£, claw.
188 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
evanescens. Ocuii laterales, oblongi, modice convexi. Thorax
transversus, antice dimidio angustior quam basi, apice rotun-
dato-emarginatus, infra pone gulam emarginatus, lateribus
. obliquis-rotundatis, basi rotundato-sub-productus; supra
convexus. Scutellum minutissimum. lytra ovata, basi
conjunctim rotundato-emarginata, thoracis basi parum latiora,
apice acuminata. Pedes mediocres; tarsi articulo primo
latiore, unguiculis parvis, basi connatis, ad apicem vix diver-
gentibus. Corpus breviter ovatum, convexum, squamosum,
minoris magnitudinis.
The form of the insect upon which this genus is founded is
almost a perfect oval, for the elytra at the base are but little
broader than the thorax, and the outline of the two is nearly con-
tinuous. The rostrum is about equal to the head and thorax in
length, and moderate as to thickness. The basal half is nearly
straight; but the terminal half is bent down so as to form an
obtuse angle, at least on the upper surface, and at this point is
the base of the small antennal groove which here opens upwards;
the remaining portion is continued backwards towards the eye, on
the side, but close to the upper edge of the rostrum. It is very
indistinct (excepting quite at the origin), filled with scales, and
cannot serve to lodge the scape of the antenne. Between the
two oblong foveze in which the antennz are inserted is an elon-
gated triangular plate, which has the apex slightly raised and
directed towards the head. In front of this part the rostrum is
acutely margined on each side; the upper surface is flat, with an
obtuse ridge towards the apex, and the under part rounded. The
basal half has a slightly elevated keel; scales cover the whole
upper part, excepting quite at the point, whilst the sides and
under part are denuded, rounded and smooth. There are only
two other points to which I will call particular attention. One is
the large size of the basal joint of the tarsus, this joint being
larger and even more dilated than the penultimate joint; the
other is furnished by the claws, which are so closely united as to
appear to form only a single claw; but under a strong lens, the
extreme points are seen to be separated.
Synaplonyx ovatus.
Breviter ovatus, convexus, niger, squamulis cinereo-albidis
tectus; antennis, articuloque ultimo tarsorum ferrugineis ;
rostro piceo, supra albido-squamoso, subtiliter punctulato,
basi carinato, apice utrinque sub-elevato-marginato, supra os
obtuse carinato; fronte linea longitudinaliter impressa, notato;
thorace subtilissime punctulato, parce squamoso;_ elytris
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 189
striato-punctatis, interstitiis latis, parce setulosis, punctis
irregularibus notatis ; apice singulatim sub-mucronatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 22; lat. lin. 13.
Hab. in Nova Hollandia. '
In the specimen from which this description is taken the ter-
minal segment of the abdomen is raised in the middle, and termi-
nates in an obtuse point. This part may differ in the sexes. The
legs are moderate as to size (or perhaps rather small); the femora
are very little incrassated in the middle, and unarmed; the tibiae
straight and cylindrical, but dilated at the apex, which is not pro-
vided with a spur; the anterior tibia are very indistinctly crenu-
lated on the inner side.
CurLotonyx,* nov. gen. ERIRHINIDA.
Antenne tenues, ante medium rostri insertee, scapo oculos non
attingente; funiculo 7-articulato, articulis duobus basalibus
longiusculis obconicis, reliquis brevibus subturbinatis ; clava
oblongo-ovata, acuminata. Rostrum thorace fere duplo lon-
gius, sub-rectum, carinatum. Oculi ovati, depressi. Thorax
Jatitudine baseos brevior, prope apicem constrictus, lateribus
obliquis, basi sat profunde bisinuatus, antice leviter emargi-
natus, pone gulam profunde emarginatus. Scutellum ob-
longum. L£lyira ovata, antice thorace latiore, basi singulatim
subrotundata; humeris rotundatis; apice rotundata. Pedes
mediocres, antici longiores robustiores ; femoribus anteriori-
bus valde crassis, subtus dente magno postice serrato in-
structis; tibiis anticis curvatis; tarsis longis, angustis ; un-
guiculis bifidis. Corpus breviter ovatum, convexum, squamo-
sum, medize magnitudinis.
The insect upon which this genus is founded bears much re-
semblance to the species of Balaninus—the body, however, is of a
more regular oval form; its nearest affinities, nevertheless, are
undoubtedly with the genus Prionomerus, from which it may be
distinguished by its more elongated rostrum and tarsi, and by the
claws being deeply cleft.; The antenna, moreover, are longer,
and have a smaller club, and the form of the body differs con-
siderably.
Chelotonyx Batesi.
Breviter ovatus, nigro-aneus, squamulis piliformibus albidis sat
dense adspersus; rostro punctato, supra tricarinato; capite
* From xnwres, clovén, split, and ovZ, claw.
t In Prionomerus there is a large square appendage at the base of each claw.
190 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
punctato, fronte foveolata; thorace sat crebre punctato;
elytris punctato-striatis, interstitiis subtiliter disperse punc-
tulatis, pallido-tessellatis.
Long. corp., absq. rostr., lin. 34.
Hab. Para.
I name this species after Mr. Bates, who has not only forwarded
to England numerous collections of insects and objects of natural
history from the Amazon district of South America, but has also
furnished us with interesting observations on the habits and geo-
graphical ranges of many of the species he has met with.
ANoM@ARTHRIA,* nov. gen. Baripiipx.
Mas.? Antenne longiuscule ; scapo valde clavato; funiculo 7-
articulato, longe ciliato, articulo primo breviusculo obconico,
20 magno fere ovali, reliquis gradatim minoribus sub-ovali-
bus; clava oblongo-ovata. Rostrum longum, crassiusculum,
sub-compressum, arcuatum, apice attenuatum, depressum.
Oculi Jaterales, magni, depressi. Thorax sub-conicus, antice
valde constrictus. Scutellum sub-quadratum. lytra ob-
longa, humeris obtuse angulatis, a basi ad apicem sensim
angustata, pygidium haud tegentia, supra parum convexa.
Pedes \ongiusculi, femoribus incrassatis ; tibize postice intus,
articuloque primo tarsorum quatuor posticorum dense ciliato.
Femina? Rostrum longius, tenuius, prope basin valde arcu-
atum, basi solum incrassatum; antenne non ciliate, articulis
duobus basalibus funiculi longiusculis obconicis, reliquis bre-
vioribus ; pedes simplices; elytra pygidium tegentia.
The two insects, which I assume to be male and female, I
received in a series of Coleoptera from Minas Geraes: they are
pinned with the same pin, and hence, in all probability were
caught together, and they agree perfectly in all respects, excepting
in certain peculiarities of structure found in the antenne, rostrum
and legs—in fact in those parts which are known to vary in the
sexes. The new genus which I have established for their recep-
tion should in my opinion be placed near Loboderes. The female
is remarkable for the very sudden bending under of the rostrum
at a point which is rather behind the middle; the apical portion
is much depressed, the basal portion is incrassated and com-
pressed. In the male the rostrum is much arched, rather shorter
than that of the female, but still fully equal to the head and
thorax in length; a small portion at the apex, being about one-
* From dvé00¢, dissimilar, and apQpov, a joint.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 191
fourth of the entire length, is rather slender and depressed; the
remaining portion is compressed and incrassated. The scape of
the antenne is much incrassated at the apex; the joints of the
funiculus of the antenne each give origin to numerous long curved
hairs, and their structure is very peculiar; the first joint being
small, the second very large, fully twice as broad as the first, and
of a nearly ovate form; the remaining joints keep nearly the same
form, but decrease rather rapidly in size, the last joint being minute.
Then, again, in the legs this sex present some peculiarities; they
are nearly equal as to length, but the anterior pair slightly exceed
the others; the femora are considerably incrassated in the middle ;
the middle pair of tibize at the apex, the posterior tibize on the
inner side, the posterior femora on the under side, and the basal
joint of the four posterior tarsi, are clothed, each of these parts,
with a dense brush of velvet-like yellow hairs; the under side of
the thoracic segments, and of the first joint of the abdomen, are
also clothed with bright yellow hairs in the male. In the female
they are wanting on all these parts.
Anomeearthria ceruleopennis.
Oblongus, ater, nitidus; capite rostroque sub-remote punctatis ;
fronte foveolata; thorace subtiliter punctulato; elytris pur-
pureo-ceruleis, humeris nigris, puncto utrinque prope scu-
tellum flavo-vel albido-squamoso ornatis, simpliciter striata,
interstitiis planis, subtilissime punctulatis; corpore subtus
sat crebre punctato.
$ Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 3; lat. lin, 14: @ long. lin. 22.
Patria Brazil, ad Minas Geraes.
The sides of the thorax are nearly straight and parallel in the
hinder part, but near the fore part they curve inwards to the
contracted part in front, which is tubular, and only sufficiently
broad to hold the head; the elytra are rather long, distinctly
broader at the base than the thorax; the humerus is obtusely
angular, and from the humerus towards the apex the diameter of
the elytra gradually diminishes, the outline presenting but an
indistinct convex curve; the apex is obtusely rounded.
Protopatus, Schoénherr.—CryprorHyYNCHID.
Stirps I.—Antennz articulis 1° et 4° funiculi longiusculis
obconicis; 2° et 3° longioribus, subzequalibus, reliquis
brevibus.
P. Stephensi (Hope), Scho. iv. p. 45.
I have in my cabinet an insect from Moreton Bay which agrees
192 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
with Schénherr’s description of Protopalus Stephensii so perfectly
in all respects, excepting that the rostrum is not crenulated
beneath, and the anterior legs are but a trifle longer than the
others, that I strongly suspect their differences merely indicate a
distinction of sex. Furthermore, I possess a second species from
the same locality, which has all the essential characters of the
first mentioned, but which differs in the relative length of the
joints of the antennee, Now, setting aside these points, there are
so many other characters which are common to my two insects,
and in which they agree with the definition of Protopalus Ste-
phensii, that I feel satisfied they should all be placed in the same
genus; in which case the generic characters will require to be
modified.
Stirps I1.—Antenne articulo 2° primo plus duplo longiore ;
articulis 1° et 3° longiusculis, obconicis, reliquis brevibus.
Protopalus Schinherri.
Oblongus, ater, griseo-squamosus; fronte depresso; rostrum
parum arcuato, disperse punctulato, basi utrinque sulcato ;
thorace tuberculis rotundis, nitidis, sat crebre obsito, antice
alte carinato; elytris dorso gibbis, punctato-striatis, inter-
stitiis dorsalibus tuberculis parum elevatis, nitidis, seriatim
obsitis ; interstitio 2° prope basin tuberculo elevatiore, sub-
acuto instructo ; interstitiis 2°, 4° et 6° sub-elevatis ; lateribus
profunde punctato-sub-sulcatis, interstitiis angustis, nitidis ;
dorso postico maculis nonnullis parvulis albidis notato ;
femoribus obtuse dentatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 745 lat. lin. 3t.
Hab. ad “ Moreton Bay,” Nove Hollandiz.
This insect very much resembles the insect which I take to be
the female of Protopalus Stephensii. The rostrum, however, is
less curved; the keel on the fore part of the thorax rather less
raised, and the sutural part of the elytra is less elevated, though
still considerably humped. The-eyes, as in that insect, are
vertical, lateral (though slightly approximated), and directed
somewhat forwards; the region of the eye above, and internally,
is depressed in both; but in the present insect, the depressed
areas being rather broader, there is no mesial ridge left as in
P. Stephensii. The sculpturing of the elytra accords very well
with that of P. Stephensii, but the punctures on the dorsal surface
are less deep. I see no difference in the general outline, except-
ing those differences occasioned by the thorax and elytra being
rather less humped.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 193
Pezicuus,* nov. gen. CrypTroRHYNcHIDE—divis. I.
Antenne \ongz, tenues; funiculo 7-articulato, articulo primo
breviter obconico, 2° longissimo, 3-4 obconicis, reliquis bre-
vibus ; clava valde elongata, subcylindrica, sub-solida. Ros-
trum longum, tenue, parum arcuatum. Oculi laterales, de-
pressi. Thorax angustus sub-conicus, lateribus postice fere
rectis, apice supra rotundato-productus, utrinque profunde
emarginatus, pone oculos lobatus, postice leviter bisinuatus.
Scutellum rotundum, valde convexum. Llytra oblongo-
ovata, antice thoracis basi multo latiora, trisinuata, pone
thoracem subito emarginata, postice acuminata. Pedes lon-
gissimi, tenues, sub-cequales; femoribus linearibus, subtus
dentatis ; tibiis sub-arcuatis, apice unco instructis; tarsis
longis angustis, articulo primo perlongo, ultimo bi-unguiculato.
Corpus oblongo-ovatum, convexum, sculpturatum, squamo-
sum, alatum, mediocris magnitudinis.
In the structure of the antennz Pezichus greatly resembles the
genus Cylindrocorynus, but these organs are rather longer and
more slender in the present genus. In the great length of the
legs, the non-clavate femora, and the long slender tarsi, a nearer
approach to Pezichus is made by the Australian genus Protopalus,
and I think these two genera should be arranged near to each
other.
Pezichus binotatus.
Oblongus, niger, squamulis fuscis ineequaliter vestitus ; antennis
fusco-ferrugineis ; rostro basi subtiliter punctulato; thorace
angusto, antice constricto, dorso postico, lateribusque tuber-
culis inzequalibus parum elevatis obsito, dorso elevato-cari-
nato; scutello nigro, nitido; elytris profunde et remote
ocellato-punctato-striatis, interstitiis angustis, convexis, al-
ternis elevatioribus, tuberculis parvulis nonnullis fusco-
squamosis adspersis, tertio a sutura in medio elevato-carinato,
pone scutellum tuberculo validiori instructo, singulo elytro
dorso postico vitta parva obliqua, sub-transversa, sordide
albo-squamosa notato.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 52; lat. lin. 24.
Hab. ad “Moreton Bay,” Nove Hollandiz.
The scales, which somewhat irregularly clothe the legs and
body in this insect, are very minute, and on the interstices of the
* From meZix2¢, a pedestrian, a name suggested by the great length and slen-
derness of the limbs.
VOL. ll. N. S. PART VI.——SEPT. 1853. fo)
194 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
strize of the elytra they are aggregated in little patches. Each of
the large punctures of the strize encloses a scale of larger size
and paler colour. On the second interstice is a distinct tubercle
not far from the scutellum, and in the middle of the back the
same interstice is raised into a crest, which terminates at the
commencement of the posterior third of the elytra, and crossing
this crest in an oblique manner is a small dirty white mark ; it
extends from the first to the third striz. The fourth interstice
presents three or four tubercles on the basal half; they, however,
are but little raised. The form of the elytra at the base is rather
peculiar: at this part they are fully one-fourth broader than the
thorax, and immediately opposite the base of that segment they
are suddenly cut in to admit the thorax, so that a projecting
angle is formed on either side, and from this angle the outline of
the elytra runs outwards a short distance, and very little back-
wards, to join the outline of the sides, so as to form an obtuse
angle: the sides of the elytra are at first parallel, but behind the
middle they gradually converge towards the apex, which is much
contracted. The keel on the thorax is considerably raised on the
fore part, but it vanishes near the posterior margin. The basal
joint of the long and slender tarsi is about equal in length to the
other three joints taken together ; the spongy substance beneath
the joints is almost white.
Grocuinoruinus,* nov. gen. CryprornyncHiIpz—divis. I.
Antenne mediocres; funiculo 7-articulato, articulis duobus
basalibus longiusculis, obconicis, 3-6 gradatim brevioribus,
articulo ultimo longiore, ad basin tenui, apice clavee adpresso ;
clava ovata. Rostrum longum, perparum arcuatum, sub-
depressum; in mare, utrinque prope medium spinis duabus
armatum. Oculi laterales, parum convexi. Thorax magnus,
sub-oblongus, basi sub-sinuato-truncatus, ante scutellum paulo
productus, lateribus basi sub-rectis deinde rotundato-attenu-
atis; apice supra rotundato-productus et sub-depressus ;
pone oculos lobatus. Scutellum sub-rotundatum. Elytra
oblonga, sub-cylindrica, basi thoracis non latiora, illoque vix
dimidio longiora, basi trisinuata, apice conjunctim rotundata.
Pedes longi, tenues, antici reliquis paulo longiores, tibiis
apice unco intus flexo, armatis ; tarsis longis, angustis, articulo
primo perlongo, ultimo biunguiculato.
The nearly cylindrical form of the body, the barbed rostrum in
* From yAwyls, the spike or point of a spear, and iv, the snout—a name sug-
gested by the barbed condition of the male.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 195
the male, and the structure of the funiculus of the antenne, in
which the terminal joint is longer and more slender than the joints
immediately preceding, and nearly as long as the basal joints,
form the chief peculiarities of this genus: in the length and
slenderness of the legs, and in having the basal joint of the narrow
tarsi very long, it approaches most near to Pezichus.
Glochinorhinus Doubleday.
Protopalus Doubledayi, Jekel’s MSS.
Oblongus, sub-cylindricus, squamulis cinereis vel fusco-cinereis
tectus; fronte foveola minuta impressa; thorace utrinque
tuberculato, dorso interrupte carinato, setulis nigris adsperso ;
scutello sordide albo; elytris sub-seriatim punctatis, intersti-
tiis alternis inequaliter tuberculatis ; femoribus quatuor pos-
terioribus subtus obsolete dentatis,
Mas. Rostro spina laterali prope medium, sat longa, extrorsum
et retrorsum curvata, et pone hac spina parvula antrorsum
cavata, instructo, supra squamoso, basi tuberculis minutis,
nitidis adsperso, antice rugoso.
Foem. Rostro denudato subtilissime punctulato.
Long. corp., rostr. exc]., 54 lin.; lat. lin. 24.
Habitat ** Moreton Bay,” Nove Hollandiz.
The tubercles on the elytra in this insect are subject to some
little variation; the second interstice has short crests, one behind
the other, the first a little removed from the base, and the last is
remote from the apex of the elytra; they appear to be composed
of an aggregation of small tubercles having the summits many-
pointed; on the third interstice is a single small tubercle in the
middle ; on the fourth are three small tubercles close together
near the middle, then two other isolated tubercles. behind these,
and a subapical group of three or four small tubercles close
together ; on the sixth interstice is a series of small tubercles, of
which the foremost, at the base of the elytra, is long.
Genus Poropterus, Schénherr (CryPTORHYNCHIDZ).
Amongst the numerous undescribed species of Cryptorhynchides
from New Holland, I possess several species remarkable for their
general form, and for having the thorax and elytra studded with
tubercles; and amongst these are some which I| think should be
associated with the described species of Poropterus, but which,
instead of having the produced portion of the thorax, above the
head, rounded at the extremity, have that part terminating in two
02
196 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
projecting angular processes, and in which the apex of the
elytra terminates in the same manner ; these, again, may be sub-
divided according to differences in the proportions of the joints of
the funiculus, thus :—
Sect. I.—Articulis duobus basalibus funiculi longiusculis obconicis,
articulo 2° primo multo longiore.
Protopterus Chevrolatii.
Elongato-ovatus, fusco-squamosus; rostro rugoso, carinato,
squamulis setiformibus obsito; thorace oblongo, lateribus
rotundato-ampliato, apice valde attenuato-producto, antice
angulatim emarginato; dorso antico plano, canaliculato, pos-
tico convexo, rugoso, longitudinaliter impresso, breviter cari-
nato, utrinque obtuse tuberculato; elytris granulatis, dorso
tuberculis plurimis, obtusis, rugosis, instructis, lateribus
profunde seriatim punctatis, interstitiis subelevatis, fascia
obliqua, indeterminata, ab humeris oblique ad medium ducta,
sordide albido-squamosa, decoratis ; apice pallido-squamosis,
mucronatis.
Long. corp., absq. rostr., lin. 63; lat. lin. 24.
Habitat ad ‘‘ Moreton Bay,” Nove Hollandiz.
Rostrum nearly one fourth shorter than the thorax, which
latter is rather longer than broad; a little in front of the middle,
the sides of the thorax are rather suddenly cut in, and from that
part to the front they are straight and converging towards the
fore part, so that the lobe, which projects considerably beyond
the head, is very narrow in front, where it terminates in two semi-
acute points. All this part of the thorax is flat above, but grooved
along the middle; on the hinder part of the thorax the sides are
rounded, but there is a slight notch on either side rather behind
the mesial line; the dorsal surface is convex, rugose, has some
small scattered granules, and is furrowed along the middle; in the
centre is a short keel. The elytra are rather less than double the
length of the thorax, and of an elongate ovate form, terminating
posteriorly in two conical tubercles; at the base they are scarcely
wider than the thorax at the same part ; they are moderately con-
vex, and the whole dorsal surface is very uneven: besides nu-
merous little granules there are about ten tubercles on each
elytron, these varying somewhat in size, of a more or less rounded
form, and rugose at the summit. They are thus disposed :—three
(considerably separated from each other) in the position of the
second interstice of the striz; one in the third, about midway
between the base and apex of the elytra, three in the fourth ; one
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 197
in the sixth, nearly opposite that in the third; and two (one
behind the other) at the shoulder. The colouring of the scales
vary somewhat in different individuals, and the markings are
often very indistinct ; usually the scales are brown, but on the
sides and fore part of the thorax of avery pale ash colour, in-
clining to white, and sometimes with a faint greenish tint: a pale
undefined band crosses the elytra, running obliquely inwards from
the shoulder almost to the suture near the middle; below and
external to this is a small patch, which is sometimes connected
with a patch at the apex; these markings are of the same pale
colour as the sides of the thorax. The legs are moderate as to
length, and clothed with scales and short sete: the femora are
nearly linear and without teeth.
Poropterus Jekeli.
Oblongo-ovatus, fusco-squamosus; rostro ruguloso-punctato,
fronte plana; thorace lateribus rotundato-ampliatis, in medio
incisis, antice attenuato-producto, apice supra emarginato,
dorso parum convexo, carinato, utrinque tuberculo rotundato
instructo; elytris ovatis, sub-seriatim punctatis, rugosis,
decem tuberculatis, granulisque nitidis parce adspersis; apice
mucronatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 62; lat. lin. 22.
Patria ‘‘ Moreton Bay,” Nove Hollandia.
Proportionably shorter and broader than P. Chevrolati, the
thorax less convex, less produced in front; elytra with the tu-
bercles larger, and the two conical processes with which they are
terminated also larger ; the antennz more slender.
Head and rostrum together about equal to the thorax in length;
rostrum somewhat rugosely punctured, the punctures more nu-
merous on the apical portion, where there are some delicate longi-
tudinal ridges on either side; head nearly flat in front, with a
faint longitudinal depression in the middle, and a somewhat indis-
tinct angular depression at the base of the rostrum; the surface
impunctate, but with large and small scales in tolerable abun-
dance. Thorax with the length and width equal, the upper sur-
face nearly flat in front and near the sides, the mesial portion
slightly convex, with a short keel, and a rounded tubercle on either
side at a short distance from the keel. From these tubercles a ridge,
which is obtuse and but little raised, and runs forwards towards
the apex of the thorax, and a third ridge, or, it may almost be
termed, a denuded line, runs between them; a few slightly raised
198 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
granules are seen on the hinder half of the thorax; the sides are
rounded, have an uneven outline on the hinder half, and a distinct
notch in the middle: where they join the anterior lobe, which pro-
jects over the head, they are considerably contracted; the sides
of the lobe are straight, converging anteriorly, and the apex is
notched, Elytra less than twice the length of the thorax, and
rather broader and strongly convex in the middle; two rows of
very large shallow fovez are seen on the sides, and on other parts
are smaller depressions, but disposed without order, the whole
upper surface being very uneven. Granules are sparingly scattered
over the surface, and each elytron has five large rounded rugose
tubercles; three in a Jine at a little distance from the suture, the
middle tubercle being placed about halfway between the extre-
mities of the elytra, the foremost about midway between the
middle one and the base of the elytra, and the hindermost
very little more removed from the middle tubercle than that is
from the first; the remaining two large tubercles are external
to the three noticed, not far removed, and nearly opposite their
interspaces: besides these there is a small tubercle near the
shoulder, and an oblong tubercle behind this near the middle of
the lateral portion of the elytra. Each elytron has an obtuse
transverse ridge at the base, which extends from the suture nearly
to the shoulder, becoming broader externally. The apical pro-
cesses are larger and more produced than in P. Chevrolati, and
have a nearly triangular base. The whole of the upper parts are
covered with minute brown scales, but these do not quite hide
the surface; and, mixed with them, are scattered large scales;
on the summits of the tubercles there are large scales, and on the
apex of the thorax the scales are sub-setiform. The legs are
covered with brown setiform scales, with an admixture of small
black setze; the femora are edentate.
I have named this species after M. Jekel of Paris, so celebrated
for his knowledge of the Curculionides, and to whom I am in-
debted for much information on this branch of Entomology.
Poropterus Parry?.
Niger fusco-squamosus ; rostro punctulato, subcarinato ; fronte
depressa, foveolata; thorace antice utrinque valde constricto,
parum producto, bituberculato, dorso parum convexo utrin-
que bituberculato, in medio breviter et obtuse carinato,
lateribus parum rotundato-ampliatis ante medium tuberculo
instructis; scutello rotundato, albido-squamoso; elytris ob-
longo-oyvatis parum convexis, sub-seriatim punctatis, tuber-
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 199
culatis, postice productis apice tuberculis binis validis in-
structis ; singulo vitta parvula albida ante apicem notato.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 73; lat. lin. 33.
Hab. “Sydney,” Nove Hollandie.
Larger than P. Jekelu, which it most nearly resembles; and
besides differing in having the two basal joints of the funiculus
equal, it may be readily distinguished by the thorax having four
tubercles on the upper surface, and by its having the apex less
produced, &c. Here the fore part of the head (which is very
convex and almost bituberculate) projects beyond the anterior
margin of the thorax, whilst in P. Jekelii and P. Wesimoodi the
apical portion of the thorax projects considerably beyond the head.
The more convex and narrower form of P. Chevrolatii, combined
with the more elongated conical tubercles on its elytra, serve to
distinguish that species from the present; the seventh joint of the
funiculus, moreover, in P. Chevrolatii is nearly equal in length
and breadth, whilst in P. Parry the same joint is much broader
than long. The thorax is equal in length and breadth, has a
transverse impression near the apex above, and at the sides a
continuation of the same impression is very deeply cut in; in
front of the impression are two tubercles immediately above the
head ; in the middle of the dorsal surface is a short and very ob-
tuse carina, and on either side of the disc are two tubercles,
placed one behind the other and near together; the foremost is
very little removed from the transverse impression before noticed ;
from the indentation in front, the sides are gently rounded to the
base, and rather in front of the middle is a smallish tubercle pro-
jecting laterally; on the hinder part of the thorax above are some
large rugee. The elytra are twice as long as the thorax, and in
the middle about one third broader, and but little convex above ;
the punctures on them are large and irregularly-disposed, as if
the rows were bent aside in parts, to make room for the large
tubercles: there are three large obtuse tubercles on the second
interstice, of which the hindermost is the largest, and situated at
the commencement of the posterior third of the elytra; on the
fourth interstice are two large tubercles, and on the sixth there
are also two tubercles, of which the foremost is very large, and
placed at the humeral angle; the second is opposite the interspace
of the two tubercles on the fourth interstice; and besides these there
is a lateral tubercle situated about midway between the base and
apex of the elytra, and four smaller tubercles on the base of the
elytra. A large conical tubercle, projecting horizontally, springs
200 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
from the apex of each elytron: on each elytron is a small oblong
dirty white mark, at some little distance from the apex, and this
spot terminates posteriorly in a small tubercle covered with the
same whitish scales. The scales are more dense on all these
tubercles than on other parts. The body beneath is flat, has
scattered brown scales, and fine, dispersed punctures. The legs
are well clothed with scales, and each femur has a pale ring
towards the apex.
The specimen from which this description is taken is in the
collection of the British Museum.
Sect. I1.— Articulis duobus basalibus funiculi elongatis,
equahbus.
Poropterus Westwoodit.
Elongato-ovatus, cinereo- et fusco-squamosus; rostro rugoso,
sub-carinato; thorace sat crebre granulato, intra apicem
subito angustato, apice supra truncato, tuberculis duobus,
compressis instructo, medio breviter carinato, sub-trans-
versim quadri-tuberculato; elytris rude punctatis, granulis
adspersis, tuberculisque validis, conicis, sub-acutis, biseriatim
Instructis ; apice attenuato-truncatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 74; lat. lin. 22.
Patria, Nova Hollandia.
Distinguished at once from the preceding by the more elon-
gated conical tubercles on the elytra, the anterior lobe of the
thorax, and the apex of the elytra being truncated, and by its
larger size.
The head and rostrum together are equal to the thorax in
length; the latter is slightly curved and sub-depressed, and very
rugose above ; a somewhat irregular keel runs along the basal
half. Thorax nearly equal in length and breadth, convex above,
and with glossy black granules scattered over the surface; the
anterior lobe projects but little over the head, is truncated in
front, but terminated by two compressed and slightly recurved
tubercles; in the middle is a short keel, and on either side of this
a large obtuse tubercle, besides which there is a horizontally com-
pressed tubercle on the lateral margin rather anterior to the me-
sial line ; behind this, the sides, with a slight outward curve, are
gradually contracted towards the base; in front of the lateral
tubercle the sides are suddenly much contracted and emarginated,
so that the anterior lobe assumes a subquadrate form. The elytra
are of an elongate ovate form, rather more than twice the length of
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 201
the thorax, with the humerus projecting and angular, the dorsal
surface considerably arched ; with coarse punctures and scattered
granules, an equal row of fine nearly equidistant tubercles, one of
which is small, and close to the apex; the others are large and
conical, and the sub-apical tubercle is very large and sub-acute ;
besides these there is a row of three smaller tubercles arranged
in an oblique line, running from the shoulder to the third of the
dorsal tubercles. On the sides of the elytra are three rows of
comparatively small punctures, and these very widely separated,
and each one incloses a scale; between these rows of punctures
there are series of large and but little raised granules. The scales
are tolerably dense, pale ash colour on the thorax, excepting on
the disc and on the tubercles, where they are brown; the gra-
nules here and elsewhere are denuded; they are scattered over
the surface of the four dorsal tubercles as well as other parts of
the thorax. On the sides of the elytra the scales are rufous
brown; on the upper parts they are chiefly ash-coloured, except-
ing on the space between the inner rows of tubercles, where the
brown tint prevails. The legs are rather larger and more slender
than in the other species described in this paper. On the abdo-
men are three longitudinal denuded bands.
Praciocorynus,* nov. gen. Cryproruyncnipz—divis. I.
Antenne breviuscule, validiuscule, versus apicem rostri in-
serte ; funiculo 7-articulato, articulo primo breviter obco-
nico, 2° longiore, reliquis brevibus; clava brevis, oblique
truncata. Rostrum breve, crassum. Oculi laterales, parum
convexi. Thorax sub-conicus, basi sub-truncatus, lateribus
vix rotundato-ampliatus, apice utrinque emarginatus, supra
valde acuminato-productus, pone oculos lobatus. Scutellum
minutum. Jlytra antice thoracis basi vix latiora, trisinuata,
humeris antrorsum prominulis, pone medium ampliata, pos-
tice valde declivia. Pedes validi. Corpus oblongum, con-
vexum, sculpturatum, squamosum, apterum(?), majuscule
magnitudinis.
The form of the club of the antenne in this genus differs from
that of other Cryptorhynchides, it being short, and obliquely trun-
cated on the outer side, and the terminal joints are as it were
thrust into the basal joint; the rostrum is thick, sub-angular, has
four irregular keels above, and is unusually short, being but little
longer than the head ; the thorax is large, much contracted and
* From mAdyiog, oblique, and xoprvn, club.
202 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
produced in front, and keeled above ; the elytra are short, the
sides nearly straight, but diverging gradually from the base to the
posterior third, from which point they rather suddenly converge
towards the apex, which might be described as obtusely rounded,
were it not that the sutural portion projects and forms an angle
in the middle; the apical portion is much bent downwards, so as
to form an obtuse angle with the dorsal surface, the sides are nearly
vertical, the back moderately convex ; the legs rather short and
very thick.
Plagiocorynus quadrituberculatus.
Oblongus, niger, umbrino-squamosus ; fronte foveolata; rostro
valido perparum arcuato, supra ruguso-punctato, irregu-
lariter quadri-carinato, squamulis setiformibus semi-erectis,
obsito; thorace utrinque parum rotundato-ampliato, supra
convexo, rugoso-punctato, medio carinato, utrinque disci
carinula brevi notato; elytris tuberculis parvulis rotundis
scrobiculisque alternatim et seriatim notatis; pone medium
tuberculis quatuor transversim obsitis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 6; lat. lin. 3.
Head coarsely punctured, with a deep fovea surrounded by a
slight ridge on the forehead; rostrum with four longitudinal
ridges on the basal portion; scape of antennz apparently with a
small tuft of scales in the middle of the under side. Thorax
equal in length and breadth, the sides slightly rounded; the
margin of the anterior lobe slightly raised; the dorsal keel high,
and continued from the base to the apex of the thorax. Elytra
rather strongly trisinuated in front, and closely applied to the
thorax, with small pits arranged in longitudinal series in place of
the ordinary punctures of the striz; these pits filled with scales,
and separated from each other by a small rounded tubercle, which
is but little raised—they are most distinct on the sides of the
elytra, and are wanting on the apical portion. The interstices are
for the most part flat; but the second interstice from the suture
is slightly raised. Rather behind the middle of the elytra (at the
part where they are suddenly bent down) is a transverse row of
four tubercles; the innermost tubercle on either side is large and
obtuse, and clothed with erect dusky setiform scales; the outer
tubercle is small and obtuse, and clothed with the same rich
brown scales as other parts. The legs are densely clothed with
scales, which in parts, especially on the tibiae, assume nearly the
form of short bristles.
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 203
I have another Cryptorhynchus in my collection, which was sent
from Moreton Bay with the above, and which I have no doubt is
the male of the same species. It differs in being smaller, much
narrower, and in having the head and rostrum very little punc-
tured. Its length is 53 lines; width 24 lines. In the form of
the elytra this insect strongly reminds one of Leptops quadritu-
berculatus and its allies.
Cuztectetorus, Scho. (CRyPTORHYNCHIDZ. )
C. spinipennis.
Oblongo-ovatus, niger, squamulis rufescentibus, nigrisque va-
riegatus; rostro recto, punctulato, fronte foveolata; thorace
supra sub-plano, crebre punctato, antice breviter bicristato,
medio carinato; vittis duabus nigris, postice abbreviatis
notato; elytris antice sub-depressis, sulcato-punctatis, inter-
stitiis angustis, sub-elevatis, fascia transversa communi pone
medium, utrinque abbreviata, singuloque macula parvula,
ante medium nigro-squamosis, tuberculo parvulo sub-apicali
rufescenti-squamoso insignitis; apice ad suturam acute spi-
nosis, utrinque acute denticulatis; femoribus obutse dentatis.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 4; lat. lin. 13.
Habitat in Nova Hollandia.
SyMPIEZOSCELUS,* nov. gen. CrypTORHYNCHIDEZ—divis, I.
Antenne breviuscule, in fovea oblonga ante oculos inserte;
scapo brevissimo valde clavato, funiculo 7-articulato, articulis
duobus basalibus obconicis, 1° latiore, reliquis brevibus,
transversis; clava rotundato-ovata. Rostrum breviusculum,
fere rectum, basi dilatatum, apice sub-depressum. Caput
convexum, fronte depressa, foveolata. Oculi laterales,
parum convexi, sub-rotundati, subtus acuminati. Thorax
longitudine latitudini fere aquali, postice sub-sinuato-trun-
catus, angulis acutis, in medio, ante scutellum, lobo minuto
productus; lateribus obliquis, perparum rotundatis, antice
constrictus, utrinque leviter emarginatus, pone oculos sub-
lobatus. Scutellum rotundum. Llytra thorace vix Jatiora,
illoque duplo longiora, basi conjunctim trisinuata, lateribus
perparum ampliata, apice conjunctim rotundata. Pedes
breves, femoribus magnis, compressis; tibize dilatatee, com-
presse, extus prope apicem dentate, apice unguiculate ;
* From cuumisfw, to compress, and cxearis, the thigh.
204 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
tarsis parvulis, angustis. Corpus oblongum, glabrum, niti-
dum, elatum, parum convexum, mediz magnitudinis.
This genus belongs to the first section of the Cryplorhynchides,
having a well defined rostral groove, which is terminated poste-
riorly between the coxze of the anterior and middle pair of legs.
It presents several remarkable characters. Its rather short, nearly
straight, and somewhat depressed rostrum is remarkable for
having the basal portion dilated on either side, forming a little
shield protecting a deep fovea beneath, which fovea is oblong, ex-
tends back to the eye, and represents the ordinary antennal
groove, the base of the antennze being inserted init. The scape
of the antennz is short in proportion to the groove which protects
it, and is very stout, its form being almost obconic. The first
joint of the funiculus is a trifle stouter than the rest; the club is
rather large and very short. The legs are singular, being short;
the femora large, very broad, compressed; the anterior pair are
the largest, and are much arched above; all the femora are
deeply excavated beneath on the apical half to receive the tibia
when the legs are contracted; the tibize are short, curved at the
base, broad and compressed, have an acute tooth, on the outer
side towards the apex; the tarsi are very small and very slender;
the two basal joints are destitute of the ordinary spongy substance
beneath, but this is not wanting in the bilobed third joint; the
claw joint is rather long, and has two well developed, simple di-
verging claws.
I think this genus is allied to Pselophax of White (=Pteroplectus,
Schonherr), and I can by no means regard the latter genus as
being properly placed by Schénherr in the Byrsopsides.
Sympiezoscelus Spencit.
Oblongus piceo-niger, nitidus, tibiis tarsisque piceis, antennis
rufis; rostro thorace. breviore, rufo-piceo, nitidissimo, basi
utrinque sub-depresso, punctato; capite punctulato, fronte
foveolata; thorace disperse punctato, basi utrinque foveolato,
in medio carinula brevissima apice ante scutellum paulo pro-
ducta notato; elytris profunde punctato-striatis, interstitiis
convexis, corpore subtus irregulariter punctato squamulis
flavescentibus, preesertim in pectore, adsperso.
Long. corp., rostr. excl., lin. 4; lat. lin. 13.
Habitat in Nova Zealandia, vel fortasse Nova Hollandia.
The collection which contained this insect was made up partly
of Australian and partly of New Zealand species, hence [ am un-
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 205
certain to which country it belongs; I am more inclined to believe
it belongs to the latter country. In general appearance it reminds
one somewhat of a T’ranes or an Iphipus.
Hysornorvs,* nov. gen. CryprorHyNcHipE—divis. IT.
Antenne mediocres, minus tenues; articulis tribus basalibus
funiculi obconicis, reliquis brevibus; clava breviter ovata.
Rostrum longitudine fere capitis cum thorace, teres, parum
arcuatum, subcarinatum. Oculi magni, parum convexi, in
fronte approximati. Thorax transversus, subconicus, antice
valde constrictus, supra in medio sub-elevatus, obtuse cari-
natus, apice rotundato-productus, pone oculos valde lobatus,
basi ante scutellum paulo productus. Scutellum oblongum
elevatum. Elytra subtriangularia, antice sinuato-emarginata,
humeris rotundato-subangulato-productis, versus apicem at-
tenuata, apice ipso rotundata; supra convexa, tuberibus
tuberculisque obsita. Pedes mediocres, femoribus subtus
valde dentatis; tibize basi curvate, apice unguiculo armate ;
tarsis parum latis, subtus spongiosis, biunguiculatis. Corpus
breve, convexum, valde inequale, haud squamosum, medi
magnitudinis.
Approaches most nearly to Rhyssomatus, but has simple diverg-
ing claws, whilst in that genus the claws are bifid,} and differs,
further, in having the humeral angles of the elytra produced; the
basal joints of the funiculus are shorter, and the four anterior legs
are more widely separated at the base. ‘The two last mentioned
points of distinction serve also to distinguish the new genus
from Chalcodermus. The thorax in Hybophorus is more deeply
sinuated behind, more deeply emarginated on either side at the
apex, and more strongly lobed behind the eyes, than in either of
the two genera with which it is compared. Scape of the antennz
inserted about midway between the middle and the apex of the
rostrum, and reaching back nearly to the eye, and but little
clavate: three basal joints of funiculus obconic, the third shorter
than the other two, which are but moderate as to length; the
remaining joints short, at first subturbinate and then transverse :
club short, the joints tolerably distinct. Eyes very large, very
nearly touching each other on the forehead; the facets rather
* From i@3c, a hump, and ¢opéw, to bear.
+ A character which has been overlooked, but which is important. I shall
take an early opportunity of pointing out some peculiarities which I have noticed
in the claws of certain genera of Curculionides.
206 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse’s Descriptions of
larger and more distinct than usual. Anterior coxze separated to
continue the rostral groove, which is moderately deep and sharply
margined on the under side of the prothorax, but is not continued
beyond. Terminal segment of the abdomen with a transverse
fovea,—perhaps a sexual character. Femora bidentate beneath,
a small tooth in front of a very large one.
Hybophorus rufotuberosus.
Sub-rhomboideus, ater, parum nitidus, pedibus nigro-piceis,
antennis piceo-rufis; rostro leviter carinato, basi punctato-
subsulcato, apice subtilissime punctulato; capite punctato
thorace antice valde constricto, supra in medio sub-elevato,
et obtuse carinato, lateribus ante medium rotundato, postice
recto; ante apicem punctis magnis nonnullis transversim dis-
positis, lateribus profunde et sub-remote punctatis; elytris
piceo-nigris, supra valde inzequalibus, tuberibus tubercu-
lisque rufescentibus obsitis, interstitiis granulis nigris, nitidis,
sat crebre adspersis, sutura laevigata; femoribus bidentatis.
Long. corp., absq. rostr., lin. 33; lat. lin, 23.
Patria, Nova Hollandia.
The keel on the thorax is considerably elevated but not sharp,
is most raised towards the fore part, and does not extend quite to
the base; in the constricted portion of the thorax in front are
seen, on each side of the keel, a row of about six or seven large
oblong punctures; on the disc are a few rather obscure punctures,
and towards the sides are a few irregularly disposed large punc-
tures; on the sides the large punctures are rather numerous; the
upper surface of the thorax, excepting in the parts alluded to, is
smooth and rather dull. The tubercles on the elytra vary much
in size and form; the most conspicuous are—a large tubercle at
the shoulder, which is of a three-sided pyramidal form—it is black,
with the angles dull red; a large tubercle about midway between
the base and apex of each elytron, and near the suture, oblong and
rounded, excepting on the inner side, where there is a depression
containing one of the little glossy black granules which are rather
thickly dispersed in all the cavities between the tubercles and
rugosities of the elytra; behind the humeral tubercle is another
tubercle, which is tolerably large; a fourth tubercle is situated in
front of the great mesial one, and a fifth between this and the
humeral hump; besides which are two sub-apical tubercles, one
apical—and several others on the lateral portions of the elytra,
New Genera and Species of Curculionides. 207
which are very irregular—is less prominent. All these tubercles
are more or less red; those near the apex very bright. The
under parts of the body, with the exception of the abdominal
segments, are very coarsely and irregularly punctured. On the
legs are some coarse punctures, more particularly on the femora,
which in parts are sulcated.
I have reason to believe this insect is from Moreton Bay, but
am not quite certain.
XXII. Contributions to the Natural History of British
Microlepidoptera. By J. W. Dovatuas, Esq. (continued
from p. 124.)
[Read 6th June, 1853. ]
Genus Beperria, Stainton. (PI. XVII.)
Tue single species at present constituting this genus is in many
respects the most anomalous among the Zineide. In its general
slenderness and attitude in repose it resembles Gracillaria and
Ornix; in the very narrow posterior wings it approaches Cosmop-
teryx; in the larva living within the substance of a leaf it has the
habit of Elachista, while the pupa is unlike that of any of the
Tineide I know,—except, perhaps, some of the Llachiste. The
doubtful relation of this moth, derived from the characters
afforded by the perfect state, in which condition only it was till
recently known, is shown by its various location by different
authors. It first appeared in Mann’s Catalogue as Gracillaria
Convolvulella; then Zeller, in 1847 (Isis, 894), described it as
Lyonetia somnulentella, but in 1848 (Lin. Ent. ii. 264), after an
examination of the neuration of the wings, he was convinced it
was no Lyonetia, and yet could not determine that it belonged to
any existing genus; and Stainton in 1849 (Cat. 23), without
knowing that Zeller’s remark, above alluded to, applied to this
species, separated it as a distinct genus under the name Bedellia.*
The consideration of all the facts of its natural history induces me
to think it should be placed near the Elachiste.
* In honour of Mr. George Bedell, the first and foremost of modern English
collectors of Microlepidoptera.
208 Mr. J. W. Douglas’s Contributions to the
For a long time the typical specimen taken by Mr. Bedell was
the only English example known, but on the 5th of August last
year, in the lane from Greenhithe to Darent Wood, I found
four caterpillars mining leaves of Convolvulus arvensis, and the
next day at Lee I discovered a considerable number. Four-fifths
of these produced only Ichneumons, but from the others I reared
the moth. Mr. Stainton and I had repeatedly, but in vain,
searched the leaves of Convolvulus Sepium for a miner, which Mr.
R. C. R. Jordan informed us he once found on that plant in De-
vonshire, and from which he had bred a moth. We had concluded
there was some mistake, and we now thought this was the insect,
and that we had been told the wrong specific name of the plant;
but in September last Mr. Stainton, when in Devon, found that
the larva of this species did there, though but rarely, feed on C.
Sepium. Mr. Jordan unfortunately lost sight of the moths he had
reared, or this very interesting addition to our knowledge might
long ago have been less of a stranger to us.
Bedellia somnulentella, Zeller.
Larva (fig. 1a). Length 43 lines. Pale green. Head small,
with a narrow V shaped mark in the centre, and a dark mark
on the margin. Down the centre of the back a purplish line, on
each side of which is a row of purple spots with a white pupil,
from which proceeds a hair; one of these spots is on each seg-
ment, and they are connected by a slight suffusion of purple. A
second row of purple spots is just above the legs; the posterior
segments tapering.
Six pectoral, eight ventral and two anal legs, green.
Mines in leaves of Convolvulus arvensis, rarely in those of C.
Sepium, forming white blotches (fig. 1b). The tenements are
kept quite clean, all the excrement being protruded. The larva
passes all its life under cover, except during the short intervals
when it has left one leaf, and is seeking another in which to bury
itself. At such times, or by violently breaking open its dwelling,
may be observed the peculiar method of progression, which some-
what resembles that of the Geometride (fig. 1c).
Found from 5th to 16th August, and from 15th to 24th Sep-
tember, there being two consecutive broods.
Pupa (fig. 1d). Length 33 lines. Pointed at both ends, broad
at the thorax, abruptly narrower, but very much elongated ante-
riorly, gradually tapering posteriorly. The general form is very
like that of the pupa of a Pontia; when laid upon its back the
Natural History of British Microlepidoplera. 209
shape closely resembles that of a boat with an elongated prow.
Colour at first pale green, both ends tipped with brown; after-
wards black-brown, with the back greyish; two white dots on
each segment, divided by a fine white line running down the
centre and connected lengthwise by a broader black line; each
segment is bordered transversely by a fine white line, close to
which, at the margin of the wing case, is a black mark. The
antenne reach far beyond the wing cases.
The pupa is suspended under a leaf in a fine silky spinning,
with a few threads drawn across the head and tail, holding it firm ;
and it is sometimes seen hung up by these alone, like a hammock
(fig. le). The pupa state exists from ten to fourteen days.
Imago (fig. 1). The perfect insect flies but little, and then
only a short distance; if the leaf or twig on which it is sitting be
touched, it falls to the ground ; hence the reason it has so seldom
been found. Its manner of sitting is peculiar. It loves to be at
the edge of a leaf, the fore part of its body raised up and project-
ing far over, the fore legs drawn in—not put out like a Gracil-
laria—the antennz laid along its side, and the end of the wings
touching the leaf. In this position it looks as if it were asleep,
and hence probably its specific name.
Genus Exacuista, Treitschke. (Pl. XVIII.)
Until quite recently the larvee of the Elachiste were almost
unknown, although the smaller ones of Lithocolletis, Bucculatriz
and Nepticula had been discovered. In 1851, Mr. Logan bred
one species from the stem of a grass; last year I also found a
larva in a blade of grass, and this spring several other species
have been detected, chiefly by Mr. Stainton and Mr. Scott of
Renfrew ; so that having, we believe, found out the habit of the
larvee of the genus, there is now reason to hope we are in the
right way to obtain all the species—at least that numerous section
which, in Stainton’s Catalogue, begins with albifrontella and ends
with Cygnipennella, and to which the following observations re-
late. All hitherto found mine in blades of grass between the
cuticles; and though the tracks they make soon become dis-
coloured, it requires some practice and patience to see them, but
different species may be recognized by the variation in the manner
of making the mine, or in the different species of grass attacked.
If, as is probable, the larvae of the whole of this section be grass-
miners, it may be as well, in order to facilitate future discoveries,
to show in how many points those at present observed differ from
VOL, II, N.S. PART VII,—JAN. 1854. P
210 Mr. J. W. Douglas’s Contributions to the
each other. They may be divided into two groups—one mining
the upper part of the grass, never descending to the base—the
other mining down the leaf continuously towards the root. Of
the first group the larve when full fed quit their mine, and,
attaching themselves to the leaf, pass into the pupa state ; of the
second group, the larvee do not appear to come out of their mine
to undergo their change, but as we have not succeeded in rearing
any of them, no positive information can be given. Two kinds of
mines also have been observed; one in which the cuticles that
have been separated are not distended, the other in which these
assume a tubular or inflated appearance.
The larve are unicolorous, destitute of marking except patches
more or less dark on the second and last segments, and slight de-
pressions over the whole of the upper surface ; anteriorly they
are flattened, and the third and fourth segments are wider than
the others. The pupz are short and stout, and the back being
raised and curved, they look contracted; the wing-cases are
drooping and project lower than the body ; the penultimate seg-
ment of the body on the underside is furnished at its outer margin
with a dense tuft of short stiff hairs, and the last segment is rounded
and covered in situ by the dark shrivelled skin of the larva, which
is held in a spinning of silk. The flight of the perfect insects is
in the evening ; it is low and interrupted by frequent short rests,
during which they sit closely appressed to the leaf or other object
on which they alight—this position being very characteristic of
the genus when at rest.
Elachista subnigrella, new sp.
Larva (fig. 1a). Length 3 lines. Uniform pale yellow, with
fine depressions on the upper surface towards the sides, with a few
short hairs along the whole surface, more thickly set at each ex-
tremity of the body. Head pale brown, the posterior part visible
through the second segment. On the second and anal segments
is a faint dark patch.
Six pectoral legs light brown, eight ventral and two anal legs
the colour of the body; all very short.
Feeds in the leaves of Bromus erectus, making broad tracks,
which often turn purple, but the cuticles do not separate (fig. 1 b).
Discovered by Mr. Stainton on the Croydon tram-road and at
Mickleham in April last.
Pupa (fig. 1c). Length 2 lines. Brown, thick, somewhat
flattened, the back curved lengthwise and raised into a ridge, of
which the summit is whitish ; at the sides is a similar but smaller
Natural History of British Microlepidoptera. 211
projection, the colour being darkest at the bottom of the furrows
thus formed. Fixed at the anal extremity to the upper surface
of a blade of grass near the part where in separates from the stem,
and held secure within the curvature of the leaf by a silken thread
thrown across the body beyond the middle, the surface of the leaf
at this spot being covered with a slight web of silk.
Imago (fig. 1, 6 and @.) Often found in chalky places among
grass in June and August, being one of the commonest of our
small moths in such localities. The sexes differ considerably in
colour, the female being smaller and darker than the male, and the
fascize whiter and more distinct.
The species is altogether very similar to E. nigrella, but inde-
pendent of differences in the perfect insects, there are the others
of the larva and its habits which indicate a distinction.
Elachista Megerlelila, Hibner ?, Stephens.
Larva (fig. 2a). Length 33 lines. Dull greenish grey, with
very few hairs ; third and fourth segments wide, thence gradually
tapering ; the upper surface, towards the sides, with dark depres-
sions, about three on each side of a segment. Head small, pale
piceous ; second segment with an irregular piceous patch on the
upper surface, obtusely angled in front, widened posteriorly, and
with a white line in the centre ; anal segment with a piceous patch.
Six pectoral legs blackish, eight ventral and two anal legs the
colour of the body.
Mines upwards in leaves of Melica uniflora (fig. 2 6), making a
brownish track, which is shrivelled or puckered longitudinally, the
two cuticles being visibly separated. It burrows in several leaves
in succession, and sometimes two larve are in one leaf.
Found by Mr. Stainton early in April at Lewisham.
Pupa (fig. 2c). Length 2} lines. Light brown, curved, the
back raised into a ridge, and a smaller similar elevation at each
side continued onwards to the head. Affixed to the grass, pre-
viously covered with a silken web, by the anal extremity, with a
silken thread thrown across the body, about or rather below the
centre.
Imago (fig. 2, ¢ and ¢}. <A well known species frequenting
ditches and moist sheltered places in May and June.
Elachista Cygnipennella, Hiibner.
Larva (fig. 3a). Length 4 lines. Dull greenish grey, almost
destitute of hairs. Head small, yellowish brown, margined with
P2
212 Mr. Douglas's Contributions to British Microlepidoptera.
very dark brown, inserted deeply into the next segment, through
which it is visible in the form of two rounded lobes ; on this second
segment, posteriorly, are four brown spots, two on each side of a
central whitish line, which extends hence down the other segments ;
anal segment with a small faint brownish mark ; low down on the
side are two dark lines along the whole length. On the upper
surface are some faint indistinct depressions.
Six pectoral Jegs black, eight ventral and two anal legs the colour
of the body.
Feeds in the leaves of Dactylus glomeratus, hollowing out the
entire extremity, which thus becomes bleached (fig. 3 b).
Found by myself near Mickleham on 17th April, and by
Mr. Stainton and Mr. Wing on the Croydon tram-road on 12th
May.
Pupa (fig. 3c). Length 3} lines. Whitish brown, curved, ro-
bust and obtuse in front, the back elevated into a strong ridge, at
the base of which on each side is a similar but smaller lateral
projection, the furrow between occupied by a dark brown line.
The wing cases are marked with a curved brown line. These
markings are all visible on the pupa-skin after the imago has
emerged. There is no thread thrown across the body as in the
two preceding species; it is held in situ upon a slight carpeting
of silk by the attachment thereto of the anal segment by silken
threads, aided probably by some very short stout hairs which pro-
ject from the underside of the rounded anal segment.
Imago (fig. 3, 8 and 2). Not an uncommon species among
grass in many places in June.
Note.—It will be observed that the figures of the perfect insects,
as well as the preparatory states, are highly magnified, although
the usual indication of the expansion of the former has been acci-
dentally omitted on the plates.
Ge 2ioe)
XXIII. Monograph of the Genus Cryptocerus, belonging to
the Group Cryptoceride—Family Myrmicidee—Division
Hymenoptera Heterogyna. By F. Smiru, Esq.
{Read 7th March, 1853.]
THERE is no genus with which we are acquainted amongst the
Formicide which exhibits such eccentricities of form as are met
with in Cryptocerus ; indeed, independent of variation in general
habit, the differences of the form of parts is so great in some
species, that at first sight they would appear to belong to distinct
genera: a careful study of a number of individuals soon shows us
that these apparently broad distinctions are but modifications of
one normal type of structure. Taking the type of the genus
C. atratus, and attentively studying it, we find in the different
individuals which follow, some differing in the addition to or dimi-
nution of the number of spines which usually arm the head and
thorax; others having the shield of the head, or lateral produced
margins, terminating more or less suddenly before reaching the
posterior angles of the head ; in one instance only do we find the
margin continued entirely round, forming the exact model of a
dish. This expansion appears to be at the expense of a diminution
of other appendages, the thorax as well as the nodes of the abdo-
men are destitute of spines, and all other parts are of the simplest
construction,
I have thought it desirable to give figures of the sexes of all
the species of which I could obtain specimens for that purpose.
An additional interest will arise from the discovery of the males of
two species; for this valuable information we are indebted to the
industry and the acuteness of observation of Mr. H. W. Bates, to
whom Entomology is under such lasting obligations for the elucida-
tion of so many points of obscurity, not the least interesting of which
is the discovery of the males of Cryptocerus. From Mr. Bates’s
notes I copied the following observation: ‘The three sexes were
taken in company in a decaying tree, in which their burrows were
formed ;”* judging from the number of specimens sent—two males
and about a dozen of each of the other sexes—we may reason-
ably conclude that their societies are not very numerous. In their
habits we have been informed by Lund that the species are com-
paratively solitary, lying in wait and springing upon their prey in
the manner of a hunting spider, to which indeed they bear a
striking resemblance.
* This note applies to the discovery of the sexes of C. clypeatus.
214 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
The number of previously described species appears to be
twenty ; to this I now add fifteen, making the total thirty-five.
From these I propose to remove the species of the Old World,
four in number, and form a new genus for their reception ; and a
second new genus I create for two other species, differing very
materially from all others in having the abdomen peduncu-
lated and rounded in the females, the neuration of their wings
being aiso quite distinct from Cryptocerus. When a knowledge
of all the sexes shall have been obtained, it will in all probability
be necessary to make further subdivisions. Indeed, I retain in the
genus Cryptocerus a species from Adelaide with some reluctance ;
but having only one specimen, I leave it there for future investi-
gation, being unwilling to destroy it by dissecting. In its antennee
I cannot detect more than ten joints, all other neuters having
eleven; the basal joint of the flagellum is frequently hidden in a
cavity at the apex of the scape, but such does not appear to be
the case in the species from Adelaide.
Having the means of describing for the first time the male and
female of a closely allied genus, the Daceton of Perty, I have
given both descriptions and figures of the sexes; this genus, in
the neuration of the wings, will be found very nearly to agree
with the genus Cryptocerus.
I have also added to my present memoir a description of a new
and allied genus from New Zealand, very remarkable for having
only five joints in the antennz of the workers.
I have much pleasure in recording still further obligations to
Mr. Bates, who discovered the male and female of the genus
Daceton ; both sexes are in the collection of the British Museum.
I am greatly indebted to my friend Mr. Westwood for the per-
mission to describe four new species from his collection ; nine
new species are described from specimens in my own cabinet,
the possession of which in the first instance induced me to under-
take a monograph of the genus Cryptocerus.
Group CRYPTOCERID.
Genus 1. Cryprocerus.
Formica, pt. Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 965,16; Fabr. pt. Syst. Ent. 395 ;
Spec. Ins. i. 310; Ent. Syst. ii. 369, 54; Oliv.
Encl. Méth. vi. 500; Latr. Hist. Nat. Fourm. 272.
Cryptocerus, Latr. Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins, xii. 260; Gen.
Crust. Ins. 132; Fabr. Syst. Piezy 418; Klug,
Entom. Monog. 200; St. Farg. Hym. i. 170;
Guérin, Icon. R. Anim. 424.
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 215
Sexes three; female and worker furnished with a sting, sides
of the head expanded, partly concealing the eyes, having on each
side beneath the produced margin a longitudinal channel before
the eyes; antennz stout, clavate, reposing in the lateral channel ;
scape of the antenne grooved beneath for the reception of the
basal joints of the flagellum; labrum transverse, its anterior
margin deeply notched; labial palpi 3-jointed, each of about
equal length ; maxillary palpi 5-jointed, the first joint short, sub-
globose, the second about the length of the two following, the
apical joint the same length as the third and fourth; maxillary
apical lobe somewhat rounded, slightly produced and pointed at
the apex ; superior wings having one marginal and two sub-mar-
ginal cells ; and one small discoidal cell, sub-quadrate and narrowed
towards the submarginal. Abdomen elongate in the females ;
ovate, or globose in the workers.
Males elongate, slender; the head not produced at the sides ;
ocelli prominent (smaller in the females and wanting in the
workers); wings ample, neuration as in the females; legs elongate ;
abdomen small, attached to the thorax by two basal nodes.
Obs.—Latrielle in his Gen. Crust. et Ins. iv. p. 132, says the
labial palpi consist of four joints, I have examined both labial and
maxillary palpi of females and workers of C. atratus, under a
powerful microscope, and can only detect three labial and five
maxillary joints in the palpi. Fabricius, Syst. Piez., p. 419, gives
labial palpi 4-jointed, maxillary palpi 6-jointed.
1. Cryptocerus atratus. (Pl. XIX. figs. 1, 2.)
Formica atratus, Linn. Syst. Nat.i. 965,16; Fab. Syst. Ent. 395,
24; Spec. Ins. i. 493, 33; Mantis. Ins. i.
310, 40; Ent, Syst. ii. 363, 54; Oliv.
Encycl. Méth. vi. 609; Latr. Hist. Nat.
Fourm, 272, tab. xii. fig. 74 A.
Formica quadridens, De Geer, Ins. iil. 609, 7, tab. 31, fig. 17—20.
Cryptocerus marginatus, Fabr. Syst. Piez. 419, 2, ¢.
atratus, Latr. Hist. Nat. xiii. 260, tab. cii. fig. 1 ;
Fabr. Syst. Piez. 418, 1; Klug, Entom.
Monog. 200, 1; St. Farg. Hym. i. 170, 1;
Guérin, Icon. R. Anim. 424, tab. 69, fig. 3;
Spin. Mem. Acad. Torino. (Ser. Sec.)
Tom. xii. I. 63.
Hab. Brazil; Cayenne ; Surinam.
216 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
2. Cryptocerus dubitatus, new sp. (PI. XX. fig. 1.)
Male.—Length 6 lines. Head and thorax black, rugose-punc-
tate; the stemmata placed forwards on the vertex; antenne
ferruginous. ‘Thorax, the collar produced at the anterior angles
into a short acute tooth; the metathorax is also produced at the
posterior angles into a sharp spine; the wings ferruginous. Legs
ferruginous, the coxze and trochanters black. Abdomen, the two
nodes black, the rest ferruginous.
This insect was in my possession some time before Mr. Bates
discovered the male of C. clypeatus. I had placed it with “C.
atratus” as being probably its male, but I had no other evidence
of its being a male Cryptocerus than the circumstance of its agree-
ing in the neuration of the wings with that genus; from its size I
still suspect it to be the male of “ aératus.”” I have seen no second
example.
Hab. Brazil.
3. Cryptocerus Aithiops, new sp. (PI. XX. fig. 9.)
Nevter.—Length 33 lines. Black, opaque, lateral margins of the
head dilated, and slightly raised, within which is an indistinct
longitudinal ferruginous stripe; at the posterior angles of the
head are two acute spines, and in front of each eye, beneath the
dilated margin, is a short tooth visible from above; at the vertex
of the head are also two minute spines. _ At the anterior angles
of the thorax is a short spine or tooth, behind which is a stout
elongate spine, bidentate at the apex; the posterior angles are
also armed with acute spines, which curve outwardly; the
nodes of the abdomen unarmed; abdomen globose, deeply emar-
ginate in front, the emargination receiving the posterior node,
The head, thorax and nodes of the abdomen have distant large
shallow punctures; abdomen very delicately shagreened, polished
on the disc, and having a few scattered punctures.
Hab. Brazil.
In the Collection of the British Museum, and of my own.
4. Cryptocerus oculatus.
Cryptocerus oculatus, Spin. Mem. Acad. Torino, ser. 2m. tom. xii.
I. 65.
Hab. Brazil.
aia
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 217
5. Cryptocerus clypeatus. (Pl. XXI. fig. 1, 2, 5 & 6.)
Cryptocerus clypeatus, Fabr. Syst. Piez. 420, 3, (worker) ;
Perty, Delec.; Klug, Entom. Monog. 207, 6; Guérin,
Icon. R. Anim. 426, 6.
Male.—Length 3} lines. Head and thorax black, rugose, and
having on the disc of the thorax a thinly scattered fulvous pubes-
ence; antenne and legs pale ferruginous; wings sub-hyaline,
nervures pale testaceous, stigma ferruginous ; a dark cloud com-
mences just within the first sub-marginal cell, occupies the mar-
ginal one, and passes along the anterior margin to the apex of the
wing. Abdomen ferrugineo-testaceous, highly polished, the first
node black, the second stained at the sides.
Female.—Length 6 lines. Entirely of a reddish-yeilow, smooth
and shining; the flagellum of the antenne fuscous; the lateral
margins of the head raised, at the posterior angles a short acute
spine, another acute spine immediately behind each posterior
stemma; the anterior angles of the thorax acute; the lateral
angles of the metathorax produced into stout obtuse spines,
disc of the thorax somewhat flattened. Wings sub-hyaline, the
nervures at the base of the wings pale, darker towards their
apex; a dark cloud occupies the marginal cell and passes off
along the anterior margin of the wing to the apex; the nervures
of the wings have a narrow cloud running their entire length.
Abdomen elongate, flattened above, having at the basal and apical
angles an ovate yellow macula, surrounded by a fuscous ring.
Hab. Brazil (Santarem). H. W. Bates, Esq.
In the British Museum, and other Collections.
6. Cryptocerus membranaceus.
Reddish-brown, punctured ; head and thorax spinose, the abdo-
men having a pale membranaceous margin.
Cryptocerus membranaceus, Klug, Ent. Monog.; Guérin, Icon.
topat)
R. Anim. 426. (Worker.)
Length 3 lines.
Hab. Brazil.
7. Cryptocerus quadriguttatus.
Reddish-brown: abdomen ovate, and having four large yellow
spots, and between the pairs a transverse black band.
Cryptocerus 4-guttatus, Guér. Icon. R. Anim. 425. (Worker.)
Length 33 lines.
Hab. Columbia; Bolivia; Amazons, Brazil.
218 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
8. Cryptocerus elongatus.
Black, elongate; thorax anteriorly and posteriorly bispinose.
Cryptocerus elongatus, Klug, Entom. Monog. ; Guérin,
Icon. R. Anim. 426.
Length 5 lines.
Hab. Brazil (Para).
9. Cryptocerus pallens.
Pallid, depressed ; head and thorax angulate ; petiole very short,
sub-spinose.
Cryptocerus pallens, Klug, Ent. Monog.; Guérin, Icon. R, Anim.
Length 13 line.
Hab. Brazil.
10. Cryptocerus argentatus, new sp. (PI. XIX. fig. 7.)
Female.—Length 5 lines. Shining black: head finely and dis-
tantly punctured, rounded in front, and convex above; the stem-
mata placed in a triangle, wide apart; the lateral raised margins
of the head narrow, commencing in front opposite the base of
the mandibles, and gradually narrowing backwards to the pos-
terior angles of the head, which are acute; prothorax acute at
the anterior lateral angles, the metathorax on each side at the
posterior angles forming a long spine curving slightly upwards ;
the first node of the abdomen produced on each side into a sharp
stout spine curving upwards; the second node also has anteriorly
on each side a stout acute spine curving upwards; the abdomen
very smooth and shining, and having on each side, nearly
touching the basal angle, an ovate yellow macula, which is
sprinkled over with silvery scales or hairs; the apical segments
are covered with silvery hairs; the wings fusco-hyaline, the thorax
minutely and ‘distantly punctured, the legs are sprinkled with
short silvery hairs above.
Hab. Columbia.
In my own Collection.
11. Cryptocerus D’ Orbignyanus, Westw. MSS., new sp.
(Pl. XIX. fig. 5.)
Female.—Length 4 lines. Black: head and thorax covered
with shallow punctures, the abdomen delicately and very closely
punctured, the entire insect sprinkled with minute golden hairs ;
the produced lateral margins of the head rufo-testaceous an-
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 219
teriorly, the mandibles and antenne of the same colour. Thorax,
the anterior and posterior angles acute, forming short spines ;
wings slightly fuscous, stigma fuscous, nervures pale testaceous ;
legs ferruginous. The first node of the abdomen produced in
the middle laterally into a short acute spine, the second node
has on each side anteriorly a recurved spine. Abdomen elongate,
narrowing slightly towards the base.
Hab. South America.
Of this species I have only seen the single specimen kindly lent
to me by Mr. Westwood for description.
12. Cryptocerus quadrimaculatus. (Pl. XIX. fig. 8.)
Black, elongate ; the head convex above, rounded in front, the
abdomen having four yellow macule.
Cryptocerus quadrimaculatus, Klug, Ent. Monog. 9; Guérin,
Icon. R. Anim, 426.
Length 33 lines.
Hab. Brazil. In my own Collection.
13. Cryptocerus depressus.
Black: the head anteriorly testaceous at the sides, posteriorly
bispinose ; the petiole spinose.
Cryptocerus depressus, Klug, Ent. Monog.; Guérin, Icon. R.
Anim. 426.
Length 2 lines.
Hab. Rio Janeiro.
14, Cryptocerus umbraculatus.
Rufo-testaceous, margins of the head flavescent, thorax having
a spine at the anterior angles; abdomen ovate, yellow, and having
two transverse black stripes connected by a central stripe.
Cryptocerus umbraculatus, Fabr. Syst. Piez. 420, 4; Klug, Entom.
Monog. 210, 8; Guérin, Icon. R. Anim. 426, 8.
Length 43 lin.
Hab. South America.
15. Cryptocerus femoralis, West. MSS., newsp. (Pl. XX. fig. 3.)
Neuter.—Length 2? lines. Black: the head, thorax and legs
covered with shallow punctures, each containing a minute glitter-
ing scale or hair; the lateral margins of the head expanded before
220 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
the eyes, the margin testaceous, the hinder angles acute; the
antenne sprinkled with glittering hairs; the sides of the thorax
in front testaceous, the anterior portion transverse quadrate,
behind which the sides are deeply notched, the notch containing
a curved spine; the metathorax transverse, its anterior margin
arched, the lateral and posterior margins curved inwards, the
posterior angles produced into a sharp spine; the nodes of the
abdomen transverse, armed on each side with a sharp spine which
is bent backwards; legs four-sided, the section of which is a
square. Abdomen somewhat heart-shaped, narrowly margined ;
longitudinally and finely rugulose, most strongly so at the base.
Hab. Columbia.
This species is in the Collection of J. O. Westwood, Esq., who
kindly lent it me for description.
16. Cryptocerus cordatus, new sp. (Pl. XXI. fig. 3.)
Worker.—Length 3 lines. Black, finely punctured, thinly
covered with glittering silvery scales; the head deeply emarginate
in front, the sides rounded anteriorly, notched on each side over
the eyes; the head truncate posteriorly, the lateral angles slightly
obliquely truncate ;—the head rufo-testaceous on each side ante-
riorly. ‘The thorax rounded in front, produced laterally into a
flattened margin, the angles of which are acute anteriorly, the
sides curved and notched posteriorly, forming a small sharp tooth
on each side,-between which is a transverse suture; the posterior
portion of the thorax is bidentate on each side, the anterior tooth
being the largest, and curving slightly backwards; the basal
margin of this portion of the thorax notched on each side, forming
a blunt tooth in the centre. The two nodes of the abdomen are
transverse, the anterior one being the widest; each is produced
laterally into teeth or spines, which are bent backwards; the
abdomen is heart-shaped, slightly margined at the base, the basal
margins laterally testaceous.
Hab. Santarem, Brazil.
Mr. Bates, in a note on this species, observes, ‘‘ Swarms of this
small species, all individuals of the same size, are seen on branches
and flowers of Byrsominz and other trees on dry sandy campos.”
The single specimen sent is unique in the Collection of the
British Museum.
17. Cryptocerus pusillus. (Pl. XX. fig. 8.)
Black: head dilated before the eyes on each side, the sides
anteriorly testaceous.
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 221
Cryptocerus pusillus, Klug, Ent. Monog.; Guérin, Icon. R.
Anim. 426.
Length 23 lines.
Hab. Brazil; Demerara.
In the Collection of the British Museum, and of J. O. West-
wood, Esq.
18. Cryptocerus minutus.
Black: head depressed, marginate, the margin pale testaceous,
thorax having anteriorly on each side a bent spine; abdomen
margined at the base, the margin pale testaceous.
Length 2 lines.
Hab. S. America.
Cryptocerus minutus, Fabr. Syst. Piez. 425, 5; Klug, Entom.
Monog. 202, 2; Guér. Icon. R. Anim. 426, 2.
19. Cryptocerus Pinelit.
Dark brown: head and thorax without spines, petiole and ab-
domen pale yellow; the entire insect punctate.
Cryptocerus Pinelit, Guérin, Icon, R. Anim, 425.
Length 33 lines.
Hab. Moro-Gueimado, Brazil.
20. Cryptocerus complanatus.
Opaque black; posterior angles of the head without spines ;
thorax wide in front, narrowing towards the abdomen; nodes of
the abdomen transverse; spined at the sides; abdomen ovate.
Cryptocerus complanatus, Guér. Icon. R. Anim, 424 (Neuter).
Length 33 lines.
Hab. Cayenne.
21. Cryptocerus Pavonii.
Cryptocerus Pavonii, Latr. Gen. Crust. Ins, 132.
Hab. South America.
22. Cryptocerus unimaculatus, new sp. (PI. XIX. fig. 9.)
Neuter.—Length 3 lines. Head and thorax black; disc of the
head rugose, most deeply so on the vertex; the raised lateral
margins ferruginous, terminating opposite the eyes; scape of the
antenne and the flagellum beneath ferruginous ; the thorax
rugose, the anterior angles produced into a stout blunt spine; the
2a2 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
posterior angles have also a longer stout acute spine, the legs black ;
the head and thorax are both sprinkled with short bright golden
hairs ; each node of the abdomen has on each side an acute spine.
Abdomen ovate, emarginate at the base; an oblong black stripe
runs from the apex to the middle of the abdomen; beneath black.
Hab. Brazil.
This appears to be a rare species; I have only seen the single
specimen in my own Collection.
23. Cryptocerus discocephalus, new sp. (Pl. XX. fig. 2.)
Neuter.—Length 23 lines. Entirely ferruginous, the entire
margin of the head curving upwards, forming the exact model of
a dish or bowl, which has a few large scattered punctures within;
the posterior angles of the head produced laterally, and bent
slightly upwards; the thorax without spines, somewhat oblong-
quadrate, but narrower posteriorly ; nodes of the abdomen trans-
verse, acute at their outer angles ; abdomen elongate-ovate, deeply
emarginate at the base; legs very short and stout.
Hab. Brazil.
Of this remarkable species I have only seen two specimens, one
in the Collection at the British Museum, and one in my own.
24. Cryptocerus causticus.
Formica caustica, Pohl and Kollar, Braz. Insect. 17. Tab.
fig 12.
Cryptocerus caustica, Guér. Icon. R. Anim, 426.
25. Cryptocerus elegans, new sp. (Pl. XIX. fig. 3.)
* Neuter.—Length 23 lines. Head, antenne and legs rufo-tes-
taceous; margins of the head broadly expanded at the sides, nar-
rowly so behind, and of a pale testaceous hue; eyes black;
mandibles rufo-testaceous, Thorax elongate, rounded in front,
its lateral angles produced into spines curving backwards; the
metathorax has three teeth on each side; the shoulders and
teeth at the sides of the thorax pale testaceous; the posterior
femora testaceous, and having a minute tooth above; the first
node of the abdomen rounded in front, curving outwardly at the
sides to half its length, then abruptly curving inwards on each
* Mr. H. W. Bates, in a note on this species, observes :—‘‘ This pretty little
species was found swimming nimbly over the broad leaves of Heliconi@ in a
moist forest. I have not yet detected its male or female, but suppose its nest to
be made in the hollow branches of trees like the other species.”
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 223
side, forming a narrow footstalk to the broad portion; the second
is somewhat square, having on each side anteriorly a broad bent
flattened spine. Abdomen heart-shaped, having on each side, at
the base, a large ovate pale testaceous macula, and a little beyond
the middle on each side a pale transverse stripe: the entire insect
is covered with shallow punctures, and sprinkled with very short
glittering hairs or scales.
Hab. Columbia; Brazil (Santarem). H. W. Bates, Esq.
In the Collections of the British Museum, and of J. O. West-
wood, Esq.
26. Cryplocerus hemorrhoidalis.
Opaque-black : the head without spines, large and nearly square,
the lateral margins of the head ferruginous ; abdomen ovate, the
sides marginate, at the apex a large red spot, divided in the middlle
by a longitudinal black line.
Formica hemorrhoidalis, Latr. Hist. Nat. Fourm. 276.
Cryptocerus hemorrhoidalis, St. Farg. Hym. I. 172, 3.
Length 23 lines.
Hab. St. Domingo.
27. Cryptocerus Araneolus, new sp. (Pl. XIX. fig. 4.)
Neuter.—1$ lines. Dull reddish brown: the lateral margins of
the head raised and expanded before the eyes; at the eyes the
margins are notched, the raised margins ferruginous, the extreme
apex of the antennz pale testaceous. Thorax oblong, gradually
narrowing towards the abdomen, divided in the middle by a trans-
verse suture, the lateral margins crenulated. Legs short and
stout; the nodes of the abdomen transverse, and furnished on each
side with an acute spine. Abdomen ovate, marginate, and emar-
ginate at the base; the whole insect covered with shallow punc-
tures, each of which contains a bright golden hair.
Hab. St. Vincent’s.
In the Collection of J. O. Westwood, Esq. and in my own.
28. Cryptocerus rimosus.
Cryptocerus rimosus, Spin. Mem. Acad. Torino, Tom. xii. I. 65.
Hab. Brazil.
29. Cryptocerus pubescens, new sp. (PI. XX. fig. 4.)
Female.—Length 2 lines. Brown-ferruginous: the head late-
rally in front has a slightly raised margin. Thorax quadrate,
the anterior margin waved, the sides curving outwardly, the
224 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
posterior margin curving inwards and waved, notched in the
middle, the four angles acute. A little before the posterior
angles the sides produced into an angular tooth. The meta-
thorax has on each side an acute spine, which as well as the
first node of the abdomen is hidden by the projection of the
disc ; the second node half-circular or half-moon shaped. Ab-
domen nearly rotundate, a dark stain runs down the centre, acute
at the base and gradually widening to the margin of the first
segment; the entire insect is covered with erect pale hairs.
Hab. Adelaide, N.S. Wales.
In my own Collection.
Genus 2. MrERANOPLUS.
Sexes three, male, female and worker, or neuter. Female——Sides
of the head not expanded; antenne inserted before and above the
eyes on each side at the base of the clypeus, the basal joint or
scape nearly as long as the flagellum; in repose, received into a
lateral channel or groove above the eyes in the sides of the head,
passing beyond them and nearly reaching the vertex. Wings, the
superior pair having one marginal and one complete sub-marginal
cell, each being of about equal length; the discoidal cell sub-
quadrate. Abdomen somewhat heart-shaped, attached to the
thorax by two elongate nodes.
1. Meranoplus bicolor. (Pl. XX. fig. 6.)
Head and thorax ferruginous; abdomen black; head without
spines; metathorax posteriorly armed with a long acute spine on
each side.
Cryptocerus bicolor, Guérin, Icon. R. Anim. 425.
Length 1 lines.
Hab. Pondicherry.
2. Meranoplus petiolatus, new sp. (Pl. XX. fig. 7.)
Female.—Length 33 lines. Head bright ferruginous ; antennz
dark rufo-testaceous; the thorax of the same colour, longitudi-
nally rugose, the lateral margins of the thorax parallel to the base
of the wings, from whence the sides are narrowed considerably to
the metathorax, which on each side has a short tooth; wings pale,
nervures pale ferruginous; legs ferruginous; the nodes of the
abdomen sub-quadrate ; abdomen ovate, rufo-testaceous, and irre-
gularly stained with black; beneath black, and having a large
rufous patch in the middle, which has a black stain in the centre ;
the entire insect has a thinly scattered erect pale pubescence.
Hab. Brazil.
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 225
A rare species apparently. I have only seen the single speci-
men in my own Collection.
Genus CaTAuLacus, new gen,
Sexes three, male, female and neuter, or worker. Female.—
The sides of the head not expanded, the eyes not concealed. An-
tennz inserted before the eyes; in repose, received into an oblique
groove or channel in the cheek; scape of the antennz grooved
beneath for the reception of the basal portion of the flagellum.
Wings having one marginal and one complete sub-marginal cell,
the discoidal cells obsolete. Abdomen elongate in the female,
ovate in the workers or neuters.
Male not known.
1. Cataulacus Taprobane, Westw. MSS., new sp. (PI. XX.
fig. 10.)
Neuter.—Length 2 lines. Black: the head and thorax roughly
longitudinally rugose, the vertex behind, and a small central por-
tion of the thorax, anteriorly transversely rugose; the antennz
rufo-testaceous, the scape and extreme apex pale; sides of the
head and thorax crenulated, the posterior angles of the latter
armed with a stout spine; the tibiz and tarsi rufo-testaceous.
The nodes of the abdomen coarsely sculptured ; abdomen ovate,
finely shagreened, and longitudinally and delicately rugose at the
base and sides, the rugosity consisting of a series of raised striz
which do not reach the middle of the abdomen excepting at the
sides.
Hab. Ceylon.
This species is unique in the Collection of the Entomological
Society, to which it was presented by Mr. G. H. K. Thwaites,
who captured it in Ceylon.
2, Cataulacus Guineensis, Westw. MSS., new sp. (Pl. XX.
fig. 5.)
Neuter.—Length 23 lines. Black: head and thorax longitudi-
nally rugose-striate, most deep and coarse on the thorax; sides of
the head crenulate, the scape ferruginous, apical joint of the
flagellum testaceous, the palpi testaceous. Thorax, the anterior
portion transverse and inclining downwards towards the head, the
sides crenulate, the posterior angles acute; behind the transverse
portion the thorax becomes much narrower towards the meta-
thorax, from which it is separated by a transverse deep suture ;
VOL. ll, N.S. PART VII.—JAN, 1854, Q
226 Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph
posterior angles of the metathorax produced into an elongate stout
acute spine; the tibiz and tarsi ferruginous. Abdomen ovate,
finely granulate, the nodes deeply and coarsely sculptured; the
entire insect is sprinkled with erect pubescence.
Hab. Tropical Western Africa.
Unique in the Collection of J. O. Westwood, Esq., who kindly
lent it to me for description.
3. Cataulacus parallelus, new sp. (PI. XIX. fig. 6.),
Female—Length 343 lines. Black: the head longitudinally
rugose-striate, the vertex emarginate, the emargination trans-
versely rugose-striate; the scape of the antenne and extreme
apex of the flagellum ferruginous. Thorax longitudinally rugose-
striate; the metathorax on each side produced into a stout sharp
bent spine, beneath which it is transversely sulcate ; wings tinged
with yellow, their nervures pale testaceous; the tibize and tarsi
ferruginous. ‘The first node of the abdomen coarsely sculptured
transversely, the second longitudinally so. Abdomen oblong-
quadrate, finely aciculate at the base, beyond which it is delicately
shagreened, and has towards the apex a few short scattered pale
setz.
Hab. Cape of Good Hope.
Apparently a rare species; I have only seen the specimen in my
own Collection.
4. Cataulacus granulatus.
Formica granulata, Latr. Hist. Nat. Fourm, 275, tab. 12, fig. 75.
Cryptocerus granulatus, St. Farg. Hymenop. I. 171, 2.
Opaque-black, granulated, the posterior angles of the head
armed with a spine, sides of the head not produced, the eyes
exposed.
Length 14 lines.
Hab. India.
Genus 3, Daceron.
Formica, pt. Latr. Hist. Nat. des Fourm.
Daceton, Perty, Delect. An. Art.
Sp. 1. Daceton armigerum. (Pl. XXI. figs. 1, 2.)
Formica armigera, Latr, Hist. Nat. Fourm. 244, tab, ix. fig. 58
(neuter).
Atta? armigera, Guér. Icon. R. Anim, 221, tab. 69, fig. 2.
Daceton armigerum, Perty, Delect. An. Art. Bras. tab.
Female.—Pale rufo-testaceous, head heart-shaped, ocelli placed
in a triangle on the vertex ; thorax not quite so wide as the head,
of the Genus Cryptocerus. 227
the anterior angles produced into short acute spines, the posterior
angles armed with short stout obtuse spines; anterior wings having
one elongate marginal cell nearly reaching the apex of the wing,
and of nearly equal width throughout, truncate at the apex, one
marginal cell complete, and one discoidal cell; nodes of the abdo-
men without spines; abdomen ovate, pointed at the apex.
Male.—Length 5 lines. Head and thorax black; on the sides
of the head and face a little scattered hoary pubescence, the
vertex roughly sculptured longitudinally ; the antennze and mouth
rufo-testaceous, the former as long as the entire insect. Thorax
above having a few long scattered griseous hairs; the mesothorax
has in front a narrow abbreviated smooth oblong space, a similar
smooth line is also observable parallel with the tegule; the post-
scutellum is pale testaceous, wings sub-hyaline, the nervures thick
and of a pale testaceous colour, the marginal cell is occupied by
a fuscous cloud. Legs pale rufo-testaceous; the nodes of the
abdomen fuscous as well as the sides of the following segment,
the rest of the abdomen ferruginous.
Hab. Brazil (Santarem). Mr. H. W. Bates.
The male and female in the British Museum, the latter also in
my own Collection.
The male and female were captured by Mr. Bates, who says :—
“ This species I always find wandering about the trunks of large
trees, not in numerous bands, following in regular order, but
only a few scattered individuals, apparently wandering each on
his own account in pursuit of prey. When observed, they are
seen to carry their mandibles wide open at right angles to the
axis of their bodies; and when a stalk of grass or any other
article is presented at their heads, they close their jaws with a
sudden snap. I do not know where or how they construct their
nests. I have never seen it occupied in any regular industry, or
associated in great numbers like Cicodoma cephalotes, to which it
appears to be allied.”
Genus 4, OrEcTOGNATHUS, new gen.
Head heart-shaped; eyes prominent, placed forwards on the
sides of the head; mandibles elongate, projecting forwards in a
line with the body; antennz elongate, inserted near the base of
the mandibles, 5-jointed in the worker. Thorax narrow, a little
longer than the head; abdomen attached to the thorax by two
narrow elongate ovate nodes.
az
228 =6Mr. F. Smith’s Monograph of Cryptocerus.
Sp. 1. Orectognathus antennatus. (Pl. XXI. fig. 9.)
Neuter.—Pale rufo-testaceous, the mandibles armed at their
extremity with two long spines or teeth, the upper one simple, the
lower one forked at the apex; the anterior angles of the thorax
have a short acute spine, a second short one is situated about the
middle at the sides, and the metathorax is armed with two longer
slender acute spines; legs elongate, very pale testaceous. Abdo-
men nearly rotundate, slightly flattened, the first node elongate-
clavate, the second globose.
Hab. New Zealand.
In the Collection of the British Museum.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
PLATE XIX.
Fig. 1. Cryptocerus atratus @ ; 1a, labium of do.; 16, maxilla of do.; 1c, labrum
of do.; 1d, mandible of do.; le, labium of do. (neuter) ;
1 f, maxilla of do. (neuter).
2. atratus (neuter).
3. elegans ; 3a, antenna of do,
4. Araneolus,
5. D’ Orbignyanus.
6. Cataulacus parallelus ; 6a, front view of the head of do.
7. Cryptocerus argentatus ; 7a, antenna of do.
8. quadrimaculatus.
a unimaculatus.
PLATE XX.
Fig. 1. Cryptocerus dubitatus.
2. discocephalus.
3. Semoralis.
4. pubescens ; 4a, antenna of do.
5. Cataulacus Guineensis ; 5a, underside of the head, showing the grooves
for the reception of the antenna.
6. Meranoplus bicolor ; 6a, antenna of do.
le petiolatus ; 7a, antenna of do.
8. Cryptocerus pusillus; 8a, antenna of do.
9. LEthiops.
10. Cataulucus Taprobane.
PLATE XXI.
Fig. 1. Cryptocerus clypeatus, 9.
do. do. ane
4 cordatus.
A membranaceus.
. Head of C. clypeatus (neuter).
- Thorax of do.
- Daceton armigerum, ¢.
do. do. :
. Orectognathus antennatus (neuter); 9a, mandible of do.; 96, antenna
of do.; 9c, metathorax of do.
OCOBNAAE WD
Mr. G. R. Waterhouse on Hydrochus, &c. 229
XXIV. A Revision of the Synonymy of the British Species
of the Coleopterous Genera Hydrochus and Ochthebius.
By G. R. Waternouse, Esq., F.Z.S.
[Read 4th April, 1853.]
TuHE acquisition of Mr. Stephens’s Collection by the British Mu-
seum, where the specimens may always be examined, has furnished
a favourable opportunity to British Entomologists to clear up the
synonomy of the insects of their own country, since that Collection
is, on the whole, the most perfect that has hitherto been formed,
and contains the types of the species described by its late owner,
as well as the types described by Marsham. Furthermore, the
general Collection of the British Museum possesses specimens
of European species, forwarded, with names, from various parts of
the Continent, and hence these continental specimens can be com-
pared with the British.
A short time since I determined to re-examine some of the
groups of small Coleoptera of my own English Collection, and to
determine, if possible, the nomenclature of the species, according
to the French and German Entomologists, taking Gyllenhal,
Erichson and Mulsant as my chief guides.
I have now completed the examination of the species of Ochthe-
bius, Hydreena, Hydrochus, and Cercyon, and I believe I have
satisfactorily determined the species of these genera, so far as the
authors above mentioned are concerned ; and with regard to the
genera Ochthebius and Hydrochus, I have also examined the species
of Mr. Stephens’s Collection, and have prepared a list of the species
to lay before the Society this evening. The other genera I pro-
pose to bring before your notice upon an early occasion.
As regards the genus Hydrochus little need be said. I have
long imagined we had but two species in England,—I had but two
species in my own Collection, and upon examining a specimen, or
specimens, in Mr. Stephens’s Collection, of the third species, I
could perceive no points of distinction. ‘This I now find is easily
explained. We have in fact three British species, viz. :—
1, Hydrochus brevis, of German, French, and English authors.
2. Hydrochus elongatus, also of Continental and English
authors; but Mr. Stephens I find has, under this name,
230 Mr. G. R. Waterhouse on the
specimens of the true elongatus mixed with others of
H. angustatus.
3. Hydrochus angustatus, Mutter, German, Mutsant, StE-
pHENS.—More commonly known on the Continent by
the name of H. crenatus, it being generally supposed
to be the Elophorus crenatus of Fabricius ; but Erichson
has discovered that the Fabrician insect is the Latridius
porcatus.
H. Brevis is at once known by its short form. H. elongatus and
angustatus have nearly the same form, but may be distinguished—
H. elongatus by the alternate interstices of the striz of the elytra
being carinated, and H, angustatus by the interstices being even,
or very nearly so. H. elongatus is common in the fens of Whit-
tlesea Mere, and, I believe, is not found in the London district.
FH. angustatus is very common in ponds and ditches in the neigh-
bourhood of London.
The British species of Ochthebius which have come under my
notice are :—
1. Ochthebius marinus, of Stephens as well as the German
and French authors.
2. Ochthebius eneus, Waternovse, Stephens.
I am satisfied this is a good species, but I do not find it de-
scribed by the continental Entomologists. It approaches most
nearly to O. marinus and O. pygmceus. From either it may be
distinguished by its broader form and peculiar colouring, as well
as by the striz of the elytra being more delicately punctured,
more widely separated, and the punctures less closely packed to-
gether. From O. marinus it moreover differs in wanting the two
transverse impressions on the thorax, and the disc of the thorax
being distinctly punctured ; that these punctures are much scat-
tered, and consequently not very numerous, furnishes another
point of distinction when O. eneus is compared with O. pygmeus,
which has the thorax thickly and comparatively strongly punctured.
The head is black, tinted with green, and so is the thorax, but
the lateral margins are testacecus yellow ; the elytra are testaceous
yellow, with a golden eneous tinge usually, but sometimes without
the metallic colour. The suture is brownish or dusky. I took
this species many years back in the ponds of Putney Heath in the
month of May.
Coleopterous Genera Hydrochus and Ochthebius. 231
3. Ochthebius margipallens, Latreille and Mulsant.
pusillus, Waterhouse, Stephens.
4. Ochthebius pygmeus, of Stephens and Continental authors.
5. Ochthebius bicolon, Stephens and Continental authors.
6. Ochthebius rufo-marginatus, Stephens.
This I regard as a good species. Mulsant gives rufimarginatus
as a synonym with O. bicolon, but I suspect he is not acquainted
with our species, and has supposed certain varieties of O. bicolon,
in which the sides of the thorax are reddish, to be Mr. Stephens’s
species. The present species is shorter, more convex, and has
the elytra more deeply punctate-striated than O. bicolon.
7. Ochthebius exaratus, Mulsant.
8. Ochthebius eratus, Stephens.
nanus, Stephens.
pellucidus, Mulsant.
Stephens’s O. nanus appears to me to be clearly a small black
variety of his O. @ratus, which is undoubtedly the same as Mulsant’s
O. pellucidus. 1 may further remark that the O. hibernicus of
Stephens’s Collection is the same, but the O. kibernicus of Curtis
appears to be the next species.
9. Ochthebius punctatus, Stephens and Continental authors.
hibernicus, Curtis.
10. Ochthebius exculptus, Sturm.
Enicocerus viridieneus, Steph. (¢).
Gibsoni, Curtis (@).
tristis, Curtis.
232 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Description
KV. Descriptions of some new Species of Coleoptera from
China and Ceylon. By J. O. Westwoop, Esq., F.L.S.,
&e.
[Read 4th April, 1853.]
Ar the request of Major Champion I have drawn up descriptions
of several of the more curious and interesting species of Coleop-
tera collected by himself during his residence in Ceylon and
Hong Kong; and, as the chief of these belong to the division of
the Serricornes of Latrielle, I have added descriptions of two
other closely allied species from Ceylon and New Holland, in the
collections of Dr. Templeton and W. W. Saunders, Esq. As Major
Champion’s Chinese collection was formed, for the most part, by
himself whilst in company with our indefatigable Corresponding
Member, J. C. Bowring, Esq., I also take the present opportu-
nity of publishing some Notes on the Habits of a few of the Cole-
optera of Hong Kong, which Mr. Bowring has been so kind as to
forward to me. These notes relate to the Cicindelide, Carabidae,
and a species of Sisyphus which Mr. A. White has named S.
Bonringi, and are as follow :—
“The Cicindelide of Hong Kong, comprising as far as I have
observed, some eight or nine species, appear to vary considerably
in their habits; some frequenting trees and shrubs; others, like
our English species, delighting in hot sandy places, rising, when
disturbed, and after flying a short distance settling again in front
of the intruder, continuing thus for a considerable time, while
one at least would appear to move about at night. The species
last alluded to is a remarkably elegant insect, closely allied to
C. Gyllenhalu, the male being distinguished by a large metallic
plate on each elytron, and is very rare, as during a residence of
six years in China I have met with but a single pair; the female
flew into my room at night, in the spring of 1842, and the male
was taken in the early part of the present year, at dusk. Its
nocturnal habits will no doubt account for its coming so seldom
under notice. A fine species, forwarded by me to England in
1844, and described by Mr. White under the name of C. (Hepto-
donta) posticalis, is very common in Hong Kong during the
summer months, In its great length of legs and cylindrical form
it resembles T’ricondyla, and its custom of constantly resorting to
trees and shrubs, when disturbed, likewise brings that genus to
our minds. Heptodonta Cantori (Hope), a closely allied species
of some new Species of Coleoptera from China, &c. 233
forwarded from Canton by Dr. Cantor, is doubtless similar in its
habits, but I have not had an opportunity of observing it alive.
Calochira aurulenta is also a very common species, and may fre-
quently be seen assembled in considerable numbers about the
pabulum of cattle, lying in wait apparently for other insects which
are attracted to the spot. It is less active than most Cicindele,
and is easily captured. Besides the above, the present collection
contains specimens of two Cicindele as yet I believe undescribed.
They are named provisionally in my journal Cic. lineata and Cic.
marmorata. ‘The latter is remarkable for its close resemblance to
an African insect, Cic. Senegalensis, the markings of the elytra
being precisely similar. It is however to be distinguished by the
greater length of its tibize and tarsi. A third species, which I had
named C, sex-punctata, is apparently identical with C. trigutlata
from the Philippine Islands.
“ Tricondyla pulchripes, which is not uncommon, frequents the
Lichi tree (Dimocarpus Lichi), up and down the trunk and
branches of which it courses with surprising agility in search of
its prey. As might be expected from its large and prominent
eyes, it is very vigilant, darting round to the opposite side of the
trunk on the approach of an intruder, and ascending out of reach
in a very short space of time. When hard pressed they fall to
the ground and disappear among the dried leaves which cover the
soil.
* A species of Colliuris, near longicollis, may not unfrequently
be seen on flowers and shrubs along the margin of streams, but as
it immediately takes flight when approached, and is very active,
it is captured with difficulty.
*“ Many Brachinide are to be met with in Hong Kong; and
during the last year or two I have come across several new and
conspicuous species. Helluo (Acanthogenius) astericus, which is
found under large stones on a clay soil, was rather plentiful
during the past spring, being frequently in company with Macro-
cheilus Bensoni, which is a common insect. I first observed H.
astericus in 1844, and did not again fall in with it until the present
year. Shortly before my departure from Hong Kong I took a fine
series of a new species of Brachinus of large size, Brach. lugubris,
found in small societies under stones on the highest peaks of the
island. They appear to affect the most elevated spots, and are plen-
tiful under the piles erected during the ordnance survey of Hong
Kong. ‘This insect crepitates with considerable power, firing off
several discharges with great rapidity, the volatile liquid burning
234 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Description
the hands and staining them in such a manner that the marks
remain for many days.
*‘T have observed a singular point in the habits of the Sisyphus,
to which Mr. White has done me the honour of affixing my
name, viz. that both the male and female assist in making the
balls of dung in which the egg is deposited, having taken many
specimens during the present spring each with a pellet of dung
between the middle and hind legs, which they are most unwilling
to relinquish. This was before they commenced rolling the balls
along to the holes they had previously dug.”
Family CEBRIONID.
Genus Catziruipis, Latr., Guérin.
The species of this genus inhabiting the eastern hemisphere
differ from those in America in being less elongated, with the head
longer ; the pronotum subtriangular and widened behind, and with
the elytra only moderately convex. The species hitherto described
from the former part of the world are—
1. C. Dejeaniw, Latr. Amboyna and Java.
2. C. Javanica, Laporte. Java.
3. C. orientalis, Laporte. Java. (Male of No. 2?). And
4. C. ruficornis, G. R. Gray, An. K. Ins. pl. 39, fig. 2.
New Holland.
Two additional species from Ceylon (of which I have only
hitherto seen unique specimens) are now added.
5. Callirhipis Templetonii, Westw. (Pl. XII. fig. 4.)
Fusco-nigra, luteo-sericans, capite et pronoto sub lente fere im-
punctatis, elytris opacis, punctis majoribus lineisque nonnullis
subelevatis ; antennis brunneis in mare longissime ramosis,
pronoto subtrigono, postice supra subplano, utrinque impres-
sionibus tribus in triangulum dispositis. (Mas.)
Long. corp. lin. 8.
Habitat in insula Taprobana. Mus. Templeton.
Caput parvum, subtriangulare. Clypeus deflexus, vertex antice
parum excavatus. Palpi fulvi. Antenne brunnee, articulo
Imo nigro, articulis 3—10 singulatim ramum longissimum
emittenti, ramo antico elytris e tertia parte breviori, articulo
11mo longitudine dimidii elytrorum. Prothorax subconicus,
antice gibbus, postice fere planus et utrinque impressionibus
tribus parum profundis notatus, disco sub lente punctatissimo.
of some new Species of Coleoptera from China, §:c. 235
Elytra opaca, subvelutina, ad basin latitudine basi pronoti
zequalia, irregulariter punctata, intus humeros depressa, sutura
lineisque quatnor longitudinalibus in singulo paullo elevatis
subnitidis, 2da et 4ta postice conjuncta. Pedes piceo-fusci
villosi. Corpus infra piceo-fuscum, villosum, membrana
inter caput et prothoracem utrinque spina parva cornea
obtusa plana armata; abdominis segmento 2do plaga media
rotunda, 3tioque altera minori ovali transversa, setosa, no-
tatis.
This species appears to differ from the following in the much
less strongly punctured surface of the body, and the velvet-like
coating of the elytra.
Callirhipis Championii, Westw. (Pl. XII. fig. 2.)
C. piceo-nigra, elytris magis castaneis, subnitidus punctatissi-
mus, capite carina elevata inter antennas, clypeo verticeque
antice concavis; antennis (articulis 2dis basalibus exceptis)
brunneis, pronoto subtrigono, postice subplano utrinque im-
pressionibus tribus in triangulum dispositis. (Fem, ?)
Long. corp. lin. 9.
Habitat in insula Taprobana. Major Champion.
Caput nigrum, subnitidum, rude punctatissimum, ante oculos
fere in rostrum angustum productum, vertico antice concavo,
margine elevato et inter antennas carinam obtusam trans-
versam formante, postice longitudinaliter impresso; clypeo-
que minus concavo. lLabrum parvum, subtectum, antice
rotundatum, setosum. Mandibulze breves crassz, apice
acute falcatee denteque parvo acuto in medio marginis interni
armate. Maxille lobis duobus parvis angustis equalibus
setosis terminate; palpi maxillares mediocres, satis crassi,
articulo terminali subconico. Antenne in individuo unico
viso breves (longitudine latitudinem partis posticze pronoti
zequanti); articulis 3—10 laminam elongatam (singula circiter
dimidium longitudinis totius antennz zequali), articulis duobus
basalibus nigris nitidis punctatis ; reliquis brunneis velutinis,
ultimo elongato laminato. Pronotum subtrigonum, antice
convexum et declive, postice subplanum punctis minutis
impressum, utrinque etiam impressionibus tribus rotundatis
parum distinetis in triangulum dispositis. Elytra piceo-
castanea, minute punctatissima, basi leviori intus humeros
haud profunde impressa, singulo lineis quatuor elevatis longi-
tudinalibus basin et apicem elytrorum haud attingentibus ;
236 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Description
secunda et quarta (e sutura) postice conjunctis. Pedes et
corpus infra piceo-nigra, subnitida, punctatissima, punctis
minimis et magis approximatis. Oviductus ? exsertus, acutus,
corneus, apice bifidus.
Taken by Major Champion under a log of wood, at Galle,
August 19th, 1846.
Pl. XII. fig. 2, Insectum magnitudine parum auctum ; 2a, caput supra visum ;
2b, idem a Jatere; 2c, labrum; 2d, mandibule ; 2¢, maxilla biloba; 2, instru-
menta labialia.
Genus Rutricera, Latr.
(Polytomus, Dalm.; Ptiocerus, Hoffm.)
We have here another interesting genus of which the species
are natives both of Australia and the New World; those however
which inhabit New Holland have been formed by M. Guérin
Meneville, in his Monograph of the genus, (Sp. et Icon, Anim.
Artic. pl. 1,) into two sections, apart from those of America.
They are—
S-G. Acatuoruipis, with the body elongate, the branches of
the antenne of the males large, and the tarsi with subelongated
joints, the last joint of the maxillary palpi truncated, and the
Jamellze of the basal joint of the tarsi much smaller than those of
the three following joints.
1. R. femorata, Kirby (mystacina, Latr.) New Holland; Van
Diemen’s Land.
2. R. Reichei, Guér. Men. Swan River.
3. R. mystacina, Fab. New Holland.
4. R. Drurv, Westw. (mystacina, Drury). Sierra Leone? ?
5. R. attenuata, Westw. Swan River.
6. R. pumilio, Westw. Swan River.
S-G. Ortcoruiris, Guér. Men., with the body short and thick,
the branches of the antennz of the male moderate, and the tarsi
thick and dilated.
7. R. vetusta, Gory in Icon. R. An. Ins. texte, p. 44. (2. brun-
nea, Westw.) New Holland. (Antenne 18-articulate.)
8. R. (Ohgorhipis) tessellata, W. W. Saunders. (PI. XII. fig. 1.)
R. nigra, sub lente punctatissima, dense at irregulariter albido-
setosa; prothorace 4-impresso, elytris castaneis punctatis
albido-sericeo-maculatis lineisque elevatis obliquis notatis.
(Fem. )
Long. corp. lin, 11.
Habitat in Australasia. In Mus. W. W. Saunders.
of some new Species of Coleoptera from China, &c. 237
Corpus crassum, punctatissimum, albido dense setosum et inde
opacum. Caput triangulare, vertice antice bilobo. Mandi-
bulee falcatze acute, dente parvo in medio marginis interni
armate. Antenne breves, picezx, 17-articulate, articulis
4—16 intus sensim acute productis, articulis terminalibus
longius productis. Prothorar convexus, angulis anticis
obtusis, posticis acutis, disco in medio linea tenui longitudinali,
impressionibusque duabus utrinque (postica majori et ovali)
impresso. Scutellum rotundatum, albo-setosum. Elytra
valde convexa, prothorace multo latiora, obscure castanea,
sub lente punctatissima, maculisque numerosis irregularibus
albo-setosis ornata, singulo lineis 5 elevatis subnitidis laevibus
obliquis notato, 1ma prope medium suture evanescenti,
reliquis inter se versus apicem elytrorum conjunctis. Corpus
infra cum pedibus nigrum, griseo-albido setosum.
Pl. XII. fig. 1, Insectum magnitudine paullo auctum; la, antenna; 16, man-
dibula; 1c, ld, tarsus, supra et a latere visus.
Fam. ELATERIDZ.
Genus Licuas, Westy.
Corpus oblongo-ovale, sub-convexum, setosum, minus rigidum
quam in £lateridis genuinis. Caput antice planum, ad oculos
in excavatione antica prothoracica receptum ; angulis anticis
elevatis et rotundatis ; antennis sub partes elevatas ante oculos
insertis; clypeo et labro cum lateribus mandibularum detectis,
rostrum breve planum formantibus. Labrum planum, latitu-
dine longitudinem ejus paulo superanti; setosum, angulis
anticis rotundatis margine antico submembranaceo et parum
emarginato. Mandibule parve cornez, apice falcatee, et obli-
que truncate, basi intus dilatato. Mazille inermes, longe
setosee bilobze, lobo externo sub biarticulato, apice lato obli-
quo. Palpi maxillares articulo basali minuto, 2do et 3tio
subequalibus, 4to paullo latiori compresso, apice suboblique
truncato. Mentum planum, subsemicirculare, setosum. La-
bium cordato-truncatum. Palpi labiales breves, 3-articulati,
in scapum articulum simulantem, insidentes, articulo ultimo
paullo majori et subsecuriformi. Ocu/i magni, globosi. An-
tenne latitudine capitis fere triplo longiores, liberz, articulis
compressis subserratis ; ultimo preecedenti paullo latiori sub-
ovali. Prothorax latior quam longus, subconicus, angulis
posticis Jateribus acutis et paullo refiexis; lateribus subtus
canaliculatis; prosternum pone coxas anticas acute retro
238 Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Description
porrectum, et in cavitate parva mesosterni receptum. Scu-
tellum parvum, fere rotundatum. Elytra oblongo-ovalia, sub-
convexa, sub lente punctulatissima, luteo-setosa, spatiis multis
irregularibus maculiformibus nudis. Pedes graciles, satis
elongati, simplices, setosi, calearibus minutis 2, 2, 2. Tarsi
simplices, articulis 4 basalibus subtus spongiosis setosis.
Ungues simplices, longi acuti, pseudonychia unica setosa
instructi.
Notwithstanding the very dissimilar facies of the type of this
genus to those of the family Elateride, the absence of the pro-
sternal grooves for the reception of the antennz, the far less rigid
texture of the body, and the comparatively shorter development
of the prosternal mucro, I refer this remarkable insect to the Jast-
named family, although in several of these respects it bears a
much greater analogy to such genera as Atopa and Cebrio. The
style of colouring is very peculiar, and has suggested the specific
name.
Lichas funebris, Westw. (Plate XII. fig. 3.)
Nigra, nitida, sub lente punctatissima, cinereo-setosa ; elytrorum
punctulis in lineas nonnullas versus suturam alterasque pau-
cas discoidales distantes dispositis, maculisque numerosis
irregularibus discoidalibus setarum nudis notatis ; corpore
infra nigro, cinereo-setoso, abdomine magis piceo, lateribus
nigro-submaculatis.
Long. corp. lin. 10—12.
Habitat in China, prope Hong Kong.
In Mus. nostr. Communicavit D. Champion.
Major Champion informs me that his specimens of this insect
were captured by Mr. Killeff, on Camellia assimilis, Champ., in
the month of June, at Hong Kong and Victoria Peak.
Pl). XII. fig. 3, Insectum vix auctum ; 3a, caput supra visum; 3}, labrum et
mandibule; 3c, maxilla; 3d, instrumenta labialia; 3e, tarsus; 3/, ungues
cum pseudonychia ; 3g, corpus subtus visum.
Fam. TELEPHORID.
Genus Eveeusis, West.
Corpus parvum, oblongum, supra depressum, coriaceum, punc-
tatum, setulosum. Caput magnitudinis ordinariz, margine an-
tico pronoti haud occultatum. Oculi mediocres. Labrum par-
vum, angulis anticis rotundatis. Mandibule parve, falcate,
acute. Maaille minute, submembranacee, lobo parvo ob-
ee
of some new Species of Coleoptera form China, &c. 239
longo inermi. Palpi maxillares 4-articulati, articulo ultimo
maximo oblongo plano, apice rotundato setoso. Mentum
parvum, subquadratum? Labium apice oblique rotundatum.
Palpi labiales 3-articulati, articulo ultimo maximo oblongo,
plano setoso, apice oblique rotundato. Antenne graciles, lon-
gitudine elytrorum 11-articulate, articulis 3—10 ramum
tenuem elongatum setosum singulatim emittentibus ; ultimo
elongato. Prothorax transversus, antice attenuatus, margini-
bus lateralibus ante angulum posticum subemarginatis, angulis
acutis. EHlytra oblonga, depressa, fere parallela, apice sensim
rotundata, dorso lineis elevatis notata. Pedes graciles, sim-
plices, tarsorum articulo penultimo parvo bilobo.
The immense development of the palpi of the type of this genus,
together with its exposed head and branched antennz, give it quite
a peculiar character. I have, however, seen but a single specimen,
evidently a male: and can, therefore, only conjecture that the
female will possess simple palpi and antenna, in which case it will
bear considerable resemblance to the group of Telephoride named
It appears also to possess a certain relation to Amydetes
in the texture of the elytra, and their raised longitudinal lines.
Eugeusis palpator, Westw. (Plate XII. fig. 5.)
E. rufo-fulva, opaca, punctata, fulvo-setosa ; antennis, palpis et
~ dimidio apicali elytrorum nigris.
Long. corp. lin. 3.
Habitat in insula Taprobaneze. Major Champion.
Corpus fulvum, parum molle, dorso magis coriaceo. Caput
subquadratum, supra planum, vel parum concavum, puncta-
tum, inter antennas transverse clevatum ; clypeo parvo, trans-
verso, depresso. Oculi mediocres, prominuli, nigri. Labrum
parvum, margine antico paullo curvato setoso. Mandibulze
elongate, graciles, falcata, acute, nigra. Maxille lobo
parvo unico terminali. Palpi maxillares et labiales picei,
velutini, compressi, articulo ultimo elongato-spatulato. An-
tennez picez, longitudine elytrorum articulorum basalium
apicibus rufo-piceis, articulis 3—10 ramum (articulo dimidio
longiorem) setosum emittentibus. Prothorax latior quam
longus, postice latior, lateribus rotundatis, versus basin utrin-
que paullo incisus, angulis posticis prominulis ; margine pos-
tico paullo sinuato, depresso, disco subdepresso linea tenui
media longitudinali punctisque minutissimis numerosissimis
impresso, Scutellum apice rotundatum. Elytra punctatissima,
240
Mr. J. O. Westwood’s Description
singulo lineis quatuor longitudinalibus gracilibus parum ele-
vatis, fulva, dimidio apicali nigro, sutura et lateribus tenuiter
fulvis. Corpus infra pallide fulvum. Pedes fulvi, femoribus-
supra articuloque 4to tarsorum fuscis.
Taken by Major Champion at Narrawille, near Galle, in Ceylon,
in the month of August, 1846.
BI.
XII. fig.5, Insectum valde auctum; 5a, caput antice visum; 5b, mandi-
bulz et labrum; 5c, maxilla; 5d, labium et palpi labiales ; Se, tarsus.
Fam. LONGICORNES.
Genus Cryte.tus, MWVestw.
Corpus parvum, convexum, medio valde constrictum. Caput
parvum verticale, partibus oris parvis. Labrum breve trans-
versum, angulis anticis rotundatis ciliatis. Mandibule parve
subtriangulares, apice acute. Mazille minute, basi extus
elongate biloba, lobo externo apice latiori integro longe
ciliato. Palpi maxillares minuti, articulis 3bus basalibus
brevibus ; ultimo magno obconico, apice recte truncato.
Mentum breve transversum, margine antico in medio parum
rotundato, angulis anticis lateralibus extus productis. La-
bium breve, profunde emarginatum. Palpi labiales maxil-
laribus magnitudine et forma similes. Antenne corpore paullo
breviores tenues, 11-articulatee, simplices. Ocul: parvi, rotun-
dati, integri. Prothorax elongatus, convexus, antice capitis
Jatitudine, lateribus inermibus paullo rotundatis, versus par-
tem posticam profunde constrictus. lytra brevia, valde
convexa, ante medium parum constricta, pone medium paullo
dilatata et inflata, versus basin scabro et tuberculis duobus
acutis reflexis instructa. Pedes longi, femoribus pone medium
iacrassatis. Zvbie et tarsi simplices.
The curious little Longicorn beetle, which is the type of this
genus, has more the appearance of an ant or female Methoca than
that of a Coleopterous insect. It appears to be the Eastern
representative of the Hnoplophore of the New World.
Clytellus methocoides. (Plate XII. fig. 6.)
C. cyaneo-niger, pronoto striato-punctato, elytris basi carneo-
castaneis rude oblongo-punctatis, ultra basin glaberrimis
nigro-cyaneis nitidissimis lavibus, apicibus albo-hirtis.
Long. corp. lin. 2 vel 3.
Habitat prope Hong Kong, China. Major Champion.
of some new Species of Coleoptera from China, §c. 241
Caput breve; transversum, facie sub antennas verticale tenu-
issime punctata, subtus semicirculariter terminata, clypeo et
mandibulis brevibus crassis semicirculo inclusis, labro minuto
ciliato. Antenne fere longitudine corporis, graciles simplices
nigra. Prothorax elongatus, prope basin valde constrictus,
parte antica ovata valde gibbosa, punctis elongatis seu striolis
gracilibus numerosis impressus, griseo parum setosus ; parte
pone constrictionem brevi subannuliformi transversim ele-
vata. Elytra capite et prothorace paullo longiora ; basi
prothoracis partis latioris latitudine, in medio sensim dilatata
ovata, valde convexa glaberrima, basi carneo-castanea rude
oblongo-punctata singuloque tuberculo magno elevato apice
acuto reflexo, instructo, ultra basin punctatam ovalia, valde
convexa glaberrima cyaneo-nigra, impunctata, apicibus albo-
setosis. Pedes cyaneo-nigri. Corpus infra nigrum, pectore
pube grisea dense vestito.
Taken by Major Champion on Eryobotria Chinensis, Champ., on
Victoria Peak, near Hong Kong, April 6th, 1849.
Pl. XII. fig. 6, Insectum valde auctum; 6a, idem a latere visum; 6), la-
brum ; 6c, mandibula; 6d, maxilla; 6e, instrumenta labialia.
YX XVI. On the Insects used for Food by the Indians of the
Amazon. By A. R. Wau.ace, Esq.
[Read 6th June, 1853.]
ANNULOSE animals have found little favour as articles of food, and
those which have come into use in one country are often despised
in another. We ourselves consume quantities of Crustacea, but
would be loth to eat the locusts of the East or the fat butterflies
of Australia; while the palm worms of the West Indies, though
highly esteemed there, have not yet been introduced at the tables
of our epicures.
The Indians of the Amazon are less fastidious in their tastes,
for while turtles, alligators, lizards, snakes and frogs are all com-
mon articles of food, some species of insects and other Annulosa
furnish them with their greatest luxuries. Six different orders—
Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera, Aptera and
VOL. 11, N.S. PART VIII.—-APRIL, 1854. R
242 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Insects used for Food
Annelida—each supply one species to add to the varieties of the
Indian’s bill of fare.
The first is a great-headed red ant, the Gcodoma cephalotes of
Latreille. ‘This insect inhabits the whole Amazon district, and, 1
believe, a great part of Brazil and Guiana, and is one of the most
destructive of the whole family. It frequents sandy districts and
places where ‘red earth” is found, but is absent from the * black
earth” or the rich alluvial soil of the Amazon. It forms its nests
in the woods and in gardens, turning up the soil in such large
heaps as to make one doubt whether so small an insect could have
been the workman. I have seen elevations of this kind twenty
feet square and a yard high, containing many tons of earth. These
hillocks are riddled with holes in every direction, and into them
the ants may be seen dragging little circular pieces of leaf, which
they cut off from particular trees which they prefer ; orange trees
and leguminous shrubs suffer most from their ravages, and these
they will sometimes entirely strip of their leaves in a night or two.
Young plants too of every kind suffer very much, and cannot be
grown in many places on account of them. They remain in one
locality a long time ; for on my observing to a gentleman at a
cattle estate near Para how remarkably the track of these ants was
worn down across a pathway and through grass, he informed me
that he had observed them marching along that very track for
fifteen or twenty years. ‘The insects which do this are of course
the neuters, which have tremendous jaws. ‘They often swarm
in houses at night, crawling over the supper table and carrying
away fragments of bread and farina; and should any cloth or
handkerchief be left on the ground, especially with anything eat-
able in it, it will be found in the morning cut in semicircular holes
in every direction as neatly as if done with scissors. It is the
female of this destructive creature that furnishes the Indian with
a luxurious repast. At a certain season the insects come out of
their holes in such numbers, that they are caught by basketsfull.
When this takes place in the neighbourhood of an Indian village
all is stir and excitement ; the young men, women and children
go out to catch saiibas with baskets and calabashes, which they
soon fill; for though the female ants have wings, they are very
sluggish and seldom or never fly. The part eaten is the abdomen,
which is very rich and fatty from the mass of undeveloped eggs.
They are eaten alive; the insect being held by the head as we hold
a strawberry by its stalk, and the abdomen being bitten off, the
body, wings and legs are thrown down on the floor, where they
continue to crawl along apparently unaware of the loss of their
by the Indians of the Amazon. 243
posterior extremities. They are kept in calabashes or bottle-
shaped baskets, the mouths of which are stopped up with a few
leaves, and it is rather a singular sight to see for the first time
an Indian taking his breakfast in the saiiba season. He opens
the basket, and as the great-winged ants crawl slowly out, he
picks them up carefully and transfers them with alternate hand-
fulls of farina to his mouth. When great quantities are caught,
they are slightly roasted or smoked, with a little salt sprinkled
among them, and are then generally much liked by Europeans.
The next insect in the list is the Termes flavicolle, Perty; a
large white ant common in the Upper Amazon. It inhabits holes
in the earth about the roots of rotten trees, and is much sought
after for food by the great ant-eater, Myrmecophaga jubata, as
well as by the Indians. In this case it is not the winged female
that is eaten, but the great-headed, hard-biting worker, and it is
by means of his jaws that the creature is entrapped. An Indian
boy going after “ cupim” takes with him a calabash or a bottle-
basket, and searches about for a nest. He then scrapes away
some of the earth, and taking a long piece of grass inserts it as
far as it will go, and on withdrawing it finds a row of ten or a
dozen Termes holding tightly on to it ; and he repeats this operation
till he fills his basket. These insects are also eaten alive or roasted ;
but in this case it is not the abdomen but the enormous head and
thorax which is devoured, as those parts contain a considerable
mass of muscular matter. These insects have generally a bitter
taste and are not much esteemed, except by the Indians them-
selves.
The edible Homopterous insect is the Umbonia spinosa, which
swarms at certain seasons on the Inga trees, which are universally
planted by the Indians near their cottages for the sake of the
fruit, which is much esteemed by them. ‘The insects fall upon
the ground in great numbers, and the sharp spine on their thorax
renders walking barefoot very disagreeable, ‘This spine seems to
render them very ill adapted for food, but when they first appear
the whole body is soft and flaccid, and they are then collected and
roasted in a flat earthen pan. They are not, however, so much
esteemed as the other insects I have mentioned.
The next edible insect I shall allude to is the larva of a beetle,
but of what species or genus I am unable to say, though it is pro-
bably a Calandra, as it is found in the stem of a palm tree. It is
much swollen, and attenuated at each end; and is a rich fatty
mass, which is eaten slightly roasted or fried. It is not by any
R2
244 Mr. A. R. Wallace on Insects used for Food.
means so common in the Amazon-as the other edible insects ; and
in fact, I never saw it eaten, or ate it myself but once. It is called
“ muxeima’ by the Indians,
The Apterous insect which is eaten by the South American
Indians, more I presume as a delicacy than as an article of food,
is a species of Pediculus which inhabits the heads of that variety
of mankind, and is prebably a distinct species from that of our
own country. The method of capturing and devouring this insect
is exactly the same as that which every one has seen adopted by
the monkeys at the gardens of the Zoological Society. A couple
of Indian belles will often devote a spare half-hour to entomolo-
gical researches in each others’ glossy tresses, every capture being
immediately transferred with much gusto to the mouth of the
operator.
The remaining annulose animal I have to mention is a singular
species of earth worm. It has the body flat beneath, and the
rings very hispid. It inhabits the gapé, or flooded lands, in the
dry season; and, when the waters rise, it ascends the trees and
takes refuge in the hollow leaves of the Tillandsias, where it ac-
cumulates in great numbers ; and it is a singular sight to see an
Indian fisherman climb up a tree and return with plenty of worms
for bait. In every house these Tillandsias may be seen hanging,
the leaves carefully tied together at the top to keep the worms
from escaping should they get too warm or dry. When more are
obtained than are wanted for bait they are boiled with fish; and,
though they look very disgusting and are intensely bitter, they
are a favourite food with most Indians.
I am not aware of any other insects being used for food by the
Indians of that part of South America which I visited, and trust
that this short notice of them may call attention to the subject in
other parts of the world.
( 245 )
XXVII. Descriptions of some New Species of Butterflies
from South America. By W.C. Hewritson, Esq.
[Read January 2, 1854.]
Genus Eryctna.
Erycina Saundersii. (Plate XXII. fig. 1.)
Upper Srpe blue-black, both wings crossed by a nearly con-
tinuous band of bright silvery blue intersected by black nervures ;
commencing at the middle of the costal margin of the anterior
wing, it crosses to the anal angle, and is continued parallel to and
at a short distance from the outer margin of the posterior wing;
anterior wing with a line of scarlet across the end of the cell;
posterior wing with a round spot of the same colour on the middle
of the abdominal fold.
Unpver Sipe as above, except that the scarlet line is absent ;
that the band across the anterior wing is wider and more brilliant ;
that there are three spots between it and the base, and a line on
the costal margin of the same brilliant blue, and that the costal
margin of the posterior wing is broadly of the same blue.
Exp. 2,1, inches.
Hab. New Granada.
In the Collections of the Entomological Society and W. C.
Hewitson.
This species—a beautiful addition to his favourite genus—is
named after a brother Entomologist.
Genus Acrm@a.
Acrea Amida, (Plate XXII. fig. 2.)
Urrer Sipe black, anterior wing with a large spot at the base,
and a transverse band beyond the middle from the costal margin
to near the anal angle brilliant scarlet, intersected by black ner-
vures; posterior wing from the base to beyond the middle of a
glossy metallic blue.
Unper Sipe. Anterior wing as above, except that the transverse
band is yellow ; posterior wing light brown, the nervures and lines
between each black, the outer margin dark brown.
Exp. 2-2, inches.
Hab. New Granada.
In the Collection of the Entomological Society.
This and the preceding species were presented to the Society
by Senor T. J. Stevens.
246 Mr. W. C. Hewitson’s Descriptions of some
Genus Papitio.
Papilio Conon. (Plate XXII. fig. 3.)
Uprer Sipe white, transparent towards the apex of the anterior
wing. Anterior wing crossed from the costal margin by five short
transverse bands of black. The first near the base crosses the me-
dian nervure, but zs not continued, as in Agesilaus, on the posterior
wing; the second, which is the longest, also crosses the median
nervure, the others are shorter; the outer margin and a line
which runs nearly parallel to it, and joins it at the anal angle,
black and narrow ; posterior wing tailed, the tail and outer margin
black, enclosing six lunular white spots, the base and inner side
of the tail white, a lunular black spot at the anal angle, sur-
mounted by one of scarlet.
Unvrr Sipe. Anterior wing as above, posterior wing crossed
near the inner margin by two transverse bands of black. The
inner band is straight and passes from the costal margin (where —
it is marked by a spot of scarlet) to near the anal angle. The |
outer band is curved, has its inner margin, as in P. Agesilaus,
bordered with scarlet, and joins the inner band at a distance from
the anal angle.
Exp. 3,%, inches.
Hab. New Granada.
In the Collections of the Entomological Society and W. C. Hewit-
son.
This species does not differ on the upper side from P. Protesilaus ;
on the under side it does not differ from P. Agesilaus, except in
the position of the transverse bands on the posterior wing. If
not sufficiently marked to form a distinct species, it is at least —
a curious variety, having the characters of two species, and pos-
sessing peculiarities of its own besides.
Mr. G. R. Gray was so kind as to include this species at my
request in his British Museum Catalogue. I am answerable for
the error in the date there given, having intended to figure it last
year.
Genus Ha#rera.
Hetera Hortona. Plate XXIII. fig. 1.
Uprer Stipe opaque purple-brown, lightest near the outer
margins, each wing with a large spot of light blue, forming an
oblique band across the anterior wing beyond. the middle, and a
large round spot from beyond the middle of the costal margin to
the centre of the posterior wing; abdominal fold with an orange
spot at the anal angle.
Unper Sipe light rufous brown ; anterior wing with one minute
New Species of Butterflies from South America. 247
spot at the base and three spots in a line across the cell near the
base, black; a rufous line across the middle of the cell; a triangular
space at the end of the cell, and a second larger triangular space
reaching from it to the inner margin, but at an obtuse angle with
it, both with a rufous border; posterior wing with three minute
black spots in the shape of a triangle near the base, crossed
transversely by three rufous lines, the second and third united at
both ends and forming a continuous band with the triangle of the
anterior vein
Exp. 2,6, inches.
Hab. River Amazon.
In my own Collection.
Hetera Hypesia. (Plate XXIII. fig. 2.)
Urprver Sipe transparent, the margins, except the inner margin
of the anterior wing, brown, the nervures black ; anterior wing
crossed obliquely from the lower disco-cellular nervule to the
anal angle by a narrow band of brown; posterior wing with the
outer margin broadly bordered with purple-brown, enclosing five
irregular transparent spots, that near the apex larger than the
rest, and intersected by a nervure; two black eyes upon the
margin, with iris rufous and pupil white.
Unper Sipe as above, with a light rufous band transversely
through the brown border of the posterior wing above the white
spots.
Exp. 4%, inches.
Hab. New Granada.
In the Collection of the Entomological Society.
Genus Dircenna, Doubleday.
Dircenna Duillia. (Plate XXIII. fig. 3.)
Uprer Sipe transparent, tinted with purple and yellow, slightly
clouded beyond the middle; the nervures black and distinct, their
termination on the outer margins marked by triangular spots of
brown, with between each, also on the margin, an indistinct round
spot of lighter colour than the rest of the wing; anterior wing
with the costal margin from the base to the did! of the cell dark
brown, followed by an oval spot of light yellow, after which it is
rufous to the apex, which is brown; the inner margin brown;
posterior wing with the costal margin brown, the inner margin
broadly rufous and opaque.
Exp. 3,4, inches.
Hab. New Granada.
In the Collection of the Entomological Society.
248 Mr. W. C.-Hewitson’s Descriptions, §c.
It is with some hesitation that I have added this singular
species to Doubleday’s genus Dircenna. It differs from the other
species widely in the neuration of the posterior wing, but not
more so than many species of Jihomia do from each other.
This and the preceding species, both quite new, form part of
a valuable collection of insects presented to the Entomological
Society by Senor T. J. Stevens, of Bogota.
XXVIII. Motes on the Habits of a Bee-parasite, Melittobia
Acasta.* By Freperick Sir, Esq.
[Read Nov. 7th, 1853. ]
I nave much pleasure in laying before the Society the results of
some observations on a bee-parasite which infests the nests of
Anthophora retusa. This insect has formed the subject of several
most interesting papers by Mr. George Newport which have
appeared in the Transactions of the Linnzean Society.
Mr. Francis Walker first described the female of this remark-
able species, and included it in the genus Cirrospilus, by mistake
supposing it to be a male; but on my presenting him with ex-
amples of the sexes of Melittobia, he instantly recognized his spe-
cies C. Acasta in the female.
The first notice of the male is to be met with in Mr. Westwood’s
Introduction to the Modern Classification of Insects, vol. 2,
p- 160; and in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society for
1848 he pointed out the prominent generic characteristics, pro-
posing the name Melittobia for the genus; and in 1849 Mr. New-
port’s first paper on the same insect was read before the Linnzean
Society; the above data will therefore show the necessity for
adopting Mr. Westwood’s name Melittobia for the genus, and
Mr. Walker’s name Acasta for the species.
Mr. Newport’s first paper on this insect was read to the above
Society in the year 1849, since which time I have been exceedingly
anxious to obtain a knowledge of the parasite through personal
* Since the reading of this paper, in which the insect was mentioned by
Mr. Newport’s name Anthophorabia retusa, (see Proc. p. 135,) Mr. Walker has
informed me that be had described the bee-parasite in 1839, The synonomy
will therefore stand as follows: —
Cirrospilus Acasta, Walk. Mon. Chale. Add. p. 328, 9 (1839).
Melittobia Audouinii, West. Proc. Entom. Soc. Lond. p. xviii. ¢ (1847).
Anthophorabia retusa, Newp. Trans, Linn. Soc. xxi. p. 63, ¢ Q (1852).
Mr. F, Smith’s Notes on the Habits of a Bee-parasite. 249
observation, and have diligently searched for them each succeeding
spring and autumn, but it was not until the present season that
my search proved successful.
On the 10th of September last I discovered two cells of Antho-
phora containing abundance of the larve of the parasite Melit-
tobia ; and three others, containing larvee of Monodontomerus ;
also a Chalcididous parasite on Anthophora ; these and an abund-
ance both of the larvz and pupe of the bee I carried home, and
on the following day was occupied in arranging my acquisitions.
In one of the cells containing larvee of Monodontomerus I observed
five or six females of Melittobia, and on placing the cell under a
microscope I distinctly observed a female in the act of depositing.
The eggs are surprisingly large as compared with the diminutive
parasite ; they are, when first deposited, nearly globular, but soon
change to an elongated oval. I am inclined to consider them
ovoviviparous, having failed in observing any extrusion from the
egg, after most careful and repeated endeavours to do so.
On further examination I found many of the larve of Mono-
dontomerus were either infested with eggs or larve of Melittobia.
As well as 1 could decide, it appeared, that in no case were more
than three eggs, or larvee, to be found on a single specimen. The
parasites have since the 22nd of September successively left their
victims, and lie inactive at the bottom of the glass tubes or cells.
Twelve or fourteen days appear probably the time usually occu-
pied in feeding, when unarrested by change of temperature ; many
still remain attached to their victims, being in different stages of
growth.
On a careful examination of both the cells containing the larvee
of Melittobia, two days after obtaining them, I observed the occu-
pants of one cell, in some instances, changing to the nymph or pupa
state; after which, day by day, they progressed rapidly towards
their perfect condition; and on the morning of the 21st of the
month I found cight females arrived at maturity. On the following
day, a single male was developed ; on first detecting it, it was in
coition with a female. The males are exceedingly salacious, and
may frequently be observed in coitu. On the 23rd another male ap-
peared, and I determined to remove it into a separate tube, con-
taining a larvee of the bee, in company with five females, in order
to ascertain its duration of life. Day after day it remained healthy
and active, and I exhibit the same insect this evening, it being
now six weeks and four days old.* I therefore conclude Mr. New-
* I have, since this paper was read, ascertained that the males usually live
about seven weeks; of three males this was their duration of life, there not being
more than a day’s difference between them.
250 Mr. F. Smith’s Votes on the
port’s insects must have been placed in some condition detrimental
to their existence, as he found all the males which came forth in
the afternoon of one day dead on the following morning; which
led him to conelude that they are very short-lived insects, but
direct observation proves such a conclusion to be erroneous; and
the very fact of the paucity of males as compared to females, suf-
ficiently appears to indicate a different economy. ‘he bee’s cell
contained about seventy larvz, only four of which became males,
and by these the whole brood has been fecundated.
The most remarkable circumstance connected with the attacks
of these parasites, is the preference which they have shown in
attacking the larvee of Monodontomerus. Although I placed larvee
of these, and also of the bee, in the same boxes, I invariably found
that they first attached themselves to the cells containing the pa-
rasitic larvee; never, as far as I have observed, depositing more
than three eggs on one victim; and I have now in my possession
three broods of Melittobia nurtured by Monodontomerus, and six
which have fed or are still feeding on the larvae of the bee.*
These circumstances taken into consideration, a question natu-
rally arises, is Melittobia the true parasite of the bee, or is it the
parasite of the parasite of Anthophora ? Monodontomerus being
truly the bee-parasite! my observations would induce me to believe
the latter. We must, however, bear in mind, that the results I
am communicating are upon insects placed in an artificial position,
and it still requires more direct observation of them in their na-
tural situations, before we can decide the question. It does not
appear that Mr. Newport ever found them feeding upon the bee-
larvee ; and, as I.have shown above, I detected them in the cell of
Monodontomerus in their natural position, On a future occasion
I hope to have the pleasure of laying before the Society the results
of the various operations now in progress; and as I may con-
fidently expect to obtain a large number of parasites, I shall not
fail to avail myself of the opportunity for further observations.
In the paper alluded to two species of Melittobia are described,
but in all probability these really constitute but one; the characters
of the first, ‘* retusa,” both generic and specific, having been laid
down from drawings and other memoranda, made at a time when,
to use Mr. Newport’s own words, he ‘ took little heed of them ;”
* The process of depositing is the work of some weeks. - The cell now ex-
hibited to the Society contains six females and one male; they have now con-
tinued during forty-two days their deposit of eggs; many of the larva are full fed,
but others are so minute as to render it difficult to decide whether they are in the
ege or larva state.
Habits of a Bee-parasite, Melittobia Acasta. 251
this was in 1831: in 1851 the parasites were rediscovered, and
accurate characters were then given; with the latter my own
insects agree.
A question of much interest has arisen from the fact of Mr.
Westwood having in his * Introduction,” vol. ii. p. 160, described
an insect communicated to him by M. Audouin, which was found
in the nests of Anthophora, Osmia and Odynerus. Mr. Westwood
describes the male as having “ most singular antenne and minute
rudiments of wings, so that it does not quit the cell;” from these
characters, all possessed by the Anthophorabia of Mr, Newport, it
has appeared highly probable that the latter insect might be iden-
tical with Anthophorabia, and it is to be regretted that a question
so easy of solution has not long since been decided. It has fallen
to my lot to have the first opportunity of comparing the two
insects.* In consequence of apparent discrepancies their identity
has been deemed impossible; but when [ point out the way in
which these are to be accounted for, the objections will at once
disappear. It must be borne in mind that Mr. Newport's descrip-
tions are from either living or very fresh specimens, and that
many of the characteristics of such individuals are not to be
observed in a dried specimen; the insects are of so delicate a
texture, so semitransparent, and exhibit colours which soon after
death entirely disappear; thus, the convex face of the insect
sometimes falls in, the thorax becomes more or less distorted, the
abdomen no longer shows the transverse fasciz or retains its
original form; the dark stains on the sides of the head, which
mark the usual situation of the compound eyes in insects, in most
cases entirely disappear to the naked eye; and it was under all
these disadvantages that the short and merely general description
was made, so that we need not be at all surprised at finding it
stated that the eyes and stemmata are wanting. I have most
carefully compared the insects, aided by a powerful microscope.
I have been solely prompted by a desire of arriving at the truth;
and although the stains on the sides of the head in Mr. West-
wood’s insect are no longer visible, still [ have detected the simple
ocellus which exists in Anthophorabia in the situation of the usual
compound eye; the ocelli are also present, and the antennz are
identical in form, each joint in fact the counterpart of that of An-
thophorabia. These circumstances, combined with those stated
above, convince me that the insects are mutually identical; such
is my opinion of them specifically, and of their belonging to the
* Mr. Westwood having presented specimens of Melittobia to the British
Museum some time ago.
252 Mr. F. Smith’s Notes on the
same genus I think there cannot exist even the shadow of a
doubt.
I have for some years very closely investigated the economy of
our indigenous aculeate IZymenoptera, and I am fully sensible of
the fact, that the same species exhibits under different influences
and circumstances considerable variety in the various phases of its
development; and, as an illustration of this, I will quote two
passages from Mr. Newport's papers. In one read on the 20th of
March, 1849, which details the economy of MZonodontomerus, the
following occurs: ‘* Shortly before they were ready to enter the
nymph state the alimentary organs became perforated, and feces
were passed for the first time during the whole period of the
insects’ previous existence. The feces passed were little solid
brown masses that closely resemble the feecal masses passed by the
pollinivorous larva of Anthophora.” In another paper read on the
5th of March, 1850, the following occurs—in speaking of the
contents of a cell of Anthophora, in which the insect had changed
to the nymph state, and had been subsequently attacked by para-
sitic larvee: ‘* All which this cell contained were the parasites
and the remains of the nymph, together with the iarva skin it had
thrown off on assuming this condition, while the larger end of the
cell was coated with a perfectly smooth layer of ejecta; a coating
which, as I formerly stated, it always gains after the larva has
ceased to feed and before it changes to anymph:” so that in the
latter instance there were no solid masses such as are usually
passed by Anthophora. I am therefore greatly surprised to find
exceptions taken to statements of my own communicated to the
Linnean Society. I remarked that in a cell containing a number
of the larvee of Monodontomerus, that besides these all that remained
after they had consumed the nymph was a portion “ of yellow
dust or small granules ;” other words for ‘ little brown masses,”
which were observed by Mr. Newport in the first instance quoted.
The facts recorded should have induced the author to pause be-
fore he came to the conclusion that my statement originated in
oversight or mistake.
I would, before I conclude, call attention to a remarkable cir-
cumstance connected with the parasite Melittobia. The whole and
sole purpose of their existence appears to be to keep in check the
numbers of other insects; and we may reasonably conclude on
the part of the male sex, without ever emerging into the light of
day, and on the part of both sexes when arrived at their perfect
condition, without during several weeks requiring any kind of
nourishment ; two of my broods are in glass tubes, without, as far
Habits of a Bee-parasite, Melittobia Acasta. 253
as I have ascertained, consuming any nourishment, incessantly
occupied in following out the purposes assigned to them: and
what have they subsisted upon? Unless the perfect insects, as well
as the larve, derive nourishment from the fluids of the bee-larva,
it would appear that they really require none; and that during the
whole period of their existence, without food, in the dark cells of
the bee, they unceasingly pursue their attacks upon their victims ;
and, as will in all probability be discovered, being themselves kept
in check by other parasites equally fatal to them.
XXIX. On the Habits of the Butterflies of the Amazon
Valley. By Aurrep R. Watuace, Esq.
[Read 7th November and 5th December, 1853.]
As THE portion of South America, watered by the river Amazon,
has recently contributed so many new and beautiful species of
butterflies to our Cabinets, it is thought that a few remarks on
the habits of such of them as fell under the writer’s notice during
a residence of four years in the country may not be unacceptable
to the Entomological Society.
It may be as well, by way of preface, to give some brief
account of the district in question.
South America, as a whole, may be looked upon as consisting
of three elevated regions, connected by intervening low lands and
valleys. Along the west side of it stretches out from one ex-
tremity to the other the mighty Andes, though not the loftiest, yet
undoubtedly the most extensive unbroken mountain range on the
earth. Various spurs and branches are attached to this chain, but
they never extend far across the continent in an eastern direction.
Towards the Atlantic rise the mountains and table lands of Brazil
and Guiana, two large isolated masses, everywhere separated by
a wide interval from each other and from the Andes. In the
space between these the Amazon rolls its mighty flood through a
vast alluvial valley, which is everywhere clothed with dense
forests of lofty timber trees. The whole of this valley lies in the
very centre of the tropics, and enjoys a climate in which a high
and uniform temperature is combined with a superabundance of
moisture.
These seem to be the conditions most favourable to the develop-
ment and increase of Lepidopterous insects, and we accordingly
254 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits of the
find the valley of the Amazon to be more productive of the
diurnal species than perhaps any other part of the world. Where
else in a single locality can 600 species of butterflies be obtained ?
and this can be done within a walk of the city of Para.
We may divide the country into four sorts of hunting grounds,
each of which possesses its peculiar species rarely found in the
others. Ist. The open grounds, or ‘ campos,” natural or arti-
ficial, and dry and barren places. Here we find scarcely any
peculiar Amazonian species, and generally only a few of the com-
monest South American insects, such as Papilio Polydamas, Danais
Archippus, and several common Callidryas. 2nd. The margins of
the rivers, particularly during the season when the waters are
falling. Here are found numerous beautiful and rare Papilios and
species of Timetes, Cybdelis, Callianira and Megistanis, with occa-
sionally Aganisthos, Marpesia and Victorina. 3rd. The second
growth woods, plantations, and shady roads and paths. In such
places the Heliconide abound, and that beautiful group of
American Papilios with red spotted lower wings. Here are hun-
dreds of Erycinide and gorgeous Theclas; and here the E'picalas
and Callitheas are to be met with, while numbers of Morphos flap
lazily along, and Hesperid@, sometimes as large as Sphinxes, dart
by with the velocity and sound of humming birds. And, 4th, is
the gloomy virgin forest, in whose damp recesses are found num-
bers of beautiful Satyrad@, many delicate [éhomias, and some of
the most beautiful Eurygonas, Mesosemias and Theclas. ‘The
individuals are however never so abundant as in more open places,
and much perseverance is required in the collector, which, how-
ever, seldom fails at length to be rewarded by some rare and ex-
quisitely beautiful insect.
I shall now notice in succession the most important genera and
species, with such observations on their habits as I am enabled to
offer.
Beginning with the true Papilios, the first that presents itself is
the well-known American swallow-tail P. Protesilaus. This is
abundant in all parts of the Amazon district, but is always seen
on the water’s edge, where it assembles by scores and even hun-
dreds in dense masses, preferring places where some decaying
animal matter or excrement has laid,—the juices from which it
sucks up with great avidity. When thus occupied I have often
sat down within a few feet of them, and have caught with my
fingers a single specimen of the rare P. Agesilaus from among a
hundred of the commoner species. At such times I have noticed
them ejecting from the anus a watery liquid in successive jets,
Butterflies of the Amazon Valley. 255
which they will continue to do for a very long time. I have dis-
sected dozens of these insects in the hope of finding a female,
which I never succeeded in doing, every specimen of Papilio
Protesilaus which I have seen being a male. ;
In the same places, and often mixed with the last, are found
P. Dolicaon and the more beautiful P. Columbus, the latter being
the more abundant of the two. In similar situations we have
Polycaon, Lycidas, Belus and Pausanias, of all of which the males
only are found on the river’s edge, the female of Po/ycaon (the
only one yet determined) frequenting the skirts of the forest, and
flying about orange trees.
Thoas, Polydamas and Torquatus are found in open grounds
and about houses, localities frequented by many common South
American species, which have an extensive range, and do not
seem to be truly indigenous to the Amazon valley.
It is in the shady groves and in the depths of the virgin forest
that the great mass of the species of Papilio are found. These
all belong to the group which have white or bluish spots on the
upper wings and red on the under, They fly weaker than the
other species, and seldom appear in full sunshine. Sesostris,
Hierocles and Cutora are among the most beautiful of these ;
Echelus, Gargasus, Aglaope, Marcius and Parsodes are abundant,
and very characteristic of the Amazon district. In several of
these there are remarkable differences in the colours of the sexes,
which do not exist in others; while of a great proportion we are
still ignorant of one or the other sex. This is partly owing to the
males and females seldom frequenting the same situations; thus,
while Vertumnus and Sesostris (males) are found only in the damp
and shady forest, their females frequent gardens, and appear to
deposit their eggs upon orange trees, round which I have taken
them hovering. The larve of butterflies, as with us, are remark-
ably scarce, which is the more to be wondered at, as the perfect
insects are in such profusion; and thus the most satisfactory
means of ascertaining the sexes of these insects can be pursued
with but little success. The only Papilios I was enabled to breed
were Polydamas and Anchisiades, species which exhibit no marked
difference between the sexes. Triopas, which belongs to the
same group, though the red and white spots are both replaced by
yellow, is the smallest and most delicate of the true Papilios; and
its habits agree with its appearance, for it frequents the shadiest
part of the forest, and flies weakly and always near the ground.
It is found at Parad, and all over the Amazon district; but the
closely allied Chabrias is a native of the interior only, both on the
256 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits of the
Upper Amazon and near the tributaries of the Orinoco. In
ascending the Amazon several of these interesting modifications
of form occur. The Vertwmnus of Para is replaced at Santarem,
only 500 miles up the river, by the closely allied Cutora of G. R.
Gray, &e. On the Upper Amazon we have Frgeteles instead of
the Parsodes of Para. The following list shows thirty-eight
species of Papilio in the small portion of the district yet exa-
mined. I have arranged them according to the stations they
frequent, and have distinguished those which occur only in the
interior.
Species of Papilio inhabiting the Amazon valley :—
a. Species habitually frequenting the banks of the rivers at the
water's edge :—
Protesilaus & ..Very abundant.
Agesilaus ....Rare, with the last.
Polycaon $ ....The @ never accompanies it in this situation.
Dolicaon $ ....Generally distributed.
Columbus 6 ....Upper Amazon, abundant.
Pausanias .....Upper Amazon, scarce.
Lycidas ......Upper Amazon, abundant.
Belus ....... Upper Amazon, abundant.
b. Species frequenting gardens and open grounds :—
Thoas .......++Abundant.
Torquatus .....Abundant.
Polydamas_ ....Common everywhere.
Caudius ......scarce.
c. Species which rarely leave the forest :—
Species peculiar to the Upper Amazon.
Patros. Ergelteles. Cyamon.
Cixius. Brissonius. Evagoras.
Orellana. Bolwwar. Chabrias.
Species occuriing at Para.
Diceros. TMierocles. Sesostris.
neides, Marcius. Hippason.
Aineas. Aglaope. Ariarathes.
Thelios, Sonoria. Anchisiades.
Parsodes. Vertumnus. Triopas.
Echelus. Culora.
The Piertid@ generally are open-ground butterflies, two genera
only, Leptalis and Terias, being true denizens of the forest. Of
the former but one species, the L. Humelia, is at all common. It,
Butterflies of the Amazon Valley. 257
however, may be found almost everywhere, hovering slowly along
in shady woods and plantations, and offering an easy prey to the
Entomologist, as well as to the more merciless insect-eating birds.
The species of Terias prefer rather the dry and more open parts
of the forest country, and often even come out into the full sun-
shine. Several species of Pieris accompany them; but they
cannot vie in strength and rapidity of flight with the species of
Callidryas, which rejoice in the hottest sunshine, and crowd in
dense masses of several yards in extent around puddles and on
sandy beaches, rising in clouds of yellow and orange on being
disturbed.
The Rhodoceras again are of a sylvan taste, the handsome R.
Leachiana being found only in open paths through the forest.
We now come to a group of insects peculiar to America, the
Ageronide, and in them we first see a deviation from the normal
manner of carrying the wings in repose; the species of this family
invariably resting with the wings expanded. Five species are
found about Para, and they all frequent dry situations, and always
settle on trunks of trees, with the head downwards. ‘The singular
noise produced by these insects has been noticed by Lacordaire
and Mr. Darwin. The common species, 4. Feronia, produces it
remarkably loud, when two insects are chasing each other and
constantly striking together. One alone does not produce the
sound in flying; and I have never heard it made by the small
species, 4. Chloe, whichis equally common with the other. I am
inclined, therefore, to believe that it is produced in some way by
the contact of two insects, and that only the larger and stronger
winged species can produce it.
Like M. Lacordaire, I have found the pupa of a species of this
family, but never the larva. It agreed exactly with his descrip-
tion, and was attached to a post, and braced like that of a Papilio.
Of the Danaide two species only are found on the Amazon.
They frequent the most open situations, fly low, and constantly
settle on herbaceous plants. In the beautiful family of Heliconide,
the glory of South American Entomology, the Amazon valley is
particularly rich, at least sixty or seventy species being found
there, of which a considerable number seem peculiar, And here
the same thing takes place which we observed with regard to the
Papilios,—that the more rare and restricted species are those which
inhabit the forest, while the species found in the open grounds
are generally widely distributed, and often seem mere stragglers
from other parts of the continent. Among these latter are Lycorea
Halia, Tithorea Megara, and Mechanitis Lysidice, while most of the
VOL, Il. N.S. PART VII.—APRIL, 1854. s
258 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits of the
species of Heliconia, Thyridia and Ithomia, which prefer the forest
shades, are confined to a comparatively limited district. The most
characteristic of the Amazon valley are those species of Heliconia
with white or yellow spots on a shining blue or black ground, such
as the Antiocha, Thamar, and several others ; those with radiating
red lines on the lower wings, such as Lrythrea, Egeria, Doris,
and several undescribed species; and, lastly, the delicate little
clear wings of the genera Thyridia, Ithomia and Sais. All these
groups are exceedingly productive in closely allied species and
varieties of the most interesting description, and often having a
very limited range; and as there is every reason to believe that
the banks of the lower Amazon are among the most recently
formed parts of South America, we may fairly regard those in-
sects, which are peculiar to that district, as among the youngest
of species, the latest in the long series of modifications which the
forms of animal life have undergone.
The Heliconide are the most elegant of butterflies, whether
upon the wing or in a state of repose. Their bodies, their wings
and their antennz are all long, slender and well formed, and they
are universally adorned with the most brilliant and harmonious
colours. They fly rather slowly, and the little /thomias hover
almost invisible among the dark foliage. They all rest with their
wings erect, upon leaves and flowers, and at night I have observed
them asleep, hanging at the extreme end of a slender twig, which
bends with their weight and swings gently with the evening
breeze.
At the extremity of the abdomen these insects possess a pecu-
liar gland or appendage, concealed between the valves of the anus,
but capable of being protruded. It is most developed in Lycorea
hala, where it takes the form of a radiate tuft of hairs, forming,
when exserted, two feathery globes at the extremity of the abdo-
men. In an undescribed species allied to Heliconia Erythrea it
is also much developed, in the shape of small fleshy balls of an
orange colour, which are always exserted when the insect is
captured, and give out a penetrating aromatic odour something
resembling chamomile.
Asa whole, the Heliconide are the most abundant butterflies of
the Amazon, and form by far the most striking feature in the En-
tomology of the country.
The species of Acrea, Encides and Eresia remarkably resemble
Heliconide in their mode of flight and habits, as well as in their
form and markings, and they are almost always found in com-
Butterflies of the Amazon Valley. 259
pany with the species of that family which frequent open grounds,
for none of them are forest insects.
The next genera, Colcenis, Agraulis, Melitea, Euptoieta, Ju-
nonia and Anartia, closely resemble our own Nymphalide. They
frequent open grounds, delight in hot sunshine, and the Amazon
species are all common and widely distributed. The larva of the
Agraulis Vanilla feeds on the Passion-flower, as, Mr. Doubleday
says, it does in Florida. Colcenis Dido is a beautiful object in the
sunshine, its wings appearing of a bright transparent green.
The species of Hubagis are delicate little butterflies, which
frequent flowers and low herbage on the skirts of the forest.
Timetes, Marpesia and Victorina are three genera, the species of
which are often found in company, on the skirts of woods and at
the water’s edge, together with the Callidryas. Timetes Chiron
and Orsilochus are common at Para, in the more open forest ;
Themistocles, Chrethon, Berania and Tutelina, on the Upper Ama-
zon, generally at the water’s edge.
The beautiful genus Cybdelis is one almost peculiar to the great
valley of the Upper Amazon. Scarcely a species is known from
Para, while nearly a dozen ‘occur in the interior. They all fly
with excessive rapidity, and are exceedingly shy; they settle on
trunks of trees or on rocks by the water, where several species
are only found. They swarm on the granite rocks of the Rio
Negro in the heat of the day, where the places they sit upon
would be hot enough for culinary operations.
The species of Epicalia, ornamented with the richest blue and
‘orange bands upon a velvety black ground, are among the most
brilliant of the diurnal Lepidoptera, and many of them grace the
dense forests of the Amazon. Those beautiful insects, Epicalia
Ancea, E. Acontius and FE. Numilius, ave found at Para, while in the
interior several others occur. ‘They much resemble each other in
their habits; they fly strongly, but with an even sailing motion,
frequently moving in a circle, and returning repeatedly to the
same leaf. They frequent shady glades in the damp parts of the
forest, and usually sit with the wings erect, but will occasionally
select a spot where a gleam of sunshine enters, and there expand
their wings to enjoy its warmth. Many of these insects have been
ascertained to be the males of species of the genus Myscelia, which
differ remarkably from them in colour. Others, however, like /,
Ancea, have females more nearly resembling themselves. The two
groups should be kept separate.
The Callitheas are another genus of butterflies unsurpassed for
exquisite beauty. The C. Sapphira inhabits the south bank of the
s2
260 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits of the
Lower Amazon, while immediately opposite to it is found an allied
species, the C. Lepriewtt. A third species has been discovered
by Mr. Bates, on the south side of the Upper Amazon, and has
been named after him; while a fourth, equally beautiful, which I
found near the sources of the Rio Negro, was lost with the rest of
my collections on my return voyage, and so remains to be redis-
covered. They all frequent dry, open woods. The females often
fly low, but the males settle on the leaves of lofty trees, and are
very difficult to capture. The C. Leprieurii was found plentifully
on the trunks of trees, where a black sap was exuding. In their
flight they much resemble the E'picalias.
The next group of insects I shall mention are but poorly repre-
sented in the Amazon valley. The Catagrammas seem to abound
most in the mountains, and not more than three species occur in
the district under consideration. As might be expected, therefore,
they prefer dry situations, and are very active in their move-
ments; they often settle on the ground and on trunks of trees,
and after rain come to the open places about houses. The He-
terochroas, the representatives of the Limenitis of the old world,
resemble them in their steady sailing flight. They are found in
the open glades and on the skirts of the forest.
Calhizona Acesta and Gynecia Dirce are two singular butterflies,
resembling one another in their markings and in their habits.
They settle upon trunks of trees as invariably as the Ageronias,
but always carry their wings in an erect position. The two are
often seen together, and are both equally common. ‘They fre-
quent trees from which sap is exuding, and never by any chance
rest upon a leaf or flower.
Prepona Demophron and Hypna Clytemnestra have very similar
habits to the last, but are not so exclusively attached to a parti-
cular station; sitting upon a stick or leaf when it appears most
convenient. They fly very strongly and delight in dry sunny
places. The genera Paphia and Siderone have very similar habits,
and frequent the same situations.
Aganisthos Orion, Megistanis Cadmus and M, Boeotus are very
strong-winged insects, and are generally found near the rivers,
preferring to settle on damp spots on the ground, and often at
the water’s edge, where in the dry season, on the Upper Amazon
and Rio Negro, they are very abundant. The M. Beeotus first
occurs on the Amazon and Rio Negro, a few hundred miles above
their junction, and continues abundant up to the Andes. The blue
and the orange varieties are found together, and in almost equal
numbers, and there is little doubt are sexes of one species.
Butterflies of the Amazon Valley. 261
We now come to the giants among butterflies, the Morphide
and Brassolide. The magnificent Morphos are abundant at Para
and in every part of the Amazon valley ; but the rare Hecuba is
found only in the interior. The Morphos are forest insects, rarely
coming into the open grounds, and often flying for miles along
roads and open pathways. Their flight is slow and undulating,
but they are very difficult to take on the wing. At Barra, on the
Rio Negro, in the month of July, I found Morpho Hecuba very
abundant. Its habits differed from the other species, as it fre-
quented the open woods and glades in the vicinity of the city, but
only for about an hour every morning from 9 to 10 o'clock; at
other times not one was to be seen. It flew rather high, and was
so very cautious in rising suddenly to escape the net, that, notwith-
standing all my endeavours, I succeeded in obtaining very few
specimens. These are all diurnal insects, while the genera,
Caligo or Pavonia, Dynastor, Opsiphanes and Brassolis are truly
crepuscular, never flying by day except when disturbed, but ap-
pearing to be voluntarily active only for about half an hour before
sunrise and after sunset. They remain hid during the day in the
gloomiest shades of the forest, where I have sometimes en-
countered them; and even when they come out they take but
short flights, frequently settling either on the ground in a path-
way, or on a leaf, before resting on which they generally make
several trials to find one which will not bend too much with their
weight. I have bred Brassolis Sophore from the larva which
feeds on the leaves of the cocoa-nut palm and much disfigures
them.
The next family, the Satyride, agrees with the last as much in
habits as in form and marking. ‘The great characteristic of the
South American Satyrideé is their frequenting the shadiest parts
of the forest, and their invariably flying along or very near the
ground. So universal is this habit that I do not remember to
have ever seen any species rise four feet from the earth, while the
greater number- of them do not exceed as many inches. They
rest also upon the lowest herbage or upon the ground itself. The
exquisite clear-winged Heeteras all have this habit in perfection.
I. Piera is common all over the Amazon district. Esmeralda is
widely distributed, but scarce ; and Andromeda does not occur at
Parad, but is found in company with Esmeralda in the interior.
H. Philoctetes is also widely distributed, but very rare, and I took
one specimen of the singular Caerois Chorinceus at Santarem, on the
south or Brazilian bank of the Amazon, in a dry open forest.
I will here mention the beautiful Bia Actorion, which, though
|
classed. with the Nymphalide, exactly agrees with this family in
its haunts and mode of flight ; and as it agrees with them also in
many structural points, it may be considered as forming a very
satisfactory link connecting the two families.
Didonis Biblis, belonging to the Kurytelide, is common in many
parts of the Amazon. It frequents open and rather sunny places,
but flies low and weakly.
A singular butterfly with greatly developed palpi, named Lv-
bythea Cuviert in the British Museum Collection, I found abund-
antly at Santarem flying about marshy meadows in the sunshine.
We now come to the Frycinide, another extensive family of
almost peculiarly American insects, and which exhibit a variety
and brilliancy of colouring unsurpassed in the whole order.~ In
these too the Amazon is particularly rich, producing about two
hundred species. More than any other butterflies, the Erycinide
are the inhabitants of the virgin forest in whose dark recesses
many of the rarer and lovelier species are alone to be found.
Some of the larger kinds, such as the genera Helicopis, Erycina
and Stalachtis are common in the skirts of the forest, and even
come out into the sunshine, where Eurybia, Eurygona and Meso-
semia are scarcely ever seen.
The great mass of the species of this family have a very pecu-
liar habit of invariably settling and reposing on the under surface
of leaves with the wings expanded, but there are some striking
exceptions to this rule. The beautiful golden-spotted Helicopis
cupido and allied species, though they always settle on the under-
sides of leaves, yet invariably do so with the wings closed, as in
the more typical butterflies. The species of Charis and Themone,
on the other hand, prefer the upper surface of leaves for their
station, where they expand their wings; while the true Lrycinas
rest with wings closed upon leaves, like the typical Papilios, which
by their tailed wings they distantly resemble, though their strong,
rapid and jerking flight is like that of the Hesperias. ‘These dif-
ferent modes of resting are very peculiar and interesting, because
they are so very constant and uniform in the same genus. Is
there any anatomical peculiarity which leads Nymphidium always
to expand its wings in repose and //elicopis always to close them ?
and for what reason should Charis always expose itself on the
upper surfaces of leaves, while hundreds of its more modest or
more timid allies invariably take advantage of the friendly shelter
afforded them and rest upon the under side ?
There are some other peculiarities in the habits of the different
genera worthy of notice. urybia and ELunogyra always keep
262 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits of the
Butterflies of the Amazon Valley. 263
within a few inches of the ground, like the Satyrid@, which in
their peculiar ocellated markings they both so much resemble ; al-
most leading us to suppose that the colour and marking of an insect
affects its habits, or vice versa. The Erycinas, as I have already
remarked, fly as strongly and as rapidly as the Hesperias. Emesis
and Nymphidium are also rapid flyers, while Stalachtis, which
approaches Heliconia in size and markings, resembles it also in its’
flight and frequents the same situations. Most of the other genera
are weak but rather active flyers, and from their small size and
their suddenly disappearing beneath a leaf, are not always easy to
capture.
We now come to the T'heclas, of which about sixty species may
be found at Para, more than half of which are still undescribed.
Endymion, Marsyas, Etolus and others, frequent the open grounds
in the sunshine, while Pholeus and many more are found only in
the depths of the forest. All fly very quickly and settle upon
leaves and flowers with the wings erect. They have a very pecu-
liar habit of moving the two lower wings over each other in oppo-
site directions, giving an appearance of revolving discs. In the
interior the species are not nearly so numerous as at Para, and
this seems to be generally the case in other parts of Brazil,
many species being recorded from Pernambuco and Rio as well
as from Honduras and Florida, but few from the mountainous
districts in the interior of the country. I do not find a single
species recorded from Peru or Bolivia or any of the countries
west of the Andes.
We have now reached the last family of butterflies, the Hespe-
ride, which are particularly abundant in South America, and of
which about 200 species may be taken at Para. Like the Theclas,
they are far less numerous in the interior. Our own little skip-
pers afford but a faint idea of the variety and beauty of the tro-
pical Hespertde@, some of which expand upwards of three inches.
Neither do the habits of our species hold good for the whole
family, which presents many important characters. There are
three distinct modes in which the wings are carried in repose :—
1st. They are closed and carried erect as in the typical butterflies ;
2nd. The fore wings are elevated while the hind ones expand ;
and 8rd. The wings are all expanded. The great majority of the
South American species belong to the first of these divisions,
such as the genera Pyrrhopyga, Ericides, Goniurus, Goniloba, and
some species of Pamphila, as P. Epictetus. To the second division,
which includes one British species, very few South American Hes-
peride belong, principally of the genus Pamphila ; but the third
264 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Habits of Butterflies, &c.
comprehends a very peculiar group of insects, consisting of the
genera Pyrgus, Nisoniades and Achilodes. They have the upper
wings more or less convex, and never erect them in repose, and
they will, I believe, form a very natural subdivision of the family.
The different genera vary much in the situations they frequent.
The beautiful Pyrrhopyga Menas and Ericides Gnetus were found
in open places on sandy beaches, often settling on the ground and
seeking out dead fish or decaying animal matter to alight upon.
Goniuris Proteus prefers open grounds in the hot sunshine, as does
Goniloba Exadeus, while the greater number of the species with
vitreous spots occur in the thick woods and many in the depths of
the virgin forest. The smaller species have the characteristic
mode of flight which has obtained for them the name of skippers,
but some of the larger and strong-bodied kinds are remarkable
for the excessive rapidity of their flight, which I believe exceeds
that of any other insects. The eye cannot follow them as they
dart past; and the air, forcibly divided, gives out a deep sound
louder-than that produced by the humming-bird itself. If power
of wing and rapidity of flight could place them in that rank, they
should be considered the most highly organized of butterflies.
Several species of Castnia occur on the Amazon, which, though
diurnal in their habits and brightly coloured, cannot be classed
with the butterflies. They also rest with their wings deflexed,
so that the upper only are visible, after the manner of the Bomby-
cide, and they generally sit upon the end of a stick or twig in
the full sunshine,
In conclusion, I venture to hope that if my observations are
wanting in detail and in precision as to the exact species to which
they apply, it may be imputed, not to want of accuracy on my
part, but to the loss of a large portion of my notes and collections
during my return voyage to this country. I trust, however, that
in the absence of much information on the habits of exotic insects,
my remarks, however imperfect, may not be altogether valueless.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
1852.
February 2, 1852.
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—The ‘ Zoologist’ for February ; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for
January ; by the Publishers. ‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1851, Nos. 1 to 10;
by M.Guérin Méneville. ‘ Insecta Britannica’—Diptera, Vol. i.; by the Publishers.
‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for December and January; by the Entomological Society
of Stettin. ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England,’ Vol. xx., Part 2;
by the Society. ‘Synopsis of the Cleride of the United States ;’ ‘On the Pselaphide
of the United States ; ‘ Descriptions of new species of Coleoptera from California ;
‘An Attempt to Classify the Longicorn Coleoptera of the part of America north of
Mexico ;’ all by John L. Le Conte, M.D., and presented hy the Author. Three spe-
cimens of a species of Bostrichus that feeds on Chinese bamboo cane; by Mr.
Bowring. Phyllosoma clavicorne, one of the glass-shrimps, captured at sea, on the
passage from Central America to the South Pacific; Zopherus mexicanus, caught on
an island in the bay of Fonseca, St. Salvador, and one of the Mutillide ; all presented
by Miss Elizabeth Hornby. A collection of insects of all orders, from Shanghae ;
presented by Professor Thompson of Glasgow, through Dr. Carpenter.
Mr. F. Cox, of Van Diemen’s Land, was elected a Corresponding Member of the
Society.
The President appointed Messrs. John Curtis, J. F. Stephens, and H. T. Stainton,
Vice-Presidents for the year.
The President read the following note from Mr. Spence, and exhibited the vase
and insects referred to; the latter appear to be an undescribed species.
“18, Lower Seymour Street,
“ February 2, 1852.
“ My dear Sir,
“T beg to send from Mr. E. A. Bowring, of the Board of ‘Trade, for the in-
spection of the Suciety, a Chinese carved vessel or vase of bamboo, the interior of
which has been much injured by one of the minute Bostrichide, of which specimens
are gummed on the card in the box enclosed herewith, and of which Mr. Bowring
B
2
begs the Society’s acceptance. TI will thank you to let the vase be sent back to me,
that I may return it to Mr. Bowring, and also a note with the name of the beetle, if
it is a known species. If a uew one it might be called Bostrichus (or whatever is its
modern genus) Bambuse.
“Tam, My Dear Sir,
“Yours very truly,
“W. SPENCE.”
“J. O. Westwood, Esq.”
Mr. Curtis remarked that this exhibition was interesting, inasmuch as bamboo was
usually free from attacks of insects, and indeed, on that account the canes were im-
ported to make fences and for other purposes.
Mr. Douglas, on the part of Mr. C. S. Gregson of Liverpool, exhibited a drawing
on rice-paper, by his friend Sylvester Diggles, Esq., of the British specimen of Gas-
tropacha Ilicifolia in Mr. Gregson’s collection. The beantiful execution and softness
of effect of this drawing elicited great admiration.
Mr. Douglas exhibited some specimens of Lithocolletis Carpinicolella, reared |
during the last month by Mr. Stainton, from hornbeam leaves gathered in October
and November. Mr. Douglas remarked that it was a great advantage, by means of
heat, to rear such small species as this in the winter, when the collector had more
time to devote to setting them out, than the pressure of other captures in summer-
time would generally permit, and in insects of such delicacy it was a matter of im- |
portance that this operation should be performed with nicety.
The President exhibited a female of the Psyche, which Mr. Weaver, in a note read
at a former meeting, sought to establish as a species distinct from P. opacella. Mr.
Weaver had informed him that Mr. Doubleday could not see the legs Mr. Weaver
asserted he had discovered ; but being confident from the habits of the larva, and
other circumstances, that it is a distinct species, he had sent it to the President for
inspection. He had accordingly examined it, but the specimen had been mutilated
in the endeavour to make the legs apparent, and he was therefore not able to pro-
nounce so decisively as he wished, but it appeared that there were, or rather had been,
three pairs of membranous, cylindrical appendages ; the first close to the head, the
second adjoining, and the third, posterior. He would not assert that these were legs,
for they were not articulated, but they were certainly tubuliferous and not merely —
membranous appendages. The insect was destitute of antenne, in which also it re-
sembled some other species of Psychide and the Oiketici.
Mr. J. F. Stephens thought that the insect in question did not differ, as regarded
its legs, from females of P. opacella, which the President said he had not had an |
opportunity of examining.
Mr. Adam White exhibited a small collection of insects, chiefly Coleoptera, made
by Dr. Joseph Hooker during his late botanical researches in the Khasya Hills.
He enumerated Cercidocerus Hookeri, White, Broscus Nepalensis, a new species of
Morimus allied to M. tristis, Dictyoptera Javetiana, Coryphocera tibialis, Rhomborina —
amethystina, Lema 4-maculata, Urophora Hardwickii, Gray, a Coccinella allied to
7-punctata, and Geotrupes orientalis, remarkable as a species of a genus rare every-
where but in Europe and America. Several species, Mr. White observed, were espe-
cially interesting as confirming the views of the geographical distribution of insects
propounded by Mr. Hope in Royle’s ‘ Himalaya.’
In the collection of insects from Shanghae on the table, Mr. White pointed
out a new species of Lamia, and a Pontia almost identical with a common British
species.
The President read a Memoir on the Neuropterous genus Mantispa, including
descriptions of several new species.
Mr. Dallas read a Memoir on some new species of Hemiptera.
Mr. Curtis read some observations on the synonomy of the British species of
Acanthosoma.
Mr. F. Smith read a note on the Pediculus Melitte of Kirby, tending to show
that it was not the larva of any insect as had been supposed.
March 1, 1852.
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : —‘ The Zoologist,’ for March ; by the Editor. ‘The Literary Gazette, for
February ; by the Publishers. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung,’ for November ; by the En-
tomological Society of Stettin. ‘Exotic Butterflies, being Illustrations of new Species
selected chiefly from the collections of William Wilson Saunders and William C.
Hewitson: with coloured drawings and descriptions of each species.’ By W.C. Hew-
itson. Part 1; presented by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Ueber den Character der In-
secten-Fauna von Siid-Persien;’ von V. Kollar & Dr. L. Redtenbacher. ‘ Beitrag
zur Entwicklungsgeschichte eines neuen Blattlausartigen Insectes, Acanthochermes
Querctis, von V. Kollar. ‘ Ueber Weinbeschadigung durch einen kleinen Nachfal-
ter, Tortrix Roserana, Fro/., in den Weingarten von Brunn nachst Modlung,’ von
V. Kollar. ‘ Ueber einen bisher noch nicht beobachteten Feind des Weinstockes,’ von
Custos Kollar. ‘ Beitrage zur Kentniss des Haushaltes und der geographischen Ver-
breitung einiger in okomischer und technischer Hinsicht nichtigen Insecten, von V.
Kollar. All presented by Herr V. Kollar, Honorary Foreign Member. ‘ Tavola sin-
notica dei generi spettanti alla classe degli Insetti artroidignati Hemiptera, Linn.,
Latr., Rhyngota, Fab., Rhyncota, Burm. ; Memoria del Socio attuale Signor Mar-
chese Massimiliane Spinola, Foreign M.E.S.; presented by the Author. “A List of
Insects and other Animals either injurious to Agriculture or of interest to the Farmer.”
By J. Curtis, F.L.S. (From Morton's ‘ Cyclopedia of Agriculture’) ; presented by the
Author. A box of Insects from Hong Kong; by J. C. Bowring, Esq., Corresponding
M.E.S. A box of British Lepidoptera; by A. F. Sheppard, Esq. A box of British
Lepidoptera; by Mr. Douglas. Specimens of Sirex duplex ; by J. Lubbock, Esq.
Mr. Lubbock exhibited a quantity of Sirex duplex, which he had brought for dis-
tribution among the members. This species was abundant in woods between Bromley
and Seven Oaks, where their larve did much damage to larch trees; it was remarka-
ble that in a quantity which Mr. Lubbock had reared, the proportion of females to males
was | in 100.
Mr. Adam White, on the part of Mr. Leycester, exhibited some insects from New
Holland and New Zealand, among which he pointed out Campylocnemus Schreeteri,
4
Schreibers, as remarkable for its curved hind-tibie approximating to the curious,
curved, sub-fossorial hind-tibie of the allied genus Scaptocarenum from New Zealand,
a formation of these members not otherwise known among the Carabide. He also
noticed Anigma longipenne as an insect possessing remarkable characters.
Mr. Bond exhibited a pupa of Sphinx Ligustri, with the sheath of the spiral tongue
distinctly bifurcate.
My. Augustus Sheppard exhibited a remarkably pale specimen of Arge Galathea ?
Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited beautiful specimens of Ornithoptera Priamus from Cape
York, Australia; of Cocytia D’Urvillei from New Guinea; Carabus Lafossei from
Shanghae; and Xylotrupes dichotomus from the North of China, near Pekin. He
aiso exhibited Epicalia Antiochus and Myscelia Medea, which Mr. Bates had ob-
served to be sexes of one species; a thing never hitherto suspected, on account of the
difference of colour and marking.
The President observed that when informed of this discovery of Mr. Bates, he had
examined the specimens in the British Museum referred to these genera, and found
the Epicalie to be males and the Myscelie to be females. ‘The genus Catonephile of
Doubleday would likewise have to be abolished, the species therein being mostly refer-
rible to Epicalia.
Mr. Douglas exhibited the larva of a Dipterous insect voided by a gentleman who
had been for a long time in ill health. It was white, naked, and attenuated, and dif-
fered materially from the larve expelled from a human body, described by the Rey.
Leonard Jenyns in this Society’s ‘ Transactions’ (vol. ii. p. 154), as they had on each
segment a pair of minute, soft processes, fringed with bristles, which, when viewed in
the aggregate, formed a double longitudinal series down the back. In that instance,
also, the larve were expelled in large quantities, whereas in the present but few had
been observed. Some medical gentlemen doubted if these were really insect larve ;
but all the members present who examined the specimen sent, agreed that it was a
Dipterous larva, belonging probably to the Muscide. Some discussion arose on the
question how insect larve came into human bodies; the prevalent opinion seemed to
be that they were introduced with food: in illustration of which the President men-
tioned that at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, some of the serpents that had been fed
on flies, of which they were very fond, after a few weeks became greatly swollen, and
shortly died, when it was found that they were full of Dipterous larve, which had
doubtless hatched from fertile eggs in the flies on which they fed, and had caused
their death.
Mr. Douglas exhibited pieces of a stem of Solanum Dulcamara, gathered a few
days since, in which larve of Gelechia costella were hybernating.
Mr. Adam White exhibited a specimen of a Belostoma, an aquatic Hemipterous
insect, taken on board ship near Bassorah, in the Persian Gulf: many more were re-
ported by the captain to have fallen on the vessel from a “cloud” of them flying over.
Mr. Saunders had often seen Belostome two or three together, flying about in the
evening, near Calcutta; but it was something new to hear of them in such quantities,
and at sea.
Mr. Douglas exhibited a specimen of Monochamus Sartor, taken last year on the
banks of the Regent’s Canal; and a specimen of Coccinella Reppensis, taken by him-
self last July, crawling on the ground in the hilly field, Headley-lane, near Mickleham.
Mr. 8. Stevens mentioned that again for the third season he had reared Dryophila
Anobioides from the same dry stump of broom; and Mr. Smith remarked that for
5
seven successive years he had bred Ochina Ptinoides from a piece of dry ivy-stem in
his possession.
The President directed attention to the insects presented by Mr. J. C. Bowring,
especially to the extraordinary parasite upon Fulgora candelaria, which was undoubt-
edly Lepidopterous, resembling a Bombyx or Orgyia, and for which Mr. Bowring pro-
posed the name of Epipyrops anomala.
Mr. White alluded to a collection of insects sent from China by Mr. Fortune, in
which he had seen Dicranocephalus Wallichii, hitherto reputed to have been found in
Nepaul.
Mr. Curtis read a paper on a method of removing mouldiness from preserved in-
sects, by means of the vapour of boiling alcohol, applied by an apparatus which he
described, to a whole drawer-full at a time, and in the course of a few minutes not a
trace of mould would remain, and not one of the insects required to be touched or
removed.
Mr. Desvignes remarked that he had operated on some mouldy insects with naph-
tha in which a small portion of corrosive sublimate was dissolved ; but although an
effectual method, it occupied a long time to wash each insect.
Mr. White, with reference to methods of preserving insects, said that the Italians
had a mode of preserving Crustacea so that the joints remained flexible ; some speci-
mens in the British Museum, received from Madame Power, had been thus pliant for
years. The means by which this was accomplished were not known.
Mr. Douglas read the following translation from the Stettin ‘ Entomologische
Zeitung,’ premising that it referred to an insect, still one of our rarest Lepidoptera,
and trusting it might be the means of many specimens being captured.
“The Larva of Phorodesma smaragdaria, (sper). By G. Koch, senr., Frankfort-
on-the-Maine.
“ Hitherto this larva and its natural history have been entirely unknown ;* neither
Ochsenheimer, Treitschke, nor any other author has given any account of it; if they
had, the perfect insect would probably not be such a rarity. The moth flies in woods
late in the evening, on which account it is seldom taken; and the larve are so decep-
tive to the eye, that they have hitherto eluded all search for them. The merit of solv-
ing the riddle belongs to Herr Verwalter Muhlig, who succeeded in finding an im-
pregnated female, which laid eggs, by which circumstance we were put upon the search,
and now we find the species not uncommonly in our town woods. I give the follow-
ing account with this remark, that although it is made exactly after nature, everything
is not to be found therein which may be observed with a lens in these most remarkable
larve. Besides, the matter is sufficiently interesting to render it desirable to be ac-
quainted with the details of the natural history of these larve, otherwise than in frag-
ments, as at present, and to learn some particulars about their early states.
“« As soon as the larva leaves the egg, it loads its body with finely bitten pieces of
stems of plants, scales of flowers, bard, dry, seed-capsules, and other small vegetable
fragments, which it binds together strongly, although loosely, and in layers, and forms
into 2 mass full of points and projections (requiring much trouble to pull to pieces with
pincers), the whole of which it carries about with it, like the allied larva of Phorodesma
* Freyer has figured it, vol. i. tab. 174.—J. W. D.
6
Bajularia. This covering is, however, very different from the cases of the Psychide.
The larve enlarge these coverings according to their requirements, and as they hyber-
nate in them when very small, it is not easy to rear them from that state. The warmth
of spring entices them out to the plant on which they feed—the milfoil (Achillea Mil-
lefolium); when reared in confinement, however, they will feed upon Poterium San-
guisorba. The head of the larva is small, and the fore part of the body is also slender ;
the hinder part is crossed all over with deep wrinkles and corresponding elevations.
Beyond the first segment, the body is flattened on each side; on the back stand four
elevations or humps, each terminated by a sickle-shaped hair; a smaller hump stands
on each side of the large black spiracle: these six humps, each on a distinct segment,
are separated by long furrows, the remaining space is covered with innumerable little
warts, which make the larva feel rough to the touch; viewed with a lens, these look
like the deep-cleft bark of oak trees. All the remaining segments are covered with
these elevations, points, humps and furrows, to which, as may very easily be observed, the
little bits of plants are fastened in layers of small bundles. The larva is earth-brown,
a long darker line is on the middle of the back, and three, more or less clear, long
streaks on each side. It attains eventually the length of a Paris inch, but sits always
in a contracted position, and this, added to the unyielding nature of its case, gives it
a most deceptive resemblance to a hard seed-capsule or a little mass of flowers.
“When about to go into the pupa state, it seeks a hard flower-stalk, on the top of
which, or sometimes only high up thereon, it makes fast fragments of flowers in the
form of an open-work case, in which, in about a day, it changes to a pupa, and within
three (seldom four) weeks, it appears in the perfect state.
“ Light places in woods, plains, and dry ditches in woods, where the plants grow
on which they feed, are the favourite localities of these caterpillars. When once one
is discovered, several more may certainly be found in that neighbourhood. The best
season to seek them is from the beginning to the middle of June, when they have be-
come full fed, and are approaching their transformation. For this purpose it is not
necessary to use much apparatus, for if care be not taken, they are very easily deprived
of their artisti¢ coverings.”
April 5, 1852.
J. O. Westrwoon, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: —‘ The Zoologist’ for April; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’ for Febru-
ary and March; by the Editor. ‘The Literary Gazette’ for March ; by the Publish-
ers. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for February and March, and ‘ Linnea Entomolo-
gica, Sechster Band ; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘ Revue et Magasin
de Zoologie, 1851, Nos. 11 and 12, 1852, Nos. 1 and 2; by M. Guérin Meneville.
‘ Descrizione di alcune specie d'Insetti Fossili, and ‘ Catalogo dei Crostacei Italiani
e di molti altri del Mediterraneo:’ both by the Rev. F. W. Hope, and presented by
the Author. ‘ Nature’s Teaching, a Lecture read at the Annual Meeting of the Wor-
cestershire Natural History Society, October 8, 1851; by the Rey. D. Melville: pre-
sented by the Author. ‘ Bulletin de la Société Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’
1851, No. 2; by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ Vol. vi. No. 82—
85; by the Society. ‘ Monographie des Guépes Solitaires, ou de la Tribu des Eume-
niens,’ par H. F. de Saussure, Cahir 1, Paris, 1852; bythe Author. ‘ Entomographie
de la Russie, par G. Fischer de Waldheim, Tome v.: Lepidoptéres—Nymphalides,
Moscou, 1851; bythe Author. A box of Brazilian insects; by Viscount Goderich,
through Mr. Curtis. A box of British Micro-Lepidoptera ; by Mr. Bedell.
The Rev. J. F. Dawson, Woodlands, near Bedford, was elected a Member; and
W. Lancey, Esq., Westminster, was elected a Subscriber to the Society.
Mr. Adam White exhibited some insects, collected by Dr. Joseph Hooker in the
Himalaya, directing attention to the Homopterous Urophora Hardwickii, of which
the male was seen to possess the same kind of hairy tail-like appendage as the female,
in which sex it had been considered to be the ovipositor. Mr. White remarked that
the Lepidopterous genus Trichura, Hubner, founded on the Sphinx coarctata, Drury
(Zygena caudata, Fabr.), had a somewhat analogous structure, though much more
scaled. He also pointed out Derepteryx Hardwickii, a Nepalese species of Coreide,
apparently a male specimen.
Mr. White also exhibited some insects, chiefly Coleoptera, collected by Dr. Thomp-
son, of the Hon. East India Company’s Service, in Little Thibet, at an elevation of
8,000 feet above the level of the sea; among which Chrysomela fastuosa, Peryphus
littoralis, Stenus ater, and others, were identical with the British species.
Mr. White read the following extracts of a letter from J. C. Bowring, Esq., dated
Hong Kong, January 29, 1852 : —
“T possess in all about fifty Hong Kong Brachelytra, chiefly very small species,
and the only peculiarly interesting form among them is an insect of which I have but
one specimen, which I captured under a stone on the peak of Mount Parker; the an-
tenne are pectinated so strongly as to be almost flabellate. T have not duplicates of
more than half-a-dozen species, although I collect everything I can lay my hands on,
and would take fifty specimens of each insect if I could get them, with the view of in-
creasing my general collection by exchanging. Itseems strange that there should be
so few Brachelytra from China known in Europe. In Erichson (page 221), Conurus
pubescens seems to be the only one mentioned, and that is a well known European
species.
“T have found many new Carabideous insects this last season, and have now about
eighty species, and fourteen Cicindele ; the greater part of these are so rare that I have
no duplicates. Dr. Dubois, of the French frigate, ‘ Algerie,’ lately found a fine Sca-
rites on the sands of the mainland, opposite Hong Kong; I have searched the spot
well, but could not find another specimen. I discovered, however, a very pretty little
Notoxus, while turning over the drift weed on the shore.
“] have never met with any more Paussi since my return in 1848; they must be
of rare occurrence indeed, as I keep a sharp look-out for them.”
The President informed the meeting that M. Groué, of Marseilles, was about to
make an entomological tour in Sicily, and wished to enter into communication with
entomologists of this country, with a view to the exchange or other disposal of his
Coleopterous captures.
Mr. W. W. Saunders mentioned that M. José Apolinario Nieto, Orizava, Mexico,
8
a Mexican entomologist, wished to enter into correspondence with English entomo-
logists.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited larve of Botys Urticalis, attached to the under side
of a piece of the bark of wood which had formed part of a fence, where they had
spun their cocoons and had hybernated, having not yet passed into the pupa state.
Mr. Douglas, on the part of Mr. H. Cooke, exhibited a book of drawings of Indian
insects of all orders, belonging to Captain Wroughton, of the Indian Army. The
beauty and fidelity of these drawings excited great admiration.
Mr. Douglas exhibited Nepticula aurella, taken at Darenth Wood on the 24th of
March, a very early appearance, and N. ignobilella, bred from a leaf of hazel, gathered
in the autumn.
Mr. Douglas also exhibited larve of Gelechia contigua, in the tops of young shoots
of Stellaria holostea, larve of G. fraternella in shoots:of Stellaria uliginosa, and a full-
grown larva of a Nepticula, mining in a leaf of bramble just gathered; many other
bramble-leaves he observed had been similarly mined, but the miners had escaped.
He mentioned that Mr. Stainton had recently found the terminal shoots of Cerastium
viscosum rolled up like those of the Stellarie, probably by the larve of Gelechia, or
some closely allied moth.
The President exhibited specimens of Blatta Germanica, sent to him from Kildare,
where they had been very troublesome in a house, attacking indiscriminately food and
other things to which they could gain access, and living chiefly behind the skirting-—
boards of the kitchen. The female had her egg-pouch attached, remarkable for being ©
nearly as large as the abdomen. This was the first recorded instance of the species
|
being noxious in houses; in Lapland, B. Lapponica is very destructive to dried fish
and other provisions.
The President also read a letter from Sunderland, inquiring the best mode of de-—
stroying Blatta orientalis, that common pest in houses everywhere; when several mem-
bers mentioned as remedies basins baited with bread, and placed where the cock-roaches
had easy access to them, from which, on account of their smoothness, the insects could —
not escape; phosphorus; turpentine sprinkled about the room at night, when they were
active, the touch of the least portion proving fatal; a mixture of oatmeal and plaster
of Paris; and keeping a hedge-hog, of which animal the Blatte were a favourite food.
The President exhibited some specimens of the new cochineal insect called Coccus
Fabe, discovered by M. Guérin-Meéneville, and described in the ‘Comptes Rendus.’
The insect fed on the common bean, and rendered an exceedingly brilliant colour. The
cultivation thereof on an extended scale had commenced in the South of France, and
it was expected would prove a beneficial branch of industry to the peasants.
Mr. Smith communicated the following extract of a letter addressed to him by Dr.
Felkin, of Richmond : —
“‘T had some port wine which I rather prized, packed in straw in wooden cases, in
which it remained undisturbed for seventeen or eighteen years, but upon opening the
cases I perceived some insect had been preying very considerably upon the corks, in a
few cases to that degree that leakage and evaporation had completely emptied the bot-
tles, in others there was only a little loss, but in most cases the corks were more or less
destroyed. This partial destruction seemed as if it were prevented from being com-
plete by the wine oozing out in a single drop, and being pernicious to the insect. I
cannot form an opinion whether saw-dust may encourage the insect, but I may
WAR, & 1864,
9
observe that the cellar is very dry. I believe wine-merchants in corking wine compress
| the cork with instruments, which leave a depression in the cork, in which the insect
seems to burrow ; in some wine bottled at home, in which the cork was only immersed
_in wine previous to driving it, the ravages of the insect appeared to be less, but I must
, add that these corks were of the best description. I have not yet employed any means
' to prevent the evil, but I think of cutting the cork level with the mouth of the bottle,
and then dipping it for half an inch at the top into a mixture of yellow bees’-wax, 8
_oz., and sweet oil, 4 oz., melted together; or to surround the upper part of the cork
with a thin coat of gutta percha; or, after the bottle has been corked, to immerse the
mouth in a solution of alum in vinegar. These are plans which, if effectual, would
not injure the wine, or render it less fit for drinking.”
Some members suggested that the mixture of resin with the bees’-wax would, by
rendering the composition harder, prove effectual in excluding the insect, whatever
species it might be, its eggs or larve.
Mr. Bedell intimated that he had in progress an experiment with some bottled
wine, the corks of which were thus affected, to ascertain with certainty the kind of
insect causing the damage; at preseut it was supposed to be the larva of the Lepido-
pterous Gracillaria? Vau-flava.
Mr. Douglas called the attention of the members to the subject of insects found
impaled on thorns, stating that Mr. Gould had informed him, with reference to the spe-
cimens presented by him to the Society last year, his opinion was that they were not
placed upon the thorns by shrikes, as was generally supposed, because those birds had
not at the time he found them arrived in this country, and the insects were uninjured,
which was not likely to have been the case if those birds had so placed them ; more-
over, he afterwards found some bees transfixed on spines of furze in the north of Scot-
land, where shrikes never go. No doubt shrikes did impale insects, because it was one
of their characteristics to hang up their food before eating it, whence they had derived
the name of “ butcher-birds;” and the same practice obtained also in the aberrant
shrikes of Australia, but then they left only fragments of their prey. He believed that
insects were blown by gusts of wind on to the thorns. Mr. Douglas further said that
he had mentioned the subject to Mr. Doubleday, who told him that he once saw a
Leucania Comma transfixed by a spine of dry furze, placed on the top of a garden-
wall to keep away cats. The head of the moth was towards the spine, as if it had been
arrested in the position of its flight at the moment. Mr. Douglas requested the mein-
bers to bring before the Society any instances of impaled insects that might come un-
der their notice, and that they would observe the position of the insect with regard to
the thorn.
Mr. Bond was of opinion that shrikes placed bees on thorns, even in cases where
they were found uninjured, for he had known those birds to hang up their prey, leave
it, and afterwards return and eat it.
Mr. Douglas exhibited a bee, recently captured, with three female Stylops in the
abdomen.
The President said that no greater number than three had hitherto been observed
in a bee, but Dr. Burmeister, who had just returned from a sojourn of eighteen months
in Brazil, had informed him that he had there seen seven Stylops in one wasp. The
President added that Dr. Burmeister had brought with him a large store of insects
¢
10
and entomological information, and had directed particular attention to the transfor-
mations of the Lepidoptera.
Mr. W. W. Saunders communicated the following note frem Mr. S. S. Saunders
in Albania, dated “ Prevera, March 2, 1852;” and exhibited the piece of bramble-
stem referred to : —
“To return to the Hyleus (H. Rubicola). I should observe that my object in now
sending the briar is to call attention to the middle cell of the three, which has not pro-
duced any larva, consequently the store remains therein as at the first, and consists of |
the liquid acidulous honey which forms their food in the larva state, and the cells are
invariably (as in this instance) only half full thereof, the larva being preserved from
contamination therewith until ready to feed; and you will further observe that the
thin cases wherein such store is deposited, are prepared by the parent Hyleus, and are
not to be ascribed to the progeny, the honey-bag containing the store being here pre-
served intact where no larva has been produced, and closed as at first. The gallery is
exclusively that of a Hyleus, without any trace of other inmates, and I conceive that
these facts will be deemed to offer conclusive testimony to the non-parasitic habits of
Hyleus Rubicola.”
Mr. Douglas read the following translation of so much of Zeller’s ‘ Revision of the
Pterophoride’* as pertains to the early state of such species whose larve are known :—
Acoistis, H.
4. A. adactyla, H. Larva probably feeds on Sedum acre or S. sexangulare, the
imago being found near Glogau in July, always among these plants, and sometimes
also where Gnaphalium arenarium grows.
Prrrops onus, Geoffr.
5. P. gonodactylus, W. V.; trigonodactylus, Sta. Herr Fehr, according to Fischer
von Roslerstamm, found that the larve from the beginning to the middle of March fed
inside the flower-stalks of a large-leaved species of colt’s-foot (Tussilago), near the
base. In the flower-head of the same plant lives the larva of Pedisca Brunnichiana.
(In England both these species are found in the perfect state on or about Tussila-
go Farfara.a—J. W. D.)
6. P. Zetterstedtii, Z.; Aluc. tesseradactyla, Zett. The larva feeds on Senecio
nemorensis: the perfect insect is found about this plant in July.
7. P. nemoralis, Z. Appears in July and August. The larva feeds in the stems
of Senecio nemorensis.
10. P. acanthodactylus, Z.; Aluc. acanthodactyla, H.; Aluc. calodactyla, Haw. ;
Pt. calodactylus, St. The larva Zeller once found in July on a flowering Pelargoni-
um ina garden, and having several times taken the imago in places where Geranium
Robertianum grows abundantly, he supposes the proper food of the larva to be Pelar-
* © Linnea Entomologica, 6 Band. Berlin, 1852.
i
goniums. His friend Schlager, however, informs him that he found the larve with
those of Pt. pheodactylus on Ononis repens or spinosa; but Zeller adds that he has
the species from places where there is neither Ononis nor Geranium.
(In England we find the imago among Ononis.—J. W. D.)
12. P. tristis, Z., Dup. The larva feeds (probably) on Hieracium Pilosella. The
imago appears at the beginning of June and end of August, among pines and birches,
in sandy places near Glogau.
17. P. Piloselle, Z., Sta.; didactylus, St.; Hieracii, Sta. (Cat.) The larva feeds
on Hieracium Pilosella.
18. P. Hieracii, Z., Sta. (Cat. Suppl.) The larva feeds on Hieracium umbella-
tum. The imago appears in July and August.
19. P. Ericetorum, Z. Appears in July and August. Zeller supposes the larva
feeds on Hieracium Pilosella.
21. P. obscurus, Z. Dup.; parvidactylus, Haw., Sta. ; microdactylus, St. Ap-
pears in June and July. The larva feeds on Hieracium Pilosella.
24. P. pheodactylus, H., Z., Sta.; lunedactylus, Haw., St. Appears in July.
The larva feeds on several species of Ononis. Zeller remarks that it eats the flowers.
26. P. mictodactylus, W. V.,Z. Appears the end of May and in June. The
commonest Pterophorus near Glogau, where the larva feeds on Saxifraga granulata.
32. P. graphodactylus, Tr., Z. Freyer found the larva in June near Tegernsee
(Alps) on Gentiana lutea.
33. P. fuscus, Retz., Z., Sta.; fuscodactylus, Haw., St. The larva feeds on Ve-
ronica Chamedrys (Stainton).
36. P. lithodactylus, 77., Z., Sta. The larva feeds in June on Inula salicifolia
and J. dysenterica.
38. P. Scarodactylus (H.?), Z. The larva feeds on the flowers of Hieracium um-
bellatum and H. boreale in August and September.
41. P.Inule, Z. The larva lives in the flowers of Inula Britannica, feeds on the
unripe seeds, and is full grown at the end of July. Its presence may generally be
known by the disk of the flower having on it brown spots, or, at the part attacked heing
pushed up into a small elevation. But such flowers are often inhabited only by larve
of flies, and many flowers containing a larva of this Pterophorus do not exhibit these
marks.
43. P. microdactylus, H., Z., Sta. Appears in May and July. The larva feeds
on the flowers of Eupatorium Cannabinum.
44. P. osteodactylus, Z., Dup., Sta. The larva lives (probably) on Senecio nemo-
rensis.
46. P. galactodactylus, H., Haw., St., Sta. The larva lives on Aretium Lappa in
May.
12
47. P. Spilodactylus, Curt., St., Sta. Appears in July. The larva feeds on Mar-
rubium vulgare.
51. P. tetradactylus, L., Haw., St. Appears in July and August. The larva
feeds on Thymus Serpyllum.
52. P. Malacodactylus, Z. The long-haired larva feeds on Nepeta Calamintha
and probably on other Labiate.
54. P. pentadactylus, ZL. &e. The larva feeds on Convolvulus arvensis and C.
sepium.
59. P. Siceliota, Z. Appears (in Sicily and Dalmatia) in May, June and July.
The larva feeds on Ononis pinguis.
Auvcira, LZ.
6. A. polydactyla, H., Z., Sta. Appears in May and June. The larva feeds on
the flowers of Lonicera Periclymenum. The flowers attacked are rather more than
usually thickened in front, and do not open. The larva bores on the under side of
the flower-tube, eats up the inner part of the flower and fills the space with a quantity
of dirt.
Part 8 of the current volume of the Socicty’s ‘ Transactions, was announced as
just ready.
May 3, 1852.
J.O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: —‘ The Zoologist’ for May; by the Editor. ‘Entomologische Zeitung’ for
April; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘The Literary Gazette’ for April ;
by the Publishers. ‘The Atheneum’ for April; by the Editor. ‘ Revue et Magasin
de Zoolovie, 1852, No.3; by M. Guérin Meneville. ‘Exotic Butterflies, by W.
C. Hewitson, No. 2; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. <A collection of several orders of in-
sects of Ceylon; by Mr. Thwaites, M.E.S. A specimen of Oryctes Martabani ; by
Mr. Pratt.
The President announced that the Society had determined to offer a prize of £5
for the best essay on the duration of life in the queen, males, and workers of the honey
bee, the discovery of these points being of much economic value. Each essay to be
addressed “ To the President and Council of the Entomological Society,” without the
author’s name attached, and to be delivered before the 3lst of December; the name
and address of the author to be forwarded separately.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a male specimen, in fine condition, of Notodonta
Carmelita, taken by Mr. Hill, on the 2nd instant, at West Wickham Wood, on the
trunk of an oak.
13
The President informed the meeting that among the insects received from Mr.
Thwaites, were many rare species, and nearly half the number were unique specimens.
Mr. Adam White exhibited drawings of the nests of two species of spiders ; the
one, found by 8S. S. Saunders, Esq., in Albania, was formed of the seed-vessels of Pa-
liurus aculeatus, four of which were arranged symmetrically, and connected by a web:
the other was found by M. Weilenmann, of St. Gall, Switzerland, in a wood near Per-
nambuco ; it was of a grayish white colour, with a penthouse-like roof, on which were
seven rows of scale-like appendages, and a row round the margin; it was attached by
a pedicel, three inches long, to a leaf. M. Weilenmann informed Mr. White that the
spider was small, but Mr. White believed he had seen only the young ones.
Mr. White exhibited specimens of a minute Podura, found by Dr. Sutherland on
the ice, some miles from the shore of Wellington Channel, under a species of Nostoc
growing there. It was closely related to the Desoria glacialis, Nicolet, which M. De-
sor found among the glaciers of the Swiss Alps, in countless numbers, under stones or
on the margins of “ crevasses et des baignoires.” MM. Desor, Pourtales, and Agassiz
also saw them running into ice, apparently very compact, but on breaking off a piece
it was found to be pierced with numerous canals, into which the Desorie leaped and
ran, looking like drops of blood. —(Desor, in ‘ Bibliotheque Universelle de Genéve,’
N. S. XXxii. p. 125, pl. 2).
Dr. Sutherland added, in answer to a question from the President, that he only
found this Podura under the Nostoc ; and that although it was in plenty, the indivi-
duals remained free, and did not assemble in masses after the manner of the common
English Podura. But he had also found what he thought were two other distinct
species, under stones where no Nostoc grew.
Mr. White also exhibited some more of the insects collected in the Himalayas by
Dr. J. D. Hooker, pointing out especially a beautiful minute Cicindela, a Cercidocerus
with two white lines on the thorax, a Distenia, several pretty Phytophaga, including
Adimonia variolaris, Aplosonyx fasciatus, &c., the Hemipterous Peecilocoris Chil-
dreni, a new spider of the genus Gastrocantha, and one of the Myriapodous genus
Zephronia.
Mr. A. F. Sheppard exhibited specimens of Halias clorana, bred from osiers at
Fulham, and a Cerura vinula, var. minax, Hub.
Mr. Grant exhibited twelve specimens of the rare Adela cuprella, obtained by re-
peated visits to the dwarf sallows on Wimbledon Common during the late cold month
of April.
Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a fine series of Goliathus Polyphemus from Cape Palmas,
and of Callithea Sapphira, male and female, collected by Mr. Bates at Santarem, on
the Amazon river.
The President read the following letter, addressed to him by Mr. Ainger : —
“2, Carlton Hill, Edgware Road,
“ April 17, 1852.
“ Sir,
_ “T observe that at a recent meeting of the Entomological Society, you
read a paper of inquiry as to the best method of extirpating cock-roaches.
‘“‘T have for many years, and in three different houses, used a plan which gets rid
of them more rapidly and more completely than any I have heard of.
“ Tn the kitchen hearth, within the fender, but at one side of the fire, I cut a hole
14
like that made in the street paving for a coal-plate. In this I place a basin holding
a little water (beer would perhaps be better), and into this the creatures fall by whole-
sale until they are nearly exterminated. During the day an iron plate covers the hole.
“Tam, Sir,
** Your obedient Servant,
“ J. O. Westwood, Esq.” “ ALFRED AINGER.”
Mr. Douglas read the following note, translated and condensed from the ‘ Ento-
mologische Zeitung’ for April : —
“On Lithosia depressa and L. helveola ; by Herr Schreiner, Weimar.
“If we compare these two insects, and read the descriptions of the larve by
Treitschke (Band x. pp. 164-5), we should feel quite convinced that they were dis-
tinct species ; but by observing them in nature, both in the larva and perfect states,
we may be quite certain that depressa is by no means distinct, but only the female of
helveola.
““T would not lay much stress upon the fact that during many years’ experience of
myself and others in this and other localities, not one male of depressa has occurred,
and just as little a female of helveola, although this is curious enough ; but I would
further mention that although I yearly rear a great many of both kinds from larve,
which are not scarce in this neighbourhood, mingled together among the lichens upon
the common pine (Pinus picea), the result is the same. I believe, therefore, that I
am correct in putting depressa, hitherto accounted to be a distinct species, as the fe-
male of helveola; and the following considerations bear out my view: —
“1. The antenne of helveola are distinctly ciliated, in depressa, on the contrary,
they are setiform, and only when greatly magnified can a few very fine hairs be
observed.
“2. The larve appear at the same time and on the same food, and mostly together.
“3. They show no striking difference in form, colour, or marking,.in these respects
not varying more than the caterpillars of most other species.
“4. The habit and pupation are the same.
“5. The period of development is exactly alike.
“I must further remark that I indeed have not yet witnessed the coupling, because
it would seem to be very brief, and only to take place at night: however, I have often
obtained the eggs of depressa, but never those of helveola. Also, on opening the bo-
dies of a number of helveola, I could not discover a trace of eggs, whereas the bodies
of depressa generally contained a great quantity. Unfortunately, I have not yet been
able to rear any larve from the eggs.
‘Tt is inexplicable to me how these prominent circumstances in the history of these
not uncommon insects should have escaped even our latest and best authors; and I
feel myself so much the more compelled to incite a more exact examination and in-
quiry into this and the other species of Lithosia.”
Mr. Douglas also read the following extract from Mr. Fortune’s ‘ Journey to the
Tea Countries of China :’? —
“Tn the evening we stopped, with some other boats like our own, near a small vil-
lage, where we proposed to pass the night. The day had been very warm, and the
15
moschetoes were now becoming very troublesome. The night before this, neither my
servant nor myself had been able to close our eyes, and I now saw with dread these
pests actually swarming around us. Our boatmen, who heard us talking about them,
asked Sing-Hoo why he did not go and buy some moscheto tobacco, which they said
might be had in the village, and which would drive all the moschetoes out of the boat.
I immediately despatched him to procure some of this invaluable substance. Ina
few minutes he returned with four long sticks in his hand, not unlike those commonly
used for burning incense in the temples, only somewhat longer and cvarser in appear-
ance. He informed me they cost only two cash each—certainly cheap enough if they
answered the purpose.
“Two of these sticks were now lighted and suspended from the roof of the boat.
They had not been burning five minutes when every moscheto in the boat sought other
quarters. We were quite delighted, and enjoyed a sound and refreshing sleep, for
which we were most thankful. I had always dreaded these insects during this jour-
ney, as I did not carry curtains with me on account of their bulk. I now found, how-
ever, that there was no need of them wherever we could procure the moscheto tobacco.
** Various substances are employed by the Chinese to drive away moschetoes. This
which we had just purchased was made with the sawings of resinous woods—I believe
procured from juniper trees — and mixed with some combustible matter to make it
burn. A piece of split bamboo, three or four feet in length, is then covered all over
with this substance. When finished it is as thick asa rattan or small cane. The up-
per end of the bamboo has a slit in it, for hooking on to a nail in the wall or the roof
of a boat. When once lighted, it goes on burning upwards until within six inches of
the hook, beyond which there is no combustible matter, and it then dies out. A some-
what fragrant smell is given out during combustion, which, at a distance, is not disa-
greeable. Sometimes the saw-dust is put up in coils of paper, and is then burned on
the floors of the houses. Various species of wormwood are likewise employed for the
same purpose. ‘The stems and leaves of these plants are twisted and dried, and pro-
bably dipped in some preparation to make them burn.
“The moscheto has a mortal aversion to all these substances, and wherever they
are burning, there the little tormentors will not come. I procured the sticks in ques-
tion, and burnt them daily after this ; and although the insects were often swarming
when I entered the boat or an inn, the moment their ‘ tobacco’ was lighted they quickly
disappeared, and left me to sit at my ease, or to enjoy a refreshing sleep. Whoever
discovered this precious tobacco, was a benefactor to his country, and should have been
honoured with the blue button and peacock’s feather at the least. But I suppose, like
all other Chinese discoveries, it is so old that the name of its original discoverer can-
not now be traced.”
The following memoirs were read : —
1. Descriptions of five new butterflies, by W.C. Hewitson, Esq., with two coloured
plates.
Papilio Telearchus. Hab. Sylhet.
Allied to P. Paradoxa, but larger; different in the contour of the wings and in
the relative distance of the blue spots from the outer margin.
Papilio Pausanias. Hab. Surinam and the Amazon.
Allied to P. Choridamas, and especially interesting from its close resemblance
16
to Heliconia Clytia. Found by Mr. Bates “at the edge of the water of the
Lake of Ega when the river is falling.”
Papilio Chabrias. Hab. Amazon.
Allied to P. Triopas. The male flies high in pathways of the forest, the female
flies low.
Papilio Orellana. Hab. Amazon.
An unique species in the collection of Mr. Bates.
Papilio Sakontala. Hab. Sylhet.
Allied to P. Polytes, Cramer. Unique in Mr. Hewitson’s collection.
2. Descriptions, with figures, of some of the Coleoptera collected in China by Mr.
Fortune. By W. W. Saunders, Esq.
3. Descriptions of some of the Hymenoptera collected in China by Mr. Fortune.
By F. Smith, Esq.
4. Description of a new Brazilian Hemipterous insect, Dinidor gibbus. By W.
S. Dallas, Esq.
June 7, 1852.
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: —‘ A List of the Specimens of British Animals in the Collection of the Bri-
tish Museum. — Lepidoptera (continued). 1852.’ By J. F. Stephens, Esq., F.L.S. ;
presented by the Author. ‘ Statuten und Namen des Mitglieder des Minchener Ve-
reins fur Naturkunde.’ ‘Isis,’ Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 6, 1850. ‘Systema Insectorum,’ tom.
i. Coleoptera, Fasc. 1, Mantichora—Dromica: Monachii, 1837, auctore Dr. J. Gistl.
All presented by Dr. Gistl. ‘Transactions of the Zoological Society of London,’
Vol. iv. part 2, 1852; by the Society. A Portrait of Signor Passerini, Hon. M.E.S.;
by the Rev. F. W. Hope. ‘ The Zoologist’ for June; by the Editor. ‘ The Literary
Gazette’ for May; by the Publishers. A specimen in the finest condition of Morpho
Cytheris; by T. J. Stevens, Esq., Bogota.
Capt. T. Hamilton, of the Indian Army, was elected a Member of the Society.
Mr. Adam White mentioned that a specimen of Acherontia Atropos had been cap-
tured at Bressay, one of the Shetland Islands, by Miss Mouatt, of that place, the first
instance known of the occurrence of the species so far north in Britain.
Mr. A. F. Sheppard exhibited a remarkably fine specimen of Notodonta Carme-
lita, taken by Mr. Harrison, of Keswick, on a birch tree near that place; also, on
behalf of Mr. N. Cooke, of Warrington, a specimen of Notodonta trepida, reared with
others from eggs found in May, 1851, upon a beech tree in Petty Pool Wood, Dela-
mere Forest: the larve fed on oak-leaves. Mr. Sheppard also exhibited some speci-
mens of Cemiostoma Laburnella, which he had beaten out of ivy, remarking that he
could get none from the laburnums, although there were several of those trees in his
garden.
Mr. Hunter exhibited a specimen of Notodonta Carmelita, which he bred on the
8th of May, from a larva beaten out of an oak at Black Park last year.
MAR... var
ty
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a specimen of Notodonta Carmelita, taken by him on the
trunk of a tree at Wickham Wood, on the 3rd of May.
Mr. Waring exhibited two specimens of Retinia Turionella, one of which he had
reared from a shoot of Scotch fir from West Wickham Wood: also a specimen of An-
tithesia prelongana, from the same locality.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited two specimens of Trochilium Culiciforme, reared
from larve found in a stump of birch ; also the Ichneumon parasitic on the larve of
this species, with its cocoon. He likewise exhibited Notodonta trepida, three speci-
mens of the rare Xylina conspiceillaris, Cerata Servillana, and Anchylopera Upupana,
all taken at Dareuth Wood in May.
Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of Nepticula aurella, reared from bramble-leaves,
and the cocoons formed by the larve after they left the leaves in which they had fed ;
from these cocoons, which were green, flat, and shaped like a stock-seed, the pupa-
skin was seen projecting.
The President read a letter addressed to him by Robert Smart, Esq., of Sunder-
land, describing a trap for cockroaches commonly sold in the crockery-ware shops of
that town. ‘It resembles” he says “ an inverted basin, with a hole about an inch in
diameter at the top, the sides being somewhat rough and rather indented. But the
grand desideratum” he continues “ is some substance that the insects will greedily eat
and which will poison them; in my humble opinion it is a matter not undeserving a
scientific investigation, and not unworthy the attention of the Entomological Society.”
The President read the following letter from William Atkinson, Esq. :—
“32, Gordon St., Gordon Square, May 31, 1852.
“ Dear Sir,
“In March, 1849, I had some correspondence with you respecting the
insect that eats the corks in bottles of wine in cellars ; and observing by the Reports
of the Entomological Society that the subject has been brought before you twice re-
cently, I have much pleasure in presenting herewith to the Cabinet of the Society, a
specimen I have succeeded in capturing, which I presume will remove any doubt as
to its being the larva of a Lepidopterous insect that commits the ravages complained
of. It is somewhat extraordinary that although in every visit to my cellar I make an
examination, I have never yet seen a moth or found a chrysalis.
“The question has been debated in your rrom—‘ How to get rid of this nuisance?’
In my opinion, in addition to cutting close and sealing the corks, the wine should be
te-binned perfectly free from saw-dust, at the same time carefully removing the saw-
dust from the cellar; for in the saw-dust the caterpillar no doubt changes into the
chrysalis, and the moth lays its eggs. It is through this medium, I feel certain, the
mischief is transmitted from the wine-merchant’s cellars.
“It appears to me, that the insect cannot possibly be imported in the cork, as has
been suggested, after it has undergone the process of firing, and sometimes, I believe,
of boiling, and also the cutting into corks. The very act of driving a cork into a bot-
tle would certainly crush any eggs, in which state only could the insect be in the
corks ; and I should think it unlikely that the moth is furnished with the means of pe-
netrating the cork, to deposit its eggs therein.
** Begging you will excuse my offering these opinions on the subject,
“7 remain, yours obediently,
“J. O. Westwood, Esq.” “Wm. Arxinson, F.L.S., &e.”
D
18
The specimen sent was the sbrivelled larva of a small Lepidupterous insect, appa-
rently that of Oinophila v-flava.
Mr. F. Smith read the following note, entitled “Observations on a Paper by G.
Newport, Esq., F.R.S., ‘On the Anatomy and Development of certain Chalcidide and
Ichneumonide, compared with their special Economy and Instincts; with Descrip-
tions of a new Genus of Bee-parasites,’ in the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society,’
vol. xxi. part 1.”
“In Mr. Newport's excellent and highly interesting paper on bee-parasites, just
published in the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ I observe some remarks on a
communication of my own to that Society; and I am anxious to correct one or two
inaccuracies. The first is the date of capture given in the communication referred to.
I stated that it was the summer of 1848, it should have been 1847, as I learn by the
date in Mr. Newport’s paper; this is proved by a reference to my letter, in which I
stated that IT had placed specimens of Monodontomerus in the hands of Mr. Walker,
for description, previously to having ascertained that Mr. Newport's insects were de-
veloped, although from time to time we had compared notes respecting the progress
of each of our captures.
“Two localities are also established for the parasites,—Charlton and Gravesend,—
since it was at the former where I obtained my larva of Anthophora, not at Graves-
end, as stated by Mr. Newport, although I had been acquainted with the latter loca-
lity for fourteen or fifteen years, and had the pleasure of making it known to Mr.
Newport.
“‘ On reading the report of the meeting of the Linnean Society, March 20, 1849, I
found it stated that the larve of Monodontomerus were pollinivorous; and when I
took into consideration Mr. Newport’s undoubtedly correct view, that ‘ structure, when
carefully and accurately investigated, is an infallible index to function and habit :’
and also, that the very announcement of such a discovery as that of an insect belong-
ing to the family Chalcidide being a feeder on pollen, was contrary to all hitherto re-
corded observation, I naturally concluded it to be a subject of the highest importance,
and took the first opportunity of recording my own observations, which proved that
Monodontomerus was, like its congeners, carnivorous ; a fact which appeared to me
calculated to invalidate the author’s own views of the necessary connexion between
structure and habit.
“T find at p. 67 of the ‘Transactions’ the following remarks: —‘It was a question
with me whether the bee-larva had not been killed by the other larva piercing it, and
abstracting all its fluids from without? This query then seemed to be answered by
the circumstance that the number of parasites was disproportioned to the size of the
victim, which, had it served for food for them, would in all probability have been en-
tirely consumed ;’ ‘ instead of which it contained the dried-up ligament and head of
the young bee, which seemed to have been starved. This being quite at variance
with my own recorded observations, I would beg to recall to mind the circumstance
that I observed the parasitic larve feeding upon the pupa, and not on the larva of the
bee, which they continued to do until not a vestige of it remained; all that the cell
contained, besides the parasitic larva, being a small portion of yellow dust, or small
granules; so that a very curious and interesting fact, if supported by further research,
appears to result from our combined observations ; namely, that these parasites prey
indifferently upon either the larva or the pupa of the bee: and as no similar instance
19
of parasitism, so far as I can ascertain, is upon record, I am anxious to call attention
to the fact, since it appears to have escaped the notice of Mr. Newport.”
The Secretary read a paper communicated by Mr. H. W. Bates, “On the Habits
of the Coleopterous Megavephale of the Amazonian Region.”
Mz. White observed that it would be well to inform collectors at the Cape of Good
Hope of the facts now stated, for Platychile pallida, which occurred there, had a si-
milar structure to these Megacephale, and probably similar habits.
Mr. Douglas read the following note, being the substance of an article in the An-
nales de la Société Entomologique de France, 1851, p.323, by M. le Colonel Goureau,
entitled ‘“‘ Note pour servir a Histoire de la Sericoris antiquana, Dup.”
‘In the neighbourhood of Cherbourg, the farmers give the name of ‘ the hermit’
to a larva which is found in the roots of Stachys arvensis, into which it bores a longi-
tudinal gallery, acquiring at the same time food and shelter. Usually there is only
one larva in a root, but sometimes two are found, at some distance from each other.
“On the Ist of December, 1849, I first had an opportunity of examining the roots
of Stachys arvensis. On cutting them longitudinally, I found some quite entire, some
fistulous throughout, and others pierced with a gallery nearly cylindrical in form, ex-
tending almost the whole length of the root, and containing a larva which moved quick-
ly, either forwards or backwards, to that part of its tube which was not opened. The
larva of this moth is very sensitive to the air and light, and when the end of its habi-
tation has been cut off, it immediately closes the aperture with a silken covering.
“ On the 21st of Feburary, 1850, and the 28th of May following, I examined fresh
roots of Stachys arvensis, in which I found very few of these larve. Those of the lat-
ter date presented two round reddish spots, resembling slight bruises, on the seventh
or eighth segment. To succeed in rearing these larve it is necessary to keep the roots
in damp earth, or they will wither, and the larvex perish. They change to pupe within
their gallery, and the moth appears at the beginning of July.
“ SERICORIS ANTIQUANA, Dup.
“ Orthotenia antiquana, Guén.
“‘ Larva.—Cylindrical, of an uniform livid white; head chestnut-brown, the jaws
and labrum blackish brown ; some hairs on the head and segments of the body ; legs
white.”
The President read a Memoir on some new Lamellicorn Coleoptera, supplemen-
tary to his Memoir on the family published in the 4th volume of the Society’s ‘ Trans-
actions.’
The Secretary read the following letter : —
“ Colegio del Espiritu Santo,
“ Bogota, Nueva Granada,
“ April 1, 1852.
“OSir;
“T forwarded to you a butterfly a few days ago, for the Society. It is
considered rare in this country, and it occurred to me that your Museum might not
contain a specimen. I suppose it is of the genus Morpho.
20
“JT am considering the best and easiest method of preserving wood from the attacks —
of Termites. I should imagine that Kyan’s or Bethell’s process would succeed, and
am not aware that either has been used for such purpose. Truly grateful should I be ‘
to any Member of the Society who would give me an opinion on this subject.
“T am, Sir, yours obediently,
‘“ 'THomas JONES STEVENS.
“ P.S.—I forgot to say that the specimen comes from Muzo, mean temperature in
the shade 75°.”
“‘ The Secretary of the Entomological Society.”
Mr. S. Stevens read the following extract of a letter, addressed to himself, from
George Boe Esq., dated “ Orillia, Canada West, February 18, 1852 :”—
“ T know that you take great interest in anything relating to the capture of moths,
and I have found out some new methods which may be of use to you. In summer I
let some dirty soap-suds stand for a few hours, and exposed to our powerful sun they
soon become offensive. In the evening I take any old pieces of rag, dip them in the
liquid, and then hang them on the trees; the moths soon find them out, and no mat-
ter how many trees and flowers are in bloom, I have still many moths come to my
cloths. I have even placed them near a large bed of the most fragrant flower in Ca-
nada (Asclepias Syriaca), and still had my share of moths. The Geometrine moths
and many of the Nocturna are extremely fond of the fermented soap. This plan may
not succeed in England; perhaps the weather is not sufficiently hot, and the English
Lepidoptera may be more refined in their tastes. I have frequently seen butterflies
here on dead fish, &c. The plan I have just mentioned is even more successful here
than sugar in England; I think I have seen as many as seventy moths on a surface
of 18 inches square, ona favourable night. I have tried sugar at different times with-
out any success. ‘The moths will come to the sap of the sugar-maple tree, but that
will only run when the nights are frosty, so that very few species are in season at that
time of the year. I think in England, by having a very brilliant light in the woods,
you might capture a great many moths. I use for that purpose the birch-bark, which
gives an intense light.”
Mr. Stevens said he had tried the soap-suds once without success; but he thought
they were not sufficiently putrid.
Part 1, vol. ii., n. s., of the Society’s ‘ Transactions’ was announced as just ready.
July 5, 1852.
J. O. Westrwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: —‘ The Zoologist’ for July; by the Editor. ‘The Literary Gazette’ for
June; by the Publishers. ‘Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ vol. xxi., part 1:
21
* Proceedings of the Linnean Society,’ 1851, Nos. 45, 46, 47: ‘List of the Linnean
Society,’ 1851; all by the Society. ‘ Exotic Butterflies, by W. C. Hewitson, part 3;
by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung,’ May and June; by the Ento-
mological Society of Stettin. ‘Ueber die Lebenswiese der Termiten und ihre Ber-
breitung, von Dr. H. Hagen; by the Author. ‘ Bericht iiber die wissenchaftlichen
Leistungen im Gebiete der Entomologie wihrend des Jahres 1849, von Dr. H.
Schaum. Berlin, 1851; by the Author. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ vol. vi.
No. 87; by the Society. ‘ Aides Hartwelliane, or Notices of the Manor and Man-
sion of Hartwell, by Captain W. H. Smyth, K.N., F.R.S,, &e. London, 1851; pre-
sented by Capt. Smyth and Dr. Lee, F.R.S., &e. ‘A List of the British Aculeate
Hymenoptera ;’ by S. Bagster, Esq. ‘The Atheneum,’ for June; by the Editor. A
fine specimen of Lucanus Cervus, brought from the Pyrenees by W. D. West, Esq.;
by D. W. Mitchell, Esq., Sec. Z.S. Bred specimens of Halias clorana; by A. F.
Sheppard, Esq. Two specimens of Diglossa mersa, taken on the 26th of June, on
the coast at Baldoyle, near Dublin; presented by the captor, A. R. Hogan, Esq. Co-
coons of silk from the north of China, and specimens of Apate Bambuse, Spence,
MSS. ; by Mr. Douglas.
Henry Haselden, Esq., 25, Whitehead’s Grove, Chelsea, was elected a Subscriber
to the Society.
Mr, E. W. Janson, on the part of A. R. Hogan, Esq., exhibited a Lepidopterous
larva, from the segments of which proceed several elongate fungus-like excrescences,
and concerning which Mr. Hogan communicates the following : —
* All the account I can give you of this singular creature is, that having found it
some time last winter (in January, I think) when I was busily engaged with other
matters, without identification or examination I threw it into a chrysalis-box which
contained both moss and clay; in the former of these it disappeared, and I saw no-
thing more of it, till on preparing to start for England in May last, I cleared out the
box, and found it dead, precisely in the state you will now see.”
Mr. Douglas exhibited a bamboo fan, one of a case-full imported from China two
or three years since, and all of which were now found to be eaten through and through
by Apate Bambuse.
The Secretary announced that the annual field-day meeting of the Society was held
at Mickleham on the 26th of June ; when captures of several rare insects were made,
some of which he exhibited.
Mr. Douglas exhibited the curious larva-case of Tinea prelatella, found by him on
April 9th, at West Wickham Wood, the larva feeding on Geum urbanum. He also
exhibited specimens of a new Lithocolletis, which he proposed to call L. Scabiosella,
having found the larve mining the radical leaves of Scabiosa Columbaria, growing at
the side of the old tram-road beyond Croydon.
Mx. F. Grant exhibited Diphthera Orion, recently captured by sugar in the New
Forest ; also specimens of the rare Coleophora solitariella, Zedl., bred from Stellaria
holostea, and C. albitarsella, bred from Glechoma hederacea.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a living larva, in its case, of the rare Coleophora conspi-
cuella, taken at Headley Lane, on Centaurea nigra? It was black, shining, and in
shape like the case of C. albitarsella, but double the size. He also exhibited a speci-
22
men of the rare Pachetra leucophza, taken flying on Mickleham Downs two days pre-
viously. :
Mr. C. S. Gregson exhibited a number of Lepidoptera taken in the north of Eng-
land; among them were Ceratopacha fluctuosa, Macaria notata, a new species of
Tineidz, and some beautiful specimens of Crymodes Templi, found among heaps of
iron-stone, where they sheltered during winter, and where they were found on remov-
ing the lumps, between the months of October and February.
The President, on the part of Mr. Spence, read the following extract of a letter
from G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., dated ‘‘ Peradenia, Ceylon, May 7, 1852: ” —
‘Last night, while I was sitting with all my windows and doors open, to enjoy the
coolness during a shower of rain, a Paussus flew upon my white coat, and to my sur-
prise, when I laid hold of him, he crepitated slightly, and there was an evident sensa-
tion of heat felt by me. The odour given off was most pungent and ammoniacal, and
made my eyes water when he was brought close to them. I inclose a mutilated spe-
cimen of the same species of Paussus, which I found on the floor a short time ago, so
that Mr. Westwood will be able to identify the species.”
The species referred to is Cerapterus Westermannii.
The Secretary read the following note : —
“ The ‘ Milan Gazette’ of the 18th of June states that ‘a woman named Theresa
Ramos has discovered and proved by actual practice, that the plant centinode* is quite
as good nourishment for silkworms as the mulberry-leaf, and that by its means she had
reared them in sixteen days only. It appears, however, that silkworms which have
already tasted of the mulberry-leaf will not take to the centinode.’”
The Secretary read the following letter from E. L. Layard, Esq., Corresponding
M.ES.
*« Jaffna, North Ceylon, April 26, 1852.
“ Dear Sir,
‘In looking over the ‘ Atheneum’ of the 21st of February last, I see
a notice of a Bostrichus penetrating the bamboo, and Mr. Curtis’s remark that that
wood was considered not to be liable to the attacks of insects. I presume Mr. Curtis
meant English insects, as in Ceylon it has many enemies, some, I fancy, peculiar to
itself. The outside of this, and many others of its tribe, is however when old so hard
and polished that it is seldom touched, except when perforated for the purpose of af-
fording escape to the mature fly, whose imago has fed on the soft parts within. I have
often been deceived by the appearance of a fine stout bamboo or cane, and on taking
it into my hand its lightness, and a little pressure, has quickly shown me a mass of fine
dust encased in a thin coating of the outside.
“Tam no Coleopterist, but I know enough to recognize the beetles which cause
this mischief as belonging to the weevil family; and, if I mistake not, there is a saw-
fly which causes the same damage.
* A species of Polygonum.
23
“ And as to white ants !— they revel in a bamboo fence. The hollow tubes are so
many banqueting galleries; and not content with rooms many hundred times their
own length, they throw down the partition walls, and use the whole en suite. I speak
feelingly on this point, as a fence, not fifty yards long, which I am putting up, is not
finished at one end, and the Termites have begun at the other. Last night’s rain has
brought them out in force: I feared it would, as my table was covered with winged
females, which flocked in to the lamp. By the way, how many species are there of
this genus? We have a black variety, very rare, thank goodness! and I certainly have
seen three if not four varieties of winged females.
* T am, dear Sir,
“ Yours faithfully,
“ Epear L. Layarp.”
© The Secretary of the Entomological Society.”
Mr. S. J. Wilkinson exhibited a specimen of Elachista albifrontella, which he
had reared from a naked pupa, found suspended head downwards near the bottom
of a fence. He likewise exhibited specimens of Oinophila v-flava, bred from cases
taken on the wall of a wine-cellar. The larve of this species were reputed to feed
on wine-corks ; but these cases were formed of the black fungus common in old wine-
cellars, and Mr. Wilkinson thought that the larve had in this instance fed upon the
fungus, for though there was a quantity of bottled wine in the cellar, there were none
of these insects on the corks or near them.
Some very interesting observations on the habits of several insects, by William
Varney, Esq., were read.
Descriptions of various new Hymenoptera from Northern India, by Mr. F. Smith,
were read.
Mr. Douglas read a paper entitled “ Contributions towards the Natural History of
British Micro-Lepidoptera,” in which the larve and their habits of the following species
were described : — Gelechia contigua, G. fraternella, G. blandella, Coleophora albi-
tarsella, C. Alcyonipennella, and C. solitariella. Two plates of illustrative figures by
Mr. Wing accompany the paper. It was intimated that descriptions and figures of
other species would follow from time to time, and Mr. Douglas requested collectors to
send him any larve of Tineide they may find, with the names of the plants on which
they feed.
August 2, 1852.
J. O. Wesrwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — Professor Zetterstedt’s ‘Diptera Scandinaviz disposita et descripta, 11 vols.
8vo.; by the Author. ‘The Zoologist’ for August; by the Editor. ‘ The Literary
Gazette’ for July; by the Publishers. ‘The Atheneum’ for May; by the Editor.
‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, Nos. 4 and 5, 1852; by M. Guérin-Méneville. ‘En-
tomologische Zeitung’ for July ; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘ Annals
24
of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York, Vol. v. No.2; by the Lyceum. —
‘Life of the Rev. W. Kirby, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c.,’ by the Rev. John Freeman, —
M.A.; by the Author. ‘ Insecta Saundersiana. — Diptera,’ part 3; by W. W. Saun-
ders, Esq.
The President also announced, that Miss Bromfield, of Ryde, had presented to the
Society the whole of the entomological library, containing many rare and costly books,
the collection of insects, and the cabinet, of her late brother, Dr. William Arnold
Bromfield ; fur this munificent gift the Society passed a special vote of thanks.
The following is a list of the books presented : —
ApmiraL, Lepidopterous Insects, folio, 1774.
ALBIN, Historia Insectorum Angliz, 4to. 1731.
53 Ditto, English edition.
a History of Spiders, 4to. 1736.
CEDERHOLM, Fauna Ingrica Prodr. (Insecta), 8vo.
Crierck, Aranei Suecica, 4to. 1757.
Cramer, Papillons Exotiques, et Suppl., 5 vols. 4to., coloured.
Curtis, British Entomology, royal 8vo., 16 vols. in 8.
Cyritvi, Entomol. Neapol. Spec., 8 plates.
Denis UND ScCHIFFERMULLER, Syst. Verz. der Schmetterlinge, 4to. 1776.
De Geer, Genera et Species Insectorum.
is Mémoires pour servir a |’ Histoire des Insectes, 7 vols. 4to.
Donovan, British Insects, 8vo., 16 vols. in 8.
Drury, Insects, 3 vols. 4to.
s Tllustrations of Natural History, 4to., 3 vols. in 1.
Enromococicat MaGazine, 5 vols.
Ericuson, Die Kafer der Mark Brandenburg, 1 Band, 1—2 Abth.
Fasricius, O., Fauna Greenlandica, 8vo. 1780.
Fasricius, Entomologie Systema et Suppl., 5 vols. 8vo.
a Genera Insectorum, 8vo.
a Entomol. Philosoph. 8vo.
ys Mantissa Insectorum, 2 vols. 8vo.
Friscu, Beschreibung von Allest. Insecten in Deutschland, 1 vol. 4to.
Furssty, Verz. der Schweitz Insect.
= Archives des Insectes.
53 Nues Magaz. der Liebhabe, 2 vols. 8vo. :
Gerorrroy, Histoire Naturelle des Insectes de Paris, 2 vols. 4to.
Gorpart, Metamorph. &c. Insectorum, 12mo.
GyLLENHAL, Insecta Suecica, 4 vols.
Harris, Exposition of English Insects, 4to.
5 Aurelian, folio, 1778.
as Treatise on American Insects, royal 8vo.
Hawortu, Lepidoptera Britannica, 8vo.
HorsFiectp anpD MacLeay, Annulosa Javanica, 4to.
Kirsy, Monographia Apum Angliz, 2 vols.
‘5 Fauna Boreali-Americana, 4 vols. 4to.
Krirsy ann Spence, Introduction to Entomology, 4 vols. 8vo.
LaTREILLE, Genera Crustaceorum et Insectorum, 4 vols. 8vo. 1806.
* Considerations Générales, 8vo.
25
Lewin, Prodr. Entomol. (Lepidopt. N. S. Wales).
Lyonnet, CEuvres Anatomiques.
is Recherches, &c.
Maceazin der Entomologie, 2 vols. 8vo.
MeiGEn, Europaische Schmetterl., 3 vols.
Merian, Insects of Surinam, folio.
2 Histoire des Insectes de l’Europe.
Movrret, Theatrum Insectorum, 1634, 2 copies.
PercneEron, Bibliographia Entomologica, 2 vols. square 8vo
Ray, Historia Insectorum, 4to. 1710.
Reavumor, Mémoire des Insectes, 6 vols. 4to.
Roemer, Genera Insectorum, 4to. 1789.
Rosset, Insect. Belust. 4 vol. 4to.
Rossi, Mantissa Insectorum, 4to.
SamMovE.Le, Entomologist’s Compendium, 8vo. 1819.
Say, American Entomology, 3 vols. 8vo.
Scuarrer, Icones Insectorum, 4to. coloured.
Scopout, Entomologia Carniolica, 2 copies.
Sepp, Histoire Naturelle des Insectes de Surinam, 3 parts.
Situ, American Insects, 2 vols. folio.
STEPHENS, Illustrations of British Entomology, 12 vols.
Systematic Catalogue of British Insects, 8vo.
e Manual of British Beetles.
Stotz, Punaises, 4to., 1788.
a Cigzses, 4to., 1788.
Wickes, English Butterflies and Moths, 4to.
Woop, Index Entomologicus, 2 copies.
ZETTERSTEDT, Insecta Lapponica, 4to.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited Graphiphora ditrapezium, reared from a larva found at
Leith Hill, Surrey.
The President exhibited two curious instances of monstrosity in the hive-bee, one
in a male having the left antenna, terminated at the end of the first joint by a knob,
and the right hind-foot having a small round plate instead of the usual process ; and
the other example being a queen, in which one of the fore-pair of legs was exceedingly
short.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited specimens of Ccophora lacteella, bred from corks of wine-
bottles by Mr. Felkin, and also reared by himself from nests of Bombus Raiellus, in
which the larve fed upon the wax. He also exhibited Bombus nivalis, Zett., a new
British species, taken in Shetland by Mr. John White ; and Pompilus variegatus, ta-
ken by himself last month near Wakefield, where the females were plentiful, but only
one male was captured. He likewise exhibited Batrisus venustus, one of the rarer
Pselaphide, taken in the nest of Myrmica rubra.
Mr. F. Grant exhibited several specimens of Hypera tigrina, a new British species
of Curculionide, bred from wild carrot last July; specimens of Coleophora Onosmella,
found on Echium vulgare, and Sciaphila Perterana reared from larve on heads of
groundsel; all found near Dover last month : likewise Coleophora Hemerobiella, from
larve found on pear trees at Putney.
”
26
Mr. Wing exhibited part of a, French wine-case, perforated by galleries of larve,
probably of Cossus ligniperda.
Mr. Waring exhibited specimens of Crambus uliginosellus from Farnham, Pen-
thina Capreana, bred from sallow from West Wickham, and Tortrix Viburnana.
The President read descriptions of three new species of Pausside, from the collec- q
tion of Herr Dohrn, President of the Entomological Society of Stettin. ;
Mr. F. Smith read some ‘ Notes on the Development of Osmia parietina, and other —
British Insects.’
The Secretary read the conclusion of Mr. Wm. Varney’s paper on the habits of
various insects.
September 6, 1852.
J.O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : —‘ The Zoologist’ for September; by the Editor. ‘ The Literary Gazette’
for August; bythe Publishers. ‘ Notizie relativead Insetti Coleotteri dannosi ed al-
cuni ospitanti della planta del Fico ; da Carlo Passerini:’ by the Author. ‘ Abhand-
lungen der Mathemat.-Physikalischen Classe der Koeniglich Bayerischen Akademie
der Wissenchaften ;’ 6 Bandes, 2 Abth.: Munchen, 1851. ‘ Bulletin, ditto, No. 34
—43: by the Academy. ‘Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History, New York,
Vol. v., parts 7 and 8, 1852; by the Lyceum. ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural
Society of England,’ Vol. xiii., part 1; by the Society. ‘ Smithsonian Contributions
to Knowledge, Vols. iii. and iv., Washington, 1852: ‘ Fifth Annual Report of the
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, 1851: ‘Report on Recent Improve-
ments in the Chemical Arts, by Booth and Morfit: ‘ Directions for Collecting Speci-
mens of Natural History:’ ‘ Abstract of the Seventh Census of the United States :’
‘American Zoological, Botanical, and Geological Biography for 1851,’ by Charles
Girard ; all presented by the Smithsonian Institution. A box of insects of several —
orders ; by Signor Passerini of Florence, Hon. M.E.S. A box of Coleoptera from the
Isle of Wight ; by George Guyon, Esq. Two pairs of Boarmia Abietaria, bred spe-
cimens ; by the Rev. Joseph Greene. A specimen of Hydrelia Blomeri; by Mr.
Shield. Four bred specimens of Ypsipetes Ruberaria, F'reyer, a new British species ;
by Mr. Bond.
Thomas Jones Stevens, Esq., Bogota, was elected a Corresponding Member, and
Thomas Boyd, Esq., 17, Clapton Square, was elected an Ordinary Member of the
Society.
Mr. Bond exhibited a box of Coleoptera from the Mundarra River, 400 miles N.
of Sydney, among which were several new and interesting species, including a curious ~
cylindrical Scarites and two species of Cerapterus.
Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited some splendid males and females of Callithea Sapphira,
bred in Brazil by Mr. Bates. The President stated that larve and pupe of this spe- ~
27
cies had been received from Mr. Bates, and would shortly form the subject of a paper
for this Society.
Mr. Moore exhibited several curious parasitic insects obtained from the great ant-
eater (Myrmecophaga jubata), the gland antelope of Africa (Antilope Oreas), and
the ostrich, in the late Knowsley Menagerie; and he also showed sume immature
specimens of a foreign Polistes, which had been drawn out of their cells.
Mr. Douglas exhibited a box of Lepidoptera, captured in July near Ripley, among
which were two of Plutella horridella, taken among apple-trees in a garden at Ock-
ham, and Gelechia basaltinella, out of the old thatch of a barn. He likewise exhibited
specimens of the rare and curious Bedellia somnulentella, bred from larve found at
Lee, mining the leaves of Convolvulus arvensis ; also examples of the second brood of
the new Lithocolletis Scabiosella.
Mr. Weir exhibited some rare Lepidoptera recently taken near Tunbridge Wells—
Gracillaria Ononidis from Genista tinctoria, Gelechia gerronella, Zelleria insignipen-
nella, Adela violella? &c.
Mr. A. F. Sheppard exhibited several fine Lepidoptera, taken near Margate in
August,—Colias Hyale, Eudorea lineolea, GEcophora deauratella, &c.
Dr. Dutton exhibited some Noctua, caught in the Isle of Wight, the most remark-
able being the sexes of the rare Agrotis lunigera.
Mr. E. Shepherd exhibited a fine specimen of Chilo cicatricellus, a new British
species, taken flying near Dover; also two new species of British Tortrices, from the
same locality.
Mr. Curtis exhibited a specimen of Sphinx Anteus, bred in the Horticultural So-
ciety’s Gardens, from a pupa imported with plants from Trinidad, and remarked upon
the caution with which we should regard as native all the extraordinary insects which
appear in this country. He referred especially to such as were captured at light-
houses on the coast, of which he adduced some examples, having no doubt that most
of the rare or unique species taken in this way, had come across the sea.
Mr. Curtis exhibited a leaf of Viburnum Lantana, on which were many scale-like
formations, which he supposed were the work of an insect, although he had failed in
detecting any inmates.
Mr. Wilkinson exhibited some case-bearing larve, probably of Incurvaria mascu-
lella. The cases were oval and convex, formed from leaves, and the larve were found
feeding on the fallen leaves of oak and birch, but they had eaten fresh leaves since
their capture.
The President read an extract of a letter addressed by Signor Passerini of Flo-
rence, to Mr. Spence, stating that he would be happy to send Coleoptera, Hymeno-
ptera, and Lepidoptera of Tuscany, to any English entomologists who would apply to
him, which he invited them to do by post, and that he wished to receive in return ex-
amples of English species of those orders.
The President stated that lately at Boulogne he found the edge of the cliff swarm-
ing with insects of all orders, although none were visible elsewhere. The wind was
blowing seaward, and the insects had been driven over the cliff, and had returned and
sheltered at the margin. He also said that at the same time and place he saw a hum-
ble bee vibrating its wings as if in flight, but not advancing, and he found that it was
impaled upon the sharp point of a reed, pierced at its almost only vulnerable point,
between the anterior coxe and the mesosternum; from its position he thought no bird
could have impaled it, but that it had been blown on to the reed by the wind.
28
Mr. Desvignes said that he hud a Noctua found transfixed by a thorn, and he was _
satisfied, from its being in perfect condition, that no bird had ever touched it.
Mr. Curtis and Mr. Bond however were of opinion that the majority of insects
found impaled, had been so fixed by birds; and Mr. Waring said he had repeatedly
found the nests of shrikes, guided by the birds and insects hung up in their vicinity. —
Mr. Curtis said that at Dover he had lately seen Sceva Pyrastri in vast abundance, }
and he was convinced that S. unicolor is only a variety thereof: he was unable, how- .
ever, to find a male of this striking variety, and would be glad to learn if any existed —
in the London cabinets. He observed that the males of insects seemed to vary far ‘
less than the females, and it often struck him as remarkable that whilst pale varieties —
of the females of Colias Edusa were not uncommon, a similar variety of the male
should be unknown. When in the South of France, in 1830, he caught a pair of C. —
Edusa flying in copula ; the male was of the usual orange colour, the female pale yel-
low, the C. Helice of Hubner.
The Secretary read the following notes on the larve of a few Micro-Lepidoptera,
extracted from the ‘ Tauschvereins Bericht, 1848—50, just received.
“ Myelois epelydella is a rarity. One of my friends discovered the larve in tubu-
lar cocoons on blackthorn.
“‘ Phycidzea binevella. The larva lives in autumn in the flowers of the ragwort,
(Senecio Jacobea) ; it is, however, difficult to rear.
“ Micropteryx Anderschella appears with us in spring, when it often swarms in the
sunshine on the young shoots of the oak. The larva appears to live as a miner in the
leaves of that tree.
“ Depressaria emeritella. We find the larve at the end of July on tansy ( Zanace-
tum vulgare), where it lives between united leaves. In seeking for it, one needs to go
carefully to work, as on the approach of any danger it hastily descends to the earth.
“Opostega Labumella. The food-plant of the larva is the laburnum, (Cytisus
Laburnum). Where the larva occurs it is generally plentiful; but it is best to collect
the pupz in autumn.
“* Hypsolophus limosellus, Martini, n. sp. In size and form this new species close-
ly resembles Hyps. fasciellus. The anterior wings are narrow, and in form quite the
saine as in Hyps. fasciellus. The ground-colour is yellowish brown, and before the
hinder margin it becomes a nut-brown, which colour is produced by an aggregation of
darker atoms. On the costa of the anterior wings, from next the base to the end of the
curve, is a narrow, sooty, black-brown streak. On the disk, half way across, three dark
brown spots in a straight line may be seen in distinctly marked specimens; the first
is near the base, the second in the middle of the wing, and the third before the binder
margin. Under the first and second, but more towards the second, near the inner
margin, lies a similar spot, and under the third another, somewhat directed towards
the base, and yet it also appears united to the third spot. One or other or all the spots
except the third are often wanting. The larva feeds in tubularly united leaves of se-
veral low plants. I found it on Fragaria vesca, F’. collina, several species of Trifolium
and Scabiosa arvensis, but hitherto only on an open place in a wood. It changed to
a pupa in its abode: the imago appears in July.
“* Depressaria Libanotidella, Martini. Size and form of D. Heracleana, which it
otherwise much resembles ; the size is variable, as speeimens occur as small as D.-
Pimpinelle. The larva lives, in July and August, in the umbels of Athamanta Liba-
notis (Libanotis montana), on the mountains and in woods near Jena. When young,
ere
29
and before the flowers expand, it lives between tubularly united leaves; it afterwards
draws the flowers together. The perfect insect appears from the end of August to the
end of September.
“ Ypsolophus Schmidtiellus, V. Heyden. Size of Grapholitha Hypericana. The
long, narrow, anterior wings are orange-coloured, darker towards the hinder margin,
with a small dark spot in the middle of the wing, and a larger dark spot near the in-
er margin towards the base. Cilia of the same colour as the wings, preceded by a
fine row of dark spots. _ The larva we find in May on Origanum vulgare, where it be-
trays itself by the curved leaves. On any alarm it hastily retreats to the earth. The
_imago appears at the end of June.”
Ypsolophus Schmidtiellus (first described in the ‘ Isis, 1848) can hardly be the
Durdhamellus, yet Origanum would be a likely food for that species.
With regard to Depressaria Libanotidella, its food-plant is British, but rare, oc-
curring on the chalk hills of Cambridgeshire. I find it in Sowerby as Seseli Libanotis,
and in Babington as Libanotis montana.
Part 2 Vol. ii. n.s. of the ‘ Transactions’ was on the table.
The meetings of the Society will in future be held at 12, Bedford Row; to which
the Society will immediately remove.
October 4, 1852.
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
Since the last meeting the Society has removed from No. 17, Old Bond Street, to
more eligible apartments at No. 12, Bedford Row; but the painting of the meeting-
room not being completed, the Zoological Society kindly permitted this meeting to be
held at their house in Hanover Square, for which favour the members passed a vote of
thanks.
Mr. Wallace was present as a visitor. He has lost the whole of the valuable
collections of Natural History, made by him during several years’ residence in South
America, by the burning at sea of the ship in which he was bringing them to this coun-
try, and he narrowly escaped death in an open boat, from which, after long privation
and suspense, and while yet in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean, he and others were
taken up by a vessel bound to London.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: — The ‘ Zoologist’ and the ‘ Phytologist’ for October ; by the Editor. ‘The
Literary Gazette’ for September ; by the Publishers. ‘ Revue et Magasin de Zoolo-
gie,’ 1852, Nos. 6 and 7; by M. Guérin-Meéneville. ‘The Atheneum’ for August
and September; by the Editor. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies, part 4: by W. W.
Saunders, Esq. Dr. C. G. Nees ab Esenbeck’s ‘Hymenopterorum Ichneumonibus
affininum Monographie, vol. ii.; by Mr. Baly. ‘ Mémoires de la Société de Physique
et d’ Histoire Naturelle de Genéve, tome xiii., lre partie: Genéve, 1852; by the
Society. Eight specimens of Haltica pubescens, taken in August, at Holme, near
30
Peterborough; by the captor, the Rev. Hamlet Clark. Also, the following books, by
Miss Eliza Bromfield, in addition to her former donation : — ‘
Linn 4&1, Fauna Suecica, 8vo.
» Museum Ulrice, 8vo.
Ravuren Kalender Naturgeschicte, &c., 8vo.
Rosst, Fauna Etrusca, 2 vols. 4to.
SwamMMeERpDAMM, Biblia Nature, 2 vols. folio.
Voce, Verhandlungen der Insecten, 8vo.
J.C. Pickersgill, Esq., 36, Gordon Square, was elected a Member; and C. W.
Quin, Esq., 25, Clarence Street, Islington, and Mr. R. Shield, Dublin, were elected
Subscribers to the Society.
Mr. C. R. Bree sent for identification a larva of Anthrenus Museorum, found alive
in his cabinet. He complained of the difficulty experienced by persons in the country
in identifying the insects they found; and suggested that for the benefit of a very nu-
merous class, who were not exactly students, but who nevertheless wished to be better
acquainted with the insects around them, it would be very desirable that monographs —
of our native insects should be published in annual volumes, with a figure of each spe- _
cies;—a work he thought it possible might be accomplished.
Mr. Bond exhibited some larve of Anticlea Berberata, feeding upon the leaves of
berberry, from Cambridgeshire. He observed that like these now exhibited, the colour
was usually brown, but sometimes it was luteous, in specimens cf the same age.
Mr. Weir exhibited specimens of Coleophora deauratella, taken among clover near
Tunbridge Wells ; and one of the rare Elachista trapeziella from the same locality.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a box of Lepidoptera taken by Mr. Bouchard near
Dover, in July. The following were the most remarkable species : — Plusia Orichal-
cea, Spelotis Cataleuca, Odontia dentalis, Emmelesia bifasciata, Stigmonota Leplas-
triana, Semasia rufillana, Depressaria nanatella, Gelechia bifractella, G. neuropterella,
Ypsolophus Durdhamellus and Adela violella: also a Vanessa Antiopa, and pale va-
rieties of Satyrus Janira and S. Semele, taken in the same locality in September.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a Vanessa Antiopa, taken on the 24th of September at
Hampstead.
Mr. Bond mentioned that he saw a Vanessa Antiopa flying in Cambridgeshire last
month.
Mr. Hunter brought a number of Mononychus Pseudacori for distribution: he took
them feeding on the seeds of Iris feetidissima, in the Isle of Wight.
Mr. Hunter mentioned that Mr. Winchester, one of Her Majesty’s gardeners at
Cowes, had discovered a new-method of using sugar as a bait for Noctue, by dipping
pieces of coarse cloth in the solution, and spreading or hanging them on bushes, &c. ;
this was found especially convenient in places on the coast where there were no trees
on which to place the mixture, and there was a great saving of sugar, for one prepara-
tion of the cloth would be effectual for a week, if the pieces were removed every night.
Mr. Winchester had tried putrid soap-suds, after the manner mentioned at the June
meeting of this Society, with some effect, but they did not seem more attractive than
sugar.
Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of Elachista testaceella, bred from larve found
on Sison Amomum at Lewisham, observing that the larva, its food, and metamorpho-
ses had been figured and described by De Geer about a century ago; and it was the
discovery of this by Mr. Stainton that had led to its present detection. He also exhi-
)
dl
bited Reslerstammia pygmeana, bred from larve mining in the leaves of Solanum
Dulcamara, and a living larva in situ.
Mr. Shepherd said he had found the same kind of larve in the leaves of Atropa
Belladonna.
Mr. Douglas read a paper “ On the Identification of the Species of Micro-Lepido-
plera whose Larve mine in Leaves, described and figured in the ‘ Mémoires’ of De
Geer and Reaumur,” illustrated by living examples in the leaves of various plants.
He also read, from Chambers’ ‘ Edinburgh Journal,’ the following account of the ha-
bits and manner of capturing the “ Groo-groo.” worm of the West Indies, now stated
to be the larva of a Prionus, but mentioned by the Rev. F. W. Hope, in his paper on
“Insects used as the Food of Man” (Trans. Ent. Soc. iii. 234), under the name of
Calandra Palmarum.
“ Among the variety of curious insects which are common to tropical climates,
the groogroo worms of the West Indies may be considered particularly interesting.
From the peculiar manner in which they are produced, and from the circumstance
of their constituting a choice article of food for man, they become entitled to some
aitention.
“The groogroo worm—so called because it is found in a species of palm vulgarly
called the groogroo—is the larva of a large-sized beetle, the Prionus, which is peculiar
to the warm latitudes of America. With the exception of a slight similarity about
the region of the head, the worm bears no resemblance to the parent beetle. When
full-grown, it is about 3} inches in length, having the body large and turgid, and in-
creasing in circumference from the head towards the opposite extremity. The head
is of a corneous, opaque substance. It has neither eyes nor the rudiments of the
antenne which distinguish the beetle tribe. It is, however, provided with the
mandibles and other oral apparatus of the mandibulate group of insects, and it is
only in this feature that any connexion with the beetle can be traced. The trunk is
precisely that of a worm; it consists of many closely-knitted segments, which are
possessed of an extraordinary contractile power. It bears no mark which would
indicate a future metamorphosis into a beetle. There is no sign of a future division
into thorax and abdomen. There are no rudiments of wings or feet, as the under
surface of the body presents exactly the same appearances as the upper. At the
posterior extremity of the worm, however, there is a small horny termination, some-
thing like the hinder part of the leech. The organs are exceedingly simple, the
digestive being the most developed. Albumen is the substance which composes
its body, and its blood is of a greenish tint. With a motion similar to that of the
earthworm, it perforates with extraordinary rapidity into the substance of the tree in
which it is found.
“When the moon is at her full, the gatherer of worms enters a neighbouring
wood, and selects a young palmiste tree. This is a tree of the palm order, exceedingly
stately and graceful, growing sometimes to the extraordinary height of eighty feet.
From the roots upwards, it has not a single branch or shrubby excrescence, but grows
beautifully smooth and straight, tapering towards the top. At its top, an abundance
of the richest and most beautiful leaves spread out in graceful symmetry, and bend
down on all sides, forming a figure like an umbrella ; while the young leaf, still firm
and compact in its foliar envelope, is seen standing erect in the centre of this foliage,
like a lightning-conductor.
“ When.a promising palmiste is found, the gatherer makes an incision into it with
32
a cutlass or a hatchet. This ingision is generally in the figure of a half-moon, with
the base of the semicircle downwards, and the wound increasing in depth in that
direction, so as to expose effectually the flesh of the tree. When this is done, the
gatherer marks the locality, and leaves the tree, which he does not revisit for a con-
siderable time. When the moon is in her wane, he returns and examines his palmiste. — ;
If the young leaf, together with the others, begins to show a yellow tinge at its d
extremity, and if, on application of his ear to the trunk, a hollow, rumbling noise is —
heard within, he concludes that the worms have attacked the vital parts, and the tree is _
immediately cut down; but if these symptoms are absent, the tree is left standing — i
until they appear. The gatherer, however, must now visit the tree frequently, because :
the transition of the insects is so rapid, that almost immediately after the appearance (|
of the yellow tinge the whole would disappear. When the tree is felled, a square
portion of the bark is cut out longitudinally from the original incision upwards, and
its fibrous texture laid open. Myriads of worms are then seen voraciously devouring
their way through the substance. In capturing them some degree of dexterity is
necessary, both to protect one’s self from the mandibles of the insects, which inflict
a painful bite, and also to save time, by preventing them from burrowing out of sight.
When the worms are taken, they are placed into a close vessel, where they continue ~
to retain their activity and vigour.
“ The number that can be procured from a single tree, depends altogether upon
the season in which it is wounded. If the moon is at her full, they are generally
numerous and good—many thousands being found in an ordinary young tree of
25 feet in height. Ifa few succeed in eluding the gatherer, they do so only to become
a prey of as voracious animals, for the wild hogs, or quencos, of the forest relish much _
the soft substance of the palmiste when in a state of decomposition. It never
happens, therefore, that much time passes before they discover any palmiste-tree that
has been felled; and as soon as night sets in, they flock in numbers to the spot and
devour the whole substance. A gathering of worms, therefore, brings a hunt of
quencos; and the gatherer, when his first business is over, chooses a convenient tree,
where he places himself in ambush. Seated on a cross branch, he awaits the coming
of the animals.
“ Tt is difficult to form an idea of the peculiar excitement of this midnight sport
in the thick woods of a tropical country. The usual stillness of the night, and the
solitude of the wilderness—the croaking of the night-birds, the movement of every
leaf, animated as it is by the myriads of nocturnal insects that fill the atmosphere—
the brilliant and fleeting fire-flies traversing the gloom—the strange animals wandering
in their nightly prowlings—the approach of the grunting hogs, and the incidents of
the hunt: all these things, combined with the idea of isolation when a man finds
himself alone in the wilds of a scarcely pervious forest, create an inexpressible feeling
of mingled fear, pleasure, and anxiety.
“ Before the worms are cooked, they are, each in its turn, carefully pricked with
an orange-thorn, and thrown into a vessel containing a sauce of lime-juice and salt.
This is for the purpose of cleansing them from the viscid fluids they have imbibed
from the palmiste. Notwithstanding this discipline, the worms retain their vitality
till they are deprived of it by the culinary process. The simpler mode of dressing —
them is to spit a number together on a piece of stick or a long orange-thorn, and roast
them before the fire in their own fat. The general mode, however, is by frying them
with or without a sauce, and when dressed in this manner, they form a most savoury dish.
MAR. &, isp,
33
“ Groogroo worms are considered great delicacies in some parts of the West Indies,
chiefly in those whose inhabitants are of French or Spanish origin. The good old
planter at his table presents you with a dish of worms, with as much pride as an
epicure in England introduces you to cod-sounds, eels, or high venison. Nor does it
appear that there is any peculiarity in the taste of those who relish the insects ; he-
cause it very frequently happens, that the stranger, who manifested on his arrival the
greatest disgust at the idea of eating worms, becomes immediately converted into an
extravagant lover of them.
“It may appear strange that in the tropics, especially, where Nature provides so
abundantly for the wants of man, such creatures should be resorted to as articles of
consumption ; but while we on this side of the Atlantic are shocked at the idea of
eating worms, the West Indian consumer in his turn expresses surprise that human
beings can use things which resemble snakes so much as eels, and pronounces it to be
the height of uncleanness to eat frogs, as some of the continentals do. Indeed, the
groogroo worm is by no means more repulsive in appearance than any of the other
unprepossessing creatures which are so highly prized. It would be a difficult matter
to decide on the merits of the many extraordinary things which the taste of man, in
its morbid cravings, has discovered and converted into luxurious use; and the
philosopher finds himself at last driven to take shelter from his own unanswerable
inquiries behind the concluding power of that most true, but somewhat musty
proverb : —‘ De gustibus non est disputandum.’”
November 1, 1852.
J. O. Westrwoon, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — ‘ The Zoologist’ for November; by the Editor. ‘The Atheneum’ for Oc-
tober ; by the Editor. ‘The Literary Gazette’ for October; by the Editor. ‘ Ento-
mologische Zeitung’ for August, September, and October; by the Entomological
Society of Stettin. ‘Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York,’ Vol.
v. Nos. 4, 5, and 6 ; by the Lyceum. ‘ Monographie des Guépes Solitaires, ou de la
Tribe des Euméniens, par H. F. de Saussure : cahier 2: Paris, 1852; by the Author.
A lithograph portrait of Dr. J. E. Gray, framed and glazed; by Mr. F. Smith. Four
specimens of Coremia erutaria, and two of Eidophasia Messingiella; by Mr. J. B.
Hodgkinson. Two specimens of Hydrecia Petasitis ; by Mr. N. Greening. A col-
lection of British Anoplura, or bird-lice (named by Mr. Denny), three large store-
boxes, and some miscellaneous insects; by the Rev. Leonard Jenyns. A series of il-
lustrations of the natural history of Vespa Britannica ; by Mr. F. Smith. A box con-
taining sixty species of British spiders, preserved in spirit in small glass tubes; by
Mr. R. H. Meade.
F
34
A letter accompanied the last-mentioned donation, in which Mr. Meade says : —
“‘ The species are arranged and named according to the catalogue recently pub-
lished by Mr. Blackwall in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History.’ The spe-
cies are mostly very common, and my motive in sending them to the Society is not to
present them with anything rare, but to show what I consider to be the best method
of preserving specimens of this class of animals, which cannot, like true insects, be
kept dry, without entirely losing their characteristic forms. When placed in small
glass tubes, filled with spirit of wine and well corked, they may be preserved for any;
length of time, and, except for purposes of critical examination, may be sufficiently
seen, without removal from the tube, for the purpose cf determining the species.”
Mr. Boyd exhibited a fine Vanessa Antiopa, and specimens of Luperina cespitis, |
Depressaria Carduella, D. rotundella, D. pallorella, and other species of Lepidoptera,
recently captured in the Isle ef Wight.
Major Sheppard exhibited a hermaphrodite Polyommatus Alexis, taken this year’
in Hainault Forest. ‘The right side is male and the left female, as is usual in such cases. .
Mr. Winter exhibited a fine Cherocampa Nerii, taken at Brighton ; a remarkable:
variety of Spilosoma Menthrasti, with very large black spots on the under wings ; and |
a singularly pale variety of Oporabia dilutata.
Mr. Weaver exhibited a quantity of insects, taken by him this year in Perthshire. .
The Coleoptera included Hyleccetus dermestoides, Dircxa discolor, Dyctiopterus Auro-
ra, Boletophagus crenicollis, Aphodius uliginosus, Hardy, A. Lapponum, Pytho depres- —
sus and Dendrophagus crenatus. Also Cetonia enea, bred from larve which fed in ants’
nests on the pupz of the ants; the cocoons being covered with small bits of wood, and thus |
differing from those of C. aurata, which are formed entirely of earth. Among the Le- |
pidoptera were Oporabia neglectaria, O. precursoria, O. autumnaria, O. proximaria, O.
filigrammaria, Plemysia lapidata, Tinea Picarella, and Psyche opacella, var.? The |
different series of Oporabia under the above names Mr. Weaver believes to be distinct —
species, and that the Psyche he gets in Scotland is not P. opacella, which it most |
closely resembles, differing in the males being larger and having longer antenne, and
in the habits and formation of the cases of the larve.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited a series of illustrations of the natural history of the tree-
wasp (Vespa Britannica), among which the President drew special attention to the
fact that the larva makes a distinct case or cocoon within its cell.
Mr. Smith also exhibited various parasitic insects found in the nest of the same
wasp.
Mr. Moore exhibited a walnut, in which he had found several Dipterous larve be-
longing to the family Muscide, some of which he had reared to the perfect state.
Mr. 8.8. Saunders exhibited some Chalcidide, parasitic in the nests of an Osmia,
and some Dipterous parasites on a Pompilus. Also, a complete series of illustrations
of the natural history of six species of Stylopide ; all brought by him from Albania.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a variety of Lepidoptera recently captured near
Dover, including Agrotis saucia, Heliothis armigera, Hadena lutulenta, Spilodes stic-
ticalis, Depressaria depressana, D. Pimpinelle, and a new species of Gelechia allied
to vilella.
Mr. Douglas exhibited the larve of several species of Nepticula, mining in leaves
of various plants.
35
The President exhibited a curious cottony formation from the body of the larva of
a Sphinx, forwarded from China by Mr. J. C. Bowring. It consisted of the cocoons
of a parasitic Eurytoma, and some of the perfect insects were left entangled.
The Presideut also exhibited some of the plates of M. Emile Blanchard’s new
‘great work entitled ‘ L’Organisation du Régne Animal.’
Mr. Moore communicated the following extract from ‘ Allen’s Indian Mail,’ of
October 5, 1852.
_ “ Gigantic Spiders—Captain Sherwill, in an expedition to the Kurrukpoor Hills,
south of Monghyr, found upon the summit of Maruk, a table-topped hill of 1,100 feet
elevation, several of the gigantic webs of the Epeira spider, some of which measured
(including the guy-ropes) from 10 to 20 feet in diameter, the reticulated portion being
about 5 feet, in the centre of which the spider, of a formidable size and very active,
sits waiting for prey. ‘The webs’ he says ‘from their great strength offered a sensible
resistance when forcing our way through them; in the web of one of the spiders we
found a bird entangled, and the young spiders, about eight in number, feeding upon
the carcass. The bird was, with the exception of his legs and beak, entirely enveloped
in web, and was much decomposed ; the entwined web had completely pinioned the
wings of the bird, so as to render his escape impossible. The bird was about the size
of a field lark, and was near the centre of the web; the old spider was about a foot
above the bird; we secured, measured and bottled him. Its dimensions were 6 inches
across the legs, and it was armed with a formidable pair of mandibles.”
Mr. Douglas read the following extract from the ‘ Literary Gazette’ : —
“M. Bazin, an eminent French agriculturist, has made observations in Picardy
and Burgundy, which satisfy him that the potato-disease is caused by microscopic in-
sects, which alight on the leaves in the night-time, and disappear almost instantane-
ously on the slightest alarm, into the earth. The depredations of these insects cover
the leaves with yellow spots, which turn black afterwards; and the insects also attack
the root. It has generally been assumed that the malady consisted in a fungus grow-
ing on the plants: but M. Bazin is convinced that the fungus is exclusively caused by
the insects. These same insects, it appears, have begun to attack melons.”
The following remarks on the “fly-blight” in Australia, by Mr. Spence, were
read : —
“In a review in the September number of ‘ Blackwood’s Magazine’ (p. 309), of
Col. Moody’s ‘Our Antipodes,’ containing an account of his travels in Australia, men-
tion is made of a disease in the human eye, called the ‘ fly-blight,’ attended with acute
inflammation and temporary loss of sight, and caused by some species of fly. These
insects, Col. Moody observes, ‘are the common fly, harmless in Europe. The blight
is occasioned either by their bite, or the deposition of their larve, and is most disas-
trous to working men.’ And he then goes on to observe, ‘ Mr. Icely’s [a gentleman
he was visiting] daughters invented the “ Fitzroy-Paramouche,” a net to hang from
the hat over the face, and although the meshes were large not to obstruct the air, the
flies ventured not within.’
36
“To two points in this extract I beg to call the attention of the Entomological
Society.
“The first is, as to the desirableness of ascertaining what is the species of fly which
causes the ‘ fly-blight. Col. Moody is no doubt in error in supposing it to be the
‘common fly, if by this term he means our house-fly, (Musca domestica); and a great
service would be rendered to the science, if any members of the Society who may have
friends in those parts of Australia where the fly-blight prevails, would request them to
send three or four specimens of the fly that causes the disease, which might be done
with small trouble, by killing them by means of slight pressure, and gumming them
on a piece of paper inclosed in a letter.
“ The second point is as to the remarkabe confirmation which the ingenious and
valuable invention by the Misses Icely of the ‘ Fitzroy-Paramouche’ affords of the
efficacy of the Italian plan of excluding flies from rooms by nets with wide meshes,
which I brought to the notice of our Society eighteen years ago (Trans. Ent. Soe. i. 1),
and which the late lamented Bishop of Norwich found so effectual (Id. ii. 55), when
extended to protecting the face from them, merely by suspending a net from the hat;
and also as to the probability which thence arises, that a similar contrivance might
keep off gnats (Culices) from the faces of travellers in districts much exposed to them.
This struck me long since, after my son, Mr. W. B. Spence, had pointed out (Trans.
Ent. Soc. i. 7), that Herodotus had noticed the use made, upwards of two thousand
years ago, by the Egyptian fishermen of their fishing-nets, to screen themselves from
the attacks of gnats; and I suggested to Sir John Franklin, whose probable fate now
excites such intense interest throughout the civilized world, whether nets tied round |
the hat so as to hang over the brim, might not exclude gnats, which, in high latitudes,
are often so great a pest in their hot though short summers. Until the experiment
had been made, it did not follow that although flies and gnats could be excluded by
wide-meshed nets from rooms, they could be equally excluded by similar nets hanging
down loosely from a hat, and not tied round the neck; but the remarkable fact men-
tioned by Col. Moody, that ‘though the meshes [of the Misses Icely’s nets] were large,
not to exclude the air, the flies ventured not within,’ seems to render it highly proba-
ble that gnats might be excluded in this way, as well as the flies which cause the Aus-
tralian fly-blight; and I would strongly advise travellers in districts greatly infested
with gnats, to make the experiment. While within doors, the Chinese fumigating
sticks (composed of the sawings of resinous woods, probably juniper, mixed with some
inflammable material), which Mr. Fortune found so effectual in driving away gnats
(Proceed. xiv.), ora similar preparation, would bethebest defence, but this is obviously
inapplicable while walking, when the ‘ paramouche,’ if found as effectual against gnats
as flies, would be invaluable.”
The President said that in a fowl-pen covered with a net, the meshes of which were
14 inch wide, the flies never went through, and the poultry could never catch them,
although they made many attempts to reach them sitting on the outside.
Mr. Edward Sheppard wished to make known to members visiting the Lake district,
that William Greenip, of Keswick, would be found a very civil and attentive guide,
and that he possessed a considerable collection of the insects of the locality.
37
December 6, 1852.
J.O. Wesrwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors:—The ‘ Zoologist’ for December; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for Novem-
ber; by the Editor. The ‘Literary Gazette’ for November; by the Editor. ‘ Proceed-
edings of the Royal Society, Vol. vi. No. 88—90 ; by the Society. ‘ Journal of the
Society of Arts? No. 2, and ‘ List of Subjects for Premiums ;’ by the Society. ‘ De-
scription of a new Hemipterous Insect, Atelides centrolineatus, forming the Type of
a new Genus,’ by W. S. Dallas, Esq., F.1..S.; by the Author. Specimens of Pytho de-
pressus (3), Cetonia enea (4), Libellula arctica (2), Ctenophora atrata (2); by Mr. Wea-
ver. A box of British Lepidoptera; by Mr. Douglas. Specimens in illustration of
the metamorphoses of six species of Strepsiptera from Albania ; by Mr.S.S. Saunders.
Henry Tompkins, Esq., of Lewes, was elected a Subscriber to the Society.
The President exhibited some new Coleoptera from Ceylon and China, from the
collection of Major Champion.
Mr. F. Grant exhibited a male Lucanus Cervus, of which the right hind leg was
much smaller than the left one; a remarkable variety of Triphena janthina; and a
long series of Peronea rufana, illustrating the variation of the species.
Mr. Douglas, on behalf of Mr. H. Cooke, exhibited a remarkably dark red variety
of Hypochalcia ahenella, taken at Hastings.
Mr. Edward Sheppard exhibited some English ship-biscuit that had been a voyage
to America and back, infested with Stene ferruginea and a species of Apate.
Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a remarkable variety of Vanessa Urtice, bred from a
larva taken near London; a specimen of Pieris Daplidice, taken by E. C. Buxton,
Esq., at Holme Fen ; and an example of Notodonta tritophus, captured in Scotland,
from the collection of the same gentleman. He also exhibited a specimen of Mono-
chamus Sutor, found on the banks of the Regent's Canal; one of Pogonocherus fasci-
culatus, bred from the hoop of a cask; and a selection of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera
from a collection just received from Mundo Nova, Rio Grande, where they were cap-
tured by Mr. Plant. Many were rare or new, and all were in fine condition.
Mr. Waterhouse observed that many of the species were also found at Rio Janeiro,
about 500 miles north of this locality, but there was a perceptible variation, although
not amounting to specific distinction, between the insects of the two places.
The first part of an interesting and valuable memoir by S. S. Saunders, Esq., was
read, entitled ‘‘ Notices of some new Species of Strepsipterous Insects from Albania,
with further Observations on the Habits and Transformations of these Parasites,” in
which several unknown points in the economy of these insects are elucidated.
Mr. Douglas read a continuation of his “Memoir on the Natural History of Bri-
tish Micro-Lepidoptera,’ the genera Gracillaria and Lithocolletis being illustrated by
descriptions of the larve and their economy of three species of each genus, accompa-
nied by coloured drawings by Mr. Wing.
The Secretary read the following remarks from a note accompanying Mr. Wea-
vers donation: —“ The Ctenophora atrata I procured from hard undecayed stumps
38
of trees, in which the larve make deep round holes, working quickly up and down
them at their pleasure, and taking care to form an opening for the imago to emerge.”
The President read a letter from Mr. James Crook, Turton, near Bolton, Lanca- |
shire, offering certain northern Lepidoptera in exchange for southern species. |
The next part of the Society’s ‘ Transactions,’ it was announced, would be ready in
a few days.
January 3, 1853.
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — The ‘ Zoologist’ and the ‘ Phytologist’ for January; by the Editor. ‘The
‘ Literary Gazette’ for December ; by the Editor. The‘ Atheneum’ for December;
by the Editor. The ‘Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York,’ Vol. v.
Nos. 9—14, 1852; by the Lyceum. ‘Second Report of the Commissioners for the
Exhibition of 1851;’ by the Commissioners. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies,’ Part 5;
by the Author. ‘ Monographie des Guépes Solitaires, ou de la Tribu des Euméniens,
par H. F. de Saussure; by the Author.
The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected Members of the Society :
William Thomson, Esq., Westow Hill, Norwood, and E.C. Buxton, Esq., Spikelands,
Liverpool: also the following as Subscribers to the Society: — Mons. Victor Signoret,
Paris; H. V. Tebbs, Esq., Southwood Hall, Highgate, John Scott, Esq., Ferry Road,
Renfrew, and F. Moore, Esq., 4, Molesworth Place, Kentish Town.
The President, having appointed Auditors of the Treasurer's Accounts for the past
year, and announced the changes recommended by the Council to be made in the
Officers and Council at the Anniversary Meeting on the 24th of January, informed the
Members of the death of J. F. Stephens, Esq., one of the Vice-Presidents of the Soci-
ety, on the 22nd of December, after a short but severe illness ; and stating that he
should allude to his life and labours in the Anniversary Address, proposed as a tribute
of respect to his memory that the Meeting should forthwith adjourn ; which was una-
nimously agreed to.
Resolved further, that a letter of condolence on her melancholy bereavement, be
sent to the widow of Mr. Stephens in the name of the Society.
39
January 24, 1853, (Anniversary Meeting).
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., President, in the chair.
The Secretary read the chapter of the Bye-laws pertaining to the Annual General
Meeting, also the Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee made to and adopted
by the Council.
One of the Auditors read an abstract of the Treasurer's Accounts for 1852, from
which it appeared that there was a deficiency of Assets compared with Liabilities of
£16; to which should be added £12 for Subscriptions due, which must be deemed
to be bad debts, making a total deficiency of £28.
In drawing attention to this matter, the President stated that the Council saw no
reason for despondency, for the excess of expenditure over income was due in a great
measure to the unavoidable outlay in removing from Bond Street, and fitting up the
Library, Museum, &c., in the new rooms; the removal itself being forced upon the
Society by circumstances over which it had no control, and they therefore recommend-
ed that as the adverse balance was the result of accidental events, it should be met by
a general and special. subscription among the Members, in order that the operations
of the Society might not be impeded.
The President having appointed two Scrutineers, the ballots took place, when it
appeared that Messrs. E. Newman, W. W. Saunders, A. F. Sheppard, and S. War-
ing, were elected into the Council, in the room of Messrs. F, Smith, H. T. Stainton,
J.J. Weir, and W. Yarrell; also, that the following were elected to the respective
offices: — Edward Newman, Esq., F.L.S., Z.S. &c., President; S. Stevens, Esq.,
F.L.S., Treasurer ; J. W. Douglas and W. Wing, Secretaries.
The President delivered the annnal Address on the state of the Society, and the
progress of Entomology generally during the past year; for which, and for his services
to the Society, on the motion of Mr. Spence, the Members passed an unanimous vote
of thanks, and he was requested to allow his Address to be printed.
Votes of thanks were also passed to the Treasurer, Secretaries, and retiring Mem-
bers of the Council.
The President announced that the Council had received three essays, in competition
for the prize of £5 5s. offered by the Society for the best essay on the duration of life
in the males, female and workers of the honey-bee; that they had adopted the report of
the Committee to which they had been referred, namely, that the essay bearing the
motto, “In tenui labor, at tenuis non gloria” was very able and worthy of the prize;
and upon the accompanying note being opened, the author was found to be Mr. J. G.
Desborough, of Stamford. Mr. Desborough being in attendance, was then presented
with the amount of the prize.
The unsuccessful essays will be delivered to the authors, upon the presentation of
their order to do so, accompanied by a copy of the motto adopted by them, the enve-
lopes containing their names not having been opened.
40
THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN,
Time in its onward course has now brought us to the
period when it becomes the duty of the President of this Society to
give to its Members a retrospective survey of the past year, — when,
by the wise constitution of our Bye-laws, my tenure of office has ex-
pired, and when the Society is called upon to exercise the duty of
selecting a fit person as its future President, — an important one, as
the character of its Officers must necessarily influence the scientific
character of a Society.
The Reports from the Council and Auditors of the Treasurer’s Ac-
counts and from the Cabinet and Library Committee, which have alrea-
dy been read, have put you in possession of the state of our finances,
and the progress which has been made in the arrangement of our col-
lections ; and although the necessity (from the state of repairs of our
former apartments) which compelled us to seek for and obtain a fresh
place of meeting, together with some other incidental expenses, has
had the effect of rendering our financial report rather less satisfactory
than ordinary, and has interfered with the arrangement of our cabi-
nets, you will, I think, agree with me that there is no cause for being
disheartened at our present position, as a moderate subscription on
the part of our members (which the Council of our Society has re-
solved to solicit) will be sufficient to re-establish our pecuniary status
in quo; whilst the greater convenience of the situation of our present
apartments will afford increased opportunities to many of our mem-
bers in aiding in the work of arrangement. .
Here, however, I can but allude to the great movement now on
foot, having for one of its objects the location in one grand establish-
ment of all the scientific bodies in the metropolis. Our own Society
has, during the past year, felt the necessity of such a measure in a_
pre-eminent degree ; for when it is borne in mind that a Society like
our own, possessing a valuable collection of fragile objects, as well as a
good library of valuable books, paying its rent regularly, is still liable
to be ejected by the landlord not performing his engagement of keep-
ing the premises in repair, or, what is worse, is equally liable to have
its property scized at any moment for arrears of rent due to the ground
41
landlord,—and we have experienced both these contingencies during
the past year,—no one will deny that it is the duty of the government
to afford a fostering protection to such Societies, — the weaker ones
requiring such support even more imperatively than the more liberally
endowed ones. The Entomological Societies of France and Stettin
receive pecuniary aid from their respective governments, and the
former holds its meetings in the Hotel de Ville, free from charge.
Under such circumstances, the influential members of our body ought
to use every effort to obtain ‘so desirable a result, even if at some minor
inconvenience to the Society at large.
As regards the number of our Members, I have to inform you that
during the past year four new Members and five Subscribers, together
with two Corresponding Members, have been added to our lists; and
that on the other hand we have lost one Member by death, three
Subscribers have resigned, and one has been removed from the list, as
a defaulter. I had hoped that the Bye-law which allowed the intro-
duction of a limited number of Associates, would have had the effect
of bringing into our sphere the most praiseworthy of our practical bre-
thren, whose humble means ought not to be a bar to their admission
among us. I can but regret that this Bye-law has been rendered a
dead letter. In a science which numbers so few among its cultiva-
tors, I hold disunion to be very much akin to untying the bundle of
sticks in the fable.
Our meetings have continued to be extremely well attended, and
the exhibition of rare and new species of insects, of different orders,
has rendered them interesting to our general members. I cannot
however avoid expressing the regret which I feel in the non-fulfilment
of the anticipations which I had formed as to the effects of the work-
ing of our Society. Comparisons are said to be odious; but I can-
not shut my eyes to the vast difference which exists between the
publications of the French and German Societies and those of our
fellow-countrymen, many of whom, although calling themselves ento-
mologists, cannot justly claim a higher rank than that of collectors,
whilst the higher investigations into the comparative or simple ana-
tomy of insects, internal and external, the investigation of their natu-
ral economy and transformations, and the inquiries into their natural
relations, have been almost untouched by our Members. The publi-
cation of local lists of species, which is carried to a very great extent,
is, it is true, practically useful to the individual captor and his imme-
diate correspondents, but they appear to me to be hardly fitted for
publication, unless either their aim is to extend our knowledge of the
G
A2
geographical limits of species, (in which point of view the memoirs
published by Mr. Wollaston in the ‘ Zoologist’ become of real value,
and which would be still further increased by a comparison of the
Geology and Botany of the different districts) ; or unless they are ac-
companied by critical remarks on the nomenclature or structure of the
different species, of which the local lists published in the Stettin So-
ciety’s ‘ Transactions’ afford so many examples.
During the past year the Society has published four parts of its
‘Transactions.’ Of the various papers contained in these parts, I
shall have occasion to speak in detail in the Bibliographical Notices
given at the end of this Report. I must, however, more particularly
allude to Mr. Curtis’s practical communication on the means of de-
stroying mould on insects, to Mr. Saunders’s paper on the Coleoptera
of China, to Mr. F. Smith’s papers on the habits of British and de-
scriptions of foreign Hymenoptera, and especially to Mr. Douglas’s
contributions to the Natural History of British Micro-Lepidoptera,
and the beautiful accompanying illustrations by Mr. W. Wing. When
we consider, however, that the French Entomological Society, with
only about one-third more in the number of its members than ourselves,
publishes annually from four to six times the amount of matter to that
which appears in our ‘ Transactions, I cannot but think that other
causes than the limited means of our Society operate in England to
prevent the prosecution of Entomology as a branch of zoological
science. The inquiry is one of great interest, but of which the con-
sideration must be deferred to some other opportunity. At the same
time, however, it must be admitted that the number and activity of
our collectors is greatly on the increase, and it is to be hoped that
from amongst them worthy representatives of Kirby, Stephens, or
Edward Doubleday will soon arise.
I have now to speak of the additions made during the past year to
our Library and Collection; and in the first place have to congratu-
late the Society on the splendid collection of entomological works pre-
sented to it by Miss Bromfield, from the library of her late brother, Dr.
Bromfield. The list of these books will be found in our ‘ Proceedings,’
the whole being in excellent preservation, and for the most part choice
copies of the several works. Our Library has also been enriched by
donations from the Royal Society, the Zoological Society of London, -
the Linnean Society, the Society of Arts, and the Royal Agricultural
Society of England ; the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow,
the Royal Academy of Munich, the Entomological Society of Stettin,
43
the Munich Society of Natural History, the Lyceum of Natural His-
tory of New York, the Smithsonian Institution of North America, and
the Natural History Society of Geneva; and from Messrs. Boheman,
_ Roth, Gemminger, Guérin-Méneville, Kollar, Spinola, De Saussure,
_ Fischer-de-Waldheim, Gistl, Hagen, Schaum, Zetterstedt, Passerini,
and Dr. Le Conte, amongst foreign entomologists, and from Messrs.
Stainton, Curtis, Newman, Hewitson, W. W. Saunders, Rev. F. W.
Hope, Rev. D. Melville, J. F. Stephens, Baly, Capt. Smith, Dr. Lee,
F.R.S., and Rev. J. Freeman.
I am happy to say that our Collections have received considerable
accessions during the past year. Amongst these the entire collection
and cabinet of Dr. Bromfield, a large collection of insects from
Shanghae, presented by Professor Thompson of Glasgow, and nume-
rous species of different orders from Hong Kong, by J. C. Bowring,
Esq., a large box of Brazilian insects, presented by Viscount Gode-
rich, a fine series of small insects from Ceylon, by Mr. Thwaites, and
a box of Italian insects from Professor Passerini, are especially to be
noticed among the exotic additions; whilst our English collections
have been enriched by donations, chiefly of Lepidoptera and Coleo-
ptera, from Messrs, A. F. Sheppard, Douglas, Lubbock, Bedell, A. R.
Hogan, Guyon, Rev. J. Greene, Shield, F. Bond, Rev. H. Clark and
Weaver; and last, but not least, we have received a valuable collec-
tion of preserved British spiders from Mr. Meade, and a series of Bri-
tish Anoplura, named by Mr. Denny, presented by the Rev. Leonard
Jenyns.
As matter of entomological information, I have further to notice
that keeping pace with the increased activity of our English collec-
tors, we have now a greater number of persons engaged in entomolo-
gical pursuits in foreign climates than at any previous period, proving
evidently that a taste for foreign Entomology is also steadily gaining
ground amongst our amateurs. Amongst these foreign collectors are
especially to be named Messrs. H. W. Bates, N. Plant and Julian
Deby in South America; F. Strange in Australia; and Messrs. R. W.
Plant and Zeyher in Southern Africa: and it is impossible to speak
too highly of the value of the rich additions which they have made .
to our collections, hitherto comparatively poor in the insects of
South America.* During the past year, also, Dr. Burmeister has
* Now also that the island of Madagascar is open to Europeans, it is to be hoped
that some enterprising collector will speedily visit it, as the insects at present known
as its inhabitants are extremely curious, interesting, and rare.
44
returned to Europe, from a Natural-History tour of many months in-
Brazil; and entomologists will be glad to learn that he has brought
home a large store of materials, not only of entomological but of ge-
neral zoological importance. Mr. Wallace has also returned home
from South America, but by a dreadful accident the whole of his col-
lections were destroyed by fire during his return voyage.
As further matter of entomological information, I may add that a
lecture on our science has recently been delivered by Lord Goderich,
to a meeting of the United Tailors’ Society of London.
It is gratifying to find that great progress has been made during the
past year in the Collection of the British Museum. In so liberally
endowed an establishment as the national one, Entomology has de-
manded and justly received a greater share of development than it can
ever hope to receive at the hands of comparatively private Societies,
whose resources are necessarily directed in several other channels.
From information furnished by Dr. J. E. Gray, I find that there have
been added to the Museum collection during the last year 9293 spe-
cimens, chiefly selected from various large collections, as those most
required to complete the collection, or to illustrate the families under
study. ‘The special numbers are as follow : — Coleoptera, 2519; Or-
thoptera, 165; Hymenoptera, 1284; Neuroptera, 272; Rhynchota, 445;
Lepidoptera, 2817; Diptera, 280; larvae and cocoons, 108; Aptera,
246; Crustacea, 438; Anoplura, 719. The following families have
been particularly studied, extended, named and catalogued, viz. : —
Longicornes and Passalide, Andrenide, Phryganeidz aud Hemero-
biide, Papilionide, British Tortricidae and Pyralide, Anoplura and
Coreide. The Catalogue of Papilionide has been illustrated with
coloured figures of the new species. Those of the other families
above named have either been already published, or are now in the
press. ‘The Bombycide have been partially re-arranged and named.
The chief additions recently made to the entomological treasures
of the Paris Museum, are the collections of Chilian insects of M. Gay,
and those from Algeria formed by M. Lucas and other entomologists.
From Berlin I learn that the chief additions made to the entomologi-
cal cabinet, are the collections of Mozambique insects made by Mr.
Peters, the Coleopterous portion of which is very rich, including, for
instance, two new species of Tefflus, a new Goliath beetle, &c. ;
these will shortly be described by Dr. Klug, who, although nearly
eighty years old, is still in excellent health. The Diptera have al-
ready been described by Loew, and the Hemiptera are in the hands
of Dr. Schaum. Charpentier’s collection has also been purchased by
45
the Prussian Government; the only important part of it, the Ortho-
ptera, will be retained by the Berlin Museum, and the remainder will
be sent to the University of Konigsburg.
With a view of rendering the Society’s labours practically useful,
the plan of offering a prize for the best essay on a given subject has
been again resorted to, a plan which had on previous occasions been
successful by calling forth Mr. Le Keux’s ‘ Essay on the Turnip-flea
Beetle,’ and Mr. Newport’s ‘ Essay on the Athalia Centifoliz.’ “On
this occasion, the difficult question of the length of life of the three
kinds of individuals of which the hive is composed, was selected, with
reference also to the consequential practical relative advantages of pre-
serving swarms or stocks; and I am happy to inform you that the
Council have received three essays in competition, and that one of
them, by Mr. J. G. Desborough, of Stamford, in which the subject
is treated in a very careful manner, has been unanimously considered
by the Committee to which they have been referred, as deserving of
the prize.
I must here allude to the remarkable effects recently produced by the
application of photography in the delineation of objects of Natural His-
tory, not only of the natural size, but more or less magnified. The ease
with which these results are produced, and the necessary truthfulness
and artistic effects with which they are accompanied, cannot fail to
give a far greater development to the employment of the microscope
in the investigation of the more minute objects of our study, and their
anatomical structure, than it has hitherto received ; indeed, I consider
it to be a great reproach to our Society that so little has hitherto been
done in this direction by our members, at a time when such improve-
ments have been made in the microscope.
Entomology, Gentlemen, I am pained to say, has experienced se-
veral grievous losses during the past year.
Let those entomologists still amongst us, who recollect (for those
who do not can scarcely form a fitting idea of the difference) the state
of Entomology and the means of study, in the year 1823, as compared
with 1853, let them, I repeat, say whether James Francis Stephens
is not entitled to the chief merit for having advanced its progress.
The tomb has too recently closed over his remains to enable us
to think dispassionately of the services he has rendered to our sci-
ence; but the herculean task of his ‘Systematic Catalogue,’ and his
equally remarkable ‘ Illustrations,’ produced, as the latter often were,
in seasons both of mental and bodily anguish, claim a kindlier word,
and deserve far warmer thanks than they have yet received.
46
James Francis Stephens, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.E.S. Fr. and Lond., was
born on the 16th of September, 1792,* and died on Wednesday, the
22nd of December last, in the sixty-first year of his age, after a very
short but severe illness. Ina paper written by himself, and dated on
the sixtieth anniversary of his birth, published in the ‘ Zoologist’
since his decease, is the following autobiographical passage : —
“In my sixteenth year (the figures of which are now exactly re-
versed, being a sexagenarian this day—notwithstanding which I have
had the temerity to undertake the task of endeavouring to arrange and
catalogue the truly magnificent collection of Linnean Phalenz in the
British Museum, probably 7000 species), I prepared my first ‘ Cata-
logue of British Animals,’ by which it appears that only 3673 indi-
genous species of insects were known at that period (1808—12),
including, with the (sub-) species of Haworth &c. then recognized,
1367 Lepidoptera. Time progressed; and although I was wholly
occupied during the day in business, and engaged in the evening in
preparing the twelve first volumes of the ‘ General Zoology’ for pub-
lication, as well as deeply immersed in studying the mysteries of
Electricity, &c., I advanced so rapidly with my collections of British
shells and insects, that I -had more than doubled the number of the
latter by 1822, and I contrived nevertheless gradually to work up the
‘Catalogue of Insects, until, on its publication in 1829, I actually
registered no less than 10,116 species, — two-thirds, at least, captured
by myself,—although at this time there were not half-a-dozen collec-
tions named in England, and those only partially so; and as I had no
transmarine or other assistants to clear up doubtful points, possessed
but a trifling entomological library, and had to ferret out the names
as best I could, frequently from works in the Teutonic and other
European languages,—it is not to be wondered at, that with all these
disadvantages and engagements—personal and domestic illnesses, &c.,
—I was occasionally at fault, especially when we find that individu-
als who devote the greater portion of their lives to one order, group,
or family of insects &c., are equally, if not, in proportion to their li-
mited researches and better opportunities, more so.”
Mr. Stephens was for many years a clerk in the Admiralty-office,
Somerset House, having lately been superannuated. In the year
1818, on the recommendation of Dr. Leach, and at the request of the
Trustees of the British Museum, the Government gave Mr. Stephens |
* This information is given from Mr. Stephens’s own signature in my ‘ Album
Amicorum.’
47
permission to leave his office for a time, and to assist Dr. Leach in
the arrangement of the insects in the British-Museum collection.
For the last half-century he had devoted the whole of his leisure to
the study of Natural History, particularly Entomology, and had formed
the largest.and most complete collection of British insects ever brought
together, the whole preserved in the most admirable order; indeed,
the surprise manifested by Drs. Boisduval, Herrick-Schaffer, and other
foreign entomologists, whom I had the pleasure to accompany to Mr.
Stephens’s abode, was quite unbounded. From the great value of
this collection, as containing the types described in Mr. Stephens’
* Illustrations,’ as well as the whole of the Marshamian types, and a
number of those of Francillon and Haworth, it is greatly to be
desired that this collection should not be broken up, but should be
purchased entire by the British Museum, where it would remain as ac-
cessible to the student as it was at Mr. Stephens’ residence during his
life-time. As may easily be judged from what has been already stated,
Mr. Stephens was a most indefatigable collector of all the orders of
insects, combining in an extraordinary degree practical experience in
the field with the knowledge of the enlightened student and scientific
reader; during the last twenty years he had, indeed, spared no ex-
pense in forming a very complete entomological library, which, like
his collections, was accessible to any person who wished to consult it
for scientific purposes, on the Wednesday evening in each week. He
also formed a collection of illustrations of the transformations and ha-
bits of insects, as well as of British Crustacea, &c., which last were a
few years ago added to the Hopean collection now at Oxford. The
earnestness with which he studied British Entomology, induced him
to reject from his cabinet every specimen not indigenous, barely tole-
rating foreign examples of rare or doubtful species, which he kept in
a detached cabinet. This fact of course gives a greater value to his
general collection, as a purely national one.
To this extraordinary liberality in communicating or affording infor-
mation to all who sought it at his hands, Mr. Stephens added a mild and
unpretending demeanour. That in his zeal for extending our know-
ledge of British Entomology he fell into the error of regarding many
simple varieties as distinct species, and that having, as he supposed,
obtained an insect agreeing with the description of a species given by
a continental writer, he subsequently incorporated such description
with his own, are circumstances which, to a certain extent, are to be
regarded as imperfections, now that our extended knowledge enables
us to look at these matters in a clearer point of view. The passage
48
penned by Mr. Stephens himself, at the commencement of my notice
concerning him, admits and excuses the former of these faults; the
latter appears to be still more excusable. Indeed, if a writer be
clearly of opinion that an insect he is describing is identical with one
described by another author, I consider not only that he is justified,
but would be inexcusable were he to omit in his description such
characters as the former describer had observed, but which were not
exhibited in his perhaps unique individual.
This slight sketch of Mr. Stephens’s history would scarcely be com-
plete were a notice of the unsuccessful suit at law in which he was for
a length of time engaged against James Rennie, for alleged piracy of
the ‘Illustrations’ in the publication of the ‘ Conspectus of British
Butterflies and Moths,’ to remain unnoticed. The opinion of the sci-
entific world on the result of that suit was fully shown by the unsoli-
cited subscription entered into by his friends, for defraying the heavy
legal expenses attendant upon his defeat.
In addition to the continuation of Shaw’s ‘ General Zoology,’ con-
taining the birds, which first made the English naturalist acquainted
with the modern system of classification now universally adopted, Mr.
Stephens was author of the following entomological works : —
Some Observations on the British Tipulide, together with Descrip-
tions of the Species of Culex and Anopheles found in Britain.
Zool. Journ. i. No. 4, p. 448, January, 1825,
Note on a Memoir of Mr. Haliday, on Insects taken in the North
of Ireland, with the Description of a new Species of Anopheles.
Zool. Journ. No. 12, p. 502, April, 1828. |
A Systematic Catalogue of British Insects, being an attempt to ar-_
range all the hitherto discovered indigenous Insects in accord-
ance with their Natural Affinities, containing also the references
to every English writer on Entomology, and to the principal
foreign authors, with all the published Genera to the present
time. London: 1828. 8vo. |
In this most laborious volume of 838 pages, not less than 10,116
species are catalogued, with their synonyms, and full references to the
works in which they are described.
The Nomenclature of British Insects, being a Compendious List of
such Species as are contained in the ‘ Systematic Catalogue of
British Insects.’ London: 1829. Small 8vo.
Ditto. Second edition: 1833.
Illustrations of British Entomology, or a Synopsis of indigenous
Insects, containing their generic and specific Descriptions, with
49
an account of their Metamorphoses, times of Appearance,
Localities, Food, and Economy, as far as practicable, with
coloured figures of the rarer and more interesting species.
London : large 8vo.
MANDIBULATA.
Vol. 1—5, 1828—1832. Order Coleoptera.
Vol. 6, 1885—1837. Orders Dermaptera, Orthoptera, Tri-
choptera.
Vol. 7, 1835, 1836, and 1845. Order Hymenoptera, Ten-
thredinidz to Ichneumonide.
Supplement, August, 1846, containing Preface, and Descrip-
tions of species of Hymenoptera and Strepsiptera figured in the
plates.
HAUSTELLATA.
Vol. 1—4, 1828—1835. Order Lepidoptera; with a Supple-
ment, containing an Abstract of the indigenous Lepidoptera
contained in the ‘ Verzeichniss bekannter Schmetterlinge,’ by
Hiibner, and with Descriptions of a number of species of Diptera
represented in the plates.
Manual of British Coleoptera or Beetles, containing a brief De-
scription of all the species of Beetles hitherto ascertained to
inhabit Great Britain and Ireland, together with a Notice of
their chief Localities, times and places of Appearance, &c. Lon-
don: 1839. 8vo., pp. 455.
A Description of Chiasognathus Grantii, an Insect forming the type
of an undescribed Genus. Cambridge Phil. Soc. Trans. 1831.
With 2 coloured plates.
On the apparent Identity of Sphinx Ephemereformis of Haworth
with Psyche plumifera of Ochsenheimer. ‘Trans. Ent. Soc.
i. p. 76.
Description of Cucullia Solidaginis, together with its Larva. Trans.
Ent. Soc. ii. 57.
An Address on the Fourth Anniversary of the Entomological Soci-
ety, Monday, January 22, 1838.
Reply to Mr. Davis’s Animadversions upon the recent method of
publishing the ‘Illustrations of British Entomology.’ Loudon’s
Mag. Nat. Hist. iv. 488.
Note on the Review of Newman’s ‘ Essay on Sphinx Vespiformis,’
Id. v. 393.
Note on the Insensibility of Insects. Ent. Mag. i. 518.
Discovery of Sphinx Nerii in England. Id. 1. 525.
H
50
Longevity of Lepisma saccharina and other Insects. Id. i. 526.
Remarkable capture of Butterflies. Id. 1. 527.
Mode of killing Insects with Laurel-leaves. Id. 11. 487.
Captures of Vanessa Antiopa &c. Id. iii. 415.
Description of Zeuzera Arundinis. Entomologist, p. 160.
List of Insects found near Harrietsham, Kent, with the Description
of a new genus of Yponomeutide (Parasemia transversalis). 1d.
p- 199.
List of some of the rarer Insects taken near Weybridge. Id. p. 374.
Captures near Guildford. ‘Zoologist,’ p. 30.
Capture of Yponomeuta sedella. Id. p. 687.
Note on Geometra gemmata. Id. p. 946.
On the occasional rarity of British Insects. Id. p. 1616.
On Coccinella labilis, Mulst. Id. p. 1864.
Reply to Messrs. H. Doubleday and Guenée, on the Generic Names
employed in the British Museum Catalogue of British Lepido-
ptera. Id. July, 1851.
Descriptions of Selandria sericea, Hartig, and of the male of Lyda
inanita. Id. July, 1851.
Notice of further captures of Gastropacha Ilicifolia. Id. October,
1851.
Notes on Trochilium Chrysidiforme and Gastropacha Micifolia. Id.
February, 1852.
Reply to Mr. H. Doubleday’s “ Notes on Mr. Stephens’s ‘ Cata-
logue of Lepidopterous Insects in the Cabinet of the British
Museum, (Tortrices).’” Id. January, 1853, (p. 3733); with other
minor notes published in the same work.
The Entomological Articles in the ‘ Encyclopedia Metropolitana.’
The death of Mr. Wm. Thompson, F.L.S., &c., President of the
Natural-History Society of Belfast, took place very suddenly on the
17th February last, in London, where he was on a visit, making ar-
rangements for the then approaching meeting of the British Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science at Belfast, of which he had been
appointed a Vice-President. He was well known as a writer on va-
rious branches of Natural History, as well as for the ardour with which
he investigated the Zoology of his native country ; the large number
of his papers in Loudon’s ‘Magazine of Natural History,’ the ‘Annals
and Magazine of Natural History,’ and other zoological periodicals,
attesting his great diligence. He was also an early friend of the Bri-
tish Association, and at the meeting held at Glasgow delivered in a
Report on the Fauna of Ireland. He also subsequently communi-
D1
cated other papers on the Natural History of Ireland. His investiga-
tions on the Zoology of Ireland were intended by him to be published
as a portion of a great work on the Natural History of that island, of
which only the first part—‘The Birds of Ireland’ —has yet been
published ; but he had made arrangements for the publication of his
MSS. in the event of his death, so that no further delay than is una-
voidable will occur in the publication of the remaining volumes. As
regards the annulose animals, he had paid great attention to the Crus-
tacea, as may be seen in almost every page of Professor Bell’s work
on the subject; and two days only previous to his death, I had an in-
terview with him relative to the investigation and publication of his
collection of Edriophthalmatous Crustacea. He died in the forty-
seventh year of his age.
During the past year, also, Thomas Norris, Esq., of Redvales, near
Bury, Lancashire, the possessor of a splendid collection of exotic
insects, has departed this life. He was an early member of our
Society.
I am sorry to have to state also, that Mr. Swanzy, a gentleman by
whom many interesting insects have been collected in tropical Western
Africa, has been lost by shipwreck, the vessel in which he was
making the outward bound passage having foundered in the Downs
during the terrific gales of last August.
Of foreign entomologists I have to record the death of Monsieur le
Baron Charles Athanase Walckenaer, the distinguished perpetual
Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, and
Member of the Institute of Paris, and the author of the following im-
portant works, by which the study of Arachnology has been very much
advanced : — ;
Faune Parisienne, (Insectes) : 2 vols. 8vo. Paris: an 11, (1802).
Mémoire pour servir 4 Histoire naturelle des Abeilles solitaires
composant le genre Halicte. 8vo. Paris: 1817..
Recherches sur les Insectes nuisibles 4 1a Vigne connus des Anciens
et des Modernes, et sur les Moyens de s’opposer a leurs Ravages.
Ann. Soc. Ent. France, t. iv.
Tableau des Araneides, ou Caractéres essentielles des Tribus, Gen-
res, Familles, et Races que renferme le genre Aranea de Linné,
avec la designation des Espéces comprisés dans chacun de ces
divisions. 1 vol. 8vo., with figures. Paris: 1805.
Histoire des Araneides. A work which appeared in livraisons, on
the plan of Panzer’s German insects. Five parts only appeared.
Araneides de France. orming part of the ‘ Faune Frangaise.’
52
Mémoire sur une nouvelle espéce de Mygale, sur les Theraphoses
et les divers genres dont se compose cette tribu des Araneides.
Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1835.
Mémoire sur une nouvelle Classification des Araneides. Ann. Soc.
Ent. France, 1833, p. 414.
Histoire naturelle des Insectes Aptéres. 4 vols. 8vo. Paris: 1837
—1847. (The third and part of the fourth volume by M.
Gervais).
The Baron Walckenaer died on the 27th of April, 1852.
Of M. Solier, of Marseilles, who was born on the 8th of February,
1792, and who died on the 27th of November, 1851, an extended bio-
graphical notice is given by M. Mulsant in his ‘ Opuscules Entomo-
logiques,’ recently published. His works possess great merit, the
more especially as the chief of them were devoted to the sombre
and comparatively neglected tribes of the Melasomatous Hetero-
mera among the Coleoptera, to which order he confined his re-
searches. His first essay upon the Buprestidae appeared in the
‘ Annales’ of the French Entomological Society for 1833; and many
of the subsequent volumes of that work show his extreme activity. Of
his work on the Heteromera, thirteen essays of great extent appeared
in the ‘ Annales’ from 1834 to 1841; they were subsequently con-
tinued in the ‘ Memoirs of the Turin Academy,’ in which the Mo-
lurites were described, (2nd series, vol. vi.); and the Blapside
appeared in the 2nd livraison of Baudi and Truqui’s ‘ Studi Entomo-
logici’ for 1848.
His other papers are as follow : —
Observations sur les genres Brachinus et Aptinus. Annales,
1833, p. 459, and 1834, p. 655.
Observations sur le genre Ditomus. Id. 1834, p. 659.
Réponse a Examen des genres Brachinus et Ditomus de M.
Brullé. Id. 1836, p. 691.
Observations sur les genres Procrustes, Procerus, Carabus et Calo-
soma. Baudi et Truqui’s Stud. Ent. fase. 1, 1848.
Description d’une espéce nouvelle des Carabiques. Annales, 1835,
peti:
Mémoire sur quatre genres nouveaux des Carnassiers terrestres.
Id. 1836, p. 589.
Description dune nouvelle espéce de Gyrinus. Id. 1833, p. 464.
Observations sur les Hydrophiliens. Id. 1834, p. 299.
Lettre sur les Buprestides. Id. 1834, p. xcix.
Remarques sur PAnthicus instabilis. Id. p. Ixvi.
53
Réponse sur les Habitudes de quelques Melasomes. Id. 1837, p.
481.
Mémoire sur deux nouveaux genres des Curculionites de Chili.
Id. 1839, pp. 1 and xlix.
Sur les Tarses des Longicornes. Id. 1834, p. 299.
Description of the Transformations of Parmena pilosa. Id. 1835,
p- 123.
Description d’une nouvelle espéce de Cryptocephalus. Id. 1836,
p- 687.
Notice of the Appearance of Species of Orthoptera near Marseilles.
Id. 1833, pp. 486 and xlix.
Observations on the Stridulation and Chirping of the Cicada. Id.
18387, p. 199.
The portion of the Descriptions of Insects in Gay’s ‘ Historia Fi-
sica y Politica di Chili, comprising the Pentamerous and He-
teromerous Coleoptera.
M. Hippolyte Gory also departed this life during the past year,
having for several years previously suffered from an incurable ma-
lady, which had entirely abstracted him from his favourite pursuit.
His most important contributions to entomological literature are the
‘Monographie des Scarabées Melitophiles (Cetoniade),’ conjointly
with M. Percheron, a splendid although not a profound work, pub-
lished in 1831; and the still more extensive Monograph of the
Buprestide, Clytus and Psilocera (Pogonostoma, Klug), published in
conjunction with M. Laporte de Castelnau.
He also published a considerable number of detached descriptions
of Coleoptera generally remarkable for their beauty, in Guérin’s ‘ Ma-
gasin de Zoologie,’ Silbermann’s ‘ Revue Entomologique,’ and the
‘Annales’ of the French Entomological Society for the years 1831—
1834, including a ‘Century of new Carabiques, (Annales, ii. p. 168);
and a ‘Monograph on the Genus Notiophysus,’ (Id. ili. p. 453) ; a
‘Monograph on the Genus Sisyphus,’ (8vo., Paris, 1833) ; and ‘ De-
scriptions of forty new Species of Cetoniade from Madagascar,’ in
Silbermann’s Rev. Ent., No. 15, 1835.
I have also to announce to you the death of the distinguished Ger-
man entomologist, Philip Wilbrand Jacob Miiller, on March 31, 1851],
at the age of seventy-nine years. He was the author of numerous
papers, chiefly upon Coleoptera, which appeared in Illiger’s and Ger-
mars Magazines of Entomology: amongst which are Memoirs on the
articulations of the tarsi of Coleoptera ; Descriptions of Limnius and
Macronychus, two new genera of Coleoptera; and Descriptions of
.
54
various new species of the same order: also of Memoirs on the ha-—
bits of the hornet (Vespa Crabro), and of Lampyris hemiptera: and
(in conjunction with his friend Kunze, whose decease I had to record
in my Address of last year) of a ‘ Monograph of Scydmenus,’ in the
Acta Natur. Scrut. Lips. i. 1823. He was also the chief author of the
‘Entomologische Hefte’ (8vo. 1803), containing Monographs on Hal- |
tica, Hister, Dorcatoma, &c.
I have still further to record the deaths of several less known foreign
entomologists: namely, M. Robyns of Brussels, the possesser of a
collection of rare and splendid insects, and other productions of nature
and art; of M. Pierret, sen., who died on the 11th of November, 1851;
M. Blisson of Le Mans, the author of several short papers in the ‘ An-
nales de la Soc. Ent. de France,’ who died on the 31st of December,
1851; Herr Beske, the well known collector of insects, long resident
in Brazil; and lastly, M. Vaillant, an excellent entomological artist,
whose figures (too few of which have been published) exhibit a free-
dom from artistic mannerism very rarely to be found.
I have now, Gentlemen, to draw your attention to the general pro-
gress of entomological literature during the past year, in which, as in
my previous Anniversary Address, I shall again arrange my notices
according to the arrangement of the orders and families, as being by
far the most satisfactory and easy of reference. Before commencing
this, however, which is added as an Appendix to this Address, I must
again beg leave to thank you for the kindness with which you have
supported me in this chair, and to express a hope that my zeal for
Entomology in general, and this Society in particular, may be pleaded
as an excuse against any short-comings which may have been observed
during my period of service as President of the Entomological Society
of London.
INSECTS IN GENERAL.
BiocrapHicaL AND BistiocrapHicaL Norices.— I cannot open my Bibliogra-
phical Synopsis of the past year, with a more interesting or important work than the
‘ Life of the Rev. William Kirby, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c., Rector of Barham. By
John Freeman, M.A., Rural Dean, &c. As a zealous country clergyman, Mr. Kir-
by’s life did not, of course, offer many striking events for his biographer; but the state
of the science seventy years ago, when even the Linnean Society was not established,
and its gradual progress to its present state, when we have not only a Linnean, but a
Zoological and an Entomological Society, an Entomological Club, and a Practical
Entomological Association, in this country, to say nothing of the foreign Entomo-
logical Societies abroad, are so fully developed in the pages of the work before us,
as to give to it a very high value. The correspondence of Mr. Kirby with all the
55
chief entomologists of his day, — Latreille, Fabricius, Afzelius, Gyllenhal, Leach,
MacLeay, —and above all, the numerous letters given from the correspondence be-
tween himself and Mr. Spence, add other charms to the volume; and from the latter
we learn the interesting fact, that the world-famed ‘ Introduction to Entomology,’ al-
though first suggested by Mr. Kirby, owes its great interest to Mr. Spence, Mr. Kirby
having proposed it merely as a work on the plan of Marsham’s ‘ Entomologia Britan-
nica;’ whereas the suggestion to make the work a “ popular introduction to Entomo-
logy,” * including “the uses, properties, habits &c. of insects,” was that of Mr. Spence.
Other interesting pieces of bibliographical information are, that Lewin’s ‘ Natural His-
tory of the Lepidoptera of New South Wales’ was written by MacLeay, (p. 227): and
that the entomological descriptions in Sowerby’s ‘ British Miscellany, were written by
Mr. Kirby, (p. 275).
M. Mulsant has published an excellent Biographical and Bibliographical Memoir
of M. Solier, in his ‘ Opuscules Entomologiques.’
A necrological notice of Gustav Kunze, by Herr Reichenbach, delivered at the
meeting of the Natural History Society of Leipzig, on the 13th of May, 1851, has
been published.
An interesting notice of the late Mr. Melly, by Dr. Schaum, is given in the Stet-
tin Ent. Zeitung for March, 1852.
A biographical notice of the late Professor Car. Guiseppe Gene, by M. Sismondi,
appears in the‘ Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Turin,’ 2nd ser. tome xi.
The Annual Summary of Entomological Bibliography, commenced by Burmeister
and Erichson, has been continued by Dr. Schaum, to whom we are now indebted for
the Berichts of the years 1849 and 1850.
A revision of the Entomological Publications for the year 1851, containing, 1
Works published in America; and 2. Works published elsewhere, comprising de-
scriptions of insects of (North and South) America, has been published by Charles
Gerard in the‘ American Journal of Science and Arts, 2nd ser. xiii.
M. Bohemann has published a Synopsis of the works upon Insects, Myriapoda,
and Arachnida for the years 1849 and 1850, in the Kong]. Vensk. Akad. Stockholm,
1852, containing notices of a vast number of books and memoirs, nut at all or scarcely
known in this country.
- The Address delivered by myself on the 26th of January, 1852, together with a
Bibliographical Appendix of works published in 1851, has been honoured by publica-
tion in our ‘ Proceedings.’
GENERAL InTropucrory Works.— The ‘Cours Elémentaire d'Histoire Natu-
relle: Zoologie, by Professor Milne-Edwards, has reached a sixth edition. The sale
of 24,000 copies sufficiently attests its value, whilst the statement on the title-page,—
“ Ouvrage adopté par le Conseil de l’Instruction Publique, et approuvé par Monsei-
gneur l’Archevéque de Paris,’—indicates a system of public instruction, including Na-
tural History, which has been hitherto advocated in this country by our best authors,
but in vain. The first half of this work treats upon the generalities of the subject, the
functions, senses, and structure of animals, whilst the second half of the volume is
devoted to a concise but well-defined sketch of the clases and orders of the Animal
* Letter to Mr. Kirby, November 3, 1808, p. 286.
56
Kingdom; the whole profusely illustrated with excellent wood-cuts, and forming one
of the most complete pocket volumes ever published.
The second volume of Professor T. Rymer Jones’s ‘ Natural History of Animals’
is devoted to the Annulosa, and contains a popular introduction to the Crustacea,
Arachnida, and Insecta, illustrated with numerous wood-cuts.
Anatomicat Works.—A Memoir on the Blood-proper and Chylo-aqueous Fluid
of the Invertebrated Animals, by Dr. T. Williams, was read before the Royal Society
on the 18th of March, 1852, (Proceedings, p. 163).
A memoir by M. Léon Dufour, in opposition to the Peritrachean System of Circu-
lation proposed by M. Blanchard, was communicated to the Académie des Sciences
on the 17th of November, 1851.
A translation of Filippi’s treatise on the Circulation in Insects in general, and in
the Silk-worm in particular, with reference to the peritrachean system, is given by
Herr Dohrn in the Stettin Entomol. Zeit. for August, 1852.
M, Peligot’s memoir on silk-worms chemically and physiologically considered, has
been translated in the ‘ Gardener’s Chronicle, 1852, p. 484, 500; and see pp. 165, 181,
197, 453, and 520, for other notices on silk-worms.
M. Emile Blanchard’s work, ‘1’Organisation du Régne Animal’ (which appears pe-
riodically, each part containing two highly finished plates and text), comprises in the
parts already published, the nervous, arterial, and tegumentary systems of Scorpio
occitanus, and the arterial and other systems of Mygale Blondii.
A series of Notes on the Internal Anatomy of Insects belonging to different Or-
ders, has been published by M. Laboulbéne, Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, 2nd ser.
A notice of the Memoir by M. Quatrefages on the general Cavity of the Body of
Invertebrated Animals, published in the Bibl. Univ. de Genéve, Sept. 1851, is given —
in the Annals of Nat. Hist. Feb. 1852.
A memoir by Giebel on the minute anatomy of the antenne of insects, is given —
in the ‘ Annals of the Natural History Society of Halle, 3rd year. |
M. Lacaze Duthiers has continued his researches on the “armure génitale femelle —
des insectes,” investigating the structure of the ovipositor of the Orthopterous families. —
The views of Audouin and Milne-Edwards, on the uniformity of composition of the
different segments of the body of an insect, are adopted, as well as the nomenclature —
proposed by the latter, and the various component parts of the ovipositor, although ve- |
ry varied in structure, are shown to be formed upon one general plan. |
Mr. Gorham has published an elaborate memoir, entitled ‘ Remarks on the Cornea |
of the Eye in Insects,’ Quart. Journ. of Microscop. Science, i. pt. 2, p. 76.
GeocrapuicaL Distripurion.—Some observations on the extensive geographical
range of certain forms and species of Insects, occasioned by the exhibition by Mr. A. -
White, of various species sent from Labuan for the Society by Mr. Lowe, appear in |
our Proceedings, January, 1852. |
Mr. A. White has recorded the capture of Acherontia Atropos so far North as the |
Shetland Islands.
Some instances of the extent of the geographical range of Insects have been no-
ticed in the Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, xxiii. and xxv.:— Anisodactylus Heros, a na-
tive of Portugal and Algeria, having been also found at Nice; Heliothis armigera, a
native of France, in Algeria ; and several moths, previously only found in the East of
57
Algeria, having been captured in the West ; Phloeophilus Edwardsii, only previously
captured in England, has also been taken by M. Aube at Compiegne ; Lygeus cras-
sicornis, previously only captured in Algeria, has been taken near Dijon.
A note by Dr. Hagen, on the geographical limits of the Entomology of Europe,
appears in the Ent. Zeit. of Stettin for May, 1852.
Mr. White exhibited some insects, chiefly Coleoptera, from Little Thibet, col-
lected at an elevation of 8,000 feet, among which were Chrysomela fastuosa, Peryphus
littoralis, Stenus ater, &c., identical with British specimens (Proc. Ent. Soc. for April,
1852).
A paper entitled “ Notes on the Distribution of Insects in Geographical Regions,”
by Mr. F. Walker, but containing only a long list of all the valleys in the world, is
given in the ‘ Zoologist,’ 3713.
ANTEDILUVIAN ENTomoLocy.— A memoir by Dr. Loew, ‘Ueber den Bernstein
und die Bernstein Fauna,’ 4to., has been published at Posen.
A memoir by the Rev. P. Brodie ‘ On the discovery of Remains of Insects in the
Tertiary Clays and in the Kimmeridge Clay of Dorsetshire,’ was read at the Geologi-
cal Society on the 5th of January, 1853.
An article by Oswald Heer, on the Lias of the Canton Aargau, contains descrip-
tions of a number of fossil Insects, chiefly Coleopterous, with a few Orthoptera and
Hemiptera, 4to., Zurich, 1852.
A memoir by Giebel, on the fossil Insects of the “‘ Wettiner Steinkohlen Gebirge,”
appears in the ‘ Annals of the Natural History Society of Halle, 2nd year.
A short notice has been published by the Rev. F. W. Hope, on fossil Insects, en-
titled ‘ Descrizione di alcune Specie d Insetti Fossili.’
RavaGEs oF Insects. — The various communications made by M. Guérin Méne-
ville to the Académie des Sciences during the past year, noticed in detail below, on
the destructive powers of various insects, such as the Butalis cerealella, Dacus Olex,
Tassus vastator, Hylesinus piniperda, and upon Muscardine, as well as on the disco-
very of a French species of cochineal, have been accompanied by a series of remarks
on the necessity of a careful investigation of their habits by competent naturalists, by
which alone fit remedies can be discovered against their attacks. These remarks are
perfectly just ; and in a country in which the cultivation of silk, olives, grapes, rape,
and wheat are all such important objects of industry, and all so subject to the attacks
of insects, it is a national disgrace that there is no permanent and well-endowed situ-
ation, to which a man like Guérin-Meéneville can be appointed, with a view to his en-
tire occupation in researches so essential to the well-being of the community at large,
without being left to carry on his investigations either from his own resources, or upon
the casual benevolence (as it may almost be termed) of some wealthy cultivator. A
country so liberal in sending forth scientific missions to foreign climates, ought not to
want reminding that there are objects nearer home equally worthy of research. A
careful study of the famous discourse of Linneus, “ De Peregrinationum in Patria
Necessitate,” would show that benefits of a different character to political ones may be
obtained by a journey to the Sonth of France.
A volume upon the Insects obnoxious to Trees and Plants has been published by
M. Macquart, entitled, ‘ Les Arbres et Arbrisseaux de l'Europe, et leurs Insectes,’
58
(Lille, 1852, 8vo.) The work is arranged according to the orders of the trees and
plants.
Articles by myself on the following species of Insects obnoxious to the gardener
and horticulturist, namely, Trichiosoma lucorum, Phibalocera Quercana, Argyromiges
ruficapitella, Anthophora retusa, Galleria alvearia, Psylla Buxi, Adelges Abietis, Lo-
phyrus Pini, Agrotis segetum, and Gracillaria V-flava, with illustrations, have appear-
ed in Dr. Lindley’s ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle’ during the past year.
A paper by Kollar, ‘ Ueber zwei der Schwarz fohre Schadliche Insecten,’ is given
in the Verhandl. Zool. Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
An exténsive series of articles by Mr. Curtis, on the insects which injure or benefit
our crops or domestic cattle, has appeared in Morton’s ‘ Cyclopedia of Agriculture,’
now in course of publication.
A Memoir by M. Focillon on the serious ravages* of different species of insects.
upon the crops of rape, appears in Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 123. The insects in
question are Grypidius Brassice and four species of Haltica in the perfect state, and
also the larve of the Grypidius, and of Ypsolophus Xylostei, Fab., and another unde-
termined larva.
A note by Mr. Edgar Layard, on the insects which attack bamboo erections in
Ceylon, is given in our ‘ Proceedings, July, 1852.
A note by M. Guerin Méneville, on the existence of double broods in the year in
many species of obnoxious insects, especially Chlorops and Hylesinus piniperda, and
on the consequences thereof in respect to the remedies to be adopted in destroying
them, appears in the ‘ Mémoires de la Société d’Agriculture,’ 1851.
A memoir by M. Robouam, entitled ‘ Therapeutique de la Maladie Speciale des
Végetaux,’ in which the author treats of the effects of the attacks upon vegetables by
Coccide, Aphides and Acaride, was read at the Académie des Sciences on the 24th
of Nevember, 1851).
A memoir by M. Léon Dufour, on the Diseases of Grapes, containing considerable
entomological details, has been published in the ‘ Mémoires’ of the Academy of Bor-
deaux.
The advantage of protecting insectivorous birds, with a view to the destruction of
insects obnoxious to vegetables, has been insisted upon by M. Buisson in a note ad-
dressed to the Académie des Sciences, July 5, 1852.
A suggestion by M. Mocquerys, of Rouen, as to the services rendered to agricultu-
turists by the mole, is worthy of note. On repeated dissection, this animal has been
found to be insectivorous, and by allowing it to propagate, great numbers of the larve
of Melolonthide would be consumed, and their ravages prevented, (Ann. Soc. Ent.
France, 1851, cii.)
Monsrtrosit1es.—M. Lucas has described a monstrosity occurring in Colias Edusa,
in which the wings and other organs on the left side of the body, as well as the mark-
ings of its wings, were considerably diminished in size, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851,
* Some idea may be formed of the extent of these ravages, when it is mentioned
that a crop which, in the preceding year, realized 7,500 francs was reduced in value
to 3,700.
59
‘exii.) The same author has also noticed a Pieris Daplidice only three-fourths of the
-ordinary size, with the dark spots of the wings only slightly marked, (Id. cxii.)
A curious notice by Mr. Harding, of the occurrence of a number of specimens of
|\Harpalyce achatinaria, both reared and captured at large, some with only one, and
‘others without either, of the hind wings, is given in the ‘ Zoologist,’ October, 1852.
Two cases of mostrosity occurring in the male and queen of the hive bee, have been
moticed by myself, (Proc. Ent. Soc. August, 1852).
A specimen of Polydrusus corruscus, having the appearance of an ocellus above
ithe right eye, has been exhibited by M. Javet to the Ent. Soc. France, (Annales, 1852,
>xxx.) M. L. Fairmaire also exhibited a Trichodes alvearius, with the elytra strongly
narrowed before the extremity, which is recurved and spoon-shaped, (Id.)
A gynandromcrphous individual of Anthocharis Cardamines, with the left side
imale and the right female, has been described and figured by M. Bellier de la Cha-
ivignerie, (Anu. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, 2 trim.)
Mr. F. Bond exhibited a monstrous specimen of the pupa of Sphinx Ligustri, hav-
iing the sheath of the spiral tongue distinctly bifurcate, (Proc. Ent. Soe. March, 1852).
A curious instance of monstrosity occurring in the silk-worm has been described
‘by M. Bassi, in which the 7th and 9th segments were brought into contact in the me-
‘dian dorsal line, the 8th segment appearing only at the sides ; the 3rd membranous
leg on the left side was wanting, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, ix.)
\ Gevyerat Descriptive Enromotocy.—An important work on the insects of Chili
collected by M. Gay, has fur some time past been in course of publication in Paris,
containing a vast number of new genera and species of the various classes and orders,
and illustrated with an atlas of plates. Vol. III. comprises the Crustacea, described
by Nicolet; Vol. IV. the Myriapoda and Arachnida, by Gervais, the Thysanura by
Nicolet, and the Coleoptera as far as the end of the Heteromera, by Solier; the re-
mainder of the Coleoptera by Blanchard, in Vol. V. Vol. VI. contains the Orthoptera
and Neuroptera by Blanchard, and the Hymenoptera by Spinola; Vol. VII. the Lepi-
doptera by Blanchard, and Hemiptera (in the press) by Spinola; and Vol. VIII. the
Diptera (in the press) by Blanchard. The price is 50 francs per volume, including
the plates.
The insects collected during the travels of M. Th. Lefebvre and other naturalists
in Abyssinia, undertaken as a government commission, have been described by M.
Guérin Méneville, in the 6th volume of the work published by the French Govern-
‘ment descriptive of the voyage. A great number of species, including many new ones
‘belonging to the orders Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera and Lepi-
doptera, are described and figured. Amongst these are especially to be noticed a great
number of species of Lycus, some magnificent Pompilide, an Oryssus with pectinated
antenna, and a very fine Saturnia. Amongst the notes appended to the species, it is
recorded that the larve of Diplognatha gagates destroy the roofs of the huts of the ne-
groes by burrowing into the thatch formed of thick reeds whilst fresh, and the cocoons
of Saturnia Mimosz are described as being perforated with minute holes. They are
used as tohacco-boxes by the natives, and cannot be wound off.
The first and second livraisons of the ‘ Boustopfen voor enne fauna van Neder-
land, by Herklots, assisted by other zoologists, contains the following memoirs : —
1. List of the Lepidoptera of Holland, by De Graaf, (864 species, many of which
have not been detected in Belgium).
60
2. The Tenthredinide and Siricide of Holland, by Snellen van Vollenshoven,
(115 species).
3. Identification of the European Lepidoptera figured by Roesel, by Herklots.
4. The Libellulide of Holland, by Herklots.
M. Mulsant has published, under the title of ‘ Opuscules Entomologiques,’ Ir ca-
hier, a series of papers on new insects of different orders, chiefly natives of the South
of France, namely, a new genus of Brachelytra, observations on Pentoudon Monodon,
&c., 21 new species of Homalota, new species of a considerable number of detached
genera, a note on the history and transformations of Chrysomela diluta, a new genus
of Cistelide allied to Allecula, with its larva, a new genus allied to Telephorus, a con-
siderable number of reputed new species of Heteroptera,* and several species of An-
thrax, one being described as parasitic in the chrysalis of Argiopis Aprilina.
Descriptions of a considerable number of Spanish insects (most of which had how-
ever been already published in the ‘ Annales’ of the French Entomological Society)
have been published by M. Graells in the ‘ Transactions of the Royal Spanish Acade-
my,’ Vol. i.
A memoir by Oswald Heer, on the Entomology of the Upper Alps, near Zurich,
with descriptions of some Aptera and Coleoptera found on them, appears in the ‘ Zur-
cherische Jugend,’ (47 Stuck.)
A Synopsis of the Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Apide of Nassau, is given in the
‘Annals of the Natural History Society of Nassau, for 1851, Heft 7.
Middendorff, ‘ Zoologie von Sibirien-Wirbellose-Thiere—Insecten.’ 4to., Petersb.
1851. (I have not seen this work).
A notice of Mr. Haldeman’s descriptions of several new and interesting animals is
given in Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 348. The species described are Cecidomyia
Robinia (with its transformations), Honia Ebenina (a fossil Crustacean), Apus affinis
from the Rocky Mountains, and on the identity of Atops trilineatus with Triarthrus
Beckii.
Mr. F. Smith has contributed some notes on the habits of Osmia parietina, Saper-
da populnea, Attelabus curculionides, Scolytus destructor and its parasites, Ptilinus
pectinicornis and its parasite, and Hyleus, (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s. ii. 81).
Mr. Logan’s Repurt made to the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh on the
Lepidoptera of Scotland, notices twelve species new to the Edinburghshire Fauna.
Mr. Andrew Murray has also made a similar Report on the Coleoptera.
Miscettaneous Norices.—Mr. Curtis has communicated some notes on the sup-
posed comparative rarity of male over female insects, instancing the fact of no males
of the pale variety of Colias (C. Helice) being known, nor had he seen any males of
the supposed unicolorous variety of Sceeva pyrastri, (Proceed. Ent. Soc. Sept. 1852).
An extract from the Appendix to Sir James Ross’s Voyage, on the power of in-
sects of resisting cold to an extreme extent, with other notes on Arctic insects, have
been communicated to us by Mr. Curtis, (Proc. Ent. Soc. Jan. 1852).
Several specimens of insects and spiders, brought from the Arctic regions by Mr.
Ede, have been exhibited to us by Mr. A. White, (Proc. Ent. Soc. Dec. 1851).
* The new genus Mesovelia, referred to the [Amphibicorisa, appears to me to be
Geocorisous, and to be closely allied to Anthocoris.
61
The impalement of insects upon thorns has again been brought before the notice
of the members of our Society (Proceedings, April and September, 1852), * from which
it is evident that in some instances at least they are not placed in such situations by
birds.
M. Davaine has noted the occurrence of a species of Mermis, one of the intestinal
worms, in a specimen of Amara similata, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, cxiii.)
Practicat Nores.—An apparatus for destroying mould on insects by the vapour
of boiling spirits of wine, discovered by M. Victor Ghiliani, of Turin, has been com-
municated to us by Mr. Curtis, (Trans. Ent. Soc. n. s. ii. p. 19).
An effectual modification of the use of sugar as a bait for nocturnal Lepidoptera,
viz., by dipping pieces of coarse cloth in the solution, and hanging them on bushes,
has been communicated to us by Mr. Winchester, (Proc. Ent. Soc. October, 1852).
M. Bellier de la Chavignerie has communicated to the Entomological Society of
France an excellent plan for collecting moths, by suspending cords smeared with ho-
ney and water between trees, to which the moths are attracted by myriads, (Ann. Soe.
Ent. Fr. 1851, civ.)
A plan for capturing moths by the employment of rags dipped in putrid soap-suds,
as practised in Western Canada, has been communicated to us by Mr. S. Stevens,
from information received from Mr. G. Bush, (Proceedings, June, 1852).
A plan of rearing Micro-Lepidoptera in jam-pots covered with glass tops, the food
stuck into water in phials, inside the pots, is given by Mr. Douglas, Zool. 3494.
A note by Mr. Edwin Brown describes a new mode of killing minute insects by
placing them in small glass phials, which are to be plunged for a moment into boiling
water ; likewise the description of a new kind of breeding-cage, and on killing large
insects by holding them in the steam of a boiling kettle, (Zool. April, 1852),
Mx. Barron has also published a note on the mode of destroying insects with chlo-
roform, (Ibid.)
A note by Mr. Scott recommends collecting insects in moss on fir-stumps in win-
ter, (Ibid. May); likewise a note on the use of bruised laurel-leaves for killing in-
sects, hy Mr. Walcott, (Ibid.)
A novel plan for collecting insects is suggested by Bremi (Entomol. Zeit. Stettin,
May, 1852), viz., to examine the excrement of toads, which often contains the entire
bodies of beetles &c., occasionally still alive.
A plan of preserving spiders by immersion in weak spirit within small glass phials,
is given by Mr. Meade, (Zool. December, 1852).
An excellent series of directions for making and preserving microscopical prepara-
tions, by Mr. Harteg of Utrecht, is given in the Ann. Nat. Hist. October, 1852.
* In the instance of the humble-bee observed by myself at Boulogne, instead of
being blown on to the reed by the wind, as stated in the ‘ Proceedings’ (p. 27), the in-
sect had evidently been impaled whilst stemming against the breeze with all its power,
in order to regain the land, the point of the reed being directed towards the sea. Mr.
Hogan has recorded a nearly similar instance occurring in a specimen of Anomala
Julii, (Zool. 3493).
62
COLEOPTERA.
CoLEopTERA IN GENERAL. — The 2nd volume of the Coleopterous portion of M.
Chenu’s useful ‘ Encyclopédie d Hist. Nat.’ has appeared, with very numerous figures.
The ‘ Catalogus Coleopterorum Europe, edited by Dr. Schaum, and published by
the Entomological Society of Stettin, is far more complete than any previously pub-
lished. The Ural Mountains are regarded as the eastern limits of Europe, and the
Algerine species are not included, as has been done before in the French catalogues.
Mr. Wollaston has published an interesting article on the geographical distribu-
tion of the Coleoptera of the West of England, in the ‘ Zoologist’ for October, 1852.
Captain Godart has published some remarks on the specific distinction of several
Cetonie and Chrysomele, as indicated by the structure of the male organs of genera-
tion, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, 4 trim.) ; also on the species of Geotrupes, as de-
fined by the same characters, (Ibid. 1852, x.)
Herr Kiesenwetter has continued his memoir on the Coleoptera collected by him-
self in the South of France and Catalonia, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1851, trim. 4). A num-
ber of new species are described, especially amongst the Telephoride and Cureulioni-
dz, and a new genus (Trotomma pubescens), established among the Serropalpi.
A critical revision of Erichson’s Naturgesch. Kafer Deutsch]. by Motschoulsky, is
given in the Bull. Soc. Natur. Moscow, 1851, pt. 3. An enumeration of new species
of Coleoptera is given by the same author, (Ibid. pt. 4).
Notes upon some Austrian beetles are given by Hampe in the Verhandl. Zool. Bot.
Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
A list of the Coleoptera of Germany, indicating the localities of each species, by
Gustav Zebe, is commenced in the Entom. Zeitung of Stettin for April, 1852, and is
continued in the following numbers.
A notice of the Coleoptera of the neighbourhood of Bad-Ems, is published by Fa-
breus in the Ent. Zeit. of Stettin, June, 1852.
Diagnoses of eight new species of Coleoptera, and a description of Adelops Khe-
venhulleri (one of the blind cavern-beetles), is given by Miller in the Verhandl. Zool.
Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
A notice by Schener on new Austrian Coleoptera, and on the genera Leptoderus
and Cymindis, is given in the Verhand]l. Zool. Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
An article on the cavern-insects of Carniola, with descriptions of two new species
of Leptoderus, is published by Schmidt in the Laibacher Zeitung, No. 146 (August 4,
1852), and also in the Entomol. Zeit. Stet. Nov. 1852.
A memoir by Mannerheim on rare Finnland Coleoptera, appears in the Entomol.
Zeit. Stett. for July, 1852.
A memoir by Signor Passerini on Bostrichus Fici, Apate sex-dentata, Morimus
lugubris, Nemosoma elongata, Lachnea rufipennis, and other species injurious to the
fig, together with Denops personatus (one of the Cleride), which was also discovered
in all its states in burrows of the branches of the same tree, appears in the ‘ Atti dell
Acad. d. Georgofili, 1851.
Two new species of Histeride from Italy and the Levant, and one new species of
Cryptocephalus from Sardinia, have been described by M. Truqui, (Ann. Soc. Ent.
France, 1852, | trim.)
Twenty-five new species of Coleoptera, of different families, natives of the South of
Europe and the North of Africa, including a remarkable blind genus of Psclaphide
63
(Amaurops Aubei) from Sicily, a species of Pausside from Tangier (P. Favieri) found
‘under stones in company with small ants, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. p. xxxv.); and a new
genus of Eucnemide (Harminius castaneus) from Sicily, has been described by M.
| Léon Fairmaire, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, 1 trim.)
Two new Australian Buprestide have been described by Mr. Murray, (Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr. 1852, 2 trim.)
M. Reiche has published a critical revision of the list of new Abyssinian Coleo-
ptera described by M. Roth, mentioned in my former Address, by which it appears that
one fourth of the species had been previously described, that the new genus, Ixodina,
-isidentical with Kirby's Drepanocerus, and that his Eurysternus (!) trogiformis, is
Kirby’s Onitis ambigua.
A note on the species of Brachelytra, Carabidae, and Cicindelide of Hong Kong,
by Mr. J. C. Bowring, has been communicated to us by Mr. A. White, (Proc. Ent.
Soc. April, 1852).
A summary notice of the Coleopterous collections made in California by M. Lor-
quin, has been communicated by M. Buquet to the Entomological Society of France,
(Annales, 1852, p. xx.)
Dr. Le Conte has published descriptions of a great number of species of Coleoptera
from California, in the ‘ Annals of the Lyeeum of New York,’ vol.v. The Heteromera,
Histeride, Cicindelide, Carabide, Dyticide, Gyrinide, Hydrophilide, Cleride and
Pselaphide are treated upon in the portions hitherto published.
CicInDELID#.—An interesting notice by Mr. H. W. Bates, of the habits of the
species of Megacephala inhabiting the Amazonian region of South America, with a
synopsis of the species and descriptions of several new species,* by myself, appears in
the Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s., ii. p. 49.
Carasip£.—The Baron Chaudoir has published a continuation of his memoirs on
the Carabide, Bull. Soc. Natur. Moscow, 1852, pt. 1.
Major D’Aumont has mentioned the curious fact that he had found a great num-
ber of specimens of Brachinus crepitans devouring a dead adder, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr.
1852, cii.)
* The following notes on some of the species noticed in this article have been com-
munciated to me by the Marquis de la Ferté and M. Reiche.
Megacephala Klugii is considerably shorter than a typical specimen of M. testudi-
nea (in M. De la Ferté’s collection), to which it is otherwise exceedingly similar. I
can only regard it asa local variety. Obs. — This species differs so much from the
other Ammosiz in the structure of its mandibles, as to require forming into a separate
subgenus.
M. Oxycheiloides, Blanchard, MSS., = M. nigricollis, Reiche, Rev. Cuvier, 1842,
p. 239; the latter name must of course be employed.
M. quadricollis, Laf.? MSS. tab. 7, fig. 7, = M. spinosa, Brullé, in Voy. D’Or-
bigny, Amér. Mérid. VI. ii. p. 3, n. 7; but M. Brullé says nothing of the square pro-
thorax or narrow elytra. Mr. Bates’s species No. 10, will therefore probably be a new
one.
M. laminata, Perty, var. = M. Menetriesii, Mannerh. in Mus. Dejean.
64
M. Moequerys has recorded the capture of numerous individuals of Plochionus
Bonsfilsii (often captured near the sea-ports of France) beneath the stones used as
ballast of vessels chiefly trading with the coast of Guinea, thus indicating the proba-—
ble natural locality of the insect in question, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, xxiii.)
A note on Calosoma sycophanta by C., in which that beautiful insect is regarded
as only a casual visitor to our island, appears on the wrapper of the ‘ Zoologist’ for
April, 1852.
M. Deyrolle has communicated a memoir on the species of Carabus natives of
Spain, Portugal and Algeria, to the Entomological Society of France, (Annales, 1852,
2nd trim.)
A note by Struck, on Carabus hortensis, is given in the Proceedings of the Nat.
Hist. Soc. of Mecklenburg, Heft 6.
Herr Czagl has described some new Austrian Carabide in the Verhandl. Zool.
Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
A fine new species of Loricera, discovered in Madeira by Mr. Wollaston, has been
described by M. Javet under the name of L. Wollastonii, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr.)
The Marquis de la Ferté Sénectére has published the completion of his memoir
upon the Patellimanous Harpalide of Portuguese Guinea (Rev. Zool. 1852, 65), com-
prising 69 species, 39 of which are new.
M. Lucas has described a remarkable variety of the Algerine Broscus politus, (An-
nales, 1852, xiv.)
The continuation and completion of M. Jacquelin Duval’s excellent monograph
‘De Bembidiis Europzis, has been published in the Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1851, 4th liv.
and 1852, liv. 1 and 2. It contains 122 species, described and referred to the genus
Bembidium, divided into 17 groups, with 6 species not examined by the author. A
remarkable new genus, destitute of eyes, from Bordeaux, is added, named Anillus
ceecus, and the Carabus areolatus (G. Lymneum, Steph.) is referred to the Trechides.
Dyticipm and Gyrinip#.—The second part of M. Gehin’s Catalogue of the Co-
leoptera of his own collection (Metz, 1852), contains the Dyticide and Gyrinide.
SrapHyLinipz.—A series of synonymical notes on the Staphylinide is published
by Kraatz, in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin, 1852, t. 446.
Descriptions of a number of new species of Staphylinide, chiefly from Georgia in
North America and the Cape of Good Hope, are published by Dr. Sachse in the Ent.
Zeit. Stettin for April and May, 1852, including a new genus, Stilicopsis, from Geor-
gia. No locality is given to three of the species.
A memoir by Hochhuth on the Staphylinide of Russia, with descriptions of some
new genera and species, is given in the Bull. Soc. Natur. Moscow, 1851, pt. 3.
A note by Mr. Hogan on the habits of Diglossa mersa, appears in the ‘ Zoologist’
3464.
A note by Mr. H. George, on an instance in which luminosity was observed in a
specimen of Goérius olens, was communicated to the Ent. Soc. Lond. (Proceedings,
December, 1851).
Psevapuip#.—An abstract of Dr. Le Conte’s memoir on the Pselaphide of North
America, appears in the Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. December, 1851. The views of classi-
fication proposed or alluded to in this memoir appear to me to be far too vague for
\?
ry ake Ng . J Ae
65
adoption, and the proposal to break up the great group of Brachelytra, and to unite the
Pselaphide and Scydmenidze into one group, appears to me quite unnatural. Several
of the species are recorded as having been taken in company with small ants, but
others under the bark of trees; and of the species of Batrisus, it is remarked that in
the Northern States scarcely an individual is seen apart from a colony of ants, but in
the South they are frequently found under the bark of trees, where no ants are to be
found. Several new genera are proposed, one of which comprises a blind species.
CLAvVICORNIA IN GENERAL.—Dr. Leconte has published a memoir on the singular
larva at first regarded as a Crustaceous animal, described by De Kay under the name
of Fluvicola Herrickii, subsequently regarded as the larva of a genus of Malacoderm
Coleoptera, but now stated to be that of one of the Elmida, (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Philad. vi. p. 41, Feb. 1852).
A monograph by Coquerel of the genus Potamophilus, comprising 10 species, is
given in Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 591.
A paper on the genus Cercyon was read on the 7th of January, 1852, before the
Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh, by Mr. Andrew Murray, who “ has brought al-
most the whole of Marsham’s and Stephens’ numerous species within the number of
those recognized on the continent.”
A memoir by Kraatz on the genus Anisotoma is given in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin,
November, 1852.
A note on the carnivorous habits of Necrodes littoralis, and on the varieties with
large and small hind legs, by Mr. F. Bates, appears in the ‘ Zoologist’ for February,
1852. A note by C. on the same subject appears on the wrapper of the same work for
April.
A revision of the European species of Catops, is given by Kraatz in the Stettin
Ent. Zeit. for 1852. Descriptions of 35 species are given, and notes of 8 not seen by
the author. A description is added of Aube’s genus Catopsimorphus. Some notes on
species of the genus Colon are also added.
A memoir by Kraatz on the genus Cryptophagus is given in the Ent. Zeit. Stet-
tin, July, 1852.
Descriptions and figures of two anomalous Coleoptera found in ants’ nests in Alge-
ria, have been communicated by M. Lucas to the Entomological Society of France
(Annales, 1852, xxix.), under the names of Oochrotus unicolor* and Merophysia for-
micaria.
A description of a fine Indian insect, belonging to the Languriadx, and named in
commemoration of the late Edward Doubleday, Doubledaya viator, is described by Mr.
A. White, (Trans. Ent. Soc. n.s. ii. p. 1). The insect evidently belongs to the Pseu-
do-tetramera, and as Mr. White regards Triacus, with its 4-jointed antenne, as con-
generous with Languria, this new insect cannot be generically separated from the
latter.
Hister1p#£.—A description of Hister ruficornis is given by Grimm in Ent. Zeit.
Stet. July, 1852.
* Specimens of this insect from Sicily were communicated to me by Mr. Melly,
with the name of Pycnidium testaceum, Mus. Berol.
K
66
Cucusipm AND aLLiep Faminies. — A list of the families Cucujide, Brontide,
Trictenotomide, and Passandridw, with notices of the species in the British-Museum
collection, and descriptions of new species, has been published by the Trustees of that
establishment. In the Preface, dated November 30, 1851, it is stated that this list has
been prepared and the descriptions nade by Mr. Frederick Smith.*
Pauss1p%.— Descriptions by myself of six new species of Pausside, together with
a synopsis of the whole of the species, now amounting to 85 in number, have been pub- |
lished in the Trans. Ent. Soe. n. s. ii. 84.
A note by Mr. Thwaites, confirming the crepitating powers of the species of this
family in Ceylon, as observed in Cerapterus Westermanni, is published in our ‘ Pro-
ceedings, July, 1852.
Bosrricuine. — A notice of the attacks of a small species of Bostrichus upon a
Chinese carved vase made of bamboo, was communicated by Mr. E. A. Bowring to
Mr. Spence (Proc. Ent. Soc. Feb. 1852), who proposed for the insect the name of B.
Bambuse.
Mr. Douglas also informed us that the same insect has destroyed a case of fans
made of bamboo, imported from China two or three years since, (Proc. Ent. Soc. July,
1852).+
Prinip#.—M. Guérin-Méneville has described two new species of the genus Ca-
torama, the type of which infests preserved tobacco. These are C. palmarum, a species
observed at St. Domingo by M. Salle in all its states, and the other, C. Sallei, found
by the same traveller in the pods of a plant allied to the Caroubes, (Ann. Soc. Ent.
France, 1851, exv.)
The curious fact that the species of Anobium are able to eat materials which have
been saturated with a solution of corrosive sublimate, has been communicated to the
Entomological Society of France by M. Amyot, (Annales, 1851, exv.)
Mr. W. W. Saunders has communicated to the Ent. Soc. Lond. the destruction of
some fancy articles made of macaroni by Anobium paniceum, (Proceed. Nov. 1851).
Mr. S. Stevens has reared for several successive seasons Dryophila Anobioides from
a broom-stump ; and Mr. F. Smith has bred Ochina Ptinoides from an ivy-stump,
(Proc. Ent. Soc. March, 1852).
The natural history of Dorcatoma rubens is given by Giraud, in the Verhandl.
Zool. Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
Lampyrip& AnD TELEPHORIDZ.—Dr. Leconte’s “Synopsis of the Lampyrides [in-
cluding the Telephoride] of Temperate North America,” has appeared in the Proceed-
ings of the Acad. Nat. Sciences Philadelphia, v. 331. 58 species are described as new.
* In the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, January 20, 1852, it is stated that “‘M. Chevrolat
montre le Catalogue des Cucujus et genres voisins du British Muséum, Catalogue
qwil a redigé, et qui vient de paraitre a Londres.”
+ This insect is very closely allied to, if not identical with, Bostrichus minutus,
Fab. Olww., v. 4, Bostrich. pl. 2, f. 12.
67
Major D’Aumont has recorded the curious fact of the pupa of Lampyris noctiluca
having the power of emitting light at will, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, cii.)
A new genus allied to Phengodes, remarkable for its very short elytra and elon-
gated intermediate and posterior tarsi, has been described by M. Spinola, under the
name of Baoscelis Osculati, in the account of the voyage of M. Osculati on the banks
of the rivers Amazons and Napo, (Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1861, 613).
An excellent monograph of the Malthinides by Kiesenwetter, appears in the ‘ Lin-
nea Entomologica, v. 7. The species are divided into the following genera : —
1. Lobetus, n. g., torticornis. WVenezuela.*
2. Lygerus, n. g., latipennis, Germar. Georgia, N. America.
3. Malthinus, 14 species, including M. fasciatus, flaveolus, biguttatus, &c.
4. Malthodes, n. g. (with simple mandibles), 44 species. M. sanguinolentus, L. ;
flavo-guttatus (minimus, Steph. ? nec Linn.), &c., the majority being new
species, often distinguished by the remarkable structure of the male organs
of generation.
Buprestip#.—An article on the metamorphoses of several species of Agrilus, has
been published by M. Perris, in the ‘Transactions of the Academy of Lyons.’
Crerip2.—M. Lucas has communicated to the Entomological Society of France,
the description of the larva of Thanasimus formicarius, found under the bark of Pinus
sylvestris, attacked by Dendroctonus piniperda and Pissodes notatus, upon the larve
of which it feeds, (Annales, 1852, v.)
Passatipz.—A catalogue of the species of Passalide, with indications of those
contained in the British-Museum collection, and descriptions of several new species,
with figures, by Mr. F. Smith, has been published by the Trustees of the British Mu-
seum, (1852) .}
LamEticornia. — Two new species of Dynastide have been described by M.
Reiche, (Guér. Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 21).
A number of species of Lamellicorn beetles possessing exserted mandibles and la~
brum and 10-jointed antenne (fam. Geotrupide and Trogidz), are described by myself
(Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s. ii. 59).
A memoir by an anonymous writer on the specits of Geotrupes allied to G. sterco-
rarius, appears in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin for September, 1852.
Cee eee eee ee ——————————————
* This is the insect known in the French cabinets under the name of Streptotoma
Sallei, Guér.
+ I take this opportunity of mentioning that the description of P. Goryi (sp. 75)
was by the late Mr. Melly, being as I believe the only entomological article which he
published. This escaped my memory in drawing up my last year’s Report. I must
also mention that sp. 78, P. bihastatus, was published by Percheron under that name
in 1844, not 1834, but that it had been described by myself, in the ‘ Annals of Natu-
ral History’ for 1841, under the name of P. fronticornis, which has of course a priority
of several years.
68
A memoir on the Australian species of Bolboceras by myself,* with a supplement
containing the descriptions of a considerable number of species, chiefly Indian, belong-
ing to the same genus, has been published in the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Soci-
ety,’ xxi. pt. 1.
A note on the habits of Trox sabulosus by Mr. F. Bates, states that he obtained
many specimens beneath dead rabbit-skins, and that they bury portions of the skin in
the same way as the burying-beetles, (Zool. February, 1852).
Mr. W. W. Saunders has published the descriptions of some new Chinese species of
Cetoniade, including a new genus allied to Dicranocephalus (preceded by some gene-
ral observations on the Entomology of China), Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s. ii. p. 26.
A paper on Cetonia greca, Brullé, as the type of a new genus (Heterocnemis), by
Herr Albers, appears in the Stettin Ent. Zeit. fur February, 1852.
Lucanip#%.—Two fine species of Lucanide have been described by M. Reiche,
(Guér. Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 23).
Biarsip&.—M. de Beauregard has communicated to the Entomological Society
of France, the fact that in Spain an infusion of specimens of the genus Akis is given
in cases of pulmonary phthisis. The peasants near Grenada seeing him employed in
collecting these insects, regarded him as an apothecary, and taught him the use of the
insects mentioned above. (Annales, 1852, v.)
Antuictp&. — A note of the Marquis de la Ferté Sénectére’s monograph on the
Anthicide, by M. Reiche, appears in the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, 2nd trim.
Curcuttonip&. — Mr. Walton has continued his memoirs on this family, by the
description of Trachodes hispidus (from the New Forest and Cumberland), and Aca-
lyptus Carpini (from Fenny Stratford), both new to the British Fauna, (Ann. Nat.
Hist. March, 1852).
M. Laboulbéne has discovered galls at the crown of the root of Draba verna, inha-
bited by the larve of one of the Curculionide and its parasite. (Ann. Soe. Ent. Fr.)
Memoirs by M. Perris on the transformations of the genera Cionus, Phytonomus,
and Phytobius, have been published in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Linn. Soc. Lyons.
A note on the injury committed by Otiorhynchus raucus by gnawing the leaves of
the pear, has been communicated to the Entomological Society of France by M. Rou-
get. Hitherto the attacks of weevils in France had only been observed in the gnawing
off of the young buds by species of Rhynchites and Phyllobius, (Annales, 1852, xxxv.)
The crop of strawberries in the neighbourhood of Paris in the summer of 1851, was
greatly injured by the attacks of Anthonomus Rubi, Herbst, which eat through the
stalks of the fruit-buds. The insect is known to the gardeners by the name of Lisette ;
in some situations, “champs entiers n’ont rien produit,” (Lucas, in Ann. Soc. Ent.
France, 1851, exv.)
M. Guérin Meéneville has observed that a species of Gymnaétron pierces the stems
* T have to thank M. Reiche for the following note : —
Bolboceras Lecontei, Dej., = B. furcicollis, Castelnau, and = 9 ferrugineus, Pal.
Beawv., and is a native of North America.
69
of the roots of Antirrhinum Linaria, causing an excrescence; and that the pith of
_Alcwa rosea is burrowed into by a species of Apion. (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 1851, cii).
Scotyrip#.—A note on the ravages of Scolyti upon young fir-trees has been com-
municated by M. Amyot to the Entomological Society of France, (Annales, 1851,
cexix.) It is affirmed that the chief injury is committed by the larve eating round the
stem, and thus preventing the rising of the sap.
A memoir by M. Chevandier on the invasion of a young plantation of pines by Hy-
lesinus piniperda, and on the supposed double-broodedness of this species, was read at
the Académie des Sciences on the 5th of January, 1852. This memoir, and the effect
of this double-broodedness of Hylesinus piniperda upon the manufacture of charcoal,
as well as with reference to remedies to be adopted for the destruction of the insects,
has led to several discussions between Messrs. Guérin and Chevandier, the former of
whom has published a reply of sixteen pages, followed by the rejoinder of M. Chevan-
dier, in which many interesting facts are developed, in the ‘ Mémoires de la Société
d’Agriculture, for 1852.
Lonaicornia.—A revision of the species of Longicorn beetles contained in the
Banksian cabinet preserved at the Linnean Society, has been published by M. Che-
vrolat, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1851, 4th livr.)
Dr. Leconte’s “ Attempt to classify the Longicorn Coleoptera of those parts of
America north of Mexico,” containing descriptions of great numbers of new genera
and species, has been completed in the ‘Journal of the Academy of Nat. Sci. Philad.’
n. s. ii. pt. 2. The third part, containing the Lamiade, is divided into 17 groups and
90 genera.
A number of new species of Longicorn beetles, including 12 from Shanghai, are
described by M. Chevrolat in Guérin’s Rev. Zool. September, 1852.
A memoir by M. L. Buquet on the genus Eudesmus, consisting of 5 species from
South America, appears in Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 343.
An account of the habits of the groogroo worm of the West Indies, considered as
the larva of a Prionus, and used as an article of food, is published in our ‘ Proceed-
ings, for October, 1852.
The destruction of oak timber in Pembroke dock-yard, by the burrowing of the lar-
ve of Hamaticherus Heros, observed by Sir T. Pasley, has been recorded by myself,
with the addition of a note on the structure of the anterior part of the body of Longi-
corn larve in general, with reference to the position of the spiracles, (Proc. Ent. Soc.
Nov. 1851).
A notice of the development of large numbers of Obrium minutum from willow-
sticks formed into baskets, and also from bramble-sticks, appears in our ‘ Proceedings,’
January, 1852.
A new species of the genus Phacellus is described by M. Buquet in the Rev. Zool.
1851, p. 603.
M. Lucas has described a new Longicorn genus from Algeria (Sympiezocera Lau-
rasii), in the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, evii.
PuyrorHaca.—A memoir by Dr. Leconte, containing a synopsis of the species of
Donacia inhabiting the United States, with 6 new species, has appeared in the Proc.
Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. v. 310.
70
A monograph of the North American species of Cryptocephalides, by Suffrian, is.
completed in the 7th vol. of the ‘Linnea Entomologica. The species here described
are divided into the following genera.
1. Cryptocephalus proper, 103 species, with 12 others not seen by the author.
2. Scolochrus, n. g. (Griburius, Hald.), 14 species, Cr. scutellaris, Fab. ; C. eques-
tris, Oliv. (larvatus, Newm.) ; and 12 others.
3. Mastacanthus, n. g., 1 new species, M. insularis. Cuba.
4. Pachybrachys, Chevr., 51 American species, including Cr. pubescens, Oliv.,
Kby. (not Fabr.); Cr. viduatus, Fab. (not Say); Cr. femoratus, Oliv. (spar-
sus, Newm.); and 5 other unseen species.
The transformations of Clythra (Lachnea) vicina, Lacord., have formed the subject
of an interesting memoir by Mr. Lucas, in Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 517, with an
accompanying plate.
Dr. Rosenhauer has published a dissertation on the development of the genera
Cryptocephalus and Clythra, Erlang. 1852.
The sudden appearance of immense numbers of Galeruca Lawsoniz in Col. Hear-
sey’s garden at Wuzeerabad, where they attacked a plant of GEnothera speciosa, reared
for the first time from American seed, is recorded in our ‘ Proceedings,’ for January,
1852. Mr. Douglas, who had once found caterpillars of Cucullia Verbasci feed-
ing upon the Chilian Buddlea globosa (belonging to the same natural order as the
Verbascum), suggested that the ordinary food of the Galeruca was some plant allied
to the Ginothera.
CoccinELLIp£.—An abstract of M. Mulsant’s work on the trimerous Securipal-
pous Coleoptera, by Dohrn and Suffrian, appears in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin, August
and September, 1852.
A ‘ Monografia di Coccinellidei ed Endomichidei del Regno di Napoli, by Dr.
Achille Costa, was published at Naples in 1850, 4to., 112 pages, with 7 plates, con-
taining 41 figures.
ORTHOPTERA.
M. Brisout de Barneville has communicated to the Entomological Society of
France, a summary of the Orthoptera of France, amounting to 111 species; viz., For-
ficulides, 11; Blattides, 8; Mantides, 5; Phasmides, 2; Acrides, 46; Gryllides, 11;
Locustides, 28. The Parisian Fauna reaches to exactly half the above number. (An-
nales, cxx.)
A memoir on the apterous or subapterous species of Orthoptera, by Dr. Fischer,
with a supplementary article by Von Siebold, is given in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin for Ja-
nuary, 1852. Dr. Fischer has added a valuable series of bibliographical notices of
Orthopterous publications.
M. L. Duthier’s remarkable memoir on the structure of the ovipositor and its mo-
difications in this order, is noticed in the list of General Anatomical Works given
above.
A notice of the destructive powers in houses of Blatta germanica, which indiscri-
minately attack provisions and other things, living chiefly behind the skirting-board
71
of kitchens, has been communicated by me to the Ent. Soc. (Proc. April, 1852). Va-
rious remedies against the common cockroach were suggested at the same meeting,
and at the May and June meetings.
A memoir by Boll, on the natural history of the mole cricket, is given in the ‘ Pro-
ceedings of the Natural-History Society of Mecklenburg,’ Heft 6.
NEUROPTERA.
Mr. Newman has commenced in the ‘ Zoologist ’’ for October, 1852, an article en-
titled “ Proposed Division of Neuroptera into two Classes” [orders], from the charac-
ter of their metamorphosis; to which (instead of giving new classical names) he has
applied the names of Neuroptera, Linn., and Stegoptera, Dum., in senses different
from those of their original proposers. The proposal of an eighth class [order] at once
overthrows the septenary system: whilst it is equally evidert that the formula of the
primary divisions of the Insecta Tetraptera given by the author, is at variance with his
opening paragraphs, since his Neuroptera ought to enter into the Isomorphous divi-
sion, and the Stegoptera into the Necromorphous. Of the characters given of these
two classes, the only one distinctive of the larve is untenable, whilst that of the want
of a mouth in the pupa of the Stegoptera is also incorrect, the pupa of Myrmeleon
having a mouth quite unlike that of the larva or imago; and the pupe of Raphidia
and Phryganea are active before assuming the imago state.* Neither is the presence
of a cocoon constant in the Stegoptera. Again, with reference to the characters of the
imago: Perla, ‘Termes, and Thrips have decumbent wings, and Psocus has roof-life
wings. Power of flight is denied to Thrips, and the heavily flying Perla is ranked
next to Libellula. In the family characters of the Agrionide derived from the larve,
Mr. Newman has erred in respect to one of the most important, describing the breath-
ing-apparatus as internal, whereas in Agrion the branchie are external and caudal ;
and he has omitted one equally important, namely, the possession of ocelli, which are
wanting in the larve of the Libellulide. Lastly, in order to make each of these two
classes consist of seven divisions, Agrion is raised to the same rank as Ephemera,
Perla, and Termes; and Thrips, with its veinless wings, is now for the first time added
to the Neuroptera: whilst Phryganea is added to the Stegoptera. With the exception
of these two additions, the propriety of which seems to me very questionable, the two
divisions are identical with my two sections, Biomorphotica and Necromorphotica.—
(Gen. Synops. p. 46). The exceptional characters alluded to above, are, however, in
my opinion, sufficiently important to show the impropriety of raising these two sec-
tions to the rank of orders, such as Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, or Lepidoptera.
The first part of the Catalogue of the species of Neuroptera contained in the
Collection of the British Museum, by Mr. F. Walker, has been published, containing
the Phryganeide and Perlide.t
* It is equally incorrect to assert that the motion of these pupe is similar to that
of Hgeria or Hepialus: movement in these is confined simply to a wriggling of the
abdominal segments; in the former, the antenne, legs, and mouth-organs are en-
dowed with powers of motion.
+ Acentropus niveus, although affirmed to be Lepidopterous, is admitted into this
catalogue, being rejected by the Micro-Lepidopterists.
72
LipELLULID@.—An extended revision of the memoir on the European Libellulide,
by De Selys Longchamps and Hagen, is given by Schneider in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin
for June, 1852. ;
A memoir by M. Léon Dufour on the anatomy* of the larve of the Libellulide,
is published in the 17th volume of the ‘ Annales des Sciences Naturelles.’
A memoir by De Selys Longchamps, entitled “‘ Resumé Geographique surles Li-
bellules de I’Italie continentale et insulaire,’ appears in the memoirs of the Royal
Acad. Turin, 2nd ser. tom. xi.
An instance of the ravenous powers of the Libelluleis given by Mr. Scott (‘ Zoolo-
gist, October, 1852), a dragon-fly having eaten its own abdomen instead of a butter-
fly which he had taken out of its mouth.
Trermitipz.—A memoir by Prof. Joly, entitled ‘ Recherches pour servir a I’ Hist.
Nat. et a |’Anatomie des Termites, has been published at Toulouse, and contains a
general history of the family and special observations on Termes lucifugus.
An interesting memoir by Dr. Hagen on the natural history and geographical dis-
tribution of the Termitide, was read befure the Phys. Okonom. Gesellschaft of Ko-
nigsberg, on the 19th of March, 1852, and has been subsequently printed in the Pro-
ceedings of that Society.
A memoir has been published by Dr. Hagen on the natural history of the Termi-
tide, (*‘ Uber die Lebensweise der Termiten’).
The question as to the nature of the different individuals composing a colony of
Termites, upon which so much difference of opinion has prevailed, is alluded to by Mr.
Thwaites (Proc. Ent. Soc. January, 1852), who suggests that the two kinds of workers
do not undergo any subsequent change.
PLANIPENNIA.—A new plan of distribution of the Planipennideous families, with
especial reference to their transformations, has been published by Herr Brauer in the
Ent. Zeit. of Stettin for March, 1852.+
.
HemeErRoBIIDZ AND MyrMELEonrp#. — A critical revision of recent publications
on the Hemerobiide, Coniopteryx [or rather, by priority, Coniortes, Westw.] and Myr-
meleonide, by Dr. Hagen, appears in the Ent. Zeit. of Stettin, March, 1852; also
upon the Phryganex, Ibid. April and May, 1852.
A revision of Schneider's monograph on Chrysopa, by Dr. Hagen, is given in the
Stettin Ent. Zeitung for January and February, 1853.
* In treating upon the respiratory system of these larve M. L. D. refers to Mr.
Newport’s memoir on Pteronarcys regalis (which he attributes to Mr. Newman), con-
sidering that the branchie of the imago are those of the pupa “ obliterées infonconna-
bles, simplement appendiculaires et vestigiaires.”
+ From information recently received from Dr. Schaum, I am able to state that
the remarkable larva figured in my ‘ Introduction, ii. fig. 66, 1, and described by Roux —
under the name of Necrophilus arenarius, referred to by H. Brauer, is the real larva
of Nemopteryx, as I had suggested was probably the case. By an unfortunate typo-
graphical error, this name is printed throughout Herr Brauer’s paper as Neuroptera.
73
A memoir by Dr. Hagen on the transformations and anatomy of Osmylus macula-
tus is given in the 7th vol. of the ‘ Linnewa Entomologica.’
H. Brauer has published an account of the transformations of Osmylus maculatus
in Hardinger’s Bericht, vol. vii. Wien. 1851 ; are published in Wiegmann’s Archives,
1851, p. 255.
Mantispip£.—A memoir by Brauer on the habits and larva of Mantispa pagana,
appears in the Archiv. f. Naturg. 1852, Heft. 1, pt. 1. The larva resembles that of
Raphidia, but with very long, setiform, straight organs of manducation, thus confirm-
ing its affinity with Hemerobius.
A memoir by myself on Mantispa, with descriptions of various new species (the
number of species being extended to 46) is given in the Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s.
i. pt. 8.
Panorpip&. — A memoir by Brauer on the larva of Panorpa communis, appears
in the Verhandl. Zool. Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
Sratip#.—A memoir on the natural history, metamorphoses and internal anatomy
of Corydalis cornuta, by Messrs. Haldemann and Leidy, has been published in the
‘ Journal of the American Academy,’ Boston, 4to., 1848.
STREPSIPTERA.
Another important memoir on the economy of these insects, has been communi-
cated to us by Mr. S. 8. Saunders.
HYMENOPTERA.
HYMENOPTERA IN GENERAL. — The Marquis Spinola has published an elaborate
treatise upon the Hymenoptera of Para collected by Ghiliani, in the Mém. Acad.
Turin, ser. 2, tom. xiii. The species are accompanied by critical notes on the genera
and on the species already described. Several new and highly interesting genera are
described.
Memoirs upon the larve of Tenthredinide which eat the parenchyma of cherry-
leaves ; and on a newspecies of Alyson and one of Prosopis, together with some notes
on the pollen-masses af Orchidacee observed occasionally on the heads of bees, are
published by Gorski in his Analecta Berol. 1852.
Herr Foerster has published five decades of a century of new Hymenoptera, in the
Correspond. Blatt d. Natur. Vereins d. Preuss. Rhein. 1851.
A series of notices on the Tenthredinide, Fossores and Cynipide of the neigh-
bourhood of Herrstein, with descriptions of new species, by Tischbein, appears in the
Ent. Zeit. Stettin, for April and May, 1851.
TENTHREDINIDA.—A note by Herr Kollar on Tenthredo Cerris, is published in
the Verhandl. Zool. Bot. Ver. Vienna, Bd. 1.
The description of a new species of saw-fly (Selandria Robinsoni), the larve of
which devour the leaves of the Solomon’s seal (Convallaria multiftora), has been pub-
lished by Mr. Curtis (Trans. Linn, Soc. xxi. pt. 1); to which is added a plan of divi-
sion of the Selandriz, established on the number of the cells of the hind-wings.
L
74
“
‘Notice sur une espéce d’Hyménoptére du genre Nematus, 8vo., with 2 coloured
plates, by M. Leduc. (I have not seen this memoir).
Siricip#.—A note by Mr. Lubbock upon the injury done to larch trees by Sirex
duplex, and on the proportion of females to males, which was as | to 100, appears in
the Proc. Ent. Soc. March, 1852.
Parasitic HyMENopreRA.—Three hundred species of parasitic Hymenoptera, be-
longing to the Ichneumonidae, Chalcidide and Proctotrupide, are described by Ratze-
burg in the 3rd and last volume of the ‘ Ichneumonender Forst-Insecten.’ We have
here to complain of the want of Latin diagnoses of the species. (4to. Berlin, 1852).*
A paper by Mr. Newport, entitled “The Anatomy and Development of certain
Chalcidide and Ichneumonide compared with their special Giconomy and Instincts,
with description of a new genus and species of Bee Parasites,” has been published in
the Trans. Linn. Soc. xxi. p. 1. The chief physiological facts comprised in this pa-
per are :—1. That under every form of body, and of each individual organ, the special
anatomy of a species is an index to its natural history and economy, (a fact which I
thought John Ray had fully proved). 2. That the apodal parasitic larve of Hyme-
noptera repeatedly throw off the outer covering of their bodies. And 3. That the
digestive apparatus of these larve is at first a simple bag, rounded and closed at its
larger extremity, with an imperforated intestine proceeding from it, without an anal
outlet; but that as the larve approach maturity, the digestive apparatus becomes
elongated, the cecal extremity of the sac becomes perforated, the cells separating in
the axis of the column to form a tube, an anal outlet being also formed. The species
described in illustration of these facts are two Chalcidideous insects ; 1, termed by Mr.
Newport Anthophorabia retusa,t and 2, Monodontomerus nitidus, and one Ichneu-
monideous species, Paniscus virgatus.
A note by Mr. F. Smith, on the parasitic habits of Monodontomerus, in reply to
Mr. Newport's statements in the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society,’ appears in
our ‘ Proceedings’ for June, 1852.
Mr. Walker has published descriptions of seven new exotic Chalcidide from the
British-Museum collection, including a new genus, Chalcidectus, allied to Eupelmus,
but with thick hind-legs, Ch. maculicornis, from Para.
M. Boyer de Fonscolombe’s descriptive catalogue of the Ichneumonide found near
Aix, in Provence, containing the genera Mesostenus (3 sp.) and Hemiteles (24 sp.),
has been continued in the Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, 1 trim.
A case in which a number of larve of a species of Ichneumon made their way
out of the body of a newly developed imago of Deilephila Vespertilio, is recorded by
M. Bellier de la Chavignerie, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, xvi.)
* The insect described and twice figured as Dendrocerus Lichtensteinii, = Cera-
pteron Halidayi, Curt.; Hadroceras (Calliceras, Nees) = Ceraphron typ., Jur. ;
Coccobius = Coccophagus, Westw.; Eusandalus = Calosoter, Wlk.; and Ophio-
neurus is one of Mr. Haliday’s genera of Trichogrammini.
+ This insect is congeneric, if not identical, with my Melittobia Audouinii. Being
in possession of M. Audouin’s observations on this and several other bee-parasites, and
having obtained additional materials relative to the subject, I purpose giving them to
the Linnean Society on a future occasion.
:
| 75
Fossorrs.—A memoir by Prof. Wesmael, being a critical revision of the fossorial
Hymenoptera of Belgium, appears in the ‘Proceedings of the Royal Academy of
Brussels,’ for November, 1851, and April, 1852.
A description of a new species of Sphex by Kollar (Sph. cairensis) is published in
the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Vienna Academy.
A series of “ Mélanges Entomologiques” has been published by M. Léon Dufour,
upon the sexes of Mutilla arenaria, upon Macrocera ruficollis, upon Eucera grisea and
upon Eucera numida.
Formicip2£.—An interesting paper by Mr. G. Daniell, on the habits of the house-
ant (Myrmica domestica, Shk.), and on its employment for preparing small skeletons
of Vertebrata, was read at the Linnean Society on March 6, 1852, and is published in
the ‘ Annals of Natural History’ for December, 1852.
An excellent illustrated memoir by Oswald Heer, on the house-ant of Madeira
(GAcophthora pusilla, H.), appears in the ‘ Zurcherische Jugend ’ for 1852, (54 Stuck).
The author describes two classes of workers. The larger, or soldiers, with large heads,
agree with my genus Solenopsis (Ann. Nat. Hist. vi. 86), except in the number of
joints of the antenne and form of the mandibles. The males are remarkable for pos-
sessing 17-jointed antenne.
M. Guérin Méneville has described the nest of a species of ant (Myrmica Sallet)
found in St. Domingo, by M. Salle, suspended upon trees, and formed of a papyrace-
ous substance, like that of the nest of European wasps. Another species of Myrmica
(M. cariniceps) was also found in the nest. (Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 73).
The ‘ Irish Sunday-school Magazine’ for 1851, contains an excellent summary of
the natural history of ants, by Mr. Haliday.
A memoir by M. Guyon, “Sur Pemploi hémostatique du Nid de la Fourmie bi-
épineuse,” was communicated to the Académie des Sciences, June 28, 1852. The
nest of Formica fungosa, formed of materials collected from the capsules of various
species of Bombax, is similarly employed in Surinam.
Vesp1pz.—The publication of an important monograph on the solitary species of
wasps, by M. De Saussure, has been commenced. The parts already published con-
tain the following genera: —1. Raphiglossa, Saund., 3sp. 2. Stenoglossa, 1 sp.
(Rhaph. Odyneroides, Sawnd.) 3. Gayella, 1 sp. 4. Elimus, 1 sp. 5. Zethus, 25
sp. 6. Calligaster, 2 sp. 7. Disceelius,5 sp. 8. Eumenes, 62sp. 9. Pachymenes,
5 sp. 10. Synagris, 12 sp. 11. Montezumia, 14 sp. 12. Monobia,6 sp. 13. Mo-
nerebia, 2 sp. 14. Rygchium, 27 sp. 15. Odynerus, 90 sp. The plates illustrating
this work are excellent.
A new genus of Vespide (Ischnogaster) connecting Synagris and Eumenes, contain-
ing three species, from Java and New Grenada, together with the nest of one of the
species, has been described by M. De Saussure, (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1852, 1.)
Some interesting notes by Mr. F. Smith, on the economy of Vespa Norvegica and
V. rufa, on the parasites of wasps’ nests and on the distinction of the species by the
organs of generation of the males, appear in the * Zoologist, 3699.
A number of new species of Hymenopterous insects, chiefly Vespide and Apide,
from China and Northern India, have been described by Mr. F. Smith, in Trans. Ent.
Suc. Lond. n. s. ii. pp. 33, 45.
76
Apip#. — Nylander has published a “ Supplementum adnotationum in expositio-
nem Apum borealium,” in the ‘ Annals of the Academy of Stockholm.’
Mr. F. Smith has published a note on cocoons of an Osmia inclosed in a shell of
Helix aspersa, Zool. 3498.
A note by Mr. S. S. Saunders, proving the non-parasitism of the genus Hyleus,
appears in our ‘ Proceedings, April, 1852. .
A note on the nests of Andrena, and a suggestion as to the separation of the male
and female cells in the colony, appears on the wrapper of the ‘ Zoologist’ for Septem-
ber, 1852.
Mr. H. W. Newman has published some additional notes on the habits of Bombi,
in reply to Mr. F. Smith, (Proc. Ent. Soc. December, 1851). He has likewise pub-
lished an extended series of notes on the habits of the same’ insects in the ‘ Cottage
Gardener,
A note on the employment of the juice of the honeysuckle as a means of neutraliz-
ing the stings of bees, by M. Gumprecht, appears in the ‘ Chemical Gazette,’ (Gard.
Chron. 1853, p. 71).
Bre Curture.—A considerable number of articles by Messrs. W. H. Payne, H.
W. Newman, a Country Curate, and other writers, upon bee-culture, have appeared
in the ‘ Cottage Gardener,’
Mr. Golding has communicated to the Entomological Society of London, a piece
of honey-comb consisting of brood cells, in the midst of which a royal cell had been
formed ; the hive having previously lost its queen. Mr. Golding, in order to test the
correctness of Huber’s statement as to the power of the worker bees to raise a new
queen from worker-grubs, had placed in the hive this piece of comb, which then con-
tained only worker-cells. A young queen had been hatched from the royal cell thus
formed in thirteen days, and in thirteen more, eggs and young larve were found in the
hive. The success of the experiment was therefore complete, and afforded an instance
of the facility afforded to apiarians by the use of hives having movable leaves or bars.
A paper by Mr. O. Pickard-Cambridge appears in the ‘ Zoologist’ for January,
1853, attributing the supposed attacks of robber bees upon a hive, with its attendant
confusion and bustle, to the hurrying away of the inhabitants from a hive infested by
the larvee of the honey-comb moth, which leads them to quit it in disgust, carrying off
the honey with them to a new and more suitable abode. As, however, the whole ho-
ney of a hive is sometimes removed in the course of a day or two, and as the bees can-
not, in so short a time, have built fresh comb, they must, if the supposition be correct,
take up their abode in some neighbouring hive, which surely cannot take place. On
the contrary, I have myself, in cases of attacks of robber bees, powdered the invaders
with flour, and traced them home to a neighbour’s apiary.
Mr. Filleul has recorded the acceptance by a hive destitute of a queen, of a strange
queen, (Zool. October, 1852).
A plan of keeping bees in hives constantly exposed to the full light of day, has
been announced as eminently successful, by Mr. Langstroth, in the ‘ North American
and U. 8. Gazette’ (Zool. January, 1852), thus disproving the ordinary opinion that
bees require the exclusion of light from their abodes. This announcement has led to
considerable discussion in subsequent numbers of the ‘ Zoologist,’ in which the ordi-
nary opinion is generally maintained and proved by Messrs. H. W. Newman, Filleul,
and Bevan.
77
HETEROPTERA AND HOMOPTERA.
Ruyneora, Fab.— An extended memoir by the Marquis Spinola, on the classifi-
cation and genera of the Rhyngota, or suctorial Hemiptera of Linneus, exclusive of
the Aphide and Coccidw, together with the descriptions of a considerable number of
new genera and species of exotic Heteroptera and Homoptera, has been published in
he ‘ Transactions of the Society of Sciences of Modena,’ tom. xxv.
_ Aconsiderable number of new Swedish Rhyngvta are described by Bohemann in
the Kongl. Vet. Acad. Férhandl. for 1852.
HoMOPTERA.
Grocorisa. — The second part of Mr. Dallas’ excellent ‘ Catalogue of the He-
teroptera contained in the Collection of the British Museum,’ has been published dur-
ing the past year. Its execution is fully equal to that of the preceding part: it com-
prises the Coreide and allied groups.
A rectification of the nomenclature of various species of Heteropterous Hemiptera
occasioned by the publication of Mr. Dallas’ catalogue of the British-Museum collec-
tion, is given by M. Signoret in the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, p. eviii.
Ten new species and a new genus of Heteroptera from Gothland are described by
Dahlbom in the Trans. Royal Acad. Sweden.
_ Anumber of new exotic species belonging to the tribe Scutata, have been de-
scribed by Mr. Dallas, (Trans. Ent. Soc. n. s. ii. p. 6); including also some notes on
my genus Urostylis, which is raised to the rank of a separate family.
A monograph of the Scutelleride, Pentatomide and Coreide of the South-western
part of Russia, is given by Gorski in his Analecta (Berlin, 1852), together with the
description of a new genus allied to the Capside, destitute of hemelytra, and resem-
bling an ant, (genus Myrmecoris).
Dr. Fieber has published monographs of the Pentatomous sub-family Sciocoride,
comprising the genera Dryptocephala (7 sp.), Oncodochilus {1 sp.), Sciocoris (24 sp.),
Discocephala (8 sp.), Macrothyreus (1 sp.), Paramelus (1 sp.), and Sephela (1 sp.) ;
of the genus Oxycarenus (belonging to the Lygzidex, with 16 species), and of the
Notonectideous genera Bothronotus (4 sp.), Notonecta (9 sp., with an appendix of
doubtful species), Anisops (8 sp.), 4to., 1851, from the Trans. Roy. Soc. Bohemia.
A monograph of the European species of the genus Alia, by Kuster, appears in the
Ent. Zeit. Stettin, Nov. 1852.
Some remarks on the synonymes of the British species of the genus Acanthosoma,
in reply to Mr. Dallas, were published by Mr. Curtis, (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s.
i. p. 271).
A curious Hemipterous insect from Sylhet, with elytra only of the length of the
scutellum, is described by Mr. Dallas (Ann. Nat. Hist. November, 1852), under the
name of Atelides.
A further note by Mr. Dallas describes the sexual distinctions and larva of Ateli-
des centrolineatas, (Ann. Nat. Hist. December, 1852).
A note by T. Hill, on the habits of Ploiaria brevipennis, has been published in the
‘ Proceedings of the American Association for the Promotion of Science,’ iv. 347.
78
Hyprocorisa.—Dr. Fieber has published ‘Genera Hydrocoridum secundum or-
dinem naturalem,’ &c., with 4 plates, (4to., Prague, 1851).
A monograph of the genus Corisa, containing descriptions of 51 species, with a:
supplement of 20 umascertained species, has been published by Dr. Fieber, (4to.,
Prague, 1851, from the Trans. Roy. Bohemian Soc.)
A flight of a cloud of specimens of a large species of Belostoma, taken on board a ship)
in the Persian Gulf, is recorded by Mr. A. White, (Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond. March, 1852).
HoMOPTERA.
The fourth part of Mr. Walker’s ‘ Catalogue of the Specimens of Homopterous:
Insects in the Collection of the British Museum, or, more correctly speaking, a list’
of all the hitherto described species of the order, with descriptions of the new species:
in the British Museum, has appeared, containing the families Psyllide, Aphide, and
Coccide, with a supplement of additional species of Homoptera, and an admirable
appendix by Mr. Haliday on Thrips and its divisions, here raised to the rank of “ Or-
der III. Physapoda.”
Thirteen new species belonging to different families are described by Dahlbom in)
the Trans. Roy. Acad. of Sweden.
Cicapipm.—A memoir by Mr. Scott on the habits of the Australian insect, Cyclo-
soma Saundersii, with a description of both sexes (the male only having been previ-
ously known), was read at the Zoological Society on the 10th of February, 1852.
Some notes by Mr. Ph. Wild, on the sudden appearance of millions of specimens
of Cicada septendecim in the neighbourhood of Baltimore, on the 18th of June, 1851,
appear in the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, xviii.
A new species of Cicada, hitherto confounded with C. septendecim, has been de-.
scribed by I. C. Fisher, in the Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. v. No. 11.
A monograph on the genus Athalion, comprising 14 species, natives of Tropical
America, by M. Signoret, appears in the Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 4th trim.
Both sexes of the remarkable Uroptera Hardwickii, with other insects, have been |
brought from the Himalayas by Dr. Hooker. Mr. White has recorded that the re-
markable elongated appendage at the extremity of the body exists in both sexes, in)
the Proc. Ent. Soc. April, 1852.
M. Guérin Méneville has described a new species of Iassus (I vastator), which
sometimes attacks the young plants of wheat and barley to such an extent as to cause
the crop of the latter plant materially to be diminished, whilst that of the former was
in one case “ nulle.” Acad. des Sciences, Jan. 19, 1852; Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 43.
Apuip#.—M. Léon Fairmaire has published a note on’ the habits of a new species
of Schizoneura, found near Paris at the roots of a species of grass of the genus Seta-
ria. (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, cvii.)
A paper by the Rev. J. Thornton, on the pupa of an insect [allied to Cionops],
with leaf-like appendages, which had been proposed to be named Phillophorus testu-
dinatus, was read at the Microscopical Society on the 28th of January, 1852, in which
the writer considers that it is the pupa of an undescribed species of Aphis, forming a
79
new species, if not a new genus. It is found in its different states on the leaves of
Acer campestris.
Coccip#.—A memoir by M. Dujardin on the establishment of a new order for the
reception of Coccus, has appeared in the ‘ Comptes Rendus.’
A memoir by Dr. Landerer on Ceccus Ilicis, has been published in the ‘ Pharma-
ceutical Journal,’ (Vol. xi. No. 12, June, 1852); of this useful insect it is stated that
upwards of 40,000 Ibs. weight are annually collected in Greece.
M. Guérin Méneville has communicated to the Académie des Sciences (March 1,
1852), a notice of his discovery of a species of Coccus upon the common bean of the
South of France (C. Fabe, Guér.), capable of affording a supply of colouring matter,
(Rev. Zool. 1852, p. 143). A report by M. Chevreuil on the analysis of Coccus Fa-
be, with reference to its colouring properties, was made to the Académie on the 11th
of May last.
Dr. MacGowan’s memoir on the tallow-tree, with a notice of the Pe-la, an insect-
wax of China, drawn up for the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, has
been published in Silliman’s ‘ American Journal’ for July, 1851, and Ann. Nat. Hist.
August, 1852. It is for the most part compiled from the accounts given in Chinese
writers, and notices the curious statement that the insects which remain on the trees
through the winter secrete a purple envelope, which attains the size of a hen’s head in
spring, and in such state these nests are transferred from tree to tree.
LEPIDOPTERA.
M. Léon Dufour has addressed to the Académie des Sciences (May 17, 1852), an
abstract of his great forthcoming work on the anatomy of Lepidopterous insects.
A series of observations by M. Bruand, opposing the classification founded chiefly
on the veining of the wings of Lepidoptera, adopted by Herrick-Scheffer and M. De
la Harpe, in his catalogue of the Swiss Phalene, published in No. 22 of the ‘ Bulletin
de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles,’ with reference to the classification of
the Geometridz, appears in the Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, Ist. trim.
A reissue of Wood’s ‘Index Entomologicus, with the nomenclature of the text
altered in accordance with the British-Museum Catalogue, is in course of publication.
A bibliographical list of numerous recent works upon the Lepidopterous insects of
various parts of Germany, is given by Dr. H. Speyer, in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin for Oc-
tober, 1852.
Freyer’s Neue Beitrage z. Schmetterl. has been continued by the publication of
Hefts 94—100. “
The first volume of the Lepidoptera in M. Chenu’s ‘ Encyclopédie d’ Histoire Na-
turelle’ has appeared, comprising the Diurna and Crepuscularia, Latr., with numerous
figures.
M. Bellier de la Chavignerie has published (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, 4th trim.)
a list of the Lepidoptera observed in the department de la Lozere, not included by
Duponchel in his memoir published in the ‘ Annales, 1st series, tome iii.
A memoir by Dr. Boisduval upon the Lepidoptera of California, containing 83
species of Diurna, 2 of Sphingide, and 10 Bombycide, appears in the Ann. Soc. Ent.
France, 1852, 2nd trim.
80
Descriptions of new species of Libythea and Macroglossa, by Mr. Kirtland, have
been published in the ‘ Family Visitor,’ Cleveland, Ohio, Nos. 76 and 85.
Some notes on Lepidoptera by Boie, appear in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin, November,
1852.
Descriptions of new species of Russian Lepidoptera are given by Von Nordmann
and Eversmann, in the Bulletin Soc. Natur. Moscow, 1851, pt. 4, and 1852, pt. 1.
Driurna.—The ‘ Genera of Diurnal Lepidoptera,’ commenced by the late Edward
Doubleday, and continued by myself, with plates drawn by Mr. Hewitson, has been
completed.
An illustrated periodical work on the British butterflies, by the Rev. O. Morris,
is in course of publication. |
A list of butterflies captured in Northamptonshire, with notes of the habits of some
species, is given in the ‘ Zoologist’ for February, 1852, by the Rev. W. Bree.
The first part of an illustrated ‘ Catalogue of the Lepidopterous Insects in the Bri-
tish-Museum Collection, has been completed by Mr. G. R. Gray, and contains the
family Papilionide, consisting of 367 species, with 120 coloured figures, (large 4to.,
84 pp.)
Descriptions of five new species of Papilionide from Sylhet and Brazil, have been
published by Mr. Hewitson, (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n. s. ii. p. 23).
A considerable number of new exotic species of Papilionide and Pieride, have
been described by M. Lucas in Gueérin’s Rev. Zool. for March, 1852, and several sub-
sequent numbers.
A memoir by Zeller on the pupation of the genus Thais, appears in the Ent. Zeit.
Stettin, June, 1852.
Mr. Hewitson’s beautiful work, entitled ‘ Exotic Butterflies, being illustrations of
new Species, selected chiefly from the collections of W. W. Saunders and the author,’
has appeared quarterly ; the genera illustrated by new species being Eresia, Cybdelis,
Epicalia, Acrea, Pieris, and Ithomia, Timetes, Cybdelis, Eubagis, Heliconia, Limnas
and Nymphidium. |
The 5th volume of the ‘ Entomographie de la Russie,’ by Fischer de Waldheim,
containing the Nymphalide of Russia by Eversmann (see Preface), with beautiful.
figures of all the species (except Limenitis Aceris), was published at Moscow in 1851. |
Mr. Bates’s notes on his captures in South America comprise a few observations on
the habits of the splendid Callithea Sapphira, (Zool. 3449).
A notice by Ghiliani of an extraordinary flight of millions of specimens of Vanessa ;
Cardui, on the 26th of May, 1851, has been published in the ‘ Gazetta Piemontese,
May 1, 1851, and Guérin’s Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 559.
A He-cnpion of the larva of Pevoutmate Corydon js given by Zeller in the Ent.
Zeit. Stettin, 1852, p. 425. |
The Monograph of Lycenide by Gerhard has been continued, the 9th Heft con-
taining plates 33—36.
Hevrerocera. SpHrncinz.— A specimen of the West Indian Sphinx Antzus,
reared in the Horticultural Society's Gardens from a pupa imported accidentally with -
plants from Trinidad, was exhibited to us by Mr. Curtis, (Proceedings, September,
1852).
al
Trocuitinn®. — Specimens of Trochilium Culiciforme, reared from larve in a
stump of birch, with its parasitic Ichneumon, have been exhibited to us by Mr Ed-
win Shepherd, (Proceedings, June, 1852).
The addition of Trochilium Chrysidiforme to the British fauna, is made by Mr.
Stephens, (Zool. February, 1852). Mr. Curtis informs me that he also possesses a
British specimen of this beautiful insect.
Hepiatip®.—H. Assman has commenced the publication of a work upon the Le-
pidoptera of Silesia (‘ Die Schmetterlinge Schlesien, Breslau, 8vo.), containing a series
of plates, in which the generic characters are given with extreme care. The first part
comprises the Hepialide. Two volumes of Diurna and Sphingide had been previ-
ously published in 4to., with gaudily coloured figures of indifferent merit, so that tbe
present publication may be regarded as a distinct work. Figures of the larve and
pupe ought however to be added to the generic details.
Bomsycipz &c.—A continuation of the memoir by Adolf and August Speyer, on
the Lepidoptera of Germany, comprising the Lithosiidw, Arctiidae, Psychide, Drepa-
nid, Bombycide and Hepialide, appears in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin, for August, Sep-
tember, and October, 1852.
M. Guérin Méneville has published the result of his experiments, undertaken in
the South of France, with the view of arresting the progress of the attacks of Muscar-
dine upon silk-worms, by the employment of fumigation with certain materials, of
which the composition was communicated to the Académie des Sciences in a sealed
packet, on the 25th of May, 1851, (Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 528).
A memoir by M. Peligot, entitled “ Etudes Chimiqnes et Physiologiques sur les
Vers a Soie,’ was communicated to the Académie des Sciences on the 3rd of Novem-
ber, 1851, in which the author has entered into long details on the relative weight of
the eggs, larve, food, silk, &c. (Rev. Zool. 1851, p. 538).
M. de Paravey has presented some remarks to the Académie des Sciences (Novem-
ber 17, 1851), on the ancient Chinese name of the silk-worm, — worm-elephant, or
worm from the elephant country ; thus proving that the culture of the silk-worm is not
indigenous to China, but to the country of which the elephant is a native.
A note on the employment of the common knot-grass (Polygonum aviculare) for
the food of silk-worms, appears in our ‘ Proceedings, July, 1852.
An interesting memoir by M. Chevandier, on the ravages of Orgyia pudibunda in
the beech-forests of Western France, has been published at St. Germain.
M. Bellier de la Chavignerie has communicated to the Entomological So-
ciety of France (Annales, 1852, xxxv.), a note on the vast multiplication of caterpil-
lars of Bombyx chrysorrhea in the Bois de Boulogne, where the oaks were stripped of
their leaves, and the vegetation beneath the trees also eaten. M. Bellier had also ob-
served ‘great numbers of instances of Muscardine amongst these caterpillars. The
woods near St. Germain had also suffered from the attacks of the larve of the same
insect, and of Lithosia quadra, (Ibid. xxxvii.)
A specimen of the singular Lepidopterous insect alluded to in my preceding Re-
port, reared from Coccus-like larve infesting the bodies of Fulgora candelaria, has
been forwarded to our Society by Mr. J. C. Bowring, of Hong Kong, under the name
of Epipyrops anomala, (Proc. Ent. Soc. for March, 1852).
.
M
82
M. Bruand has published a memoir on the Psychides in the ‘ Proceedings of the
Society of Emulation of Doubs, in which the author considers that the species form
but one group, which should be placed among the Tineides, and that they consist of
the four genera Typhonia, Heterogyna, Psyche and Psychoides.
A revision of the British species of Psyche, by M. Bruand, appears in the ‘ Zoolo-
gist,’ February, 1852. P. reticella, Newm. is new; P. radiella, Curt. = pulla, Esper ;
P. nitidella, Steph. = intermediella ; P. fenella, Newm. = opacella, H.-Sch.; and P.
nigricans, Curt. appears to be distinct from villosella.
Three new French species of Psyche are described by M. Boisduval, Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr. 1852. xxii.
A note by Mr. Weaver on the supposed distinction between Sterrhopteryx opa-
cella and specimens reared from cased larve found in Scotland, appears in the Proc.
Ent. Soc. Lond. November, 1851, and February, 1852.*
LirHosiipx.—A memoir by Schreiner on Lithosia depressa and helveola, appears
in the Ent. Zeit. of Stettin, April, 1852, and a translation thereof by Mr. Douglas, ap-
pears in our ‘ Proceedings’ for May, 1852.
Noctuiw£.—M. Guenée having undertaken portions of the great work of M. Bois-
duval, ‘Species générale des Lépidoptéres, has published the descriptions of the
Noctuidz (Noctuelites) in three volumes, containing 2000, with figures of a great num-
ber of species. The chief demerit of the work is the want of tabular lists of the genera,
and of short Latin characters of species. The preface and introduction occupy 96
pages, of which one half is devoted to a review of the works of preceding Lepido-
pterists.
A continuation of Heinemann’s memoir on the Lepidoptera of Brunswick, con-
taining the Noctuidz, with notes on the habits and transformations of various species,
is given in the Stettin Ent. Zeit. for February, 1852.
A memoir by M. Graslin, upon two new species of Leucania found in the west
of France, and on a new species of the same genus from the south of France, has ap-
peared.
GromEtTRID£.—A note by Freyer on Alpine Lepidoptera, with descriptions of se-
veral new species of Geometridae, and a notice of a specimen of Geometra dilucidaria,
having the body of a male and the antenne of a female, appear in the Stettin Ent.
Zeit. for May, 1852.
A paper by Zeller, on several new species of Geometride, appears in the Ent.
Zeit. of Stettin for June, 1852.
A translation of Koch’s note on the habits of the caterpillars of Phorodesmia sma-
ragdaria, has been given by Mr. Douglas, (Proc. Ent. Soc. March, 1852).
* I find no distinction between the males of these two supposed species, ana I
am not sure whether the tufts of down, spoken of by Mr. Weaver, are not portions of
the inner lining of the larva-cases abraded by the action of the body of the female.
The two females submitted to me for examination, were too much shrunk up to
allow of the question being determined. Had they been placed in spirits there would
have been no difficulty in settling the point at issue.
é
83
A note by the Rev. J. S. Henslow on the habits of two species of Eupithecia,
appears in the ‘ Zoologist,’ February, 1852.
Some remarks by Mr. Weaver on the species of Oporabia, are given in the ‘ Zoolo-
gist,’ 3495.
Torrricip®.—Mr. Stephens’ ‘ Catalogue of the British Tortricide, with indica-
tions of the species contained in the collection of the British Museum, has been pub-
lished by the Trustees.
Some notes by Mr. H. Doubleday on the nomenclature adopted in Mr. Stephens’s
‘Catalogue of Lepidopterous Insects in the Cabinet of the British Museum,’ appear
in the ‘ Zoologist, p. 3580. Mr. Stephens’s posthumous reply to these notes is given in
the same work, p. 3733.
An abstract of Col. Goureau’s memoir on the habits of Sericoris (Orthotznia) anti-
quana, by Mr. Douglas, appears in our ‘ Proceedings’ for June, 1852.
CramBip#.—Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited larve of Botys urticalis in their
winter quarters under the bark of a post, (Proc. Ent. Soc. April, 1852).
Trne1p#.—The reading of a paper by Mr. Douglas, on the identification of the
species of Micro-Lepidoptera whose larve mine in leaves, described and figured by
Reaumur and De Geer, was commenced at our meeting on the 4th of October last.
A monograpb by Zeller on the Tineide with elongated maxillary palpi, appears in
the ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’ vol. vi.
A memoir by Zeller on seven new Tineideous genera, is commenced in the 7th vo-
lume of the ‘ Linnwa Entomologica.’? These genera form a group of Sacktragers, of
which the pupa, in neither sex, is protruded from the pupa-case. They are: —
1. Lypusa, Z., Apalpa, H.-Sch., T. maurella, W. V.
2. Taleporia, Hb., 3 species, including T. pubicornis, Haw., and Cochleophasia,
C. tessellea, Haw.
3. Solenobia, Dup., 6 species, including T. clathrella, 7'r.
4. Diplodoma, Z., 1 species, marginepunctella, Steph.
5. Xysmatodoma, Z., T. melanella, Haw.
6. Adela.
7. Nemotois.
Mr. Douglas has read to us a translation of some notes on the larve of various
Micro-Lepidoptera from the ‘Tauschvereins Bericht fur 1848—50,’ Proc. Ent. Soc.,
September, 1852.
Mr. Douglas's memoir on the British species of Gelechia, amounting to one
hundred in number, is completed in the Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., n. s. 1. pt. 8.
A note by Mr. Curtis, on the heterogeneous character of the genus Gelechia, and
on G. cerealella as an imported insect, appears in our ‘ Proceedings,’ Jan., 1852.
Mr. Douglas communicated to us various illustrations of the natural history of
different species of Nepticula and Gelechia, Proc. Ent. Soc. April and June, 1852.
Mr. Douglas has described the transformations and habits of three species of
Gelechia and three of Coleophora, illustrated by beautiful figures, in our ‘ Transac-
tions,’ (n. s. ii. p. 75.)*
* The larva of Coleoph. Alcyonipennella, PI. xi. f. 2a, is represented as destitute
of ventral prolegs, although in a position in which they should have been visible.
84
Specimens illustrating the transformations of various species of Tinea, Lithocolletes,
Coleophora, Elachista and other Micro-Lepidoptera, were exhibited to us by Messrs. —
Douglas, F. Grant, S. Stevens, Wilkinson, F. Smith, Waring and others, ‘ Proceed- |
ings,’ July, August, September, October, 1852.
Mr. Douglas has recorded the habits of the larve of a species of Ephestia, which
feed upon dried Turkey figs, (Eph. ficella, Proc. Ent. Soc. November, 1851). The
same gentleman has also communicated the curious circumstance that the larve of
several species of Gelechia feed in different manners upon plants, those of one species,
G. costella, indifferently mining the leaves, feeding between leaves drawn together,
eating the seeds, or boring into the stems of Solanum Duleamara, (Ibid).
Mr. Douglas also exhibited specimens of Lithocolletes Carpinicolella, reared in
the month of January, by means of heat, from hornbeam leaves gathered in October
and November, (Proc. Ent. Soc. Feb. 1852).
Mr. Wilkinson exhibited some larva-cases of a Taleporia found in July, from
which females had been produced which had laid fertile male eggs without male inter-
course, (Trans. Ent. Soc. Proc. Nov. 1851).
The ravages of the larve of Gracillaria Vau-flava upon wine-corks, and the best
mode of preventing their attacks, has been the subject of several communications to
the Ent. Soc. of London, ‘ Proceedings,’ November, 1851, April, 1852, June, 1852.
Mr. Wilkinson has, however, reared this insect from cases formed of the black fungus
common in old wine-cellars, on which he believed the larve fed, as they had not
touched the corks of the wine-bottles in the cellar, (Proc. Ent. Soc. July, 1852).
Mr. F. Smith has also exhibited to us specimens of CEcophora lacteella, reared
from wine-corks by Mr. Felkin, and also by himself from the waxen materials of the
nest of Bombus Raiellus, (‘ Proceedings,’ August, 1852).
A paper by M. Guérin Méneville on the remedies to be adopted on a large scale
to arrest the ravages committed on wheat by the Alucita (Butalis cerealella), was read
at the Académie des Sciences on the Ist of December, 1851. |
A note upon the ravages of the Alucita which infests wheat, has been communi-
cated by M. Amyot to the Ent. Soc. of France (Annales, 1852, vi.)
A note by Mr. Lowe on the habits of Plutella porrectella, which destroys the tops
of the shoots of the double white rocket, and of which there are three broods in a
year, is given in the ‘ Zoologist’ for April, 1852.
A synopsis of Mr. Stainton’s monograph on Lithocolletis, appears in the Stettin
Ent. Zeit. for March, 1852.
An article by Nicelli on Lithocolletis Stettiaensis, is given in the Ent. Zeit. Stettin,
July, 1852.
PreropHorip#&.—A revision of the Pterophoride by Zeller, appears in the 6th
vol. of the ‘Linnea Entomologica ; and a translation of such parts thereof as relate
to the habits of the larve of the different species, is given by Mr. Douglas, Proc. Ent.
Soc. April, 1852.
DIPTERA.
Zetterstedt’s classical work on the Diptera of Scandinavia, has been completed in
eleven volumes during the past year.
85
The third part of the ‘ Insecta Saundersiana’ by Mr. F. Walker has appeared, con-
taining a great number of new exotic species of Therevide, Leptide, Anthracide,
Bombyliide, Henopide, Empide, Dolichopide and Syrphide.
Descriptions of four new species of Diptera from Gothland, have been published
by Dr. Dahlbom, ‘ Transactions of the Swedish Royal Academy.’
Curicipz.—A method of driving away mosquitoes used by the Chinese, by burn-
ing sticks made of the sawings of resinous wood (juniper?), mixed with some com-
bustible substance, is given by Mr. Fortune in his work on the Tea Countries of China,
and is copied into our ‘ Proceedings’ for May, 1852.
_ _Tiputip#.—A memoir on various new species and genera of minute Tipulide, by
Herr Winnertz, is published in the Stettin Ent. Zeit. for February, 1852.
A memoir on the anatomy and development of the larva of Corethra plumicornis,
by Leidig, appears in Von Siebold and Kolleker’s ‘ Zeitschrift, iii. Bd., Heft iv. a.
A monograph of the genus Ceratopogon, by Winnertz, appears in the ‘ Linnea
Entomologica, vol. vi.
AsiLip2.—A memoir by Dr. Loew, ‘ Bemerkingen uber die familie der Asiliden,”
4to., 22 pp., has appeared at Berlin.
BomBy.iipx.—A description with figures of Bombylius Boghariensis, a new Alge-
rine species, with its transformations, has been given by M. Lucas (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr.
1852, ii.)
Descriptions and figures of nine new species of Diptera, chiefly belonging to the
families Bombyliide and Anthracide, by Leon Dufour, appear in the Ann. Soc. Ent.
Fr. 1852, 1 trim.
Syrpaipx.—Dr. Baird has described the two different kinds of sound emitted by
Sericomyia Lapponum, that made during flight being a loud hum or buzzing, and
that made when the insect is at rest being “ peculiarly shrill, loud and distinct, and
clear as that of a musician’s pitch-key.” The mode in which these different sounds
were produced was not ascertained, Proceed. Berwicksh. Natur. Club for 1851, p. 68.
A new genus of Syrphide, allied to Milesia, from the South West of Russia, is
described by Gorski in his ‘ Analecta, (Berlin, 1852), under the name of Tyzenhauzia,
as well as afnew species of Milesia.
Muscip#.—My memoir on the Tsetse and other destructive species of flies found
in Tropical Africa, has appeared in the Annals Nat. Hist. August, 1852.
A notice of the venomous powers of this insect was communicated by Mr. W. Os-
well (who had accompanied Capt. Vardon) to the Académie des Sciences (Comptes
Rendus, October 16, 1852, and Annals Nat. Hist. December, 1852). M. Arnaud sub-
sequently made a communication to the Académie, stating that the insect appeared to
him to be identical with one found in Sennar, the bites of which also kill the animals
attacked ; to prevent which the keepers are obliged to take refuge on the banks of the
Nile, where this fly rarely occurs. He had been bitten by this fly, the wound from
which lasted more than four months with insupportable pain, (‘Comptes Rendus,’ 26th
of October, 1852, and Ann. Nat. Hist. December, 1852).
86
Mr. Douglas (Proc. Ent. Soc. 1852, March) exhibited the larva of a Dipterous
insect, voided by a gentleman who had been for a long time in ill health; it was white,
naked, attenuated, and?,destitute of the ciliated appendages possessed by the larva of
Anthomyia canicularis.*
A notice by M. Guérin Méneville, presented to the Académie des Sciences, on the
effective result of remedies suggested by himself against the ravages of Dacus Olee
upon the olives in the South of France (sometimes to the extent of six millions of
francs in a year), is published in the Rev. Zool. for 1852, p. 146.
A memoir by M. Perris on the metamorphoses of Sarcophaga muscaria, Lucina
fasciata, Gymnopoda tomentosa, Opomyza gracilis, and Chyliza atriseta, have been
published in the Mémoires Soc. Sc. Agricult. et Arts de Lille, with a plate.
Hiprososcipz.—A new genus (Megistopoda Pilatei) closely allied to Nycteribia, |
with extremely long hind-legs, and with the basal joints of all the tarsi of the same —
length as the second, has been described by M. Macquart, founded upon a species —
captured on a bat in Mexico, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, 2 trim.)
CRUSTACEA.
Ma acosrraca.—A remarkable memoir by Professor Milne-Edwards, in which he
follows out in the Crustacea the views of M. Audouin as to the composition of thé
thorax, extending them to the comparative structure of all the segments of the body
and their appendages, has appeared in the Annales des Sci. Nat. vol. xvi. To all
these portions of the body a series of new names is applied.
A memoir on the exuviation of the Crustacea by Sir John Dalyell is given in the
‘Report of the British Association, 1851, p. 120, copied in ‘ Zoologist, p. 3490.
Some notes by Mr. P. H. Gosse on the exuviation of the spider crab (Mata Squi-
nado), are published in the Annals Nat. Hist. September, 1852.
The eighth part of Professor Bell's ‘ History of British Crustacea, containing the
Myside and Squille, with an appendix of additional species, has appeared during the
past year.
A note by Mr. C. Spence Bate on some Crustacea dredged by Mr. Barlee in the
Shetlands, is given in the Annals Nat. Hist. Nov. 1852, and contains the description
of a supposed new species, Hippolyte Barleei, and a notice of the minute terminal
joint of the abdomen in females of Ebalea Pennantii.
A List of the Crustacea of Moray Firth is given by the Rev. G. Gordon, ‘ Zoolo-
gist,’ 3678.
The Rev. F. W. Hope has published a ‘ Catalogo dei Crostacei Italiani e di molti
altri del Mediterraneo.’
The Appendix to.Dr. Sutherland’s ‘ Journal of a Voyage to Baffin’s Bay,’ contains
a list of the Crustacea collected, including a few new species of Entomostraca de-
* T possess a very rare tract by M. Marion de Proce, containing a series of obser-
vations “ relatives a la presence de plusieurs larves d’Cistres dans le canal digestif d’une
individu de Vespéce humaine.” From the figures appended to the memoir it is evident
that the larve are not those of an Cistrus, but those of a species of Muscide, similar
to the specimen exhibited by Mr. Douglas.
87
scribed by Dr. Baird, together with some species of Caprella, Nymphon and Pycno-
gonum, described by Mr. A. White.
Dr. Dana’s Conspectus of Crustacea has been continued in the Proceedings of the
Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelph. v., No. 11, comprising the Paguride, with descriptions of
15 new species.
A memoir by Fr. Muller on two new species of the remarkable genus Tanais, with
figures, appears in the Archiv. f. Naturg. v. 18 Heft. i.
Enromostraca.—A monograph of the Apodide, containing 5 species of Apus
(1 new, from St. Domingo), and 3 species of Lepidurus, and descriptions of two new
species of Cypris, was read at the meeting of the Zoological Society on the 13th of
January, 1852.
A monograph of the Branchipcdide, containing a new genus and a new species
from St. Domingo, together with descriptions of two new Limnadiade from Brazil and
St. Domingo, was also read by Mr. Baird, at the meeting of the same Society on the
10th of February, 1853.
A monograph of the Entomostraca of the Cretaceous formation of England, by
T. R. Jones, has appeared in the publications of the Palxontographical Society,
1851.
An excellent memoir by Dr. Fischer on new Russian species of Branchiopoda
and Entomostraca, illustrated with 10 plates, 4to., has been published.
Dr. Fischer has also published a memoir on Russian species of Cypris, with plates.
A new genus of Entomostraca belonging to the Calanide, from the Atlantic
Ocean, off Patagonia (Labidocera Darwinii), has been described by Mr. Lubbock
(Ann. Nat. Hist. Jan. 1853), remarkable for the prebensile structure of the right an-
tenna of the male.
A memoir by Van Beneden entitled ‘ Recherches sur quelques Crustacés inférieures,
of the coast of Belgium, was communicated to the Académie des Sciences on the
17th of November, 1851, and is published in the Ann. Sci. Nat. tom. xvi.
A memoir by Fr. Muller on the [genera Caligus and Chalimus, appears in the
Archiv. f. Naturg. 18 Heft. i. p. 91.
Crrruipepia.—Mr. Charles Darwin’s classical monograph of the Cirrhipedes has
been published by the Ray Society.
ARACHNIDA.
Some observations by M. Blanchard on the circulation of blood in the Arachnida,
as observed in a living specimen of Mygale Blondii, were read at the Academie des
Sciences on the 15th March 1852, and are given in the ‘Comptes Rendus,’ March 15,
1852, and in the Ann. Nat. Hist. August, 1852. M. E. Blanchard’s series of plates
of the anatomy of spiders and scorpions are noticed among the general anatomical works.
A curious series of experiments and observations on the effects of the poison of spiders
on man, other insects, other spiders, and on inanimate substances, by Mr. Blackwall,
is published in the 21st volume of the ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society, pt. 1.
The mortal poisonous effects of the sting of the scorpion of the North of Africa,
both upon man and animals, have formed the subject of a series of observations by
M. Guyon, addressed to the Académie des Sciences on the 13th of March, 1852.
>
88
A note by Mr. G. Guyon, describing the curious action of a spider in cleaning its
spinnerets with its hind-legs, is given in the ‘ Zoologist,’ Jan. 1852.
A memoir on the sexual organs of spiders by W. J. Bennett, has appeared in the
Proceedings of the American Assoc. Prom. Sci. iv. 106.
Mr. A. White exhibited drawings of the curious nests of two species of spiders,
one from Albania, formed of the seed-vessels of Paliurus aculeatus arranged cylindri-
cally, and the other from Pernambuco, (Proc. Ent. Soc. May, 1852).
Some anecdotes of spiders from the ‘ Bee, by the poet Goldsmith, are reprinted
in the ‘ Zoologist, p. 3492.
Mr, Blackwall has continued his descriptive and synonymical list of British spiders
in the ‘ Annals of Natural History’ for 1852, reviewing the genera Neriene; Walck-
enaeria (Micryphantes, Koch., Argus, Walck.), 20 species; Pachygnatha, Sund.
(Manduculus, Blekw.) and Epeira, Tetragnatha, Dysdera, Segestria, Schenobates,
Bl., Oonops, Scytodes, and Savignia.
Mr. Blackwall has published descriptions of seven newly discovered species of
spiders, chiefly from the neighbourhood of Interlacken in Switzerland, and different
parts of England, (Ann. Nat. Hist. Aug. 1852).
A note upon Micrommata spongitarsis has been published by M. Léon Dufour in
his ‘ Mélanges Entomologiques.’
Acarip£.—M. Lucas has completed the description of a species of Ixodes, the
male of which was found upon a Boa constrictor from Senegal (Ix. flavo-maculatus),
by adding the description of the female, found on a Python Sebe from the same coun- |
try, (Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1851, exx.)
A posthumous memoir by M. Gene on a species of Sarcoptes (S. Strigis), which —
infests the cellular tissue and surface of the muscles of Strix flammea, has been pub-
lished at Turin.
The destruction of French beans to a considerable extent, near London, by the |
attacks of a red-brown Acarus, which covers them with a delicate web, has been com-
municated tv the Ent. Soc. Lond. by Mr. W. W. Saunders (Proceedings, Nov. 1851).
A treatise upon the parasitic species which causes the itch in man, has been pub-
lished by Dr. Boursignon, Paris, 4to., with 10 coloured plates.
A few species of Acaride and Poduride are described by Mr. A. White in the ap-
pendix to the Journal of Dr. Sutherland’s ‘ Voyage to Baftin’s Bay.’ E
THYSANURA.
Specimens of a minute Podura found on the ice in Wellington Channel, in the
Arctic Regions, by Dr. Sutherland, were exhibited to us by Mr. A. White, (Proceed-
ings, May, 1852).
ANOPLURA.
A memoir by W. J. Bennett on the relation of the distribution of lice to the dif-
ferent Faunas, has appeared in the Proceedings of the Amer. Assoc. for Prom. Sci.
iv. 133.
89
The ‘Catalogue of the Collection of the Anoplura in the British Museum,’ (re-
cently enriched by the purchase of Mr. Denny’s cabinet), has been published during
the past year.
M. Lucas read a description of the Hematopinus parasitic upon the Bos Bubalus
of Italy (H. tuberculatus, Burm., H. Bubali, Lucas, olim), Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1851,
ex.
M. Lucas has described the singular mode of copulation of Philopterus Platalex,
(Ann. Soc. Ent. France, 1852, xxxix).
? The question as to the real nature of the Pediculus Melitte of Kirby
has been reopened by Mr. Smith, who has found specimens of it upon specimens of
Anthophora Haworthana, which he had reared from their cells ; thus showing that if
deposited, as has been supposed to he the case, in the young active state in the cells
of the bees, they must have remained all the year unchanged in size and shape, which
could not have been the case had they been the young larve of Meloé or some allied
genus, (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. n.s. ii. p. 4).
P.S.—I am happy in being able to announce that during the passage of these
pages through the press, the Trustees of the British Museum have purchased Mr.
Stephens’s entire cabinets of British insects. By this most praiseworthy act, the typi-
cal specimens of the Marshamian and Stephensian, with many of the Haworthian,
species, have been secured to the nation. .
FIGLW.
March 16, 1853.
90
Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee for 1852.
We beg to report that the collections of insects and the books of the Society have
sustained no injury in their removal from Bond Street, and that they have been pro-
perly arranged in the two rooms appropriated to them.
The Curator has prepared a list of non-entomological books, which, not being
used by any of the Members, and occupying space that may be more advanta-
geously employed, we recommend may be disposed of by sale, or in exchange for
entomological works.
It has not been deemed advisable to expend any portion of the grant for binding
books, until the completion of the Catalogue on which Mr. Wilkinson has been enga-
ged. This work has been delayed in consequence of his domestic calamities, but it
will soon be finished, and then it will be necessary that some volumes should be bound.
The Committee appointed by the Council to consider and carry out the best me-
thod of arranging the exotic insects remaining in store-boxes, have employed the
Curator to select in the first instance the duplicate specimens of the Coleoptera. Con-
siderable advance is made in this work, and the insects are recommended to be offered
in exchange to the members. Subsequently, the other orders will be proceeded with
in the same manner.
The donations of British insects made to the Society during the year have been
placed in cabinets. Many duplicates of British Lepidoptera still remain for distribu-
tion among the members, in exchange for other species, in accordance with our
recommendation last year.
(Signed)
J. W. DOUGLAS.
S. J. WILKINSON.
EDWARD W. JANSON.
91
Abstract of the Treasurer's Accounts for 1852.
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Liabilities.
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PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
1853.
February 7, 1853.
Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.
The President returned thanks for his election, and nominated as Vice-Presidents,
W. W. Saunders, Esq., W. Spence, Esq., and J. O. Westwood, Esy.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—The ‘ Zoologist’ for February ; by the Editor. The‘ Literary Gazette’ for
January ; by the Editor. ‘ Journal of the Society of Arts, Nos. 1—10; by the So-
ciety. ‘Entomologische Zeitung’ for December, 1852; ‘Linnea Entomologica,’
7 Band: Berlin, 1852; ‘Catalogus Coleopterorum Europe, herausgegeben vom
Entomologischen Verein in Stettin:’ Vierte Auflage, Berlin, 1852; all by the Ento-
mological Society of Stettin. ‘Bericht uber die wissenchaftlichen Liestungen im
Gebiete der Entomologie wahrend des Jahres, 1850,’ von Dr. Herm. Schaum, Berlin,
1852; by the Author. ‘ Description of a New Genus of Calanide, by John Lubbock,
Esq.; by the Author. ‘Memorias dela Academia Real de Ciencias de Madrid,’
Tomo I. parti 2: Madrid, 1851; ‘ Resumen de las Actas, 1850—51: Madrid, 1851 ;
by the Academy. ‘Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Vol. XIII.
part 2; by the Society. ‘Reports of the Juries of the Exhibition of 1851,’ by the
Commissioners of the Exhibition. A specimen of Glossina morsitans; by Mr.
Spence. A specimen of the insect-wax of China; by Mr. D. Hanbury. Specimens
of Asemum striatum (3), Pissodes Pini (4), Tinea ochraceella, Tengstrom (3), Ela-
chista locupletella (2) ; by Mr. Jobn Scott, Renfrew.
The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected: John Garland, Esq.,
Dorchester, a Member, and F. T. Hudson, Esq., Greenwich, a Subscriber to the So-
ciety.
Mr. D. Hanbury brought for exhibition, specimens of the white insect-wax of
China in its crude state, obtained by the persevering endeavours of his friend, William
Lockhart, Esq., of Shanghae. The correct Chinese name for this production is
Chung-pih-la—literally, insect-white-wax. He read the following particulars respect-
ing it, and the insect by which it is produced, from a paper by Dr. Macgowan in the
‘Journal of the Horticultural and Agricultural Society of India,’ 1850.
O
94
“The animal feeds on an evergreen shrub or tree, Ligustrum lucidum, which is
found throughout Central China, from the Pacific to Thibet, but the insect chiefly
abounds in the province of Sychuen. Much attention is paid to ‘the cultivation 0
this tree: extensive districts of country are covered with it, and it forms an important
branch of agricultural industry. The ground is ploughed semi-annually, and kept
perfectly free from weeds. In the third or fourth year the trees are stocked with the
insect, which is effected in spring, with the nests of the insect. These are about the
size of a ‘ fowl’s head ;’ and are removed by outting off a portion of the branch to
which they are attached, leaving an inch each side of the nest. The sticks with the
adhering nests are soaked in unhusked-rice-water for a quarter of an hour, when they
may be separated. When the weather is damp or cool, they may be preserved in
jars for a week, but if warm, they are to be tied to the branches of the trees to be
stocked without delay, being first folded between leaves. By some the nests are
probed out of their seat in the bark of the tree, without removing the branches.
At this period they are particularly exposed to the attacks of birds, and require
watching.
“In a few days after being tied to the tree, the nests swell, and innumerable
white insects, the size of ‘ nits,’ emerge, and spread themselves on the branches of
the tree, but soon, with one accord, descend towards the ground, where, if they find!
any grass, they take up their quarters. To prevent this, the ground beneath is kept
quite bare, care being taken also that their implacable enemies, the ants, have no
access to the tree. Finding no congenial resting place below, they reascend and fix
themselves to the lower surface of the leaves, where they remain several days, when
they repair to the branches, perforating the bark to feed on the fluid within.
“From ‘nits’ they attain the size of Pediculus homi. Having compared it to’
this, the most familiar to them of all insects, the Chinese authors, from whose writings
most of these particulars have been derived, deem all further description superfluous.
Early in June, the insects give to the trees the appearance of being covered with hoar
frost, being ‘changed into wax:’ soon after this they are scraped off, being previ-
ously sprinkled with water. If the gathering be deferred till August, they adhere too
firmly to be easily removed. Those which are suffered to remain to stock trees the
eusuing season, secrete a purplish envelope about the end of August, which at first
is no larger than a grain of rice, but as incubation proceeds, it expands, and becomes
as large as a fowl’s head, which is in the spring, when the nests are transferred to
other trees, as already described. |
“On being scraped from the trees the crude material is freed from its impurities,
probably the skeleton of the insect, by spreading it on a strainer covering a cylindri-
cal vessel, which is placed in a cauldron of boiling water; the wax is received into
the former vessel, and on congealing is ready for the market.
“This white wax, in its chemical properties, is analogous to purified bees’-wax, |
and also spermaceti, but differing from both; being, in my opinion, an article per-
fectly sui generis. It is perfectly white, translucent, shining, not unctuous to the
touch, inodorous, insipid, crumbles into a dry, inadhesive powder between the teeth,
with a fibrous texture, resembling fibrous felspar ; melts at 100° Fahr. (sie); insolu-
ble in water, dissolves in essential oil, and is scarcely affected by boiling alcohol,
the acids or alkalies.
“The aid of analytical chemistry is needed for the proper elucidation of this most
beautiful material, It has been supposed to be identical with the white wax of
95
Madras, but as the Indian article has been found useless in the manufacture of can-
dies, it cannot be the same as the Chinese, which is used for this purpose. It far
excels also the vegetable wax of the United States (Myrica cerifera).
“Ts this substance a secretion? There are Chinese who regard it as such ; some
representing it to be the saliva, and others the excrement of the insect. European
writers take nearly the same view; but the best authorities expressly say that this
opinion is incorrect, and that the animal is changed into wax. I am inclined to be-
lieve that the insect undergoes what may be styled a ceraceous degeneration, its whole
body being permeated by the peculiar product, in the same manner as the Coccus
Cacti is by carmine.*
“Tt costs at Ningpo, from twenty-two to thirty-five cents per pound. The annual
products of this humble creature in China, cannot be far from 400,000 Ibs.”
Mr. Hanbury added, that it was harder than bees’-wax and that its fusing point
was about 184° Fahr.; it had been imported into this country and employed for
making candles and other purposes, but it was too expensive to be generally useful.
Mr. Westwood remarked that the insects were the wingless females of a species
of Coccus, which, with the exception of their short legs, were wholly permeated with
the secretion of wax. He proposes to call the species C. Sinensis.
Mr. Westwood exhibited the following species of Coccide, all more or less resem-
bling the insect under notice, in producing colouring or waxy matter. Coccus Ilicis,
from the South of Europe; Margarodes Formicarum, the ground pearl of the West
Indies ; Coccus manniparus, from Mount Sinai; and a species from Manilla.
Mr. Hanbury also exhibited a Chinese print of the tree, the insects, and the
masses left on the plants from which the Cocci are propagated.
Mr. Douglas read part of a communication made to the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle’ a
short time since, by Mr. Fortune, on the insect in question. :
“Sir George Staunton observed an insect of this description on the coast of Cochin
China, ‘ busily employed upon the small branches of a shrub then neither in fruit nor
flower, but its general habit bearing somewhat the appearance of a privet;’ writers
generally call this plant Ligustrum lucidum; yet M.S. Julien who has intimate know-
ledge of the written language of China, says, that the wax insects are stated to be
raised on three species of plants, namely, Ligustrum glabrum, Rhus succedanea, and
a species of Hibiscus, (Comptes Rendus, 1840). But I now possess evidence which
goes a long way to prove that another plant, different from any of the above, is the
true white-wax tree of Central China. Before leaving China I had the honour of
receiving from the French Consul at Shanghae, two small trees, which had been
brought down by one of the Catholic missionaries from the province of Sychuen. I
cannot see how any mistake could have been made, as the tree is no doubt as common
in that province, as the tallow-tree is at Che Kiang. Iam happy to say that one of
these plants has reached this country in good condition, and is now at the Exotic
Nursery of Messrs. Knight and Perry at Chelsea. It appears very like an ash, but
* “Tn a memoir in the ‘ Philosophical Transactions’ for 1848, Mr. B. C. Brodie
states, that although in appearance this substance resembles stearine or spermaceti
more than bees’-wax, it comes nearest to purified Cerin!”
96
apparently different from any known species. It is deciduous, and no doubt will
prove perfectly hardy in the gardens of this country.”
Mr. Baly exhibited some bees which had been preserved in spirit, and restored to
their pristine beauty by washing with soap and warm water, the pile being dried and
raised with blotting paper.
Mr. Waterhouse said he had often treated insects of all orders, except Lepidoptera,
in this way, even when they were greasy, with the greatest success, and Mr. Edward
Sheppard also spoke in its favour.
The following communication from Mr. Spence was read : —
“Through the kindness of Dr. Quain, of Harley Street, Cavendish Square, I am
enabled to lay before the Society specimens of the African Dipterous insect, ‘ Tsétsé,
communicated to him by William Oswell, Esq., who has travelled extensively in
Africa; and also the following very interesting memorandum respecting it, by the same
gentleman, who informed him that on one occasion he lost forty-nine out of fifty-seven
oxen, of which his teams consisted, from the attacks of this insect, and that the inter-
val from their being first attacked to their death, varied from three to twelve weeks.
“¢ Tsétsé.—This fly, which is the same as that found to the eastward of the Lim-
popo, infests the country of Sebitoeni, a chief living between the 18th and 15th degrees
of South latitude, and the 24th and 28th of East longitude. It is fortunately confined
to particular spots, and is never known to shift. The inhabitants herd their cattle at
a safe distance from its haunts; and should they, in changing their cattle-posts, be
obliged to pass through tracts of country in which it exists, they choose a moonlight
winter's night, as during the nights of the cold weather it does not bite. From what
I have seen, I believe that three or four flies will kill a full-grown ox. We examined
about twenty of ours which were bitten and died, and the appearances were similar in
all. On raising the skin, a glairy appearance of the muscles and flesh (which was
much wasted) presented itself. ‘The stomach and intestines healthy ; the heart, lungs
and liver, sometimes all, and invariably one or the other, diseased ; the heart in parti-
cular attracted our attention, it was no longer a firm muscle, but collapsed readily on
compression of its walls, and had the appearance of flesh that had been steeped in
water. The blood was greatly diminished in quantity and altered in quality ; not
more than twenty pints could be obtained from the largest ox, and that thick and
albuminous; the hands, when plunged into it, came out free of stain. The poison
would seem to grow in the blood, and through it to affect the vital organs. All domes-
ticated animals, save, I believe, goats, die from the bite of this insect. Calves and
sucking animals however are not affected; and man and all wild animals are bitten
with impunity. The symptoms of the bite are swelling of the eyelids and a watery
discharge from the eyes, and considerable enlargement of the sublingual glands.’
“ Mr. Oswell’s interesting account gives several new and curious particulars rela-
tive to the effect of the bite of this insect on the animals attacked by it, nut mentioned
in Mr. Cumming’s ‘ Five Years of a Hunter's Life in the far Interior of South Africa,’
nor in the valuable paper by Mr. Westwood read to the Zoological Society, December
10, 1850,* on this species, where it is described as belonging to the genus Glossina of
Wiedemann (allied to Stomoxys, but differing in having the proboscis straight, with-
* * Proceedings,’ in the ‘ Annals of Natural History,’ x. 138—150.
97
out any elbow, and with a round, hairy, bulbous base, possibly, as suggested to Mr.
Westwood by Professor Owen, a reservoir of some powerfully poisonous liquid), under
the name of Glossina morsitans, Westwood.
“The specimens now laid before the Society, agree exactly with Mr. Westwood’s
description.”
Mr. Oswell, who was present as a visitor, gave a detailed and very interesting ac-
count of his experience with this African pest, the facts of which are embodied in the
foregving communication. He mentioned however that the fly makes a droning hum,
and is so pertinacious in its attacks that it is impossible to drive it away.
Mr. Spence also called attention to the discovery in the caves of Illyria, of two
more species of blind beetles, a printed account of which, by Herr Schmidt, had been
sent to him by the author, extracted from the ‘ Laibacher Zeitung,’ August 4, 1852.
These insects were both found in the darkest parts of the caves, and retreated quickly
from the light into clefts of the rock.
‘«Leptoderus angustatus. Red-brown; head and thorax darker, shining, the lat-
ter swelled out in front, and hindwardly much contracted; elytra oval, viewed with
a lens they are scarred and marked with fine points: palpi, antenne and feet some-
what lighter brown, beset with strong, yellowish hairs. The female has in the tarsi
of the fore-feet only four joints, but five in all the others ; whereas the male has five
joints in the fore-feet also, of which the first, second, and third, are enlarged from the
base outwards, especially the first, which exceeds the next two both in length and
width.
“ Leptoderus sericeus. Brown; head and thorax slightly darker, face with fine
yellow hairs; thorax nearly even with the head, cylindric, long, broad, and widened a
little in front: palpi and antenne much lighter, the latter, particularly in the male,
very long-jointed, and from the sixth joint with yellow hairs; the tarsi in the male
are five-jointed asin the preceding species, but the joints are of equal thickness. The
body is 2 lines long, and scarcely 1 line broad, and is of the form of L. angustatus.
The elytra are marked with fine, round depressions, and covered with shining yellow
hairs. Both sexes are much alike in colour, but in the female the joints of the an-
tenne are rather shorter, and the joints of the fore-tarsi are only four.”
Mr. Spence remarked, that though these beetles lived in the darkest caves, and
were described to be eyeless (augenlos) yet their ramning away from light seemed to
show they were not destitute of an optic nerve.
Read, the following extracts of a letter addressed to the Secretary by the Rev.
Joseph Greene of Halton Rectory, near Wendover, dated December 8, 1852.
“Tn reference to the question of ‘ whether the earth in caterpillar-boxes should be
moist or dry ?’ there are two points in favour of the latter, which I omitted to mention
‘lastnight. Should the earth be in any degree of a clayey consistency, the moistening
tends to make it so close, as to render it nearly impossible for the weaker larve to pene-
trate it, as I have found to be the case more than once. Again, if the earth be moist-
ened, it often happens, that after drying, it becomes so hard as to prevent the pupa
from bursting, and permitting the escape of the insect. I have repeatedly found this
to be the case in digging for pupa. And once I found even so large and strong an
P
98
insect as Smerinthus Tiliew, which from this cause had been unable to escape. It was
perfectly formed ; but was so firmly imbedded that it could not emerge, and miserably
perished! This I imagine to be one of the causes of the periodic uncertainty in the
appearance of many insects. I feel no doubt, that, when hard frosts succeed pro-
tracted rains, a multitude of subterranean pupe are thus destroyed.
‘You observed that Ireland had been much neglected by entomologists. I am
quite of your opinion. I am sure there are many valuable insects to be found there.
In proof of which, I may mention that Mr. Ball himself took five specimens of
Deilephila Euphorbiz, somewhere on the southern coast. I do not at this moment re-
member the exact locality, but could easily find out. I saw two of the specimens ;
the others perished though neglect. I have in my own collection, two Euphorbie and
one Galii, taken in Ireland ; and, as I mentioned to you, [ am certain I saw Catocala
Fraxini.”
Mr. Waterhouse observed, that the Rev. F. W. Hope used to rear great numbers
of Lepidoptera, and he always kept the earth in his cages covered with damp moss.
Read also, the following note by the Rev. J. Greene, on a curious circumstance
observed in hybernating specimens of Vanessa Io.
“About ten days since (December 8), being engaged in digging for pupe, in a
wood about a mile from my residence, I came to a moderate-sized beech-tree, whose
roots formed an arch, about half a foot in height. As I was on the point of inserting
my trowel into the cavity, I heard a faint hissing noise: thinking it might be an
adder, I started back. Upon a closer inspection, however, I discovered, to my great
surprise, three hybernating Vanessa Io (the peacock). ‘Two were attached to the con-
cave part of the arch, the third was on the ground, and the noise I heard proceeded
from it. It is difficult to describe the noise exactly, but the nearest approximation to
it, is the sound produced by blowing slowly, and with moderate force, through the
closed teeth. It was decidedly not a rustling sound, such as would proceed from an
imprisoned insect. While making the noise, the wings were slowly depressed and
elevated. ‘To remove any doubt as to whether the sound was produced by the insect,
I pushed off one that was adhering to the tree, which immediately commenced the
same movement of the wings, accompanied by a similar noise. That the noise was
produced in part by the movement of the wings is very likely; but that it was wholly
so, is, I think, improbable, from the fact of the extreme slowness (I might say, deli-
beration) with which the wings were opened and shut. Strange as it may appear, it
certainly struck me that the noise was intended to intimidate! Whenever I pointed
the trowel at it, it forthwith turned towards it, and commenced the noise with renewed
vigour. I saw no more, neither do I remember to have ever met with hybernating
Diurnes before.
“ As I think I-can find the tree again, I shall re-examine it, though I am not
aware that I can add anything to the above.
“JT may add, that a more unlikely place for hybernation could scarcely be found.
The tree was on a high bank, facing the north, and the opening was quite exposed to
rain, snow, &c.”
99
The following memoirs were also read :—
“ Descriptions of some new species of Longicorn beetles, brought from the North
of China, by R. Fortune, Esq.” By W. W. Saunders, Esq.
_ “ Descriptions of new Genera and Species of Curculionide,” by G. R. Waterhouse,
/Esq. The following is an abstract :—
Oxyruyncnus.—Family Oxyrhynchide.
Oxyrhynchus Fortuni. A species much larger and proportionately shorter than
O. discors, with the puncturing both on the thorax and elytra less distinct ; general
colour pale ashy brown; thorax with three longitudinal white lines ; elytra with a white
line running from the shoulder to the middle of the suture. Hab. N. China.
Oxyrhynchus Philippininensis. Like O. discors in its markings, but of larger size,
the elytra relatively shorter, with a tooth in the middle at the base, the margin much
raised between this tooth and the scutellum, and the raised part concave beneath and
opening in front. Hab. Philippine Islands.
TrETRALOPHUS, a new genus of the Etimide, which appears to approach most
nearly to the genus Mythites of Schénherr, but, judging from the description, must
have the antenne shorter, and differs, moreover, in having two longitudinal crests on
the rostrum, the sides of the thorax much produced and angular, and the upper sur-
face with two high crests; the legs very slender.
T. sculpturatus is 5} lines long; black, and has two series of angular tubercles on
each elytron, the hindermost tubercle being the largest in the inner series, and the
foremost and last tubercles of the outer series are both very large. Hab. Swan River.
LeprosTETHUS, a new genus of Pachyrhynchide, near Polyphrades in its charac-
ters, but with the body much more elongated, and the anterior coxe separated,
leaving a narrow chest between them.
L. marginatus, a large insect, being 7$ lines long,* and 23 wide; much elongated,
the rostrum very broad and flat above, the sides of the body nearly parallel: black ;
thorax thickly covered with small glossy granules; elytra crenato-striated : both thorax
and elytra with a broad, yellow, squamose band at the sides; femora red, with the
apex black.
L. Waltoni is black, covered with pale, dirty yellowish scales ; has the femora red,
the rostrum with four keels; thorax thickly granulated ; elytra punctato-striate, the
apex somewhat produced at the suture; length 5 lines; breadth 2 lines. Both spe-
cies are from South-West Africa.
ACHLAINOMUS, new genus of the Pachyrhynchide. General form most near to
Prostomus, the rostrum wants the longitudinal ridges seen in that genus; the jaws
are short, the joints of the antenne rather shorter, the thorax less convex ; the elytra
shorter and less convex, separated from the prothorax, and with the humeral angles
not produced: fore tibie much curved and very strongly dentated within; middle
and hind tibie dilated and produced externally and internally at the apex.
* The rostrum is not included in the dimensions of length given in the paper.
100
A. ebeninus is from India: glossy black, destitute of scales; antenne, and termi-
nal joint of tarsi pitchy red; rostrum canaliculated ; thorax very delicately punctured,
canaliculated ; elytra punctato-striated. Its length is 4} lines ; width 14 line.
ENAPTORHINUS, a new genus of the Brachyderide, nearly related to Geotragus, but
differs in the torm being much more elongated, the rostrum somewhat convex above,
separated from the head by a transverse depression, the antenne stouter and with
shorter joints. The male has the hinder tibie clothed with very long pale hairs.
E.. Sinensis is 43 lines long, and 14 line broad, of a pitchy brown colour, sparingly
clothed with scales; thorax rugose, and with three pale lines: elytra punctato-striate ;
the back much depressed, and even slightly concave in the middle, but somewhat
humped near the apex, where there are numerous long hairs. Hab. N. China.
Cusicosomus, a new genus of the Cleonide, near Leptops, but with the elytra
very short and nearly of a cubical form; the two basal joints of the funiculus only are
obconic, the rest very short ; the rostrum rather longer than in Leptops.
C. Whitei is 54 lines in length, and 3} in width; black, with brownish scales ;
rostrum with a longitudinal depression, the base obtusely carinated, the forehead with
a slight swelling on either side; thorax narrow, the sides nearly straight, above very
uneven, rugose, the middle longitudinally impressed, and with an irregular transverse
depression behind the middle; elytra above uneven, deeply punctured, the punctures
arranged in somewhat irregular rows, the second and fifth (or sixth?) insterstices each
with four large obtuse tubercles, and the apex with some smaller tubercles. Hab.
Richmond River, New Holland.
Evrycuirves, a new genus of the Molytide, near Hypera. Rostrum and antenne
nearly as in Hypera punctata ; the head rather more exserted ; the thorax without any
trace of post-ocular lobes: the legs very long and very stout, the femora much ineras-
sated in the middle ; the tarsi very large, and unusually broad.
E. bituberculatus. Length 44 lines; width 2} lines. Form short and broad ;
elytra with the humeral angles produced, obtusely angled: black, clothed with green-
ish gray, sub-metallic scales ; rostrum pitchy, carinated ; thorax thickly punctured ;
elytra punctato-striated, the punctures each enclosing a scale; each elytron with a
large tubercle nearly in the middle, and a smaller one, sub-apical in its position.
Hab. New Holland.
PLAcoDEREs, a new genus of the Cyclomide, nearly related to Acantholophus, but
differs in having the funiculus of the antenne distinctly seven-jointed, the head and
thorax destitute of spines, the latter very broad, much produced at the sides, and
nearly angular in the middle, the dorsal surface nearly flat: elytra pedunculated, not
touching the prothorax.
P. variegatus. Length 9 lines; width 33 lines. Black, clothed with minute, nar-
row scales, some brown and some yellowish; rostrum tricarinated ; thorax thickly
granulated, and slightly grooved along the middle; elytra punctato-striated, the
punctures remote, interstices with small glossy granules, variegated with dirty yellow,
brown and black. Hab. unknown, probably Australia.
101
EcrEMNorutnus, a new genus of the Phyllobide, near Phyllobius ; the general
form more elongated and less convex; rostrum shorter; the antenne inserted in a
cavity near the apex, which cavity has the fore part opening laterally, the hinder part
curved inward, and opening on the upper surface of the rostrum: elytra much elon-
gated, and each elytron obtusely rounded at the apex: body soft.
Hi. viridis. Length 33 lines; width 14 line. Elongate, pitchy, clothed with
‘metallic green scales ; legs and anteune ferruginous ; thorax small, sub-cylindrical,
but slightly swollen in the middle, and rather obscurely keeled ; elytra delicately
punctato-striated. Hab. Kerguelen’s Land, in the Southern Ocean.
DrEPANODERES, a new genus, also of the Phyllobide, remarkable for the thorax
being produced on either side into a large sub-recurved pointed process, the apex of
the process extending beyond the humeral angle of the elytra.
D. viridifasciatus (an insect in the collection of the British Museum), is 2} lines
long; black; antenne and legs red, clothed with bright green metallic scales; head
with a triangular black patch behind; thorax punctated, with three longitudinal de-
nuded bands; elytra punctato-striated, each with four irregular, short, transverse,
green bands, which extend neither to the suture nor the outer margin, aud with a few
irregular green patches near the apex.
D. fuscus, is a trifle smaller than the last, and of a brown colour; the legs and
antenne testaceous ; the interstices of the strie of the elytra clothed with small hairs.
Both species are from India.
Synapronyx, a new genus of the Erirhinide. Body of a short ovate form, the
thorax very little narrower than the elytra, which are emarginated in front in the form
of a segment of a circle; rostrum about equal to the head and thorax in length, and
of moderate thickness, rather suddenly bent down near the middle; the antennal
groove scarcely visible excepting in front, where the antenne are inserted; antenne
moderate. Legs rather short, claws united at the base, and very little separated at
the apex.
S. ovatus, black, clothed with small ashy white scales ; antenne and terminal joint
of the tarsus ferruginous; rostrum clothed with scales above, carinated at the base,
the apical portion acutely margined on either side, and the upper surface nearly flat ;
thorax very finely punctured and with but few scales; elytra striato-punctated, the
interstices broad, and having the scales in small patches, giving a variegated black
and pale appearance. Hab. Australia.
CHELOTONYX, a new genus of the Erirhinide, nearly allied to Prionomerus, but
differs in having the body of a somewhat longer and more ovate form, the rostrum
and antenne longer; the tarsi also longer, and furnished with bifid claws. The claws
in Prionomerus, it may be remarked, have a large square appendage at the base. The
fore-femora have the same large serrated tooth beneath, and the anterior tibie are
curved as in Prionomerus.
C. Batesii is about equal in size to Balaninus nucum, of a bronze colour, and
clothed with piliform, whitish scales, those on the elytra forming little patches: ros-
trum tricarinated above; thorax punctured; elytra punctato-striated.. Length 33
lines. Hab. Para, Amazons.
102
ANOMHARTHRIA, a new genus of the Baridiide, near Cylindrocerus. The female
of the species on which the new genus is founded, differs from Cylindrocerus in having
all the joints of the funiculus of the antenne obconic, and the rostrum very strongly
curved, so that the point is directed backwards ; and the male is distinguished from
all other Baridiide in having the funiculus composed, first, of a very small joint, then
a very large oval joint, and with the following joints all nearly oval but decreasing
successively in size. The middle tibie at the apex, the posterior tibiw on the inner
side, and the basal joint of the four posterior tarsi are each furnished with a tuft of
velvet-like yellow hairs.
A. ceruleipennis is nearly equal in size to Cylindrocerus signum, but of a narrower
form; glossy black, with the elytra purple-blue, a small spot of yellow scales at the
base of each elytron, not far from the scutellum: male, with the joints of the funicu-
lus clothed with long hairs, and the body with scattered yellow scales beneath. Length
3 lines. Hab. Minas Geraes, Brazil.
Proropatus, Schonherr (Cryptorhynchide). My. Waterhouse expresses an opinion
that the characters of this genus are drawn up from a male insect only, and that the
female does not present the crenulations on the under side of the rostrum, and that
it differs further from the male, in having the anterior legs very little longer than the
others. This opinion is founded upon the fact that he possesses an insect presenting
these differences (and these only), when compared with Schonherr’s description of
P. Stephensi. A second species is described, which differs from the insect referred to
in Mr. Waterhouse’s collection, in having the thorax and elytra rather less humped,
and in having the second joint of the funiculus fully twice as long as the first. Its
length 74 lines. Hab. Moreton Bay. Itis named P. Schonherri.
Pezicuvs, a new genus of the Cryptorhynchide—first division: founded upon an
insect in which the structure of the antenne resembles that in Cylindrocorynus, ex-
cepting that these organs are rather longer and more slender. ‘The legs are very long
and slender, the femora not clavate ; the tarsi very long and slender and with the first
joint nearly as long as the remaining three taken together; thorax rather small ;
elytra moderate as to length, nearly twice as broad as the thorax.
P. binotatus is 5% lines in length, and 2} in breadth. Black, unequally clothed
with brown scales; thorax granulated behind and at the sides, and keeled above;
elytra punctato-striated, the punctures very widely separated, and each enclosing a
scale ; the second interstice keeled ; a small, oblique, dirty white mark on each elytron,
rather behind the middle: femora dentate. Hab. Moreton Bay.
GLOcHINORHINUS, a new genus of the Cryptorhynchide — first division: body
nearly cylindrical, tubercular and squamose; funiculus with the terminal joint more
slender than the rest, and longer than several of the preceding joints. Male witha
recurved spine on each side of the rostrum in the middle, and a small spine behind
this.
G. Doubledayi (Protopalus ? Doubledayi, Jeckel’s MSS.) : black, clothed with ci-
nereous scales ; thorax granulated, and with a middle keel ; elytrairregularly punctato-
striate; the second interstice with three short crests, each appearing as if composed
of an aggregation of tubercles; third interstice with one tubercle in the middle,
fourth with several small tubercles, and with a sub-apical group of four or five small
103
tubercles ; legs long and slender; fore-legs the longest. Length 54 lines; width 24
lines. Hab. Moreton Bay.
ProroprEerus, Scho. Four new species of this genus are described, and these are
placed in two sections.
Section I.—The second joint of the funiculus much longer than the first. It
includes—
P. Chevrolatii, which is of an elongate-ovate form, has the thorax attenuated and
two-pointed in front, and produced considerably beyond the head, with a short keel in
the middle of the dorsal surface, and an obtuse tubercle on each side of this keel :
small granules are scattered over the surface of the thorax and elytra; the latter are
irregularly punctured, excepting at the sides, and each elytron has about nine obtuse
tubercles, three in the second interstice, three in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two
near the shoulder: the apex is produced into two conical tubercles, one belonging to
each elytron. General colour black, clothed with brown scales ; a band of greenish
ash-coloured scales runs from the shoulders obliquely inwards and backwards, beyond
the middle of the elytra. Length 63 lines; width 2} lines. Hab. Moreton Bay.
P. Jeckelii is rather broader, and less convex than the preceding, has the thorax
produced beyond the head, and bilobed in front; the dorsal surface keeled and bitu-
berculate, the sides rounded and notched in the middle; a few very minute granules
scattered on the elytra: each elytron with three large obtuse tubercles on the place
of the second interstice, two on the fourth, one on the sixth in the middle, and two at
the shoulder, besides a transverse irregular elevation at the base; the apex produced
into a large tubercle, having a triangular base. Black with minute brown scales, and
scattered large scales. Length 6} lines; width 23 lines. Hab. Moreton Bay.
Section II.—Antenne with the two basal joints equal, or very nearly so.
P. Parryi nearly resembles P. Jeckelii, but the tubercles on the elytra are less ob-
tuse, and some of them pointed; humeral angles of the elytra more prominent; the
thorax with two tubercles in front, and not produced beyond the head; a very obtuse
keel in the middle, and two tubercles (one behind the other) on each side of the keel,
besides a lateral tubercle; elytra each with a sub-apical, dirty white mark, united
posteriorly to a small tubercle of the same colour, the scales on other parts brown.
Length 7} lines; width 3} lines. Hab. Sydney. In the collection of the British
Museum.
P. Westwoodii, more elongate and more convex than the two preceding species ;
thorax produced slightly beyond the head in front, where there are two obtuse tu-
bercles ; the central portion with a short keel ; and four tubercles are arranged nearly
in a transverse line on the middle of the thorax, the outer pair project horizontally
from the sides of the thorax, which, together with the upper surface of the elytra,
presents numerous stnall glossy granules scattered over the surface. ach elytron has
five conical tubercles arranged in a line parallel with, and not far from the suture, of
which the fourth is very large and prominent, the last (or fifth) small; besides these
are a few other tubercles, of which three may be especially noticed ; they are arranged
in an oblique line, extending from the shoulder to the third of the inner row of tu-
bercles; apex of the elytra truncate. Length 7} lines; width 23 lines. Hab.
Australia.
“
104
PLacsocoryNus, a new genus of the Cryptorhynchide—first division: founded
upon a large Cryptorhynchus, with a general form of the body somewhat like that of
Leptops quadrituberculatus. Rostrum very short and stout, and irregularly quadri-
carinated above ; thorax large, produced in front into a rounded lobe which projects
considerably beyond the head; elytra of the same width at the base as the thorax,
gradually becoming wider towards the hinder part, the sides very deep and bent some-
what inwards, the apical portion bent suddenly downwards, with four obtuse tu-
bercles in a transverse line, behind the middle; the base rather deeply trisinuated ;
legs short and stout, femora not dentate; tarsi small; antenne with the second joint
of funiculus elongate obconic, the first short obconic, the rest very short; club short,
and obliquely truncated, the three terminal joints for the most part hidden and en-
closed by the basal joint.
P. quadrituberculatus is black, clothed with dark brown scales; thorax rather
coarsely punctured, with a mesial keel and a short keel on each side of the disc;
elytra with large punctures arranged in rows. Length 6 lines; width 3 lines. Hab.
Moreton Bay. The male smaller and narrower than indicated by the dimensiens
here given.
CHATECTETORUS, Schonherr.
C. spinipennis, a new species. Length 4 lines; width 1} line. Black, clothed
with brownish scales: thorax with a short mesial keel, and two longitudinal and
slightly elevated crests on the fore part, diverging slightly as they extend backwards
towards the middle of the thorax; elytra punctate-striated, with a transverse black
band behind the middle, and which does not extend to the outer margins; an oblong
black spot between this and the base, a small tubercle towards the apex, clothed with
pale brown scales, and minute black markings ; apex produced at the suture into a
sharp spine, and some acute denticles external to this spine. Hab. Australia.
SyMPIEZOCELUS, a new genus of the Cryptorhynchide—first division : founded
upon an insect which in general form reminds one of the species of T'ranes or
Iphipus.
S. Spencet is of a glossy, pitchy-black colour, destitute of scales: rostrum short,
rather slender and depressed, dilated at the base ; antennal groove in form of an ob-
long fovea, situated immediately in front of the eye; antenne with the basal joint
(or scape) very short and almost obconic; first and second joints of funiculus obconic,
the rest short ; club of a very short oval form, almost round: thorax emarginated on
each side behind the eye, constricted in front, the sides very little rounded, upper sur-
face but little convex, with scattered punctures, and a very short keel behind: elytra
very little broader than the thorax, oblong, rounded at the apex, strongly punctato-
striated: legs short, femora large and compressed ; tibiz broad and compressed, den-
tated externally near the apex, and with a large incurved claw at the apex ; tarsi
small, not dilated: the two basal joints destitute of spongy substance beneath. Hab.
Richmond River, Australia.
Hysornorvs, a new genus of the Cryptorhynchide—second division: the rostral
groove not acutely margined behind: founded upon an insect having the general form
nearly similar to certain species of Centrinus, such as C. morio: the thorax short,
narrow before, and broad behind; the elytra much broader than the thorax at the base,
105
with the shoulders prominent, but rounded, the width gradually decreasing to the
apex, which is rounded ; nearest to Rhyssomatus in affinity, but differs in having sim-
ple diverging claws (those in Rhyssomatus being bifid), and in having the humeral
angles of the elytra prominent: rostrum long, sub-carinated ; antenne with two basal
joints of funiculus longish obconic, the rest short ; eyes large, much approximated in
front : thorax constricted in front, then dilated with a rounded outline, with a much
elevated keel on the fore part.
Hybophorus rufo-tuberosus ; black; without scales; thorax with a transverse row
of large punctures in front, interrupted by the large central keei, and some coarse
punctures on either side ; elytra with the region of the suture smooth, and in the
place of the first stria, with widely separated depressions, each bearing in the centre
a small glossy black granule, the remaining parts very uneven, with irregular and
obtuse tubercles, the crowns of which are red, the interspaces having scattered black
granules; of the tubercles one at the shoulder is very large, and the same may be
said of a second, which is placed about midway between the base and apex of the
elytra, and not far from the suture; femora with a strong tooth beneath, rather be-
yond the middle, and a smaller tooth between this and the apex. Length 33 lines ;
width 2} lines. Hab. Australia. Probably Moreton Bay.
March 7, 1853.
Epwarp NEWMAN, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — The ‘ Zoologist’ for March; by the Editor. The ‘ Atheneum’ for.Febru-
ary; by the Editor. The ‘Literary Gazette’ for February ; by the Editor. The
‘ Journal of the Society of Arts;’ by the Society. ‘* Insecta Saundersiana.—Diptera,
Part IV.;’ by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for November,
1852, and January, 1853; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘ Annales de la
Société Entomologique de France, 1851; by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal
Society,’ Vol. vi., No. 94; by the Society. Boxes of English Lepidoptera from the
following gentlemen :—Mr. F. Bond, Major Sheppard, Mr. A. F. Sheppard, Mr. Ed-
win Shepherd, and Mr. T. Boyd. A box of English Micro-Lepidoptera; by Mr.
Douglas. Two boxes of European Lepidoptera; by M. Becker, of Paris. One hun-
dred lists of British Lepidoptera ; by Mr. J. W. Dunning.
These lists were presented for the special purpose of benefiting the Society's col-
lection of British Lepidoptera, by having the desiderata marked thereon, and then
circulated among those members who had duplicate specimens to give away. Messrs.
A. F. Sheppard and Edwin Shepherd had so marked several of the lists, and the above
donations of English Lepidoptera were the first result.
106
J.N. Winter, Esq., Brighton, and M. H. F. de Saussure, Geneva, were balloted
for and elected Members of the Society.
The President announced that the Society offered a prize of £5 5s. for the bein
essay on the Natural History of the species of Coccus injurious to fruit-trees in this
country (with an especial reference to the “ mussel-scale ” of the apple, of which a full.
and particular account is to be given), and the best means of preventing their ravages.
The essays, each distinguished by a motto, and with the author's name in a dis-
tinct sealed envelope, to be addressed “To the President and Council of the Entomo-
logical Society,” and delivered on or before the 31st of December next.
Mr. Spence exhibited specimens of a Thrips, received through Dr. Lankester from
Dr. Theophilus Thompson, to whom they had been sent from Australia, where they
prevented rose-trees from blossoming by eating the petals of the flowers.
Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a specimen of each of the rare Coleoptera, Agasma semi- :
crudum and Calodera Kirbii, lately received from Australia.
Mx. T. Spencer exhibited a specimen of Cherocampa Celerio, captured last Octo-
ber in the Regent’s Park, and a scorpion, found last summer in the middle of a field
at Edgeware.
Mr. Douglas, on the part of Mr. A. R. Hogan, exhibited the specimen of Hippar-
chia Janira, with six whitish appendages to the haustellum, respecting which he had
sent an inquiry to the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 3775), and which Mr. Douglas had answered in
the same journal (p. 3809), considering the presence of these bodies to be attributable
to the adhesion of parts of flowers. Subsequent examination of the butterfly, kindly
sent by Mr. Hogan, had confirmed this impression.
The President said he was convinced that Mr. Douglas was correct in his opinion,
for not only did he find the appendages in question to be the pollen-masses of an Or-
chidaceous plant, but he identified the very species as Orchis bifolia. The pollen-gra-
nules were still distinctly observable at the distal extremity of the appendages, while
the basal end, always extremely viscid, had fixed itself firmly to the maxille of the
insect. These extraneous bodies are aftixed to the maxilla in very regular order, but
he regarded their position as purely accidental ; and the hairs observed by Mr. Ho-
gan adhering to the pollen-masses were no part of the plant, but doubtless derived
from the palpi or pectus of the butterfly. The occurrence of pollen-masses on various
parts of insects had been repeatedly noticed by botanists as well as entomolugists; they
are very common on the heads of wild bees, especially in foreign countries, in such
cases being not only derived from Orchids, but also from Asclepiads,—a natural order
of plants which does not occur wild in this country, and which, although widely differ-
ing from the Orchids in other structural peculiarities, possesses similarly constructed
pollen-masses. To such an extent has this phenomenon prevailed in some instances,
that botanists have conjectured that Nature availed herself of the services of the bees
to carry out the fecundating process, fur many Orchids, without their assistance in con-
veying the pollen-granules from one flower to another, failed to mature their seeds.
The pollen-masses are very carefully and accurately described by the late Sir J. E.
Smith, Dr. Lindley, and other botanists.
The Secretary read the following notes, communicated by Professor Zeller, Hono-
rary Member of the Society.
“* Impaled Insects.—I only remember two examples of impaled insects, but both of
them afford good evidence of the cause of their position. In one of these cases the
107
insect was a suicide: a male Triphena comes, 7’.., in the finest condition, had a point
of the rush, Juncus acutus, in its breast, and was dead when I found it. I still keep
the thorax in my collection ; it is quite uninjured, which would not be the case if a
bird had captured and impaled the moth. Besides, the locality, in the environs of
Catania, is such as no Lanius would inhabit, being a small meadow, wet in winter,
surrounded by a large lava-desert, without tree or shrub. Juncus acutus is the haunt
of an Gidipoda which I think new, (Gd. Junci, mihi, in litt.); and I sometimes ob-
served this insect, after a short flight, fall down and impale its wings on the pin-like
points of the rush, and get them loose only after many efforts. That insects would be
easily impaled here I was sure from my own experience, as when stooping quickly
for any capture, I often found myself on these unhappy points almost in a Turkish
fashion. The moth here spoken of is mentioned in the ‘ Isis, 1847, p. 442.
“ The other instance is of an earlier date, and happened to a Triphena fimbria,
Tr., $. This insect was impaled on a sloe-thorn, and was still living when I found
it. It had its back downwards, the wings on its right side half bitten off, and its tho-
rax much injured. In the alder-brake where this happened, there were some Lanii
(shrikes), the species of which I do not now remember.”
“ Larva of Polyommatus Artaxerxes.—F rom the affinity of this species with Poly-
ommatus Agestis, I infer the possibility of its larva feeding on a species of Geranium
or Erodium ; for on Erodium cicutarium I have detected the larva of Agestis. If it
be deemed probable that any species of these plants affords food to the larva of Arta-
xerxes, a quantity of them should be gathered at the proper season in the locality
inhabited by the butterfly, by cautiously cutting them off above the roots, and they
should then be torn and shaken over white paper or a table-cloth. But an undoubt-
edly better method of obtaining the larve is the following. Most butterflies are very
easily observed laying their eggs, and the Polyommati are particularly favourable for
such investigations. Therefore, when the females of Artaxerxes have been out some
time, and begin to be wasted, patiently follow one on a fine morning without troubling
it, and observe on what plant it settles ; after some preliminary attempts it will proba-
bly be seen to bend its body under a leaf, which proceeding is a certain sign of its
laying an egg; this may soon be recognized by its white colour. The female will
continue to lay eggs for a long time without resting to feed, and thus in a short period
a number of eggs may be collected. To prevent their drying up, they must be fixed
upon leaves of a living plant set in a flower-pot, and thus every opportunity may be
had for leisurely observing the larva during its changes. In this way I procured the
eggs of and reared to perfection Argynnis Dia, Colias Hyale, Polyommatus Corydon,
Alexis, Amyntas, Hylas, Arion (both the latter on Thymus Serpyllum), Argiolus, Acis
(on the capitula of Armeria vulgaris), Phleas, Circe, Hippothoe, Chryseis, &c., Leu-
cophasia Sinapis (on Trifolium arvense and Coronilla varia), Papilio Machaon, Poda-
lirius, Hesperia Acteon (on Stipa capillata), alveolus (on Potentilla alba, but I often
find the larva on Potentilla anserina among alder-bushes), Emmelesia albulata (on
Alectorolophus minor), and many vthers.”
Mr. F. Smith read a monograph of the Hymenopterous genus Cryptocerus, in-
cluding descriptions of 14 new species, and illustrated by outline figures of all the
species known. Three new genera are established,—Meranoplus for two species hav-
ing the body pedunculated and rounded in the female, Cataulacus for four species of
108
the Old World structurally different from Cryptocerus, and Onychognathus for a sin-_
gle species from New Zealand remarkable for having only five joints in the antenne.
Mr. Spence presented for the signatures of the members, a petition to the Govern-
ment, originated by the Royal Society, praying that it and the other Societies for the
study and advancement of natural knowledge, should be provided by the State with
apartments in juxta-position ; showing the disadvantages under which such Societies,
and, through them, science, at present laboured, on account of their disconnected lo-
cations, and having severally to support heavy expenses for house-rent and other ne-
cessary charges.
Part 4, Vol. IT., n.s., of the Society's ‘ Transactions, was announced as ready.
April 4, 1853.
Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — The ‘ Zoologist’ for April; by the Editor. The‘ Atheneum’ for March ;
by the Editor. The ‘Literary Gazette’ for March; by the Editor. The ‘ Journal
of the Society of Arts ;’ by the Society. ‘On two new Subgenera of Calanide, by
John Lubbock, Esq., F.Z.S., &e.; by the Author. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies,’
part 6; by W. Wilson Saunders, Esq. ‘ Descriptions des trois Coléoptéres:’ ‘ De-
scriptions des Coléopteres nouveaux: ’ ‘ Rappel des Coleopteres décrits par Palisot et
Beauvais: ’ all by M. A. Chevrolat, and presented by the Author. Specimens of Co-
leopterous larve with a Spheria attached ; by T. J. Stevens, Esq., Bogota. |
T. H. Langeake, Esq., Beeston, near Leeds, and F. Bates, Esq., Leicester, were
elected Subscribers to the Society. |
Mr. T. Desvignes exhibited a fine Cheerocampa Celerio, taken by Thomas Thomp-
son, Esq., at Welton, near Brough, Yorkshire; also a new British bee, — Anthidium |
maculatum, taken in Scotland by E. C. Buxton, Esq.
Mr. F. Smith remarked that this bee was common in the South of Europe ; and
it was curious and interesting, if no mistake had occurred, to find it first captured in
Britain so far North as Scotland.
Mr. Bond exhibited a Steropus madidus, with a Filaria about 6 inches long pro- |
truding from the abdomen; alsoa Filaria, 15 inches in length, extracted from another
specimen of the same species of beetle. |
Mr. Douglas exhibited some young larve of a Solenobia; produced from eggs laid
by females without male intercourse. Last July, at Charlton, he found larve moving |
about on the stem of a poplar tree; he put some into a box with a piece of the bark, |
and forgot them until recently, when he found they had produced apterous females
only, and from them had been developed the larve now exhibited, which had died in
the box where they were born.
109
_ Mr. F. Smith exhibited some Bruchi reared from seeds of Sophora myrtillifolia
from the Cape of Good Hope. Almost every seed had contained a larva of the Bru-
chus, from the greater number of them, however, only a parasitic Chalcis had emerged.
| Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited some fine insects, chiefly Lepidoptera, just received from
Mr. Bates, on the Amazon River.
The following extract of a letter from Mr. T. J. Stevens, Corresponding Member,
at Bogota, was read.
“‘ Having seen in the hands of my friend, Mr. Mack, our Consul, a dead larva with
a fungus growing from the body, I was much struck with the curious appearance, and
with some trouble procured specimens from Mr. Haldane, of Palmar, on whose estate
they are found. I have forwarded to you four specimens, and now give you extracts
from the information I received from Mr. Haldane, who is no naturalist.
“<* The grub is in its glory and is decidedly brought to life in decayed timber. It
is never to be found on trees, but underground, and in timber pulverously rotten. It
does not attack the potato, and is to be found on lands where fern has been extirpated,
but the roots still left behind in a state of decomposition. When found in the hard state
it is always dead. Such specimens are scarce, and although I know where to seek, the
difficulty is to find. Eight years elapsed after the first specimen was brought to me,
ere I could meet with a second ; but in a living state they are known to every clod-
breaker. The body of the grub, when found in the hard state, does not become putrid
in keeping, like other insects in general. The first specimen brought to me had a green
bud protruding from the mouth, resembling a green pea when it first bursts the soil.’ ”
Mr. Andrew Wilson, of Edinburgh, sent a communication recommending chloro-
form as an agent for disabling the larger Lepidoptera before they are killed or pinned,
instead of sulphur or German tinder; and stating that no danger to the person using
it need be apprehended.
The Rey. Joseph Greene communicated the followiug corrections of his note read
at the March meeting : —
* Since I wrote to you, I have been informed that the insect taken by Dr. Ball
was Deilephila lineata, and not Huphorbie ; and that the locality was Youghal, in the
South of Ireland. In point of rarity, I believe there is not much difference between
the two; but I thought it better to rectify the error. There is, likewise, one other
slight mistake, which I should wish to correct. Instead of, in my collection are two
specimens of Euphorbie and one of Galii, it should be, one of Euphorbie and two of
Galii.”
The following notes by the Rev. Joseph Greene, “ On digging for pupe of Lepido-
ptera,” were also read :—
“ Having met with considerable success in my search for pupe of Heterocerous
Lepidoptera, it has been suggested to me that a few remarks relative to localities, &c.,
might be useful to other collectors. This method of obtaining insects recommends it-
self to the entomologist in three ways. 1. Asan amusement during the winter months.
2. As enabling him to procure fine specimens without the trouble of rearing. 3. As
occasionally rewarding him with rare species, curious varieties, and others, which,
110
from their habits or forms, are difficult to procure in the perfect state, e. g., apterous
or partially apterous females. During the past winter, T have found the pupz of all
the apterous females, except Nyssia zonaria and Cheimatobia borearia.
“ Wherever in the following remarks any statement is made as to certain cireum-
stances being uncommon, usual, or invariable, I wish it to be distinctly understood
that they are so, merely so far as my own personal experience goes.
“The only instrument I use is a common garden trowel. The form is immate-
rial: perhaps a rounded blade is best, as passing with greater ease between the roots.
“ The trees which I have found the most productive are the following : — elm, oak,
ash, poplar, beech, and willow. I never found anything at birch, maple, or chesnut.
Perhaps a short list of a few of the pupx obtained at those trees may prove interesting.
“ Elm. —Smerinthus Tiliz (why this insect should be called the lime hawk-moth
I know not; I have found dozens of pupe at the roots of elm, but not one at lime),
Petasia cassinea, Teniocampa rubricosa, T. Populeti, T. munda, Cosmia diffinis, Xy-
lina semibrunnea, Anisopteryx Ascularia ¢ and 9, Hibernia leucophearia ¢ and
QO, H. aurantiaria f and 9, &c.
“ Oak. — Considering the number of larve that feed upon oak, T have been sur-
prised at finding so few pup at it. This, I suppose, is partly owing to the fact, that
a considerable number of the insects whose larve feed upon oak, do not pass the win-
ter in the pupa state. However, when you do succeed in getting one, it is generally
good; and I have found Notodonta trepida, N. Chaonia, N. Dodonea, Geometra
Papilionaria, Biston Prodromaria, &c. I was much surprised to find, on two occa-
sions, the empty cocoon of Cerura Vinula on the trunk of an oak.
“ Ash. — Peecilocampa Populi, Acronycta Ligustri, Geometra Lunaria, G. illus-
traria, &c., &c.
“ Beech. — This and the poplar are the best trees. At the former I have found
Lithosia rubricollis, L. aureola, Orgyia Coryli, Notodonta Camelina, Tephrosia conso-
naria, &c.; at the latter, Phragmatobia mendica, Pecilocampa Populi, Cerura bifida,
C. furcula, Ptilodontis palpina, Notodonta Dictea, N. Dicteoides, Clostera curtula,
Ceropacha Or, C. ocularis, Ypsipites ruberaria, &c.
“ And now a word with regard to localities. Meadows and parks with scattered
timber trees are decidedly the best localities: being near a wood seems no advantage.
It is, however, a very curious fact, that the nearer these meadows or parks are to inha-
bited places, as towns, villages, or even a single farm-house, the more abundant are
the pupe. I have observed this repeatedly, and in the most marked manner. I may
mention two examples. Nine specimens of Notodonta Dodonza were all obtained at
the roots of an oak about a dozen yards froma farm-house; and though I searched up-
wards of forty trees in the neighbouring fields, I could not find a pupa of any kind
whatever. Atthe same tree I found Biston Prodromaria and Teniocampa Gothica.
Again, the winter before last (1851-52), being in Dublin, I went to the Phaenix Park
to dig. So long as I continued near the city, I found the commoner sorts of pup@ in
plenty; but the further I retired from it, the scarcer they became: until, at about
three miles distance, I could not find one. I should be very glad to see some expla-
nation of this curious circumstance. Perhaps it may partly be accounted for on the
supposition that the parent moth is attracted by the lights in the houses, and lays her
eggs on the neighbouring trees.
“ Next to parks and meadows I place woods. Searching in woods, however, is a
tedious and fatiguing affair, and to search successfully requires some experience. Per-
111
haps the following hints may prove useful. It is in vain to examine the dense portions ;
it is equally vain to dig at the roots of trees, with few exceptions: and you will rarely
find anything, unless upon trees of considerable growth. The thick moss which col-
lects about the trunks and roots, is the part to be examined. Bombyces are generally
(almost invariably) found under the moss which covers spreading roots, and not on the
trunks. The best localities in woods are the borders and open places. It is curious
that such places when elevated, or facing the North, are generally the most productive.
“There remains one other locality —hedge-rows. These may be dismissed in a
few words: it is perfectly useless to try them. I do not think I have found a dozen
pupe in such places: why it should be so I cannot tell. There are, of course, other
localities, but as I have never tried them, I ain unable to give any opinion on them.
“ The next point which may be considered worthy of notice, is the mode of search.
This, of course, varies according to lovality. In digging, it must be borne in mind
that all pup are close to the trunk of the tree, seldom more than 2 inches distant.
Frequently the trunk of the tree forms one side of the cocoon, especially the cocoon of
such insects.as spin. Again, pupe lie close to the surface of the earth, (I have seen
those of Smerinthus Populi and S. Tiliz half ont of the earth) ; the larva of Calocampa
exoleta is the only one I know of that goes to a considerable depth. Insert then the
trowel about 3 inches from the trunk, to the depth of 2 inches or so; then push it to
the tree and turn it up. If the soil be dry and friable, without grass, knock it gently
with the trowel, which will be sufficient. If, however, there be grass, you must pro-
ceed more cautiously: take up the sod in the left hand, knock it very gently with the
trowel, and those pupe which merely enter the ground will drop out. To find those
which spin, you must carefully examine the sod, tearing the roots of the grass asun-
der. These are, of course, much the most difficult to find, the cocoons being gene-
rally of the colour of the earth. I may here remark, that it is useless to try sticky or
clayey ground, the caterpillars being unable to penetrate it. In searching under moss,
the best plan is to loosen the edge, then to tear it gently off, observing whether any
pupe fall. Look at the trunk to see if anything adheres to it, and then carefully exa-
mine the moss itself. Experience alone will enable you to detect a spun cocoon.
“ Searching under loose bark requires no comment: one observation, however, on
the Cerure. I have heard it mentioned that the pupe of the kittens are to be found
near the roots : my experience goes to prove quite the reverse. Every one who has
looked for them knows the extreme difficulty of detecting them. I found fifteen last
autumn, and they were all, without exception, at least 2 feet from the ground. The
puss moth certainly forms its cocoon near the ground generally, but not the kittens, I
think. Though not connected with the subject of pups, I think it may be useful to
mention that the larve of the genus Cerura are always found on the upper side of the
leaf, generally about the centre.
“Tf I were asked which are the most likely trees, I should say those whose branches
spread out towards the ground, since moths seldom fly to the high branches; those
whose roots form an angle filled with loose dry earth, especially when covered with
grass ; and lastly, those which have a thick loose moss upon them. Nothing however
can be more uncertain than any rules in this matter. You will perhaps see ten elm
trees, to your eye exactly alike: at nine you may find nothing ; at the tenth, possibly
twenty or thirty pupe. I remember, on one occasion, trying a number of ash trees,
without the slightest success, and was about to give up the search as hopeless, when 1
12
resolved to try one more. At that one I found forty-six pupe of Ennomos illunaria,
and three of Peecilocampa Populi!
“No pupa-hunter can hope for success, unless he have a good stock of patience
and perseverance. He must not mind cold hands, wet feet, or an aching back; for
although these are drawbacks, yet is the pursuit (to me) quite exciting, when success-
ful, and it will reward the seeker, not merely of Lepidoptera, but also of all the other
orders of insects.
“ The longer I continue to dig for pupx, the more convinced I am that one of the
causes of the periodical uncertainty in the appearance of many insects is their inabili-
ty, under certain circumstances, to force their way through the earth. As I have re-
marked, on a former occasion, severe frost following protracted rain will have this ef-
fect, as also will great heat. I once had a singular illustration of this. Digging at
the roots of an elm, I turned up a large lump of baked clay. On breaking it, I found
no fewer than sixteen pup of Teniocampa instabilis imbedded in it: the shells were
quite brittle, and on opening them I found the insect perfectly developed, but dead.
Another cause which tends to make insects scarce or uncertain in their appearance, is,
of course, the Ichneumon, that foe to the entomologist. The havoc committed by them
would appear incredible to those who have not witnessed their destructive powers as [
have, while digging for pupe. Take, for example, Lithosia rubricollis. At Guiting
I found the pupz of this insect by hundreds. It is no exaggeration to say that three-
fifths at least of these had been destroyed by Ichneumons. Their empty pupa-cases,
with the circular opening always made by the Ichneumon, lay scattered about by do-
zens ; and I have repeatedly liberated the parasite itself in turning up the sod.
“Tt may be asked—‘ How do you know the species of those pupe which are as yet
undisclosed?’ To this I would answer, chiefly by experience. As a general princi-
ple, it is not difficult to decide to what family a pupa belongs. A Bombyx may some-
times be known at once by its form, which nevertheless varies considerably. More-
over, all Bombyces form a web or cocoon, at least all those with which I am acquainted
in the pupa state. This, however, is by no means a decisive criterion, as some Noctue
(Acronycta) and Geometre (Tephrosia) do the same. Still, I think a Bombyx may be
known with tolerable certainty, if attention be paid to the following peculiarities : —1.
A web or cocoon. 2. The bulky form of the pupa, which is almost invariably either of
a nearly uniform thickness throughout, and round, or else stout to the middle and ra-
pidly tapering toa point. 3. The form of the antenne (which is an excellent criterion)
and the invariable shortness of the wing-cases: to this I call particular attention. Th
genus Lithosia, of which, however, I know only two species in the pupa state, is an
exception to some of these rules. Examples of the rounded form will occur to every
one, as Orgyia potatoria, Cerura bifida, C. furenla, &c. As an example of the taper-
ing form I may mention Orgyia Coryli. Some of the genera, also, among the Bom-
byces may readily be distinguished by the form of the pupx ; I may mention in parti-
cular Notodonta. I think I could instantly detect a pupa of that genus from its form.
I have either reared or found in pupa, Notodonta Camelina, Chaonia, Dictza, Dic-
teoides, Dodonza, Dromedarius trepida and Ziczac. In all these (with the exception
of Camelina, which slightly differs) the pupa is round of a nearly uniform thickness,
rounded at the anal extremity, and ribbed.
“The genus Lithosia is quite different. The pupe which I have had (L. rubricol-
lis and aureola) are short and stout, expanding somewhat in the middle, and tapering
slightly towards each end.
\
AD [QRe om?
113
* The Geometie are easily distinguished by their size and slender shape, except
the genera Biston, Phigalia, Nyssia, and pait ef Fnnomos. They are, moreover, the
most active pupe, except perhaps some species of the genus Acronycta.
“Tt seems to me quite impossible to assert, with any degree of certainty, to what
subfamily or genus of Noctue or Geometre a pupa belongs, or to assign any data by
which to decide, except, perhaps, experience and observation ; and even then, owing to
the great resemblance of many species to each other, one is constantly liable to error.
The tree at which a pupa is found will sometimes assist, as showing the food; but
even this is uncertain, as I have found the pupe of insects, whose larve are supposed
to feed on only one particular tree, at many others. I believe, for example, that the
larva of Acronycta Ligustri is said to feed on privet; I never took it there, but have
found the pupa under moss on willow, beech, ash, and oak.”
Mr. G. R. Waterhouse read a revision of the synonymy of the British species of the
genera Hydrochus and Ochthebius, founded upon an examination of the specimens in
the collection of the late Mr. J. F. Stephens, now in the British Museum; the result
being that in the majority of instances the names given or adopted by Mr. Stephens,
and for which others had been substituted on the continent, would remain.
Mr. Westwood hoped that advantage would be taken of the acquisition by the
Museum of Mr. Stephens’s collections, and the facilities of investigation thereby af-
forded, to work up other genera or groups of our indigenous insects. He was con-
vinced that, as in the memoir just read by Mr. Waterhouse, one resuit would be the
vindication of Mr. Stephens’s reputation from the aspersions which, he was sorry to
say, had recently been cast upon it abroad.
Mr. Westwood read a memoir intituled “ Descriptions of new Species of Coleo-
ptera from China and Ceylon,” illustrated by figures of the principal species.
May 2, 1853.
J. O. Westwoon, Esq., Vice-president, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: — The ‘ Zoologist’ fur May; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for April ;
by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for April; by the Editor. The ‘ Journal of the So-
ciety of Arts’ for April; by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the Berwickshire Natural-
ists’ Club’ for 1851; by the Club. ‘Révision de la Famille des Cicindelides de Ordre
des Coléoptéres, par Th. Lacordaire, Liége, 1842: and ‘ Monographie de la Famille
des Phytophages, par Th. Lacordaire, tome ii., Liége, 1848; both presented by the
Author. ‘ Monographie des Guépes Solitaires, par H. F. de Saussure, Cahier 4, Pa-
ris, 1852 ; by the Author. ‘Mémoires de !Académie Royale des Sciences, des Let-
tres, et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, tome xxvi., 1851: ‘ Mémoires Couronnées et
Mémoires des Savants étrangers, tome xxiv. 1852: Ditto, in 8vo., tome v. Ire partie,
R
114
1852: ‘ Bulletins de Académie, tomes xvii. 2me partie, xviii. and xix., 1851—52 ;
all presented by the Académie. Two book-cases, by Mr. Waring ; and a set of book-
shelves, by Mr. Edwin Shepherd.
The Chairman stated that in consequence of several inquiries from the apple-grow-
ing districts of the country, the Council wished him to announce that the “ mussel-
scale” of the apple, the insect whose natural history the Society bad this year proposed
as the subject of a Prize Essay, was the sume as that known in many places as the
“ scale-insect” or “ scale-blight ” of the apple.
The Chairman also called the attention of the Meeting to copies of a Catalogue
laid upon the table by Mr. Stainton, for distribution, intituled, ‘Bibliotheca Stephens-
iana, being a Catalogue of the Entomological Library of the late James Francis Ste-
phens, Esq., F.L.S., which has been preserved entire, and is now removed to Mounts-
field, Lewisham, where it may be consulted by any entomologist, every Wednesday
evening, as heretofore.’
Mr. H. Doubleday presented a beautiful drawing of the under side of a very singu-
lar variety of Polyommatus Alexis, taken near Cambridge by the Rev. Rudston Reid.
The usual ocelli were absent, but on each wing was a row of strong black marks within
the posterior margin, not extending outwardly beyond the red spots on the lower wings,
and similarly situated on the upper wings, but there the red spots were wanting. Part
only of the posterior ocelli were represenfed by black dots, (Pl. xvii. fig. 2).
Mr. Bond exhibited a specimen of a Psyche new to this country, pronounced by M.
Bruand, who was engaged on a monograph of the Psychide, to be his P. margineni-
grella. Mr. Bond reared it from a case which he found attached to a tree, either in
Lancashire or Yorkshire.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a larva of Notodonta Camelina, which had been
attacked and killed by muscardine; a very pale and little-marked variety of Argynnis
Euphrosyne ; a unicolorous variety of Fidonia atomaria; and a specimen of the rare
Aleucis pictaria, taken on the 24th of April last, on the palings at Dartford Heath.
Mr. 8S. J. Wilkinson exhibited larva-cases of Incurvaria Zinckenii and I. mascu-
lella. They were both of considerable size, and of a broad-oval form, each constructed
of two pieces of leaf neatly cut out and fastened together at the edges; the former
species from the leaf of oak, the latter from the leaf of birch. The perfect insects,
which he also exhibited, had emerged, leaving the pupa-skin projecting from the case,
showing that the larva had changed to pupa within the case. He also exhibited three
specimens of the new Lithocolletis Nicellii, reared from nut-leaves, and a cocoon of a
Bucculatrix ? found attached to a fence.
Mr. Stevens exhibited specimens of the fine Goliath beetles, Amarodes Passerinii
and Eudicella Smithii, lately received from Port Natal.
The Chairman read a note from Mr. Weaver, stating that the insect exhibited at
the November meeting, reported as Bolitophagus crenicollis, should be B. crenatus ;
and that anothor Coleopterous insect should be added to his list of discoveries in Scot-
land, namely, Ampedus tristis, belonging to the family Elateride.
The following letter was read : —
“* Liverpool, April 30, 1853.
“Sir,
“ Perhaps the following hints may not prove uninteresting to some of
the members of your Society. At your meeting on the 4th of April, a communication
115
was received from Mr. Wilson, recommending chloroform asa means of disabling
large Lepidoptera before pinning or killing them. Some years since, when in Swit-
zerland, I took great delight iu making a collection of Lepidoptera, and invariably
found that the easiest way of killing the insects was by dropping sulphuric ether on
their heads. This suffocates them immediately, excepting the very large kinds, and
then a second dose is generally needed. Iv this manner I have killed Papilio Poda-
lirius, Parnassius Apollo and Mnemosyne, Apatura Ivis, Acherontia Atropos, Sphinx
Convolvuli, 8. Ligustri, 8. Pinastri, Cheerocampa Nerii, &c.
“When the insect is captured and killed, Mr. Humphreys, in his beautiful book,
mentions that ‘ the wings must be kept expanded by thin braces of card.’ An easier
plan is to have a flat board, with grooves of various sizes to receive the bodies, and
then to keep the wings expanded by small pieces of glass until dry. The advantage
is, that the glass presses equally all over the wings, and also that you can always see
whether they are in their proper position or not.
“ T remain, Sir,
“ Your obedient Servant,
“6 Ji, Wee
“ To the President of the Entomological Society.”
Dr. Dutton said that he preferred hydrocyanic acid to all other agents for destroy-
ing life in insects. He had found one drop, of Scheele’s strength, sufficient to kill
fifty insects; and, so small a quantity being necessary, no danger to the operator need
be apprehended.
Mr. Spence communicated the following note on Termes lucifugus : —
“ As the small yellow ant (Myrmica domestica), now become such a pest in Lon-
don, might probably have been easily extirpated, had it been brought under the eye of
entomologists on its first introduction from abroad, it may not be amiss to direct the
attention of the members of the Society to the possible importation of a still worse
pest, the Termes lucifugus of Rossi. The ravages of this minute white ant (first dis-
covered in France at Bordeaux by Latreille), at Saintes, Rochefort, and Tournay-Cha-
rente, in the western departments of France, were described by M. Audouin twenty
years ago, and the accuracy of his observations has been since confirmed by those of
MM. Milne-Edwards and Blanchard in the same localities; but it appears from a
paper read before the Académie des Sciences at Paris, on March 28, by M. de Quatre-
fage, that this insect has now found its way also into the Port of Rochelle (interesting
to entomologists as the birth-place of Réaumur), where it is rapidly extending itself ;
and how easily it might thence be brought to our ports in the West of England, where
it would find a temperature probably as well suited to its propagation as at Rochelle,
need not be pointed out. This species, as Latreille observed, and as M. de Quatre-
fage informs us, does not confine itself to dead wood, but attacks living plants and
trees, having excavated the stems and tubers of Dahlias, and the trunks and larger
branches of poplars. He found chlorine the most effective agent for its destruction.”
The Chairman said Dr. Burmeister had shown him the same Termes from the
South of Prussia.
116
Mr. Stainton communicated the following extract of a letter from Count Nicelli:—
“ Lithocolletis Scabivusella, Douglas, is a very good species. However, it is not the
only species on low-growing plants, for Herr von Heyden, of Frankfort-on-the-Maine,
sent me a very beautiful species, something like lautella, bred from a species of Vicia ;
itis L. Bremiella. Besides this, I may mention L. Sagittariella, a species allied to
Faginella and Mannii, bred from broom ; and another, named by him L. Staintoni-
ella, which is allied to L. Betula, but much smaller, and feeds on broom.”
Mr. Westwood mentioned that by a careful examination of the fragments of the
Chinese wax-making Coceus, given to him by Mr. Hanbury, he had been able to find |
wings of the male, and dried bodies and some other parts of both male and female, so
that he now thought he could make a sufficient description of both sexes of the spe-
cies. He had also found three species of Encyrtus parasitic on this Coccus.
Mr. Westwood also informed the meeting, that specimens of a blind shrimp, found
in a well near Maidenhead, had been sent to him, and that he had identified them as
the Niphargus Stygius of Schiddte, found in the caves of Carniola, and of which a |
figure, description, and account were published in the Society's ‘ Transactions,’ vol. 1.
n.s. The well in question was about 18 feet deep, and these Crustaceans abounded
in it to such an extent, as to render the water unfit for use. The well had been
cleaned out, but the shrimps were still there, though to a less extent.
June 6, 1853.
Epwaro Newmay, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — The ‘ Zoologist’ for June; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for May; by
the Editor, The ‘Literary Gazette’ for May; by the Editor. The ‘ Proceedings
of the Zoological Society, No. 201—226, and the ‘ Transactions of the Zoological So-
ciety, Vol. vi. part 3; by the Society. The ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ Vol.
vi. No. 953; by the Society. ‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, 1853, No. 3; by M.
Guérin Méneville. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for February and March; by the En-
tomological Society of Stettin.
Mr. Waring exhibited a fine pair of Notodonta trepida, bred by Mr. B. Standish
from larve found on oaks.
Mr. Bond exhibited some beautiful specimens of Anticlea Berberata, bred from
larve found on the berberry, in Cambridgeshire, last year.
Mr. Wilkinson exhibited Lithocolletis Stettinensis, Nicelli, a new species bred
from caterpillars found in the leaves of alders last year.
Mr. Stevens exhibited a fine pair of Notodonta Carmelita, and part of another spe-
cimen found in a mutilated condition, all taken at Black Park, Bucks, on May 8th.
117
Mr. Douglas exhibited Catoptria Albersana, and a drawing of the larva from which
it was bred. The latter he found at Wickham, in September last, in a leaf of honey-
suckle, which it had converted into a dwelling by making a fold aloug its entire length.
Mr. Boyd brought for distribution specimens of Tephrosia consonaria, recently
captured in Buckinghamshire.
Mr. Westwood mentioned some curious circumstances that had lately occurred
amongst his bees. About ten days since a hive threw off aswarm, which settled at the
entrance of the next hive, the inhabitants of which resisted the intruders, and much
fighting occurred. Mr. Westwood interfered, and removed the queen; having re-
leased her, she immediately led the swarm to the entrance of another hive, where the
same scene of confusion again occurred: a second time he took her away, and placed
her upon a rose-bush, whence she took flight, and, he supposed, returned to the hive
from which she originally came, for the swarm soon returned to its parent abode, and
from this hive today a fine swarm came forth.
Yesterday another hive sent out a swarm, which joined a swarm from a neigh-
bouring hive settled about forty yards distant, and both of them remained in one hive.
There was much fighting, and as many bees were killed as would fill a pint measure ;
but today they seemed to be amicably settled, whence he presumed that one of the
queens had been put to death. The junction of these swarms seemed to imply the in-
fluence of some attraction upon one of them by the other, or a communication between
them.
Mr. Waring knew an instance in which four swarms joined and remained together,
the hive having to be greatly enlarged to hold them. In the Exhibition of 1851, was
a case containing six swarms, but these had been artificially brought together.
Mr. Wallace read a paper “ On the Insects used as Food by the Indians of the
Amazon,” enumerating species of five Orders which are sought for and eaten with
avidity.
Mr. Douglas read a continuation of his “ Contributions to the Natural History of
British Micro-Lepidoptera,’ consisting of illustrations of the transformations of the
genera Bedellia and Elachista.
The President announced the publication of Part 5 of the current volume of the
Society's ‘ Transactions,’ and that the Prize Essay on the duration of life in the Ho-
ney Bee was reprinted for separate sale.
July 6, 1853.
Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :— The ‘ Zoologist’ for July; by the Editor. The ‘ Atheneum’ for June; by
the Editor. The ‘Literary Gazette’ for June; by the Editor. The ‘ Journal of the
Society of Arts’ for June; by the Society. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for April and
May; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘ Journal of the Royal Agricultural
118
Society of England, vol. xiv. part 1, 1853; by the Society. ‘ Exotic Butterflies,’ part
7; by W. Wilson Saunders, Esq. ‘ Monographie des Guépes Solitaires,’ par H. F.
de Saussure, Cahiers 5 et 6; by the Author. ‘Abhandlungen iiber eine neue Daph-
nieart, Daphnia aurita, und uber die Daphnia laticornis, Jurine, von Dr. Sebastian
Fischer; ‘ Abhandlungen iiber die in der Umgebung von St. Petersburg vorkommen-
den Crustaceenans, der Ordnung der Branchiopoden und Entomostraceen, von Dr.
Sebastian Fischer: ‘ Erganzungen, Berichtungen und Forsetzung zu der Abhandlung
uber die in der Umgebung von St. Petersburg vorkommenden Crustaceen, von Dr.
Sebastian Fischer: all presented by the Author.
R. F. Logan, Esq., of Duddingston, near Edinburgh, was balloted for and elected —
a Member of the Society.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited a large box of insects, captured this season in Scotland by
Mr. Foxcroft, and sent asa sample of the species to be distributed among his Sub-—
scribers. There were many fine and rare species, including Notodonta Carmelita
among the Lepidoptera, and Astynomus edilis among the Coleoptera.
Mr. Janson exhibited some insects taken on the occasion of the Society’s visit to
Mickleham, on the 25th of June; including the very rare moth, Pachetra leucophea
(or the species known by that name in England), and the following rare Coleoptera: —
Claviger testaceus, Baris picicornis, and Spherosoma Quercts. |
Mr. Tebbs exhibited Notodonta trepida, which was attracted to a light at Highgate.
Mr. Weir exhibited the scarce Aplota palpella, bred from Genista tinctoria, grow-
ing at Pembury, near Tonbridge Wells.
Mr. Hunter exhibited a living larva of Limenitis Sibylla, found on honeysuckle at
Black Park.
Mr. Bond exhibited Hydrilla caliginosa, ¢ and Q, lately taken in the New Forest.
Mr. Stevens exhibited the rare Curculionidous beetle, Plinthus caliginosus, from
West Wickham; the exceedingly rare moth, Chariclea Delphinii, the larva of which
he thinks he took last year near Arundel ; and a specimen of Aplecta nebulosa, with a
pollen-mass of a flower attached to each eye.
Mr. Waring exhibited two living mole-crickets; on which Mr. Douglas remarked
that he once had two of these insects together in a box, and in a short time he found
they were both dead, and greatly mutilated by each other.
Mr. Carter exhibited a Cucullia umbratica, with a number of flower-anthers at-
tached to its head; and Aphelia pratana, with a Gordius ? protruding from its abdomen.
Mr. Douglas exhibited Laverna ochraceella, Curtis, bred from leaves of Epilobium
hirsutum, in which the larve mine and make their cocoons, —a discovery of Mr. Jor-
dan, of Teignmouth. He also exhibited the larva, pupa, and imago of Areocerus
Coffee, Fab., a beetle belonging to the family Anthribide, which he had found in con-
siderable quantity, feeding upon and doing great damage to mace imported from India.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited Retinia Turionana, from West Wickham; and
Madopa Salicalis, Spilonota simplana, Chrosis Audouinana, Eupithecia Suecenturi-
ata, and Roslerstammia perlepidella, from Darenth Wood.
Mr. Westwood exhibited Hylobius Abietis, a beetle usually found on young pines,
but this season discovered to be destructive to plum and peach trees in some districts ;
Coleophora Luscinizpennella, reared from leaves of rose-trees, to which the larve had
done considerable damage ; Ourapteryx Sambucaria, with its pupa, directing atten-
tion,to some peculiarities of the latter not hitherto noticed, as the dilation just above
the very acute terminal point, and the number of small recurved hooks by which it
Ps
attaches itself to the threads of its cocoon; and the imago and transformations of
Lampronia corticella, S¢., the larva of which feeds in the buds of raspberries, remark-
ing especially upon the singular manner in which in the pupa the haustellum is rolled
up laterally. He also read the following letter : —
“ Small Arms Office,
“ Birmingham, June 13, 1853.
“Sir,
“Tn the translation of that very interesting book of Kollar, on
‘ Insects injurious to Gardeners and Foresters, I have sought for the history, habitat
and description of those insects which infest and destroy the timber in our store-houses,
and more especially those which attack walnut-wood in preference: but I find only a
very slight reference to the Anobium, as being the cause of that I would proceed
against. I am no entomologist, not from want of inclination, but of time; but being
concerned in the care and conservation of a very large store of rough musket-stocks
in the public magazines, every recurring season makes me more anxious to devise, if
possible, some means of defence against the insidious enemies known amongst work-
men under the general name of ‘ the grub.’
“Tt is upon these grounds that I trust you will pardon me for troubling you with
a few questions. Some fourteen years ago I received valuable help and information
from your Society upon the subject of an insect of the Bostrichus tribe, which I had
unwittingly imported through Marseilles, and I am now induced to come again for
help against our indigenous enemies.
“The beetles that I send inclosed are soine that were taken off piles of walnut-
stocks at Weedon, last week ; I found some of the larve also — small white maggots,
not larger than a horse-hair—but these were lost on the way home.
“ 1, Will you have the goodness to give me the proper name of this particular in-
sect, and the family that it belongs to ?
“2. At what season of the year does the parent beetle deposit her eggs ?
“3. In what period of time from that are the larve hatched ?
““4, Do they (the maggots) penetrate into the wood immediately after coming out
of the egg?
“5. How long do they remain feeding in the wood, or lying dormant in the pupa
state, before emerging as perfect beetles ?
“6. Does the course of transformation of this tribe of beetles take place more than
once in the same year ?
“7, My observation leads me to the conclusion that the first palpable external
sign of the grub having been in the wood, is the hole made by the perfect
beetle in coming out: is this opinion well founded ?
“Trusting to your good offices, I pray you to believe me,
“ Sir,
“ Your very obedient Servant,
“ Gro. LovE Lt,
‘<1. M. Inspector of Smal! Arms.”
“J. O. Westwood, Esq.”
Mr. Westwood exhibited the beetle referred to—Latridius lardarius, and said that
the habits attributed to it did not agree with its economy, for it was well known to
feed upon dried animal matter and provisions, and never upon wood; so that he
thought it was not the real depredator, and he now awaited a reply to a communica-
tion to this effect which he had made to Mr. Lovell.
Mr. Douglas read the following note : —
“Tn the ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’ for May, is a note by Dr. H. Hagen, upon a
work published in London in 1773, intituled ‘A Decade of Curious Insects: some of
them not described before, shewn in their natural size, and as they appear enlarg’d —
before the Lucernal Microscope, in which the Solar Apparatus is artificially illumi- |
nated: with their History, Characters, Manners and Places of Abode; on ten 4to
plates and their explanations, drawn and engraved from Nature by J. Hill, Member
of the Imperial Academy.’ This work, Dr. Hagen says, has been rendered notorious
by the remark of Fabricius in his ‘ Species Insectorum’ (Pref. p. 8), —‘at damnande
memorie J. Hill, qui decadem Insectorum Londini 1773, 4to, figuris fictitiis edidit.’
After quoting on this point a remark of Percheron, in his ‘ Bibliographie,’ —‘ C’est
une question que l’on peut examiner de nouveau, maintenant que l’on posséde tant de
matériaux que Fabricius ne connaissait pas, — Dr. Hagen goes on to say, for reasons
which he gives, that he does not think the figures are fictitious ; at the same time al-
lowing, that even for the period at which they appeared, they are very bad, and that
the descriptions are no better. As an example, he gives the remark upon Alucita pal-
lida: —‘ A studious gentleman, very subject to the headache, sneezing one day with
violence, as he was writing, saw some atoms a moment afterward upon a sheet of white
paper that lay upon his table? &c. This, he says, ‘ Westwood, in his ‘Introduction’
(vol. ii. p. 5), quotes without further remark, so that he does not seem to have suspected
any deception. Stephens, and all the other English authors, entirely ignore Hill’s
work, and yet his figures are not worse than fig. 3, tab. 6, in Harris’s ‘ Exposition,
from which Stephens, without any remark, makes out Ceenis Harrisella, a new, and, to
him, unknown species.’
“ Dr. Hagen gives the following remarks upon Hill’s figures, and adds that he
should be happy to hear the opinions of other, and particularly English, entomologists,
on this matter : —
“ Tab. 1. Tenthredo luctuosa, from Uxbridge. (A small Hymenopteron).
“Tab. 2. Tenthredo variegata, from England. (A small Hymenopteron).
“Tab. 3. Sphex pectinipes, from Ireland. (Not to be made out).
“ Tab. 4. Myrmeleon Formicarium, from France and Italy. (Doubtless M. tetra-
grammicum).
“ Tab. 6. Cynips Quercis-folii, from Norway. (Bad, but a Hymenopteron).
“ Tab. 7. Ephemera Culiciformis, from Esher, in England. (Very bad, but cer-
tainly a small species of Perlide).
“Tab. 8. Ephemera rupestris, from London. (Very bad, but doubtless a small
Phryganea).
“Tab. 9. Alucita pallida, from England. (A very small Thrips).
“Tab. 10. Alucita fulva, from England. (A Phlcothrips).”
Mr. Westwood said the figures were very bad, and that it was scarcely possible to
recognise the species ; and with regard to the insects which “ the studious gentleman ”
sneezed, he thought it probable that he had previously drawn them into his nose by
smelling flowers.
MAR. Sy Od
}21
Mr. 8. Stevens mentioned that one evening, at Mickleham, he saw many Noctue
attracted to one particular thisue, and upon investigation he found it covered with
Aphides and their sweet secretion.
Mr. Wing said he had seen both Noctue and Geometre attracted by the secretion
of Aphides on gooseberry-bushes; and Mr. Westwood alluded to the well-known at-
traction to bees of the honey-dew deposited by Aphides on the leaves of trees.
The President announced that a second field-day excursion of the Members of the
Society and their friends, would be made to West Wickham Wood, on the 9th of July.
August 1, 1853.
SamvuEt Stevens, Esq., F.L.S., in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors : — The ‘ Zoologist’ for August; by the Editor. The ‘ Atheneum’ for July ;
by the Editor. The ‘Literary Gazette’ for July; by the Editor. The ‘ Journal of the
Society of Arts’ for July; by the Editor. ‘ Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Na-
turalistes de Moscou,’ Nos. 3 and 4, 1851, No. 1, 1852: ‘ Die Coleopterologischen
Verhaeltnisse und Kafer Russlands,’ von Victor v. Motschulsky: both by the Soc. Imp.
Nat. Moscou. ‘ Bericht uber die wissenchaftlichen Leistungen im Gebiete der Ento-
mologie wahrend des Jahres 1851,’ von Dr. H. Schaum; Berlin, 1853. by the Author.
‘ Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Scotland, by Andrew Murray ; Edinburgh, 1853: by
the Author. ‘ Abhandlungen der Mathemat.-Physikal. Classe der Koeniglich Bayer-
ischen Akademie der Wissenchaften, 17 Band, Ist abth., Munchen, 1853: Bulletin
ditto, No. 25: ‘ Ueber den Chemismus der Vegetation,’ von Dr. A. Vogel jun., Mun-
chen, 1853: all by the Akademie. ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society, Vol. xxi.
part 2, 1853: ‘ Proceedings of the Linnean Society, Nos. 48—51: ‘ List of the Lin-
nean Society ;’ all by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society, Vol. vi. No.
97; by the Society. Two specimens of Boletophagus crenatus ; by Mr. Foxcroft.
Viscount Goderich, M.P.; Captain Cox, Queen’s Body Guard; and Henry Evans,
Esq., Darley Abbey, near Derby, were balloted for and elected Members of the Society.
Mr. Stevens exhibited a female of the rare Pachetra leucophea? taken flying at
Mickleham, in July; and an almost black variety of Hadena dentina, from the same
place.
Mr. Wilkinson exhibited living larve of Incurvaria masculella in their cases, feed-
ing upon leaves of beech and hombeam externally, having in a young state fed within
the cuticles, of which the cases were formed.
Mr. Smith exhibited a very large Boletus, found by Mr. Foxcroft on an old birch-
tree in the Black Forest, Rannoch, from which he had extracted Boletophagus crena-
tus. He also exhibited a large quantity of Mr. Foxcroft’s captures of Coleoptera,
Lepidoptera, and Hymenoptera in Perthshire, including many rare species, and among
the Coleoptera, Lampyris splendidula? a new British species.
Mr. Douglas exhibited Ino Globulariz, taken at Cheltenham in July, being a new
Ss
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locality for this species; also Heliothis marginata, and twelve other species of Noctuide
captured at the same time and place, flying at dusk about the flowers of Silene inflata.
Mr. Bond exhibited some leaves of parsnep from Cambridgeshire, affected with
the same disease as the potatoes, which the growers think is caused by insects. He
however had only found on them a few minute Aphides, Psovi, &c., which he now
handed to Mr. Westwood for examination.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a remarkable variety of Anticlea rubidata, in which
the ordinary broad band on the fore-wings had been converted into a narrow fascia.
Mr. Stainton exhibited an insect, captured by Mr. Boyd in the New Forest, closely
resembling a Lepidopterous Nepticula or Elachista in its size, brilliancy, colour, and
marking, but which was in reality Trichopterous, and probably of a new genus.
Mr. Westwood exhibited a new entomological product from the interior of Tropi-
cal Africa, near the Bight of Benin, consisting of a mass of the cocoons of one of the
Lepidoptera, probably allied to Galleria, which was found loosely attached to trees.
It formed a spongy-looking silky body, which, from the agglomeration of the multitude
of cocoons, could not be wound off like ordinary silk, but had to be carded, like wool.
Healso exhibited the material as it appeared in two subsequent stages of manufacture,
in which it resembled floss silk ; from this it was spun into threads, then mixed with
cotton, and woven into.articles of different kinds, which have a strong texture. This
substance would probably be turned to account, for several silk-manufacturers had
seen it, and thought it might prove a desirable addition to our materials fur textile
fabrics. He also exhibited some dyed silk from the same country, which he thought
was the product of another insect.
Mr. Westwood read from the ‘ Gardeners’ Chronicle’ a recommendation of chloro-
form as an agent for stupefying bees, when such a proceeding, for the purpose of
taking honey, or from any other cause, was necessary in the apiary, in preference to
sulphur or fungus.
Mr. Westwood then read from the Boston (U. 8.) ‘New England Farmer’ of July
2nd, the following account, headed “ A new Enemy in the Field ;” stating that Dr.
Harris had not noticed this caterpillar in his writings on injurious insects : —
“Within the past three days, we have noticed on our apple-trees a small worm,
which threatens destruction to our most valuable crop. His manner and size are
much after the style of the canker-worm, but his personal appearance is different.
Like the canker-worm, he devours the leaf all but the tough fibres, and if you suddenly
shake the tree, spins down on his thread like a spider, and he leaves the tree looking
as if seared by fire.”
“¢ The canker-worm, if I recollect aright, when he visited New Hampshire twenty
years ago, was always of a dark colour, and moved soberly by measure, while these
creatures are of all colours, black, brown, green and striped, and they slip off your hand
with a sort of waltzing step, in a second.”
“‘T have travelled from Chester, through Raymond and other towns, home today,
and have observed them all along. They are abundant, not only on the apple-tree,
but on the plum, and on the white and red oak. The peach, which promises a great
crop this season, seems to be free from them. Probably Professor Harris can tell us
all about the animal in a moment.”
“HA. F. Frencu.”
“ Exeter, N. H., June 20, 1853.”
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Another communication was as follows : —
“Jn our vicinity an enemy has appeared upon our fruit-trees, the apple and the
cherry, which threatens to destroy our entire crop. So far as I can learn, the foe is a
stranger to our fruit-growers ; it is spread upon all parts of the tree, and, when it is
shaken, drops from it suspended by a web, then winds up its web, and again gains its
position on the tree. The trees, when badly eaten, present a dry and sere appearance.
In all these points it is like the canker-worm, as it is also in size, and to a casual ob-
server it would be pronounced their work ; but in many respects it is dissimilar. The
canker-worm is brown, this is nearly white, with two longitudinal stripes running its
whole length ; the canker-worm is slow of motion, this is very quick, and moves ra-
pidly from place to place in all directions, to escape an enemy ; the canker-worm moves
forward by doubling or opening and throwing forward its head and fore part, this is
provided with 16 legs,—6 near the head, 8 near the middle, and 2 at the tail, and uses
them with great celerity in running. The canker-worm has no shelter upon the tree,
but lies out upon the leaf or branch ; this forms itself a house by webbing the corner
of a leaf, into which it retreats on the first appearance of danger: the canker-worm
rarely eats the fruit, if it can get leaves; this is now eating into and spoiling and dis-
figuring the fruit. Of the insect which produces them I know nothing. My neigh-
bours say that about three or four weeks since they noticed an abundance of small
millers, of an ash colour, and they may have proceeded from them. If the insect,
with its habits, are unknown, we have before us a work of careful observation, as the
first descent of these depredators threatens more injury to our fruit than any other in-
sect which has attacked our trees. If there are not enough to spoil my trees and fruit
entirely now, I am sure that double the present number on those of my trees most
eaten, would not leave me an apple ora leaf remaining.
“ R. C. Stone.”
“ Sherburne, June 21, 1853.”
The Editor adds : — “ Shaking the trees pretty freely dislodges them. We advise
this practice, and also syringing the young tree well with whale-oil-soap, strong soap-
suds, or even clear water. We understand that muriate of lime will destroy them, by
sprinkling the ground with it, and shaking the worms down upon it.”
Mr. Wollaston communicated an extract of a letter from Dr. Schaum, informing
him of the death of Dr. Germar on the 8th of July, from an attack of gout, at the age
of 66.
Mr. Smith read some “Observations on the Economy of Pompilus punctum,”
showing that P. petiolatus, Vander Linden, is the female of that species, which fact
he had ascertained by breeding both from one set of cells, found by the Rev. W. Del-
mar, at Elmstone Rectory, near Canterbury, and communicated to him by Mr. W.
Thomson, Director of the Natural-History Department at the Crystal Palace.
Mr. Douglas read the following extract from Layard’s ‘ Discoveries in the Ruins
of Nineveh and Babylon, 1853, page 338.
“ Ruins at Konyunjik. — The walls were panelled with sculptured slabs about six
feet high. Those to the right in descending represented a procession of servants car-
rying fruit, flowers, gum, and supplies for a banquet, preceded by mace-bearers. The
124
attendants who followed carried clusters of ripe dates, and flat baskets of osier-work
filled with pomegranates, apples, and bunches of grapes. They raised in one hand
small green boughs to drive away the flies. Then came men bearing hares, part-
ridges, and dried locusts fastened on rods. The locust has ever been an article of food —
in the East, and is still sold in the markets of many towns in Arabia. Being intro-
duced in this bas-relief amongst the choice delicacies of a banquet, it was probably
highly prized by the Assyrians.”
Mr. Douglas also read the following translation from the ‘ Entomologische Zeitung’
for April, of a ‘‘ Report by Professors Goeppert and Cohn, of a Lecture by Professor
von Siebold on Strepsiptera, at a meeting of the Silesian ‘ Gesellschaft fur vaterl.
Cultur, at Breslau, on the 9th of February.”
“ The Strepsiptera form such a remarkable and isolated group of insects, that the
oldest French and English entomologists, who were the first to draw the attention of
the naturalist to these exceedingly rare insect-parasites, raised them into a distinct
Order. In Germany they remained almost entirely unnoticed ; indeed, the ignorance
of this interesting group was so great, that up to a very late period no account of it
exists in any German zoological hand-book. The lecturer, at different times, in jour-
nals and papers of scientific Natural-History Societies, has published his observations
upon the very singular organization of the Strepsiptera, so different from that of all
other insects, and upon the history of their wonderful propagation, without having had
here in Germany these communications completed or extended by others; whilst in
England, they appear to be peculiarly fortunate in discovering and observing these in-
sects. Through the researches of English entomologists, we know up to this time 14
species of Strepsiptera, in 5 genera ; among which are 11 European species. In order
not to repeat what the lecturer published on the Strepsiptera some years since, he re-
ferred to the last paper on the subject in the Proceedings of the ‘ Naturforschenden
Gesellschaft of Danzig, Bd. iii. Heft 2, 1839; later in the ‘ Entomol. Zeitung,’ 1843,
p- 118, and in Wiegman’s ‘ Archivs far Naturgeschicte, 1843, Bd.i. p. 187. Herr
von Siebold has continued, in Freiburg, the investigations into the Strepsiptera which
he had commenced in Danzig and Erlangen, where it was easy for him to procure
his materials: here in Breslau he laboured in vain to obtain Strepsiptera; and none
of the many able Silesian entomologists could give him an idea where and how to pro-
cure these insects. Herr von Siebold hopes therefore, after his approaching return to
South Germany, again to renew his researches, and to be able to complete his Mono-
graph of the Strepsiptera. The reason why he now speaks about them is, that in the
last ‘Catalogus Coleopterorum Europe, published by the Entomological Society of
Stettin, the Strepsiptera are presented as a family of beetles, under the name of ‘Sty-
lopites. The Strepsiptera have had the fate to see themselves classified in all the
hitherto known Orders of insects, by those entomologists who would not acknowledge
them to be a distinct Order. The first proposition to bring the Strepsiptera among
the Coleoptera, was put forth by Burmeister (in his ‘ Handbuch der Naturgeschichte,’
1837, p. 648), without giving any further reason for his supposition that they should
occupy their natural position among the family Mordellide : he was merely led thereto
by the idea that the larve of Strepsiptera are parasites on bees, and the larve of Sym-
bius and Rhipiphorus, belonging to the Mordellide, also live as parasites, the former
on Blatta, the latter on Vespa. This view of Burmeister has recently been supported
125
in England, by Newman (‘ Zoologist,’ 1850, p. 2684), who endeavours to prove that the
Strepsiptera are genuine Coleoptera. We find the grounds of his arguments stated
in extracts in the entomological ‘ Jahrsbericht’ of Wiegman’s ‘ Archivs, (1851, Bd. ii.
p- 200). Herr v. Siebold is not convinced by the reasons given, that the Strepsiptera
are beetles. The resemblance of the larve of Strepsiptera to those of Meloe is refer-
red to, but that is only very superficial ; the latter have the parts of the mouth dis-
tinctly developed, in the former they are entirely wanting. In both sexes of beetles
the parts of the mouth are always developed into very perfect biting organs; in the
male of the perfected Strepsiptera they are reduced to two rudimentary jaws, and in
the female they are entirely absent. The prothorax in all beetles is seen very strongly
developed, and the upper part forms a large surface, furnished with many characters
indicative of genera and species; while, in the Strepsiptera, this upper side of the pro-
thorax has almost entirely vanished. The reduced and somewhat spirally twisted fore
wings of the Strepsiptera are very movable appendages, and occupy the position of
anterior halteres (Schwingkolben), corresponding to the hinder halteres of the Dipte-
ra; in beetles, the fore wings are simply coverings for the hind wings, and in flight
are merely lifted up and held immovable, whether they are diminutive or not. All
the male Strepsiptera want the claws of the last joint of the tarsi, an apparatus so ne-
cessary for Coleoptera, which use their legs in running, climbing, and clinging, that
all species are provided therewith ; moreover, they live for months, and even years, af-
ter they have thrown off their pupa-covering, whereas the male Strepsiptera, from the
moment they emerge from the pupa, flutter incessantly, and do not live longer than a
day. Though Herr v. Siebold is now convinced that the Strepsiptera are not Coleo-
ptera, he still thinks that the attempt made by entomologists to place them in that
position, must be borne with, and even received with welcome, as it has very good
practical advantages, from which science may very shortly derive benefit. Hitherto,
the entire group of Strepsiptera has been neglected in an unprecedented manner by
German entomologists, but now, since Coleopterists find the Strepsiptera incorporated
into the Catalogue of Coleoptera, they will be induced to adorn their collections with
these pretty little creatures. They will now pay attention to these insects, will cap-
ture and pin them, and so must study the circumstances of their existence; they will
be compelled to observe them, and the insects in which they live, with the greatest
attention, for this is absolutely necessary, if they wish to possess winged Stylopide.
In this way, observations and communications respecting these hitherto little known
creatures will be amassed, from which hereafter the scientific position of these insects
will stand out with greater certainty. As the lecturer has already been called upon
by several Coleopterologists to indicate some means by which these Strepsiptera may
be procured, he thinks it right to reeommend the following method of rearing them,
which has even now proved to be very useful ; as it is only by breeding that one can
obtain possession of the winged males, for, on account of their smallness, tenderness,
and short, hidden life, they can only very rarely and casually be taken at large. In the
first place, a spacious, light, and airy cage or apartment (Zwinger) must be prepared,
in which flowering Umbellifere (which are eagerly sought by Hymenoptera) may be
placed, and kept fresh by water in glasses; then, nothing must be thought of the trou-
ble of catching the Apide and Andrenidz which frequent the flowers of the sallows, and
examining whether they are Stylopized or not, and then carefully placing in the afore-
said cage those which are Stylopized, which may easily be distinguished from those
that are not Stylopized. One proceeds in the same manner with the Stylopized
126
Vespide (Polistes gallica) and Sphegide (Ammophila sabulosa), which are found abun-
dantly on Umbelliferee. These insects, although as captives they at first miss their
usual employment and care for their brood, live in their cage for several weeks, espe-
cially if they are from time to time supplied with fresh flowers of Umbelliferze spread
over with pounded sugar. Being accustomed to work, they are thus provided with
employment; they busy themselves on the flowers, and lick up the sugar, and their
life is prolonged as long as possible, so that the pupe of the Stylopide contained in
their bodies obtain time to develope, and (in the case of the males) emerge as winged
insects. ‘The Stylopized Hymenoptera are known in the following manner: — The
larve of Strepsiptera living as Entozoa in the cavity of the hinder part of the body of
Hymenoptera, eventually, when about to assume the pupa-state, with the fore part of
the body pierce through the soft portion between the hinder segments of the body of
their foster-parent, where they continue to remain, so that the ever wingless and foot-
less females end their lives there; the males, after a time, thrust the prominent fore-
part of their pupa-case out of the hinder part of the body of their foster-parents, and
flutter out of their confinement. The Hymenoptera which are burdened with male
pup, are known by the dark brown conical fore ends of the pupa-cases projecting be-
tween the segments of the bodies of the bees and wasps; the female Strepsiptera are
distinguished by the light brown scale-furmed projecting fore part of the body, which
remains unchangeably fixed, whilst the conical fore part (cephalothorax) of the male
pupa breaks off upon the exclusion of the perfect insect.”
Herr Schiddte, of Copeuhagen, who was present as a visitor, made a few remarks
in favour of the proposition that the Strepsiptera should be associated with the Coleo-
ptera; observing that the characters of the latter Order are possessed generally by the
Strepsiptera, though some are in a rudimentary state only, laying stress upon the form
of the mouth and the metamorphosis, as more essential characters of the Coleoptera
than the large prothorax ; and arguing that in such a matter as the position of the
Strepsiptera, the most essential characters of all the Orders, and not the minute detail,
should be considered and compared: from which he was led to believe that the Strep-
siptera, though apparently in some respects anomalous, were more nearly related to
the Coleoptera than to any other Order; and that the opponents of this view should
show that any of the characters of the Coleoptera are not represented in the Strep-
siptera.
Mr. Waterhouse briefly opposed the junction of the Strepsiptera with the Coleo-
ptera, confining himself chiefly to the different development of the prothorax in each
Order, the form of which he considered very characteristic of different groups.
Mr. Westwood also made some similar observations : and argued that the Strepsi-
ptera were more nearly allied to the coarctate Diptera.
September 5, 1853.
J. O. Westwoop, Esq., Vice-president, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: — The ‘ Zoologist’ for September; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for
P27
August; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for August; by the Editor. The ‘Journal
of the Society of Arts, for August; by the Society. ‘Smithsonian Contributions to
Knowledge,’ Vol. V. Washington, 1853: ‘Sixth Annual Report of the Board of
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: ’ Norton’s ‘ Literary Register’ for 1853 :
* Portraits of North American Indians, with Sketches of Scenery, &c.’; all by the
Smithsonian Institution. ‘A Treatise on some of the Insects of New England which
are injurious to Vegetation, by Thaddeus William Harris, M.D. Second Edition.
Boston, 1852; by the Author. ‘ On two new Species of Calanide, with Observations
on the Spermatic Tubes of Pontella, Diapotamus, &c.,’ by John Lubbock, Esq., F.Z.S. ;
by the Author. ‘ Bibliotheca Stephensiana ; being a Catalogue of the Entomological
Library of the late James Francis Stephens, Esq., F.L.S., which has been preserved
entire, and is now removed to Mountsfield, Lewisham, where it may be consulted by
any Entomologist every Wednesday evening, as heretofore. One copy for the Libra-
ry, bound, and fifty copies for distribution among the Members; by H. T. Stainton,
Esq. ‘Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, Nos. 8—12, for 1852, and Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and
6, for 1853 ; by the Editor, M.Guérin-Meéneville. ‘ Catalogue des Larves des Coléo-
ptéres connues jusqu’ ace jour, avec la Description de plusieurs Espéces nouvelles,
par M. F. Chapuis, Docteur en Médecine et en Sciences Naturelles, et M. E. Can-
déze, Docteur en Médecine. Liege, 1853; by the Authors. Three boxes of butter-
flies; by Thos. Jones Stevens, Esq., of Bogota, Corresp. M.E.S. Six specimens of
Aglossa cuprealis, taken in an out-house belonging toa flour and oil mill in Cam-
bridgeshire ; by Mr. Bond.
Mr. Moore exhibited a box of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, recently captured by
him at New Brighton, Cheshire.
Mr. Weir exhibited Coleophora Inule ? bred from Eupatorium Cannabinum, Co-
leophora Wockeella and its larva-case, found attached to a shoot of Genista tinctoria,
and Gelechia lentiginosella, bred from Genista tinctoria, all from Pembury, Kent;
also the larva of a Coleophora found feeding on a capsule of Silene inflata, and Tor-
trix dumetana from Lewes.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited Coleophora Vulnerarie, Heliothis peltigera, Odon-
tia dentalis, Pionea margaritalis, and two specimens of an albino variety of Eudorea
pyralella, all from the neighbourhood of Dover.
Mr. Stevens exhibited a remarkable dark variety of Limenitis Sybilla from Essex,
and a new British species of Simaethis from Arundel, captured in August.
Mr. Edleston sent for exhibition the head of a Plusia bractea, which he had sepa-
rated from the moth in order to ascertain the nature of a singular body firmly attached
to each eye, and which he had ascertained to be an anther of honeysuckle, from the
flowers of which the moth is known to feed. These anthers were strongly affixed by
their viscid extremities ; and Mr. E. mentioned that he had seen several other exam-
ples on this species of moth,
Mr. Wing exhibited Ypsolophus Verbascellus, a new British species, bred from
leaves of Verbascum floccosum, from Norwich, and Exeretia Allisella, beaten from
Artemisia campestris near Lowestoft.
Mr. Douglas exhibited some Lepidopterous larve mining in leaves of Cornus san-
guinea, from which, when full fed, they cut out an oval case in which to pass the win-
ter. These larve, he said, were destitute of true legs, and had only indications of
eight ventral and two anal prolegs. The species of moth produced from them is un-
known. He likewise exhibited Gelechia Brizella, a species hitherto known as British
128
only by a single specimen, and Coleophora binotapennella (F. v. R.), Dup., both
taken by him on the cvast at Brighton in August, having been previously discovered
there by Mr. Hemmings; the former among Statice Armeria, the latter among Che-
nopodium maritimum and Salicornia herbacea.
Mr. Stainton exhibited some larve of Gracillaria Phasianepennella in the curious
cases formed by them in the leaves of Polygonum Hydropiper, received from Professor
Zeller, of Glogau. These cases closely resemble the truncated cones figured by Reau-
mur on leaves of sorrel, which figures are copied in Rennie’s ‘ Insect Architecture.
He also exhibited larve of Cosmopteryx Zeiglerella, feeding on leaves of the hop, and
larve of Elachista testaceella, feeding on leaves of Torilis Anthriscus, Sison Amomum,
and other Umbelliferous plants, observing that the larve of E. Illigerella probably
feed in a similar manner on the under side of the leaves of some of the Umbellifere.
Mr. Waring exhibited a specimen of Eudorea pheoleuca, recently captured by him
in the Isle of Portland. This species is probably identical with E. Portlandica.
The Secretary read an extract of a letter from Dr. Candéze of Liége, stating that
he was about to commence a Monograph of the Elateride, and wished to enter into
correspondence with English entomologists, with a view to exchange specimens of
Belgian and French species for those of England and other countries.
Read the following note on a letter from Mr. Weaver to Mr. Douglas : —
“Mr. Weaver writes from Loch Rannoch, September Ist, that he has this year
taken several larve of the Lasiocampa described by Dr. Palmer in 1847, under the
name of L. Callune (Zool. 1665); and that he is more than ever convinced that it is
distinct from L. Quercts. He has now noticed that these larve changed their last
skin in June, and spun their cocoons to assume the pupa state, from the middle to the
end of August: and they will not appear as perfect insects till next year. He has in-
variably found that this moth takes two years to go through its changes, whereas L.
Quercus is perfected in one year; and he looks upon this fact, coupled with the period
of the last moult of the larva, as the strongest proof of its being a distinct species.”
Read an extract of a letter addressed to Mr. Douglas by Mr. Edleston of Man-
chester, in which that gentleman offers pectngae of Plusia bractea to any entomologist
who may apply for them.
Read also the following extract of a letter to Mr. Douglas, from Mr. John Scott,
of Renfrew : —
“ Before receiving your letter I had been making inquiries respecting Gelechia
cerealella, and find that two years ago a cargo of grain (barley) was laid in the granary
from Alicante, in Spain, but that since this there had been British barley also deposited ;
it might happen that the moths were first reared from foreign grain, and have gone on
accumulating ever since. I have now upwards of a hundred specimens set, and ob-
serve in one of my glasses today, a male and female in copuld. It has as much right
to be considered British as the beetle, Calandra granaria.”
The quarterly part of the Society’s ‘ ‘Transactions’ was on the table. ’
129
October 3, 1853.
Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, iu the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: — The ‘ Zoologist’ for October; by the Editor. The ‘ Atheneum’ for Sep-
tember; by the Editor. The‘ Literary Gazette’ for September; by the Editor. The
‘ Journal of the Society of Arts’ for September; by the Society. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic
Butterflies, part 8; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung, June to
September; by the Entomological Society of Stettin. ‘ Versuch die Europaischen
Spanner von J. Lederer, Wein, 1853, and ‘ Lepidoptera Microptera que J. A. Wahl-
berg in Caffrorum terra collegit, descripsit P. C. Zeller; Stockholm, 1853; by Profes-
sor Zeller, Hon. M.E.S. ‘ Proceedings of the Berwickshire Naturalists’ Club,’ 1852 ;
by the Club.
Dr. Lankester exhibited some of the “ flies” recorded in the public papers to have
appeared in vast numbers at Newcastle during the prevalence of the cholera in that
town last month : and read the following extract from a letter written by a gentleman
residing at Newcastle, respecting them : —
“They appeared some days before the cholera broke out with such virulence. For
many days we had a dense heavy atmosphere, very depressing to the spirits ; and the
flies came in such swarms as only to be compared to the time when God filled the
land of Egypt with a grievous swarm of flies. They appear to be only creatures of a
day, those of yesterday die off and are replaced by others, and in the morning I find
thonsands of them dead.”
On examination by the President, these “ flies” were found to be Aphides, of two
or three species,* which feed ona great variety of plants. These Aphides have no
local connexion with Newcastle; but at this season of the year the usual migration of
the winged females cccurs, often in immense swarms. The hot, moist, stagnant at-
mosphere, observed to be concomitant with the appearance of cholera, would probably
favour their development, and would certainly cause them to be more noticed ; for
such frail creatures could not move about in windy weather.
Mr. Saunders observed that vast numbers of Diptera were seen in India on hot,
damp mornings, locally termed “ cholera-weather:” and Mr. Baly added that in War-
wickshire, in 1849, during the prevalence of the cholera, the people had noticed great
swarms of flies called “ cholera-flies.” Of what kind they were he did not know; but
neither in these, nur in the present appearance, could it be imagined there was any
connexion between them and the disease.
Mr. Foxcroft sent for exhibition two boxes of his captures of insects of all Orders
in Perthshire.
* Mr. Walker has since pronounced them to be mostly Aphis Rumicis.
T
130
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a hermaphredite Alcis consortaria, in which the
right side was female.
Mr. Smith exhibited specimens of many rare Hymenoptera, taken at Southend ;
and a living specimen of the male of the parasitic Anthophorabia retusa, now eleven
days old, although it had been stated by Mr. Newport, that it did not live more than
eighteen hours. Mr. 8. stated that he should make a further communication respect-
ing this insect at the next meeting.
Mr. Ingpen sent for exhibition leaves of Chrysanthemums, greatly infested with
Dipterous mining larve, which first disfigured and eventually destroyed them; but
never to such an extent as during the present season. These larvee were a second
brood, the former having ceased their devastations two mouths ago. ‘They are proba-
bly the larve of Tephritis Onopordinis and Artemisiz, on which there is an article by
Mr. Westwood, in Loudon’s ‘ Gardener’s Magazine’ for 1839.
Mr. W. W. Saunders exhibited specimens of a Xylocopa from Port Natal, with its
nest, consisting of several chambers formed in a reed: also a mud nest of a species of
Pelopeus, which contained five living pupe when he received it, but they had all pro-
duced only parasitic Crypti.
Mr. 8. Stevens exhibited a collection of insects, of several Orders, just received
from Mr. Bates, collected in the region of the Amazon, including many small Coleo-
ptera, most of which were probably new.
Mr. Hemmings sent for exhibition Asopia nemoralis, Scop., taken June 26th, at
Holm Bush, near Henfield, Sussex, and Choreutes vibrana, Hub., taken September
11th, near Hurst, Sussex ; both being new British species: also Phibalapteryx gem-
maria, taken at Hurst, September 11th, and Coleophora binotapennella,—a fine speci-
men, showing the characteristic markings,—taken at Brighton in August.
Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of Gelechia instabilella, bred from Chenopodium
maritimum, gathered at Brighton in August.
The President read the following note by J. Walter Lea, Esq., communicated in a
letter from A. R. Hogan, Esq.
“ Parasitic (?) Moth found in the Pupa of Lasiocampa Trifolii. — In the course
of the early summer of 1848, I found a caterpillar of Lasiocampa Trifolii in the vici-
nity of Oxford, which throve satisfactorily, and in due time entered the pupa state,
having formed its cocoon in the regular compact oval form peculiar to it. Instead,
however, of the imago appearing, as it should have done, in July or August, it conti-
nued in the pupa state the whole of the summer, autumn, and winter of that year, and
also through the spring and summer of 1849. I then thought it must be dead, and
opened the cocoon to ascertain the fact, when I found it not only alive, but quite lively,
and apparently in perfect health. Having carefully closed the cocoon, I replaced it
in the box where I was preserving it, and looked at it from time to time during the
autumn and early winter of the same year, always finding it alive and lively, and very
carefully closing the cocoon and box after each examination, so that no mischief should
happen to it. In the beginning of 1850, the pupa ceased to show signs of life when
examined and handled, but not knowing what to make of it, I took redoubled care of
it, and kept it by me all through the summer and autumn of the year ; but towards
Christmas, being persuaded that it must be really dead, I at last resolved to open it,
which I did; and the first thing that I saw on making an opening in the puparium,
was the head and eyes of a small moth, moving about rapidly, and in the most lively
131
manner. A few moments sufficed to exhume the little creature, which was about the
size and had very much the general appearance of Margaritia hyalinalis. It was very
lively, and walked quickly about the table, moving its antenne in all directions. The
wings were all shrivelled and crumpled together, so that I could make but very little
of them, nor did they in the least expand with exercise. The inside of the puparium
of the Lasiocampa Trifolii was filled with a dry pale powder, and I could find no trace
of any cocoon, or vestige of any kind, of the moth which I had just extracted from it.
There was no evidence to show how long it had been there; and as it was manifestly
far too small and feeble to make any opening in its prison by its own efforts, it must
have remained there until it died, had I not opportunely set it free. It did not occupy
more than one-sixth of the interior of the puparium, and lay in a reversed position,
with the apex of the abdomen in the place of the head of the proper occupant. It was
quite unable to turn itself round inside the case, as it was too long, and also the whole
space which it did not fill, was well filled with the dry powder above mentioned. A
rigid examination showed no opening in the puparium through which anything could
have entered ; and indeed the pupa had been too carefully preserved to be within the
reach of accident or enemies. Most unfortunately, before I had completed my inves-
tigations, I was suddenly called away, and in my absence the whole was swept away
and destroyed by a servant. I took no memorandum of it at the time, being exceed-
ingly busy, but I have the clearest recollection of the circumstances, and can answer
for the facts being in every particular correct. I cannot explain the matter, and should
be very glad of any light that can be thrown upon it. — J. Walter Lea; Ramsgate,
September 7, 1853.”
The President called the attention of the Society to three different subjects, as
under; requesting observations from the members present.
1. Bees destroyed by Toads.—“A friend has lately communicated to me a fact rela-
tive to bees, which, having mentioned to my highly esteemed and venerable friend, Dr.
Bevan, and having been recommended by that distinguished apiarian to make it pub-
lic, I beg to submit to the Society. My friend relates, that a stock of bees was ob-
served to grow weaker day by day, until at last it became so pauperized that the hive
was removed, and the bees turned adrift to shift for themselves: nothing amiss was
detected in the interior of the hive. A second stock shortly afterwards exhibited simi-
lar symptoms of depopulation ; and a suspicion was entertained that some nocturnal
depredator entered the hive at night and devoured the bees. About two hours after
dark, the hive was visited with a view to an inspection of the interior; but on arriving
at the spot with a lantern, the owner found a large toad squatted on the alighting-
board, and looking about him with bright and animated eyes. Presently, a night-
roving bee returned home; there was a sudden movement on the part of the toad, and
the bee vanished. A long interval of patient watching ensued, when a second bee came
home, a similar movement of the toad followed, and the bee again vanished : but the
light of the lantern being this time thrown full upon him, he was distinctly observed
to swallow. The toad was caught and killed, and eight still living bees were taken
from his stomach. I attempt no explanation of the mode in which the toad attained
his station at the entrance of the hive, or what antidote he possessed against the poi-
son so likely to be conveyed by the stings of the bees ; all I can do is to vouch for the
veracity of my informant, which I do without any hesitation.”
132
Mr. Weir, in reply to an observation made as to the difficulty of a toad’s climbing,
stated that he knew an instance in which a toad had climbed up an open door, and
seated himself on the top.
2. Oniscus Armadillo, — “ Finding this milleped extremely injurious to ferns and
Lycopodiums, I have paid some little attention to its habits, with a view to arresting
its increase. In pursuing this object, I have made a few observations that appear to
me of some interest. In the first place, the female is strictly viviparous, and the young
are perfectly developed while still in the ovary of the female: they are from sixteen to
twenty-two in number, and after birth attach themselves to the legs of their parent,
and are carried about by her. 1 found them first in this position ; afterwards I ob-
served the female in the act of parturition; and, lastly, I killed several females which
appeared gravid, and found the young apparently ready for extrusion.* In the second
place I find that the young, although possessing perfectly developed organs of locomo-
tion, manducation, &c., have not the configuration of the adult: the second segment
(? cephalothorax) being proportionately larger, and bearing the eyes, which are situ-
ated near its exterior margin. Thirdly, the similarity of these minute millepeds
to the extinct trilobites, particularly to the genus Asaphus, is most striking, especially
in the figure of the enlarged second segment, and the position of the eyes, which are
elongate, linear, very distant, and have a reflexed external margin. The difference
between the infant and adult Oniscus Armadillo, and the similarity of the infant O.
Armadillo to a trilobite, would almost induce the conclusion that the trilobites were a
lower form of Isopod Crustacea, rather than allies of Limulus and cognate genera.
This similarity to a trilobite, is equally apparent whether the milleped be extended or
rolled into a bail.”
3. Typhlocyba Filicum. — “1 beg to exhibit, under the provisional name of
Typhlocyba Filicum, a minute Hemipterous insect, which a good deal resembles the
Typhlocyba Ulmi of Germar, Walker, and other entomologists, but which seems to
me to be specifically distinct. The anterior wings are bright yellow to rather below
the middle, the apical portion transparent, irrorated with black; the head is yellow-
green, with prominent black eyes; the prothorax is also yellow-green ; the scutellum
is an equilateral triangle, and yellowish green ; the abdomen is intensely black, with
the extreme margin of each segment yellow, thus giving it a distinctly annulated
appearance. My object in desiring to attract the attention of the Society to this
little creature, is to point out the excessive injury which it commits in ferneries.
To ferns ina wild state it is highly injurious, often changing their delicate green
colour to a sickly yellow or whitey-brown ; but its introduction into a glazed house in
which ferns are cultivated, is quite fatal to the beauty of their appearance. — It inserts
its short, strong, and acute rostrum into the parenchyma of the frond, and remains for
days in one position, apparently engaged during the whole time in extracting the sap,
after the manner of an Aphis. The result of this abstraction of the juices of the plant
is not, as in the case of the Aphis, a distortion of the leaf, but the production of whitish
or yellowish spots or blotches, which increase in number and size until the entire frond
is permanently although not uniformly discoloured. The injury is committed by the
* Some of these were exhibited.
133
insect in all its stages; but as its growth to maturity is extremely rapid, and as its life
in the imago state is usually prolonged, it follows that the injury caused by the insect in
its perfect, is much greater than that in its preparatory states. It is worthy of remark,
that all the species of ferns are not equally obnoxious to its attacks ; for of our Eng-
lish ferns, Osmunda regalis and Asplenium lanceolatum are rarely touched ; Lastrea
Filix-mas, L. spinosa, L. uliginosa, L. multiflora and L. rigida are greatly injured ;
and Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum and Polypodium vulgare are sometimes absolutely
killed. | When disturbed, the insect leaps off the frond after the usual manner of the
Cercopide ; but when once committed to the air, it flies about, and even hovers, with
all the facility of a Musca. The smoke of tobacco, if the greenhouse can be sufficiently
closed, is fatal; but there is a great deal of difficulty in applying it effectually in a
large or imperfectly closed house. The nuisance may also be in some degree abated,
by burning the fronds in autumn, and thus, in all probability, destroying the eggs.”
Read, a “ Description of a new Species of Lithocolletis,—L. irradiella.” By John
Scott, Esq. It is very like L. lautella, but the anterior wings are darker, the streaks
more slender, and the spot at the anal angle not on the inner margin. The specimen
from which the description was made, was taken in July, in a damp wood near Ren-
frew, and was exhibited to the meeting.
Read the following extracts from a letter to the Secretary, by the Rev. Joseph
Greene, of Wendover : —
“No genus of moths that I am acquainted with is so subject to Ichneumons as
Notodonta. Of N. camelina, I should say seven in every ten are pierced. I found
five of N. trepida this year, four were pierced ; and the same with N. zic-zac, which
is common here in the larva state. N. dicta and dicteoides are apparently more
fortunate.”
“ The singular epidemic of muscardine ? exists to a great extent among larve this
year, arising, I imagine, from the extreme dampness of the season. The characteris-
tics of the disease are, that when the larva is fully grown, it suddenly, and without the
slightest apparent premonitory symptom, becomes stiff and rigid, with tbe fore part of
the body extended, and in a short time dries up. I have found it in zie-zaec, Coryli,
antiqua, angularia, &c. My house being unfortunately very damp, I should not have
thought much of this circumstance, but it has, I believe, been noticed by others.”
The President drew the attention of the Meeting to the Rev. J. F. Dawson’s pro-
spectus of his ‘ Monograph of the British Geodephaga, recommending the proposed
work as worthy of their support, and stating that unless a sufficient number of sub-
scribers was obtained, it would not appear.
134
November 7, 1853.
J. O. WEestwoop, Esq., Vice-president, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors: — The ‘ Zoologist’ for November; by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for
October; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for October; by the Editor. The ‘Jour-
nai of the Society of Arts’ for October; by the Society. ‘ Revue et Magasin de Zoo-
logie, Nos. 7 and 8, 1853; by the Editor, M. Guérin-Meéneville. <A lithographic
portrait of the late Dr. W. A. Bromfield, framed and glazed; by his sister, Miss
Bromfield. Lists of the British Tineide, for marking the desiderata to the Society's
Collection; by E. C. Buxton, Esq. A box of South American Lepidoptera, in the
finest condition, and containing several new species; by Thomas Jones Stevens, Esq.,
of Bogota, Corr. M.E.S. A box of British Lepidoptera, including a hermaphrodite
Smerinthus Populi; by the Rev. Joseph Greene. Six specimens of Plutella Dalella;
by the Rev. J. Johnson.
Monsieur Henri Jekel, of Paris, was balloted for and elected an Ordinary Foreign
Member of the Society.
Mr. Curtis exhibited a box of rare Coleoptera from Mozambique, received from
Signor Bertoloni, of Bologna, including a specimen of Goliathus Derbyanus.
Mr. Edwin Shepherd exhibited a new British moth, Noctua Sobrina, H.-Schef.,
and an apparently new species of Peronea; both taken this season in Perthshire by
Mr. Weaver.
Mr. 8S. Stevens exhibited another specimen of Noctua Sobrina, and a remarkable
variety of Trichius fasciatus, in which the dark markings of the elytra were run toge-
ther into a blotch; both taken by Mr. Weaver, in Scotland. He also exhibited a box
of Diurnal Lepidoptera, in the finest condition, captured in Nicaragua, and forwarded
in paper envelopes, the wings being closed over the body. In this state they were
packed into a small space, and travelled free from injury, requiring only to be relaxed
and set.
Mr. Shield sent for exhibition a specimen of Depressaria subpropinquella, bred
from a larva found feeding on a thistle ; and a new Nepticula, of which the larva
makes a peculiar centrifugal mine in the leaves of Rumex Acetosa, and hitherto found
only near Dublin. Mr. Stainton intends to describe the species under the name
of N. Acetose.
Mr. F. Smith exhibited living specimens of a South American ant, Odontomachus
unispinosus, imported with some Orchidaceous plants, and given to him by Mr.
Stevens.
Mr. Douglas exhibited leaves of Glechoma hederacea, bearing tubular galls on the
upper side, formed and tenanted by larve of Cecidomyia bursaria, Bremi. These
insects he had been able to identify by means of the Monograph on Cecidomyia, just
published by Herr Winnertz, in the 8th volume of the ‘ Linnea Entomologica.’ Mr.
D. also exhibited a living larva of a Taleporia? froma fence near Croydon; and
leaves of sallow in which were the mines of Lepidopterous larve (Nepticula) and of
Dipterous larve (Phytomyza), almost identical in appearance.
135
Mr. Boyd exhibited Triphena subsequa, Limacodes asellus, Macaria notata, Pro-
delia literalis, and varieties of Satyrus Janira and Argynnis Paphia, all captured in
the New Forest.
Mr. Curtis exhibited parasitic insects taken from Malachius eneus, Epipone spi-
nipes, Andrena Gwynana, Athalia lineolata, Bombus pratorum, and an Ammophila
from Africa.
Mr. John Clifford, of Pimlico, sent a sample of pearl barley, destroyed by insects,
which were now identified as Anobium paniceum and Ptinus ovatus. The Chairman
remarked that the former of these insects had several times been reported to the Soci-
ety as injurious to farinaceous substances.
Mr. T. Desvignes exhibited specimens of a new Ichneumon, reared from larve of
Nonagria Typhe and N. paludicola; and read a description of the species under the
name of I. paludator.
Mr. Baly communicated “ The Characters of Paralina, a new Genus of Chrysome-
lide,” of which the type is Chrysomela Indica, Hope.
Mr.. Westwood exhibited his original sketch of a moth taken at Ballymena, in
Ireland, by Mr. Templeton, and mentioned in Westwood and Humphreys’ ‘ British
Moths,’ (vol. ii. p. 67). Mr. Stephens had inserted the species in the Museum Cata-
logne under the name of Dasydia torvaria; but Mr. Westwood was now of opinion,
from reference to Duponchel’s figure and description, that it was Cleogene Peletieraria.
Mr. Westwood also exhibited some larve in a bottle, which, from the locality of their
capture on the coast, near Dublin, he thought might be those of Diglossa mersa.
Mr. Smith exhibited the same male Anthophorabia he brought to the last meeting,
still alive; also larvee of Anthophora retusa, covered with larve of Anthophorabia and
Monodontomerus, the former apparently parasitica! on the latter, —a parasite upon a
parasite: and he read a series of observations on the structure and ceconomy of An-
thophorabia. The chairman referred to the unprecedented circumstance of an insect
without reticulated eyes possessing ocelli, as Mr. Smith was positive is the case in this
instance ; and Mr. Newman noticed, as most rare among insects, the fact reported of
the male pairing consecutively with several females, and still surviving. Mr. Water-
house, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Hudson also made some remarks on the subject.
Mr. Wallace read the commencement of a paper “ On the habits of the Butterflies
of the Amazonian Valley,” which will be resumed at the next meeting.
December 5, 1853.
Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors :—The ‘ Zoologist’ for December ; by the Editor. The ‘Atheneum’ for No-
vember; by the Editor. The‘ Literary Gazette’ for November; by the Editor. The
‘ Journal of the Society of Arts’ for November ; by the Society. The ‘ Philosophical
136
Transactions of the Royal Society,’ 1853, parts 1 and 2; by the Society. ‘On two
new Species of Calanide, with Observations on the Spermatic Tubes of Pontella and
Diapotmus, &c.’: by John Lubbock, Esq., F.Z.S.; by the Author. ‘On the De-
structive Powers of Scolytus destructor and Cossus ligniperda’: by Captain C. J. Cox ;
by the Author. A specimen of Plusia bractea; by R.S. Edleston, Esq. Two speci-
mens of a Sciaphila, greatly resembling 8. Penziana, from Scotland; by John Scott,
Esq., of Renfrew. An extract of a letter from Mr. Henry Doubleday, announced that
if this Sciaphila, upon further examination, were proved to be a distinct species, he in-
tended to describe it.
R. G. Schofield, Esq., Glen Mohr Villa, Greenwich, and W. Groves, Esq., 12,
Morden Place, Lewisham Road, were balloted for, and elected Subscribers to the
Society.
The Secretary announced that the Council had determined to distribute the
Society's duplicate specimens of British Lepidoptera among the Members.
Mr. Westwood exhibited a piece of honey-comb sent to him by a correspondent,
in which the queen had laid drone-eggs in worker-cells, which had been enlarged for
this purpose.
Mr. Curtis exhibited some Hymenoptera and Diptera he had received from M.
Leon Dufour and Signor Passerini, most of them valuable as typical specimens of spe-
cies described in the ‘ Annales de la Société Entomologique de France.” In the box
also was Tryphon nigriceps, Grav., a species new to this country. It was bred by Mr.
Foxcroft from cocoons of Trichiosoma lucorum, which he found in Wales. Mr.
Curtis remarked that in 1828 he had bred Tryphon rufus from the cocoon of his Tri-
chiosoma pratense, the larve of which he found in a damp meadow near Ambleside,
in the previous year, on a plant he did not remember, it certainly was not whitethorn,
but he thought a Spirea or some herbaceous plant. The Tryphon rufulus of Stephens
is the male of T. rufus. These species, from the form of the petiole, belong decidedly
to the genus Mesoleptus, which Gravenhorst hints at in his work; but the multitude
of exceptions to the characters of the genera proposed in the systematic tables, show
how imperfect the latter are, and how difficult it is to study the Ichneumonide.
Mr. Stevens exhibited two specimens of the very rare British longicorn beetle,
Pogonocherus fasciculatus, taken by Mr. Foxcroft, in the Black Forest, Perthshire,
and the new Noctiluca from Scotland, but being a female, he had not been able to
determine the species with certainty.
Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of the scarce moth, Hyponomeuta irrorellus,
reared by Mr. W. Kirby, of Wandsworth, from larve found feeding upon Euonymus
Europeus; and Mr. Stainton exhibited some of the cocoons.
Mr. Wallace exhibited a fine new longicorn beetle, Acanthocinus sp.? from Cali-
fornia, and a splendid butterfly, Zeonia Octavius, Fab., from Para.
Captain C. J. Cox laid upon the table a block of wood perforated by larve
of Cossus ligniperda, and pieces of the wood and bark of elm and ash, illustrating the
different ways of mining pursued by the larve of Scolytus destructor and Hylesinus
Fraxini. For several years he had devoted his attention to these insects, especially
the Scolyti, and he was convinced that their ravages were so extensive as to be of great
importance. Some of the oldest and finest elms in the parks had been destroyed, and
young sound trees were not exempt from their attacks. In opposition to several dis-
tinguished entomologists, he was convinced that Scolytus destructor attacked sound
trees and caused them to become diseased, patrly through the influence of a poison
137
contained in the excrement of the insect; and a course of experiments had not only as-
sured him on this point, but had also enabled him to state to the Office of Woods and
Forests that the damaged trees might be saved and the pest prevented from spreading,
if they would adopt his plan of partially barking the trees in the places attacked, and re-
moving and destroying the portions cut off. Once when in a ship-timber yard, where
he had a yacht building, he saw an ash-trce so covered with these insects, that he cal-
culated there were not less than 280,000 of Hylesinus Fraxini in it; the Scolytus was
certainly quite as prolific, and unless some such steps as he had pointed out were spee-
dily adopted to check the evil, he would venture to say that in sixty or seventy years
there would not be an elm-tree in or about London. The damage caused by Cossus
ligniperda was very great, and he also attributed a poisonous quality to the excre-
ment of the larve; but he found that if the larve were followed up and cut out, the
trees soon recovered. He said that in the Royal Botanic Society's Gardens, Regent's
Park, out of two hundred and forty trees, only ninety had escaped being attacked, and
out of eighteen operated upon, all had done well except one.
Mr. Westwood said his late lamented friend, Audouin, who had paid great atten-
tion to this subject, had once when he was visiting Paris, pointed out to him that a
female Scolytus first attacked a tree for food, and then other females followed to lay
their eggs on the perforated and exposed place.
Mr. Edward Sheppard said that he had found the insects alive in old elm rails.
Mr. Curtis had never known young trees attacked; but at St. John’s Wood his
attention had been called to some old elms, which had completely lost their bark from
the attacks of Scolytus; and he thought that only trees in an unhealthy state, which
frequently happened from many causes, or old trees decaying, became the prey of this
beetle.
Captain Cox replied to these objections :— !. That he was sure, from observation,
that the females laid their eggs on sound trees, to which they went for that purpose.
2, That he had known the insects eat down into the solid wood, but only when they
had deprived the bark and alburnum of their nutriment. And, 3. That the majority of
the trees in the Regent’s Park were growing vigorously, even to the terminal shoots,
when attacked. He added that the efficacy of the plan he recommended as a cure,
was proved by the fact, that trees rapidly in process of destruction by Scolytus and
Cossus had, after the operation, become quite healthy.
The President, in concluding the discussion, said that the Society was greatly in-
debted to Captain Cox for his lucid explanations on a subject of such great importance
and general interest. Without wishing in the slightest degree to undervalue those
exhibitions of rarities, or those descriptions of genera and species which formed the
staple of the Society’s proceedings, he considered that carefully prepared observations
on the habits of insects possessed a still higher value and interest, more especially when
such habits exercised an important economical influence, whether beneficial or inju-
rious. He also wished to observe, that in discussions like that which had just taken
place, and to which he had listened throughout with the utmost attention and plea-
sure, it would be a great advantage if a month’s notice could be given, in order
that members might have the opportunity of refreshing their memories by referring to
what had been previously written on the subject, in fact, of “ reading up,” so to
speak, for the occasion, for we really came as it were unprepared, and treated almost as
new, a subject to which our best entomologists had already given their earnest atten-
tion. With regard to the opinions advanced and ably advocated by Captain Cox, he
{G;
138
inclined to offer two remarks. First, in reference to the Scolytus attacking young and
sound trees, he thought the Captain’s views were fully borne out by the sound and
healthy wood of a young tree which was exhibited, and in which the ravages of the in-
sect had been closely watched from their very commencement until they caused the
death of the trees: this view was also in accordance with his (the President’s) own ob-
servations on the trees in Camberwell Grove, where he had for years watched the pro-
gress of the pest, and found it extended indifferently to old and young, sound
and unsound trees. The other remark he wished to make was, that he dissented from
Captain Cox’s opinion, that any poison was diffused by the insects, either in the case of
the Cossus or Scolytus; he attributed the injury to simple mechanical causes, since
the galleries or perforations of these insect-pests either arrested the flow of sap altogether,
or diverted it from its ordinary chanuels ; the admission thus given to rain-water, and
also to other insects, likewise tended to accelerate decay.
Mr. Smith exhibited two wasps’ nests, one formed in a bee-hive and the other in a
cask ; and he also exhibited a cell of Anthophora retusa, coutaining a larva of the bee
and several females of its parasite Anthophorabia: and stated that the duration of
the life of the males he had observed was seven weeks. Since the last meeting of the
Society, Mr. Walker had informed him that he had described the Anthophorabia
retusa of Newport, as far back as 1839, in his Monograph of the family, under the
name of Cirrospilus Acasta. :
Mr. Westwood, referring to his remarks upon Anthophorabia at the last meeting,
said that Mr. Smith having afforded him an opportunity of viewing the insect under a
high magnifying power, he was convinced that Mr. Smith was correct in saying it pos-
sessed true ocelli.
Mr. Wallace read the concluding portion of his “ Notes on the Habits of the But-
terflies of the Amazonian Valley.”
Mr. Westwood, in reference to a remark in Mr. Wallace’s paper, that a certain
species of Hesperia, with a very beautiful under surface, sat with its wings erect, ob-
served that Nature generally provided that adornmerts of this kind should be exhi-
bited ; it was particularly the case with the Catocalide, which, having very beautiful
under wings, rested with the upper wings open, so that the under wings were
exposed.
Mr. Curtis differed from Mr. Westwood ; he thought that in the genus Catocala,
especially in C. nupta, this was not the case.
January 2, 1854.
Epwarp Newman, Esq., President, in the chair.
The following donations were announced, and thanks ordered to be given to the
donors:—The ‘ Zoologist’ for January; by the Editor. The ‘ Atheneum’ for December;
by the Editor. The ‘ Literary Gazette’ for December; by the Editor. The ‘Journal
of the Society of Arts,’ for December ; by the Society. Hewitson’s ‘ Exotic Butterflies,’
139
Part 9; by W. W. Saunders, Esq. ‘ Verhandlungen des zoologisch-botanisch Vereins
in Wein,’ 1 Band. Wein, 1852; by the Society. ‘ Entomologische Zeitung , October
to December, 1853, and for 1853, complete. ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’ viii. Band.
Berlin. 1853. ‘ Beitrage zur nahern Kenntniss von Periplaneta (Blatta) orientalis,
Linné ;’ von C. Cornelius: Elberfeld ; all by the Entomological Society of Stettin.
* Report of the Council of the Art Union of London for 1853, and ‘Almanac for 1854 ;’
by the Art Union. Two pairs of Lelia ccenosa; by Mr. Foxcroft. Fifty specimens
of butterflies; by T. J. Stevens, Esq., Bogota, Corr. M. E.S. A box of British
Micro-Lepidoptera; by P. H. Vaughan, Esq.
It was announced that Mr. Thomas Whitfield, well known as a zoological col-
lector in Africa, and whose exertions, during thirty years, added many rare animals to
the collection of the late Earl of Derby, the British Museum, &c., died in London, on
the 25th of December last.
Miss 8. Thompson, Barn Hill, near Stamford, was elected a Subscriber to the
Society.
Mr. {S. Stevens exhibited some butterflies received by him from Mr. T. J.
Stevens, of Bogota, among them a couple of the rare and beautiful Morpho Ga-
nymede, Westwood, (M. Sulskowskii, Kollar). One of them being quite spoiled by
grease when it arrived, was immersed for twenty-four hours in camphine, and then
magnesia having been applied, it was restored to its original brilliancy, so that no one
could tell which of the two had been greasy. He also exhibited a few butterflies from
Manilla, whence very few are obtained in this country.
Mr. Westwood handed the following extract from the‘ Gardener's Chronicle, to
which journal it was communicated by Mr. R. Fortune :—
“ T am staying at present (August 16th) in a Buddhist temple, situated in a most
romantic and beautiful spot amongst the tea-hills in the province of Chekiang.
Some of the priests in this temple are fond of bees, or it may be they are fonder
of the honey, and keep a number of hives. The Chinese hive is a very rude
affair, and a very different looking thing from those we are accustomed to use in
England, and yet I suspect were the bees consulted in the matter they would prefer
the Chinese one to ours. It consists of a rough box, sometimes square and sometimes
cylindrical, with a movable top and bottom. When the bees are put into a hive of
this description it is rarely placed on or near the ground, as with us, but is raised
eight or ten feet, and generally fixed under the projecting roof of a house or out-
building. No doubt the Chinese have remarked the partiality which the insects have
for places of this kind when they choose quarters for themselves, and have taken a
lesson from this circumstance. My landlord, who has a number of hives, having
determined one day to take some honey from two of them, a half-witted priest who is
famous for his prowess in such matters was sent for to perform the operation. This
man, in addition to his priestly duties, has the charge of the buffaloes which are kept
on the farm attached to the temple. He came round in high glee, evidently consider-
ing his qualification of no ordinary kind for the operation he was about to perform.
Curious to witness his method of proceeding with the business, I left some work with
which I was busy, and followed him and the other priests and servants of the
establishment to the place where the hives were fixed. The form of the hives, in this
instance, was cylindrical, each was about three feet in height, and rather wider at the
bottom than the top. When we reached the spot where the hives were placed, our
140
operator jumped upona table placed there for the purpose, and gently lifted down one
of the hives and placed it on its side on the table. He then took the movable top off,
and the honeycomb, with which the hive was quite full, was exposed to our view. In
the meantime an old priest having brought a large basin, and everything being
ready, our friend commenced to cut out the honey-comb with a knife made apparently
for the purpose, and having the handle almost at right angles with the blade. Having
taken out about one-third of the contents of the hive, the top was put on again, and
the hive elevated to its former position. The same operation was repeated with the
second hive, and in a manner quite as satisfactory. But it may be asked, ‘Where
were the bees all this time ?—and this is the most curious part of my story. They
had not been killed by the fumes of brimstone, for it is contrary to the doctrines of the
Buddhist creed to take away animal life—nor had they been stupefied with a fungus,
which is sometimes done at home, but they were flying about above our heads in great
numbers, and yet, although we were not protected in the slightest degree, not one of
us was stung; and this was the more remarkable, as the bodies of the operator and
servants were completely naked from the middle upwards. The charm was a simple
one :—it lay in a few dry stems and leaves of a species of Artemisia which grows wild
on these hills, and which is largely used to drive that pest the mosquito out of the
dwellings of the people. This plant is cut early in summer, sun-dried, then twisted
into bands, and it is ready for use. At the commencement of the operation I am
describing, one end of the substance was ignited and kept burning slowly as the work
went on. The poor bees did not seem to know what to make of it. They were per-
fectly good-tempered and kept hovering about our heads, but apparently quite incapa-
ble of doing us the slightest injury. When the hives were properly fixed in their
places, the charm was put out, and my host and his servants carried off the honey in
triumph. ‘Come, said he to the operator and us who were lookers on, ‘ come and
drink wine.’ ‘ Aye, said the half-witted priest, ‘drink wine, drink wine; so we all
adjourned to the refectory, where wine in small cups was set before us.”
Mr. Curtis suggested that it might be worth trying if any of our English species
of Artemisia would have the same effect as the Chinese.
Mr. Westwood said that a neighbour of his had turned up his hives and taken out
the honey he required, smoking a cigar during the operation, without suffering any
injury from the bees; but he himself had deprived hives of their honey with perfect
safety, simply by drumming the bees into an empty hive, without any smoking.
Mr. Curtis communicated the following note on Panurgus ursinus :-—
“JT wish to record the habits of this bee, which I observed during a visit to Tun-
bridge Wells.
“On the 13th of July I saw considerable numbers flying over a foot-path by the
side of a heath, many of them were burrowing in the earth, and others were paired over
the holes they had formed. On the 24th I again visited the same locality, when I
found the females curling themselves up in the flowers of a Hieracium? the males
flying around them. At the same time scores of the males were entering the holes in
the foot-path, and occasionally I saw at the entrance a male rolling over with a female
in the dust, in the act, I suppose, of copulation. In 1826, when I illustrated this
genus in the ‘ British Entomology, the species were considered rare; I had, however,
found P. ursinus not uncommon on Shooter's Hill, in August, 1819; and P. lobatus I
141
detected in abundance at Black Gang Chine, Wallpan Chine, and Ventnor, in the
flowers of a hawk-weed, from the end of July to the middle of August, 1826; and Mr.
Smith also has lately found it in the Isle of Wight.
““T regret that I could not, from the hardness of the foot-path and for want of a
proper instrument, investigate the burrows, apparently formed by these bees, and I am
quite unacquainted with their metamorphoses.”
The Secretary read the following extract from a letter addressed to him by Mr. T.
J. Stevens of Bogota : —“ Respecting small Lepidoptera, there are a great many in
this hot country, at least nocturnal ones, for as soon as the candles are lighted they
enter into the houses ; but in most parts the mosquitoes enter at the same time, and
it would require a thorough-bred entomologist to collect moths under their auspices.”
The following papers were read : — “ Descriptions of some new Species of Butter-
flies from South America ;’ by W. C. Hewitson, Esq. The first part of a “ Monograph
of the Chrysomelide of Australia;” by J. S. Baly, Esq. “Some Observations on the
Excrement of Insects, in a letter addressed to William Spence, Esq., F.R.S., &e. ;”
_by John Davy, M.D., F. R.S., Inspector-General of Army Hospitals. In this paper
the author records the result of many investigations into the chemical constituents of
the excrement of insects of several Orders, both in the larva and adult states, remark-
ing upon the importance of the subject with reference to the vast number and diffu-
sion of insects, and the effect their excrement, consisting as it does of matter most
powerfully stimulant to vegetable life, must have in the economy of Nature.
A new part of the ‘ Transactions’ was announced as ready for distribution.
Anniversary Meeting, January 23, 1854.
Epwaro Nrewmay, Esq., President, in the chair.
The Secretary read the Bye Law pertaining to the Annual General Meeting, and
the Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee, made to and and adopted by the
Council. Read also an abstract of the Treasurer’s Accounts, from which it appeared
that the finances of the Society had quite recovered from their depressed state at the
end of 1852, and that the income and expenditure were now about equal.
The President having appointed two Scrutineers, the ballot took place ; when it
appeared that Messrs. W. S. Dallas, Edward Sheppard, F. Smith, and H. T. Stain-
ton were elected into the Council, in the room of Messrs. J. Curtis, E. W. Janson,
W. Spence, and J. O. Westwood ; and that the following gentlemen were re-elected
to the respective offices for the ensuing year: — Edward Newman, Esq., President;
S. Stevens, Esq., Treasurer ; and J. W. Douglas and W. Wing, Secretaries.
The President then delivered the following Address: for this, and his services to
the Society during the year, the Meeting passed a vote of thanks, and he was requested
to allow his Address to be printed.
Votes of thanks were also passed to the Treasurer, Secretaries, and retiring Mem-
bers of the Council.
THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.
GENTLEMEN,
In returning into your hands the important office with which
you have intrusted me, I should neither be performing my duty, nor
obeying the dictates of my own inclination, were I not to express to
you my sincere gratitude for the kindness with which you have inva-
riably received me. I came amongst you a comparative stranger to
all, an entire stranger to the majority: not only, as I conceived, by no
claim or merit of my own, but quite in opposition to my own often-
expressed, and still unaltered judgment, that the office-bearers of every
Society should be selected from among its most active and useful
members. Notwithstanding these sentiments | came forward at your
call, have been received by you with the utmost kindness and in-
dulgence, and shall ever remember with pleasure the period during
which I have enjoyed the honour of presiding over you.
The duties of President, and indeed the general business of the
Society, are so new to me, that I cannot help fearing that some of my
observations thereon may appear unimportant, or out of place; but I
still trust to your indulgence, and, as every fresh actor is found to give
some new reading to a part, however variously it has been played be-
fore, so it is probable that each successive President may be struck
by some point or other which his predecessors had either designedly
or unintentionally overlooked. You will, I am sure, bear with me
while I briefly allude to one or two subjects which have particularly
attracted my attention.
The first of these is the peculiarly, although not exclusively, British
character of our proceedings. Our science is truly cosmopolitan :
but it is the honour and glory of a naturalist to make himself tho-
roughly acquainted with the productions of his own country. How
immutably true, and how profoundly patriotic, is the Linnean axiom,
“'Turpe est in patria vivere et patriam ignorare.” Let us begin at
home: let us make ourselves thoroughly acquainted with the Natural
History of Great Britain: and, that end achieved, we may enlarge the
circle of inquiry by degrees. Let us not grasp too much at the outset.
The same observation applies generally as well as geographically ;
by restricting our research to a class, an order, or a family, we are
143
enabled to give it more intense attention. What an intimate know-
ledge have Zeller, Stainton, our worthy Secretary, and others thus
acquired of the Micro-Lepidoptera; Mr. Dawson of the British
Geodephaga; Mr. Doubleday and Mr. Edwin Shepherd of British
Lepidoptera; Mr. Walton of British Curculionids ; Schénherr of
Curculionide generally ; Chevrolat of Cerambycide; Pictet of Phry-
ganide ; Gravenhorst of Ichneumonide ; Mr. Smith of Aculeate
Hymenoptera, and especially of our British bees; Meigen and
Walker of Diptera! I might cite fifty examples equally striking, and
all equally establishing the fact that the more restricted the range of
inquiry, the more certain, precise, and durable will be its results. The
debilitating effect of desultory study is obvious to every psychologist.
It is with mind as with matter, the more extensive the surface it
covers the more attenuated will be the covering. Study, in order to
be productive of useful results, must be concentrated and systema-
tised: it then shines brightly forth on the path of the future student.
The communications which have struck me as possessing the most
absorbing interest are such as relate to imsects which exert an
important influence over man, whether for his benefit or injury : such,
for instance, as that by Mr. Hanbury, on the wax insects of China;
that by Mr. Oswell, on the cattle fly of Africa; and that by
Captain Cox, on Scolytus: im these instances man is brought into
absolute contact with the insect: in the first this contact is entirely
beneficial ; in the others entirely the reverse : and mankind would be
infinitely indebted to the entomologist who should, by attentive ob-
servation, detect the means of increasing the benefit or of mitigating
the injury. To the discussions which have resulted from these and
other communications, | have always listened with the deepest in-
terest and most profound attention; and I have been peculiarly
gratified to observe the uniformly courteous manner in which they
have been conducted. There is scarcely one scientific subject which
we can all view in the same light, and the difference of opinion, which
of necessity results from the different mental constitution of individuals,
is in itself an important element in our search after that truth which is
the kernel of the whole question, the reward we obtain for our labour
in clearing away the tasteless and seemingly impenetrable husk with
which we so often find it invested. Nevertheless, this difference
should ever be urged, as it has been, with that courtesy and that re-
spect for the feelings and the judgment of others, which dignifies alike
the original opinion and the objection, and which evinces a love of
truth overcoming a love of conquest. I could wish that a month’s notice
144
were given of any paper likely to excite such discussions: the most
prosperous of all our Societies, the Royal Geographical, adopts this
course; and I have actually read this day in the ‘ Morning Herald’ an
advertisement of the papers next to be discussed: by this expedient
we should escape both objections and adhesions carelessly and hastily
given, and out of our abundant printed “ treasures, things new and
old might be brought forth,” and thus much additional information
diffused among our members: it has several times struck me as some-
what inconsistent for any scientific body to discuss, as new, matters
which have long since been carefully investigated by our predecessors.
But these remarks do not, in any degree, apply to the mere introduc-
tion of papers: gladly would I see the greatest possible encourage-
ment given to such introduction; and no one could object to being
referred, with courtesy, to sources whence he might derive more per-
fect information.
On one subject I venture to express an opinion at variance with
what appears a prescriptive practice. I repeatedly find in entomolo-
gical works the indication of a desire to depreciate that particular
branch of the science which some one else has taken, or is supposed
to be taking up. Such terms as “species-man,” “mere collector,”
“theorist,” and many others, need but be quoted in explanation of my
meaning. Now the sentiment implied by such expressions is unphilo-
sophical; it is not in accordance with the catholicity of science; it
implies that we are drawing a comparison between ourselves and
others disadvantageous to those others, and it therefore has a direct
tendency to foster, if not to create, feelings that ought not to exist.
The Lepidopterist, the Dipterist, the Hymenopterist, or Coleopterist ;
the systematist or the utilitarian; the student of economy, or the
collector; the man, in fact, who selects, of his free choice, his own
particular, favourite objects of study, and yet who presumes to look
down on another who has made a different choice, exhibits a want
of that philosophical spirit which would assure him that all these
work together harmoniously for the general good: all are equally
striving after the excelsior of the poet: each is ascending, after his
own fashion, the hill of science: and not only must he have perfect
liberty to select his own path, but, if he be only industrious, he will
establish an indubitable claim to the merit of strewing that path with
flowers which any of us may gather. One man studies an insect solely
with a view to increase its pecuniary benefit, or diminish its pecuniary
injury to man; another observes the bee building her cells and stor-
ing her honey simply as a matter of amusement; a third watches the
145
Ichneumon as she glides with shivering antenne over the surface of
a leaf until she find the larva on whose living flesh her young is des-
tined to feed; a fourth, with greater perseverance and more deter-
mined zeal, elaborates the previously unknown history of a single
individual from the ovum to the imago; a fifth, by the aid of micro-
scope and scalpel, thoroughly masters the phenomena of intimate
structure, tracing every system of organs in its wondrous permeation of
the insect frame, and not resting here, carries the physical knowledge
thus gained into the wider and still more interesting field of physi-
ology; a sixth spends days and nights in the capture of insects
simply induced by their rarity; a seventh consumes the midnight
oil in describing the new or the beautiful or the curious; an eighth
ponders over systematic classification; a ninth labours to complete
a monographic history: all these are hastening to the same termi-
nus ; are all, in fact, on their way upwards. We have long since been
told that members of the human body must work together in concert:
that the head must not say to the hand “I have no need of thee,” or
the hand to the feet “I have no need of you:” so with our science ;
the monographer cannot say to the collector, I have no need of you:
the very admission of such a thought is a stumbling-block in our own
way, a bar to our own progress. I wish to be understood as applying
this last observation especially and emphatically to the case of the
actual collector; to the man who, in whatever station of life, devotes
his time, by night and by day; at all seasons, in all weathers ; at home
and abroad, to the positive capture and preservation of those speci-
mens which serve as the objects for all our observations: he is the
real labourer in the field, and if we would keep the lamp of our science
constantly burning, it is to him alone that we can look for fuel to feed
its flame.
With regard to collectors at home, I will only say, without mention-
ing names, that many members of our own Society have displayed
more zeal and greater industry than would have sufficed for the accu-
mulation of almost boundless wealth, and yet the only object they
have sought has been the acquisition of treasure for the mind; the
only reward they have desired, the satisfaction of possessing that
which is rare or beautiful. I must also allude, if but for a moment,
to the advantages derived from the labours of still another class,
those who, led by an instinctive taste to the pursuit of Entomology,
have rendered that taste subservient to pecuniary gain; I allude to
such men as Bouchard, Weaver, Standish, Harding, and Foxcroft:
how often have these made truly valuable contributions to our stock
x
146
of knowledge! And is it not this result alone that, in fairness, we
can consider? Such men do great, permanent and continual good :
they render our science an unquestionable service, and their motives
are no more to be called in question than those of the artist or the
author, who receives the just reward of his well-directed labours.
The results of collecting in Britain, during each successive year,
appear almost incredible; and, when we recollect the indefatigable
zeal of those who have preceded us, it seems surprising that so much
should be done. Our English collectors seem to have found in Scot-
land comparatively a virgin soil as regards Entomology, and a soil, I
may add, of incomparable richness.
From British collectors the transition is easy to others, who, inspired
by a like taste, led on by an insatiable thirst for a more intimate acquain-
tance with Nature in her grandest phases and forms, have left their
homes, have abandoned their prospects of worldly welfare, and have
sought, in warmer climes, those glorious creatures which our chilly
regions cannot produce. Your late Secretary, once my most be-
loved and intimate friend, was one of these; and it has always been
my belief, that while assiduously collecting in the Floridas, he laid
the foundation of that painful and lingering disease which finally de-
prived our science of one of its brightest ornaments. Another loss,
truly to be lamented, but of a very different character, is that we have
sustained, not in the death of an individual, but in the destruction of
a zoological treasure ; I allude, of course, to the collections made by
our friend Mr. Wallace. That energetic traveller, led by the thirst I
have already described to behold with his own eyes, and not through
the too often distorting medium of books, the exuberant luxuriance
of animal and vegetable life as developed by the rays of a vertical sun,
devoted himself to the acquisition of, and actually acquired, a most
intimate knowledge of the Natural History of the Valley of the Ama-
zous; but alas, returning with his hard-earned treasures, the ill-fated
‘Helen,’ in which he was a passenger, took fire and went down in
mid-ocean, leaving our friend to buffet with the waves. Providentially
he escaped ; he was picked up by the ‘Jordeson’ two hundred miles
from land, and has lived to record in glowing words the history of his
discoveries, his triumphs, his losses and his preservation. 1 cannot
forbear to quote from his own pen the record of his feelings, when,
no longer in jeopardy, he first realized the enormous loss he had
sustained :—
“Tt was now, when the danger appeared past, that I began to feel
fully the greatness of my loss. With what pleasure had I looked
147
upon every rare and curious insect I had added to my collection !
How many times, when almost overcome by the ague, had I crawled
into the forest and been rewarded by some unknown and _ beautiful
species! How many places, which no European foot but my own
had trodden, would have been recalled to my memory by the rare
birds and insects they had furnished to my collection! How many
weary days and weeks had I passed, upheld only by the fond hope of
bringing home many new and beautiful forms from those wild regions ;
every one of which would be endeared to me by the recollections
they would call up; which should prove that I had not wasted the
advantages I had enjoyed, and would give me occupation and amuse-
ment for many years to come! And now every thing was gone, and
I had not one specimen to illustrate the unknown lands I had trod, or
to call back the recollection of the wild scenes I had beheld! But
such regrets were vain, and I tried to think as little as possible about
what might have been, and to occupy myself with the state of things
which actually existed.”
Mr. Wallace is now on the eve of departure for the eastern instead
of the western world; he sails in H. M.S. ‘ Frolic, first to Sydney
and then to the islands of the Eastern Archipelago. His face is
familiar to us here ;_ his writings are known to most of us, and some
of them are on the point of publication in our ‘ Transactions.’ I am
sure that there is not one member of the Society but will wish him
God speed !
Commensurate to the losses of Mr. Wallace have been the successes
of Mr. Bates. Next to those of our own country, we have been accus-
tomed to regard the insects of South America as those with which we
were most intimately acquainted: the Morphos, nothwithstanding their
magnificence, the Buprestes, the Cerambyces, the Scarabzi, notwith-
standing their magnitude, were yet regarded with comparative indif-
ference ; they were familiar as household words, and because familiar,
they were held in little estimation. But Mr. Bates has developed new
features in the Entomology of that extraordinary continent; has sent
us collections which astonish us equally by the countless profusion,
the variety, the novelty, and the excessive loveliness of the species
which they contain. And here I venture to make a passing allusion
to finance; and I do this without any collusion with Mr. Bates or his
agent, our respected Treasurer. I wish to remind you that collecting
objects of Natural History in South America is most expensive ; that
the mere transit of the entomologist from place to place, accompanied
only by so much apparatus, and so many assistants as are absolutely
148
necessary in virgin forests, where railroads, coaches, or even stage
wagons are unknown, is in itself a formidable item of expenditure,
and requires almost incessant labour to procure sufficient specimens —
for their sale to supply a bare return of the cost. Gladly would I
induce even those entomologists who are not forming collections of
foreign insects to bear a part of the burden, and to contribute their
mite towards promoting a cause which must tend so materially to the
advance cf our science. But Mr. Bates, like Mr. Wallace, has con-
tributed observation as well as manual industry: he has given us
valuable information on economy, and, in his zeal for the acquisition
of specimens, has not failed to make the needful commentary on their
habits and manners, their food and their metamorphoses.
I must also mention, and on behalf of this Society, with profound
gratitude, the generosity of our corresponding member, Mr. Thomas
Jones Stevens, of Bogota: the exhibitions of this gentleman’s beau-
tiful insects have added interest to our meetings, and the presentation ,
of them has greatly enriched our collection.
Neither must I forget Mr. Edgar Leopold Layard, now present at
our meeting, who has lately made a very large collection of Cingalese
Lepidoptera, including an unusual number of the smaller species,
particularly Pyralina.
The records and the collections to which I have been alluding,
principally British, but occasionally exotic, have combined with
others of economical or descriptive character to euhance the interest
and attraction of our meetings; and I rejoice to observe that these
are invariably well attended. I know of no Society in which the
average attendance is so large in proportion to the actual number of
members ; and this leads me to remark on our acquisitions and losses
under this head.
Five years ago it was thought desirable to institute a second class
of members, to whom the name of Subscribers was applied. During
the past year we have elected ten members and nine subscribers, and
I regret to say have lost no fewer than four members and ten sub-
scribers, thus giving us a gain on the year of six members, and a
loss of one subscriber. With a single exception, our losses have
occurred from resignation or default of payment; the exception is
Mr. William Lancey, whose death we have to lament.
Mr. William Lancey was elected on the 5th of April, 1852, and
towards the close of the same month, having accepted an appoint-
ment in the engineer’s staff of the East Indian Railway Company,
left this country for the seat of his employment. In April last, in the
}
149
vicinity of Calcutta, he was seized with fever, from which he was
apparently slowly recovering, when, at the recommendation of his
friends, he undertook a palanquiu journey to Delhi, for the purpose
of recruiting his strength; on his return, however, to Calcutta, the
excitement attendant on the trip subsiding, he grew rapidly worse,
and alarming symptoms presenting themselves, he was urged at once
to return to England ; to this he acceded, but unhappily the virulence
of the fever had so prostrated him that he never rallied, and expired
on the 5th of May, a few days subsequent to the departure of the
vessel. During his short sojourn in India he prosecuted Entomology
with enthusiasm, and his collections, now in his father’s possession,
afford ample evidence how industriously he devoted every spare
moment and opportunity to its pursuit.
During the year we have lost two other entomologists, unconnected
indeed with our Society, but whose names have long been familiar to
the veriest tyro in our science; I allude, of course, to Friedrich Ger-
mar and the venerable Fischer de Waldheim.
Ernst Friedrich Germar was born on the 3rd of November, 1786 ;
at twelve years of age he was sent to school at Meiningen, where one
of our most illustrious entomologists, Clairville, was then residing: in
1807 he removed to Leipsig, and purchased the celebrated collection
of Inspector Hiibner, in Halle: this collection is repeatedly referred
to in the works of Fabricius, and was valuable as containing many of
the type-specimens of that great entomologist. He here also made the
acquaintance of Kunze and Kaden. In 1810 he obtained the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Halle. In 1811 he
made a tour in Dalmatia. In 1815 he married Wilhelmine Keferstein,
with whom he lived happily, although childlessly, during the remainder
of his life. In 1817 he was appointed extraordinary, and in 1824,
ordinary Professor of Mineralogy in the University of Halle: he died
in July 1853, aged 66 years and 8 months.
The works of Professor Germar are numerous and valuable, prin-
cipally on the sciences of Entomology and Mineralogy, in both of
which his reputation stood very high. The first series of Professor
Germar’s Magazine was commenced in 1813, and concluded in 1818 ;
and the second was commenced in 1839, and continued under the
same title till 1845, when it merged in the ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’
which is still in course of publication. Professor Germar’s most im-
portant entomological works are as under :—
‘Dissertatio sistens Bombycum Species secundum oris partium di-
versitatem in nova genera distributas,’ 1810—1812.
150
‘Magazin der Entomologie,’ 1813—1822.
‘Reise nach Dalmatien,’ 1817.
‘Insectorum Species nove aut minus cognite descriptionibus illus-
trate,’ 1824; (contains descriptions of 891 species and 42 new genera
of Coleoptera).
‘Fauna Insectorum Europe, 1817—1847.
Professor Fischer de Waldheim, one of the few eminent entomologists
that Russia has produced, was the last of that glorious band of natu-
ralists whose fame was ushered in with the present century ; the last,
I should say, excepting that still more celebrated philosopher, the
Baron von Humboldt: both these illustrious men have enjoyed, for at
least half a century, a reputation which year after year has increased
in lustre. Professor Fischer was born at Leipsig in 1770, and, after
a most useful and energetic life, died at Moscow in 1853, at the ad-
vanced age of 82 years. In 1797 he accompanied Humboldt to
Vienna, intending there to practise medicine, but devoted himself en-
tirely to the study of Natural History, and more especially to that of
the fishes of the Danube. He afterwards made a scientific journey
through Germany and Switzerland, and then removed to Paris, where
he aided Cuvier in his grand work, the ‘ Ossemens Fossiles.’ In 1804
he accepted the situation of Professor and Director of the Museum at
Moscow, and continued to occupy it to his death. He founded the
Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, contributed largely to the
Russian ‘Annals of Natural History,’ and occupied himself most in-
defatigably with all branches of his beloved science. His writings
are numerous, and amongst them is a curious and valuable typogra-
phical history of the Bible. He was a member of more than eighty
learned Societies, and was knight of the principal Russian orders:
the honours he received in his own country afford a notable instance
that Russia is not indifferent to scientific merit.
By our Treasurer’s Report you have heard that our finances are in
a very satisfactory state: it appears that, whereas, at the last audit, a
deficiency of £28 was reported, it is now announced that our liabili-
ties are no larger than our balance in hand, so that an improvement
of nearly £30 has taken place in our fiscal condition. It must, how-
ever, be borne in mind, that £22 of our income in 1858 arises from a
subscription raised for the express purpose of defraying previous
expenses; and, much as we are indebted to those members who so
generously assisted on that occasion, it is neither prudent nor just to
look forward to such a source of revenue, but rather so to restrict our
outlay that it shall always fall within our legitimate income. During
151
the year we have issued three parts of the ‘ Transactions,’ and since
the close of the financial year a fourth, {which was laid on your table
at the last meeting: these are got up in the usual style of correctness,
and are illustrated in a manner that must gratify our members and
subscribers : with the value and importance of their contents you are
already perfectly familiar.
By the Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee you have
learned that both these departments are progressing favourably ; and
if there is a single cause for regret connected with either, it is that
our really fine entomological library is not made more extensively
useful by our members. Of our exotic insects I may, perhaps, be
allowed to remark, that I consider it more desirable to obtain an
arranged series of types than to attempt the formation of a complete
collection of species: the cost of the former is trifling compared with
its utility; the cost of the latter would be overwhelming to such a
Society as ours, but devolves with propriety on a national institution.
In this observation, I must not be understood as referring to the
money-value of the specimens themselves, of which I know nothing,
but simply to the items of cabinets, rooms, and labour in arrange-
ment and preservation.
My predecessors have given a summary of entomological publica-
tions: I am glad to be relieved from this labour by the knowledge
that the Society cannot judiciously incur the expense of its publica-
tion; and secondly, that the task is annually performed by my friend,
Dr. Schaum, in the most complete and admirable manner in the
‘Bericht, which is presented by the author for the information of our
members. The following works published in Britain may, neverthe-
less, be enumerated : —
‘Insecta Britannica, Vol. ii. ‘ Diptera ;’ by Mr. Walker.
‘ Exotic Butterflies ;’ by W. C. Hewitson, Parts v.—viii.
The following Catalogues of Insects have also been printed during
the year, by order of the Trustees of the British Museum.
‘ Catalogue of Longicorn Coleoptera,’ Part i.; by Mr. White.
‘Catalogue of Hymenoptera (Andrenidz) ;’ by Mr. Smith.
‘Catalogue of Homoptera,’ Part iv.; by Mr. Walker.
‘Catalogue of Neuroptera,’ Part iv.; by Mr. Walker.
‘Nomenclature of British Hymenoptera;’ by Mr. Smith.
‘Nomenclature of British Neuroptera;’ by Mr. White.
‘Nomenlacture of British Diptera ;’ by Mr. White.
Four important works are announced as in a state of forwardness,
and three of them are advertised as in the press. I have no doubt
152
that all of them, when complete, will advance the study of Entomology,
and will reflect honour on the various authors.
1. ‘Insecta Maderensia;’ by Mr. T. V. Wollaston.
2. § Geodephaga Britannica;’ by the Rev. J. F. Dawson.
3. ‘Insecta Britannica;’ the third volume of the series comprising
the ‘ Micro-Lepidoptera ;’ by Mr. Stainton.
4. The ‘Natural History of the Tineina;’ published under the
superintendence of a Committee, consisting of Mr. Douglas, Mr.
Stainton and Mr. Wing. A very novel feature in this work is, that it
will be printed in four languages, English, French, German, and
Latin. There can be no doubt that this will be a great advantage,
seeing how often scientific works printed in one language, and that
modern, become, as it were, sealed books to the majority of the scien-
tific world.
On the continent the following works appear to demand an es-
pecial notice :—
‘Monographie des Guépes solitaires ou de la Tribu des Eumé-
niens;’ par H. F. de Saussure.
‘Lepidoptera Microptera que J. A. Wahlberg in Caffrorum terra
collegit;’ by P. C. Zeller: published at Stockholm in 1852. This
work contains descriptions of upwards of a hundred species, and is
remarkable as referring solely to the Micro-Lepidoptera of a country
of which I may truly say we were previously quite uninformed.
Gerhard’s so-called ‘Monograph of the Lycenide’ is also com-
pleted, containing coloured figures and names of almost every species,
and forming a moderately-sized 4to. volume: when I state that of this
volume 21 pages only are letter-press, the explanatory term of “ so-
called,” will, I trust, be understood.
M. Fischer has published a 4to. volume with plates, intituled ‘ Or-
thoptera de Fribourg.’
In the United States a new and improved edition has been pub-
lished of Dr. Harris’s elaborate work on ‘ Insects injurious to Vege-
tation. This is a work of great merit; and, although its utility is
mainly confined to the district of the insects of which it more espe-
cially treats, yet it is well worthy the deep ,and thoughtful study of
every entomologist, and particularly of such as make economy and
economic relation of insects with man the especial objects of their
research.
The ‘ Linnea Entomologica,’ ‘ Entomologische Zeitung,’ and ‘ An-
nales de la Société Entomologique de France,’ have all appeared as
usual.
153
And now, Gentlemen, it only remains for me to thank you for your
very indulgent attention. JI am well aware how imperfect my brief
address must appear when compared with the learned and detailed
summaries prepared by my predecessors: but I trust entirely to your
kindness in avoiding comparisons, and in accepting my humble
attempt to express opinions, to which the Society is in no way
pledged, and which I earnestly desire may only pass as those of an
individual member.
Report of the Library and Cabinet Committee for 1853.
The various donations of British insects made to the Society during the year have
been incorporated with the Collection. Both British and foreign insects remain in a
good state of preservation.
The grouping of the foreign Lepidoptera has been commenced, and is still in
progress ; and we have the pleasure to announce that Mr. Hewitson has named the
Diurnes presented to the Society by T. J. Stevens, Esq., and has promised his valua-
ble assistance in naming the butterflies in the Soviety’s Collection. If the aid of such
of the Members as may be familiar with the other divisions of the Lepidoptera could
be obtained, the naming of them would be greatly accelerated.
The Curator is still engaged in the selection of the duplicates from the general
collection of Coleoptera. Mr. Jekel has afforded valuable assistance in naming the
exotic Curculionide ; and we have to thank Mr. Waterhouse for cleaning and setting
several species of the same family, and Mr. Westwood for the commencement he has
made in examining and selecting from the Javanese collection presented by Mr.
Spence.
For want of funds at our disposal no books have been bound this year, but as some
require it, we recommend that they may be done during the next year, if the means of
the Society will permit.
The Catalogue of the Books in the Library, under the head of “ Authors,” is
nearly complete ; and the other portion, under the head of “ Subjects,” is about to be
proceeded with.
(Signed)
J. W. DOUGLAS.
E. W. JANSON.
EDWIN SHEPHERD.
A. F. SHEPPARD.
S. J. WILKINSON.
154
Abstract of the Treasurer's Accounts.
RECEIPTS.
£ ysh ids
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155
Liabilities and Assets of the Society.
Liabilities. Assets.
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Less Accounts due at Xmas. 23 0 8
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157
GENERAL INDEX.
Nore.—W here the name only of an Insect is mentioned the description thereof is
referred to.
The Figures refer to the pages of the Transactions, and the Numerals to the pages of
the Journal of Proceedings.
GENERAL SUBJECTS.
Alternation of generation in insects, eviii.
Anniversary Meeting, 1853..xxxix ; 1854..cexli.
Breeding cages, note on, xcvii.
Chinese insects, observations on, 25, 232, ii, vil.
method of driving away mosquitoes, xv.
taking honey from hives, cxxxix.
wax insects, xcili.
Chloroform for killing insects, cix.
stupefying bees, cxxil.
Cholera, abundance of ‘ flies’’ during the prevalence of, cxxix.
Cochineal insect, new kind of, viii.
Cockroaches, methods of destroying, vill, xiii.
Cornus sanguineus, curious larva mining leaves of, exxvil.
Ferns destroyed by Oniscus Armadillo, cxxxil.
Fischer de Waldheim, Professor, death of, cl.
Fly blight of Australia, protection from the, xxxvi.
Fungus-like excrescences on a caterpillar, xxi, cix.
Germar, Dr., death of, exxiii, exlix.
Glechoma hederacea, galls on leaves of, exxxiv.
Gory, M. Hippolyte, death of, lin.
Hagen, Dr., remarks on Hills, ‘‘ Decade of Curious Insects,” exx.
Hermaphrodite insects, xxxiv, Cxxx, CXXxiv.
Insects, blind, in the caves of Illyria, xevii.
difficulty in identifying, remedy proposed, xxx.
exotic, caught in Britain, xxvii, exxxv.
flying out at sea, iv.
greasy, restored to good condition, xevi, c, cxxxix.
impaled on thorns, &c. ix, xxvii, xxviii, cvi.
injurious to apple crop, cxxii.
VOL. Il. N.S. PART VIII.-—APRIL, 1854.
158
Insects, injurious to ash and elm trees, cxxXxvi.
bamboo, i, xxil.
cattle in Africa, xcvi.
chrysanthemums, exxx.
ferns, CXxxli.
gun stocks at Weedon, exix.
mace, Cxvill.
peach and plum trees, cxvill.
pearl barley, cxxxv.
provisions, viii, xxxvil.
wine corks, vill, ‘XVil, XXili, XXvV.
in the human body, iv.
serpents, iv.
method of killing and setting, evi, cxv.
packing, exxxiv.
parasitic, 248, v, Cxxx, CXXxv, CXXXViil.
preservation of specimens, xcvi.
used as human food, 241, xxxi, cxxii.
Lancey, Mr. W., death of, exlviii.
Library and Cabinet Committee, report for 1852..xc ; 1853..cliii.
Mould in insects, apparatus for destroying, 19.
Miller, P. W. J., death of, liii.
Muscardine, prevalence of among eaterpillars in 1853. .cxxxiii,
Mussel-scale blight, proposed as the subject of a prize essay, cvi, cxiy.
Nets for protection from attacks of flies, xxxvi.
Pediculus Melitte, Kirby, Note on, 4.
Pollen masses attached to insects, evi, Cxvill, Cxxvii.
Potato disease caused by insects, xxxv, €xXil
President’s Address, 1853..xl; 1854..cxlii.
Prize Essay on duration of life in the honey bee, 145, xii, xxxix.
the natural history of the Coccz injurious to fruit trees, evi.
Silk, new kinds of, cxxii.
worms, new food for, xxii.
Soap-suds, putrid, attractive to moths, xx, xxx.
Solier, M., death of, lin.
Sound, produced by insects, xcviti.
Stephens, Mr. J. F. collection, disposal of, Ixxxix.
remarks respecting, 229, cxiii.
death of, xxxviii.
labours of, xlvi.
library, disposal of, exiv.
Sugar, new method of using as a bait for moths, xxx.
Thompson, Mr. W., death of, |.
Toads destructive to bees, cxxxi.
Treasurer’s Account for, 1852..xci; 1853..cliv.
Walckenaer, M. Le Baron, death of, li.
Wallace, Mr. A. R.., loss of his collections, xxix.
Wax insect of China, account of, xciil.
Whitfield, Mr. Thomas, death of, exxxix.
159
APTERA.
Pediculus, a species used as human food, 244.
Melitte, Kirby, note on, iv.
ARACHNID&.
Spiders, gigantic, in India, xxxv.
nests, curious, Xiil.
COLEOPTERA.
Achlainomus (n.g.) ebeninus, 179.
Ampedus tristis, capture of in Scotland, exiv.
Anobium paniceum, destructive to pearl barley, cxxxv.
Anomearthria (n.g.) ceruleopennis, 191.
Apate Bambuse, note on, il, xxi.
Areocera Coffee, Fab., feeding on mace, cxviii.
Attelabus Curculionoides, economy of, 83.
Batrisus venustus, capture of, xxv.
Brachelytra of Hong Kong, note on the, vii.
Brachinide of Hong Koug, note on the, 233.
Calandra ?, larva used as human food, 243.
Callichroma Faldermannii, 111.
Callirhipis Championii, 235; C. Templetonii, 234.
Campylocnemus Schrateri, structure of, iii.
Capture of new or rare species, ii, iv, vii, xili, xiv, XXXVil, CXIV, CXViil.
Carabide at Hong Kong, notes on, vii.
Cerosterna hispida, 112.
Cetonia eneu, note on the larva, xxxiv.
Chetectetorus spinipennis, 203.
Chelotonyx (n.g.) Batesii, 189.
Cicindelide, of Hong Kong, note on, 232.
Clytellus (n. g.) methocoides, 240.
Coccinella Reppensis, capture of, iv.
Colobus sericeus, 111.
Cosmiomorpha (n. g.) modesta, 29.
Cubicosomus (n. g.) Whitei, 181.
CurcuLionrpEs, new genera and species, 172.
Doubledaya (n. g.) viator, 1.
Drepanoderes (n. g.) fuscus, 187; D. viridifasciatus, 186.
Dryophila Anobivides, note on, iv.
Ectemnorhinus (n. g.) viridis, 185,
Enaptorhinus (n. g.) Sinensis, 180.
Eugeusis (n. g.) palpator, 239.
Eurychirus (n. g.) bituberculatus, 183.
Eurypoda (n. g.) antennata, 109.
Glaresis (n. g.) Frivaldszkyi, 72.
Glenea Fortunei, 112.
Glochinorhinus (n. g.) Doubledayi, 195.
Groo-groo worm of West Indies, account of, xxx1.
160
Hybophorus (n. g.) rufotuberosus, 206.
Hydrochus, revision of the synonymy of the species of, 229.
Hylobius Abietis, destructive to fruit trees, CXVill.
Hypera tigrina, a new British species, xxv.
Lamellicorn beetles with exserted mandibles and 10-jointed antenne, memoir
on, 59.
Languria Viator, 1.
Leptoderus angustatus and L, sericeus, xcvii.
Leptostethus (n. g.) marginatus, 175; L. Waltoni, 177.
Lichas (n. g.) funebris, 238.
Liparochrus fossulatus, 70; L. geminatus, 69; L. sculptilis, 70.
Longicorn beetles, new Chinese species, 109.
Lucanus Cervus, malformation in, xxxvii.
Megacephula, habits and synopsis of the species, 49.
Monochamus Sartor, capture of, in London, iv.
Mononychus Pseudacori, capture of, xxx.
New species, 25, 49, 232.
Noctiluca, a new British species of, cxxxvi.
Ochina Ptinoides, note on, v.
Ochodeus Americanus, 66; O. luridus, 67; O. lutescens, 64; O. pictus, 65;
O. rugatus, 67.
Ochthebius, revision of the synonymy of the species of, 230.
Oxyrhynchus Fortunei, 172; O. Phillipinensis, 173.
Paussida@, habits of, xxii.
of Hong Kong, note on, vii.
new species and synopsis of the family, 84.
Paussus Audouinii, 92; P. Chevrolatii, 93; P. Dohrnii, 93; P. Germari, 94;
P. Humboldtii, 90; P.Schaumii, 94.
Pezichus (n. g.) binotatus, 193.
Philus (n. g.) inconspicuus, 110.
Placodeves (n. g.) variegatus, 184.
Plagiocorynus (n. g.) tuberculatus, 202.
Platychile pallida, suggestion respecting habits of, xix.
Pogonocherus fasciculatus, capture of, in Scotland, exxxvi,
Poropterus Chevrolatii, 196; P. Jekelii, 197; P. Parryi, 198; P. Westwoodii,
200.
Porphyronota Sinensis, 32.
Protetia intricata, 31.
Protopalpus Schinherri, 192.
Rhipicera tessellata, 236.
Rhomborhina Fortunei, 30; R. nigra, 29.
Scolytus destructor, note on larva, 83, cxxxvi,
Steniodera ornata, 31.
Steropus madidus, with a Filaria attached, eviii.
Sympiezoscelus (n. g.) Spencei, 204.
Synaptonyr (n. g.) ovatus, 188.
Tetralophus sculpturatus, 174.
Triodontus Owas, 74.
161
CRUSTACEA.
Niphargus Stygius, found in a well in England, exvi.
Oniscus Armadillo, in ferneries, note on, cxxxii.
DIPTERA.
Blow flies, note on, 118.
Cecidomyia bursaria, larva in leaves of ground ivy, exxxiv.
Ctenophora atrata, note on the larva, xxxvii.
Glossina morsitans, the ‘‘ Tsetsé”’ cattle fly of Africa, xcvii.
Larve in walnuts, xxxiv.
voided by a gentleman, iv.
Midge, the winter, 117.
Mosquitoes, Chinese method of driving away, xv.
Sceva Pyrastii, note on, xxvii.
Tachina nitidula, economy of, 82.
Tephritis, larva of a, destructive to leaves of chrysanthemums, cxxx.
Tsetsé, venomous nature of the fly so called, xcvi.
HEMIPTERA,
ZEdnus ventralis, 10.
Amphaces virescens, 14.
Belostoma, flying out at sea, iv.
Dinidor gibbus, 18; D. lineatus, 11.
Hemiprera Scurara, new species of, 6.
Mecidea indica, 9; M. linearis, 9; M. quadrivittata, 9.
Oplomus elongatus, 6.
Sciocoris Australis, 7.
Tropicoris latus, 12.
Urostylis notulata, 16.
HOMOPTERA.
Aphides, abundant at Newcastle previous to the cholera, exxix.
secretion of, attractive to Lepidoptera, &c., cxxi.
Cocci, prize offered for Essay on Natural History of, evi.
Fabe, a new cochineal insect, vii.
Coccus Sinensis, the wax insect of China, xev, cxvi.
Fulgora candelaria, Lepidopterous parasite on, v.
Thrips, injurious to roses in Australia, evi.
Typhlocyba Filicum, a new species injurious to ferns, exxxii.
Umbonia spinosa, used as human food, 242.
Urophora Hardwickii, note on, vii.
HYMENOPTERA.
Ancistrocerus deflendus, 141; A. flavopunctatus, 36.
Anthidium maculatum, a new British species, cviii.
Anthophorabia retusa, note on, 248, Cxxx, CXXXv.
162
Bee, honey, Chinese method of taking honey from, exxxix.
chloroform recommended for stupefying, cxxii.
destroyed by toads, cxxxi.
drone-eggs laid in worker-cells, exxxvi.
duration of life in, 145.
fond of water, 116.
junction of swarms, cxvii.
monstrosity in, xxv.
note on, 115.
leaf-cutter, note on, 116.
moss-carver humble, note on, 113.
sting of, 113.
Bombus atripes, 44; B. breviceps, 44; B. eximius, 47; B. flavescens, 45; B. fune-
rarius, 47; B.hemorrhoidalis, 43; B. nasutus, 44; B. nivalis, Zett., captured
in Scotland, xxv; B. rufofasciatus, 48; B. simillimis, 48 ; B. trifasciatus, 43 ;
B. tunicatus, 43.
Caloseter vernalis, parasitic on Ptilinus pectinicornis, 83.
Cataulacus (n. g.) Guineensis, 225; C. parallelus, 226; C. taprobane, 225.
Cerceris zonalis, 35.
Chalcidide in nests of an Osmia, xxxiv.
Cheiropachus yuadrum, parasitic on Scolytus destructor, 83.
Cryptocerus, monograph of the genus, 213.
AKthiops, 216; C. Araneolus, 223; C. argentatus, 218; C. cordatus,
219; C.discocephalus, 222; C.D’Orbignyanus, 218; C.dubitatus,
216; C. elegans, 222; C. femoralis, 219; C. pubescens, 223;
C. unimaculatus, 223.
Cryptus purpuratus, 33.
Eumenes decoratus, 36; E. quadratus, 37.
Hyleus hyalinatus, economy of, 84.
rubicola, non-parasitic, x.
Hylecthrus Sieboldii, 142.
Melittobia Acasta, economy of, 248.
Meranoplus petiolatus, 224.
Monodontomerus, economy of, xviii.
New species, 33.
@codomus cephalotes used as human food, 242.
Onodontomachus unispinosus alive in England, exxxv.
Orectognathus (n. g.) antennatus, 228.
Osmia parietina, development of, 81,
Panurgus ursinus, habits of, cxl.
Pison regalis, 34.
Polistes sulcatus, 38.
Pompilus variegatus, capture of, in England, xxv.
Rhynchium flavo-marginatum, 35; R. ornatum, 46.
Sirex duplex, proportion of sexes, iii.
Trogus Pepsoides, 33.
Tryphon nigriceps, Grav., a new British species, exxxvi.
163
Vespa Britannica, note on the larva, xxxiv.
Crabroniformis, 40; V. decora, 41; V. ducalis, 39; V. magnifica, 45; V.
Mandarina, 38 ; V. obliterata, 47.
Wasp, seven Stylopites in one, ix.
Wasps killing flies, note on, 114.
mason, note on, 114.
nests, note on, 114.
Xylocopa appendiculata, 41; X. rufipes, 42; X. pictifrons, 42.
LEPIDOPTERA.
Acreéa Amida, 245.
Adela cuprella, capture of, xiii.
Agrotis lunigera, capture of, xxvii.
Aleucis pictaria, capture of, cxiv.
Anchylopera Upupana, capture of, xvii.
Anticlea Berberata, note on the larva, xxx.
Aplota palpella, food of the larva, exviii.
Asopia nemoralis, Scop., a new British species, cxxx.
Baits for moths, xx, xxx, CXxil.
Bedellia somnulentella, natural history of, 207.
Botys Urticulis, economy of, viii.
Bryophila perla, larve of, 117.
Butterflies, habits of Amazonian species, 253.
method of finding larve of, cvii.
Capture of rare species, xli, xvi, xvii, XXi, XXV, XXVil, XXX, XXXIV, XXxvil, xcviil,
Cvl, Cix, CX1V, CXVi, CXVIli, CXXi, CXXVIl, CXXx.
Catocale, manner of sitting, cxxxviil.
Catoptria Albersana, habit of the larve, cxvii.
Cerata Serviliana, captute of, xvii.
Chilo cicatricellus, a new British species, xxvii.
Cherocampa Celerio, captured in England, exiii.
Nerii, captured in England, xxxiv.
Choreutes vibrana, a new British species, cxxx.
Cleogene Peletieraria, captured in Ireland, exxxv.
Coleophora albitarsella, Alcyonipennella and solitariella, natural history of, 79.
binotapennella, a new British species, cxxx.
conspicuella, capture of the larva, xxi.
deauratellu, capture of, xxx.
Hemerobiella, food of the larva, xxv.
Onosmella, food of the larva, xxv.
Wockeella, capture of the larva, exxvil.
Coriscium substriga, note on the larva, 99, 107.
Cosmopteryx Zeiglerella, food of the larva, cxxvill.
Crambus uliginosellus, capture of, XXVi.
Crymodes Templi, habits of, xxii.
Deilephila lineata, capture of, in Treland, xcviii, cix.
Depressaria Emeritella, food of the larva, XXVill.
Libanotidella, food of the larva, xxviil.
164
Digging for pupz, observations on, cix.
Dircenna Duillia, 247.
Elachista Cygnipennella, Megerlella, subnigrella, natural history of, 210.
testaceella, food of the larva, xxx.
trapesziella, capture of, xxx.
Epicalia and Myscelia, sexes of one genus, iv.
Epipyrops anomala, proposed name for a parasite on Fulgora candelaria, v.
Erycina Saundersti, 245.
Gelechia basaltinella, capture of, xxvil.
blandella, contigua, fraternella, natural history of, 76.
cerealella, abundant at Renfrew, exxviii.
costella, larva hybernating, iv.
Hermannella, note on the larva, 101.
instabilella, food of the larva, exxvil.
lentiginosella, food of the larva, cxxvil.
neviferella, note on the larva, 101.
Gracillaria auroguttella, Franckella, stigmatella, natural history of, 123, 124.
Phasianipennella, food of the larva, exxviil.
Syringella, note on the larva, 99.
Graphiphora ditrapesium, capture of, xxv.
Hetera Hortona, 246; H. Hypesia, 247.
Hydrilla caliginosa, capture of, cxvili.
Hypsolophus limosellus, Martini, xxviil.
Schmidtiellus, V. Heyd., xxxix.
Verbascellus, a new British species, exxvii.
Incurvaria masculella and Zinckenii, curious larve of, xxvii, Cxiv, CXXi.
Lampronia corticella, habits of the larva, exix.
Larve, affected by muscardine, cxxxiil.
fungus-like attachments to, xxi.
leaf-miners mentioned by Réaumur, 97.
method of finding, cvi.
mining leaves of Cornus sanguineum, Cxxvil.
Lasiocampa Callune, Palmer, note on its distinctness, cxxviii.
Trifolii, parasitic ¢ moth in pupa of, exxx.
Laverna ochraceella, food of the larva, cxviil.
Lithocolletis Emberizepennella, natural history of, 122.
habits of the larve of the genus, 102, 119.
irradiella, a new species, cxxxiii.
Nicellii, capture of, exiv.
Scabiosella, natural history of, 121.
species of, on low growing plants, cxvii.
Stettinensis, food of the larva, exvi.
trifasciella, natural history of, 120.
Lithosia depressa and helvola, sexes of one species, xiv.
Microlepidoptera, mentioned by Réaumur, 97.
natural history of, 75.
reared in winter by heat, ii.
of Bogota, cxli.
Micropteryx Anderschella, food of the larva, xxviii.
165
Morpho Cytheris, habitat of, xix.
Myelois Epelydella, food of the larva, xxviil.
Nepticula, notes on larva of, viii, 105.
Noctua Sobrina, H.-Schf., a new British species, cxxxiv.
Notodonta Carmelita, capture of, xii, xvi, cxvi.
the genus very subject to attacks of Ichneumons, cxxxiii.
tritophus, capture of, in Scotland, xxxvii.
(Ecophora lacteella, note on larva of, xxv.
Oinophila V-flava, note on, xviii, xxiii.
Opostega Laburnella, food of the larva, xxviii.
Ourapteryx Sambucaria, peculiarity in the pupa, cxviii,
Pachetra leucophea, captured in England, exviii, exxi.
Papilio Chabrias, 23; P. Conon, 246; P. Orellana, 23; P. Pausanias, 22;
P, Sakontala, 24; P. Telearchus, 22.
Phibalapteryx gemmaria, capture of, exxx.
Phorodesma smaragdaria, economy of the larva, v.
Phycidea binevella, food of the larva, xxviii.
Pieris Daplidice, capture of, in England, 37.
Plutella horridella, capture of, xxvii.
Polyommati, method of finding the larve, evii.
Polyommatus Aleais, hermaphrodite, xxxiv.
variety of, cxiv.
Psyche marginecolella, Bruand, a new British species, cxiv.
opacella, var. ? found in Scotland, ii, xxxiv.
Pterophoride, notes on food of the larve, x.
Pupe, observations on digging for, cix.
effect of moisture on, xcviil.
Retinia Turionella, capture of, xvil.
Roslerstammia pygmeana, food of the larva, xxx.
Sciaphila Perterana, food of the larva, xxv.
Sericoris antiyuana, natural history of, xix.
Solenobia, alternation of generation in, cviii.
Sphinx Anteus, captured in England, xxvil.
Ligustri, tongue sheath bifurcate, iv.
Tischeria complanella, note on the larva, 107.
Transformations of caterpillars, 117.
Trochilium Culiciforme, note on the larva, xvii.
Vanessa Io, sound produced by, xcviil.
Xylina conspicillaris, capture of, xvil.
NEUROPTERA.
Termes lucifugus, Rossi, possible importation of, into Bntain, exv.
White ants, injuries done by, xxiii.
used as food, 243.
ORTHOPTERA.
Blatta germanica, injurious to provisions, viii.
orientalis, method of destroying, viii, xill.
VOL, Il. N.S. PART VIII.—APRIL, 1854.
166
Locusts as articles of food, represented on the buildings of Nineveh, exxii.
Mole crickets, voracity of, cxvill.
STREPSIPTERA.
Considered to be Coleopterous insects, cxxv.
Habits, transformation and sexual economy of, 125, ix, cxxiv.
Xenos Heydenii, 141.
Klugii, 142.
THYSANURA.
Podura, species of, on the ice in Wellington Channel, xiii.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY C. ROWORTH AND SONS
BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR.
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