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: — : \ G otes : - » Ovterwraet ary F : ig fay The te Ge Lem ag - Pt } ierer tyne are : : a - is : re ’ ea < $ cas “he 7 P Sy 'y sm & * i t ‘ 7 7 fos ' fas ~. : “ a - : - 7 ‘ : Y + en. le _ s, ‘48 , om ‘ om *8lbe be othe : fi : , v4 ‘ ‘er - : R ‘ - 4 one : : “ * ° veite 5 : ' : . so) oe aes : * oy ‘ A 7 . * ' . - : Fi i £ y . ppd Son * . . . te . * . ee ow - y : Round 1b HARVARD UNIVERSITY LIBRARY MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY 13820 ‘ Li R mt ; ey ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD AND EDITED: BY MALCOLM BURR, D.SC., F.R.E.S. T. BAINBRIGGH FLETCHER, R.N., E. A. COCKAYNE, A.M., D.M., F.L.S., F.Z/S., F.R.E.S. F.R.E.S., F.R.C.P. H. E. PAGE, F.R.E.S. J. E. COLLIN, J.P., F.R.E.S. ALFRED SICH, F.R.E.S. H. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. Rev. (Gi. WHEELER, M.A., F.R.E.S., F.Z.S. G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S., Editor Emeritus, and HENRY J. TURNER, F.R.ES., F.R.H.S., Editorial Secretary. VOL. LII (new series). JANUARY to DECEMBER 1940, PRICE 12s 6d. Special Index (with every reference), 1s 6 som of Comp, ss —- Zoology SUAN 27 1941 LIBRARL- ¢ 13, QAO No. 1 JANUARY 1940. ENTOMOLOGISTS RECORD op? x4 Zeal egy AND ory fh bas a A ~ JOURNAL OF VARIATION EDITED with the assistance of MALCOLM BURR, D.Sc., F.R.E.S. T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, R.N., F.L.S., | EB. A. COCKAYNE, A.M., D.M., F.R.E.S., | F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. a F.R.C.P. . H. E. PAGE, F.R.E.S. J. E. COLLIN, J.P., F.R.E.S. ALFRED SICH, F.R.E.S. H. DONIsTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. Rev. G. WHEELER, M.A., F.R.E.S., F.Z.S. Editor Emeritus—G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. By HENRY J. TURNER, F.R.E.S., F.R.H.S., Editorial Secretary. CONTENTS. LEPIDOPTERA AT NEVACHE, HAUTES-ALPES, FROM JULY 28-SEPTEMBER &, 1938, Wm. Fassnidge, M.A., F-R.E.S. 2.0... licccccccccccceceeneecctnesacercnadencnaneneceneees 41 A NOTE ON SATURNIA PAVONITA, L., P. BoM. AWGN oc... cdic ee etele cutee sasedes 4 TWO NEW ABERRATIONS OF BRITISH BEETLES, Horace Donisthorpe, se UR PT EAE EES Soe A at LAS OR LG 7S )iewa aa sets euee daey a Mase avecé oyteqeausbees 4 4 SOME ACULEATA OF EASTON, T. Fred M@rrine? .......cocccc cic cccccsee eset ede neeeteesnnes 7 _ COLLECTING NOTES :—Caloptilia pyrenaeella, Chretien 1908, T. Bainbrigge ihe Fletcher; Drepana binaria : Partial Second and Third Generations, (Capt.) C. Q. Parsons; Psychoda compar, Eaton, at Heston, Middlesex, Horace Donisthorpe; Some Notes on the Larva of Trichoptilus paludum, Zell., S. C. S. Brown; Coleoptera of Easton, T. F. Marriner; Spilosoma urticae, erst) CUMDCTEANG Peek ne Gunn ceca ones prea rar aten ay yak Ee oie Joss sada clea urae - Si BeeTUeIOD WOTES 03s ORE A aa ee agen ite al 141 SUPPLEMENT : [he British Noctuae and their Varieties, Hy. J. Turner, F.R.E.S., OO GE SIR ATs ear ieee TC STS MT Peco A (205)-(208) SPECIAL INDEX. 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ANDREWS, 6 Footscray Road, Eltham, S.E.9. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF THE WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND. Poniaine a descriptive history of 430 species’ all iNustrated 1 ‘in colour, and 25° text figures. Based ‘upon ‘THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES ie aes “< THE } MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES,” at Richard South, F.R.E.S. uermprete in one volume. Cloth Bound. Pocket size, 64 in. x 4 in. PRICE, 7/6 NET; BY POST, 7/40. eee -_ FREDERICK WARNE & CO. Ltd., 1-4 Bedford Court, Bedford Street, Strand W.C.2. oe te q * (3,820 Journal of @aviation Yvon, LI. JANUARY 15, 1940. ‘ Che Entonwlogist's Record aaa —_——___ Sak of Omp. ~ AND pO COM pay LEPIDOPTERA AT NEVACHE, HAUTES-ALPES, FROM JULY 28- SEPTEMBER 4, 1938. By Wm. Fassnipce, M.A., F.R.E.S. In the Entomologist’s Record, Vol. 36, pp. 55 et seq., 1924, will be found an account of my first entomological visit to the French Alps, and indeed my first visit to a high alpine locality. The present short article is intended to add to, or correct, those early notes and impres- sions, which have also been added to by a well-known French entomo- l6gist in an article entitled ‘‘Seconde étude sur Névache (Hautes-Alpes)”’’ by G. Praviel in L’Amateur de Papillons, Vol. VI, pp. 222-et seq. (1938). It should be stated at the outset that according to all reports 1938 was a very bad season for Lepidoptera both in England and France, where abnormal weather caused unusual scarcity and closed the season much earlier than usual. Fresh snow lay on the higher mountains at the end of August and a heavy fall was reported in the village itself in mid- September. Cold rain and wind ended all insect activity on the high pastures by the third week in August, while in the valley at 5000 feet the nights were too cold for lamping, and by day, even when the sun shone, comparatively few insects were to be seen. The difference be- tween this season’s scarcity and the wonderful abundance of 1923 was very marked, especially among the butterflies, but there was enough work to be done among the Micros, so that we were kept fully occupied and brought home nearly 1600 set insects. One of the best hunting grounds in the neighbourhood is the Col des Thures (7000 feet), which is now a national park and nature reserve, where chamois may frequently be seen. Here during the first fortnight in August insects were really abundant, among them Heodes virgaureae, L., H. chryseis, Berg., var. euwrybia, Ochs., Erebia mnestra, Hb., Meli- taea varia, Meyer-Durr, Psodos quadrifasciaria, Sulz., Omia cymbal- ariae, Hb., Plusia. hochenwarthi, Hoch., Pyrausta aerealis, Hb., P. uliginosalis, Steph., P. alpinalis, Schiff., Titanio schrankiana, Hoch., T. phrygialis, Hb. Beside the steep track leading up the gorge to the Col, in the shade of huge pines, were found mines of a Leucoptera species plentiful in the lower leaves of Onobrychis sativum. They produced in the Spring of this year L. onobrychidella, Klimesch, new to France and very recently discovered by Herr Klimesch in Austria. (See Zeitschrift des Oesterreichischen Entomologen-Vereines, Wien, 22 Jahrgang 1937, pp. 4-6.) On the slanting track across the screes leading to the Italian frontier Erebia scipio, Boisd., flew freely, but as usual in my experience, it was very hard to catch. Along the same track were plenty of Helio- . thela praegalliensis, Frey, very hard to see and still harder to net. Some confusion exists as to the distinction between this insect and H. atralis, 2 ‘ ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 Hb., but Mr W. Parkinson Curtis, who has examined Frey’s insect in the British Museum, states that our specimens from the High Alps cor- respond to H. praegalliensis, Frey, while he refers the dingier insect taken rarely at much lower levels to H. atralis, Hb. On the other hand, Monsieur Leon Lhomme refers both forms to H. atralis, Hb. The food plant appears to be still unknown, but from observations made in this locality the insect seems to be attached to dwarf goldenrod, and could not be found except in close proximity to that plant. The meadows along the Clarée up to and beyond the Chalets de Laval, 8.5 kms. from Névache, are also an excellent hunting ground. LHrebia pharte, Hb., was rare there this year and so was Coenonympha philea, Hb., var. satyrion, Esp., but other common species were in fair num- bers and one rare Crambus, viz., C. rostellus, de la Harpe, occurred there very locally, at about 6000 feet. This species was. also taken in another restricted locality up to the Col du Vallon at about 6500 feet, among a grass identified by Monsieur Leon Lhomme as Nardus stricta, L. Unfortunately the whole of the upper part of the Col du Vallon is now given over to sheep and there were literally no Lepidoptera left there. We could and did hunt for miles without seeing more than one Lepidopteron per acre where in former years there flew,in more or less abundance Melitaea cynthia, Hb., Oeneis aello, Hb., Plebewus pheretes, Hb., and many other high mountain species. As is well known, the Italian frontier has not been easy of access for some time. It is a pleasant walk from Névache to the frontier block- house guarding the Col de |’Echelle, and there is good hunting on the French side. We only once passed the frontier after some formalities, and looked down into the deep Vallée Etroite towards Bardonnéche. Two affable frontier guards accompanied us through the tangle of barbed wire, past the extensive works, where large numbers of men were busy, and brought us safely back to the Krench side. Soon after this the frontier was closed to the French and Italians and we did not bother to go over again, though on several occasions we went over the frontier in other places without seeing any guards, in spite of the lurid stories we heard of their activities. The state of affairs on the frontier was a sad contrast with the easy freedom of 1923, when we passed and repassed with no more than a nod to the corporal of Bersaglieri, and never saw another soul. Here may be taken Zygaena hilaris, Ochs., and Z. pur- puralis, Briinnich, among other insects. Another good hunting ground close to the village lies on either side of the Clarée as far as the cascade, where further progress along the torrent is blocked. Here on thistles among the corn were countless Heodes virgaureae, L., with occasional nicely marked females, LE. neoridas, Boisd., Plusia ain, Hoch., and P. bractea, S. V., rarely. On a low growing shrub of some Prunus species were found innumerable mines of a Leucoptera species, since bred and found to be L. scitella, Zell., together with small larvae of Aporia crataegi, L., while the bushes of Viburnum lantana yielded pupae of Peronea logiana, Schiff., the imagines from which are much larger and brighter than English speci- mens. On the right bank of the Clarée the wet pastures yielded Argyn- nis amathusia, Esp., and A. ino, Rott., and the seed heads of Veratrum alba were many of them full of larvae of Hupithecia veratraria, H.S.,. and E. fenestrata, Mill., with an odd larva of some other pug. a tah nd oy | fe ‘ be. a “7 ‘ LEPIDOPTERA AT NEVACHE, HAUTES-ALPES. 3 Perhaps the best locality within easy walk of the village lies down stream on the right bank, under the Fort de l’Olive, between Névache and Plampinet, where there are clearings among the pines and aspens with flowers innumerable. Thecla betulae, L., flies here in plenty, and we took occasionally Melasina lugubris, Hb. In the willows by the tor- rent were found in plenty the larvae of EHarias chlorana, L., and less commonly those of Peronea hastiana, L., which latter yielded forms larger and more striking than southern English ones. Here we found in real abundance on 18th August a Crambus that I did not recognise, flying freely in the afternoon among long grass in rough dry fields and open spaces. By good fortune M. Leon Lhomme, to whom some were sent, was able to identify it at once as C. polielius, Tr., included doubt- fully in the French list on the strength of a single capture recorded by Sand from Saint-Florent (Cher). The females are very distinct from the males, yet we found them hard to get and not easy to distinguish in the field. However, by sweeping among the long grass we found that the males would all fly out of the open net while the females would sit quietly on the gauze to be boxed with ease. The species was so abun- dant that my wife and I were able to catch and box one hundred and four specimens in thirty minutes. Later in the month males came freely to light on the slopes above the village and even into our bedroom. Among the shrubby aspens in this locality the mines of Inthocolletis tremulae, Zell., occurred commonly on the very lowest leaves and in very sheltered spots. The slopes behind the village facing south were also very productive. Here flew in numbers the second brood of M. didyma, Ochs., with many females very much suffused darker, but no aberrations that we could find. In fact, the only aberration seen of any species was a streaked underside of Polyommatus eros, Ochs., found stuck on the mud at a weep by the roadside. Z. fausta, L., and Z. carniolica, Scop., were very abundant on these slopes, and towards the late afternoon there flew freely Epischnia ampliatella, Hein., Selagia spadicella, Hb., and Cram- bus lithargyrella, Hb. Here, too, among the seeds of Verbascuwm were found the larvae of Pyrausta repandalis, Schiff., which for the first time I succeeded in rearing through the winter. The larvae are said to feed again in the Spring after hibernation, but I have never ob- served this. My larvae of this species have always remained unchanged in their cocoons throughout the winter, pupating in May or June. Orobena sophialis, Fb., was also common here, but as usual we found it difficult to get specimens in good condition. There are masses of red Valerian on the slopes, and many species of day-flying Lepidoptera fre- quent the flowers, which after dark are even more attractive to many Noctuidae, especially of the genus Plusia. The weather this season in the mountains was unusually unfavour- able for lamping, being on the whole cold, windy and rainy. Very few even moderately good nights were experienced, and the moon spoiled some of these. Geometers were plentiful, as also were Micros, but Noctuidae were very scarce indeed. Among the species taken at light were Ilema lutarella, L., Phragmatobia maculosa, Gerning, Huxoa grisescens, Fb., E. simplonia, Geyer, E. denticulosa, Esp., E. vitta, Esp., HE. signifera, Schiff., H. celsicola, Bell., Agrotis rectangula, var. andereggi, Boisd., A. renigera, Hb., Miselia tephroleuca, Boisd., Bryo- 4 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 phila galathea, Mili., Athetis terrea, Frr., Calamia virens, L., Phyto- metra festucae, L., P. v. argenteum, Esp., P. bractea, Schiff., and P. deaurata, Esp. This unfavourable weather, together with a frontier mobilisation, drove us home to England some few days before we had intended. Diffi- culties of identification have made it impossible to do more than lay the foundations of a list of the Microlepidoptera of Névache, but it is hoped that in due course all the records will be published in the Second Part of Monsieur Lhomme’s ‘‘ Catalogue des Lépidopteres de France et de Belgique,’’ now in course of preparation. At any rate we spent a very pleasant holiday, for the village grows every year more civilised, and we hope that when peace returns again to western Europe we may spend the yet richer months of June and July among these well- remembered mountains, so rich in rare plants and insects. 4 Bassett Crescent West, Southampton. A NOTE ON SATURNIA PAVONIA, L. By P. B. M. Awan. A few summers ago J reared some two dozen larvae of Saturnia pavonia, L., from the egg, and on the following 1st February I brought a dozen cocoons into a room in which the temperature was usually about 58° F. by day, falling to 50° F. at night. On 25th February the first moth, a female, emerged at 11.50 p.m., and moths continued to emerge until 6th March. It took this female six minutes to get out of her cocoon, from the time when her head ap- peared until she was free. She did not pull herself out but held on to a stalk, her body working itself upwards and out of the neck of the cocoon by peristaltic contractions of the abdominal somites, the moth resting for a moment or two after each ‘‘ wave ’’ of contractions. When free she crawled rapidly to the top of the stalk to which her cocoon was attached, waved her legs about for a few moments as though she would climb higher, and after one minute came to rest. Four minutes later her wings began to expand, and after 55 minutes they were fully ex- panded. During wing expansion there was no perceptible movement of the body: so far as I could see, watching through a lens, the insect was absolutely motionless. The forewings began to expand first. The next moth which emerged, a male, did things much more quickly. He was free of the cocoon at 11.53:p.m., and by 12.5 a.m. [0.5 a.m.] his wings were fully expanded. On the last day of February there were snowstorms, with a hard frost in the night of 28th February-lst March. Three moths emerged on the 28th (2 dd at 11.30 a.m. and noon; 1 9 at 4 p.m.), and towards mid- night another male began to emerge; but the temperature of the room falling sharply to 40° F. when an electric stove was switched off, he stuck in the neck of his cocoon. Next morning I cut him out and put him on the mantelpiece; he was very feeble and covered with meconium; but the following evening, being nearly baked over the electric fire, he became vigorously active at 11 p.m.; though of course it was then too late for him to expand his wings. A NOTE ON SATURNIA PAVONTIA, L. 5 By the way, a number of the males which emerged in my room be- came active late at night. In a state of nature, do male S. pavonia fly by night as well as by day? On the 5th June 1937 my friend, Mr Clifford Craufurd, caught at midnight a male Fox Moth which flew to his lamp. Other entomologists may have had the same experience, but neither he nor I have seen it recorded in print. Barrett makes no mention of the male pavonia flying by night, and of M. rubi he remarks ‘‘ the male appears to fly only in the daytime.”’ If any readers of this paper have taken male pavonia during the hours of darkness I shall be grateful if they will let me know. It was easy to show that with S. pavonia temperature controls (1) eclosion from the pupa case, (2) emergence from the cocoon, (3) the vas- cular pressure on the blood which brings about wing expansion. I found that by altering the temperature sharply it was possible to produce partial crippling, and that this artificial crippling invariably affected the hindwings. Everyone who has bred S. pavonia under observation will have noticed that eclosion is always preceded by a certain ‘“ ratthng about ”’ of the pupa in the cocoon (though this ‘‘ rattling ’’? does not always prog- nosticate immediately impending emergence; for example, some of my pupae which “‘ rattled ’’ on 14th February did not emerge until the 26th, and they were silent between the 15th and the 25th). What is the signi- ficance of this rattling about of the pupa in the cocoon? While some of them rattled a week and more before the moths emerged, all of them— so far as [ could tell—-rattied at one time or another before they emerged. A few never rattled at all, and these pupae were found later to be dead. Is the movement essential to eclosion? If so, its performance some days before eclosion took place with my pupae might possibly have been due to the fact that these particular specimens were ready to emerge but that the temperature was too low, or that some essential factor was lacking. In an attempt to solve this problem, on March 20th (no emergences having occurred since March 6th) I cut the tops off six of the cocoons, to see whether this would have any effect on the movements of the pupae or of eclosion. The pupae in these cocoons were lively. On the same date (March 20th) I brought into my room the second dozen cocoons. Moths began to emerge from this second batch on April 5th, and the last two left their cocoons on April 22nd. ans of the six pupae in cocoons with the tops sliced off ever gave rise to a moth. On September 5th (they being then 123 months old) they were all alive; but by November 12th one had died. On the Ist March following (they being then about 183 months old) they were still alive; but on March 12th all were dead except one. This was obviously due to my mismanagement, as they had been in a warm room for more than a year and were dried up. On March 12th T found in a larva cage an unopened cocoon contain- ing a dead pupa. So I sliced the cocoon in half transversely with a razor, removed the dead pupa, put my surviving pupa inside the cocoon, and glued the two halves of the latter together. The following evening, the temperature in the room rising to 62° F., the pupa started to ‘ rattle.’ Next afternoon (March 13th) it rattled for an hour; but thereafter it was silent, and a week later I cut the 6 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 cocoon open again and found that the moth, a female, had freed her abdomen of the pupa case but had been unable to push off the fused thoracic appendanges and had died. Now, although I had failed to find out why the pupa “ rattled,”’ T obtained what may possibly be a clue by watching the six pupae when they ‘‘ rattled ’’ in their truncated cocoons. I noticed that the move- ment was not a lateral one, i.¢., from one side of the cocoon to the other, but a ‘“‘ jump *’ upwards and a fall back. This ‘‘ jump ”’ was apparently effected by flexing the abdominal somites and then extending them sharply. But further observation showed that there was more in it than that. The cremaster of S. pavonia is interesting. It consists of about 30 bristles, varying slightly in length and thickness, which are spread out roughly fanwise. The inside of the cocoon is extremely hard and so glossy as to have the appearance of being varnished. But although slippery it is not smooth in the sense of being flat: its surface is uneven and irregular. So ihat if the pupa curved its abdominal segments until the cremaster was ‘‘ spiked against’’ the side of the cocoon (the un- evenness giving the cremaster a purchase), with the dorsal surface of the thorax resting against the opposite wall, then straightened itself out sharply, the pupa would be forced upwards on the glossy surface of the cocoon. This, so far as I have been able to observe, is what actually happens when the pupa “ rattles ’’ in its cocoon. But what have these movements to do with eclosion? Moreover, the pupa is able to make them whether its cocoon be intact or truncated. The only solution I can suggest is this-—and do please bear in mind that it is no more than a suggestion :— ; When the pupa ‘‘ jumps’’ upwards its anterior end is momentarily wedged in the bottle-necked upper part of the cocoon. This momentary wedging enables the imago to obtain some kind of purchase for the mak- ing of a muscular effort which splits the pupa case along two lines of cleav- age, a transverse cne hetween the 3rd thoracic and Ist abdominal seg- ments, continued posteriorly and ventrally along the inner margins of the wings, and a longitudinal one along the middle of the three thoracic segments. Then, as the pupa falls back to the wider bottom of the cocoon, the moth pushes from itself the fused appendages and thoracic segments, and emerges. If the top of the cocoon be sliced off, the pupa is unable to obtain that momentary wedging which enables the imago to split the case. On the other hand, since a violent muscular effort by an insect is usually followed by a period of rest, it may be that the ‘jumping ’’ effects the rupture of the pupa case along the line of one cleavage only, the second rupture being made some time later while the insect is lying at the bottom of the cocoon. If the temperature fell immediately after the first rupture was made, the insect might lie inert until the requisite degree of warmth urged it to effect ihe second rupture, which is made immediately prior to emergence from the cocoon. This part of the problem could be solved by opening a cocoon immediately after the first ‘‘ rattling ’’ has been heard, and examining the pupa. S. pavonia is not common in my district and I have no more pupae with which to experiment further. Will some reader of this paper con- tinue these observations? The simplest way would-be to watch the pupa closely in its cocoon, by the expedient of cutting windows in opposite ‘ ~~ NEW ABERRATIONS OF BRITISH BEETLES—ACULEATA OF EASTON. ( sides of a pavonia cocoon with a razor and glueing cellophane over the apertures. It would also be interesting to see whether any emergences took place among a dozen or more pupae after their cremasters had been snipped off, the pupae being replaced in the opened cocoons and these sealed again. Does anybody know whether the double spiked cremaster of certain species which pupate in the ground plays a part in eclosion? TWO NEW ABERRATIONS OF BRITISH BEETLES. By Horace DonistHorpr, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. Cryptophagus dentatus, Hbst., ab. flavus-clavatus, n. ab. This specimen agrees very well in size, structure, puncturation, and pubescence with the typical form, but the three-jointed club on both antennae is clear yellow in colour. It came out of a piece of hawthorn stump from a hedge at Heston, Middlesex, on 7th May 1939. I kept pieces of the wood (and have still got them at the Museum), but no further specimens emerged; but a specimen of Agriotes sobrinus, Hbst., did so and larvae of Hedobia im- perialis, L., are present (teste Blair). As it is such a striking looking insect and as the antennae are absolutely uniform, it seems to be worthy of a name. Type in coll. Donisthorpe in B.M. Hydraena nigrita, Germ., ab. pallida, n. ab. In the typical form the insect is jet black with red legs; but in pallida it is lighter or darker brown, the head being darker. Some specimens have the thorax lighter; but no black forms were found with pallida. H. nigrita is common in various streams in the Windsor Forest area, but the ab. only occurred in one stream. It was taken on 20th and 27th July and Ist August 1939, some 30 specimens having been taken. I thought at first it might be a different species as the punctura- tion of the head and thorax is perhaps a little more sparse, but Mr Balfour-Browne, junior, who kindly dissected a male, tells me that the genitalia of the two forms are identical. Type and cotypes in coll. Donisthorpe in B.M. SOME ACULEATA OF EASTON. T. Frep MARRINER. Though I have not devoted much time to the especial search for Bees, etc., I find I have accumulated a fairly representative collection of the Order in this Easton area of Cumberland, and these may prove of in- terest in adding new localities for most of the species observed, and taken. Of the Vespidae, Vespa vulgaris, L., is too common in some parts but varies, and has been seldom seen in others. V. germanica, F., I have only come across once. IV’. sylvestris, Scop., is fairly common in every portion of the area, while V. rufa, L., like V. germanica, is scarce around Easton. I got two specimens of Odynerus (Ancistrocerus) parie- tum, L., in my garden in 1936, the only ones [ have seen. Halictus rubicundus, Chr., has not been uncommon on some of our hedgebanks. ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 66) lt was especially common in September 1939 and along with it I got Sphecodes monilicornis, Kirby. Sphecodes ferruginatus, Schk., seems a scarce item here. Halictus calceatus, Scop., was plentiful in June 1936 and again in 1939. H. tumulorum, L., was fairly common on various flower heads on the road verges in August 1939. I have got five species of Andrena, of which A. albicans, Kirby, has been the commonest. A. jucobi, Perk., is fairly common in the early summer. A. clarkella, Kirby, was not uncommon in May 1939, and occasionally with it Nomada borealis, Zett. J got a single specimen of A. nigriceps, Kirby, a 2, on ragwort in August 1936. A. albicrus, Kirby, was fairly common in my garden in July 1939, and Nomada marshamella, Kirby, was not rare. Of the Apidae, Osmia rufa, L., was not uncommon in June 1939. Megachile willughbiella, Kirby, appears on my rose bushes each year, usually in numbers in August. I took a single specimen of Psithyrus vestalis, Fourc., near Longtown in August 1935. There are, so far, nine species of Bombus. B. muscorum, L., is fairly common everywhere I have collected here. B. agrorum, F., has often occurred in my garden. B. hortorum, L., has not been commonly noted until August and September 1939, when it turned up in great numbers on a Chinese plant, Senecio tangeticus, in my garden. B. jonellus, Kirby. This small Bombus has always been considered rare in Cumberland, and I was surprised to find it in numbers in my garden here in 1936 and in 1939. B. pratorum not uncommon on bramble and wild raspsberry on my hen run here. B. lapponicus, F., has only twice occurred to me near Easton. 3B. ruderarius, Miill., I have seen rarely and only in Bolton Fell and Bewcastle areas. B. lapidarius, L., usually fairly plentiful. B. lucorum, L., quite common. Apis mellifica, L., not wild here but as there are a number of beekeepers, their stocks in- vade the whole area. Of the Formicidae I have taken the following, and a special search will probably add to the number. Formica fusca, L., is common among the rotting tree stumps on my hen run, the remains of a wood cut down long ago. Donisthorpea nigra, L., is not uncommon. Myrmicidae. Leptothorax acervorum, F., common under stones on some wide road verges. COLLECTING NOTES. CALOPTILIA PYRENAEELLA, CHRETIEN 1908.—In the Entomologist, LXVI, 230 (X. 1938) Mr L. T. Ford recorded that he bred specimens of this species from ‘‘ cones ’’ on maple-leaves collected in the Isle of Wight on 9.vi.1933, the moths emerging 2-4.vii, When this note ap- peared, I was unable to trace any description of this species in Rebel’s Cat. Pal, Lep., Meyrick’s Oat. Gracil. or Wytsm. Gen. Ins. or in the Zoological Record and it was only when going over Chrétien’s papers in Le Naturaliste that I came across it. Chrétien described this species as Gracilaria pyrenaeella in Le Naturaliste, XXX [(2) XXIT], p. 246 (1.xi.1908), and, as his description of it is not readily accessible to English Entomologists, it may be useful to give a translation, as fol- lows :— COLLECTING NOTES. 9 Expanse 10.5 mm. Forewing purplish-brown, dark violet or even dark-blue, especially at 4 of the wing and beyond middle. The base near dorsum is purplish-yellow; in the middle of the wing is a large broad costal blotch of a beautiful clear golden-yellow, or egg-yellow, brighter than in G. alchimiella. This blotch is clearly outlined on each side; sometimes its lower extremity stops at the fold, sometimes it crosses the fold, occasionally extending to dorsum. When it stops at the fold, the blotch is trapeziform; when it extends across the fold, which it does very rarely, it forms an obtuse angle, it is triangular ; costally it is devoid of small black striae. Cilia purple-brown anteriorly, twice cut by a darker line towards their extremity which is blackish, and brown in their posterior part. Hindwing dark brown, as well as the cilia. Head and thorax grey or purplish-yellowish; face pale golden yellow or gilded citron-yellow ; antennae ringed with yellowish-brown and dark purplish-brown ; palpi yellowish, tinged purple beneath; abdomen dark brown above, pale golden-yellow beneath; legs yellowish-grey. Larva fusiform, elongated, very attenuated posteriorly; segmental incisions well marked; white; warts indistinct; head small, white; mouthparts ferruginous, ocelli indistinct; thoracic legs white; three pairs of ventral prolegs. It lives in May and June on Acer campestre [Common Maple] in the same way as other Gracilaria larvae, mining at first, later on making cones [and] twists, rolling the lobes of the leaves of which it eats out the interior as far as the epidermis. It emerges from these cones by a hole in the side and places its cocoon in a fold of the leaf, near the base of the last cone in which it has lived. This cocoon is elongated, keeled above and of white silk, firm. Pupa yellowish-brown, very attenuated posteriorly; extremity of sheaths free, as long as caudal spine; surface smooth on thorax, rough on abdomen; nervures of wing-cases indistinct; spiracles sunken [‘‘ en dépression ’’]; warts indistinct, [with] long pale hairs; posterior ex- tremity of abdominal segments very slightly swollen [‘‘ en bourrelet faible ’]; caudal spine short, broad, subeylindrical, naked, hardly carunculated at tip. The moth emerges in late June and July, doubtless the first brood; its second breod has not been observed. It occurs in the Basses- Pyrénées. This new Gracilaria is near G. onustella, Hb., and oneratella, Zell. ; as regards the shape of the yellow costal, blotch it agrees with both, since this blotch is sometimes triangular, sometimes quadrangular; but its colour is of a brighter purer yellow. Note.—As he states that its larva feeds on Humulus lupulus, it is evident that Chrétien’s ‘‘ onustella ’’ was the first brood of fidella, Reutti, which has until recently been confused with the true onustella, Hb.: this latter is a rare species, apparently confined to ‘Austria. See Hering, Schmett. Mitteleurop., p. 62 (1932).—T. B. F.] T. Barnsriece FLercHeR, Rodborough., Glos.; 14.xi.1939. DREPANA BINARIA: PARTIAL SECOND AND THIRD GENERATIONS.—Five pupae of this species were obtained from ova laid by a female I obtained in May. Two moths emerged in August. The remaining pupae I placed 10 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 in a glass topped tin in September for the winter near an ever open window in a room without a fire facing north-erst. On November 2nd I happened to look at the tin and was surprised to see the wing cases of one of the pupae had turned black; a moth hatched the following day, the two last on November 9th. Pupae I keep in this room almost always hatch at least a fortnight later than those in a wild state, so the appearance of the moths could not have been due to the warmth of the house. October for the most part was unusually cold, the thermometer fre- quently falling to 43°, but at the end of that month and in the be- ginning of November a mild spell set in and it often registered 55°. All five moths were as large as the spring brood.—(Capt.) C. Q. Parsons, Torquay. PsycHopA comMPAR, Eaton, at Herston, MippLesex.—For several vears past I have observed a small Dipteron in my bathroom at Heston, where it always haunts the washing basin, sitting on the wall above and in the basin itself. I captured a few a year or so ago, and pinned them (which I did not find an easy thing to do with these small and delicate flies), but Dr Edwards told me it was not possible to name dried specimens. Recently I collected specimens in spirit, and he tells me it is Psychoda compar, Eaton; not a common species. My house is a small modern one, the walls of the bathroom being covered with tiles, the wash basin, Lath, etc., being porcelain, and the taps chromium plated, and I could not think where the fly came from. It appears, however, that their larvae breed in soap residue, etc., in the pipes. I understand that a new species has recently been taken in Australia and that the metamorphosis only takes four days from the egg to the imago! ‘These creatures will remain in one spot for some time. I have found one in the morning exactly where it was the night before. When in the basin and a tap is turned on, as soon as the water touches the fly it floats on the surface of the water and takes wing from it. Also if gently submerged under the water it extricates itself and after flapping the wings takes to flight.—Horacre DonisTHORPE. Some NorTes on tHe Larva or TRICHOPTILUS PALUDUM, ZELL.—Few of our resident Lepidoptera have their early stages less known than that of Trichoptilus paludum, Zell. The moth is widely distributed and not uncommon on boggy heaths, where its food-plant, Drosera, grows. On account of the extremely small size of both the larva and its food-plant and the difficulty of examining a peat-bog on one’s hands and knees, the early stages are seldom looked for. The following notes on the breed- ing of the larvae have been made in the hope that they may be of some interest and help to those entomologists who would like to study the larval habits of this very interesting little species. During August 1937 I came across a small, isolated peat bog that had become separated from the main heath at Parley, Dorset, by a metalled road. Several specimens of the ‘‘ plume” were flitting about over the sphagnum, and it occurred to me that a close examination of the Drosera in the Spring should produce some larvae. A visit to the spot in early May found everything very wet and little sign of growth amongst the CURRENT NOTES. 11 Drosera. = did not make a further search until the 15th of the month, when I found the plants fully grown, and throwing up flowering spikes. An examination of the Drosera soon showed that larvae had been at work. A few of the smaller plants were dead, the heart of the plants being eaten right out, and little piles of frass left in its place. Other plants showed that pieces had been eaten out of the leaves, especially along the stalk. The little green larvae with reddish tubercles exactly matched the green leaves with their red tipped ‘‘hairs,’’? and if it were not for the piles of green frass it would be extremely difficult to detect the larvae. The favourite position of rest seemed to be along the stalk of a leaf, which in many cases was about the width of a full-grown larva. Others were found in-between the ‘“‘ hairs’ on the surface of the leaf. The first larva pupated on the 2]st. Any dry upright object seems to be suitable to the larvae for the purposes of pupation. Last year’s dead flower stalk, a piece of paper, or the sides of the flower pot in which they were reared, were the positions chosen by the larvae that I kept.— S. C. 'S. Brown. [Ref.—Chapman, Dr T. A., Trans. Ent. Soc, Lond., 1906, p. 133, plt. vii.—Eps. | CoLEOPTERA OF Easton.—In my notes of the Coleoptera of this Easton area in the Entom. Record of September 1939 I expressed the hope that I might find two further species of Carabus. Though I have not, per- sonally succeeded in this, one of my farming friends, interested in my efforts, brought to me a fine ¢ Carabus nitens which he had come across in the Pennine area some three miles north of Bewcastle. Day of Carlisle tells me he has taken the insect at Bewcastle, and I believe the new find will be its furthest north in England. Sir T. Hudson Beare took it at Moffat across the Border.—T. F. Marriner, Easton, Longtown. SPILOSOMA URTICAE, ESPER., IN CUMBERLAND.—An evacuee here brought me the caterpillar of this species with a piece of the plant, a kind of bogmint, on which he found it, in August 1939. He called it a ‘“ red-headed woolly bear.’’ This insect has only been recorded doubt- fully for Cumberland previously and very rare in Scotland. I visited the boggy patch from which it came but found no further examples.— T. F. Marriner, Easton, Longtown. CURRENT NOTES. In the Ent. Rund., vols. 55 and 56 (1938-9), Frhr. v. d. Goltz of Coblentz has communicated a long article on the Genus Callerebia, a group of species very closely related to those of the genus Hrebia. The species are more eastern in their distribution than those of that genus. Incidentally, we are informed by the writer that during the last few years Dr Hone and his collectors have sent to the Royal Museum at Bonn no less than 600,000 lepidoptera from the Thibet and Chinese areas. There are about 1500 examples of Hrebia and Callerebia, of _ which only 60 are Hrebia. A plate illustrating several new forms is included. 12 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 Evening and night collecting, doubtless for a long period, will be curtailed largely, if not completely. May we urge active entomologists to turn their attention to breeding for varieties. A generation or two even ago a few entomologists devoted a deal of attention to such work. Species like Arctia caja, Spilosoma lutea (lubricipeda in part), Abraxas grossulariata were especial favourites, and many striking forms were produced by selective breeding, carefully arranged pairing and con- tinuous breeding with strengthening pairings at intervals. A. caja was an early subject and as far back as 1790 many striking forms had been bred and figured (see Ernst & Engramelle, ‘‘ Papillons d’Europe ’’). But records of the method of obtaining results and the numerical and detailed reports of such breeding are few and far between. Of the won- derful and marvellous results of Rayner’s work with A. grossulariata we have no records whatever, so that the true history of the origin of any specimen is a complete blank. In the case of S. lutea we have some imperfect records, but not sufficient by far. Our pages during the past year have contained some excellent articles on ‘‘Continuous Breeding,”’ by Dr B. D. Kettlewell, where many useful practical hints may be found. The Geometers as a whole lend themselves for such experimental work and many species are quite easy to breed. A perusal of our ‘‘ List of British Geometers ’’ (see the cover of this magazine) will afford, by the number of named forms attached to each species, good subjects for a commencement. But, above all, careful, dated and detailed records should be kept. At last the S. London Entomological Society has found suitable accommodation quite close to their old quarters near London Bridge, in the Chapter House of Southwark Cathedral, St Thomas St., Borough. In the early days of December, a few of the members were very active in the ‘‘ moving in.’’ Cabinets and bookcases were placed so that the hall for the ordinary meeting looked quite homely to the members when they met on Saturday afternoon, 16th December, at 2.30 p.m. As it will not be convenient for meetings to be held on Thursdays as before, the next three will be on the second Saturday in January, February and March, after which further arrangements will be made by the Council. The issue of Lambillionea for October and November contains an article with 3 plates on the ‘‘ Relation between aberrant ocelli in the Saturniidae and the aberrant neuration,’’ by M. F. Bryk. The eo) ces are Hudia (Saturnia) pavonia and Hiiegiies pyretorum. In the same issue, Mr Bb. J. Lempke in reference to the recent state- ment that as many as nine generations of Pieris rapae occur in S. Italy in one season points out that this species is protandrous, that is that the ds appear before the females and are quite ready to pair with the Qs of a previous generation, and hence it is difficult to determine a generation. Skat Hoffmeyer has sent a copy of the article on the variation of Cidaria (Hydriomena) ruberata written jointly with K. Groth. The Danish language will be a stumbling block to many, but the coloured plate of 30 figures with the 5 text figures and the references in the text will give a deal of information to most. THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. 5Y%\ 1.0 \ “@& \O ‘3 Brahm in Scriba’s Beitrage, III, 252, plt. 18, 1 (1793), r this species and gave a figure much too large, stigmata much too pro- minent and glaring, but recognisable. Hiibner, Saml. Noct., 411 (1808), gave a figure in which the often slightly lighter area atk) between the waved elbow line and the black submarginal is prominently light with a pinkish tinge. I have never seen a specimen like it or approaching it. It must be very rare. Hb., J.c., 572 (1809-18), is of a much darker obscured red, more like our average British examples. Treit. said, Schm., V (2), 119 (1825), that the figure of Esper, Abbild., 1V, 491, plt. 150, 5, as he, Esper, himself suggested was not the insect of Borkhausen and Brahm, but was indeed a variety of swasa. There fore it is possible that he (Esper), under his radica, plt. 151, has a true leucographa (unless it be the following species, bella). In some ways this radica shows the characteristics of leucographa, but is somewhat too small. H.-S. called it bella. Werneburg called it zanthographa, which in shape and size it is more like. Dup., Hist. Nat. Sup., IIT, 440, plt. 39, 1 (1836), gave a figure in- correct in colour and marking with antennae extremely pectinated. ¢. Freyer, Neu. Beitr., VI, 5, plt. 483 (1845), gave a variegated figure in which all usual features were exaggerated. He stated that Hiib., 411, was quite incorrect, but 572 was good, and Esper’s figure, plt. 150, has only the name which is this species. Gn., Hist. Nat., V, 349 (1852), considered amicta, Donz. as in all probability a Q of lewcographa. Stdgr., Cat., III ed., 153 (1901), listed it as “ab. © obscura?” He placed leucographa and rubricosa in Taeniocampa (1852). Aurivillius removed all the species, carnea, hyperborea, and tecta (carnica), for which the genus Pachnobia was established by Gn. (1852). Splr., Schm. Eur., 1, 165, plt. 45, 12 (1905), gave a figure with area between the waved line and the submargin well indicated by a different shade of the reddish ground colour but not light pinkish as in Hiibner’s fig. 411. He used the genus Sora, Heine. South, M.B.J., I, 325, plt. 155, 4 (1907), gave a rather washed out figure, presumably of a very worn specimen. There is a good figure in Berge-Rebel, plt. 34, 9 (1909), except that the second transverse line and the Sabina rained are emphasised too strongly in white. Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 60 (1909), recognised 3 forms only— lepititii, Bdv., suffusa, Tutt, and rufa, Tutt. This figure is featureless and poor, plt. 14b. Culot, NV. et G., T (1), 94, plt. 15, f. 18 (1911), gave an excellent aver- age ase. Of the Variation Barrett says, l.c., V, 225 (1899) :— ‘Not very conspicuously variable, but isolated specimens show a tendency to representations of the usually absent portions of the ordin- ary pattern of markings; one in my own collection has a partial but dis- tinct dull yellow basal line, and a more complete perpendicular and in- dented first line composed of dusting of the same colour, but the reniform stigma is only indicated by a yellowish margin; in other examples there (206) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 is a yellow dot indicating the basal line, or the claviform stigma is faintly suggested in the same colour. Among specimens reared at Hereford are some in which the purple-red colour is very much blackened especi- ally in the middle of the wings, with the stigmata either bright yellow or very obscure; and one in which the forewings are pale brownish-pink with the stigmata yellowish white and the hindwings white.”’ He reports specimens from Durham ‘‘ very dark purple-red with the stigmata obscure.”’ And one “ of a dark red-brown without a trace of the stigmata.”’ The Names and Forms to be considered are :— leucographa, Schiff., Verz., 83 (1775). [leucographa, Hb., Samml. Noct., 411 (1808): 572 (1809-18). ] f. lepetitii, Bdv., Icones, p]t. 83, 2 (1832). ab. amicta, Dnz., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., VIII, 527, plt. 8, 3 (1847). ab. suffusa, Tutt, Brit. Noct. II, 130 (1892). ab. rufa, Tutt, Le. ab. tenebricosa, Reb., Berge Schm.-buch., 176 (1909). Tutt dealt with (1) the leucographa, Hb., 411, the type form; (2) f. lepetitii, Bdv., the red-brown form, with no trace of ochreous in the stigmata; (3) ab. suffusa, the spread of the dark central shade over the whole wing, a deep blackish-red; (4) ab. rufa, ground a bright red, paler than the type, pale ochreous red. ab. amicta, Donz., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (1847), 527. Fig.—plt. 8, f. 3. Orie. Descrie.—-‘‘ Alis anticis fuscis, nitidis; maculis ordinariis sub- notatis. Posticis cinereo-infuscatis. Thorax fusco; capite collareque griseis.”’ ‘¢ The forewings are of a smoky brown. The ordinary stigmata are scarcely perceptible; the orbicular is lighter than the ground colour, and the reniform more dark. The transverse lines are not apparent, except the fourth, which is parallel to the terminal margin. On the costa above the reniform is a somewhat large white spot, and towards the apex three other smaller ones. The fringe is of a brownish red. The lower wings are of a smoky reddish grey. The fringe is of the same colour but lighter. Below, all the wings are of a smoky reddish. The reniform is shown, and the hindwings have the discoidal well marked. The head and collar are grey and the thorax brown.’’ Hyéres. ab. tenebricosa, Rebel., Berge Schm.-buch., 176 (1909). Orie. DEscrip.—‘‘ Deep red-brown with almost markingless forewings and very dark hindwings.”’ Taeniocampa, Gn. (1839)? (1852) Barr., Stdgr., Splr., South, Culot, etc. [Orthosia, Hb. (1821) Tr., Steph.; Monima, Hb. (1821) Mevyr., Hamp., Warr., Meyr.] munda, Schiff. Hiibner, Verz., 228 (1821), established the genus Orthosia for the species instabilis, Schiff. (donasa, Esp.); firma, Hb.; lota, L. (munda, Hb.); munda, Schiff. (lota, Hb.); macilenta, Hb.; gracilis, Schiff. {lepida, Bork.). THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (207) He also, l.c., 229, established the genus Monima for the species miniosa, Schiff.; and ambigua, Schiff. (pulverulenta, Esp.). Steph., in his Sys. Cat., 1829, II, 70, dropped the latter genus and included the two species in Orthosia. In his JIl., IT, 139, this author divided Orthosia into two sections, the first including munda being vernal species, the other section autumnal species. Gn., the next reviser, Hist. Nat. Noct., I (V), 346 (1852), revised Orthosia, retaining lota and macilenta of the original species and adding others. He established the genus Taeniocampa, including gothica, instabilis, munda, etc., and the two species miniosa and pulverulenta (the original contents of Monima, Hb.). Thus the genus Monima, having lost its original species content, drops out of use as no longer a valid genus. Tutt gave Esp., Abbild., III, 264, plt. 52, figs. 5 and 6, Bombyx munda (1785) as the type, but omitted to trace back the name to Schiff., Verz.,. L, 7, p. 76 (1775), ‘‘ The garden pear noctua.”’ Tutt, Brit. Noct., II, 1384 (1892); Meyrick, Hand., 74 (1895); Barrett, Lep. Br. Is., V, 217, plt. 212, 2 (1899); Stdgr., Cat., III ed., 202 (1901) ; Hamp., Lep. Phal., V, 416 (1905); Splr., Schm. EHur., I, 241, plt. 46, 10 (1906); South, M.B.I., I, 230, plt. 158, 11-12 (1907); Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., I{1, 90, plt. 22c (1910); Culot, N. et. G., I (2), 67, plt. 50, 14-15 (1913); Meyr.. Rev. Hand., 145 (1928). Ernst. & Engr., Pap. @Eur., VII, 1, fig. 396 (1790), gave very good figures. 396c has an unusual feature in the large, staring orbicular and reniform stigmata of a light grey. Hsper, Abbild., III, 264, plt. 52, f. 5-6 (1785), gave two recognisable but crude figures of munda, included among the Bombycid section. Esper’s text to his plate 52, f. 6, described munda with two black spots, but his figure showed six spots in pairs, a form which was sub- sequently named geminatus by Haw. It will be noted that Bork., Naturg., IV, 705 (1798), renamed the munda, Esp. the two-spotted form, the type form, as gémina. This must not be confused with geminatus, Haw., which is six-spotted., Bork., Naturg. Schm., TV, 705, described an insect under the name gemina, which is an undoubted munda. ‘‘ The forewings dull red-yellow, powdered with numberless brown atoms and without marking; only two deep black spots stand not far from the hind-margin arranged as a colon.” Hiib., Samml. Noct., 166 (1802), gave a good figure of the geminatus form of munda under the name lota, an error, as 167 on the same plate, an example of munda, was named lota. This Hb. corrected in his text. Haw., Lep. Brit., 121 (1803), described two forms, geminatus and bimaculatus, as two species of Bombyx. Most of the early authors placed munda in Bombyx, following continental authorities. Laspeyres, Ill. Mag., II, 93 (1803), said that Borkhausen had de- scribed a form of munda under the name gemina on p. 705. Treit. said, Schm., V (2), 210 (1825), that the Borkhausen gemina was, without doubt, a variety of munda. Dup., Hist. Nat., VI, 111, plt. 80, f. 3 (1826), under the name /ota - gave a good figure of the grey dove-coloured form of munda, ar error copied from Hiibner’s plate. (208) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1/1940 Freyer, Neu. Beitr., IV, 63, plt. 328 (1842), gave a good figure of the geminatus form with two pairs of spots. Spuler, Schm. Eur., I, 241, plt. 45, 10 (1906), gave a very large but good figure. South, M.B.I., I, 330, plt. 158, figs. 11-12 (1907), gave two very fair figures, the form géminatus, Haw., with three pairs of spots, and 2m- maculata, Stdgr., without the twin spots. Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 90, plt. 22c (1910), gave six figures quite good; typical ¢ and ©, ab. pallida, ab. immaculata, ab. grisea, and ab. rufa. They treated gemina, geminatus, bimaculatus, and lota as synonyms. Culot, N. et G., I (2), 67, plt. 50, figs. 14-15 (1913), gave two excel- lent figures, 14 the six-spotted reddish geminatus, 15 bimaculatus. Of the Variation Barrett says :— ‘¢ Its range of variation is not extensive. In ground colour from the palest drab to reddish-drab, reddish-buff, smoky drab, and brownish- drab; in some of the palest examples a dull brown or purplish-brown angulated central shade is distinctly noticeable, while this marking— usually absent—is more faintly visible, as a reddish shade, in some of the more warmly coloured examples; the cloudy spot in the lower half of the reniform stigma, often quite obliterated, exists much more fre- quently of dull brown or leaden-brown to black, and occasionally is sup- plemented by another spot, more squared but of the same size, between the stigmata; but the most considerable variation is in the spots which lie at the back of the subterminal line—the twin black spots, by which the species is so readily recognised are occasionally not black but purplish brown, as also is the costal streak above them, and may be found in various paler shades till they become quite obliterated; in the opposite direction, where these twin spots are deep black, there occur, especially in western districts, examples in which one or two additional pairs, smaller but usually deep black, are placed in the same line. He reports one ‘ Very beautiful silvery drab specimen, with visible transverse lines and reddish shading, which has four pairs of dots; from Pembroke.’ ”’ Another ‘‘ Of unusual size, although without additional subterminal dots, is of a rich red buff approaching reddish-brown, with first and second lines complete and rather broad, and, with a considerable central shade, red-brown.’’ Another ‘‘ Equally strongly marked example has the first line brown and conspicuous, the second composed of brown dashes, and the central shade dark brown.’’ An Irish specimen ‘‘ Has the spaces in the discal cell, before and between the stigmata, black, the latter united to the spot in the reni- form which is also black, also a black spot at the base of the wing, but the twin spots red-brown.” Another from the New Forest ‘ is red-buff with deeper red trans- verse lines, but no other markings.”’ Another ‘is of a rich yellowish-chestnut slightly clouded with grey.’ SEeGIAl INDEX. By Hy. J. TURNER, F.R.E.S., F.R.H. 0 2,8" VOL. LI. (mew series), 1939. The Entomologist’s Record & Journal of Variation. Coleoptera arranged in order of Genera. The other Orders arranged by Species. Genera, Species, etc., new to Britain are marked with an asterish, those new to Science with two asterisis. COLEOPTERA. PAGE PAGE Subcoccinella 24-punctata .................. 86 IMAL CLCR ANS. 222-0. ccecccesedenceeccereee 68 MO Se SADOWALIO so -ceccs eae ease cec eee das 86 Anisosticta 19-punctata ...........::.: 86 Synharmonia conglobata .................. 86 PSII Peek. 2 noe os sck a dusrbinpho-s apeop 86 GU WANRGAHOC ce ere sas ae 86 GU ALESIS! (DANG a) Ay ees n.0424---+ a5 86 Telmatophilus brevicollis .................. 68 TMSOTOMPA VA CIS hos orev nase ssjeoctioen's separ 68 Baris SCOLOMACCA™ -faccisscd ss sostectiees a suavter 68 Gerais SIADEALUS | ...ia2.deuese-t s+ -e0bees- 28 DIPTERA. GiICIMGCWWOAC 7 2k. ccccen bebe ikes dogs ee eae 86, 130 APTS? Betis hea a ee 4 Cicindela campestris ................. 167, 168 | albipes, Therioplectes ...........0.0....0000- 55 ab. confluens = connecta ............ 167 **talpicola (montanus @:)e Sziladynus 53 UD AAG OUVLNVGLA, $522 d dese sac sdee 2 sds 167, 168 aTienmatas “POrpMyPOPSs sccccecse eee 129 SAME) UPR LA: ..--02. 40.2020. ce ddnende 167, 168 apricac; Pabanus. .:2-.3:ed eae: 50, 52 Claviger TONGICOFNIS. ............c.seeeeeeeees 68 aterrimus, Sziladynus .................. 52, 53 GReUIMNCIIOAG -).. 22... .c.0....avetis..” 86, 104, 106 atra Dasy rhampiMis) 44s eee se 50 Coccinella (Adalia) ............::00- Son i868 | atronetiia, Hilara | «....i:26.0ch sees 129 C. (A.) bipunctata oe Boa 188° i Wiylotns. Visit... sesphecrn nits: 54,. (55 PFO COLO? <=. 2... teesedce s Siewkeb «ee oghs 42 86 AuTripilus:, Szilagdynus) sscisdt..c 2th 52 dil A Ze teVG TIE IG eee tae eee eee Be ooee ace 105 HOViNIS. Lab aiUs) 54 eee 50, 52 SSE OUGLCA SEL ......cenesaces.ctyageee oes ace 85 bronmtius. Straloaie sto Ei spe, ae PM O-MTSUULVA GA .2.. sceluchieb'sceaPoccsceaeeds 105 **cherbottae (quatuornotatus v.), Aty- GC. hieroglyphica ................eccceeeeeeteee 86 lOuUS, Fier ptt aah Sone dese 54 CUEING .55...2:c0c00es severe teen each aeaws 86 cognata (glaucopis a@b.), Straba ........ 51 C. (Adonia) variegata ................-..: 86 | crabroniformis, ASiluS ...............0000000 48 HOP eEMOMAGUIALA ...5)......Joce-eees ode evs 86 Guspidatas*Buribiay (650250. ete: 2 (Oe) 21012 | a a ee eer ene Soe 86 Dasystipia! ii00.0.3.. ce eee. oe 51 CLEVE UIA UIC ZL 25 < nacivns clogs ces sae ddsceleens 86 GECORS, PIN DIS « S.5..c.ci ee oth ee ee 128 OS] U2 G12 1 een 86, 105 Gdentipess.. Eby GVO ta Gai. 2) cee cceaeseseesesceoes 172 DE SURG UMA EY, ont A vente cteubbizes 86 distinguendus, Sziladynus ................. 53 07a @2 gy a C0 CrP 6) 1) ee eee 86, 106 dita. Hexedontar vis cutee 5D MEME MIVOLTIAL Ay mete cc ss eee Leh oo as eich 86 BM PUM ae! esssiet ee SAE Re: Pe: 55 GBs PPCMUEGUO eo e aes aes Heal ods en 24-28 86 erbert, Atylotast ue a et 54 a pat PHC tatcdl ,s..5.2-0.40c2r-cgss25e-° 86, 105, 106 SXGMNISAS SUPADAL, &. SzilaediymMust ws. ...sneeoeceeee ee eee 53 montanus, Sziladynus .................. 58) De morgan “SzWladyMUs syceeeeee reser o ee 53 muhlfeldi, Sziladynus ....................... 53 OCH ODS rae ee ooo eh wales dacapss eM oe sehee ee oe ete 51 octomaculatum, Chrysotoxum .......... 132 peltatus, Platyehivws -.7- 22) 2..-..e- ee 129 TV AAI LA'S GS end sos eae eee oases eee 51 principalis, Poecilobothrus ............... 129 Dymastria Catia boumar se eees se. eaee ee ssee 25 TR EPUU IE CUS aS Os 8 OF Ve Sse sas aeneese edd soantbe 51 votundiventris, Subclytia .................. 131 **rubra (glaucopis ab.), Straba ......... ay Tufibarbis, Eutolmus ......................... 129 Tupium, Sziladymus 2. .3.c..cc.cc02s 00> 5a.) a4 **simplex (bromius ab.), Straba ....... 51 SOlStblal is. UTA sd ees ie. sce stes decent ac 2 solstitialis, Sziladynus ..............0....... 53 Spuris,;-Chakarus Sees ees 129 Sthigmatelia, Aedalian 5 aes 129 ro LES 93 en ats Oe ea EL Sa eo ae 50 Stylata,- Hurtig, : .::.2060.0..0000.0. 129 tarsalis, Tephrochlamys ................... 172 trbialis. Choprisops- nce eo ede ete: 129 tigrina, Odontomyia ..........-......5...... 43 tropicus, Sziladynus unicolor (pyrastri ab.), Catabomba .. 25 uralensis, ‘Calliphora’ A...00 8000.2... 64 venabulata (stylata ab.), Euribia ...2, 8 versicolor, Helophilus .............0.....0.... 128 viridula, Odentomyia ........2....00..600.... 43 Vittatus, HelopWhikws: icc oie es. 128 HYMENOPTERA. acervorum, Leptothorax ............... ay 6 alpina (rufa v.), Formica .................. 6 @xsecta, HOrmica 22.0 A eee ee: 6 flavus, Acanthomyops ........................ 60 fuliginosus, Acanthomyops ............... 144 fusca, Formica ......... Oe 1G 160% 163, 1649168 laevinodis, Myrmica .......................... 6 Lebicornis. Moy rHlica ees. AL 6 mixtus, Acanthomyops ................ 60, 144 niger, Acanthomyops ............... 6, 60, 68 ROTM AE. ac sate ee eS Md ke LC aE 147 pratensiss FOrmica .....4edkiiekss Bet! 6 aUbrae, MOPTMNGA «Sets yee Boe co ee aed 6, 145 mumibarbis, MOPrmMiCa, ....2..:i2.hsbced fee on 5) ruginodis, Myrmica ......... 5b, 60 ruginodis-laevinodis (laevinodis v.), TAN AYELSIOTEIGE Sy Aa AR Ate OR MRER EMER oth Be Aira ar tte 6 sabuleti (scabrinodis v.), Myrmica ... 6 Sanfumea, Formicar ¢0.0..5.4....60.) 900% 6 scabrinodis, Myrmica .......................5 6 LAL EY, «pI 144 umbratus, Acanthomyops LEPIDOPTERA. PAGE abactas Cato Cailamie 6... scsc.cccssre- trae e sneer 137 abmarginata (politata ab.), Sterrha 137 Ahsim thiata. BupRMe cia oe sacs 169 Absit Cue ulliat oes ee ee eee. eee 109 acanthodactyla, Platyptilia ............. ta PECTS, CACTOMIUGKA preset cete ree ceec ee nccee eee 174 J\((010 112 Ree are tose ee eaCon eoneerbecalattansacconas 10 adippe = cydippe, Argynnis ............ 42 ACUIATEIX: “BWSR fs o.s2ecs fees see set eee 119 aegon ({argus), Plehbeims 2.22..0...20.02.- 4Q AG aiar. Aw Oy TN Se Se ote oss een econ 9, 63 *talbida (humuli f.), Hepialus ... 82, 128 albipuncta, Sideridis, Leucania 12, 56, 107, 108 albovenosa:: ArsiloOnmenhe 4s n..e nites os 93 Albailar “INOLAS -o2cnkeo eee ee eee 9) AICONY AE VeAeNay MERA See ene 22 alpina (quercus ssp.), Lasiocampa ... 145 AlpLUmM (OrkOM)s: MOMiae een ee eae 91 amanda: OCHEROLViay te eee ee ae 16 Amatidae (Syntomidae) ............... 27, 149 ambigua, Athetis, Caradrina 12, 108, 109 americana, Malacoderma ............ 95, 97 andalusica (barrettii), Dianthoecia, Aarmo dia etic 108, 109, 110 andromedae; Hesperia 2 ic5 i iiis.. scenes 22 aAMOnTall ae SUMMA sssie2soscstea deter eae 108 ATU UVOP AR ViaINSSae easel ose ease ceae ene ee ee 42 antiquak: ORSylae ne ee eee 41 ADP OUANUS SD OMUDUS ses. cso eee tee eee 102 apollinaria {apollinus f.). Doritis ..... 102 apollo: Parnassvus cee; tee eee 78 aprilina:) AGviOpIS: ic: ceceeee eee ee eee 66 aquana:--Notocellay 23 eae 156 AECAS by CACM alee 20, 247 22 arefactas: ADHernmivesiarn sree ees eee eee 17 aretes Erebian s:c.3.:.. Se eee QI APIO. “VCaAena. -eh ie Le 29 148 arnoldiana {sieversi a@b.), Odontosia .. 167 arsilacey (BreMbis: .2:.34-46..1d eee 42 assimilis (exulis f.), Crymodes ......... 63 astrarche (medon), Polyommatus ..... 133 atalanta, VaMesSa. ......2...¢.0) 5-86. 61, 162 atlantica (zonaria ssp.), Ithysia, Nys- Sia Wl lecentierreis neconiaeaee eee eee 413 atmoriella, Argyresthia ...................-. 76 atomaria, Ematurga: oo: eee 42 attra, Bilastodacna. -:::.:.. 2A eee 115 atropos, Manduca, Acherontia ... 12. 108, 140 Augiades (OchlodeS) ...................5:00000 169 augur. NOCtuia: .2scsssess eee 91 aurofasciana, Argyroploce ............... 19 austeni, Chelenomorpha ............--...... 119 azuga (‘humuli wv.), Hepialus ........ S81, 82 badiata, Earophila, Anticlea ...... a6, 57 badiifasciata, Enargia ...................... 97 halcanica, ACoblaigntesncee tienes 96 baliodactyla, Alucita ............c............ Wa balneorum, Hypenodes .............2.....655 17 barrettii = andalusica, Dianthoecia, Harmodia 2. ee 108, 109, 110 hetulea; . (Ch ys Se Ea Sie eS AR An Mee ety Ee 146 Copa Te Sab OR Ph Se a so IE eS 9 chiovaphyllana, Farias: ()23...0)002 40. 17 ehrysom. Plusia sc. (his 58, 109, 110 chrysorrhaea, Leucoma ...................1. AA PIDYETPE 2, LEAD Oe en 8 A 45 metaria, Boarmia. .....cige560 48s 57 elise MEM TOGA. 0.5.2 elle. Re 22 clara (nipalensis ab.), Eusemia ......... 117 EiathratasChiasmia:. 6.250.001... .ceeeis. 93 Mehmenc:| Pararfe “ees 8...c0 ey 103 Py INOCHIAr you: eth Bate. REEL! 9 3 PAGE coelata, Pseudomicronia ................... 166 coerniata,. EEyG@riemlenal ...2..ss2-4. oe 58 cosnetay ProcriS: 23.5200 44 Coleophoridae 2 ee 44, 115 CE U2 VS a Botts i BO ce SO eT a? 22, 96 Collie Anicolix Aha e.4. Set 176 comes, Triphaena ............ 36, 57, 90, 169 comma, Urbicola, Pamphila ............ 42 complanavelithosias Aine an ee 93 confiua (festiva f.), Noctua, Rhyacia, 2930, 1al 32a **confluens (hecta ab.), Hepialus ...... 84 congener (festiva /7.), Noctua, Rhy- ra I ake i WOM OBER ie EOE re ont 29, 35 GONneLwaAy. Cir phish. Ae eee ee ie 17 “*conjuncta (festiva ab.), Rhyacia, INO CEILI A. Sey nc sho 3134 conspersa = nana, Dianthoecia, Har- MAO Meas HS FSR RE: Be ae 89 conversaria (repandata ab.), Boarmia 63 COMVOLVNISS SPILT © 1s. Sees tesa dev cee: 108 corticana, VAFEYTOpPlOCce! Lees 158 COPY TA OOlOGasia Ves er a 173 erepuscilariay HGtroOpises:ses-.. eee 57 Enubrumy Coscia: 24.096 we eae D8 GJ GU COR NE Sawn e Oo Em REO AS LER Rt ar AAS i 95 CLOCEWS: \COlMISMES SB eh es. 3 Qo O61 cuculla, Notodonta, Lophopteryx ..... 12 cucullina = cuculla, Lophopteryx ... 24 Curtila, PylAeran ay... bee 4A Gurvatulas, Drepaia,” Syeiee See hel 9 eee 166 cydippe (adippe), Argynnis ............... 42 cynthia... Melitaca o:... AIO ae 22 decolorata (hecta ab.), Hepialus ...... 84 decorata (hecta ab.), Hepialus .......... 85 decrepitana (bifasciana), Argyroploce 76 **defascia (quercus @ab.), Lasiocampa 165 delius (phoebe), Parnassius ......... 22, 50 **depicta (festiva ab.), Rhyacia, Noc- UULAY pee RES os cos ee ERASE way 31 depuncta INoctual peers. Re ee 12 **depuncta (karghalica ab.), Euproc- 1A ne eh am OL a yon UN Ske a aeRO ee Rumd 165 derasa.. Tinyatisa, | eee he weet te Q7 deyrollei (cerisyi ssp.), Thais, Zeryn- 01 05 dase coal tae DE eR Ae ALO Soa eee ee 102 aichaeordes: YPheOsial 2) .5:3.2; as Q4 diducta (festiva f.), Noctua ............... 32 SdimorphasCallitomis 220 2A s! 149 ALP Stan MGA AOU RAL sos) ssn k ee eee: 20 dipsacea, Heliothis, Chloridea .......... 90 disparata (festiva 7.), Rhyacia. Noc- ALD RUE, eh tines everett a Ban Pin Tes7! 32 adissolutiay Nenastias: sae ae! 93 aistinefa,, Husemias4 eis... HIN ee. 118 distinctata (pictata), Bapta ............... 5d divergaria, Nychiodes .................. 17, 98 domestica (eburnata /.), Sterrha ...... 91 GOLMIS HeEGdes } <.. Ekle ES 22 dovrensis (ligea 7.), Erebia ................ 42 dromedarius, Notodonta ................... Q4 cubernard:, Syfanta seni c st 121 eburnata (contiguaria), Sterrha ....... 81 SRUGOR A RIN ACTa, . veMA /sdn dees 97 4 SPECIAL INDEX. PAGE elpenor, ChaerocamMPpa. ..........::...-eeseeee 90 Eiphiesia (02005... Reese ties 3. Bee 10 epiphron,. Brebia (22.2... eee a ete ees 21 erminea, Dicramura yes. -n--c.--eeeeaeete ae 79 BBTV TRANS ieee es eer oop eee nen nec nck erie. eee 169 euphemus, Lycaena ............... 205 212 euphrosyney, Brentbis grcfaets....23 42 exigua, Laphygma .... 12, 93, 107, 109, 110 expensa (nipalensis ssp.), Eusemia ... 117 extrema, @Papimostola <5... 42 0. eee 90 RUNS), | OMAN OM ES ices soee cine en ese aae ene iP fas: Bea. ISCAMTOPUSE 2.2. 5545.-2e tence oe beeeeeeeee Q4 falcataria, DrepanMa’ 3.:..-21-.2t:0:.-- 165, 166 farrella = boisduvaliella, Epischnia 63 fascelina,. Dasychira ..:.210u0-1..gee 4A fasciata. (Strophidia wetiseecess. 125. cseseceee 166 fasciata, (festiva f:), Noctua ...st:ca0. 31 fatwa! Satyrus feebeted. ..Reewles. ones Beene: 103 fergana (briseis ssp.), Satyrus .......... 102 festiva, Rhyacia, Noctua ... 29, 31, 32, abu BY ait, al Sh fingal (euphrosyne f.), Brenthis ....... 42 fissipuncta, Dyschorista ..................... 91 flammea, Meliamancicss.22..2: eteesseeess 93 flava (stramineola) (griseola ab.), tH OSTA 5 05 sckoatewss cases spuahtncestae rere ae 91 flavago = ochracea, Ochria .............. 73 MAVACAPULSISDUNGTIA, “eon eeeeerreeesseee-eb 9 flavicornis, ~Polyploca) eis:2.-<.<2-teeeese eee 58 flAVOLaASCla tan) SRE Dice .ieccsiceh eae teesaaee 24 flexula, Gaspey Ula si isiteess.. tsetse 91 flina (hecta ab.), Hepialus :........2....... 84 foenella: HILCOSIM an <....R teeth ecko tees 4 formosana, Chelonomorpha 117, 119, 120% formosana (beatrix ssp.), Eusemia . AUSTIN: WO ROSLELE) As seeeece nee eek eeeaees TUNEOTIS, (CLEUPTOPSIS sereneskce-.cctee tees ater fuEcula. (CenUMaie cess stesshe senses tea Q3, ULV, pl ANINA eoseeeeceen. wise ce esce ace sees eseee fusconebulosus (velleda), Hepialus 83, **oaedei (curvatula f.), Drepana ...... malactodactyia, Almcilia 22. iirc. sects galathea, Melanargia, Satyrus ... 21, SAMMI A ANE USHA sie aie teedet oe teeenecosenee 9, envimia,. APAMVCA. ceceredereeeoercabceraeseeekeee GeoMetridae vo. ccsksccstteeeesene se oe ese hee 26, elabrariay. CleORaA ie csscte-fesecsees one eeee cee *tolabrina (festiva f.), Noctua, Rhy- 5 hi be RAPE Sch ka nea PRP een See Pk 35). elabroides (vaccinii f.), Conistra ....... SMACTAIIS SOLOW tect: soc ee kee secs ketones globulariae =tenuicornis, Procris. 10, godarti (lubricipeda ab.), Spilosoma eonodacttyla,. Platyptilial i028... ane eonostiema, Oxreyda «500.0 est 41, OPM y ME TCDIA wace: BAe Shae ecosene eens gothica, Taeniocampa ............ 57, 58, gracilis, Taeniocampa ...... B6STD 7, 25S Sraellsig PACOMbMA dees. accesso eee acetone **oressitti (sperbius ssp.), Amata ...... grisea (festiva v.), Noctua, Rhyacia Sriseaha Ss BUCOSMA! tiiihs levees. seen a eriseata, Withosteme, .c5..tee tee keeeee teers PAGE eriseola, EathOSia, .....fssewces met. 91, 92 erossulariata, Abraxas ..b2ik0....2.5i08 1192 STOLIANA)) (HPALO LA hi ccssetesee en ecednandeecene 169 erotei (sieversi f.), Odontosia ............ 167 gysseleniella, Cedestis .............0..... 76 **hainani (nipalensis/.), Eusemia 117, 121 haworthi, Celaiena. yeaa. eeeee 12, 92 hecta,, Hepialus hesisiss....css ee eees 84, 8d hela (selene )/.), Brenthis «tiie ave 42 helice (croceus: 7), Cobias ¢.:28...25.88 61 hellerella, Blastodacnme ...............sc04- 115 hellmanni, Tapinostola ..................... 93 helveticaria = intricata, Eupithecia 175 epIaTUMS(TAAe) |... 3. s.c Beat eseeeeete coe 10, 81 herrichi (palaeno ab. Q), Colias ...... 22 Hesperiidaec(inae) » 2435.. .0basie eas, 146 hethlandica (humuli 7.), Hepialus 12, 82 **hethlandica (festiva f.), Noctua, PROV ACTA cise sncacacastteeee teeter sees anne 33, 34 hethlandica = thulensis .............. 62, 83 Mera: Pararee.... Aes ae beet 22 MITC ATIA, WY Cla nas cceneencactedeeteeoe 56he bu hispidaria, Apocheima. ................. 58. 61 hispidus = oditis, Heliophobus ........ 109 hohenwartiana, Eucosma ........+.......... 159 humuli, Hepialus ... 12, 62, 81, 82, 838, 128, 144 Hydroecia = Apamea ......................65 4h hylata, Melanargia, Satyrus ............ 102 hyperantus, Aphantopus, MHippar- (GlOUIG MES e520 et eee Rk WEE mee mee 8 PS 5 21, 140 hyperboreus (fusconebulosus f.), Hepi- QV xcs ssaacec s Sa ees see 83, 84 hy OSOLACSS MNS MMA: Boe ece sees seteee ates 28 hyrcana (briseis ssp.), Satyrus ......... 102 icarus, Polyommatus ............. 42, 44, 134 icterata (subfulvata), Eupithecia ...... 93 ignicola (festiva v.), Noctua, Rhyacia 30 immaculata = vernaria, Hemistola .. 175 immorata, Acidalia, Scopula ............ 12 impluviata = coerulata, Hydriomena 51 MM PUGS WeeuUCAMIA, «26.5 soles eee OI incerta (instabilis), Taeniocampa ii infernalis (falcataria v.), Drepana ... 166 instabilis, Taeniocampa. ....................- 66 **inversa (hecta ab.), Hepialus ......... 85 HOS VAMOCSSE con nctce cewann-ceeteeseneeee ce eeeee none Q1 irakana, Gavia _. ....cumessseecdscscces eee 136 mis, “Apatura. 6.0 eee eee cee eek 91 irregularis, Dianthoesia, Harmodia, ; 90, 92, 93, 110 iseriana, EHucosmiay (eh eee eee ee 158 isodactyla, Ptilophorus. ...........2.:2.5-+: a **istriaca (ulmi v.), Exaereta .....::::..- 167 jankowskii, Zalissa ..................... 120, 124 japona, Chelonomorpha ............. 120, 129 **japonica (subflava ssp.), Seudyra 120, 1214 jasius, Charaxes: opes-ceetsereen sects t cee 146 Ua, Mim ON ameeceenesc sttee te see tee <2 63 **kansuana (japona ssp.), Chelono- TNOMD NA xs desencss wens chee eect 119, 120, 121 karshalicas Himproectis’ 2etai-se1.-.-4-en 165 Jactama, -AMCYHS. s.c0ccc-2hee ee teete- css 112 SPECIAL INDEX. 5 PAGE PAGE laidion (tullia v.), Coenonympha ...... 140 meticulosa, Phlogophora ............... 9, 56 (eal bimm: SWeweanta® :............5.% 12, 109, 110 THACLOMACE Yan VACALINAS .. ere ee eees eae 77 WEVDIDUICG. SD] 0G: Sl eee ee 22 IMT EEOMTAR A, cep R ISLE. APOE Reed aonst eens 166 lapponaria, Poecilopsis, Nyssia ... 56, 113 THUNPMIUS. . Cupido thet is Pe es. 63 IGS CeO eee ici cc AAPL UE CRM EM 79 MGINIOSA, Taeniocamipay secs to7....2.0:04: 56 larissa, Melanargia, Satyrus ............ 102 modestay WWASViCOUSA. i... .:conceccsssce. cs ences 138 Wateraselatia, Peronea. |........62)48.28h20- 19 VOMAG INA. MVNA TUNA ese ee estes Seeger eae 4A **latefasciatus (fusconebulosus «aD.), monodactylus, Oidaematophorus ‘77, 93 PEAS) 52:8 Pee Ses Oe eae 83 monoglypha, Xylophasia ........... 108, 141 **latemarginatus (lupulinus aob.), multistrigaria, Calostigia .................. 56 TIES TVIGTUTE SS Yee Gen eae ee 84 muralis, Bryophila, Metachrotis ...... 108 lathamed)liia,(Chrysoclista® ~..0.2.......5.0.2 18 muricata, Sterrha, Acidalia ............. 93 VeGiisine MEISCHITA. Fs iio escde tebe: 118 muscerda, Pelosia, Lithosia .............. 92 lepida (carpophaga), Dianthoecia, DET S CULAR VAN MAE aii toate eet ce aoneecee 166 TSCA T5 (6 LG 1 See ee a 90 EVM OTO MC mw COM ASH has tete-cce tae eee 96 TEDORIMAR A CRONICEA.. o.5<. Jie ii ede cenectoee se 91 Nyaa UCOSINAN 2 2ah-cetere ae cess 157 nb AtBix. (GONOPtEPA iwi nec.. cee 9 MWAECVAN An. ACTOCIIUEA << .mcee nets atone 411 MERENEA MEOUMGA | 2555.0 2..cc..cbaees dott ee 56 nana, Dianthoecia, Harmodia .......... 89 mehenelia, “Solenobia. . ................de.0e+s8- 77 NADP, LUCTUS wae assesses she wh ees oF G4 lienigianus, Oidaematophorus .......... 7 WATCISSUSH SBT OM ae Ae, het eee eee ee eee 28 CUE 3 8 DIE NG Ee ee 42 nebulata (obliterata), Euchoeca ....... 58 EU ee 90 12 07010 2 roe ee eer 9 nehulosas, Aplectay Zoology < APR 9 1940 LiBRAR* ae) oD e (3, 82.0 STENOPTILIA SAXIFRAGAE, n. sp. ¢. 19mm. Head greyish irrorated with white which forms a stripe above eye to apex of moderate frontal cone. Antenna dark fuscous, lined anteriorly with white on first few seg- ments, Labial Paipus about 1, pale ferruginous ; second segment triangularly dilated with rough scales which are white on its upper margin; third segment short, also white above. Collar grey-ferruginous. Thorax pale grey irrorated with white, posteriorly paler and edged with pale ferruginous; underside pale ferruginous. Abdomen pale ferruginous, with a white lateral stripe, broader basally and extending to apex of fourth segment, tips of segments 4-7 with small blackish dorso-lateral and sublateral patches and some white scales tending to edge these segments; underside from base to 3/5ths with an ill-defined white stripe, only evident on tips of posterior segments. Foreleg: trochanter pale ferruginous; femur dark fuscous lined ex- teriorly with white; tibia dark fuscous, exteriorly white, slightly dilated towards apex; tarsus dark fuscous, first segment rather longer than seg- ments 2-5 together, white exteriorly, segments 2-3 whitish exteriorly. Midleg: tibia ferruginous-fuscous, lined white, apex slightly dilated and emitting two short blunt subequal black-tipped spurs; tarsus, first segment as long as segments 2-5 together, dark fuscous, lined white ex- teriorly, sezements 2-5 fuscous, 2-4 whitish exteriorly. Hindleg: femur short, pale dull ferruginous; tibia dull fuscous, proximal spurs at slightly beyond 2/8rds, outer spur 4/5ths of inner, spurs blunt-tipped, white with a few black scales and blackish tips, distal spurs from apex, outer spur slightly longer than inner, both whitish with blunt blackish tips; tarsus, first segment about 2/5ths of whole tar- sus, pale fuscous, darker beneath, second segment 3/4ths of first, greyish, whitish above, blackish apically, third and fourth segments white, black apically, fifth segment blackish. Forewing cleft from 3/4ths, costa fairly straight to middle of first seg- ment, thence downcurved to apex, which is slightly produced, subfalcate ; first segment rather narrow, its termen strongly oblique and slightly concave, lower angle not strong, its lower margin (within cleft) faintly concave ; second segment rather narrow, its upper margin (within cleft) straight, its upper angle acute, its termen oblique (but less so than that of first segment), tornus evident but not well marked, situated below a point slightly beyond half of upper margin of second segment, dorsum fairly straight to below base of second segment, thence slightly down- curved; pale fuscous with a slight pale-ferruginous tint, irrorated with 26 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / TIT /1940 whitish (especially on basal fourth) and a few blackish scales; costal area to 3/5ths more thickly irrorated with black scales, followed beneath (above upper edge of cell) by a line of white scales, dorsal area‘very pale dull ferruginous, a slight discal dot formed of scattered black scales at one-third, a lorge but ill-defined black fissural dot with scattered black scales on its inner (baseward) edge, a few scattered black scales tending to form a patch on fold at cne-fourth; first segment with an elongate black streak along its central third and nearer to its lower margin than to costa, this streak preceded and followed by scattered whitish scales, these scales on apical third of segment tending to form an oblique white bar across the end of the black streak; second segment, slightly before half of segment, with scattered black scales tending to form two elon- gate streaks below one another, preceded and followed by scattered whitish scales tending to form elongate streaks below base of cleft, be- fore tip of segment and obliquely across segment on outer edge of black scale-patches; cilia on costa pale fuscous, at apex dull fuscous-ferru- ginous with a very slight darker tuft of one or two scales, on termen of first segment white with a very slight (two scales) darker tuft at base just before lower angle, within cleft whitish with a few brownish hair-scales towards exterior ends of cleft, on tip of second segment with a small (three or four scales) black-tipped scale-tuft and another similar tuft just below this, on termen of second segment narrowly whitish at base, fuscous exteriorly, on dorsum pale fuscous with a slight ferruginous tinge. Underside of forewing dull pale brownish, with a slight reddish tinge, and coarsely irrorated with darker, especially at base of cleft; first segment at 2/3rds with an oblique whitish bar, most evident below vein 8. ° Hindwing cleft from 3/5ths and from near base; first segment narrow-spatulate, its costa moderately straight to about half, thence gently downcurved to acute apex, termen oblique, slightly concave, lower angle distinct ; second segment narrow, its foremargin very gently down- curved, its tip very acute, its termen very oblique (much more so than that of first segment) and slightly concave, its lower angle well marked; third segment about 3/5ths length of first, sublinear: dull reddish- brown, coarsely irrorated with dark, third segment paler: cilia pale ferruginous-fuscous, on dorsum moderately long, blackish, paler at bases. Underside of hindwing dull ferruginous-brown coarsely irrorated with darker, first segment mostly pale yellowish-white except a ferruginous- brown patch along termen, broader towards lower angle, third segment rendered paler by whitish scaling especially along its dorsal edge. One male (Type) from Shankill, County Dublin, 16.vii1.19389 (Bryan P. Beirne), placed in British Museum Collection. Besides the Type I have before me (Cotypes) 17 males, 19 females and one with no abdomen, from Seapoint, Harold’s Cross and Shankill (all in County Dublin), collected by Mr Bryan P. Beirne on various dates between 12th July and 6th September, but none were taken in August and only two in September (2.1x.37, 6.1x.37), ali the others in the second half of July, which seems to be the normal time of emerg- ence. In 1939 it was on the wing in the first half of July, rather earlier than normal. The species thus appears to be single-brooded. A NEW IRISH PLUME-MOTH. 27 These other specimens show that S. saxifragae is very variable. In the majority of the specimens, especially the females, the ground colour of the forewing is of a distinct reddish (almost a dull crimson) tinge, in the darker specimens only evident along the dorsal area, but it is sometimes an almost uniform dull-grey-fuscous, very slightly reddish on dorsal area only, or more rarely wholly fuscous or dull grey; the discal dot may be well-marked or reduced to a single black scale; the fissural dot is variable in development, sometimes a bold solid black blotch, some- times diffused, rarely double, not always the same on both wings of the same specimen; between the discal dot and base of cleft white scales (sometimes with a few black scales intermixed) may form longitudinal rows or (more rarely) whiten this area; on the first segment of forewing the oblique white bar is sometimes sharply marked and the area above the black streak (including cilia) may be dark chocolate-brown; on the second segment of forewing the lower black streak may be prolonged to the termen and the white scales preceding and following the blackish streaks may form ill-defined oblique bars across the upper half of the segment; the whitish irroration on the forewing may be accentuated, especially on the praeterminal areas of both segments; the costal cilia of forewing may have a short white patch a little beyond the base of first segment; the hindwing (especially in the females) has a very strong red tinge, sometimes only evident on the third segment; on the under- side of the thorax, abdomen and wings (except third segment of hind- wing) there is a distinct reddish tinge, almost a dull crimson in the redder specimens, and this tinge is also very perceptible on the upper- side of hindwing in most examples. S. saxifragae is certainly distinct from S. bipunctidactyla by genitalia, foodplant and (apparently) by the former being single-brooded, the latter double-brooded, but both species are so variable that. I can give no single external character for their separation after careful examination of these 38 examples of saxifragae and of a much larger number of bipunctidactyla from numerous localities in England, Ireland and the Continent. The redder examples of saxifragae are readily recognisable as such, as these have the hindwing quite red, and even in the darkest specimens of saxifragae the hindwing always has a reddish tinge; in bipunctidactyla the hindwing may have a reddish tinge, but this is always dark rather than red; but there is no strict line of demarcation by this one character. In doubtful cases S. saxifragae is best differentiated from bipuncti- dactyla by a combination of characters, as no one character is invari- able. As compared with bipunctidactyla, in sawxifragae the forewing segments are rather narrower, the underside of first segment of fore- wing has at least a trace of an oblique white bar, the underside of first segment of hindwing is whitish or dull ochreous, on underside of hind- wing the third segment is paler than the second, the apex of forewing is rather more pointed and termen of first segment rather more oblique, the fissural dot always large, black and strongly marked, the second segment of hind tarsus whitish (usually greyish in English bipwncti- dactyla), in. forewing the scale-tuft on the lower part of termen of first segment is usually slightly before the lower angle (on the lower angle in bipunctidactyla, but not invariably so) so that the scale-tuft on the 28 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/TIT/1940 upper angle of the second segment usually lies inside a line drawn ver- tically from the lower scale-tuft on the first segment (in bipunctidactyla this scale-tuft usually lies outside, or more rarely on, such a line), the undersides of forewing and hindwing have a distinct reddish tinge, in average females of a bright foxy-red of a tint rarely seen in bipuncti- dactyla, and the undersides of thorax and abdomen have a tinge of dull crimson (rare in bipunctidactyla and not so strongly tinted crimson even when this does occur). If several of these characters are present, the specimen will presumably be saxifragae, but all these characters do not necessarily coexist in any one specimen. S. pneumonanthes (with which S. saxifragae has been confused in previous records) has antefissural (not fissural) dots and dark bases to terminal cilia of forewing. I may note here that our English Marsh- Gentian species, usually referred to as graphodactyla, is not the true graphodactyla, Treits., which is a montane Continental species not yet found in England. Hering in his Key (Schmett. Mitt. Eur., pp. 162- 163, 1932) gives differential characters which I do not find to hold in my series of pneumonanthes. Of graphodactyla I have only one female from Poland, but (subject to examination of more extensive material) I should distinguish these two species by the white streak across the first segment of forewing being parallel to the dark basal line of the terminal cilia in graphodactyla, strongly oblique in pneuwmonanthes. S. saxifragae has not yet been bred but is certainly attached to Sazi- fraga spp. Mr Beirne notes (in Titt., 3.vili.39) that ‘‘ one female laid about 20 eggs in the box. When the larvae hatched out, about 23.vii, I put them on the tips of the Saxifrage leaves. They immediately went down the leaf and burrowed into it near its base, one or two larvae to each leaf. They are now eating their way upwards towards the tips of the leaves, forming brown blotches and galleries.’ Mr Beirne, to whom I am indebted for the material described, will doubtless succeed in completing its life-history. It is stated to be abundant in gardens in all parts of County Dublin. On the Continent S. pelidnodactyla, Stein 1837, also feeds on Saxi- frage but its genitalia are quite distinct from those of saxifragae (see Benander, Ent. Medd., xix, 497-499, ff. 1b, 2d, 8h: 1937). PLATE 1. VOL. Lil. ND UMOLE IEE IE COMO dl “AINOQOWD ONILOWTIOD AWYOd LNOINW V UdLPIUDA (O “UMNOL PUD PLODaYy “VU LE MONT DORE AND MONTAGNE DE LURE. 29 NOTE ON THE GENITALIA OF S. SAXIFRAGAE. The Genitalia of the species of Stenoptilia are very similar in form and it is a little difficult to determine to which species a specimen may belong, but this new species differs from all the others in having from the anellus two long arms, clubbed at the end, which emit short spines ; this character is not found in the other British species, in which the anellus is more delicate and differently shaped, usually narrower above. wider below. The structure below the pointed costa and the sacculus are also peculiar to saxifragae. The soft tegumen has not the squared loose skia found in zophodactyla, coprodactyla [not British] and pneu- monanthes, but more resembles that of pterodactyla and bipunctidactyla. The female agrees with the others of the genus in having two long signa. The ductus bursae is very weak (that in the figure is drawn too strong), is shorter and narrower than in pneuwmonanthes; in all the others it is strong, wide and longer. The connection of the ductus bursae and bursa is longer and denser than in the other species. LE MONT DORE AND MONTAGNE DE LURE, 30th JULY-11th AUGUST 1939. By H. G. Harris, M.D. Plate I. Having collected with the late Rev. E. B. Ashby at Mont Dore in 1935, I was anxious to pay it a return visit; so, leaving London on 29th July with my son, Mr J. H. Harris, we reached Mont Dore on the fol- lowing day. Unfortunately the season, as in England, was a very late one, and insects, which had been well-out on my previous visit, were hardly emerging on the Ist of August. It seems surprising how few English entomologists have paid Mont Dore a visit; I only know of three who have done so. Quite apart from its entomological attractions, it is a very pleasant resort, having a Casino, and golf, etc., can be had in the vicinity. Most of the col- lecting grounds are easy of access, but to work the Vallee de Chaude- four a car is a necessity. The Erebias are particularly well represented; ligea, euryale, manto, tyndarus, oeme, stygne, aethiops, and epiphron are in evidence, and probably neoridas also, as it is found in the near vicinity. Hrebia manto ssp. constans f. gnathene, Fhrst., a very local insect at Mont Dore, was out in good numbers on the marsh below the Capucin, but I found evi- dence of another locality on the opposite side of the valley, where a few were flying. Contrary to my previous experience, this insect had not spread to the adjoining banks, and to catch it, wading ankle-deep in water was necessary. The males were out in the proportion of 10 males to 1 female. As Mr Ashby did not give a description in his paper (Ent. Ree. Vol, xlviii), I append a brief one :— 30 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / TIT /1940 Males. 36-43 mm. Velvety black above, usually without any mark- ings on the upper wing, though some have a few rust-coloured spots non-pupilled. Lower wings plain black. Beneath brownish black with- out any gloss. A rusty spot at apex, sometimes spreading down the wing. Lower wing without markings. Females. 40-46 mm. Above rusty black, with evidence of a rusty band. Beneath golden brown with sub-apical brown spot or band and two rusty spots on lower wing. Thus it differs from the Pyreneean constans in its smaller size, and in the male having rusty spots at the top of the forewing under-surface. The next most common Erebia was euryale, which must be referred to the ssp. antevortes, Vrty., ‘‘ the ocellaris of the Pyrenees of many authors.’’ Warren also states that ‘‘ it shares with ocellaris an almost unlimited capacity for variation.’? The band on the front of the lower wings is broken up into brown black-pupiled spots—from five to one in 40 males examined—and there are never more than two russet brown spots on the hindwing under-surface. Erebia ligea was well out on Rigolet; this must be its furthest wes- tern locality, it being seldom found west of the Rhone. Another very disappointing emergence was Adopoea lineola, a small dark form averaging in size 24 mm., whereas the usual measurement is 26 mm. This httle insect is much darker than typical lineola, with black nervules on the lower wings. Mr Ashby was told by some com- petent observer that it was A. ludoviciae, Mabille; others to whom I have shown it disagree, pointing out that the discoidal cell is not sur- rounded by a black nervule. On consulting Tutt’s British Butterflies, Vol. I, I find that he has named it ab. suffusa, and he states that it is found in mountainous districts such as the Pyrenees. I have taken it at Sestrieres, Chiusa, the Baths of Valdieri and le Lauteret; true ludoviciae is found at Murat and le Lioran, but an expert’ examina- tion of the genital organs would be necessary to determine the exact relation of each. For a List of Mont Dore insects Mr Ashby’s synopsis in Ent. Rec., Vol. xlviii, should be consulted. After six days at Mont Dore we left for Avignon—where the Popes lived in exile from 1309 to 1377—for photographic purposes. Insects of the mosquito type were abundant, and we had a most unpleasant two nights in consequence. Our last stopping-place was St Etienne les Orgues, reached by motor | *bus from Avignon to Forcalquier, a most uncomfortable journey of 34 hours. The Hotel du Parc, at which we stopped, is a simple country inn, but it can be recommended, The weather was delightful. Our objective was the Montagne de Lure, 5944 feet, which can be reached on foot from Cruis, 5 km. distant from St Etienne, or by a motor road 12 km. due north of St Etienne. I was out to catch E. scipio and Satyrus (Melanargia) cleanthe; Mr P. Haig-Thomas has fully described the first route in Vol. xxxvii of the Ent. Rec. Scipio was found by him in good numbers on 2nd August, and to show the potentialities of the district he took no less than 71 species of butterflies on that day. Brig.-Gen. Cooke tells me that he ‘ APTEROUSNESS OF BIORRHIZA PALLIDA, OLIV. (CYNIPIDAE). 31 followed the same route at the end of July 1928 but found scipio in a very restricted locality. Another observer, Gen. C. van Straubenzee, attacked the summit by the second route, starting from the ‘‘ Hermit- age,’ but on four occasions between 16th and 29th July 1936 he failed to find any scipio. I was equally unlucky. Of course, 10th August was a late date, but the only Hrebia seen, EH, ligea, was only just emerging. To my surprise I took a good number of S. (W.) Gapygia) cleanthe in good condition, a late date for this insect. Near ‘‘ The Hermitage ”’ a fine race of Parnassius apollo was flying, the largest I have ever seen—88 mm.—which should, I imagine, be re- ferred to the race provincialis, Kheil. The specimens of S. (M.) galathea were all f. procida, some with yellowish ground colour on the upper surface. One my son took in 1936 at Cruis was certainly ab. flava, Tutt; one wonders whether this yellow coloration tends to disappear after emergence similar to P. napi f. citronea, which soon loses its yellow colour if kept alive in captivity. On 9th August we walked up the gorge mentioned by Mr Haig- Thomas, and on entering it after a thunderstorm two ab. leucomelas were taken out of three gaiathea seen; curiously I saw no more con- sidering the large number of procida flying, till my son caught one in cop. She was brought home, living for 33 days, and laid about 70 ova. I doubt whether the minute larvae will survive the winter in hiberna- tion, M. didyma. Two specimens were taken with the yellowish white band on the underside of the lower wings much increased in size. This seems to be the variety described by Mr Wheeler in Butterflies of Swit- zerland. Adopaea lineola. A very small specimen only 20 mm. in expanse was taken, and also one LD. sinapis ab. erysimi, and a single P. egea the only one seen. S. cordula, which appears earlier than 8. actaea, was flying at 5000 ft., whereas actaea had replaced it at Cruis, which is about 3000 ft. lower. Seitz’? nomenclature is followed in this paper except in the case of some of the Erebias when Warren’s Monograph of the Genus Hrebia has been quoted. THE REPUTED APTEROUSNESS OF BIORRHIZA PALLIDA, OLIV. (CYNIPIDAE). By H. J. Burxit, M.A., F.R.G.S. Dr Malcolm Burr in his fascinating book, The Insect Legion, refers to the wingless condition of the females of this species. This statement naturally interests me as I have several times bred out the flies in the last forty years, and my experience is contrary to such an opinion. Dr Adler in his work on the species (Alternating Generations: A Study of Oak Galls and Gall Flies. Translated by Dr Straton, Claren- don Press, Oxford, 1894) says, p. 76, ‘‘ Since Biorrhiza aptera, Bosc., is wingless, it need cause no surprise that the Teras terminalis, Fab. a ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / IIT /1940 (B. pallida), generation is also deficient in wings, for we must remember that although the males are always provided with perfect wings, yet the females are either wingless or have short rudimentary wings only.” This statement was apparently based on his own observations made in 1876 and 1878. On p. 74 he says ‘‘ the females are wingless or with rudimentary wings only.’’ p. 75 he says ‘‘ the two generations are so. remarkably alike,’’ yet he gives 4 to 7 mm. as the length of B. aptera, and 3 mm. as the length of B. pallida. My experience is that the former are much darker in colour as well as much larger, and therefore I have failed to notice any remarkable resemblance. The two generations are different, especially in view of what I have to say below. Cameron in British Phytophagous Hymenoptera, Vol. IV (Ray Society, 1893) says on p. 117:—‘‘ Sexuat Form—The female agrees very closely with the agamic, but is usually winged.’’ Later on he says, “ It is noteworthy that the sexual female may have the wings rudimentary or wanting.’’ He gives the length of the agamic as 3.5 to 7.5 mm. and that of the sexual at 3 mm. On p. 119, he says ‘‘ The male is always winged, but the female not infrequently has the wings rudimentary or entirely obsolete.’’ He adds that the gall is commonly distributed in Europe. I would like to ask those writers, who believe that winglessness is the normal condition, if the species could be widely spread if both the alternating generations were wingless. The male in the sexual genera- tion cannot carry the female to a fresh host plant, and the larvae have no power of locomotion. If the females were wingless the species could not spread far and would be limited in its range instead of being ‘‘ com- monly distributed.’’ This was pointed out in The Entomologist, October 1932, p. 233. Thus it seems that if there is a general impression that apterousness is the usual condition for the females of B. pallida it is based on a state- ment made by Dr Adler on two experiments in 1876 and 1878 in which he obtained abnormal specimens. Either his galls were kept under conditions which did not produce normal results, or they were galls in- duced by a female B. aptera with a tendency to breed inferior progeny. I would rule out any suggestion of a local race as it would not be able te spread to fresh trees. Cameron states that wingless females may occur. He does not say that apterousness is the normal condition. It would be interesting to hear the opinions of other observers, not writers who have just taken Dr Adler’s statement without checking it, but who have bred out the insects for themselves. I have carried out observations for many years and results have been published from time to time in the London Naturalist (London Natural History Society, Plant Gall Records). There I see the following entries : 1932. ‘‘ For the first time I bred wingless females of B. pallida, Oliv., as one gall provided me with 2 of these out of 30 females and 21 males. In other years all the specimens have been winged.’’ 1936. ‘' Fhes from 3 galls: 31 males and 25 females, all of which were winged.’ 1937. ‘‘ B. pallida was once more bred out in some numbers and all the imagines were fully winged.’’ VOL. Lil. PLATE II. Ent. Record and Journ. of Variation. APOROPHYLA AUSTRALIS AND F. INGENUA, FREYER, AT SANDWICH, KENT. ‘ A. AUSTRALIS, F. INGENUA, FREYER—N. ZONORIA, SCHIFF. 33 1938. °° B. pallida was plentiful and as usual gave rise only to winged males and females.’’ Thus in some 40 years I have only had 2 wingless females, a per- centage so small that it seems to refute the statements made by various writers; so that one wondcrs what authority they can have had for making those statements. Or have my experiments been abnormal and is apterousness the prevailing condition in some localities? APOROPHYLA AUSTRALIS, F. INGENUA, FREYER, AT SANDWICH, KENT. Bye Ae JeosL. Bowns. Plate II. Fig. 3 of the plate represents a male australis which I took at sugar in Sandwich Bay, 12th September 1937, and which seems to be referable to f. ingenua, Freyer. Mr Turner, to whom I showed the photograph, writes: ‘‘ I should place this specimen as f. ingenua, an intermediate between very dark (black) orientalis from Turkey, and the dark Con- tinental form scriptura.”’ In the specimen illustrated, the pale ashy-grey of the normal British specimen is replaced by dark brownish-grey, while the usual lines and streaks remain visible but inconspicuous. The occurrence of this form surprised me, as Sandwich examples as a whole show a pronounced tendency to paleness, the key to this ten- dency being the disappearance of the dark patch which normally (fig. 1) surrounds the stigmata, and its replacement by the grey of the general ground colour. Fig. 2, by no means an extreme example, shows both this tendency and an increase of size which is frequent in the same locality; many of my males from Sandwich exceed 40 mm. in expanse of wing, whereas the largest, which I can muster from elsewhere, does not exceed 37 mm. A NEW SUBSPECIES OF NYSSIA ZONARIA, SCHIFF., AND A NEW ABERRATION OF POECILOPSIS LAPPONARIA, B. -By J. W. Hestop Harrison, D.Sc., F.R.S. No species encountered in our Hebridean researches has interested us more than Nyssia zonaria, and no species has proved of greater im- portance from the zoogeographical standpoint. We have therefore de- voted a very considerable amount of time and energy in studying its variation and distribution. Very early, indeed, in our investigations we discovered that the form we were encountering was racially separable, not only from the form prevalent on the Continent, but also from that found in the Eng- lish stations for the species. Jt is now proposed to describe it. 34 ENTOMOLOGIST 'S RECORD. 15/ TI1/1940 Nyssia zonaria, ssp. atlantica ssp. nov. This subspecies is charac- terised by the small wing expanse of the wild males, which average 26 mm. against the 32-36 mm, observed in English specimens in my possession. Curiously enough, in this respect, it approximates my Rus- sian examples (ssp. rossica) from the steppes near the Ural Mountains. Further, this strikingly small size appears also in the females which have a volume little more than a quarter of that of Lancashire examples. Although the race is readily distinguished from the Continental form, as well as from that taken in England, by its remarkably uniform small dimensions, the remaining differences are so intangible as to be difficult to put into words. In general, both the fore and the hindwings are a little longer in proportion. Moreover, although the insect varies in every respect except size, even in the palest specimens the blackish suffusions preceding the median line are always much more obvious than in the English insect. Further, the decisiveness of the markings in Continental specimens serves to differentiate insects of such an origin from Hebridean examples. Again, the blackish bands preceding and succeeding the white sub- terminal line tend to be definitely weaker than in English specimens. In the hindwings, the subterminal line itself becomes very indistinct as do also the dark suffusions lying before and after it. Except in size the females are very much alike in all the races I have studied. Nevertheless, in ssp. atlantica, the whitish vestiture of hairs seems a little longer relatively, when comparisons are made with speci- mens from other than Hebridean sources. The types were captured on April 9th, 1938, in the Isle of Baleshare, Outer Hebrides, an island lying to the west of the Isle of North Uist; they are deposited in the University Museum, Oxford. When placed alongside series from the Isles of Harris, North Uist and Coll, Baleshare insects appear definitely to be on the light side, although they agree fairly well amongst themselves. On the other hand, Harris, N. Uist and Coll specimens, in the majority of cases, are signi- ficantly on the dark side with well-emphasized markings ; some, however, resemble our Baleshare captures. Nevertheless, in all instances, no matter what the origin, the hesitation in the subterminal line and its attendant suffusions, especially the terminal one in both wings, which often becomes obsolete or obsolescent, serves to show their essential relationship to insects from Baleshare. Nyssia zonaria, ssp. atlantica, has been captured by us in Canna, Sanday, Rhum, Figg, Muck, Coll and Tiree, all in the Inner Hebrides, and in Lewis, Great Bernera. Little Bernera, Harris, Pabbay (Sound of Harris), Berneray (Sound of Harris), North Uist, Baleshare, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra, Fuday, Vatersay, Uinessan, Sandray, Pabbay (Barra Isles) and Mingulay, all in the Outer Hebrides. Of these. Coll and Tiree he in the Watsonian vice-county 103, Canna, Sanday, Rhum, Eigg and Muck in v.-c. 104, and the remainder in v.-c. 110. ' Poecilopsis lapponaria, ab. fasciata ab. nov. Ground colour ochreous with the general scaling much more pro- nounced than is generally the case. The first or basal line is strength- ened and extended, whilst similarly the median and second lines are COLLECTING NOTES. 35 fused to ferm a solid black bar. Except for a faint darker terminal suffusion, the outer half of the wings appears of a uniform warm ochre- ous colour. Similarly, except for the central band, which is fainter than that of the forewings, the usual markings and suffusions on the hindwings are obsolescent. Type: a wild male from Aviemore. It should be noted that I have wild examples of Poecilopsis lapponaria captured by my son, Dr G. Heslop Harrison, at Aviemore, Dalwhinnie, and Dalnaspidal, in addition to others from the more ordinary Struan stations. COLLECTING NOTES. THe FLASHING oF FIREFLIES.—The rhythmic flashing of fireflies must be a rare phenomenon, as authentic cases are so seldom recorded. It is worth while, | think, placing on record the following letter which I have recently received :— ‘“* When reading your book to-day I came across your reference to spasmodic flashing of fireflies, and I feel I would like to tell you of an unforgettable instance of this, which I once saw at Khandala, in the Ghats above Bombay. ‘‘T was staying with friends; one evening after dinner we strolled out into the cool darkness of the Indian night. To our amazement a big clump of bamboos some 20 feet high seemed to be on fire, but the next second was in complete darkness. Again it flashed and again went out. One moment the lovely fronds of the bamboos being picked out by myriads of tiny stars against the violet sky and then—a complete black- out. It was as though some unseen conductor were counting, ‘ One... two...three!’ the flash coming with unfailing regularity on the ‘ three.’ And this went on indefinitely. I have seen many fireflies since, but never such an exhibition of amazing beauty.—(Mrs) E. A. Jacob, 19 West Mall, Clifton, Bristol.’”’—Matcotm Burr. PROLONGED EMERGENCE PERIOD OF APOCHEIMA HISPIDARIA IN GLOUCES- TERSHIRE, 1939.—The warm weather experienced early in 1939 resulted in a very extended emergence period for several of the early spring insects. In particular, Apocheima hispidaria was first noted on. 8th February when two ¢¢ came to light in the Forest of Dean area. Thereafter it occurred regularly throughout February and March though never in great numbers, ten being the greatest number taken on one night—-llth February. On that occasion Mr John Moore and I also saw upwards of thirty Phigalia pedaria, ab. monacharia, and some twenty Hrannis (Hybernia) leucophaearia, ab. merularia, The com- moner forms of both species appeared in clouds, along with EH. (#.) marginaria, which did not seem so susceptible to light, but was found freely sitting on the trunks, and also the first specimen of Biston stra- tari. Towards the end of March I concentrated on the sallows but heard that A. hispiduria was fairly plentiful and still in fresh condition over 36 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1I1/ 1940 the Easter period. I took my last specimen, a fresh male, on 8th May, along with Notodonta ziczac, Polyploca nidens, Nola confusalis, Colo- casia (Demas) coryli, Taeniocampa stabilis, Melanippe alternata (sociata), Lampropteryx suffumata, Selenia tetralunaria, LEctropis (Tephrosia) crepuscularia, T. consonaria, and Lithina chlorosata (Panagra petraria)—a somewhat ill-assorted company. The observed period thus extended exactly over three calendar months.—AusTIN RicHAaRDSON, Beaudesert Park, Minchinhampton, Glos. STRYMON PRUNI IN 1939.—S. pruni was very scarce in Monks Wood last year. No doubt the frost in May killed the larvae. I was lucky to get 3 fen:ale upperside aberrations, for they are very good. Mr Quibell, who has worked Monks Wood and other woods in Hants for years states he has never taken one.—H. A. LEEDS, Wood Walton, Hunt- ingdon. [See Supplement on Records. | EFFEcTs oF EXTREME WINTRY WEATHER ON LEPIDOPTERA.—IJn response to the note in the February number (li, 2, p. 23), the following records might be interesting : — 21st Februcry 1940 (a few days after the break of Arctic conditions) —At Wimbledon. Erannis (Hybernia) leucophaearia, Schiff., just emerging, most seen drying wings before mid-day, also a few Phigalia (Apocheima) pedaria, Fabr., at rest on tree trunks. 22nd February—Ashtead Woods. Bobek. *T think that the difference of air pressure is also concerned, perhaps especially in connection with eclosion from the pupa. In India I found this difficulty in rearing in the Plains insects hrought down from the Hills.—T. B. F. i INSECT BIOTOPES IN SYRIA, TRAQ AND IRAN. 45 2. MIDDLE HEIGHTS. These are either wooded or steppe-like, according to the degree of humidity. Deforestation also may reduce originally wooded hills to the status of hilly steppe. Most of the Middle Heights of the extensive area under considera- tion have a typical population of steppe species, which IT here term Anatolian-Iranian, which is the handiest English equivalent that I can find for Amsel’s ‘‘ Vorderasiatisch-Mediterran.”’ A. and B. In coastal Anatolia and the Lebanon a humid woodland, of a Mediterranean character, covers these Middle Heights, scrub- oaks, Aleppo pine and pistaccio being the characteristic indigenous trees, with juniper at the upper limit. Varicus degrees of deforestation and degradation occur, the extreme heing in Palestine; but the result- ing steppe-like terrain differs from the inland steppes, being favoured by mild winters and high humidity. On the east side of the Lebanon and in the Anti-Lebanon genuine hilly steppe occurs, with vestiges of juniper wood at a fair height. The Bekaa and Central Anatolia are also steppe-like. C. The Zagros woods are linked up physically with the Anatolian ; they differ from the Lebanon woods by their drier atmosphere and colder winters. They consist of several kinds of scrub-oak, pistaccio and paliurus, and are partly deforested. D. Tran. The North Side of the Elburz is clad with a humid deci- duous forest, of Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean character, but cf tropical density, with junipers at the upper limit. High up on the arid south side of the range, the miserable rclicts of a juniper woodland are to be found. The Middle Heights of tho rest of Iran are steppe-like, except for the undeforested parts of the Zagros, and were prohably not wooded even in the Pleistocene Age. We find some species (e.g., Simyra dentinost) apparently absent from the humid Lebanon woodland, but present at Upper Heights in the Lebanon and on steppe-like Middle Heights in Syria and Iraq; others (e.g., Cucullia barthae, Brsn.) occur at 8000 ft. in the Elburz, and down to 3000 ft. in Svria and Anatolia, including the humid woodlands in their range. The distribution of such species is of great interest, but further precise records from many parts of the Near East are needed before zoogeographical generalisations are possible. The complete absence of woodland from the Interior of Iran does not result in the complete absence of species that seem typical of wood- land in §. Europe and Asia Minor, because some of them depend on undergrowth vegetation, which exists in the oases (see below), while others in Iran become feeders on water-trees (e.g.. Lymantria dispar, on oak in the Lebanon, on poplar in Tran), Many species occurring at great heights occur also at Middle Heights, especially where the latter are arid and steppe-like and there is less difference in the vegetation of the two zones. Such species are less differentiated into local forms than those confined to the peaks. The vertical limits of a species’ range are not necessarily identical in Syria, Iraq and Iran. Middle Height species tend to be euryoecous over large areas. Even in the arid parts there is a fairly strong ““ Mediterranean ”’’ penetration, growing weaker eastwards, 46 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/TV /1940 3. DESERTS AND STEPPES. ~— A regular winter rainfall distinguishes all the desert of the area under consideration from the ‘ true ’’ Sahara, in the sense of Zolo- tarevsky and Murat. (It resembles, therefore, that part of the Sahara closest to the Mediterranean, defined by Chevalier® as the ‘‘ Northern Saharan Zone.’”’) Most of the desert is stony, but in Central and Lower Iraq it consists of alluvial mud. In both kinds, but especially often in the alluvial, the soil has a salty tendency. Sand-dunes are not usual, except coastally. The alluvial desert is less rich in vegetation and animal life than the stony, except where marshes intrude on it. The heavier precipitation of the Anatolian and Iranian high steppes cannot benefis vegetation because it coincides with the cold winter; it thus fails to relieve the desert-like nature of the Anatolian-Iranian plateau. ‘A. Syria. Here the desert proper begins eastward of the Anti- Lebanon. This range, however, and the Bekaa plain also, have a steppe- like character and harbour many desert-species. The dunes of the sea- shore, a continuous strip in Palestine from Sinai ta Carmel, but only represented by outliers north of Mt. Carmel, carry the true desert- fauna northward up the western side of the Judaean and Lebanese hills. Here (and also on the shores of the Persian Gulf) the proximity of sea and desert, without intervening mountains to ward off the former’s humidity, produces a particularly rich desert fauna. In such localities the two seasons of greatest insect-activity tend to converge, being divided by the coldest part of the year, 1.e., a few weeks in January. The appearance on the wing of Lepidoptera in such localities, however, seems not to be so much regulated hy this brief cold spell as by the incidence of autumnal rains.’ B. The steppes of Central Anatolia and Armenia must be considered together with those of Iran. C. Iraq. In the North of Iraq, the desert is stony, i.e., a steppe desert, and inseparable from the Syrian desert. On some desert moun- tains in this desert the vestiges of pistaccio woodland survive (P. mutica). In Central and Southern Iraq, an alluvial desert, more or less relieved by irrigation or marsh, occupies the low valley of the Euph- rates and Tigris, with a border, on either side, of low steppe desert. The low steppe desert, even in Northern Iraq, has milder winters than the Anatolian-Iranian steppe, but the coolness of its winters varies locally according to its elevation, which increases gradually towards the west and north. At higher elevations snow-falls occur every winter. A more detailed account of this desert is given in another paper.® D. Iran contains deserts and steppes of all types. In the north and west-centre are high steppes subject to intense cold in winter and with the meagrest vegetation, which merge at their upper limits into high steppe-like mountains. In the centre and south are deserts warm enough to permit palm-cultivation in oases, but quite dry; the low, humid, torrid shores of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean are also desert. 6Vide Zolotarevsky & Murat. 7Wiltshire, 3. 8Wiltshire, 5. ‘ INSECT BIOTOPES IN SYRIA, IRAQ AND IRAN. 47 Desert-species are euryoecous over vast areas. The Syrian-Mesopo- tamian desert is populated by Eremic species but has a strong pene- tration of Anatolian-Ivanian species, a weaker ‘‘ Mediterranean ’’ pene- tration, and a still weaker penetration of Euro-Siberian species. North- ward migrations of tropical species cecur. Some of these migrants do not appear to breed in the desert, but rather in the oases; others pro- bably cannot survive in any biotope, their appearance depending on fresh immigrants each year. The colder the winter, the larger will be this last class, 4. OASES: RIVERS, IRRIGATION AND MARSHLAND. It is only possible in some cases to distinguish these three types of oasis-biotope from each other. Their common feature is. the dependence of their vegetation on more water than is provided by local precipitation alone. In countries, therefore, where summers are rainless, there is a sharp contrast between them and the surrounding land. Their charac- teristic species are stenoecous, but they often contain thriving colonies of desert- and steppe-species, if the plants on which these feed like moist situations. When irrigation is interrupted or declines, the neglected land reverts to desert or steppe. Some of the stenoecous species migrate across the surrounding desert, but I have only noted this tendency in those of tropical origin. Wagner, however, has taken marsh-species at light in the Anatolian steppe at 10 km. from their breeding-ground. The various kinds of oasis wil] be dealt with in order of elevation :— a. High rivers of the Elburz. b. Mountain streams and rivers, and derived irrigation. ec. Persian gardens. d. Hot desert rivers, and derived irrigation. e. Marshes. Zoogeographists class both oasis and desert insects as eremic, if their distribution so warrants. It is, however, noticeable that oasis-insects tend to be less pan-eremic than desert-insects; that is, they have become differentiated into many distinct species each with a more limited ter- ritory (cf. the tamarisk-feeding genus Clytic); this tendency is not sur- prising in stenoecous insects. It may be taken as a sign of the geological antiquity of the intervening desert tracts. a. The high rivers of the Hlburz (e.g., Lar). The meadows border- ing these rivers contain many Euro-Siberian plants, but are treeless. These plants and their peculiar insect-hosts are stenoecous, the sur- rounding mountains being arid. b. Mountain streams and rivers. These are generally characterised by walnut, poplar, willow, ash, tamarisk and oriental plane, in Syria, Traq and Iran, and doubtless also in Anatolia; also in places, by Phrag- mites and Typha. Where the ground-contours permit, irrigation-chan- nels lead the water off; the resulting strips of cultivation or ‘‘ valley- oases’? are more conspicuous in unwooded country, though even in wooded country closer investigation will reveal a certain number of stenoecous species dependent on water-trees and other hygrophilous vegetation. Nevertheless, the more humid a district, the less restricted many of these species will be. The humidity of the Lebanon woods and Caspian forests enables many species to be euryoecous there which are 438 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/TV /1940 stenoecous on the Jranian plateau and even in the Zagros. I have already quoted the case of L. dispar in this connection; another example is Bapta distinctata, euryoecous in the Lebanon woodlands, stenoecous in Iranian gardens. The trees and plants characteristic of the rivers are also, as a rule, to be found in the irrigated gardens of that district, except that tamarisks seem less frequent in the latter biotopes. Tilling of the ground, for vegetables or cereal-crops, usually only takes place on irrigable ground; spring barley is an exception to this rule. Often the extent of barley cultivation varies from year to year, according to the amount of spring rains. In such localities, therefore, a marginal zone of desert or steppe is to be found, on which cultivation has come and gone, to the detriment of the original steppe- or desert-flora and fauna. Rice is grown in certain Kurdish valleys, though less than on the Caspian littoral, and in lower Mesopotamia. AandC. The above general remarks apply to Syria and Iraq. D. Iran. In addition to the above-named trees, rivers and gardens in N. Iran permit the growth of Celtis, elm and wild olive. The percentage of Euro-Siberian species in these stream-side and garden biotopes is higher than in the surrounding arid country, whether flat steppe or mountain-side. Whether these species are relicts of a fauna more euryoecous in a previous geological period or whether they are advance-colonists cannot here be discussed; it must, however, be stressed that trees and plants that will grow almost anywhere in Europe (e.g., sloe, hawthorn, elm, Asperugo) are strictly hygrophilous over the greater part of Iraq and Iran, and in places only grow where planted by man. Some Mediterranean species which penetrate are similarly restricted to oases, though a smaller proportion of them than of Euro- Siberian. Where human culture has not interfered in oasis-biotopes, the fauna is often peculiar and of great interest on account of its endemic species, as in the case of the Tigris fauna (see below), but where cultivation has attacked these biotopes, they are less interesting, harbouring well- known cultivation-followers of the Euro-Siberian or Geopolitan cate- gories. The intenser the cultivation, the less characteristic of the country does the biotope’s fauna become. A similar lack of speciality is noticeable in artificial biotopes in Europe but with this difference: since cultivation in Europe implies clearing away and destroying the virgin flora, the fauna of the secondary biotope is an impoverished version of the original virgin fauna; whereas in Iraq and Iran, where cultivation implies irrigation and increases rather than diminishes general vegetable growth, artificial biotopes, even though some of the primary fauna may be exterminated, enrich the original euryoecous fauna by supporting quite foreign elements besides some of those species pertaining to natural uncultivated oases. There are curious irregularities in the distribution of species attached to oasis-biotopes; for instance, the genus Dicranura seems absent from Syria and Palestine, though present in Anatolia, Iraq and Iran; and Marumba populi occurs in Iran but not in Iraq or Syria. c. Persian gardens. Gardens in Iran may be watered directly by surface-channels, or by underground “ canats’’; the construction and operation of the latter is. of great antiquity and characteristic of Per- t INSECT BIOTOPES IN SYRIA, IRAQ AND IRAN. AQ sian culture; they produce oasis-gardens or fields like green islands in a dusty plain, often miles from the mountains from which the water is derived. Such oases may either be of a flora like that described above under b, or, the climate permitting, as under d below. This method of irrigation is prevalent in Oman® and traces of it survive in Syria and Iraq, where, however, it is decadent (e.g., Palmyra and Kirkuk). Its presence outside Iran is doubtless a sign of previous Persian influence. '? d. Desert rivers. These are characterised by Populus euphratica, tamarisk, and. south of about Jatitude 34, palm-cultivation. This culti- vation is as old as human culture in Iraq, land of the oldest human civilisation known to science. The rivers are:—The Jordan, the Euph- rates and its tributary the Khabur (in N.E. Syria), the Tigris and its tributaries the two Zabs, the Dyala, the Kerkheh and the Karun. The isolated tropical species of the Jordan valley are thought to have gained access thither via the Gulf of Akaba, before the elevation of the floor of the Jordan-rift-valley in that vicinity and the subsequent separation of its flora and fauna from the Red Sea. This may he sufficient ex- planation for the similar flora of the Jordan and Euphrates valleys; or else this similarity may be explained by the Pleistocene Pluvial periods providing some link between these now separated but similar biotopes. The dried-up courses of one or two great Arabian rivers running east- ward towards the Euphrates and the Persian Gulf may be evidences of such a link; or else the Bekaa plain (which we know was a lake in late Tertiary times) may have been then in some way connected faunistically with the upper reaches of the Euphrates. These rivers are violent and irregular in behaviour. Every year spring floods half-submerge the river-trees at the very period of maxi- mum insect-activity (April-May); minor alterations in the rivers’ courses are frequent, and islands are constantly being formed and wiped out. Often the rivers break their banks and flood wide areas of desert ; their lower courses are exceedingly marshy. Palm-cultivation occurs at small oases as well as along these rivers, if the climate is suitable. In Iran palms grow at higher altitudes than in Iraq; Tabbas and Khur, the northernmost Iranian palm-oases, are 1858 m. high but within a degree of the latitude of the northern palm limit in Iraq; Mosul, which has no palms, is hardly 250 m. high. Palm- oases lack elm, plane, and ash, but often harbour many tamarisks as well as willow, poplar and nebek (Zizyphus spina-christi), An exclu- sively palm-garden will afford less protection to undergrowth (and therefore insects) than fruit-gardens, hut usually in Iraq the two types of cultivation are mixed together. Where there is good protection from the heat of the sun and the aridity of the desert winds, a stenoecous fauna exists, the counterpart of that found in Persian gardens, but con- taining fewer Euro-Siberian species.!° The oases and irrigated fields of lower and Central Iraq are watered by lift-irrigation or dam-fed channels; the motor-pump- has now re- placed the water-wheel, and the principal dams are the Hindiya and the Kut barrages. Rice, wheat and cotton are here grown. In the golden 9Hogarth. 13Philby: Vol. II, pp. 28-29. 19Wiltshire, 4. 50 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1V/1940 age of Mesopotamian civilisation big areas of continuous cultivation must have existed, but to-day the patches of cultivation are often separ- ated, like islands, by a sea of invading desert. Years more of consistent progress are needed to restore Irayian agriculture to what it used to be. It is curious that some northward penetrating tropical species (e.g., Taragama siva and Thermesia arefacta), which feed in moist places on Prosopis stephaniana (T. siva also feeds on Euphrates poplar, tamarisk and pomegranate) do not seem to accompany that thorn into the un- relieved desert. f. Marshes. Small swamps may occur in all the rivers and streams discussed above, but they are less characteristic than the marshes named below, because they are often so isolated and ephemeral. The larger marshes, in addition to the usual river fauna of the district they belong to, contain also a number of characteristic species. Amik and Ak-shehir are the only marshes of those mentioned below of which any record has been published.!!_ Doubtless the vast Euphrates marshes contain some highly interesting secrets. A. Syria (and Palestine). Oumk, on the Orontes; Amik, in the Bekaa; and Huleh, above Lake Tiberias. B. Anatolia. Ak-shehir Lake. C. Iraq (and S.W. Iran). The Euphrates, Tigris and Kerkheh marshes. Internal reed-feeders appear earlier than in Kurope, but produce no second brood (e.g., P. typhae, A. sparganii and geminipuncta in early July at Amik; P. castaneae in April in Khuzistan). Phragmatobia fuliginosa, however, a river and marsh insect in Syria, appears in two broods. Having now followed our corresponding biotopes through the different Near East countries, and remarked the variations in each, some geners] remarks of a zoogeographical nature are possible. Close though the correspondence may be between insect and plant distribution, phytogeography is not an infallible premise for zoogeo- graphy. Primarily climate governs the range of both plants and animals, which may react differently; the influence of vegetation on insects is secondary. The following illustrations will serve :— 1. noch—Heredity in Lepidoptera—Notes on Genus Zygaena or —Hymenoptera—Life-history of Gonophora sth ete: etc., et ’ PP. . ni To be obtained from :— Mr H. E. PAGE, 9 Vanbrngh Hill, Blackheath, London, ‘SE, a to whom. Cheques and Postal Orders. should be made payable. at 7 Printed a T. Buncle & Co. Lta., ptbesaii, a outlet No. 9. SEPTEMBER 1940. TOMOLOGISTS AND 18s JOURNAL OF VARIATION EDITED with the assistance of T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, R.N., F.L:S., F.Z.S., F.R.ES. i H. E. PAGE, F.R.ES. COLLIN, J.P., F.R.ES. | ALFRED SICH, F.R.E.S. ONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.R.E:S. | Rev. G. WHEELER, M.A,, F.R.E.S., F.Z.S. Editor Emeritus—G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. By HENRY J. TURNER, F.R.E.S., F.R.H.S., Editorial Secretary. uit ar. vaciads OCT 8 1940 CONTENTS. BUFF FORM OF BISTON BETULARIA, L., AB. LOMASARIA, COTTAM, ND AB. DECOLORATA N.AB. THEIR HISTORY AND GENETICS, £. A. MRM PE NEL YAGI ok. TE GARE BSS pave soc batwines¥nbsdcirassagesssiphbeddsncaunsrecsesuarearers 93 XYNA (TEPHRITIS) PARIETINA, L., IN N. KENT, H. W. Andrews, F.R.E.S., 96 )OON TRAVELLING LARVAE, An Old Moth-Hunter, o.......ccccccececcetteesceeeeteees 98 A APPEAL FOR THE INSECT HOUSE AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, ... 100 HILOPHYLLA HERACLEI, L. (DIPTERA, TRYPETIDAE), BRED FROM [YRNIUM OLUSATRUM, L. (ALEXANDERS), 00.00.0000. ces eeeseettetees 100 DDIS LACTEARIA, L., C. R. N. Burrows, F.R.ES.. o...cc.ccsccseeses Reeser aaerns 101 ECTING NOTES: Early Stages of a British Earwig, Apterygida aibi- mnis, Megerle, FE. E. Syms; Delayed Emergence of Hyloicus pinastri, L., B. M. Allan; The Distribution of Gonia fasciata, Mg. (Dipt. Tachini- 4 , £. Parmenter, F.R.E.S.; Psyche villosella, Ochs., at Poole, Dorset, We Fassnidge, M.A., F.R.E.S.; Mnesipatris filicivora, Meyr.. in England, ne Ss. | Brown; Chrysoclista rhammiella, Zell., in Hants and Dorset, I[d.; oleophora conyzae, Zell., in Devon, Jd.; A Collecting Note on Diptera, SOUP eet ah ean c S.-i.) b eae Ula Aen Ses Mead yuo. J tig cel unio Cb duvedsa shel ous 104 Bese BURRS Dub AC biog Ay s aS te NUS eL Mitre se Sout) ears use uet cd 106 Sir Thomas Hudson Beare, B.A., B.S., LL.D., M.Inst.C.E SEO iaah Cds Gowta eet oN UT Mec oty cua Seat OER Suit nv shad nuaeoune ea sens 107 MENT : “The British Nociuae and their Varieties, Hy. J. ofS BG fess CPR NENA (OHARA SHOR Ns FU ap NG ee (241)-(244) Subscription for Complete Volume, post free, TEN SHILLINGS, ae The Hon. Treasurer, H. W. ANDREWS, F.R.E.S., 6 Footscray anes, Eltham, §.E.9. WATKINS & DONCASTER (ESTABLISHED 1879) CAN SUPPLY EVERYTHING NEEDED BY THE COLLECTOR, At Keenest Prices. Large Stocks always maintained for quick service. Full Catalogue post free, per return. Agents for Dr Seitz ‘‘ Macro-Lepidoptera of the World.” . 36 STRAND, LONDON, W.C.2., ENGLAND. P.C. Box No. 126. TELEPHONE—TEMPLE BAR 9451. J. J. HILL & SON, ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET MANUFACTURERS, YEWFIELD ROAD, N.W.1!o, ’Phone: WILLESDEN 0309. SEVERAL CHEAP STORAGE INSECT CABINETS FOR DISPOSAL. Specifications and Prices sent post free on application. OUR LATEST IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS. GLASS TUBE CASES of Aluminiumed Metal. With 18 small tubes, 1/8; 11 medium tubes, 1/4; 6 large tubes (3 x 3’), 2/9; 6 tubes (3.x 1”), 2/10, NEW LARVA PRESERVING OVEN, complete 10/6. SMALL FOLDING POCKET NET, Spring Steel Frame, folds to a 4” circle, complete with black or white bag, 6/6. Our RELAXING BOX is still the best, will last from 3 to 6 months, and is — easily recharged. In modern aluminium box, size 7 x 5x 2". Price 2/9. STAINLESS STEEL PINS for Lepidoptera. New Price List Free. THE ENTOMOLOGY CoO., 446 Strand, LONDON, W.C.z2. “ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD” Publications. List of British Geometers: with named varieties and synonyms. By Hy. J. Turner, F.R.E.S. Price, one copy, is 0d; two, is 64 Supplement to Tutt’s British Noctuae, Vol. I. By Hy. J. Turner, F.R.E.S., FRAH:SE CV OLS TE CAM i COUPSO) | 5. 3256555, sak coteece cas casaus Gnackees doceuag ces seeataeneteeeae 10s 64 Butterflies of the Upper Rhone Valley. By Roger Verity, F.R.E:S. ......... 38 6a FOODPLANTS OF THE LARVAE OF BRITISH TRYPETIDAE (DIPTERA). BY M. NIBLETT. A FEW COPIES ONLY .........0.:... Pai Ra ue eae) Lhe 1a | To be obtained post free from H. W. ANDREWS, 6 Footscray Road, Eltham, S.E.9. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF THE WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND. Containing a descriptive history of 430 species all illustrated in colour, and % text figures. Based upon “‘THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES” and “ THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES,” by Richard South, F.R.ES. Complete in one volume. Cloth Bound. Pocket size, 64 in. x 4 in. PRICE, 8/6 NET; BY POST, 8/11.- FREDERICK WARNE & CO. LTD., 1-4 BEDFORD COURT, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C.2. a La fa ah aa ai PS te ea Sg en ES jf ek 5 FE) SS A ea |3, SAO | THE BUFF FORM.OF BISTON BETULARIA. THE BUFF FORMS OF BISTON BETJULARIA, L., AB. LOMASARIA, COTTAM, AND AB. DECOLORATA N.AB, THEIR HISTORY AND GENETICS, By E. A. Cocxaynz, D.M., F.B.C.P, F.R.E.S. The original account of the buff forms of Biston betularia is worth reading again in the light of modern genetics. A correspondence in the Entomologist of 1889, initiated by J. T. Rodgers (p. 49) and con- tinued by Joseph Chappell (p. 162), resulted in an account of the origin of the strain and its subsequent history, which was written by John Thorpe. I give most of it in his own words. ‘* In 1874 Thomas Lomas and Jonathan Fielding captured near Heaton Park a buff female in cop. with a black male. After depositing ova the female was sold to a London dealer, the ova being taken great care of, and the larvae fed up well. Many buff forms were expected to turn up from the brood that emerged from the pupae in 1875, but the breeders were disappointed, for not a single buff variety turned up, alk being black or ordinary forms. Being thus disappointed and having no idea the buff forms might reappear, they gave to several collectors virgin females to cross with black males, which were being bred very freely at the time in Middleton. This cross was so favourable to the buff variety that no less than seven collectors, who had had virgins given to them to cross with black males, produced the buff variety in 1876, the proportion being about 10 per cent. ‘‘ Many of these collectors crossed them again with poor success. Lomas and Fielding, who had the greatest number, did not try cross- ing again, but bred them in and in, and from this breeding no less than 80 per cent. of buff moths turned up in 1877. In these moths of 1877 there was every form of variation, from pure buff to the ordinary type. After that vear they gradually grew weaker, and in the course of three years following, the strain was totally lost, and not a single buff variety has been produced since. ‘These varieties were exhibited at the monthly meetings of the Middleton Society in May and June for severdl years, many of them being alive and in copulation. Any amount of evidence can be obtained from collectors who saw them while being bred and exhibited alive as proof of their genuineness. They were never kept secret, every speci- men being shown to any entomologist who wished to see them. Mr C. S. Gregson of Liverpool came several times. ‘‘ After some time a certain London dealer came over very late one Saturday evening; the day following I myself took him to see Fielding’s lot of buff varieties. At this time the great bulk were in the hands of Fielding and Lomas. After much persuasion and promises of some extraordinary foreign butterflies for ‘‘ picture making ”’ the dealer got every specimen that Fielding had got, but when the case of foreign butterflies arrived they were not worth the cost of carriage. This so disgusted Fielding that he gave up collecting. ‘‘ Some years after I purchased Lomas’ collection, including every specimen of the buff variety, with the exception of two I understood he had sold to Mr Bond. With the exception of two or three speci- mens in several collections in Middleton and a few I have given to ento- _mological friends in different parts, including two to the British Museum 94 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 /TX/ 1940 collection, I have the whole of what remains of these varieties. This form has not since been bred and seems to be quite lost.”’ (Entomologist, 1889, 162). In 1923 R. Cottam obtained an independent account from John Taylor of Oldham, which differs in some respects from that of Thorpe. He says that from the original pairing typical, inter- mediate, and black specimens were bred in 1875, but no buff ones. The individuals of this brood were allowed to pair up amongst themselves as they liked, with the exception of a few females, which had been taken out and mated with black males brought specially by Taylor for the purpose of strengthening the strain. The female specimens, which had been mated, were taken to a meeting of the local entomological society by Lomas, and he allowed certain members to take some of them away. Nothing came from a specimen taken by Rodgers, but some time after he raised two buff examples from larvae, which had been given to him. Only three buff examples appeared from Taylor’s brood, while Lomas failed to produce any from his specimens. A large number of buff speci- mens were bred by Fielding and Scholes (brother-in-law of Lomas) and these would appear to have come from females that had been allowed to interbreed. This rearing of Letularia took place in 1876, and after that year no further examples were bred because that particular strain had died out. Specimens of betularia from buff and melanic strains were exhibited periodically at monthly meetings for many years, but it must be noted that no living examples of the former were shown after 1876. Taylor says that Gregson failed to obtain any from collectors in Middleton and later showed a box full of betularia bleached by chlorine. Although he did not say that the Middleten specimens were faked, sus- picion fell on them; the strain was allowed to die out in consequence, and Wielding himself gave up collecting. The accounts given by both Thorpe and Taylor effectually dispose of any doubt about the genuineness of the buff forms. The genetics of the buff forms have never been dealt with, and it is interesting to see how far these two accounts written before Mendel’s Law was rediscovered elucidate them. Taylor’s statement that all three forms of betularia, black, ab. carbonaria, Jordan, intermediate, ab. insularia, Th-Meig., and typical betularia, appeared in the first gene- ration is difficult to accept. These three forms are allelomorphs, car- bonaria dominant to both the others, and insularia to typical betularia. The genes for two only can be present in one individual. The result can be explained only if the buff female was insularia and both it and the black male parent were heterozygotes. Using the symbols C = carbonaria, c’ = insularia, and c = betularta, Cc x c’c would give 2 carbonaria (Cc’, Cc), 1 insularia (c’c), and 1 betularia (cc). Both accounts, however, say that the original buff female was typical in mark- ings. Another objection to Taylor’s account is that so far as I know no buff intermediates were bred iater, though they should have been as numerous as typical ones from the indiscriminate pairings obtained. Thorpe’s statement that the first generation consisted of carbonaria and typical betularia is much more likely to be true. In any case buff appears to be recessive to black coloration, and there are two buff forms, one in which buff replaces the black speckling of the typical form, and the other, in which it replaces the black of car- bonaria, giving a unicolorous buff insect. The buff colour is due either i THE BUFF FORM OF BISTON BETULARIA. 95 to a great diminution of the melanin content of the scales or less pro- bably to the substitution of some other pigment. Jt is determined by a gene independent of the one which governs the number of black scales. Accepting Thorpe’s account and using the following symbols :— C = carbonaria, ¢ = typical betularia, B = black scaling, and b = buff scaling, the original pair captured by Lomas and Fielding were CcBB, the blacla male, and ccbb, the buff female. From this pairing the ex- pectation is that the brood would consist or equal numbers of carbonaria, CcBb, and typical betularia, ccBb, but all would be heterozygous for buff. Coming to the next generation there is a serious discrepancy be- tween the two accounts. Thorpe states that virgin females were given away to be paired with black males. If that were true no buff forms would have appeared in this generation. Taylor’s account is much more likely to be the correct one. He says that the members of the first generation paired indiscriminately amongst themselves and presumably some eggs were laid in the cage and the broods must have been mixed. If both parents were black, CcBb x CcBb, the offspring would show a9: 3 : 3: 1 ratio, 9 carbonaria, 3 unicolorous buff, 3 typical betularia, and 1 speckled buff. With one parent black, CcBb x ccBb, a quarter of the offspring would be buff, half of them unicolorous and half of them speckled. From these two pairings all four forms would be produced, carbonaria, typical betularia, unicolorous and speckled buff, which agrees with Thorpe’s account. The fact that only 10 per cent. were buff instead of the 25 per cent. expected in the F, genera- tion may be due to the greater delicacy of the buff forms, if the figures are correct. According to Taylor, some females were taken away and paired with unrelated black males, which would account for the failure of Lomas to breed any buff forms, but, on the other hand, Thorpe says he did breed buff ones. Both agree that Fielding was successful, and Taylor says he appears to have used inbred specimens. Taylor himself only bred three buff specimens but he may have had eggs from both sources, inbred and crossed with an unrelated black male. Both Thorpe and Taylor agree that the buff form reappeared in 1876, but Thorpe says that the strain was carried on and gave 80 per cent. of buff speci- mens. Two buff moths paired should give all buff ones in the third generation, but it is not unlikely that he had some eggs from pairings between buff ones and heterozygous normal ones. Such a mixture of broods might well give 80 per cent. of buff forms. It must be remem- bered, however, that the account was written twelve years after the event, and Thorpe’s memory may have been faulty. Taylor indeed says that no such broods were ever reared. Whether the strain was carried on or not is relatively unimportant from the genetical aspect. There can be no doubt that none of the offspring of the original pair, the black male and the buff female, were buff, but that paired inter se they gave buff forms, speckled and uni- colorous and a much larger number of typical betularia and carbonaria, This is quite in accord with expectation, if buff is recessive. I accept Thorpe’s account of the four forms appearing in the 1876 generation and Taylor’s statement that they were produced from pairings between male and female offspring of the original pair. Since heterozygous carbonaria and typical betularia were present in the brood the pairings may have been of three kinds. 96 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ITX/ 1940 Cottam (Lancs. and Cheshire Nat., 1923, 21) figures a buff betu- laria (fig. 2) and a buff carbonaria (fig. 4) and names both forms ab. lomasaria. Although buff is determined by a single gene, if my ex- planation is correct, it seems advisable to restrict the name ab. lomasaria to the typical betularia with buff instead of black speckling and to give a separate name to ab. carbonaria with the black replaced by buff. For this unicolorous form I propose the name ab. decolorata n.ab. Ochracecus buff (Ridgway) matches the colour most closely, though by no means perfectly. Ainslie Hill (Entomol., 1901, 180) attempted with little success to make a census of the buff forms in various collections. The follow- ing list gives those of which I know: 4 (2 Rodgers Coll.) Taylor Coll. 2 Thorpe Coll. (Corporation of Middletan}. 2 Ainslie Hill Coll. 2 lomasaria (R. Adkin Coll.), 1 lomasaria (Bankes Coll.), 2 lomasaria (Christy Coll.), 1 lomasaria and 1 decolorata (Stephens Coll.), 4 lomasaria and 3 decolorata (Rothschild Coll.), all 12 in the British Museum. 2 (R. South Coll.). 2 lomasaria and 2 decolorata (F. J. Hanbury Coll.), the former, I believe, were purchased by Burton and the latter by Barrett. 7 lomasaria and 5 decolorata (Baldock Coll.) and 1 lomasaria and 2 decolorata, all 12 in my collection. This gives a total of 43. There are none in the National Museum of Wales, the Porritt collection in Huddersfield, or in the Rait-Smith col- lection, and very few are mentioned in the cavalogues of the big sales. Although the list is incomplete, it shows that the number in collections is by no means large and supports the story given by Taylor rather than that given by Thorpe. OXYNA (TEPHRITIS) PARIETINA, L., IN N. KENT. By H. W. Anprews, F.R.E.S. In November last I went to the Thames Marshes at Stone, near Dartford, to search for galls of the Trypetid fly, Paroxyna misella, Lw., on Artemisia vulgaris, L. (mugwort). I did not find the particular galls for which I was looking but on slitting up some of the stems of the Artemisia I found Trypetid larvae which I suspected might be Oxyna parietina (although there was no trace of any gall or swelling on the stems), as Artemisia is one of the host plants of this species. I took some stems home and my anticipations were realised when O. parietina began to emerge at the end of May this year. As they did not come out in any numbers and I wanted examples for my correspondents I went again to Stone on June Jst and found the flies out in abundance. They were not obvious either on the Artemisia or on neighbouring leaves and flower-heads and those taken were all obtained by sweeping. Although parietina has been on our British List at least from the days of Walker’s Insecta Britannica (circa 1852), which states ‘‘ not \ OXYNA (TEPHRITIS) PARIETINA, L., IN N. KENT. 97 rare,’ I have only been able to find one authentic record of its occur- rence in this country, given me by Mr Collin, who has in his collection a single female taken by Dr W. J. Fordham at Clifton, Yorks, on 6.vi.19. It has been recorded in local lists from Somerset by Mr Audcent, and from Warwickshire by Mr Saunt, but both these gentlemen after compar- ing examples of parietina I sent them, tell me that their records should have been referred to Oxyna proboscidea, Lw. (nebulosa, Wied.) and not to parietina. I also wrote to the British Museum authorities as to Walker’s record and Mr R. L. Coe has kindly looked into the matter and found in the ‘‘ general ’’ collection 3 ¢¢ and 1 2 under the name of parietina, presented to the Museum by the Entomological Club in 1844 and labelled ‘‘ England.’’ He refers to a further record by Walker in a paper ‘“‘ Descriptions of the British Tephritites’’ (Ent. Mag., ILI, 57, 1836), where the species is stated as occurring in the ‘‘ South of England during the summer and autumn,’’ and thinks that this statement prob- ably refers to the Entomological Club examples. On a re-examination of these specimens, however, he finds that they are not parietina, but O. flavipennis, Lw., as ‘‘ they agree completely with Collin’s diagnosis of that species’? (Hnt. Record, Vol. XXVII, p. 57, March 1915), thus leaving Mr Collin’s 1919 specimen from Yorkshire the solitary record. Both Oxyna flavipennis, Lw., and proboscidea, Lw., closely resemble parietina. In Mr Collin’s 1915 paper referred to above (‘‘ Variation in the Wing-markings of Tephritis (Oryna) flavipennis, Lw.,’’ illustrated with plate) he gives, among other characteristics, the following useful distinctions for separating the three species :— flavipennis has three pairs of dorso-central thoracic bristles and normally four scutellar bristles, one lateral pair and one apical pair: proboscidea, two pairs of dorso-centrals and one pair lateral scutel- lars, the apical pair being absent in this species. partetina, two dorso-centrals and four scutellars, lateral and apical as in flavipennis. Variation in the intensity of the wing-markings of flavipennis, illus- trated by the plate accompanying Mr Collin’s paper, is also noticeable to a certain degree in parietina. The larvae of parietina are recorded as living in the stems of various species of Artemisia (in the case of A. vulgaris from which my flies were bred, without any external signs of habitation): those of flavi- pennis in fleshy galls on the roots of Achillea millefolium, L. (Milfoil or Yarrow): and those of proboscidea (nebulosa) in galls on the root-stocks of Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, L. (Ox-eye daisy). Proboscidea is, I believe} fairly widely distributed in this country, but both flavipennis and parietina are normally very rare. In Mr Collin’s paper he states that over forty years’ collecting by the late Mr Verrall produced only two specimens of flavipennis, but in 1904 and again in 1911 Mr C. G. Lamb found the species in abundance in a limited area at St Merryn, Corn- wall; and as stated above, I was fortunate enough to find parietina also in abundance this year at Stone. Seguy, in ‘‘ Dipteres acalypterates,”’ records all three species as common in France. 98 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1X/1940 ON TRAVELLING LARVAE, By An Otp MortTH-HUunNTER. July 14th. To-day I found, on a piece of waste ground, a larva of Amphidasys betularia, L., feeding upon Spotted Persicary (Polygonum persicaria, L.). It was a marshy spot of some five acres between a river and the goods yard of a railway station. The plant was some ten yards from the river, which is about sixty feet wide, and on the far bank were a pollard willow and two hawthorn bushes. I searched the persicary thoroughly and then the adjacent plants; but there were no more larvae—of that I am certain. -A. betularia is a prolific egg layer. Recently a large black female was brought to me—she had fluttered down to the pavement in our little town from a lime tree, having been disturbed, possibly, by a bird. I put her in a cage lined with oak bark, and for five nights she laid eggs. She laid an incredible number. Never would I have believed that a moth could lay so many. It was impossible to count them, for they were packed in clumps, I might even say lumps, in holes, cracks, fissures, chinks, crevices—in fact in every concealed spot into which she could insert her ovipositor. There must have been thousands of them. How, then, did the larva which I found to-day come to be all alone, and on Spotted Persicary? In other years I have found the caterpillars of this moth on oak, elm, birch, sallow, blackthorn, hawthorn, apple, and wild rose, and I have heard of them occurring on beech, poplar, bramble, and goodness knows what other deciduous trees and shrubs. But Spotted Persicary—I refuse to believe that any self-respecting female betularia would condemn its larvae to eat such a lowly plant. Then how did this highly original larva come to be feeding in solitude on persicary ? I doubt if it crossed the river unaided. The Elephant Hawkmoth is said (teste Albin) to be a strong swimmer; but then, elpenor’s food-plant often overhangs a stream, therefore swimming is a necessary accom- plishment for one who risks a ducking whenever the stormy winds do blow. A. betularia. afloat—-and J’m not sure he would float—would be merely ridiculous. No: I’m sure he didn’t cross the river under his own motive power. A boat? There are very few boats and they don’t stop at this unsalubrious spot. I couid wish there had been an ash on the opposite side of the river, shedding its whirligig seeds; for then I could well have believed that my larva had been practising as a para- chutist. But there were only willow and hawthorn, and neither of these plants could provide an apparatus capable of wafting a half-grown A. betularia larva for thirty-five yards and more. Surely a bird could not have played the part of a Daedalus? The station goods yard, then? That must be ruled out, because there was a wide water-filled ditch in between; and there are no trees or shrubs on that side. The five acres of waste ground is virtually an island. Let me hark back for a moment to those piles of eggs laid by the black female moth. Several thousand of them hatched simultaneously, having been subjected to mechanical shock (that is a matter IT am not going into here), and started out to see life on my writing table. In a ON TRAVELLING LARVAE. 99 brace of shakes the table was covered with minute A. betularia, going flat out, in different directions. JI timed one over a measured inch. He covered the course in 5 1/5th secs. Six inches took him (he ran wide four times, and once, when [ applied the whip in the shape of a camel hair brush, he turned on his back and kicked) exactly 35 seconds. If he could have kept up this rate of progress he would have covered more than fifty feet in an hour. In six hours he would have travelled a hundred yards—and he was only 3 mm. long. But as to how far he could actually have travelled without refuelling is another matter; his output of energy was so great that he must have been burning fuel rapidly. However, that is a physiological problem and outside the scope of this paper. The newly hatched larvae of certain species must cover considerable distances before they reach their fodder. Recently I dropped two baby Tiparis salicis, L., on the carpet of my dressing-room (J keep larvae everywhere). Two days later I found one on my bedroom ceiling twenty feet away. He must have traversed sixteen inches of woolly carpet before ne reached the wall. He was none the worse for his journey, except perhaps that he was a little footsore. He ate a good meal and went to sleep. Next day he was as active as ever. 1 sovaetimes find ova of Himera pennaria L., on the trunks of large oaks, from five to seven feet from tie ground. These young larvae must be as active as A. betularia (and indeed they are) if they are ever to reach the leaves. Even slugs like Thecla quercus, L., cover the ground, or rather branches, at a surprising rate. I say ‘‘ surprising ’’ because if you take your eves off a full-fed one that is on the move and busy yourself elsewhere for a few minutes, then turn to look at T. quercus, you will probably be surprised to find that he has disappeared. A search will reveal him several inches away. He is a stealthy beast, is T. quercus, and for all his dignified progression he is a bloodthirsty brute where his brethren, pupating, are concerned. Trust him not a yard. Some day, if I can overcome my incorrigible laziness, I shall buy a stop-watch and time larvae over a measured mile, so to speak. The results would I am sure be interesting. Arctia villica, L., in their third stadium would hold their own against all comers—provided you could induce them to keep up the short sharp rushes in which they indulge when you try to push them into a teaspoon. Greased lightning is not the word for it. Even Cosmia trapezina, L., scenting blood, could not hold his own with A. villica, and as for that Jack the Ripper, Scopelo- soma satellitia, L., who in the dark of night rushes with terrible swiftness along a branch searching for his meat—he would be left far behind. S. satellitia is the only larva T am acquainted with who is conscious that he bears the brand of Cain. Flash a torch on him while he is slithering along with uncanny lubricity of foot and he will stop dead in his tracks, looking at you with an air of injured surprise. And if you don’t put out the torch he will turn, offendedly, and retire with digni- fied steps. ‘‘ I may be a cannibal,’’ he seems to say, ‘‘ but dash it all I don’t eat caterpillars in broad daylight, like trapezina; one must draw the line somewhere.’’ But what about that betularia larva which I have just found feeding on Spotted Persicary: how the dickens did he come to be there? [Wind blown as a very young larva on a silk thread.—E. A. C.] . 100 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 /1TX/ 1940 AN APPEAL FOR THE INSECT HOUSE AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. The Zoological Society, in pursuance of its policy in keeping the amenities of the Gardens available to the public as fully as possible during the war, in spite of operating at a serious loss, has now re- opened the Insect House, which was closed on the outbreak of hostili- ties. This involves an additional burden of approximately £250 per annum, but Council felt that the educational value of an insect col- lection warranted this. In regard to the larger animals in the Zoo, an Adoption Scheme is now in operation by which the cost of feeding a particular animal is defrayed by a well-wisher, and material help has been obtained in this way. This would clearly be impracticable with insects, and it is ac- cordingly suggested that entomologists might be interested in helping to ‘‘ adopt ’’ the Insect House as a whole. One well-wisher has already given £25 for this purpose. Anyone interested in helping further with this scheme should send contributions to Mr N. D. Riley, Keeper of Entomology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W.7, who will transmit them to the Zoo authorities. PHILOPHYLLA HERACLEI, L, (DIPTERA, TRYPETIDAE), BRED FROM SMYRNIUM OLUSATRUM, L. (ALEXANDERS). In his ‘‘ Notes on the Food Plants of British Trypetidae,’’ Mr Nib- lett gives five host plants, all Umbelliferae, for P. heraclei. This year another Umbellifer, ‘‘ Smyrnium Oiusatrum,’’ has been added to the list by Mr Audcent who towards the end of May took mined leaves from a patch of this plant at Clevedon, Somerset. Mr Audcent also sent some of the leaves to Mr Niblett and myself and we both bred the fly from them, the dates of emergence ranging from 18th June to 3rd July. Three points of interest in connection with this record are :— (1) The fact that although those specimens of heraclei originally captured by Mr Audcent on the plants of Olusatrwm which led him to look for mined leaves later, comprised both the light and dark forms, yet out of about 100 specimens bred between the three of us, only one could be considered as definitely of the dark form (centaurae): a certain number might be termed intermediates, but the majority obviously con- sisted of the light form (onopordinis). This suggests an interesting line of investigation as to different species of host plants producing differ- ing forms of a given species. Mr Niblett tells me that he has not had much experience of breeding P. heraclei, but that a few bred from Heracleum Sphondylium were again all of the light form. (2) The unusually long time it took for the colouring of the wing pattern to develop. Mr Audcent writes, ‘‘ On emergence the wings were almost clear, the markings appeared gradually but were never so dark as in the captured specimens.’’ I had the same experience though I kept my specimens 12 hours before killing them. Mr Niblett also IODIS LACTEARIA, L. 101 notieed the long time the wing pattern took to develop, but he kept his specimens 48 hours before killing, and says ‘‘ some retained hght mark- ings, others had them very intense.’’ He also suggests that this delay in development of markings may be due to the larvae leaving the mines before they were full fed. (3) The larvae seem impatient of confinement. To quote Mr Aud- cent again, ‘‘ When the leaves were placed in a glass covered jar many left their mines and crawling up the sides of the jar gradually shrivelled and died.’’ I had had a similar experience once before when trying to breed this species, and this time when I opened the tin in which Mr Audcent sent me the leaves, I found a large number of larvae out of the mines and on the sides of the tin. I then put the leaves on a layer of bulb-mould in a cardboard box covered with leno, and though they quickly dried up I bred some 30 specimens of the fly mostly from pupae on the dried up leaves. Mr Audcent’s larvae mostly pupated on the soil in the jar where they were kept, some on the leaves, none buried themselves.—H. W. ANDREWS. IODIS LACTEARIA, L., By (the late) Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, F.R.E.S. Although I am calling the species under consideration Iodis lactearia, it is only right to point out that Staudinger, in his Catalog (1901, p. 264), has rejected the genus Jodis and placed lactearia in Thalera, Hiibner with fimbrialis and certain other ‘‘ Emeralds,’’ which do noi occur in Britain. Mr Prout writes me: ‘‘ You have probably noticed that Staudinger has now merged the genus Iodis in Thalera (type fim- biialis) though Lederer, whose system he usually follows, maintained them as distinct. . . . But the union is clearly impossible even on imaginal characters—leg structure, wing form, I think antennae— probably neuration, etc., ete.’’ Upon this point I can give no opinion, as I do not know the details which constitute or rather differentiate either genus, and not possessing a specimen of Thalera fimbrialis, I am not able to examine and compare the structural differences or agree- ments existing between them. I notice also that Meyrick in his Hand- book, p. 249, likewise rejects Iodis, and places lactearia in EHuchloris with Phorodesma smaragdaria, Comibaena pustulata, and Geometra vernaria, a position which may appear reasonable from the writer’s point of view, but yet most unsuitable from my own. Leaving the question of genus with a humble suggestion that many entomologists would probably welcome an up-to-date Catalogue of Genera, with a diagnosis table, I must pass on to the specific name. Again I am indebted to Mr Prout for kindly giving me the informa- tion upon which he is an expert and a master. He writes, ‘“ Linné’s type specimen is extant but—as you can guess—hopelessly discoloured. Yet it seems that authors have correctly determined it. Moreover, his disciple Clerck in 1759 figured the same species under the same name. It must have been one of the usual whitish specimens even to begin with as no mention is made of any green shade. Werneberg (Beitrége, T, p. 253) maintains that Linné himself, in the Fauna Suecica of 1761, 102 ENTOMOLOGIST’ S RECORD. 15/TX/1940 redescribed his lactearia from a greener specimen as vernaria, and that, therefore, that name should be preferred as drawn from the original (? natural) condition of the species. But I more than doubt whether Tinné’s vernaria was lactearia, and in any case, the law of priority is inexorable and Werneberg’s proposal has met with the neglect it merited. At any rate the early authors on the Continent muddled up the ‘ Emer- alds’ well, failed to recognise one author’s description and so on, and this species (lactearia) was long known by Schiffermiiller’s (and Hiib- ner’s) name of aeruginaria.’’ Beautiful though this little Emerald is on its first appearance from the pupa, it is unfortunately the more liable to fade of the eight species of the group commonly (for we must not ignore Thalera fimbrialis) found in Britain. The delicate blue-green is the most fugitive of all and differs from the rest in becoming absolutely white. Would that someone could find a method of preserving the delicate colour unchanged. I suppose the only remedy at present is to renew one’s series year by year (if one can), and on no account to subject the specimens to any treatment which can possibly affect the colour. JI would therefore sug- gest chloroform (some samples of chloroform are sometimes likely to be injurious) and prick with tobacco juice. J say ‘‘ renew if you can” advisedly, for although a common species, whose food plants are uni- versal, it is not in all places. During the ten seasons I have coilected in Mucking and neighbourhood I have only recorded it twice. In 1906 not more than two specimens, and in 1907 only one. This,: when I was keenly desirous to get eggs, shows how rare it must be with me. Mey- rick gives for its range “‘ Britain to the Clyde. Ireland. Common.’’ T have but one record for my six seasons at Rainham. So putting two and two tegether I have come to the conclusion that it is more of a wood than a marsh insect, thus verifying the note of Linné’s com- mentator, ‘‘ Habitat in EKuropae nemoribus.’’ I have gathered together a large number of records from the magazines, etc., and I see that my idea is strongly supported, as the only capture I have so far found noted which suggests the species frequenting marshes is a note by Mr A. J. Hodges, who took it in such a locality in the Isle of Wight, 20th June 1891 (Entom. Record, Vol. II. p. 160). Probably in this case the woods were not far off, and the marsh not such in the Mucking sense. Mr Edelsten says ‘‘ common in the Norfolk Fens.’’ One other fact seems to show that it is not always ‘‘ common everywhere ’’ as Stainton would say (which, however, he does not say of this species) ; this is, that though T have begged for eggs for two years or more, only one friend, Mr Edelsten, has been fortunate enough to secure some, and kind enough to send them on to me. A further difficulty arises in inducing females to lay, as a passage in a letter of Mr Prout’s would suggest, ‘‘ T have long been meaning to rear this insect, but have never induced a female to lav more than two or three eggs, so have not thought it worth while; I wonder whether my experience is general with this species.’’ The habits of the female are seemingly very retired for the vast proportion of the insects captured are males. Thanks to Mr Edelston I received some newly laid upon hawthorn leaves, which were, I believe, laid the day they were posted to me: at any rate I dated the oviposition’ as follows :— IODIS LACTEARIA, L. 103 Ova laid, 4th July 1907. Hatched, 14th July = 10 days. Ist Moult, 20th July = 6 days. 2nd Moult, 30th July = 10 days. Pupated, 20th August = 37 days from hatching. As the larval life is so short there is no apparent reason why, as suggested by Mr C. Nicholson, the species may not be double-brooded in favourable seasons (Hntom. Record, 1896, p. 200). Yet amongst all the notices of captures I have collected, the latest date is 9th July 1899, at Dorking, by Mr Carr (Mntom. Record, 1900, p. 23). This is an exceedingly pretty and easy larva to rear, which process can be well carried out in a large sized glass-topped metal box. It feeds quietly and contentedly upon hawthorn, and its own old skins, I suppose, for I could never find one about, and had to give up record- ina the moults for this reason. Stainton and St John give birch as the only food-plant, and were this so, the fact would sufficiently explain or account for its rarity here at Mucking, where birch scarcely occurs. Newman gives oak only. Quail (Hntom. Record, Vol. II, p. 232) sup- poses that he beat the larvae from oak in Epping Forest, and Birchall (Kntom., 1868, p. 127) definitely states that he beat them from this food- plant. I do not know from where I got my information but 1 find in the margin of my Stainton a note of Hornbeam as pabulum. On the strength of this I offered my larvae some leaves of this plant, which they ate without much demonstration of delight or the reverse. As Meyrick adds ‘‘ etc.’”’ to birch and oak, it is quite possible that hornbeam is a known food of the insect. It seems that the larva is not at all freely beaten even in its chosen haunts. Possibly it attaches itself too tightly to its food-plant. The full grown larva is wonderfully protected by its colour—pecu- liarly stick-like, and rigid when on guard. Meyrick’s description is good as far as it goes, ‘*‘ Larva dark green, 5-9 (1 being the head) with purple posteriorily ochreous-edged dorsal diamonds. 10-13 with purple dorsal line. Head red-brown, bifid.’’ Feeding completed, the larva draws together a leaf or leaves quite loosely, and pupates protected by a few threads attached by anal hooks to a rather large pad of silk. Pupa bright green, slender, antenna cases, one pair of legs, eyes, palpi, and some of the veins of forewings olive brown. Thus it remains, as far as we know, all the winter, emerging at the end of May and onwards. To be continued. COLLECTING NOTES. Earty Staces oF A British EarRwic, APTERYGIDA ALBIPENNIS, Mrcerie.—As so little is known about the early stages of our earwigs the following may be of interest. In November 1939 Mr R. M. Green- slade, of the East Malling Research Station, Kent, sent me five females of the local earwig Apterygida albipennis, Megerle. Each earwig was placed in a cage with earth at the bottom and was given pieces of -apple for food. Early in February they dug into the soil, constructing 104 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1TX/1940 a cell about one inch below the surface, slightly longer than the ear- wig itself, and about 2 inch diameter. Above the cell the earth was solid, there being no passage leading to the soil surface. In March these cages were opened and only two of the earwigs were found alive; these were replaced and they dug themselves in again. One cage was carefully opened and I was able to watch developments. On 19th April ova were first seen (about 15) and the female watched over and cleaned them. These ova hatched on 3rd May. The second earwig also hatched ova and the young ones were seen crawling about the cage on 6th May. From these observations it is clear that pairing takes place in the autumn and cva are deposited in April.—E. E. Syms. DevayYED EMERGENCE oF Hy.orcus pinastRI, L.—A female of this species emerged in my cages on 30th May. It had lain three winters in the pupal state, the larva having gone to earth in August 1937. From twenty ova (the product of a Hampshire female and a Suffolk male) given to me by my friend, Mr Clifford Craufurd, I obtained nineteen pupae, one larva becoming a casualty. Sixteen moths emerged from these in 1938, two in 1939, and the last one as above. I found this species very easy to rear—possibly the Hampshire-Suffolk cross en- sured robust offspring—and if my solitary experience is usual, with care one should obtain one jundred per cent. of imagines. But I have not yet succeeded in equalling Tutt’s record (Ent. Rec., iv, 117)—from a dozen eggs of A. saucia he bred 13 moths!—P. B. M. Auan. THE DisTRiIBUTION oF Gonta FAScIATA, Me. [Dipt. Tacurnipar |].—In view of Mr H. W. Andrews’ note ante p. 81, I feel that I ought to record the capture of an individual of this species on 15th April 1934 at High Halstow, Kent (WK). The fly was seen slowly walking across the road in the late afternoon sunshine. J have also in my collection two speci- mens taken by my friend Mr K. M. Guichard at Mill Hill, Middlesex (MX) on 19th March 1938. C. Morley and E. A. Atmore record the capture of G. fasciata in Suffolk by Lt.-Col. C..G. Nurse at Tud- denham, Timworth, Culford, and Ampton in the months of April and May in Trans. Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Hist. Soc., 1915 Sup., p. 98.— I.. Parmenter (F.R.E.S.), 94 Fairlands Avenue, Thornton Heath, Sur- rey. PSYCHE VILLOSELLA, OcHs., aT Pootr, Dorset.—Having been evacu- ated from Southampton to Poole since the beginning of the war, my attention has naturally been drawn to the local fauna, and especially to the insects on the vast heaths that lie to the north and west of Poole. If I have failed completely to find cases of Psyche opacella, H.-S., which species surely must still occur in this district, I have none the less succeeded in finding Psyche villosella cases in far greater numbers than I have ever known them to occur in the New Forest. Unfortunately, every heath I have visited so far has been extensively burned in past years, and it is a common sight this year also to see a vast pall of smoke rolling over the heathlands, where yet another fire has been started by irresponsible youths. I began my search for cases of Psyche villosella in the autumn of 1939 and found a few in scattered localities still unburnt. However, COLLECTING NOTES. 105 towards the end of April I searched a very broken piece of ground near the Kinson potteries and quite close to rows of new bungalows. Here the cases were in large numbers and at the end of April the males began to fix their cases for pupation. The sites chosen were very varied. Sometimes a piece of dead heather or bracken was selected, sometimes the tip of a dwarf gorse shoot or a spray of living heather, frequently a piece of old iron among the many such that litter the neighbourhood of human habitation—at least in these parts. Several times I found two cases fixed on the same twig and twice three close together were found. I estimate the number of male cases seen on six visits to this restricted piece of ground alone at more than three hun- dred. The female larvae were to be seen feeding all this time and did not begin to fix their cases for pupation until about May 14th, a full fortnight after the males. By this date all the male larvae had finished their feeding. Presumably, since emergence of males and females must coincide, the males need a longer period for their development than do the females. It is quite easy to differentiate male and female cases, for the latter are cylindrical and longer, with a less hirsute appearance, and lack the long silken tube that serves to grip the male pupa when emergence takes place. Moreover, the males fix their cases low down, while the females prefer a fence or tall stem, and are often to be found four feet above ground level. Much has been written about the difficulty of breeding good male specimens for the cabinet. My own solution of the difficulty has been to keep male pupae separate and in the dark, so that the freshly emerged insects do not at once begin to fly and to batter themselves to pieces. Kven so a careful watch must be kept, especially in the early evening, from about 5 to 8 p.m. summer time, when males usually emerge.— Wo. Fassnivgk (M.A., F.R.E.S.), at 127a Longfleet Road, Poole, Dorset. MNESIPATRIS FILICIVORA, Mryr., IN ENGLAND.—On the evening of 26th May 1940, in my garden in Bournemouth, I netted a species of Tineina which was new to me. Next evening a more detailed examina- tion of the spot revealed the moth in abundance flying around a clump of male ferns, Dryopteris filix-mas. This fact narrowed down its identi- fication, and I was able to identify the moth as Mnesipatris filicivora, Meyr., named and described by E. Meyrick in the Entomologist, Vol. LXX, p. 194, from specimens taken in Co. Dublin, Ireland. At the time of writing, 26th June, the larvae are abundant mining the fern leaves, and if any reader would like some larvae I shall be pleased to send some. —S. C. Brown, Bournemouth. [Delayed in publication. ] CHRYSOCLISTA RHAMNIELLA, ZELL., IN Hants and Dorset.—The dis- tributio1 of this species is greater than that given by Meyrick (Rev. Handbook Brit. Lep., p. 654). He gives East England to Sussex and Westmorland. I have bred it from larvae found in the Southampton district and from Cranborne and Parley in Dorset.—S. C. Brown, Bournemouth. CoLEOPHORA CONYZAE, ZELL., IN DEvon.—While on a holiday at Tor- quay in early May, I found a few larvae of C. conyzae feeding on Inula 106 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1TX/1940 conyza, DC. This appears to be a new record for the county, as Meyrick (Revised Handbook British Lepidoptera, 1927, p. 761) cnly gives Kent to Dorset and Oxford for its distribution —S. C. Brown, Bournemouth. A ConiectiIng Note on Diprera.—In connection with my note in the July-August number of this magazine, I have had the following in-. teresting confirmation from niy friend Mr Audcent, who wrote to me as follows :— : ‘My experience confirms what you say, though I cannot give pre- cise details except in one case. In 1919 we spent part of a summer holiday at Tickenham, close to Clevedon, The place was swarming with Asilus crabroniformis; I have seen as many as six at a time on a patch of cow-dung. My sons, lads of 7-9 years of age, caught them by hand and our host, a market gardener, brought them to me in nuin- bers. Since then I have re-visited the spot and have seen either none or just an odd one. Last August I called on the market gardener, and he said ‘‘ Do you remember them big waspies? I dunno as I have seen one since.’’ Another case which comes to mind is Eulalia (Odontomyia) tigrina, which were so plentiful on Shapwick Moor in June 1921 that I ceased catching them. Since then J have re-visited the spot several times in June, and have come across odd specimens only.’’—H. W. ANDREWS, CURRENT NOTES. Mr B. J. Lempke (Amsterdam) has sent part IV (recently published) of his ‘f Cat. of Netherland Macrolepidoptera.’’ This comprises the Noctuidae and all the species have a few notes and references attached to each of the forms which have been recognised in Holland so far. These aberrations are shortly diagnosed. There are also a considerable number of newly-recognised forms and in some species the nomenclature is criticised strongly; some names in general use are rejected and new ones inserted. This pamphlet of 68 pp. is very well produced and thoughtfully worked out and should prove of great value for future workers. The Society for Brit. Entomology continues to issue its Transactions very regularly, and demonstrates the great amount of investigation which the younger students of Biology are giving to the ‘‘ other Orders,’ as they used to be called by those wedded to the more popular Orders, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera. Part 5 consists of Notes on ‘‘ Insects as- sociated with cultivated forms of Rubus,’ by G. H. L. Dicker. Part 6, by J. L. Willams (Pennsylvania), ‘‘ The Occurrence of Spermatophores and their measurement in some British Lepidoptera.’’? About 30 species are dealt with, well distributed over the Order, from P. rapae to Bork- hausenia pseudospretella, and with numerous diagrams. Part 7. The Rev. E. J. Pearce and G. A. Walton have a paper, ‘‘ A Contribution towards an Ecological Survey of the Aquatic and Semi-aquatic Hemip- tera-Heteroptera (water-bugs) of the British Isles.’’ The Journal, Vol. II, 1, of this Society contains a large number of small contributions covering most Orders, with four plates and a num- ber of text figures. ae OBITUARY. 107 We cull the following extract from a letter recently received :—‘‘ Is the Swallowtail butterfly about to emulate the Comma and extend its range? A pupa found near Tilford was bred out here two days ago, and I have this morning (5th August) been informed by a correspondent that two were seen yesterday on the South Downs ‘ settling upon a round barrow just above the Long Man of Wilmington.’ ’’—E. W. Swanton, Haslemere Educational Museum, Surrey. The first Paper in the Report of the International Congress of Ento- mology at Madrid deals with the evolution of wing-pattern in the Palae- arctic Satyridac. The author, B. N. Schwanwitsch, of Leningrad University, endeavours to establish two principles:—(1) Dimorphic radiation, by which any single pattern diverges in different directions in different species; (2) Parallelism, by which the occurrence of a given modification in different morphological environments is meant. The combination of these two principles, it is suggested, is responsible for the existing diversity of wing patterns. Diagrams illustrate these two principles. In the former case the position and variation in the first media (transverse line) and the latter the oblique position of the media and also by the basipetal dislocation of the 5th eye spot, in the various species, In the same Report L. Berland, of Paris, refers to the little work which has been done in ascertaining the fauna and flora of the atmos- phere by airplane and anticipates a surprising record if suitable methods of research are adopted and more continuous investigation carried on. OBITUARY. Siz THomas Hupson Beare, B.A., B.Sc., LL.D., M.Inst.C.E., F.R.S.E., DT, FEELS... ete. On 10th June last Sir Thomas Beare died at his residence in Edin- burgh, at the age of 81. He was born at Adelaide, South Australia, on 30th June 1859, being a younger son of the late Mr Thomas Hudson Beare, of Netley, Adelaide, Australia. Educated at Prince Alfred Col- lege, and the University of Adelaide, he was awarded the Fife (Australia) Scholarship in 1880, and came to University College, London. Jn 1885 he married a daughter of the late Mr Alexander Newman, who survives him, and to whom we tender our deepest sympathy. In 1887, when only 29, he became Professor of Engineering in Heriot Watt College, Edin- burgh. Two years later he obtained the oldest engineering chair in Britain—that of Mechanical Engineering in University College, London. Jn 1901 he was awarded the Regius Professorship of Engineering in the University of Edinburgh, and in 1914 he became Dean of the Faculty of Science. He was knighted in 1926, and in 1936 he was given the honorary degree of LL.D. To mention only a few of Beare’s numerous activities—many years ago he was a Captain in the Forth Volunteer Division of the Royal Engineers, and in 1914 he did a great deal to encourage recruiting: for many years he was Chairman of the North Edinburgh Unionist As- sociation ; an original member of the Miners’ Welfare Committee; and 108 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1X/1940 a member of the Sanitary Protection Association. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London in 1896, of which he was a Vice-President in 1910, 1932, and 1934, and was three times elected on the Council; he was also a Vice-President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I first met Hudson Beare nearly 50 years ago when he was living at Richmond; and we spent very many happy days together in the past collecting beetles all over England and Scotland. He was an authority on the British Coleoptera and also studied a group of the Scarabaeidae. He wrote many notes and papers on Coleoptera to the various Entomo- logical publications, and was the author of the latest Catalogue of British beetles—‘‘ A Catalogue of the recorded Coleoptera of the British Isles,” London, 1930. The one before that, ‘‘ Catalogue of British Coleoptera,”’ London, 1904, he wrote in collaboration with the writer. He amassed a fine collection of British Coleoptera in which, like the writer, he only kept his own captures. He was instrumental in adding the following species of Coleoptera to the British List :— Thanasimus rufipes, Brahm, which he was the first to capture in Britain in some number at Nethy Bridge [Ent. Mo. Mag., 48, 255 (1912) ]. Aulonium trisulcum, Geoff., first taken by C. J. C. Pool at Enfield [Ent. Record, 16, 310 (1904)]. Amischa scotica, Elliman [ Ent. Record, 21, 33 (1909)], and Olophrum assimile, Pk. [Ent. Record, 20, 255 (1908)], taken in com- pany with the writer (the last named species in some numbers) in flood-refuse on the banks of the Spey near Nethy Bridge in 1908. Aulonium ruficorne, Ol., and Hypophloeus fraxini, Kug., also in com- pany with the writer in Dean Forest in 1922 [Knt. Mo. Mag., 58, 193 (1922)]. Anaspis hudsoni, Donis., was named after him by me on a beetle taken hy me when staying with him at Nethy Bridge in 1908 [Ent. Record, 21, 60 (1909)]. Further specimens were subsequently taken by himself. It were difficult to find many people who have spent a more useful, energetic, or fuller life. Farewell! Horace DonIstTHORPE. CoRRECTIONS.—Page 18, line 138, for ‘‘ stagnota’’ read ‘ stygnota.’’ Page 80, line 8, for ‘‘ Papilis”’ read ‘‘ Papilio.’’ Page,85) \line 10,\for {fag ’oreadetow.” We hope by the close of the present year to have finished dealing with the last 6 species in Tutt’s Vol. II of British Noctuae and in the new year to add the original descriptions of the new forms which have been announced since the revision has been in progress. It would be very helpful if our readers who know of any aberrations not dealt with in our notes would forward the references and (or) the descriptions for our use. The 6 species to complete are .Orthosia lota, O. macilenta, Anchocelis helvola (rufina), A. pistacina, A. Tunosa, and A, litura. There will be a diagrammatic plate to illustrate the article on Jodis lactearia. » Zoology Bie OCT 8 1940 LiBR @a Culot, NV. et G., I (2), 63, plt. 49, f. 37 (1914), gave an excellent figure of an almost unicolorous red form. Prior authority Fb. Draudt-Stz., Pal. Noct. Supp., III, 115 (1934), used the genus name Monima and gave the aberration rufa, Dnhl. ‘ 13 @A0 bce? OAL ! THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. Of the Variation Barrett says :— ‘‘ Usually but little variable though occasional specimens are paler or have the reddish tint over the buff partially replaced by a greyish shading ; but in the West and particularly in Herefordshire, the opposite tendency is displayed, so that specimens are not only of a deeper red but have the colouring of the central band coarser and deeper, and the upper stigmata darker and more conspicuous, especially where, in some specimens, the squared spot between them is of a pale orange colour; in these there is a waved, slender, smoky-black line across the hind- wings.”’ He reports a specimen ‘‘ Having the thorax and forewings entirely of a pale ochreous yellow.”’ Another ‘‘ Having them of a smooth, brownish-slate colour tinged in the middle of the wings with orange.’’ Another ‘‘ Wholly of a rich, deep brick-red, except that the lines and stigmata are faintly outlined with orange.”’ A New Forest specimen ‘‘ Is darker, and the orange lines are broad and distinct.’’ Another ‘‘ Has the central band of the forewings broadly and strongly dusted with smoky-black, the first and second lines more distinctly tinged with the same, and a small degree of similar dusting over the remainder of the forewings.’’ The Names and Forms to be discussed are :— mintosa, Schiff. (1775), Verz., 88. miniosa, Fb. (1787), Mant., IT, 145. ab. rubricosa, Esp. (1782-?), Abbild., ITI, 381, plt. 75, 3-4. ab. virgata, Tutt (1892), Brit. Noct., TI, 155. ab. pallida, Tutt (1892), l.c., 156. ab. rufa, Dnhl. (1925-6), Ent. Zts., XXXIX, 180. Tutt dealt with (1) miniosa, pale reddish, unicolorous; (2) rubricosa, Esp., pale reddish, with dark red central band; (3) virgata, dull greenish-grey, with red central band: (4) pallida, pale ochreous-grey, uni- colorous. ab. rufa, Dnhl., Ent. Zts., XX XIX, 180 (1926). Orte. Drscrip.—‘‘ Uniformly dark red-yellow, not only the central area. (sea TOL; Dyschorista, Led. (1857), Barr., Stdgr., Splr., Sth., Culot. [Orthosia, O & Tr. (816-25), Wrr., Gn., Meyr., Meyr.:/Caradrina,. Ochs. &-~ Tr. (1816-25): Amathes, Hb. (1821), Hamp., Warr.] suspecta, Hb. (1814-7). Tr., Schm., V (2), 271 (1825), described a species under the name _iners, but certainly not a suspecta as most authors agree. It was placed (242) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1X/1940 in the genus Caradrina, with blanda, alsines, ambigua, etc., and it is not the iners, Dup. Gn., Hist. Nat., V, 360 (1852), discussed the figures, names and de- scriptions, congener, Hb., 617 and 862, iners, Tr. & Dup., and suspecta, Hb., 633, which last figure he called the type, and congener, Hb., 862 (non 617) as a form (A), and which =iners, Dup. (nec Tr.). He said that congener differed from the type, being testaceous and more uni- form, scarcely tinged with reddish; and the markings less clear except the stigmata, which are well marked. Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 487, treated the iners, Germ., Fn. Ins. Eur., XVI, 24 (1837 corrected), as prior to suspecta, Hb. (1827), with congener, H.-G., and laevis, Dup., as synonyms, and suspecta he placed as an ab. of iners, Germ. He placed it in the genus Amathes, Hb. Hamp. gave the wrong date for iners, Germ., viz. 1817. Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 153, plt. 37k and 38f (1910), treated this species as iners, Germ. (=congener, H.-G.). In this he followed Hamp- son and also in his treatment of suspecta, Hb., as an aberration of mers. [Hampson took the wrong date for Germ., XVI. It should be 1837 and not 1817. Hb. 633 suspecta is 1814-17, hence much prior. Hence the imers, Dup. (1836), should not be iners, Germ. (1837).] (Teste Index Litterae of Horn, etc.) Tutt, Brit. Noct., II, 156 (1892): Meyr., Hand., 64 (1895): Barr., Lep. Br. Is., V, 304, plt. 222, 2 (1899): Stdgr., Cat., [1Ied., 204 (1901): Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 245, plt. 45, 29 (1906): Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 487 (1906): South, M.B.1., IT, 7, plt. 7, 2-3 (1908): Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 153, plt. 37k, 38f (1910): Culot, N. et G., I (2), 74, plt. 52, f. 12 and 13 (1914): Meyr., Rev. Hand., 124 (1928). Dup., Hist. Nat., VI, 65, plt. 76, 5 (1826), described an insect under the name laevis, which is a suspecta. form. Tutt said in his short diag- nosis that this figure had its central area grey. This is not so. The figure in my copy is a more uniform blackish-red with marking tending to suppression in the ground colour, but Tutt is correct to the text of Dups, (p. 65. In l.c. Supp., IIT, 293, plt. 27, 2a-2b (1836), Dup. described another insect as ners. Each figure depicts a form of swspecta. Neither figure is ‘‘ pale ochreous, almost unicolorous,’’ as Tutt said. Fig. 2a agrees better with the text of Dup., but the forewing is divided into two areas, costal and inner marginal areas, the latter quite pale grey ochreous, the former dark clouded. In l.c., f. 2b, there are slight light bands on the inner margin with ground more or less otherwise unicolorous red, marking not emphasized, cf. laevis. Hb.-G., Samml. Noct., 862 (1836-8). This was called congener but is a suspecta form, very clearly marked on a mixed grey and red ground, the red being irregular transverse band-like on a grey ground: h.w. very blackish-grey. Hb., l.c. (618 error), 617 (1814-7), congener is usually recognized as a festiva form. It is certainly not suspecta. Hb., l.c., 633 (1814-7), suspecta, practically unicolorous dull brown with marking almost suppressed: h.w. slightly lighter at base. ‘ THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (243) Frr., Neu. Beitr., III, 26, plt. 209, figs. 2-3 (1839), gave 2 figs. cer- tainly wrong in shape of wings, one a grey form the other with partial red colouring. H.-S., Sys. Bearb., II, 267 (1847), said that Hb., fig. 862, was very good for congener but the wing was a little short; he said that Frr., New. Beitr., fig. 209, 2-3, congener was incorrect in shape, but not un- recognizable. H.-S. put a query before swspecta in his list doubting the identity of the two forms. The badiago, Tr., is given by H.-S. as a congener. Stder., Cat., I[led., 204 (1901), noted that the congener, Frr., was not the congener, H.-G., 862, which was a paler grey suspecta. Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 245, plt. 45, fig. 29 (1906), has an irregularly banded figure comparable to that of Hb.-G. 862. South, M.B.J., II, 7, plt. 4, figs. 2-3 (1908), gave two good figures, fig. 2 has blackish-red coloration in the costal half of the forewing. Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., l.c., took his aberrations from Tutt, viz., pallida, grisea, nigrescens, rufa and variegata. Culot, N. et G., I (2), 74, plt. 52, 12-13 (1914), gave 2 very good figures, 12 a red-banded form and 13 a more uniform grey figure ‘‘ some- what violet ’’ and considered iners, Germ., as a form, pale ochraceous with markings only just traceable. Of the Variation Barrett says :— ‘‘ Variation is considerable, the ground colour of the forewings rang- ing to rich, dark purple-brown and blackish-purple, and, on the other hand, to a mixture of purple-brown with tawny-red, or chestnut, or reddish drab; while the forms having the costal half of the wings of the darker colour are shaded over the dorsal and hinder portion with these paler tints. The most extreme variation in both directions seems to occur in Scotland, some examples from that country being of a brilliant light chestnut-red, or of a mixture of black and glowing red, or orange- red, or even silvery-grey. In S. Yorkshire, forms almost or quite as richly coloured are found, and some even pale vellowish-brown marbled with bright light red.”’ He records specimens, ‘‘ Of a pale rosy-grey mottled with dark rosy- grey.’’ Another ‘‘ Head, thorax, abdomen and forewings sooty-black, with only the edges of the stigmata paler.’’ Another ‘‘ Has the basal half of the forewings buff with dark mark- ings and the stigmata and hind margin equally pale.’’ _ Another “‘ Of a brilliant glowing dark red, with black marbling and pale hind margin.”’ The Names and Forms to be considered : — suspecta, Hb. (1814-7), Saml. Noct., 633. mers, Ochs. & Tr. (1816-25), Schm., V (2), 271. ab. laevis, Dup. (1826), Hist. Nat., VI, 65, plt. 76, 5. imers, Dup. (1836), Hist. Nat. Supp., III, 293, plt. 27, f. 2a. imers, Germ. (1837), Fn. Ins. Eur., XVI, 24. congener, Hb.-G. (1836-8), Saml. Noct., 862. congener, Frr. (1839), nec Hb., New. Beitr., IIT, 26, plt. 209, f. 2-3. ab. pallida, Tutt (1892), Brit. Noct., 157. (244) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/1X/ 1940 ab. variegatia, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. nigrescens, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. nigrescens-variegata, Tutt (1892), lc. ab. rufa, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. grisea, Tutt (1892), U.c., ef. Dup., Hist. Nat. Supp., Ill, plt. 27, f. 2b. [Tutt had Vol. 1V, f. 26, in error. | Tutt dealt with the forms:—(1) Pale reddish-grey, almost unicolor- ous, pallida. (2) Pale reddish, outer area and inner margin ochreous, congener, Hb.-G. (3) Bright red, almost unicolorous, rufa. (4) Bright red, with central area grey, laevis, Dup. (5) Bright red, outer area bright ochreous, variegata. (6) Dark blackish-red, almost uniéolorous, nigrescens. (7) Blackish-red, with the outer area pale, nigrescens-varie- gata. (8) Pale ochreous, almost unicolorous, iners, Dup. (9) Dull brownish, almost unicolorous, suspecta, Hb. (10) Dark grey, almost unicolorous, grisea. Tutt remarked, l.c., 157, ‘‘an attempt to classify the principal varieties.’ Kveryone who has dealt with it has found the species very difficult to deal with. Dyschorista, Led. (1857), Barr., Stdgr., Splr., South, Culoi. [IIadena, Shrnk. (1802), Dup.: Polia, Och. & Tr. (1816-25), H.-S.: Orthosia, O. & Tr. (1816-25), Tr., Frr., Gn., Meyr., and others: Sidemia, Stdgr. (1892), Hamp., Warr.-Stz.] fissipuncta, Haw. (1809): ypsilon, Schiff. (1775): cortices, Esp. (1788-?). Hufn., Berlin Mag., III (1766), described a species of Noctuid under the name zpsilon, which Rott. (1776) and all subsequent authors wrote as ypsilon. Schiff., Verz. in section N. (1775), referred to a species un- der the name suffusa, which Borkhausen fully described, Naturg.: (1792). This was the Agrotid, which has been dealt with under the name ipsilon, Hufn. (ante IT, p. 11). But Schiff., l.c., section M. (1775), dealt with a Noctuid, whose larvae were attached to the ‘‘ white poplar W? (and other poplars and willows) under the name ypsilon (nec Rott.). Ilhger, in the New Ausg. of the Verz. (1801), called attention to the statement made by Schrank in Fiies, N. Mag., II, 212, in which'he said that ypsilon in the Schiff. collection was the female of dissimilis, Knoch. Beitr., I, plt. 4, f. 4 (=suasa, Bork., 1V, 457). Tlliger goes on to say that a certain amount of trust must be placed on this statement as Schrank himself saw the Schiff. collection. Esper, Abbild., IV, 463, plt. 145, figs. 2-3, gave two figures which he labelled corticea. These have been doubtfully considered to be the ypsilon, Schiff., by some authors, particularly by Werneberg, Beitr. The figures, in my opinion, are not to be recognised as a form of what we now call fisstpuncta. It is said that fig. 2 shows the curious bifur- cation of the claviform extension and that fig. 3 is a variegata form with scattered lighter spots and marks. In view of the opinion of Schrank and the remarks of Illiger, it seems better to ignore corticea or, as others (e.g., Tutt, Warren-Stz.) have done, to give it only a limited recognition. s Ali MS. and EDITORIAL MATTER should be sent and all PROOFS returned to Hy. J. TURNER, ‘“‘ Latemar,” 25 West Drive, Cheam. We must earnestly request our correspondents NOT TO SEND US COMMUNICA- TIONS IDENTICAL with those they are sending to other magazines. REPRINTS of articles may be obtained by authors at very reasonable cost if - ordered at THE TIME OF SENDING IN MS. Articles that require ILLUSTRATIONS are inserted on condition that the AUTHOR DEFRAYS THE COST of the illustrations. TO OUR READERS.—Short Collecting Notes and Current Notes. Please, Early.—EDs. EXCHANGES. Subscribers may have Lists of Duplicates and Desiderata inserted free of charge. They should be sent to Mr Hy. J. TURNER, ‘‘ Latemar,’’ West Drive, Cheam. Urgently Wanted for Experimental Purposes.—Pupae of hirtaria and lapponaria. I can offer duplicates of very many species in return.—Harold B. Williams, Croft Point, Bramley, Surrey. Desiderata—British dominula varieties with full data other than var. lutescens and var. lineata. Other vars. acceptable. Duplicates—British L. l-album, exigua, cribrum, ocellaris, and intermedia, etc.—Dr H. B. D. Kettlewell, Cranleigh, Surrey. Wanted—American Hesperiidae, especially from Costa Rica, West Indies, the Guyanas, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia. Write K. J. Hayward, Estacién Experimental, Casilla Correo 74, Tucuman, Republica Argentina. Duplicates——Several thousand British Macro-Lepidoptera in perfect condition; full data. Desiderata—British Micro-Lepidoptera in similar condition.— S. C. S. Brown, Kingsholme, 454 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth. New Address—Kenneth J. Hayward, F.R.E.S., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., Estacion Experi- mental Agricola, Casilla Correo 71, Tucuman, Republica Argentina. 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Wightman, W. P. Curtis, H. Willoughby-Ellis, E. Ernest Green, H. Donisthorpe, S. C. Brown, P. B. M. Allan, H. W. Andrews, Dr E. A. Cockayne, Zool. Socy. Appeal, the late Rev. C. N. Burrows. All communications should be addressed to the Acting Editor, Hy. J. TURNER, ‘‘ Latemar,’’ 25 West Drive, Cheam. BACK VOLUMES OF The Entomologist’s Record and Journal of Variation (Vols. I-XXXVI.) CONTENTS OF VOL. I. (Most important only mentioned.) GENUS Acronycta and its allies—Variation of Smerinthus tiliae, 3 coloured plates—Differentiation of Melitaea athalia, parthenie, and aurelia—The Double- day collection—Parthenogenesis—Paper on Taeniocampidae—Phylloxera—Prac- tical Hints (many)—Parallel Variation in Coleoptera—Origin of Argynnis paphia var. valesina—Work for the Winter-—-Temperature and Variation—Synonymic notes—Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1890—Life-histories of Agrotis pyrophila, Epunda lichenea, Heliophobus hispidus—Captures at light—Aberdeenshire notes, etc., etc., 360 pp. CONTENTS OF VOL. Ii. MELANISM AND MELANOCHROISM—Bibliography—Notes on Collecting—Articles on VARIATION (mMany)—How to breed Agrotis lunigera, Sesia sphegiformis, Taenio- campa opima—Collecting on the Norfolk Broads—Wing development—Hypbridis- ing Amphidasys prodromaria and A. betularia—Melanism and Temperature— Differentiation of Dianthoecias—Disuse of wings—Fauna of Dulwich, Sidmouth, S. 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FRES., FLS., 1 AV GR yb PL SON AE BS LOVES OPES Soa SUP MOR: JE OK RGR CS OR ETRE ae BL 109 : jopIs LACTEARIA, PO UPTO RL BS oie Oe Ba 109 “pulaalae A., F.Z.S., F.R.E.S.; lodis lactearia; Methods of Collecting 112 Pe ROHR RNA a ae 443)? ; SUPPLEMENT : British Noctuae and their Varieties, Hy. z: Turner, F.R.E.S., Subscription for Complete Volume, post free, TEN SHILLINGS, ve The Hon. Treasurer, H. W. ANDREWS, F.R.E.S., _ 6 Footscray Road, Eltham, S$.E.9. , number, Price ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE (net). WATKINS & DONCASTER q (ESTABLISHED 1879) CAN SUPPLY EVERYTHING NEEDED BY THE COLLECTOR, At Keenest Prices. Large Stocks always maintained for quick service. Full Catalogue post free, per return. Agents for Dr Seitz ‘‘ Macco-Lepidoptera of the World.” 36 STRAND, LONDON, W.C.2., ENGLAND. P.O. Box No. 126. TELEPHONE—TEMPLE BAR 94651. J. J. HILL & SON, ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET MANUFACTURERS, YEWFIELD ROAD, N.W.1o, ‘Phone: WILLESDEN 0309. SEVERAL CHEAP STORAGE INSECT CABINETS FOR DISPOSAL. 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The following new generic names are required to replace homgniymms a Ri and are now given :— Pelochareila (Oecophoridae) for Pelochares, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., iv, 367 (1933), type dryophthalma, Meyrick, nec Pelochares, Mulsant and Rey, Hist. Nat. Col. Fr., Piluliformes, p. 161 (1869), Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, xvii, 361 (1869) (Coleoptera). Petalostomelia (Oecophoridae) for Petalostoma, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., iv, 123 (1931), type lygrodes, Meyrick, nec Petalostoma, v. Lidth de Jeude, Rec. fig. Vers. intest., Preface, p. 2 (1829) (Verm. Cest.), nec Petalostoma, Keferstein, Zts. wiss. Zool., xv, 438 (1865) (Verm. Geph.). Philagraulella (Tineidae) for Philagraula, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., i, 554 (1930), type punica, Meyrick, nec Philagraula, Hulst, Tr. Amer. Ent. Soc., xxiii, 310 (1896) (Lep. Uraniadae). Pompostoleila (Tineidae) for Pompostola, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., 11, 325- 326 (1927), type charipepla, Meyrick, nec Pompostola, Hiibner, Verz. bek. Schmett., p. 120 (1819) (Lepidoptera). Sphenaspella (Oecophoridae) for Sphenaspis, Meyrick, Iris, xlvii, 38 (1934), type droseractis, Meyrick 1934, nec Sphenaspis (pro Sternaspis, Otto 1820), Verrill, Proc. Amer. Assoc., xxii (1873), No. 2, p. 367 (1874) (Verm. Polych.), nec Sphenaspis, Jakovlev, Trudui Russ. Ent., x, pp. 68, 72 (1877) (Hemiptera). Syncrotaulella (Yponomeutidae) for Syncrotaula, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., v, 142 (1937), type strepsicentra, Meyrick, 1937, nec Syncrotaula, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., iv, 378 (1933) (Crambidae). Taeniostolella (Glyphipterygidae) for Taeniostola, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., li, 326-327 (1920), type celophora, Meyrick, nec Taeniostola, Bezzi, Mem. Ind. Mus., ii1, 119 (1913) (Diptera). Xylodryadella (Cryptophasidae) for Xylodryas, Meyrick, Exot. Micr., 11, 151 (1925), type cryeranthes, Meyrick, nec Xylodryas, Turner, Tr. R. Soc. S. Austral., xlvi, 285 (1922) (Geometridae). Corrigendum.—Page 18, line 13, for ‘‘ stagnota”’ read stygnota. IODIS LACTEARIA, L., By (the late) Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, F.R.E.S. Concluded from page 103. (Plate VIT.) The perfect insect is taken quite commonly at light, but I can find no record of its attraction by sugar, although I cannot convince myself that I have not taken it thus. Birchall records its capture at dog-wood flowers (Entom., 1883, p. 186). But the net is the usual instrument of capture—as it flies freely at dusk, and is easily beaten out in daytime. 110 ENTOMOLCGIST’S RECORD. 15/X/1940 It is however but rarely that captured specimens are worth boxing. As to the variation to which the species is subject, I know little. The Linnean type is described thus: ‘‘ Linn. (1758, Sys. Nat., 519) Phalaena Geometra pectinicornis, alis angulatis albis immaculatis, antennis apice setaceis. Habitat in Europa. Staudinger gives but one ab. norbertaria, Réssl, and describes it as ‘‘densius squamata, viridior.’’ It came from Bilbao. I can learn nothing more about it. The description would probably apply to a bred specimen. The lined form becomes a good aberration : 1. lactearia, L. = without markings. 2. ab. linea n.ab. = with 2 distinct pale transverse lines on both fore and hindwings. But I really know so little about the species—having met with it so seldom of late years—and question so*much whether, if bred on a large scale, more definite forms of variation might be discovered, that it is impossible for me to presume to say more about the matter. It is to be noticed that this little Emerald shows both the transverse lines upon the under wings. My diagram will explain itself. My specimens are this time suffering a little from one of the mistakes into which the most careful will some- times fall. The pickle in which they were preserved had too much ammonia and this has distended, and somewhat disorganised the struc- ture. This indiscretion on my part is not altogether to be regretted, as this distension has served the purpose of bringing out details. The egg is large as usual—coarsely reticulated, but, I think, much flatter than those which I have previously had before me. Our observation, when examining the young larva of Nemoria viridata is borne out in that of Iodis lactearia. When first hatched (Figure I) there is again the complete absence of the special organs, which in Phorodesma smarag- daria and Comibaena pustulata led me first to study this group of in- sects. The lateral flange is present but much less developed than in the species we have previously examined. The hairs or processes are much more uniform in shape and size and belong mostly to the balloon type, though here and there appear departures from the general form, which the material at my disposal is insufficient. to investigate thoroughly. In the specimen which I have depicted, the first abdominal segment bears upon its lower edge posteriorly—a divided process, and the sixth, in the same position, one which appears to be more solid and darker than the rest. These hairs are enlarged on my plate (f. 1). The tactile hairs upon the second thoracic and eighth abdominal segments are highly developed, while the strong hairs or spikes which we observed in Hemithea aestivaria project from the forward edge of the first thoracic segment, in the direction of the eyes, and are not visible to me here. Otherwise there seem to be no points about this larva which call for attention. The evident unfitness of the rounder processes to hold silken threads or clothing is borne out by the habits of the larvae, which do not spin threads about their bodies, nor do such attach itself to them. Precisely the same observations hold good as to the larva in its second instar (Fig. II). Everything is as regular and orderly as could be. I have for the sake of uniformity drawn three of the most IODIS LACTEARIA. aN ig | marked hairs from this stage (f. 2), which may be accepted as samples of the whole. There is but the slightest trace in the thickening of the lower hair on 6th abdominal. The larva has throughout appeared some- what granular in surface structure, but not until the third instar (Fig. IIT) has there been any marked development. Now, however, we perceive a resemblance to the same stage in Nemoria viridata, with a difference. There we saw ridges of plates or leaflets of clear skin or chitin, here we have to do merely with small points or roughnesses, varied here and there with tables or flattened surfaces. The side view (h) strikingly recalls a South African landscape with its ‘‘Table Mountains’’ on the horizon. The frontal projection on the first thoracic segment is very marked and strikingly bifid, and the division of the head extreme. There again the hairs are strikingly uniform in shape. That upon the sixth abdominal, which I noticed previously is still abnormal, being now a beautifully developed y, darker and stronger than its neighbours. Reversing the slide I find that the corresponding hair has the same shape, so that I must not regard it as a mere deformity. I have drawn three hairs—one being the last mentioned, from this instar also (f. 3). On the whole I fear that I have come to the conclusion that this is a most uninteresting larva. Perhaps I am tired of the group, perhaps as my larvae become less specialized I lose interest. Yet I shall always be grateful to lactearia for putting me on a new “ track.’’ It will be noticed that in each of my figures of the whole larva—in each stage I have shown, above the anal claspers, an organ which I think deserves attention. Its presence naturally excited a good deal of interest and prompted more careful investigation. This organ is most delicate, jointed, pointed, perhaps with one or two hairs upon the apex. It is situated centrally beneath the anal passage. .Measure- ments are not possible without special preparation—perhaps dissection of the larva, but comparison with the scale attached will give an idea of the size. I have (8) drawn these objects on a larger scale from each of the three instars. I have no knowledge whether attention has been drawn to this organ previously. That it is present in all Lepidopterous larvae I cannot assert, but that it is general in some groups is certain. I have carefully examined my whole stock of mounts of young larvae, 54 species, often several mounts of each, with this result :— Butterflies, 2 species, no organ detected. Bombyces, 6 species, no organ detected. Noctuae, 8 species, no organ detected. Geometrae, 38 species, organ detected in 13 species. Of these 13 Geometrae possessing the process or organ, 6 belong to the group which I am studying, namely, Nemoria viridata, Hemithea aestivaria, Geometra papilionaria, Iodis lactearia, Pseudoterpna pruinata and Hemistola chrysoprasaria. That is to say, in 6 of our Hemitheinae out of eight. I have not detected it so far in Huchloris smaragdaria or Comibaena pustulata. The other species in which I have found it are Rumia luteclata (crataegata), Angerona prunaria, Biston (Amphidasis) strataria, Hrannis marginaria (Hybernia progemmaria), Oporinia dilu- tata, Phigalia pedaria (pilosaria), and Biston (Amphidasis) betularia. Fi ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 /X/1940 I should take more interest in these observations did I know that I was treading upon new ground. We know that considerable pains have been given to the study of larval structure, and even to the detection of rudimentary imaginal organs therein. I can scarcely imagine that these have escaped notice. J have read over carefully Tutt’s remarks upon the sexual organs in Lepidopterous larvae (Brit. Lepidoptera, Vol. I, p. 59), the Jatest authority to which I have access, if any later exist. I find that the rudimentary organs are detected in certain species, and read ‘‘ but up to the present time there appears to have been no external openings, in connection with the sexual organs, dis- covered in any Lepidopterous larvae.’’ The species examined were the larger Bombyces and Pieris brassicae, not a single Geometer. The conclusions to which I have myself come with regard to these organs are :— 1. That absence from my mounts does not of necessity prove absence from a species, inasmuch as the organ may be withdrawn, or concealed in a particular specimen. 2. That though the organ is sometimes absent from one mount of a species and present in another, it is not safe, for reason 1, to conclude that this is a sexual organ. (In my mounts of Nemoria viridata it is not to be detected in all of 1st instar.) 3. That although only detected in the Geometrae, there is no reason to infer its absence from the rest of the Lepidoptera. 4. That while one is forbidden to think the organ sexual, there exists no reason why it should not prove urinary. As I am now happily drawing near to the end of my assigned task there can be no harm in “ showing my hand.’’ Therefore for my own satis- faction (being, like the novel-reading lady, too impatient to wait for the end) I have drawn carefully to one scale the first abdominal segments of each of our 8 ‘‘ Emerald ’’ moths in the lst instar. The result to me is startling. I had no idea, until I started the work, what my measurements really meant. I can understand now the reason of my difficulty when I took in hand Hemithea aestivaria after the larger larvae. JI was so startled with these drawings that I imagined at first that I had been led astray by shifting of the instruments, and was not content until I had again measured the first drawing and convinced myself that no error had thus arisen. . I must finally note that I have had this time to depend largely upon free-hand drawing, an art in which I am not an expert. This may atone for the errors as well as account for the greater tidiness of the drawings. COLLECTING NOTES. KupHypRYAs AauRINIA, New to SNowponza.--On 28th September last my wife, Mr A. J. Merchant, Mr S. H. Brocklersby, and myself were collecting on one of the more Southern mountains of the Snowdon range. At an elevation of 750 feet my wife found a nest of E. aurinia larvae. Further search by the four of us produced about a dozen nests confined to an area of not more than half an acre. As the only other CURRENT NOTES. 113 North Welsh locality is over fifty miles away, on low-lying ground, we hope this discovery may yield a new local form of this Butterfly. Is it possibly the highest recorded altitude for awrinia?—J. ANTtoNy THOmMP- son, M.A., F.Z.S., F.R.E.S., Roe Wen, October 1. For those who are so situated as to be able to communicate or obtain more recent biological facts of Jodis lactearia than those in the belated account given in the Burrows paper we are publishing, we give the fol- lowing list of references, localities, etc., from the copious notes com- piled by the author. Burrows and Raynor took this species at Brent- wood from the beginning of May to mid July. Burrows reported ova laid 7th July which hatched 14th July. He also took it at Wanstead, Bentley, Rainham and Mucking on various dates in June and his last date for Mucking was &th July. Among localities within reach of the Metropolis are Epping Forest, Chingford, Loughton, Bushy Heath, Horsley, Dorking, Oxshott, Reigate, Bexley, Ashdown Forest, Guild- ford, Wimbledon, Darenth, and, further afield, New Forest, S. Devon, I. of Wight, Abbots Wood, Winchester, etc. In 1901 Dollman recorded it at the end of May and again on 13th September. This is suggestive of a second brood, as is Nicholson’s observation. October is the time when the lepidopterist perforce has to limit his activities mainly to the three major methods of collecting—Sugar, Ivy, and Pupa-digging. In present circumstances the two former are pre- cluded and the last is so hmited by chance and ill fortune that many will not risk the discouragement of oft repeated failure for one long-de- layed lucky dig. Not only does chance determine results, but mice, ete., are often active competitors in the search and usually early on the job. Abundance of many species of Hupitthecia can be obtained now by beating the flowering stalks of ragwort, yarrow, golden-rod, Angelica, etc., into an umbrella. Where plenty of garden aster, michaelmas daisy, is grown, one can be sure to get larvae in plenty. For the micro- lepidopterist, this is the time to collect seed heads of many plants—wild carrot, rush, yarrow, Suaeda maritima, Umbellifer heads, Hypericum stems, sea aster, Artemisia, Luzula, golden red, Centaurea, etc. Mined leaves of many trees and shrubs should be obtained now. The mines of the beautiful Lithocolletids can be obtained in quantities in leaves of cak, elder, birch, poplar, sallow, etc., and are easy to breed if put into « large flower pot covered with leno and placed outdoors with very little shelter, exposed to all weathers. The Nepticula mines can be collected in a similar way, but require a certain amount of shelter from the direct influence of the weather. Birch, oak, beech, nut, hawthorn, rose, Pyrus, Rubus, elm, agrimony, poplar, etc., will give plenty of mines, but as pupation does not take place in the mines the leaves must be obtained early, just before they fall. CURRENT NOTES, The Hon. Treasurer thanks those subscribers who have paid as a result of hig recent circular, but would urge those whose subscriptions -are still outstanding to help him in the increasingly difficult matter of 114 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/X /1940 financing the magazine by forwarding their subscriptions as soon as possible. Circulars were sent to- all outstanding subscribers at their last known address. In the Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., xiv, 117 (1887), the late Dr Holland, in a note on Pyrameis cardui, wrote:—‘‘ The primal decree on, account of sin was that the earth should bear ‘ thorns and thistles,’ and so wherever there is earth there are thistles, and wherever there are thistles there is the thistle butterfly.”’ yo It is a pleasure to record the wonderful care of our postal officials in dealing with communications of various kinds. The other day I re- ceived a small consignment of papered moths captured at light by my friend Mr Sneyd Taylor, of Graef Reinet, S. Africa. They were packed in a thin cardboard box suitable for handkerchiefs, gloves, etc., and measuring 7 in. by 9 in., with a layer of wool and thin paper covering them. There was an outer covering of brown paper and thin string. In fact, the package was so frail that one could crample it with one’s hand. Yet there was not the slightest harm to any of the 35 specimens contained. This is not an isolated case, as other similar consignments have reached me equally cared for from time to time. It is really won- derful. Until quite recently one of the most neglected sections of the Rhopalo- cera was that of the Hesperiidae of the Neotropical Region. This Family is exceptionally abundant in species in the Americas, especially some of the groups which contain numerous species whose facies are marked by characters greatly similar. Thus, while the other families of Rhopalo- cera in America contained some of the most attractive insects of the globe, collectors could not be induced to obtain the unknown less out- wardly attractive species of the ‘‘ skippers.’”’ Less than twenty years ago our cherished friend and correspondent, Kenneth J. Hayward, after several years residence in Aswan, where in the intervals of his profes- sional work he studied the scanty local lepidopterous fauna, accepted an engagement in a firm in the Chaco forest region of the Argentine Republic. There he took the opportunity to work at the Lepidoptera in an area which contrasted strongly with the desert around Aswan. Gradually he has taken up the problem of the Hesperiidae and we have received from him during the last few years quite a number of separates describing many new species and forms, and containing figures of some species with many diagrams of the critical portions of the genitalic struc- tures. Lately Hayward has gone outside the Argentine for his material and our Ecuador correspondent, Mr Clarke MacIntyre, has sent him new species for study, and other consignments have reached him from Paraguay and Brazil. The three separates lying before us deal with about twenty new species with taxonomic notes on many others. The Royal Entomological Society of London continues to publish a large amount of matter each year. For the present year so far there lies before us thirteen numbers of the four series that are brought out. The Transactions consist of 4 parts (4 separate papers), of which “‘ A Comparative Study of the Larval Morphology of Leaf-mining Lepidop- tera in Britain ’’ is the most interesting to us. Species from 10 Fami- CURRENT NOTES. 115 lies are discussed, illustrated by many diagrams. Of the Proceedings A. “The insect fauna of the waste area of Tilbury Dock,’’ by H. M. Edelsten, is a very useful record of natural colonisation on made-up waste ground. Mr Edeisten also announced the occurrence of a new British species of Coleophora, C. otitae, on Silene nutans in Kent. Dr Blair recorded the history of the excessively rare black form of Cicindela campestris, of which one of the British examples was taken by the late Dr Chapman in 1858. Mr C. N. Hawkins discussed the occurrence of ventilation (?) holes in the cocoons of Hriogaster lanestris and of Hip- parchus papilionaria. Of the Proceedings B (Taxonomy), there are 6 parts, with 26 items mostly of Exotic interest, including the decription of a new S. American Plume-moth, by T. B. Fletcher. Then we have part 7 of ‘‘ Generic Names,’’ comprising those of the British Hydra- dephaga (Col.) by Prof. W. A. F. Balfour-Browne. The London Naturalist for 1939 appeared in 1940. The entomolo- gical items in this Annual are rather less in quantity than in previous reports and are contained in about 8 pages. Mr Burkill gave his usual survey on British Butterflies in 1939. There is a useful series of Notes on British Asilidae (‘‘ robber flies’’) in Surrey by L. Parmenter and H. Oldroyd, and Notes on two species of Dolichopodidae, by Li. Par- menter. Mr Burkill contributes Records of Plant Galls for 1939, and Mr R. W. Robbins the Lepidoptera of Limpsfield Common. This last- mentioned area is being surveyed in all its aspects during the past three years as a definite item of the Society’s work, and many members are taking part individually and by various field meetings of the Society. The whole report, as usual, is admirably produced. An abbreviated Congress of the S. Eastern Union of Scientific Socie- ties was held in July this year in London in the rooms of the Linnean Society. The only entomological item was the Annual Report of the Insect Immigration Committee to the Zoological Section. The main item of this report was the remarkable influx of Pieris brassicae and P. rapae in 1939 into southern England, the ‘‘ larvae of which caused more extensive damage than for the past 20 years; but so large a per- centage of the larvae were parasitized that past conditions are not ex- pected to result this year.’’ The Annual Report of the S. London Entomological and N.H. Socy. for the year 1939-40 was issued in July. It consists of a volume of 104 + xx pp. and 6 plates. The Proceedings—Reports of the 18 evening meetings—occupy 24 pages and contain records of the exhibits and short notes. The Reports of Field Meetings, of which there were 15, are contained in 15 pages of additional records of observations and captures made at the places visited. The Annual Address by the Pre- sident, Harold B. Williams, LL.D., F.R.G.S., was devoted to ‘‘ Pre- liminary Observations on the Genus Gonepteryx,’’ well illustrated by specimens and drawings. Perhaps the most outstanding Memoir in the _ Transactions section was that on ‘‘ Hybrids’’ by Dr KE. A. Cockayne, a masterly summary of what is known of hybridization trom a deeply scientific point of view, with an appendix containing a list of purely British hybrids and another list of hybrids of species on the British List having one or both parents of Continental origin. Gynandromorphs, 116 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/X/1940 Parthenogenesis, Prothetely, Cytology, Mendelian Segregation, etc., are some of the detailed subjects comprised. Dr Cockayne in another paper described two new species of British Geometers with a plate. Mr C. N. Hawkins gave detailed records of two broods of the [ycia hybrid wallacei, illustrated by two plates. The interests of the Micro-lepidopterist are not overlooked for there is a most useful and practical article on ‘‘ Breeding and Setting Micro-lepidoptera,’’ by L. T. Ford. Baron de Worms discussed ‘‘ Sugaring.’’ Mr C. Niblett recorded Gall-causing Insects and their Parasites. The whole Report affords a volume of valuable material in the study of entomological science and a fine con- tinuance of the long period of such work from the year 1872. The frontispiece is an excellent picture of the ova of Aglais urticae by A. W. Dennis. There is a beautiful plate of aberrations in the collection of Rev. J. N. Marcon, and another of a striking aberration of Polyploca flavicornis in the de Worms collection. Dr Karl] Jordan contributed an attractive article to the International Congress of Entomology held at Madrid in 1935, of which the Report has only recently been published. ‘‘ Where Subspecies Meet ’’ contains thoughts induced while on the excursion to the Picos de Europa, ar- ranged under the auspices of the Congress committee. While some enjoyed the scenery of, to them, a new country, others took the oppor- tunity to collect and observe, the actions of the members being inexplic- able to the native people. He goes on to say, ‘‘ The reason for the in- quisitiveness of the excursionist goes back to the far-away time when Adam, young and inexperienced, lost his estate in consequence of a con- fidence trick, and all the contents of the Garden of Eden became scat- tered over the arth; some species, too weakly after the soft life in the garden of plenty and too disgruntled with the rough conditions they encountered outside, died out, while others, of a more robust nature, or more cunning and accepting the new life as they found it, appro- priated the various countries in which they happened to settle and be- came the founders of new races, as did Neah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet. The story must be true in the main, for we find indeed that the majority of spécies consist of two or more, sometimes dozens of races each living in its own country, and that every district has its own races.”’ The author goes on to record the gradual increase in the number of races and subspecies in proportion to the number of new species described, and to the general acceptance by biologists of this line of research, and also to record the results achieved by this more intensive study of geo- graphical variation. Finally the author’s study of the mouse-flea in various more or less closely joined Continental areas is brought in to aid in the reply to his title statement ‘‘ Where Subspecies Meet.”’ In the Report of the Madrid Meeting of the International Congress of Entomology there are in English, in addition to the two papers which we have already dealt with, five others: 1. H. F. Barnes, ‘‘ Fluctuations in Insect Numbers.’’ 2. F. S. Bodenheimer, ‘‘ The Ecology of Aphids in a Subtropical Climate.’’ 3. C. H. Kennedy, ‘‘ Definitions of the Animal Family and the Animal Society.” 4. KE. P. Mumford, ‘‘ Taxonomic Notes on Insects of the Marquesas Islands.’’? 5. W. Pospelov, ‘‘ Fertility of certain obnoxious Lepidoptera in connection with Meteorological Conditions.”’ 4 3” Zooloay ihe BEG 2 1940 245 LisRAt THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIE [3,30 Borkhausen, Scriba Beitr., II, 128, plt. 9 (not 8 as Werneb. said), fig. 6 (1791), described a species as ypsilon, which was figured under the name nunatrum. The figure is that of hepatica, L., as is the description. The colour is certainly hepatica as well as the marking. Cf. Werneb., Beitr., U1, 258 (1864). This, Bork. admits, Naturg., IV, 505, when he redescribed ypsilon, Schiff. (1792). Haw., in Lep. Brit. (1809), described this species under the name fissipuncta, which name, in place of the confused and uncertain use of the name ypsilon, has been used by many authors, including Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct. Tutt, Brit. Noct., II, 158 (1892): Meyr., Hand., 64 (1895): Barr., Lep. Br. Is., V, 299 (1899): Stder., Cat., IIT ed., 204-(1901): Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 246 (1906): South, M.B.I., II, 8 (1908): Hamp., Lep. Phal., VII, 445 (1908): Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., HII, 179 (1911): Culot, Net G., 1 (@), 74.(1933):, Meyr., Rev. Hand., 124 (1928). Hiib., Samml. Noct., 136, gave a figure of ypsilon which is not readily recognized as such, although H.-S. (Bearb., II, 262) considered it good. It is one of those forms which may come under ab. variegata, although not a pale example. Dup., Hist. Nat., VI, 135, plt. 81, 5 (1826), gave a fairly large good figure of ypsilon. In his Cat., 131 (1844), he placed it in Hadena, Bdv. Frr., New. Beitr., 1V, 64, plt. 329 (1842), gave a figure of this species, which H.-S. (l.c.) described as ‘‘ quite unrecognizable.’’ Shape and arch of forewing are correct, and the bifurcation of the claviform is well developed, as well as the submarginal line. Otherwise the figure is bad. Gn., Hist. Nat., V, 361-2 (1852), took the name ypsilon, Schiff. (1775) for this species. Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 246, plt. 45, f. 30 (1906), gave a good figure showing a well developed bifurcation of the claviform and the ypsilon mark quite plainly. South, M.B.I., II, 8, plt. 4, figs. 4-5 (1908), gave two figures of the nondescript, indefinitely marked examples of this species, in which the usual characteristic markings are present, but more or less indefinite in expression and hidden by absence of portions and irregular expan- sion and suffusion. A most difficult species to delineate. Hamps., Lep. Phal., V, 445 (1908), adopted the name ypsilon, Schiff. (nec Rott.) (1775). Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 179, plt. 411 (1911), treated ypsilon, Schiff., and nun-atrum, Scriba, as synonyms. They placed Tutt’s nigres- cens as var. A of Haw., and gave six figures, fissipuncta, ab. corticea 3 and 9, ab. orenburgensis, and ab. conjuncta gS and 9. They used the genus Sidemia, Stdgr., placed next to Crymodes, the genus of erulis. Culot, NV. et G. (1913), I (2), 74, plt. 52, figs. 14 fisstpuncta, 15 oren- burgensis, gave two excellent figures. 14 is darkish grey-brown, 15 has a very pale ground with well expressed marking. Of the Variation Barrett says :-— “‘ There is variation of the ground colour of the forewings to paler - brown, more rarely to light yellowish-brown, and still more in the various (246) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / X / 1940 black markings, which sometimes are much emphasised, in others are partially or wholly obliterated.” He records a specimen ‘‘ Combining both phases, being of a pale tawny colour, with no trace of the black markings about the claviform stigma and at the back of the ee a and is only with difficulty recognized as belonging to this species.’ Another whose ‘‘ Colour is pale and the central black markings are absent, but along the hind margin is a row of black bars arising from the ee enae black spotty and of these, one arising at the anal angle runs far into the wing.’ Another pale specimen from Shoreham ‘‘ Is shaded with yellow and in some degree with red.” The Names and Forms to be considered are :— [ipsilon, Hufn. (1766), Berlin Mag., ITI, 416.] ypsilon, Schiff. (1775), Verz., 78 (nec Rott.). [ypsilon, Rott. (1776), Naturforsch., TX, 141, No. 99.] ab. ? corticea, Esp. (1788?), Abbild., [V, 463, plt. 145, 2-3. [nunatrum, Bork. (1791), Scriba Beitr., II, 128, plt. 9, f. 6.] ypsilon, Bork. (1792), Naturg., IV, 503-4. fissipuncta, Haw. (1809), Lep. Brit., 197. ab. nigrescens, Tutt (1892), Brit. Noct., 160. ab. vartegata, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. obscura, Favre. (1899), Fn. Macr.-Lep. Valais, 188. ssp. orenburgensis, Bart. (1902), Iris, XV, 211. ab. conjuncta, Warr.-Stz. (1911), Pal. Noct., III, 179, plt. 41. ssp. oberthiirt, Roth. (1920), Nov. Zool., XXVII, 38. ab. cinerea, Heinr. (1923), Deutsch. ent. Zt. Beth., 87. ab. obsolescens, Lenz. (1927), Schm. Sudbay., IT (2), 321. Tutt dealt with (1) the pale greyish fissipuncta, Haw. (ypsilon, Bork.); (2) the reddish-ochreous corticea, Esp.; (8) blackish fuscous nigrescens ; and (4) dark, variegated with paler variegata. ab. obscura, Favre., Fn. Macro-Lep. Valais, 188 (1899). Orig. Descrrp.—‘‘ Much darker and more brown.’’ Martigny, etc. race orenburgensis, Bart., Iris, XV, 211 (1902). Orntc. Drscrip.—‘‘ Ground colour of forewings very light, grey, suf- fused reddish, with black, distinctly prominent markings. (These con- sist of a basal streak and a marginal line to the neighbourhood of the stigmata, which line in the reniform is only rarely very weakly pro- duced in black, while in v. orenburgensis 1t mostly stands out very strongly and only in one single specimen is it weak.) The hindwings also are paler especially at the base. Colour of body grey, not brown, as in the typical form. V. orenburgensis shows a much greater contrast to the type form than the ab. iners to D. suspecta and must therefore with much more reason be designated by a special name. It is interest- ing that in the Volga-Ural neighbourhood, according to Eversman, the usual brown form occurs; Herr Lief collected in the Orenburg Govern- ment only the grey form, which here is therefore treated as a variety.” ab. conjuncta, Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., 11, 179 (1911). Fie.—l.c., plt. 41. a © | THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (247) Orie. Descrip.—‘ Purplish fuscous, the veins and stigmatal annuli whitish, the upper stigmata strongly conjoined.”’ subsp. oberthiiri, Roth, Nov. Zool., XXVITI, 38 (1920). “ Differs from fissipwncta in being much paler, in the markings being less pronounced, in the submarginal band being much straighter and less sinuate, and in the postmedial band being well developed in most specimens and much nearer the reniform.’’ Algeria. f. cinerea, Heinr., Deut. ent. Zeitschr. Beih. (1923), 87. Orig. Descrip.—‘‘ Of a pale ashy-grey ground colour, without any admixture of yellow.’’ Digne. ab. obsolescens, Lenz., Schm. Sudbay., IT (2), 321 (1927). fie e., pit: 16 1d. Ortc. Descrip.—‘‘Of the markings only the traces of the stigmata and of the submarginal line remain.”’ Orthosia, Ochs. & Tr. (1816-25), Steph., Gn., Meyr., Barr., Stdgr., Splr., South, Culot, Meyr., ete. [Amathes, Hb. (1821), Hamp., South, Warr. ] lota, Clrek. (1759). Clerck, Icones, plt. 8, fig. 1 (1759), gave a quite recognizable figure without text, with the name lota attached. The colour is dark grey, lead colour, with the conspicuous black spot. inné, Fn. S., gave the first description, No. 1137 (1761), and a fur- ther description in Sys. Nat., Ed. XII, 830 (1767). Orig. Derscrip.—‘‘ Alae superiores cinereae atomis aliquot nigris, maculisque duabus obsoletis solo margine conspicuis: anteriore orbicu- lari, postiore cordiformi, ut in rusticis; in macula posteriore ad latus interius punctum magnum atrum. Striga fulva f. purpurascens latere postiore albida ; striga haec versus posteriora semel diffracta est. Subtus alae pallide cinereae cum puncto atro et striga fusca, obsoleta, armata,’’ p. 302. Tutt, Brit. Noct., II, 160 (1892): Meyr., Handb., 63 (1895): Barr., Lep. Br. I., V, 351, plt. 229, 1 (1899): Stdgr., Cat., liTed., 206 (1901): Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 248, plt. 46, 8 (1906): Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 479, f. (1906): South, M.B.I., II, 12, plt. 7, 5-6 (1908): Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noce hbk 151, plt::37\d; e€911) :, Culot,, Ni, e&-Gi, 1.(2)5.78,.plt. 53,11 (1914): Meyr., Rev. Hand., 124 (1928). De Geer, Mem. Ins., II (1), 419, plt. 7, f. 16 (1771), described this species Jota under the title ‘‘ Phalene de l’hippophie,’’ ‘‘ d’un brun luisant roussatre avec une ligne transverse rousse, et un gros point noir’’ (Goeze, Beitr., TIT (3), 252). Schiff., Verz., p. 76, Fam. IL. (1775), called it the ‘‘ Water-willow Noctua.”’ ‘ Esper, Abbild., III, 335, plt. 67, fig. 1 (1783 ?), gave a recognizable fig. rather too large; among the Bombyces. Ernst. & Engr., Pap. d’Eur., VII, 5, fig. 400 a, b, c, gave a very fair figure of lota under that name. They point out that the specimens (248) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / X/ 1940 figured have purplish edging to the stigmata, they differ from others that have been figured and are probably figures of a varietal form. — Hb., Samml., 166 (1800-3), figured munda under the name lota, and 167 lota under the name munda. The lota (167) was too large, too dark and not leaden at all and had the two stigmata completely filled in with black, and thus was hardly recognizable. Haw., Lep. Brit., 122 (1803), described lota as a Bombyx as did most of his predecessors. However, in (1809) l.c., 242, he placed it as a Noctua. Frr., Beitr., III, 60, plt. 111 (1830), gave a figure much better than all of his contemporaries, with perhaps too distinct marking, particularly on the underside. Dup., Hist. Nat., Supp., III, 298, plt. 27 1 (1836), gave an un- recognizable figure of rich red-brown ground, with two dark transverse bands, one each side of the black spot. In vol. V1, 80, plt. 111, 3 (1826), Dup. described and figured (poorly) T. a1wnda under the name Iota, in- fluenced by the errors of Linn. referred to above. Gn., Noct., I (5), 362, gave plt. 1381 reference to Frr. It should be pit: a1. Splr., Schm. EHur., I, 248, plt. 46, fig. 8 (1906), gave a bad figure labelled ab. rufa, Tutt, quite unrecognizable as lota. Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 478, f. (1906), gave the reference ‘‘ Linn., Sys. Nat., Xed., 513 (1758).”? This is iota, a Plusia (Phytometra), and placed between interrogationis and festucae. It is impossible to suggest how this error arose. Linn., Sys. Nat., XIled., 830 (1767) gave the cor- rect description (as a Bombyx) and referred to Clerck’s Icones, plt. 8, f. 1 (1759). Perhaps Hamp. followed Gn., Noct., V, 362 (1852), ‘who ignored Clerck. It was then usual to take the XIled. of Linn., Sys. Nat. (1767), as the official commencement of the Linn. nomenclature. South, M.B.I., II, 12, plt. 7, f. 5-6 (1908), gave two dark leaden-grey figures probably referable to the ab. suffusa, Tutt. ‘ Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 151, plt. 37 d, e (1910), treated hippo- phaes, Rossi, as a synonym, added the name subdita for a form from Amasia, and gave five figures, none of which had the usual dull grey leaden ground so familiar in Britain, lota ¢ and 92, rufa, Tutt, and subdita 3 and 9, all poor figures. Of the Variation Barrett wrote :— ‘‘ Not very variable, but the general colour of the forewings ranges from pale grey to dark slate-brown and to red-brown, specimens from western districts being especially liable to red variation ; sometimes the hindwings have a paler tone from the base to beyond the middle, in which case there is usually a dark transverse band bounding this pale colouring, and sometimes a grey-white margin outside it. Rarely the black spot in the base of the reniform stigma is quite obsolete.’’ The Names and Forms to be considered are :— lota, Clrck. (1759), Icones, plt. 8, f. 1 (no text). lota, Linn. (1761), Fn. S., 302. hippophaes, D. Gr. (1771), Mem. Ins., II (1), 419, plt. 7, f. 16. munda, Hb. (1800-3), Samml. Noct., 167. ab. pallida, Tutt (1892), Brit. Noct., II, 161. THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (249) ab. suffusa, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. vig, Yutt (1892), tc. ab. subdita, Warr.-Stz. (1910), Pal. Noct., III, 151, plt. 37 e. ab. bipuncta, Whrl. (1911) [ Vorb. et M.-R., I, 378]. ab. pallida, Heinr. (1923), Deut. ent. Zt., 88. ab. frigga, Skala (1929), Zt. Oestr. ent. Ver., XIV, 54. Tutt dealt with (1) Jota, and ‘‘ munda,’’ Hb.; (2) pallida, a pale whitish-grey form; (3) suffusa, blackish; (4) rufa, reddish. ab. subdita, Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., LIT, 151 (1910). Fie -—l.c., plt. 37 e. Orig. Descrip.—‘‘ The grey ground is duller and paler in both wings, and the black in lower lobe of the reniform is much reduced.’’ Amasia. The figure is poor. ab. bipuncta (Wehrli, 1.1.), Vorbrodt., Schm. der Schw., I, 378 (1911), Frauenfeld. Possesses a double black, brown margined spot, which lies on the basal line between the two stigmata. The bordering joins the two stig- mata together. ab. pallida, Hein., Deut. ent. Zeitschr., Beih. 88 (1923). Orie. Descrip.—‘‘ Of a very pale grey colour.’’ Digne. This is no doubt the pallida, Tutt. ab. frigga, Skala, Zt. Oestr. ent. Ver., XIV, 54 (1929). Oric. Descrip.—‘‘ With a broader, paler marginal band on the hind- wing upperside.’’ Austria. Orthosia, Ochs. & Tr. (1816-25), most authors [Amathes, Hb. (1821), Hamp., Warr.-Stz., Drdt.-Stz.] macilenta, Hb. Tutt, Brit. Noct., II, 161 (1892): Meyr., Handb., 63 (1895): Barr., Lep. Br. Is., V, 354, plt. 229, 2 (1899): Stdgr., Cat., IIled., 206 (1901): Splr., Schm. Hur., I, 249, plt. 46, f. 9 (1906): Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 479 (1906): South, M.B.Is., II, 13, plt. 7, 7-8 (1908): Warr.-Siz., Pal. Woet., VIT, 151, plt. 37 e (1911): Culot, N. ef G., 1 (2), 79; pl. 53, 12 (1914): Meyr., Rev. Handb., 123 (1928): Draudt-Seitz, Pal. Noct. Supp., TIT, 152 (1934), 258 (1937). Hiib., Samml. Noct., 418 (1808-9), the type figure is of a ‘‘ brownish (almost reddish) ochreous,’ Tutt. His fig. 688, labelled macilenta, is a form of circellaris. Ernst. & Engr., Pap. d’Eur., VII, 12, fig. 409 (1790) gave two figures, of which the forewings of 409 b are good as to marking, size, etc., but by far too deep (bright) in colour. 409 a, and the hindwings of 409 b, are ‘‘ roh u. grell ’’ as Werneburg says. Dup., Hist. Nat., VII, 64, plt. 104, 5 (1827), gave a good figure of typical macilenta. . Steph., Il/., II, 148, described this species, and on the same page dealt with the flavilinea, Haw., which he figured, plt. 19, 1 (1829), and (250) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / X /1940 which he suspected to be a form of macilenta, and in l.c., III, 68 (1829) is sure of their specific identity. Frr., Beitrage, III, 150, plt. 141, f. 1 (1830), is not a good figure in that all the markings are much too emphasised both on upper and under- sides. In the text, p. 151, Frr. referred to Treit’s conclusion that Hb. 688 was not macilenta. His figure in New. Beitr., III, 80, plt. 251 (1839), is much better but still too strongly marked. ~ Frr. here referred to Treit, who had described the larva in error, Schm., V (2), 215 (1825), but subsequently corrected his description, VI (1), 407 (1827), with which Frr.’s figure of the larva 251 agreed well. Wood, Ind. Ent., 41, plt. 10, 147-148 (1834), figured both flavilinea and macilenta as practically identical. Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 249, plt. 46, 9 (1906), gave a much too deeply coloured figure, in fact of little use for identification. South, M.B.I., II, 13, plt. 7, 7-8 (1908), gave two figures of good colour but marking should be more apparent for ordinary British speci- mens. Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 479 (1906), quotes Haw., Prod. Lep. Brit., 15 (1802), the name wnimaculina for this species. Haw. did not use this name as he had proposed, and there being no description or figure it is not valid. Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 151, plt. 37 e (1910), Genus Amathes, gave only one aberration, nigrodentata, Fuchs. They illustrated a light male and a darker female. Culot, N. et G., I (2), 79, plt. 53, 12 (1914), gave an excellent figure with fitly emphasised black dot and outer submarginal line. Draudt-Corti-Stz., Pal. Noct., ITI, 152 (1934), added two aberrations, immaculata, Gauckler, and pallida, Hofer, a brown form and a very pale form respectively, and on p. 258 was added the ab. rufa, Horhm. (1937). Of the Variation Barrett writes :— ‘‘ Rather variable in the ground colour, from dull pale yellow to light fulvous or reddish-ochreous; also in the presence or absence of the . black spot in the reniform stigma, and of the central shade, these being most frequently obliterated in specimens from the North of England and South of Scotland.”’ He records one example ‘‘ Which has the first line distinct, black, broadly bent, and excessively indented, and the second line also distinctly black and disposed in sharp crescents, the more usual markings all present.”’ In all variations the subterminal line remains fairly distinct. The Names and Forms to be discussed are: — macilenta, Hb. (1808-9), Samml. Noct., 418. flavilinea, Haw. (1809), Lep. Brit., 248. ab. obsoleta, Tutt (1892), Brit. Noct., II, 162. ab. straminea, Tutt (1892), L.c. ab. straminea-obsoleta, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. nigrodentata, Fuchs. (1899), Jahrb. Nass., LIT, 135. ab. immaculata, Gauckl. (1909), Iris, XXII, 136. ab. pallida, Hofer (1913), Ent. Zt., XXVII, 16. ab. rufa, Hérhm. (1936), Ent. Zeit., L, 359. ‘ THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (251) Tutt dealt with (1) the deep yellow or reddish-ochreous with central dot, mactlenta; (2) ditto, without the central dot, obsoleta; (8) pale straw with distinct central dot, straminea; (4) ditto, without the cen- tral dot, straminea-obsoleta. ab. nigrodentata, Fuchs., Jahrb. Nass. Ver., LIT, 185 (1899). Oric. Descrip.—‘‘ Forewing with 3 black spots at the base and two emphasised black transverse lines, the inner irregularly toothed, the outer regularly and sharply toothed. In ordinary specimens the trans- verse lines are only very wavy, the outer parts of the waves marked by fine black points on the veins which become the points of the teeth, but they do not coalesce at all.’’ Hamp., Cat. Lep. Ph., VI, 479 (1906), describes it thus: ‘‘ Forewing with the sub-basal, ante-, and post-medial lines black and strongly dentate.” ab. immaculata, Gauckl., Iris, XXII, 136 (1909). Ornic. Descrip.—‘‘ Forewing upperside almost without marking; the reniform stigma with the dark spot wanting; also the reddish on the inside whitish margined straight: line before the outer margin is want- ing. The rest of the normal colour.’’ Hardtwald near Karlsruhe, 1903. ab. pallida, Hof., Ent. Zts., XXVII, 16 (1918). Orig. Descrip.—‘‘ The ground colour of the upperside of the fore- wing is a pale ochre-yellow, without reddish suffusion. The fringes of all the wings, the thorax, and body are of the same colour, in each of which the absence of the reddish tinge is wanting. The markings are the same as in the typical form.’’ Near Vienna. ab. rufa, Horham, Ent. Zeits., L, 359 (259) (1936). ; Oric. Descrip.—‘‘ In this species there are two distinct forms. The commoner is leaden brownish. The rarer of a bright reddish-ochre. In this latter ground colour the distinctly brownish median and marginal lines disappear, while the marginal band following the yellow line stands out stronger.’’ S. Bavaria. Anchocelis, Gn. (1852), Stdgr. (1) [Orthosia, Och. & Tr. (1916-25), Meyr. (1), Barr., Stdgr. (2), Splr., Sth. (2), Culot, Meyr. (2): Xanthia, Ochs. & Tr. (1816-25), Dup., Steph., Wood: Amathes, Hb. (1821), Hamp., Sth. (1), Warr.-Stz.] helvola, Linn. (1758). In his “‘ Hssai ’? in Anm. S. ent. Fr., viii, 483 (1839), Gn. wrote Anchoscelis, which some authors have adopted, Linn. described this species under two names. In Sys. Nat., Xed., 507 (1758), helvola, and three years later under the substituted name rufina, Fn. S., 1142 (1761). He treated it as a Bombyx, next to russula. Esper, Abbild., IV, p. 327, plt. 123, 1 (1786-?), described and figured a species under the name catenata, as a Noctuid. In a foot-note the author gives the references to helvola, L., and rufina, L., and stated that in dealing: with russula he considered rufina to be the 9 of that species. But since Schiff., Verz., 86 (1775), dealt with it as a Noctuid, he (Ksper) followed him. (252) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 /X/1940 Tutt, doubtless influenced by Esper’s figure and description, which gave a definite diagnosis to the second name of Linn., viz., rufina, used it as a varietal name on account of the rich red coloration of the anterior wings with reddish fuscous fasciae inclining to purplish (cf. the figure of Esper), while he took the first name, helvola, L., as the type name. [Until late in the last century it had been usual to consider the beginning of the binomial nomenclature to be the XIled. of the Sys. Nat. of Linn., 1767. The change to the Xed. of the S.N. of Linn. has been the cause of many troublous tangles with our names. | Tutt, Brit. Noct., II, 162 (1892): Meyr., Hand., 62 (1895): Barr., Lep. Br. Is., V, 335, pli. 226, f. 2 (1899) >" Sider.) Cat.) iiteds, (206 (1901): Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 249, plt. 46, f. (1906): Hamp., Lep. Phal., VI, 482 (1906): South, M.B.J., II, 15, plt. 9, 1-2 (1908): Culot, NV. et G., I (2), 79, plt. 538, 15 (1914): Meyr., Rev. Hand., 123 (1928). Ernst. & Engr., Pap. d’Eur., VII, 12, f. 410 a, b, ec (1790), gave fairly good figures; b, a well-marked form with the purplish tinge, and a, a bright red form with less marking. Bork., Naturges., IV, 687 (1792), described a form of this species as a Noctuid under the name punica, saying that it was the catenata, Esp., and in a note on the synonymy said that the ending of Esper’s name -ata was a Geometrid ending and for that reason he had called his insect punica. This form was characterized by ‘‘ yellowish-purple colour or a mixture of purple and yellow.’’ Bork. subsequently dealt with rufina, L., l.c., 751, and pointed out that Linn. described it as ‘‘ affinis Bomb. russulae,’’ but that this could not be as the female of the latter did not have three transverse bands. Hb., Samml. Noct., f. 184 (1800-03), gave a good figure of the deep red rufina. Dup., Hist. Nat., VII (1), 473, plt. 130, 3 (1827), described and figured this species under the name rufina. The figure is much like a copy of Hiibner’s 184. The central band is not elbowed enough nor does it show the usual break near the dark bottom end of the reniform. Tt is included in the genus Xanthia. Wood, Index., 68, plt. 15, f. 376 (1854), gave a grey-brown figure with no suggestion of red, except that the body was pink!! Gn., Hist. Nat. Noct., V (1), 364 (1852), considered helvola, L.., catenata, Esp., and puntca, Bork., as synonyms of rufina. - Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 249, plt. 46, f. 11 (1907), gave a good account of the variation in the species and a very fair figure of a ruddy-brown form, somewhat dark. He introduced two new forms, extincta and uniforms. South, M.B.I., II, 15, plt. 9, f. 1-2 (1908), gave a figure of the deep red, with distinct bands typical form, and an almost unicolorous red form, ab. rufa, Tutt. Both are gocd figures. . Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 152, pit. 37 f g (1910), gave a good ac- count of the variation including ten named forms, of which ab. pallescens was new. Seven figures were given on the plate, of which none show the beauty of the fresh coloration: Helvola, catenata, ochrea, unicolor, sibirica, and ¢ and 9 of the new pallescens. The colour of r. sibirica is shown of a slightly ochreous pale grey with no trace of the reddish (purplish) tinge, and with marking absent or only just traceable. Pie i All MS. and EDITORIAL MATTER should be sent and all PROOFS returned to { Hy. J. 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Rivenhall Goffe, 102 High Street, Southampton. Communications have been received from or have been promised by T. Bain- — brigge Fletcher, A. J. Wightman, W. P. Curtis, H. Willoughby-Ellis, E. Ernest — Green, H. Donisthorpe, S. C. Brown, P. B. M. Allan, Dr E. A. Cockayne. All communications should be addressed to the Acting Editor, Hy. J. — TURNER, “ Latemar,” 25 West Drive, Cheam. . Bb: BACK VOLUMES OF | oe The Entomologist’s Record an Journal of Variation (Vols. I-XXXVI.) Kite air Ar PN SS cet et et Hace PO od See eit Pi - an eA ee LM PC Se CONTENTS OF VOL. I. (Most important only mentioned.) GENUS Acronycta and its allies—Variation of Smerinthus tiliae, 3 coloured is plates—Differentiation of Melitaea athalia, parthenie, and aurelia—The Double- — day collection—Parthenogenesis—Paper on Taeniocampidae—Phylloxera—Prac- — tical Hints (many)—Parallel Variation in Coleoptera—Origin of Argynnis paphia ~ var. valesina—Work for the Winter—Temperature and Variation—Synonymic — notes—Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1890—Life-histories of Agrotis pyrophila, Epunda lichenea, Heliophobus hispidus—Captures at light—Aberdeenshire ROU Ete etc., 360 pp. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. MELANISM AND MELANOCHROISM—Bibliography—Notes on Ciiehine Abies on hs VARIATION (many)—How to breed Agrotis lunigera, Sesia sphegiformis, Taenio- campa opima—Collecting on the Norfolk Broads—Wing development—Hybridis- th ing Amphidasys prodromaria and A. betularia—Melanism and Temperature— © Differentiation of Dianthoecias—Disuse of wings—Fauna of Dulwich, Sidmouth S. London—Generic nomenclature and the Acronyctidae—A fortnight at Ra noch—Heredity in Lepidoptera—Notes on Genus Zygaena (Anthrocera)—Hybri¢ —Hymenoptera—Life-history of sili hacia derasa, etc., etc., 3h ‘PP. Nah To be obtained from :— Mr H. E. PAGE, 9 Vanbrugh Hill, Blackheath, London, Bi, E. 3, ; to whom Cheques and Postal Orders Sonia be made payable. _ ASU i printed by 'T. Buncle & Co. ees CiBRAR* JOURNAL OF VARIATIC } EDITED with the: assistance of ‘MALCOLM BURR, D.Sc., F.R.E.S. | T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, R.N., F.L.S., E. A. COCKAYNE, A.M., D.M., F.R.E.S., | P.Z.S., F.R.ES. : F.R.C.P. | H. E. PAGE, F.R.E.S. J. B. COLLIN, J.P., F.R.E.S. | ALFRED SICH, F.R.E.S. H. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. | Rev. G. WHEELER, M.A., F.R.E.S., F.Z.S. Editor Emeritus—G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. By HENRY J. TURNER; F.R.E.S., F.R.H.S., Editorial Secretary. CONTENTS. RANDOM NOTES ON BRITISH NOCTUAE, 4. J. Wightman, F.R.E.S. ....c00:. 117 PSYLLIODES NAPI, KOCH, VAR. HIGNETTI, VAR. NOV. (COL. CHRYSOME-’ LIDAE), A VARIETY NEW TO SCIENCE. Horace Donisthorpe, F.Z.S.., 1 DEE SE CESS SE SUING CIS Rg RE tir pA SIR RE RR ee I RE 120 PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN., C. R. N. Burrows, F.R.ELS. coccccccceccceeee 121 AP PSYCHID: PROBLEM Hy. J.. Turner, PIRES: FR HS iio icc el 125 HARMODIA (DIANTHOECIA) LEPIDA, ESP. (CARPOPHAGA, BORK.), 4. J. LSAT SOS Bart aa DES IN CSS aU SL NI Ue taht SLSR NAS oC SE ene sao CAS A RC ERR a 126 ' COLLECTING NOTES: Note from North Cumberland, 7. Fred Marriner: Col- lecting at Light during Moonlight, 4. 7. W.; Heodes phiaeas in the fsle of an Colonsay, Jack Heslop Harrison: The Occurrence of Miana (Procus) versi- fact color, Bkh., in Coll, Id.; Maniola jurtina regains its eld ground in Dur- ham, 7d.; Dianthoecia cucubali, Fuesl., in the Isle of Great Bernera, Id.;: oy Furthest North for Eumenis semele in Britain, Jd.; Nyssia zonaria subsp. Panties. Harrison.insthe Eslerol Gunna. Te ei ical coda et ec 1/4 498 Pee meer ope men me sender ere hee spasm mers tbe ever rere es ra sewers ts eeesnsesGar tthe nserver sess eseseessene ‘ns SUPPLEMENT : The British Noctuae and their Varieties, Hy. J. Turner, F.R:E.S., Se eee me eee re H eae e ee bere HO eh eee EH ee H Reese nese et Fare ese sesso MMeesi passes For srsuagesss tase Subscription for Complete Volume, posi free, SMeL EN: SHILLING S; fo The Hon. Treasurer, H. W. ANDREWS, F.R.ES., 6 Footscray Road, Eltham,’ S.E.9. This number, Price ONH,SHILLING AND SIXPENCE (net). WATKINS & DONCASTER (ESTABLISHED 1879) CAN SUPPLY EVERYTHING NEEDED BY THE COLLECTOR, 4 At Keenest Prices. 4 Large Stocks always maintained for quick service. Full Catalogue post free, per return. Agents for Dr Seitz ‘‘ Macro-Lepidoptera of the World.” 36 STRAND, LONDON, W.C.2., ENGLAND. P.O. Box No. 126. TELEPHON E—TEMPLE BAR 945i. J. J. HILL & SON, ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET MANUFACTURERS, YEWFIELD ROAD, N.W.1to, ’Phone: WILLESDEN 0309. 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WicuHtman, F.R.E.S. * DEC ig foea ’ CUCULLIA ABSINTHIT, Linn.—In 1938 I had the pleasure ur 4aléiig 8 RY some full-fed larvae of this species in Dorset. Apparently this species is not greatly troubled by parasitic flies. At least none of mine were stung. Jt appears to average 14 in. full in expanse of forewings when bred from wild full-fed larvae. There are two somewhat different forms of wing pattern: a. Only one dark transverse band reaches inner margin. b. Both dark transverse bands reach inner margin. The ground colour varies a good deal. Pale grey and slate-grey examples occurred, the vast majority of insects being of an intermediate shade. "eGR a LEUCANIA L-ALBUM, Linn.—I have bred this species in bulk and find there is a very fair amount of variation. There are several very different shades of ground colour in bred examples and the markings may be much increased or reduced from the average, while the /-album mark is in some examples twice as long as in others. I failed to breed any examples in which this mark is absent or reduced to a dot (o-album, Milman). I have selected the following four examples as representative of what is apparently the ordinary variation one may expect to meet with when this species is bred in numbers. A. Ground colour pale bright whitish-ochreous; markings confined to a dark suffused streak along the median nervure. Some dark shading on the lower part of outer margin and an acute triangular patch on the upper part of outer margin. Some small streaks in area of apical patch. Slight darkened area along inner margin; this is a very yellow looking example although all these markings, such as they are, are deep brown tinted grey. B. Ground colour rather deeper in shade than in A. above. Mark- ings occupy almost whole area of forewings; the only pale areas being the costa, a small patch in lower half of basal area, two short pale longi- tudinal lines in upper part of submarginal area and two longer and brighter lines along the nervures from the l-albwm mark to the outer margin; markings in deep hard grey-brown. This is a dark grey-brown looking insect. C. Grouna colour pale ochreous-grey ; marking pale grey, very flat, and without any contrast; /-albuwm mark very short. This is a very matt-grey looking insect; if faded or worn it would be nearly unicolorous. D. Ground colour pale ochreous-brown, marked heavily in red- brown; short /-album mark, rather wide pale diagonal streak at apex. This is a warm red-brown insect. Bred l-album tend to be larger than caught ones. 14 in. expanse of anterior wings not unusual. HELIOTHIS PELTIGERA, Schiff.—This species was again about around the Dungeness area of Kent in 1938 in enormous numbers. 118 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ X1/1940 I bred several hundred and again failed to get any specially pale forms. I did, however, get several which were nearly unicolorous mahogany- brown and one which is unicolorous blackish-brown. This species is in some years free or nearly free from the attacks of parasitic flics. In other years it has been well stung but Dungeness seems to be an area where it is largely free from attack, while at Gast- bourne, in Sussex, I have found it to be attacked not only by small flies but by a large wasp-like species. From the way in which these larvae feed in company and exposed one would suspect a much larger number to be stung. Puusta cHRYSON, Ksper.—This species has in the past been recorded from various parts of the County of Sussex. Having had good experience in recent years of finding these larvae in Hampshire both in the autumn before hibernation and in the spring when full fed I have tried to use the knowledge so gained to find the species In Sussex, but without success. The variation, as far as I can see, is confined to the metallic patch in forewings which is sometimes more green than gold and sometimes more gold than green in bred examples; in this the species is like its congener chrysitis, which also has gold and green patch forms, but, un- like chrysitis, chryson seems to be otherwise very constant, AGROTIS VESTIGIALIS, Rott.—This species is easy to take as it emerges and before it has developed its wings, once the breeding ground is known. I have now had a good number of insects through my hands in the course of the last four or five years, and find that as is the case with A. cinerea and other allied species each year produces some fresh form not previously met with in the locality. It is not surprising to have taken nearly all the forms mentioned by Tutt, Brit. Noctxae and Vars., Voi. II, 16-20, hut I have also found in this single locality a number of forms described in recent years from far distant Continental places, such as albidior, Petersen, olivacea, Hartig, violascens, Heydemn, and amniensis, Stgr., suggests that the species produces many forms wherever it occurs and that probably few forms are confined to special areas. However, I have never found in the locality I work in Hampshire examples belonging to Tutt’s group D, page 18, Brit. Noc. and Vars., Vol. II. HettopHosus opitis, Hb. (wisprpa, Hb.-Gey.). I was lucky enough to take a nice freshly emerged series of this species by searching in its haunts during a flying visit to Portland in September 1938, and was given others taken the same night in a moth trap. I have for some time had a special desire to find this insect before it has flown, in order to see if I could detect a violet bloom or tinge, such as I have been told is present before flight, and also to try and reconcile the statement in Tutt, British Noctuae, Vol. I. 126, that Port- land forms are pale (compared with those from Torquay) and the rather opposite statement by R. P. Demuth quoted by W. Parkinson-Curtis in Trans. Soc. for British Entomology, Vol. I, Part 2, page 252, that Port-- land forms are dark compared with those from Southants and Studland, RANDOM NOTES ON BRITISH NOCTUAE. 119 which would suggest a very great difference between Torquay and South Hants and Studland forms.* The 14 insects taken before they had flown are very varied in colour and include dark blackish-grey forms, both with brown-tinged narrow sub-marginal band and the same ground colour with wide very white sub-marginal band. Many which have flown and lost scales are of this pattern, but it does occur naturally, as is proved by the above. There are also two ab. argentea, Tutt, both gd, and a number of intermediate forms, all but one of these are ¢ 9. None of mine is or was violet in the pale areas, but the colouration of some is such that it is easy to imagine a purplish tint is present, but a magnifying glass will dispel this idea. The darker markings are purple-brown, the pale areas ochreous. . It would, therefore, seem that Portland produces both light and dark abs: Mr H. J. Turner, in Noc. and Vars., Vol. I, 126, quotes Count Turati (Nat. Sicil., Nos. 7-12) as having distinguished three species, oditis, Hb., hispida, Hb.-Gey., and intermedia, Tutt, chiefly on the evidence of the differences in the genitalia. This author also says the fig. of oditis, Seitz, Pal. Noc., III, 29c, is, in fact, hispida and not oditis, but Dr Zerny has questioned the accuracy of Turati’s findings. I have seen a note somewhere by Mr Richardson of Portland saying that he had not noted violet-tinted hispida there until 1889 and had failed to find any in 1890, so that the violet colour was seasonal. JT quote this from memory. I cannot trace it now. But it may have been his fancy. Personally, I should have thought that Seitz, fig. 29c, did in fact represent our species. It is almost exactly the colour of Torquay specimens and certainly is not violet on the pale areas as hispida should be. J am, therefore, disposed to think that the differentiation of our species as oditis and not hispida is not proved, and that it is at least possible that oditis and hispida are forms of a single species and that both forms occur in these islands. Where do the violet marked insects come from and just how violet are they? Can any one tell me where I can obtain an example? Noctua casTANEA, Esp.—This species is very plentiful in the larval stage around Pulborough, and in late May after a shower of rain after a sunny day hundreds ot larvae come up to drink, when they may be taken just after dark on the heather. I have bred large numbers and find bred examples definitely larger than those taken wild in spite of the fact that larvae were full fed when taken. This must in some way be connected with the fact that the larvae go down in sandy soil and do not pupate until this dries out (just as with A. ripae). Wild larvae may be longer getting the right dryness and shrink in the waiting. This is the only way I can see to account for the larger size of bred insects. I found that kept exposed to the sun, the sandy soil soon dried out *Richardson stated (Proc. Dorset Field Club, XI, 59, 1890) that “ dark and light forms occur in Portland and figured such forms on his plate (opp. page 47).-— ALS BAL 120 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ X1/1940 and pupation took place in June. Kept in covered tins, pupation took place in August, but when the soil was too damp the larvae died. All our forms are much alike on the underside, but the upper surtace of anterior wings may be grey, pinkish-grey, pale pinkish-lilac, dull red, bright red, deep red. The reds are in the majority and the pinkish-lilac form the rarest; the nearest forms I have seen from elsewhere to this colour are from Aberdeen, but there the colour is more lilac and less pink. ye eee So far I have failed to find a yellow form, but one red one I bred had a yellow streak along the left-hand forewing along the inner margin. PSYLLIODES NAPI, KOCH, VAR, HIGNETTI, VAR. NOV. (COL. CHRYSOMELIDAE), A VARIETY NEW TO SCIENCE. By Horace DonistHoree, F.Z.S., F.E.S., etc. Blue, base of antennae and legs yellow, posterior femora black, last 5-6 joints of the antennae blackish. The thorax is furnished with a distinct tooth at apex of anterior angles, and is covered with fairly close, small, shallow punctures, the spaces between being distinctly alutaceously punctured. Elytra with the usual punctured striae. Long, 2.7-3 mm. Described from seven specimens (six taken by Mr J. Hignett, and one taken by myself) swept off watercress at Oswestry, Shropshire. Type in B.M. Coll. This variety differs from the typical form in the possession of the tooth to the anterior angles of the thorax. Moreover, in P. napi the punctures on the thorax are more sparing and not as close together, and the spaces between are much less alutaceously punctured ; this punctura- tion being practically wanting in some specimens. On the average napi is larger, and 6-8 of the last joints of the antennae are blackish. On Ist June last, when in company with my friend, Mr J. Hignett, I swept a specimen of a Psylliodes off watercress growing in a small stream by the side of a road in Oswestry. When set I found it did not agree with any of the species of Psylliodes in the B.M.; neither in my own collection, nor in the British and general collections there. Hav- ing written to Hignett about it, he sent me up six specimens of the form with the tooth (which agree with mine in every particular), which he had taken in previous years off watercress (Nasturtium officinale) in this district, and six specimens of P. napi, which he had swept off hedge mus- tard (Sitsymbrium. officinale). It is Just a point whether this insect should be treated as a good species or not. Perhaps it is safer to describe it as a variety until more has been learnt about the habits and dissection made of the geni- talia of freshly captured insects, etc. I have pleasure in naming it var. hignetti in honour of Mr J. Hignett who has done, and is doing, such good work with the beetles of Shrop- shire. Department of Entomology, British Museum (Nat. Hist.), 24.x.40. PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN. 121 PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN. By (the late) Rev. C. R. N. Burrows, F.R.E.S. (Plate VIII.) I would preface my remarks with an apology for the brevity of my tale about this species, and reminding my readers that I have been so deeply interested in other kinds of Tails for the last few months, as to have seriously curtailed my observations on this species. However, I feel that my readers will bear with me when they reflect that I have been contributing my little mite to the ‘‘ Tale of Tails ”’ which has so recently been published. [The Genitalia of the Noctuidae of the British Isles, F. N. Pierce.] Indeed, had it not been for Mr Prout’s usual kindness and helpfulness, I should feel entirely helpless, for the common insect, which is my theme, has been strangely neglected by me. The type description of Hufnagel’s pruinata reads as follows: ‘“ Phalaena pruinata, Die Reifmotte. Whitish-green, dusted with dark green, and a white crenulated transverse stripe. In woods. July and August. Of the second size. Rather rare’’ (Berl. Mag., IV, p. 520, 767). ‘* Second size.’’ (Hufnagel roughly groups the Geometers by three sizes) = intermediate between large and small. On p. 625, a note is added :—‘‘ I have sometimes found specimens of this species which have no green colour, this being replaced in them by whitish, or even by reddish-grey, but the markings are just the same, hence I take them to be merely aberrations.’’ Phalaena prasinaria, Fab. (Syst. Ent., p. 626, 1775), not of Hufnagel, was this species, and has always been recognised as such. The Fabrician name was retained by Schwarz as recently as 1793, and he figures it as prasinaria in his work (Beitrage, Pl. IV, figs. 8-9). Geometra iwmmaculata, Thunberg (Diss. Ent., I, p. 8, 1784). Werneburg (Beitrage, II, p. 200, 1864) determines this for a small markingless var. of pruinata, and says that he has himself taken such a form on the Isle of Sylt. The type specimen of Thunberg is still extant at Stockholm, and Lampa (Entom. Tidskrift, VI, p. 87) states that this specimen is not in good condition. At any rate, he says that he cannot venture to determine the species, but redescribes it, and shows from the neuration that it cannot be a Pseudoterpna, but should be referred to Phorodesma, Later, Aurivillius (Nordens. Fjdrilar, p. 198), having also studied the type specimen, places it in Nemoria, says it is a separate species, the type specimen remaining unique, and suggests that though Thunberg supposed it came from Upsala, it may really have been an accidental introduction. For myself I am content to let mmaculata go, whether as a synonym, aberration or variety of pruinata, or as a distinct species.* The variation noticed in Staudinger’s Catalog. (1901) is as follows :— 1. Ab. (et var.) agrestraria, Duponchel is defined thus: ‘‘ al. ant. unicolor. viridibus, tantum antice albo-strigatis,’’ which, being trans- *Prout-Seitz have determined this as a form of Phorodesma smaragdaria, IV, 27. But in IV, Supp., 219 (1938) it was definitely determined as = chrysoprasaria, Esp. = vernaria, Hb. 122 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/X1/1940 lated, reads: Forewings unicolorous green, lined with white (or white lines on the costa). ‘The British Museum Collection,’’ writes Mr Prout, ‘‘ has a pretty, almost white 9 from Dantzic,’’ thus labelled. It is in exquisite condi- tion (?bred) and certainly not solely a discoloured specimen. The lines and discal mark are normal. The sub-terminal, faintly discernible, be- ing clearer white. A Dantzic 3 would also belong to the same form, though slightly more tinted with green, and one or two more, without precise locality (‘‘ Europe ’’) are mixed in the series. 2. Var. simplex, Alphéraky.* 3. Var. virellata, Krulikowsky (Soc. Hnt., XXIII, p. 11 (1908)), described from Eastern Russia as ‘‘ lazger, darker, more unicolorous, or less speckled with white than the type.”’ T have not myself been very happy in my dealings with the species— although so common and generally distributed. I have, therefore, reason to thank Messrs Harrison and Main for the opportunity of examining the very fine series which they bred, and noting the various forms exhibited by the 37 specimens to the best of my ability. a. Forewing pale bluish-green; the two transverse lines darker. The SUbpbeTMma. Mies Dale: scene ee ean eee ee ee 5 specimens. H.w. central dark line and discal lunule; subterminal line pale. b. Darker, bluish-green. The two transverse lines darker, enclosing datker hands}! sasren Se pci: eels dade ae a eee 8 specimens. A banded specimen was sold at Machin’s sale and, with 5 smarag- daria, brought £2. Entom., 1895, p. 132. Mr Nicholson records the capture in Epping Forest of another banded specimen, Hnt. Record, 1895, p. 68. One does not know the extent of this aberration and is unable to compare the specimens with those in Harrison and Main’s series. ec. Almost unicolorous blue green. 1. With pale subterminal line. 2. Without pale subterminal line. ' d. Almost unicolorous dark green. 1. With pale subterminal line. 2. Without pale subterminal line. seiityd 8 i HES EAS) 21 Nemr: ales Sete tel Sabie Dus aay Sion ORR RAR LE UR 3 specimens. f. Diseoidal cell comparatively pale. Besides these forms, which I think include all that I have observed, I find certain others recorded. g. Brown. Bred by Mr Goulton, from Ranmore (Entom., 1905, p. 30). Rich yellow-brown. Bred by the Rev. E. Tarbat, from Mortehoe, Devon (Entom., 1905, p. 318). Brown. Taken by Mr Cockerell at light at Chislehurst, 13.vii.83 (Entom., 1885, pp. 20-56). Arkle (Entom., 1889, p. 292) refers to the idea that this brown colour is brought about by emergence in wet weather, and Cockerell *A species, Prout-Seitz. PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN. 123 (Entom., 1889, p. 3) says, ‘‘ We know that the green pigment in Geometra papilionaria is first brown, and in Pseudoterpna pruinata the final change to green frequently does not occur, producing the well-known brownish form of the species.”’ h. Unusually green. Taken by Mr Heasler in the New Forest. It would be interesting to know whether this specimen is still in exist- ence. The intensification of the green is not unusual in the “Emerald ”’ group. i. Blue. Major Robertson records (Entom., 1893, p. 132; Hnt. Record, 1893, p. 48) the capture of some ‘‘ quite blue ”’ specimens at or near Swansea. No further information is given as to whether the speci- mens were pure blue—as appears to be implied—or only blue-green. This appearance of blue in the ‘‘ Emeralds ’’ is quite usual; there appears to be a bluish form of most of the species. j. Grey. Pseudoterpna coronillaria.* As I have remarked before, I must for the present leave the division or separation of these forms or aberrations for further study. But for convenience, I transcribe Meyrick’s description, which I consider correct and as concise as can be needed. ‘“ Head, white mixed with green, face black. Forewings dull green, sprinkled with white, first and second lines dark green, waved, irregular, subterminal line cloudy whitish, a darker green, discal mark, tips of cilia whitish. Huindwings as forewings but paler, more whitish basally, markings more indistinct, first line absent, termen rounded.’’ I would add that, as is so usual, the lines vary much from mere dotted threads to distinct waved bands. and that the outer dark line in waving invades the outer margin and tends to throw out dark lines along the nervures. P. pruinata is another species in which the pattern of the forewings is more or less continued on the lower wings. The outer dark line is generally distinctly continued, and there is generally a similar darker discal mark. The whitish subterminal line is also when present on the forewings also found on the lower. I have remarked with some surprise how clearly the outer dark line is shown on the underside. When dealing with ‘‘ Emeralds,’’ it is always necessary to speak about the fading. I have three ancient specimens of pruinata, which will, I think, convince the greatest sceptic that this species does not fade to a brown or yellow. The larva is said to be described by E. Newman in the Entomologist (1865, p. 223). But one notices that he does not republish the descrip- tion in his British Moths, so I give Meyrick’s description: ‘‘ Larva green, white spotted, dorsal line darker, subdorsal pale yellowish-green, spiracular rosy-white, purple edged beneath, with a branch down the third leg. Head and second segment bicuspidate, tips dark red.”’ Edward Newman gives the oval period at 15 days, and I have a note of 11 days. The only food plants I can find recorded are Genista anglica, Furze and Broom, though one would expect the larvae to take to allied species. As a rule the young larvae hibernate, but I find one record of a larva feeding up bagged in the open, and producing an imago on 6th September (Taylor, Entomologist, 1896, p. 315). Normally the larvae *A species, Prout-Seitz, IV, 14. 124 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / XT /1940 lie up when, I suppose, in the third instar, and begin feeding again in late April or early May. They pupate in a slight cocoon amongst the twigs of the food-plant, or even upon the ground. Mr Bell, proving the response of the pupae to these surroundings, exhibited at one society’s meeting, 5th June, 1894, three pupae, one of a greenish tint, the larva having spun up in a leaf; one suffused with very dark grey, the larva having pupated in a cocoon on the surface of the earth; the third, normal (?), although the larva had mingled particles of earth in its cocoon. The imago appears from the end of June right on into August (17th, Mucking; 21st, Newlyn, Penzance). I have found no second brood re- cord of the wild insect. It flies at dusk, comes persistently to light and even to sugar. This is my experience, and it is recorded by Mr L. S. Hodson (N.F., Entom., 1904. p. 119). It appears to be generally distributed, if not always common, through- out Britain. Meyrick says: ‘‘ Britain to the Clyde—Ireland, rather common.’’ JT have found records from Kirkcudbrightshire, Isle of Man, Kerry, North and South Wales, North Cornish coast, Mortehoe, North Devon, South Dorset, Co. Cork, Ashdown Forest, Hawick, Mucking, and S.E. London. The egg, Figs. I and IT, which is laid upon the food-plant, or as one observer says, even upon the grass leaves growing amongst the food- plant (J. H. Burnett, Hnt. Record, 1898, p. 229) is as usual in this group. (My measurements are .66 x .45 mm., oval and flattened.) T have not detected the micropyle. It is covered with the roughly hexa- gonal sculpturings, which in this species appear to contain an irregular ornamentation of dots, Fig. III. When freshly laid the ege is dark, becoming darker before the emergence of the larva. The young larva upon emergence (Fig. IV) is pale yellow. It measures 1.9 x .283 mm. Whether T have kept my specimens too long, and whatever may be the cause, I found the greatest possible difficulty in making out its characteristics. JI cannot even detect anything par- ticularly instructive except that the subsegments (a) are unusually dis- tinct and appear to intersect the lateral flange, which is here broken up and shows transversely to the body. Each segment appears to exhibit a more or less circular enclosed space alongside but not encircling the spiracle, and lying between the sub-segmental ridges. There are no special organs—for the attachment of covering materials—and the hairs whether tubercular or not are small and difficult to distinguish. They appear, however, to belong to the more or less bulbed form, but squared off at the top, which feature I have scarcely done justice to in my draw- ing. I have drawn the first abdominal segment, Fig. V, to a larger scale in order to make my remarks about the sub-segmental arrangements plainer. It will here be seen how the lateral flange (b) is broken up or modified by the transverse ridges. I have also represented the anal seg- ments, Fig. VI, on a larger scale to show the presence of the sub-anal organ (c), which TI introduced to notice in my paper on Jodis lactearia. The tactile hairs upon the second thoracic (d) and eight abdominal (e) are very distinct. The bifurcations of the head and first thoracic segment are not very distinct at this stage, but in the anal segments are quite extensively A PSYCHID PROBLEM. 125 developed. My Figure VII represents the young larva well-developed in the second instar and quite arrived at its adult form. Again the hairs are small and not remarkable, still retaining the truncated bulbed shape. The two exquisitely fine tactile hairs (f) upon the first thoracic segment which we observed in the larva of Jodis lactearia are again in evidence, while the second and third thoracic also have single and coarser hairs of the same description. J appear to have missed that upon the eighth abdominal—if it exists. There are now distinct bifurcations of the head and first thoracic segments—the cleft being deep and well marked. Fig. VIII. The drawing of the first abdominal segment, Fig. IX, gives an impres- sion of the general appearance. The granules, or spicules, are again re- presented (g), but are much smaller and more insignificant than in any species before examined. Moreover, they appear to be more or less yellow, instead of, as usual, pure white. These, I imagine, produce the lateral stripes of the larva. I have drawn Fig. X, a portion of the dorsal margin of my specimen, to show how markedly this differs from the irregular plates of Nemoria viridata and the special and tabular elevations of Iodis lactearia. I regard the clear semi-circles (h) upon the margin itself as side-views of some of these yellow spots, and as such contributing to the subdorsal line. And this view is supported by my drawing of a portion of the spiracular region of the first abdominal segment, Fig. XI. These spots, under higher amplification, appear to be (1) irregular circles of highly transluscent and thickened chitin, in the centre of each of which lies a slightly opaque spot. T have not carried my investigation of the larvae further than this. A PSYCHID PROBLEM. By Hy. J. Torsne, #7R.E.S.,. hR-E.S. Sometime before his death, Rev. C. R. N. Burrews handed me the following notes appertaining to his study of the Psychides. It may be remembered that in his early youth he was practically an invalid and went out to the Cape to collect Lepidoptera and for health reasons. The results of his stay in the Colony were published in the Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., December 1875, ‘‘ On a collection of Lepi- doptera from Southern Africa, with new Genera and Species,”’ by A. G. Butler, F.L.S., ete. One of the descriptions of new species was that of a supposed Psychid to which the name Cryptothelea tuckert, n. sp. was given. Mr Burrows note was as follows :— ‘‘ IT captured the specimen on the inside of a shop window in West Street, Durban, on March 10th, 1875, just before my return. JI was struck by its resemblance, although on a larger scale, to our Epichno- pteryx pulla (radiella), but had not at that time come across so large a species. I, perhaps naturally, considered it a Psychid. I deposited my South African captures at the British Museum on my return to Eng- ‘land the same year. A. G. Butler, it is shown by the paper quoted, 126 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/X1/1940 adopted my opinion, accepting it as a Psychid. When at the Museum at different times I have had a look at the specimen, which for a time stood alone. Later I found that it had been joined by several others, and by females. These proved to be fully winged, and as far as my memory serves, resembled the females of Zeuzera. I naturally foresaw a modification of Butler’s decision, but am unable to find a record of such. I should be very glad to be informed as to what has been done in the matter, as it trenches upon my enquiry as to the affinities of the Psychidae. The placing of the genera Cossus, Zeuzera, etc., at the end of the Tineina, may be connected with this question, and perhaps con- firm my suspicions that this may be the true relationship of the Psychides.-—C io Ny Bs Subsequent to receiving the above note I visited the Museum and with the help of Mr West and the remarkably correct and perfect Museum records the actual specimen, was found under the name Metar- bela tuckeri, Btlr., with the subsequently obtained females from Natal. Tt was not a Psychid, but had been placed between the Psychids and the Cossids in the Fam. Teragridae (Arbelidae). One would like to know upon what basis the present position was arrived at. HARMODIA (DIANTHOECIA) LEPIDA, ESP, (CARPOPHAGA, BORK.). By A. J. WicutTman, F.R.E.S. T have recently rearranged the material I have bred from the county of Sussex and the adjoining area of Dungeness, Kent, during the last 20 years, and the following notes are an attempt to give an idea of the variation occurring in these areas. The species is plentiful in many localities, especially on the coast and among the downs, and is easy to breed from ova or small wild larvae, while in some areas the pupa may be dug during the winter. The variation is so great that I am only able to deal with it in a very general way. The forms vary from examples marked as, or as much as, in the typical form through a number of less heavily marked forms to examples in which the markings are largely absent. In all forms the true ground colour is either white, pale ochreous, or ochreous. The markings vary in colour from palest ochreous through yellow, reddish-ochreous and brown to deep hard brown, and from palest grey through many phases to deep slate. All Sussex browns are rather hard, due probably to some grey in the make up. Normally the markings in any given example are of one colour in various shades, but in some cases several colours are found in the same insect. From first to last I have never found, in Sussex, examples which agree exactly with the deep ochreous brown forms which are normal in parts of Devon, or the grey-brown forms from Wales (capsophila or capsophila-like) : our colours are as deep, but not of the same shade. a a ee ee ‘ HARMODIA (DIANTHOECIA) LEPIDA, ESP. (CARPOPHAGA, BORK.). 127 I have divided the Sussex material into the following groups :— A. Marked as in the typical form (‘‘ dark ochreous, mottled with darker ’’). B. Marked as in the typical form, but central facia darker than rest of wing, giving a slightly banded appearance. C. Marked as in the typical form, but markings less heavy (dense) and so more true ground colour showing, giving a variegated appear- ance. D. As above, but the markings reduced to skeleton form, the ground colour much in evidence. K. Certain areas of wing devoid or almost devoid af markings, and bars in cilia and dots on outer margin absent, giving the insect a most specialized appearance. This last Group, E, is the only Sussex one of which I propose to give further detailed description. El. Marking apparently entirely absent, but under a lens slight mark- ings are seen to be present in a shade of colour hardly deeper than ground colour. E2. Only markings outlines of reniform and orbicular, dot representing claviform. Three longitudinal wedge-shaped marks in area of sub- marginal and oblique mark on the costa in apical patch region. EK3. As above, but fine lines representing the inner and outer lines present. F4. As above, but inner and outer lines now strongly marked and heavy. E5. As above, but whole area between inner and outer lines deeper in shade than ground colour (pale band). K6. As above, but band now in sharp contrast to inner and outer areas (dark band). K7. As above, but some mottling on inner and outer areas, the only unmarked area being submarginal and cilia. E5 and K6 differ more than in depth of colour contrast. E5 has dark markings of central facia enveloped in pale shading, which is itself much deeper than ground colour. EK6 has an almost solid and one-colour dark central band. The greatest contrast is in examples with white ground colour, when band may be red-brown or grey-brown. In examples with ochreous ground colour, the dark band is usually pale purple-brown. Examples belonging to all the Sussex groups occur in all localities in the county, but some localities are specially prolific in the more striking forms (Group E). The only area I can deai with out of Sussex is that of Dungeness, as I lack the necessary material from other areas. From what I have seen in other hands I imagine that, while few areas give anything like as wide a range as Sussex, variation in this species is very great in many other areas, where many forms not found in Sussex occur. 128 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15 / X1/1949 In the Dungeness area of Kent, a most peculiar form occurs. In its most highly marked examples it is very similar in appearance to typical lepida, but it produces many ill-marked forms in which the true mark- ings are similar in quantity and design to the Sussex Group E, but here the areas, which in the Sussex specimens would exhibit the ground colour (white, pale ochreous, or ochreous), are much peppered with the finest possible atoms in grey, greenish-grey, or metallic bronze. Those with white true ground colour are silvery in appearance, those with pale ochreous ground colour appear greenish, while the ochreous ground colour examples appear golden. Another peculiarity of this group is the fact that the central area is never darker than the rest of the wing and is often the palest area. An opposite tendency to that found in Sussex. Also in this group the cilia bars and dots on outer margin are strongly marked. There is no tendency to obsolescence as in Sussex, Group E. I always find reference to published figures helpful, and so give the following :— Ed. Newman’s British Moths, page 385. Fig. 1. If the dark shading on and from costa, the veins and the line along outer margin be deleted, this figure is a good one of K2 Group with white ground colour. Fig. 3. If the area from submarginal to outer margin were free from any shading or marking this would represent E7 with white ground colour, but if this figure were without the shading in basal and outer areas it would represent K6. Fig. 4. If central fascia a little darker it would belong to Group B. Figs. 2 and 5 belong to Group A. South’s Moths of British Isles, Vol. I, Plate 124, Fig. 9, represents a Group B form with less than usual contrast. Fig. 10 represents a Group C form. Seitz Palaearctic Noctuae, Vol. III, Plate 17. Fig. i—1, 2, 3 and 4. Group A (typically marked). Fig. 5. A small example of E3 with pale ochreous ground colour. Usually in these forms the markings are sharp and clear and much darker than in this figure. Fig. 6. If this were peppered with fine bronze coloured atoms and the markings proper, more in contrast to ground colour, and the cilial bars present and strong, it would come near the Dungeness form, of which IT have never seen an illustration. COLLECTING NOTES. Note rrom NortH CuMBERLAND.—1940 has in some respects been a wonderful season in this Easton area. Sunday, 12th August, was an outstanding day. We had friends from Tyneside and went for a stroll in the afternoon. It was a fine, hot day, and in a dip of the road we saw on the wide road verges 12 peacock (i0) butterflies, 5 cardui, dozens of phlaeas, wall (megera), whites (Pierids), and small tortoiseshell (urticae). It was a wonderful sight for Cumberland. V. io has been, I ee | COLLECTING NOTES. 129 believe, unknown here for over 20 years, and cardui is very rarely met with. We have had a good season for Lepidoptera though Huchloé car- damines was rather scarce, and I never came across the common blue. The Red Admiral (atalanta) was late and not so numerous as usual. I saw the small blue (minima) twice. This and io are new to my Easton List. The water ermine (Spiiosomu urticae) turned up again in the same place in which the caterpillar was found last year. Hemiptera have been plentiful. Picromerus bidens, the. Shield bug, was common all over the area, and Tettigonia viridissima, L. and Euacanthus nervosus, L., both scarce in former years, were got commonly when sweeping. Sirex gigas, the ‘‘ wood wasp ”’ was again plentiful in the Border weods. I have quite a lot of Hymenoptera as yet unidentified, together with numerous Diptera. I had almost forgotten to add Hipparchus papilion- aria (the ‘‘large emerald moth’’) to my list. Curiously enough, Coleop- tera have not been found in numbers and I do not think I have taken anything new to the area. Chorthippus bicolor was the commonest grass- hopper, and two Alewrodidae—Aleurodes rubicola and A. phillyrae—were fairly common.—T. FRED MaARRINER. CoLLecTING at LigHT puRING MooniicgHt.—On 30th and 31st May 1939, I went to my cinerea ground, in spite of a full clear moon, to search for Qs. I put a lamp and sheet at dusk and then began my search. I was amazed on returning to the sheet to find that although the full clear moon made night almost like day ¢ cinerea were coming ireely to the light. The time was 11.30-0.30 (suimmer time); the weather was calm and, for a moonlight night in May, very warm—49°.—A. J. W. HODES PHLAEAS IN THE ISLE oF CoLtonsay.—For many seasons I have collected Lepidoptera in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, but never until this year have I seen the ‘‘ Small Copper ”’ on any of them. However, whilst studying the Flora of Colonsay during September, I captured a single example near Scalasaig. This, I believe, supplies the first record of the specics from any Hebridean island, either Outer or Inner. The only other species of Lepidoptera noted were larvae of Bombyx rubi, which really swarmed, and of Acronicta rwmicis, which occurred spar- ingly.—Jack Hestop Harrison, Gavarnie, Birtiey, Cc. Durham. THE OccURRENCE or Miana (PRocUS) VERSICOLOR, BKH., IN CoLL.— In the February number (page 19) of the Entomologist’s Record I drew attention to the fact that I had captured specimens of this species in the Isle of Raasay in 1935-6. Although the bulk of the examples taken by myself and others occurred at rush flowers, odd individuals were found on ragwort. At that time I was unable to report the occurrence of the species in any other Hebridean island. This year, however, my father, Professor J. W. Heslop Harrison, secured an additional ex- ample, also from ragwort, near Arinagour on the Isle of Coll. In connection with this, I should like to draw attention to a paper in the Entomologist (Voi. Ixxin, March 1940) entitled ‘‘ A New British Noctuid: Procus versicolor Bkh.’? May I point out that this species was not then new to the British list as my specimens had already been recorded: (1) in 1937 in the Proceedings of the University Philosophical! Society, Vol. x, page 314, (2) in 1940 in the Ent. Record, Vol. lii, page 130 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ X1/1940 19? Both of these records antedated Dr de Worms’ record, the former by three years. Further, I should lke to emphasize the fact that my father supplied the necessary references to pertinent continental litera- ture. The failure to note my previous captures, and the earlier record, seems difficult to understand, as all the persons concerned had been supplied with copies of the 1937 paper.—Jack HeEstop Harrison. MaNIOLA JURTINA REGAINS ITs OLD GRouND In DurHAM.—When I first began to take an interest in the Lepidoptera, this species failed entirely in large areas in North and Mid Durham, although it still occurred on the coast. Gradually, however, it began to appear as isolated individuals in stations where, my father assured me, it had once possessed strongholds. This year, it has been observed in large numbers in habitats, well worked in the past, where it certainly was not to be taken by collectors who worked these counties forty years ago, when many of our then-existing grass-feeding butterflies began to show signs of decadence.—JAack HeEstor Harrison. DIANTHOECIA CUCUBALI, FUESL., IN THE ISLE oF GREAT BERNERA.— Owing to the fact that there are several Bernerays and Berneras in the Outer Hebrides, it is necessary to point out that the present Bernera is that lying to the west of the Isle of Lewis. In July 1939 Dr W. A. Clark and myself camped on Great Bernera to work its Flora when, in- cidentally, I also collected Insecta. Late one evening a specimen of the present species flew into our tent, thus providing the second Outer Hebridean record. The first recorded capture was made by my brother. Dr G. Heslop Harrison, in Mingulay in 1937.—Jack Hrstop Harrison. FurtHEst NortH ror HUMENIS SEMELE IN Britatn ?—In 1937 I spent a considerable time investigating the Flora and Fauna of Sutherland- shire, when I camped out near Durness on the northern coast, no great distance from Cape Wrath. There magnificent sand dunes occur which I feel certain will produce much more than my limited efforts secured. The most interesting butterfly I captured was Humenis semele, which flew in small numbers with a fine form of Maniola jurtina and occa- sional Pieris brassicae and Aglais urticae.—Jack Hestor Harrison. NyYSsIA ZONARIA SUBSP. ATLANTICA, HARRISON, IN THE ISLE OF GUNNA.— Last year I recorded this interesting race of Nyssia zonaria from seve- ral new stations in various islands in the north of the ‘‘ Long ”’ Island. This season (1940) one of our parties observed larvae on Gunna. Gunna is a peculiar island, famous for its grazing (and its wild birds!) lying between Coll and Tiree. It is broken into two distinct ecological divi- sions, one wholly heather moorland and the other providing extensive sand dunes. In spite of careful sweeping, no larvae were found in the former area, all being restricted to the mats of Lotus corniculatus found growing amongst the dunes. This is the more surprising as in some of the Islands, for instance, on the Isle of Rhum, the species passes to the moorlands, and may be found in such areas up to a considerable height as on Ard Nev and Ruinsival, in the latter case reaching 1300 feet above sea level.—Jack Hegstorp Harrison. —————— CURRENT NOTES. 131 CURRENT NOTES, The Short Notes in our present number, in answer to our appeals, we gratefully welcome. Other Notes have just come in and we hope that many readers will furnish such for each number during the coming year. The South London Entomological and N.H. Society has cancelled its Annual Exhibition but wishes to obtain particulars from all those, who would have exhibited, so that there may be no break in the yearly re- cords of varieties and important captures. Last year the records were published in this magazine and subsequently in the Transactions of the Society. In the circular just issued by the Society it is stated that ‘‘ it is hoped to do the same again.’’ Details of these proposed exhibits can be sent to Mr H. G. Denvil (Minuting Secretary), 4 Warwick Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, or to Mr S. G. Castle-Russell, ‘‘ Cotswold,’’ Forest Gardens, Lyndhurst, Hants. The latter gentleman will again prepare the matter for publication. May we again ask for short notes from our subscribers’ note books, memories, collections, observations, any special characteristics of their own locality, comparisons of localities, etc., etc. Also ‘‘ Current Notes ”’ of interest to others. The Royal Entomological Society of London issued in September the second portion of its usual yearly output. Parts 5-14, completing the Transactions for the year, comprise over 600 pages with numerous plates and a large number of text figures. Parts 7-9 of the Proceedings, A, General Entomology, 32 pages; and Proceedings, B, Taxonomy, 52 pages, contain the chief items in the routine work of the Society’s activities up to mid-September. The outstanding Memoir is that by Dr Roger Verity, ‘‘ Revision of the athalia group of the genus Melitaea, Fb., 1807 (Nymphalidae),’’ 112 pp., with 14 pits. There are 253 figs. of imagines on 9 plates and 90 figs. of genitalia on 5 plates. For years Dr Verity has been working at this group. Readers of this magazine will recall an article he wrote for us on this group in 1930 pointing out various facts and errors which had been corrected by careful examination of the structure of the genitalia. In his general remarks he writes, ‘‘ The male genitalia afford in no way always an infallible method of determining single specimens or of dis- tinguishing between groups of races. As a rule they do so, but there are species and races which constitute exceptions.’’ ‘‘ They must not be considered without reference to the other organs of the insect and the evidence which can be drawn from these and biological data.’’ The opinion of Dr Verity that there are comparatively few cases to which the term ‘‘ subspecies ’’ can be applied is quite in accord with our own view. This term has been grossly misapplied in the past on the most meagre evidence, often based on the few or very few examples of a species found in a restricted locality, it may be an oceanic island. Whereas the term ‘‘ race ’’ adequately designates any colony, which may contain examples with some special facies not found in other colonies, local populations, or ‘‘ races.’’ ~The author is very definite in his dealing with the terms ‘‘ race ”’ * and -“ subspecies.’? He writes, ‘‘ I continue to use the term 132 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15; X1/1940 ‘race’ em- ployed in my previous papers to designate the variations, which have -been recorded in the general, average, aspect of populations from -» different regions or localities, not because | am convinced it defines at all exactly the nature of those variations in the hereditary sense, sini- larly to the one of ‘ breed’ usually attributed to it, but because the term ‘ subspecies,’ used in the more recent original descriptions and in the latest catalogues, seems to me still less appropriate in the great majority of cases. A few of these populations are, no doubt, really species in the making, as the meaning of ‘ subspecies’ should imply, but many are, no less certainly, of a totally different nature, which has nothing to do with hereditary differences, and with sterility iter se, necessarily connected with the tendency to specific distinctness, if the term ‘ species’ is to have any definite meaning.’’ This remark suggesting that the genitalic structure should not be the dominating factor (although a strong factor) in the determination of specific distinction is a most reasonable statement. The genital struc- ture must be looked upon as only one of the biologic factors, and not wor- shipped as the only criterion by which species can be separated with absolute certainty. Thirteen species are recorded as members of this Group :— Melitaea pacifica, Vrty. Transbaikal. M. ambigua, Ménét. Japan, Amur. M. deione, Geyer. S. Europe. M. athalia, Rott. Europe, etc. M. coreae, Vrty. Corea. M. mayi, Gndr. Alberta. M. britomartis, Assm. S.E. Europe, Russia, Asia, Amur. : . parthenia, Bork. Alps, etc. 9. M. veronicae, Dorfm. Styria. 10. M. asteria, Freyer. Alps. 11. M. parthenoides, Keferst. Alps, Pyrenees, Spain. 12. M. alatawca, Stdgr. Alatau. 13. M. varia, H.-S. Alps. ND OF oo NO oe) = Each of these species is dealt with in detail with all the ‘‘ races ”’ hitherto recorded. No less than fifty-three ‘‘ races’’ are accorded to M. athalia above, arranged in three sections, which are again divided up into groups, and even sub-groups. The figures for the most part are from examples in his own collection. To M. athalia 93 figures of imagines and 37 figures of the genitalia are given. The figures are all very good indeed and will be of the greatest use to students who come after. Dr C. B. Williams presents the second part of ‘‘ Analysis of Four Years Captures of Insects in a Light Trap,’’ of which the first part was in the Transactions for 1939. The matter is largely statistical and deals with ‘‘ The effect of weather conditions on insect activity.’? Some of the statistics are astounding. We read ‘‘ The number caught per night varied from zero on many nights in the winter months to a maximum of approximately 73,000 on one night at the end of June 1935. There were, however, only 13 occasions when the catch was over 10,000 insects and these were all in 1935 and 1936.’’ THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (253) Foxoa0 Culot, N. et G., I (2), 79, plt. 58, f. 15 (1914), gave a good figuiee Compa the dull reddish am with Tete = rasciae, helvola, L. Ke "zoology fs ‘ Barrett’s remarks on the Variation are :— DEC It 4940 ‘Rather variable in the tint of the transverse bands and centraé RAR shade, paler to rust-red, darker to very deep purple-red; and in the colour of the central portion of the hindwings from smoky-whiite to smoky-black. In S. Yorkshire this becomes of a dull uniform reddish- buff, of coarse texture, and with only faint traces of the usual beautiful transverse bands; yet even in this district well-marked individuals sometimes occur, and farther north, in Cumberland and in both the east and west of Scotland, the normal borillaaie colouring of the bands is re- sumed or even exceeded. Specimens also occur in which the ground colour has a more yellow tint, even almost to pale yellow.”’ He records an example ‘‘ Of this shade, but with the transverse bands pale purple.”’ Hoffman, Schim. Stierm., IL], 148 (1915), after discussing the various forms speaks of the variation: ‘‘ Other unnamed forms are somewhat paler or darker than the typical form with more or less strongly em- phasized dark markings. The beautiful brown-red of the fresh insect disappears in the dried example.’’ ‘‘ Examples with particularly dark marginal area, discal area, and basal area I have seen from Guggenbach.’’ The Names and Forms dealt with are :— helwola, L. (1758), Sys. Nat., 184. rufina, L. (1761), Fn. S., 1142. catenata, Esp. (1788-?), Abbild., IV, 327, plt. 123, 1. ab. punica, Bork. (1792), Naturg., IV, 637. r. stbirica, Stdgr. (1882), Stett. e. Ztg., XLII, 46 [See Tutt, l.c., IV, App. |. ab. pallae, Greg.-Robs. (1888), Young Nat., TX, 122. ab. ochrea, Tutt (1892), Brit. Noct., II, 163. ab. unicolor, Tutt (1892), l.c. ab. fuga, Tutt: (1892), t.c: ab. cinnamomea, Fuchs. (1903), Soc. Ent., XVIII, 3. ab. extincta, Splr. (1907), Schm. EFur., I, 249. ab. uniformis, Splr. (1907), l.c. ab. pallescens, Warr.-Stz. (1910), Pal. Noct., III, 152, plt. 37 g v. cinerea, Obthr. (1918), Lep. Comp., XVI, 118, plt. 493, f. 4088. Tutt dealt with (1) helvola, the dull reddish with three dark fasciae; (2) rufina (catenata), bright red, with fasciae distinct (purplish); (3) punica, ochreous, with dark purplish bands; (4) wntcolor, dull reddish, indistinct fascia, almost unicolorous; (5) ochrea, ochreous, with greenish tinge and reddish fasciae; (6) rufa, bright red, fascia indistinct, almost unicolorous ; (7) stbirica, paler and lighter, forewing yellowish ; (8) pallae, pale straw colour, indistinct bands, almost unicolorous. ; ' Tutt gave the Orig. Descrip. of r. sibirica, Stdgr., in the Appendix to Vol. IV. Of the form Hampson said, Cat. Lep. Ph., VI, 482 (1906), ‘‘ Paler, forewing yellowish.’’? Altai, W. Turkestan. oe (254) ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/X1/1940 ab. cinnamomea, Fuchs., Soc. Ent., XVIII, 3 (1903). Orig. Derscrip.—‘‘ Forewing uniform cinnamon-red with no em- phasized markings. A strong colour aberration, which is distinguished from other helvola by its very cinnamon-red, bright forewings. Only slight traces of the markings are present, which the red colour of the uniform characteristic has not altered.’’ ab. extincta, Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 249 (1907). Oric. Drescrirp.—‘‘ The marking can be almost obsolete.’’ ab. untformis, Splr., Schm. Ewr., I, 249 (1907). Orie. Descrip.—‘‘ Forms occur with markings almost run together but very indistinct and without differentiation in colour from either the central or the marginal area.”’ ab. pallescens, Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., ITI, 151 (1910). LM te beees|| 2 oo mers ae) Orie. Descrip.—‘‘ Specimens from Amasia, though reddish in a few cases, mostly 2 2, are generally much paler than European, dull brown- ish or ochreous-grey, with indistinct or obsolete markings; in particular the hindwings are much whiter with the grey and rufous suffusions usually shghter and more restricted in area.’’ var. cinerea, Obthr., Lep. Comp., XVI, 118 (1918). Fie.—l.c., plt. 493, f. 4088. Ortc. Descrip.—‘: The forewings above are unicolorous and without markings; the coloration varies from brick-red to ashy-grey.’? Algeria. The figure has two transverse lines of deeper grey and thus is not unicolorous without markings. Anchocelis, Gn. (1852), Newm. [Orthosia, Ochs. & Tr. (1816-25), almost all authors: Amathes, Hb. (1821), Hamp., South, Warr.] pista- cina, Fb. = lychnidis, (Schiff.) Fab. This species was first indicated by Schiff. in the Verz. (1775), lych- nidis, L, 5, on p. 76, and pistacina, M, 1, on p. 77, but without any description. Fab., Mant., II (1787), gave inadequate descriptions of both, on p. 146 and p. 175 respectively. In fact, Bork., Naturg., IV, p. 598, lychnidis, and p. 523, pistacina, gave the first adequate descriptions. However, Fb. must be considered the prior author. Although his de- scriptions were very meagre they were descriptions, and the first, hence we have lychnidis, (Schiff.) Fab., and pistacina, (Schiff.) Fab. Early authors made several species from diverse forms of this insect ; all but the two main forms were gradually absorbed into these two, lychnidis and pistacina. Among early post-Linnaean lepidopterists a tenet of their nomenclature was that the typical form must be a ¢ (teste janira versus jurtina of Linn.), and as the pistacina form was considered to be ¢ and the lychnidis 9, although lychnidis was first de- scribed at the end of the last century, the ¢ pistacina form was taken as the typical one just as the ¢ janira, although not the prior named form of the species in each case. Thus we have Tr. treating lychnidis THE BRITISH NOCTUAE AND THEIR VARIETIES. (255) as a var. of pistacina in Vol.-V of his Schm. d’Eur. in 1825, among other similar cases. It is only quite recently that the principle of priority in nomenclature has become generally apparent and we get such amend- ments as this. Tutt, British Noct., II, 164 (1892): Meyr., Handb., 63 (1895): Barr., Lep. Br. Is., V, 341, plt. 227 (1899): Stdgr., Cat., Ted., 206 (1901): Hamp., Lep. Phal., V, 475 (1906): Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 250, plt. 46, 12 a, b (1907): South, M.B.J., Il, 16, plt. 9, 3-6 (1908): Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 150, plt. 36 k and 37 a, b (1910): Culot, N. ef G., I (2), 81, plt. 54, 1-6 (1914): Meyr., Rev. Hand., 123 (1928). Esp., Abbild. Noct., IV (1), 5224, plt. 156, 1-6, 157, 23 (1788-?). The first three ¢ and ° of each species (form) are quite recognizable and distinct, serena, rwbetra and canaria; the last, schoenobaena, 157, 2-3, is not so definite for identification. Ernst. & Engr., Pap. d’Eur., VII, 2 figs, 397=2 and 398=2 (1790), gave four figures quite good; the 397 figs. are referred to pistacina, Fb., by Werneburg, and although the authors referred 398 a and b to lych- nidis, Fb., Werneburg did not agree because of the large orbicular stigmata, but Werne. considered 399 ¢ as pistacina, which seems probable. Donovan, N.H. Brit. Ins., X, plt. 360 (1801), figured an insect under the name lineola, which Haw., Lep. Brit., 231 (1809), placed among what we may term his pistacina group. Hb., Samml. Noct., 131 (1800-3), 464 (1809-13), 707 (1823-24), gave figures of three forms. 131 a somewhat lght ruddy brown form, well marked, pistacina. 464 a darker well-marked form, lychnidis. 707 a more uniform deep red almost devoid of marking, pistacina. H.-S., Bearb. Noct., 11, 200 (1849), remarked on these figures :—131, appeared to be a worn example, f.w. too wide; 464, aberrant in shape, the vein- ing no lighter than the ground as it should be for lychnidis; 707, poor shape, seldom so red. A very difficult species to figure on account of its unstable shape, marking and colour. Haw., Lep. Brit., 230-2 (1809), placed six forms as six species with the remarks ‘‘ precedenti nimis affinis,’?’ and ‘‘ they may eventually prove to be one species.”’ The form of venosa, Haw., ‘‘ of a dirty reddish-brown ’’ appears to be very local, as an extreme form. The term venosa, Haw., would apply to several other forms in which the veins are picked out in a lighter shade. Dup., Hist. Nat., VI, 113, plt. 80, 5 (1826), lychnidis and pistacina, gave a very good figure of the former, treated both forms as one species but did not mention the variability. Steph., /ll., II, 146 (1829), called this multiple formed species pista- cina, Kb., indicated five forms which had hitherto been considered dis- tinct species, refused to describe other forms of which he had bred several from similar larvae. Tr., Schm., V (2), 239 (1825), treated lychnidis as a var. of pistacina. Gn., Hist. Nat. Noct., V (1), 364-6 (1852), stated that the type (meaning pistacina) had not been adequately described by Fab. from the Schiff. collection and expressed the opinion that Hiibner’s figure of it was only poor. He considered that the blackish forms spoken of by (256) ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 15 / XI /1940 Tr., and reported from Italy by Dahl, were undoubtedly the form canara, Esp. Tutt gave Haw. as the author of f. lineola. It was Donovan (1801) as given by Haworth himself. South, i/.B.J., II, 16, plt. 9, figs. 3-6 (1908), gave five figures all spoiled by the general colour ot the plate, which is far from reddish, but all forms recognizable by marking; 3, a well-marked lychnidis, with veins marked; 4, a serina, an ochreous form without the grey mixture; 5, a ferrea, almost uniform, which should be reddish. Splr., Schm. Eur., I, 250, plt. 46, f. 12a-12b (1907), gave a good ac- count of the variation with two figures so bad that the author himself criticises them strongly. Warr.-Stz., Pal. Noct., III, 150, plt. 36k, 37 a, b (1910), took the lychnidis, Fb., Mamt., 146, as the prior name, considered schaenobaena, lineola and sphaerulatina as synonyms; the venosa, Haw., as the form pistacina; the pistacina, Haw., as the obsoleta, Tutt; and gave 16 figures, all good; lychnidis, ¢ and @, the latter a shade darker all wings, pistacina ¢ and Q, the former with lighter venation, rwbetra, ferrea, obsoleta 3 and 9, serina2 g and 2 Q, canaria ¢ and 9, caeru- lescens ¢ and Q. Culot, N. et G., I (2), 81, plt. 54, f. 1-6 (1914), took pistacina as the typical form and lychnidis as an ab. in which the veining is just appar- ent although not emphasised in his f. 4. The figures are all really excel- lent. He figured pistacina, ab. canaria, ab. serina, lychnidis, ab. rubetra and a beautiful caerulescens, and in the text he remarked on the fact that he had figured the chief forms which were connected with every gradation the naming of which he strongly condemned. Of the Variation Barrett says :— ‘“ Always and everywhere variable in colour of the thorax and fore- wings—very pale drab, grey-drab, brown-drab, pale brown, and every shade of red-drab and red-brown to light or dark tawny and brick-red ; also in the distinctness of the markings, which fade out in every degree until they become almost or quite imperceptible; or occasionally become intensified, the central shade in particular until the latter sometimes forms a black cloud across the wing; far more frequently, however, it is only the two stigmata and the costal wedge that become distinct, the lines and shades remaining obscure. Another phase of variation occurs in the blackening of the dorsal half of the wing, or portions of it, by smoky-black clouds.”’ He records a specimen which has ‘‘ The stripe before the subterminal line composed of regular black sections divided by the pale nervures.”’ Plymouth. A delicate form ‘‘ Of a very soft grey-buff, with the transverse mark- ings faintly purple-brown.’’ Essex. Another ‘‘ Has the ground colour creamy-white, with the lines bright pinkish-fulvous, and the hinder area clouded with a more dull tint of the same.’’ Another ‘‘ Is almost uniformly deep mahogany-brown so far as the thorax and forewings are concerned.’’ i All MS. and EDITORIAL MATTER should be sent and all PROOFS returned to Hy. J. TURNER, ‘‘ Latemar,” 25 West Drive, Cheam. We must earnestly request our correspondents NOT TO SEND US COMMUNICA- TIONS IDENTICAL with those they are sending to other magazines. REPRINTS of articles may be obtained by authors at very reasonable cost if ordered at THE TIME OF SENDING IN MS. Articles that require ILLUSTRATIONS are inserted on condition that the AUTHOR DEFRAYS THE COST of the illustrations. TO OUR READERS.—Short Collecting Notes and Current Notes. Please, Early.—EDs. EXCHANGES. Subscribers may have Lists of Duplicates and Desiderata inserted free of charge. They should be sent to Mr Hy. J. TURNER, ‘“‘ Latemar,’ West Drive, Cheam. Urgently Wanted for Experimental Purposes.—Pupae of hirtaria and lapponaria. I can offer duplicates of very many species in return.—Harold B. Williams, Croft Point, Bramley, Surrey. Desiderata—British dominula varieties with full data other than var. lutescens and var. lineata. Other vars. acceptable. Duplicates—British L. l-album, exigua, cribrum, ocellaris; and intermedia, etc.—Dr H. B. D. Keitlewell, Cranleigh, Surrey. Wanted—American Hesperiidae, especially from Costa Rica, West Indies, the Guyanas, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia. Write K. J. Hayward, Estacién Experimental, Casilla Correo 71, Tucuman, Republica Argentina. Duplicates.—Several thousand British Macro-Lepidoptera in perfect condition; full data. Desiderata.——British Micro-Lepidoptera in similar condition.— S.C. S. 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(Most important only mentioned.) GENUS Acronycta and its allies—Variation of Smerinthus tiliae, 3 Coiba ' plates—Differentiation of Melitaea athalia, parthenie, and aurelia—The Double- — day collection—Parthenogenesis—Paper on Taeniocampidae—Phylloxera—Prac- ( tical Hints (many)—Parallel Variation in Coleoptera—Origin of Argynnis paphia i var. valesina—Work for the Winter--Temperature and Variation—Synonymic — notes—Retrospect of a Lepidopterist for 1890—Life-histories of Agrotis pyrophila, — Epunda lichenea, Heliophobus hispidus—Captures at Ment ere notes, etc., etc., 360 pp. ; CONTENTS OF VOL. II. MELANISM AND MELANOCHROISM—Bibliography—Notes on Goliectine “Articles: x0) VARIATION (many)—How to breed Agrotis lunigera, Sesia sphegiformis, Taenio campa opima—Collecting on the Norfolk Broads—Wing development—Hybridi: ; ing Amphidasys prodromaria and A. betularia—Melanism and Temperature— Differentiation of Dianthoecias—Disuse of wings—Fauna of Dulwich, Sidmouth, — S. London—Generic nomenclature and the Acronyctidae—A fortnight at Ran-~ noch—Heredity in Lepidoptera—Notes on Genus Zygaena (Anthrocera)—Hybrids : —Hymenoptera—Life-history of Gonophora derasa, es ete., eae PP. : To be obtained from :— © 4 ay Mr H. E. PAGE, 9 Vanbrush Hill, Blackheath, ‘London, SE. 3, to whom Cheques and Postal Orders should be made pare Printed by T. ee & ce ae ra bey Mee =, Sf” No. 12 oF DECEMBER 1940. ee Saakoay "8G JAN 27 1944 ; {iBRARY we OF VARIATIO EDITED with the assistance of ; MALCOLM BuRR, D.Sc., F.R.E.S. | T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, R.N., F.L.S., &. A. COCKAYNE, A.M., D.M., F.R.E.S., | F.ZS., F.R.E.S, fF ERCP. | H. E. Page, F.RES. ae J.( Es COLLIN,’ J/P.; F.R.E.S. | ALFRED SICH, F.R.E.S. » H. DONIsrHORPE, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. | Rev. G. WHEELER, M.A., F.R.ES.,F.ZS. i ski Edilor Emeritus—G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. s By HENRY J. TURNER, F.R.E.S., F.R.H.S., Editorial Secretary. 4 ¥ CONTENTS. 4 JODIS LACTEARIA—Explanation of Plate VID occ ia 133 . PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN.—Description of Plate VIIT .........-....... 133 ~ NOTES BPROM AN ENTOMOLOGICAT, DIARY: 4 Breeder von. i0s cose sci scees 133 ae a THE GENUS ZYGAENA IN ‘THE WESTERN ISLES OF SCOTLAND, J. W. YY PES STE a O07 OLE ORD Co DR OR BAC PHB ERIBE, OVE RODS ANSE BRDBBE rs er perc Cer ere eroee re Per er eek Ey te 134 _ COLLECTING NOTES: Euphydryas aurinia new to Snowdonia, Thomas Greer: The Season in Co. Tyrone, Jd.; Callophrys rubi, L., in the Isle of ~ Coll, J. W. Heslop Harrison; Coccinellidae in the Isle of Benbecula, Td.; _ Phisia moneta, L., in the Inner Hebrides, 7d.: Beetles new to the Isle of i Canna, Id.. A few Lepidoptera from Loch Eriboll, Sutherlandshire, Jack - -Hestop Harrison: Vespa austriaca, Panz., at Forres, J. W. Heslop Harrison 137 4 | CURRENT MU CUCE Peer te, tee, OL Mehra dues ay 4. vu gs odd oe nes cakaesteraae deadsaas np sche erred 139 IRIE S UAT SC MLS SSO Rea UR ec WORE BSCR oes Meee run Per Maan EGE 141 Fea SUPPLEMENT : " The British Noctuae and their Varieties, Hy. J. Turner, F.R.ES., (2577)-(264) Subscription for Complete Volume, post free, TEN SHILLINGS, to The Hon. Treasurer, H. W. ANDREWS, F.R.E.S., : 6 Footscray Road, Eltham, S.E.9. ‘This number, Prico ONE SHILLING AND SIXPENCE (net). WATKINS & DONCASTER (ESTABLISHED 1879) CAN SUPPLY EVERYTHING NEEDED BY THE COLLECTOR, At Keenest Prices. Large Stocks always maintained for quick service. Full Catalogue post free, per return. Agents for Dr Seitz ‘‘ Macro-Lepidoptera of the World.” 36 STRAND, LONDON, W.C.2., ENGLAND. P.C. Box No. 126. \ TELEPHONE—TEMPLE BAR 9461. J. J. HILL & SON, ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET MANUFACTURERS, YEWFIELD ROAD, N.W.1o, ‘Phone: WiLLEspan 0309. SEVERAL CHEAP STORAGE INSECT CABINETS FOR DISPOSAL. 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By Roger Verity, F.R.E.S. 3s 6d is FOODPLANTS OF THE LARVAE OCF BRITISH TRYPETIDAE (DIPTERA). 4 BY. M. /NIBLETT A+REW COPIES ONLY seo auc eee is 0d 4 To ve odtatned post free from H. W. ANDREWS, 6 Footscray Road, Elth>m, S.E.9. — a. BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS OF THE WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND. 4 = Containing a descriptive history of 430 species all illustrated in colour, and 95 text figures. oy Based upon “‘THE BUTTERFLIES OF THE BRITISH ISLES” and ‘ ‘THE 4 MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES,” by Richard South, F.R.E.S. : Complete in one volume. Cloth Bound. Pocket size, 64 in. x 4 in. PRICE, 8/6 NET; BY POST, 8/11. Ra FREDERICK WARNE & CO. LTD., 1-4 BEDFORD COURT, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.6.2 4 PLATE VIl. VOL. Lil. N. Burrows. Nel. C. R. Py A100. ARIA, L. IODIS LACTE VOL. ET PLATE VIII. P. 121. Del. C.R. N. Burrows. PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, Hufn. IODIS LACTEARIA—PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN. 133 1IODIS LACTEARIA, 13 S20 a at Compa) 3 => z c s Zoology a \ JAN 27 1941 LIBRARY EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII. a. The egg. b. The egg, lateral view. I. The larva, just hatched. ce. The larva, the lst abdominal segment. II. The larva, 2nd stadium. d. The larva, 2nd stadium, the 3rd abdominal segment. Ill. The larva, 3rd stadium. e. The larva, 3rd stadium, frontal projection. f. Hairs from larvae at each stadium. @. Anal organ of larvae at each stadium. h. Dorsal margin, 3rd stadium. PSEUDOTERPNA PRUINATA, HUFN. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE VIII. Bie ot, The eggs. II. The egg, side view. III. The egg, portion more highly magnified. IV. The larva, first instar. V. The larva, first instar, Ist abdominal segment. VI. The larva, first instar, anal segments. a. The sub-segmental divisions. b. The lateral flange. e. The anal organ. d.ande. Tactile hairs. VII. The larva, second instar. f. The fine tactile hairs. g. The spicules. h. Plates on subdorsal margin. 1. Plates on spiracular region. VIII. The head and first thoracic segment. IX. The first abdominal segment. X. The subdorsal margin XJ. The spiracular region, first abdominal segment. NOTES FROM AN ENTOMOLOGICAL DIARY. By A. BrreDER. The larva of Xylina semibrunnea can be beaten from the branches of ash. If ash tree branches are sugared in early October this species is sometimes quite plentiful in open marshy country. Agrotis vestigialis breeds in sand where a carpet of bedstraw and tangled grasses covers the surface. The main emergence is in September, _ the Ist-15th, but a few are out in July and August. 134 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ XIT/ 1940 The larva of Apamea unanimis is abundant among Phragmites and Phalaris in marshy ground in September and can be beaten out of the undergrowth until late in October. It pupates under lichens on fences and tree trunks or in hollow stems in early spring, March and April. The larva of Monima (Taeniocampa) gracilis is easy to find until the penultimate instar is reached, tented up in the food-plant, but hard to find even after dark when nearly full fed. The Red, New Forest gracilis are ten days earlier in all stages than the Grey forms in the South of England. Tholera cespitis, Charaeas graminis, and Anchocelis lunosa all breed high up in the Downs in dry situations, but also breed in the marshes. The larvae of Plusia chryson and Cosmia affinis have prolegs of a ereen colour like the rest of larva normally. Both species, however, have black prolegs occasionally. The larva of Abrostola tripartita in the wild state is 997; green and 1% purple. In captivity it soon becomes purple up to 80%, even when taken wild up to three-quarter grown. The larva of Acronicta aceris occurs in nature on oak, but less often than on horse chestnut and sycamore. Plusia festwcae comes to the flowers of Silene and Iychnis before it is too dark to recognise it. P. chrysitis is 15 minutes later. If no Silene, etc., occurs near the festucae breeding ground, cut flowers hung on barb-wire fences will do. Larvae of Senta maritima will eat dead pupae, mutton fat, etc., but must be given water te drink or will go cannibal. The pupa of this species shows the wing pattern and the form to come can be foretold a few days before emergence. The larva of Caradrina ambigua will neglect green food for dead pupae in which the moth was well formed up, thus behaving much like that of Senta maritima. The larva of Dicycla oo feeds in a tight ‘‘ tent ’’ of oak leaves closely drawn together and sealed up and is impossible to beat except when changing from an old and emptied ‘‘ tent ’’ to a fresh one, and this it does after dark. It is not a cannibal; it pupates in earth just below the surface and emerges in a few days. It is on the wing within an hour of emergence. The usual food in nature of Cucullia winbratica is Crepis. The larva when half-grown leaves the plant and hides till dark. The pupa of Cucullia lychnitis may lie for one to three years. The first year emergences are later than those of the second year, and the third year emergences are sometimes as early as May. The pupa of C. gnaphali never lies over as some books say it does. THE GENUS ZYGAENA IN THE WESTERN ISLES OF SCOTLAND. By Professor J. W. Hestop Harrison, F.R.S. In 1934, when we first commenced our researches in connection with the Flora and Fauna of the Inner and Outer Hebrides, we were greatly surprised to find Zygaena filipendulae occurring in some plenty on the south-eastern and southern coasts of Raasay. Later, our surprise ‘ THE GENUS ZYGAENA IN THE WESTERN ISLES OF SCOTLAND. 135 diminished when we began to realize that Raasay and its southern neighbour, Scalpay, for floristic and faunistic purposes, were parts of the mainland. They have, in fact, been quite recently, geologically speaking, detached therefrom. However, as our work proceeded, two other species of the genus, Zygaena achilleae and Z. purpuralis came under observation, and, moreover, we discovered Z. filipendulae, not only in the Outer [sles, but also in certain members of the Inner group where its presence was of considerable zoogeographical importance. It is now proposed to give some account of the various species as they occur in the Hebrides, and of their ranges. Zygaena filipendulae, L.—As already indicated, this species was originally found on the sea coast of Raasay at Fearns and Eyre Point. Later, however, it was proved to occur along the whole of the south coast almost to the pier. From South Fearns, it strikes inland up a narrow gorge leading to Inverarish, failing on the higher ground to recur on the moorlands east and north of the Raasay House area toward Brochel. On Scalpay, it may be noted along the Torridonian Conglomerate formation in the north. The nearest station to this known to us on other islands is on Skye near Kyleakin. Our next encounter with Z. filipendulae was in 1937 on the Isle of Rhum. where we have described it elsewhere as ‘‘ not very common ”’ on grassy sea banks between Shamnan Insir and Kilmory. Subsequently, in 1938, when we stayed on Rhum for three weeks, it appeared in thou- sands in very many habitats. In fact, only on the Torridonian Sand- stone in the northwest, and in the higher mountains, was it rare. South of Loch Scresort, the species becomes really plentiful on the coast near the Bagh na h-Uamha, and then follows a band around the 200 foot contour line until Dibidil is reached, where it penetrates a consider- able distance up the ‘‘ dil’’-or dale. Southward, it occurs sparingly on the cliff tops as far as Papadil where, in a cliff-enclosed suntrap, on red-hot thyme-clad and Lotus-clad slopes, it buzzes in endless numbers. West of this, it ascends the crags to about 1000 feet on Ruinsival, later descending to the grassy slopes of Harris at which station once again its numbers increase enormously. From Harris, northwest to Blood- stone Hill, the insect flies in sparse numbers. Inland, we only know it on grassy slopes on Ard Nev. Throughout Rhum, the form is very large, and many examples are characterised by the last pair of red spots being confluent. In the Isle of Canna, it may be found in meadows and elsewhere near the church, whilst on Eigg we have taken it in quantity on the moorlands on each side of the path leading from Cleadale to the Har- beur. Again, in the Isle of Muck, it was equally plentiful, chiefly in hollows near the coast, but often enough extending some distance in- land. Jutting out to the north-west of Muck extends Eilean nan Each, and here once again Z. filipendulac occurs freely. In the Coll group of islands we have only detected it on ledges covered with luxuriant vegetation near Rudha Ban on Coll itself. On Gunna. a very peculiar fact about the species emerges. Although it feeds there, as elsewhere, on Letus corniculatus, it shuns the well- - developed sand-dunes with their mats of the food plant, and prefers the 136 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ XTT/ 1940 scattered Lotus plants growing on the rolling moorlands and cliffs in the west. So far as we know, the insect fails in Tiree. In the Outer Isles, we have collected it from Pabbay (Barra Isles), where it favours the sand-dunes and flies in myriads in a really magni- ficent form. Next, it was taken on Sandray on which island it neglects the dunes to turn up on the rocky, heather moorlands near Loch na Cuille. On Vatersay, where it is catholic in its tastes, it flies on the dunes and machair as well as on the rocky Meall and in damp grassy hollows on the sea coast. Eastward, where the massive rock of Mul- doanich looms high, of necessity the steep moorlands support it, whilst to the south west it ekes out a precarious existence on the spray- drenched Flodday. For Barra itself Campbell (Scott. Nat., November- December 1938) gives only Ben Erival as a locality, and states that it is not very common. We found it plentiful and far from local, for it occurred at Castle Bay, Borve, Brevaig, Loch nam Faoiieann, etc. Further, this author adds the iesser islands of Hellisay and Orosay ; we can supplement these with Fiaray and Fuday. Further north, our expedition picked it up on South Uist from Daliburgh to Howmore, always on the transition zone between the machair and the moorlands. As far a8 we can say, it avoids the machair and dunes proper. Lastly, one of our parties captured it much further north on the Isle of Berneray in the Sound of Harris. Here the form is exceedingly tiny. Tt seems necessary to emphasise that everywhere the insect appears at a much earlier date than in the North of England, the earliest we have seen it on the wing being June 6th, 1940, in the Jsle of Gunna. Zygaena achilleae, Gn.—Our first encounter with this species was on Raasay on the southward slopes of Beinn na Leac where a series of cocoons attached to the rocks attracted our attention in 1934. No imagines were at first available, so dead pupae were dissected to reveal that the insects they enclosed were Z. achilleae. After this, two very worn examples were captured and submitted to Dr Cockayne for his confirmation of our identification. These were more blurred in pattern than the usual Oban examples, and even than the extracted specimens. Next, when we visited Eilean nan Each in June 1938, cocoons were brought home, and these yielded a single Z. achilleae, the majority being Z. filipendulae. Finally, in July 1938, on the banks of the Allt Mor na h-Uamha, Isle of Rhum, two further specimens were captured, followed by a third on the opposite side of the island between Glen Shellesder and Kilmory. The facies of all of these, as well as of that from Kilean nan Kach, was the same as that of the Oban insects. Zygquena purpuralis, .—When we landed on Rhum in July 1938, the islanders reported that, whilst working in some districts of the island. they were being pestered with masses of strange-looking insects. Their descriptions were such as to suggest that the insect concerned was a ‘Burnet’ and, needless to say, we set it down in our minds as Z. filipendulae, Nevertheless, to make sure of its identity, we asked COLLECTING NOTES. uS7 them to bring us specimens. Our surprise may readily be imagined when the inevitable match box produced Z. purpuralis : This necessarily provoked a journey to Harris which, tedious and rough enough in any case, became perfect torture in climbing boots. However, just about the 1000 foot contour line between Ard Nev and Ard Mheall, we had our reward, for there appeared countless swarms of the insect which persisted until Harris was reached, and as far as we explored east thereof. Later, as with Z. filipendulae, we proceeded to determine its range, when we found it to commence on the east near Lochan Dubh at 750 feet, thence to pass to Dibidil and up the slopes of Sgurr nan Gillean. At Papadil it abounded in the suntrap and westward to Harris again. On Ruinsival, it ascended high to about 13U0 feet. North-west of Harris, along the cliffs, it was very rare, but its numbers increased on Blood- stone Hill, after which we found it no more. It seems well worth noting that the inhabitants of Rhum insisted that its advent to the islands was very recent indeed, and nothing we could say would alter this opinion. In 1939, one of our expeditionary force was on the Isle of Eigg in June, and, although not an entomologist, had been well drilled by our enthusiasm on Rhum. Thus, when she saw a Zygaena fiving on that island she brought specimens home for our inspection. They proved genuine Z. purpuralis, and of the form prevalent in Rhum. She ob- served them freely on thyme-clad banks. Lastly, on 6th June 1940, also on a flowery slope in the Isle of Gunna, we were delighted to see the insect flying in the sunshine. Tt should be made clear that we feel reasonably certain that, if we could get to Muck, Canna and the southern members of the Outer Island chain in late June. we could demonstrate its presence there. COLLECTING NOTES. EUPHYDRYAS AURINIA NEW TO SNowponrIA.—With reference to Mr J. Antony Thompson’s query in the October number of the Record, page 113, as to the highest altitude at which FH. aurinia occurs, Colonel C. Donovan in his Catalogue of the Macro-lepidoptera of Ireland records it from Mount Gabriel (1300 feet) in County Cork, and the larvae have been found on some of the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains at over 800 feet ; an isolated colony of Polyommatus icarus, ssp. clara is found in the same district, which is remarkable for the number of forms that have been observed in this high habitat.—THomas Greer, Sandholes, Dungannon. THE SEASON IN Co. TyrRonE.—The season here has been fairly good after a hard winter. Plusia bractea was common at honeysuckle and [ again met with Selidosema ericetaria on the Lough Neagh. bogs, but not the melanic forms intermedia-fumosa and fuwmosa, which, I am afraid, are now gone owing to all the heather on the bogs on which they occurred being burnt during a very dry spring a few years ago.—THOMAS GREER. CaLLOPHRYS RUBI, L., IN THE ISsLe or CoLtt.—Early in our Hebridean investigations my son, Dr G. Heslop Harrison, detected the Green Hair 138 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ X1I/ 1940 Streak in Coll, when he took it in April. Later, in 1939, I noted it on the same island in early June. However, both of us imagined it to he restricted to the moorland scars lying between Arinagour and Arna- bost. This year, in the last week in May, I broke my outward journey to stay for a short period on Coll. Then J found that the species was widely spread in the island, occurring wherever Vaccinium myrtillus erew on sheltered rocky masses. In particular, the insect was in real abundance everywhere just behind Arinagour between the village and Loch Airidh Meall Bhreide.—Professor J. W. Hestop Harrison, King’s College, University of Durham, Newcastle-upou-Tyne. ’ COCCINELLIDAE IN THE ISLE oF BENBECULA.—Considerable attention has from time to time been directed to the possibility of utilizing the Outer Hebrides as sources of virus-free potato strains. In connection with this, opinions have often been expressed that these islands are free from Aphidids. This is very far indeed from the truth, for many species oceur, often abundantly. This, in turn, means that insects holding Aphidids in check must be there too. However, of the Coccinellidae, I have only seen two species, both of which occur on the Isle of Ben- becula; these are Adalia bipunctata, LL. and Coccinella 11-punetata, UL. —-Prof. J. W. Hestor Harrison, University of Durham. Puusta MONETA, L., IN THE [NNER HeEsBRIDES.—I have already indi- cated the presence of this species in many Scottish counties as far north as Inverness-shire, but no record exists for the Western Isles. Moreover, although its food plants, Monkshood and Larkspur, are grown on the Isles of Eigg and Muck, search on these very promising islands proved fruitless. In spite of this, odd specimens were noted on the Isle of Rhum in 1938 near Kinloch. In addition, in 1939, further examples were found at Arinagour on the Isle of Coll. During the same year, on the more favourable Isle of Tiree, much time was wasted in searching various plants of Aconitum napellus without success. This season, the same plant on Coll was quite free from larvae.—Prof. J. W. Hrstop Harrison, King’s College, University of Durham. BeerLtes New TO THE IstE or Canna.—In 1939 (Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edinb., Vol. xxii, p. 49-56) parties from the University of Glasgow published an excellent list of the Coleoptera of the Isle of Canna, an island lying west of Rhum. For the most part, that list covers our captures, but we can, nevertheless, supply three additional species, Philonthus decorus, Grav., Bembidion mannerheimi, Sahl., and 4 gonum gracilis, Gyll., all taken in the area between the Sanday bridge and the pier. For the determination of these and our other Coleoptera we have to thank my friend, Mr G. B. Walsh.—Prof. J. W. Hrstop Harrison, King’s College, University of Durham. A Frew LeprpopTera FRoM Locu EriIBoLt, SUTHERLANDSHIRE.—At the head of Loch Eriboll there are several dense thickets of birch and sallows from which we beat quite an interesting series of larvae; of these Cerura furcula was the most important as providing the most northerly record for the species in the British Islands. Late as it was, a parasitized speci- men of Polyploca flavicornis demonstrated the occurrence of that species CURRENT NOTES. 139 on the northern shore of Sutherland. Other species represented were - Hydriomena ruberata, Gonodontis bidentata, Cabera pusaria, C. exan- themata, Hadena pisi, Polyploca duplaris, Demas coryli, Pheosia dic- taeoides, Notodonta dromedarius, Lophopteryx camelina, and Acalla [Peronea] hastiana.—Jack Herstop Harrison, Gavarnie, Birtley, Co. Durham. VesPA AUSTRIACA, PaNz., AT ForREsS.—Amongst a crowd of Vespa rufa found working on a pine stump on the Culbin Sands near Forres the slimness of. certain queens and the clearness of their yellow caused me to single them out for capture. These, on examination, turned out to be the allied parasitic V. austriaca.—Prof. J. W. Hestor Harrison, King’s College, University of Durham. CURRENT NOTES, A pamphlet has recently come into our hands written some ten years ago by G. V. Hudson, F.R.E.S. (New Zealand), on ‘‘ Some Aspects of Modern Methods of Entomology,’’ from which one or two items may well be reproduced here. He repeats the warning of Darwin that ‘‘ the characters of larvae, being highly adaptive, should never be used for purposes of classifica- tion.’? And yet on such inadequate bases the Order Neuroptera has been split up into small Orders for Stone-flies, Lace-wings, Mayflies, etc., all still referred to as ‘‘ Neuropteroid Insects.’’ He states that far more al- teration in Nomenclature is made by conferences and committees than were done when individual authorities were followed. He considers that the least interesting features in modern entomology are descriptions and figures of genitalia, ‘‘ figures of insects were intelligible to all, figures of genitalia now substituted interest to but few.’’ He strongly deprecates the modern tendency to use highly technical terms, where the meaning can easily be expressed in simple language. An ‘‘ author tries to im- press the reader with the profundity of his own knowledge.’ He is strongly of opinion that it is necessary that properly to study specimens they must be set and not merely mounted anyhow as many workers in the smaller Orders do. Finally he compares ‘‘ the present-day paid professional entomo- legist of the American type ’’ with the ‘‘ old-time unpaid British entomo- logist, the amateur.’’ He goes on, ‘‘ I think I am right in saying that the main ideal of the amateur entomologist was the advancement of the science for its own sake, irrespective of any economic gain to himself or others. This ideal was materialized in such objects as the formation of extensive and beautiful collections of insects; the publication of splendid illustrated books on various branches of entomology, intelligible to the general reader; the formations of societies for the exchange of views be- tween advanced workers and beginners, and above all, the enlistment of entomological recruits, and the fostering and encouragement of a love of nature for the pleasure it brings to mankind in general. Stainton may well be taken as typical of the best entomologists of the old school.’’ On the other hand, the modern professional entomologist has none of 140 ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ XIT/ 1940 these characteristics or aims, he has no ‘‘ appreciation of the philoso- phical and aesthetic side of the science, he carries on in the stereo- typed groove of his early and special training, his work is restricted to problems of economic importance, he is often subservient to a chiet whose opinions, etc., are usually dominant and he fears to criticize the work selected for him and soon takes but little interest in natural problems and loses the charm of the study of nature.’’ A report has come to my table recently of a Society which for years was of the old type, but which has been ‘‘ captured by the modern professional entomologists and the Society instead of now being adequately supported by its mem- bers has to rely upon a Government Department and functions wholly (from the Report) for economic, business purpose. Let us hope that our glorious old Royal Entomological Society of London, which its members in the past could handsomely support and have thus supported for a century and more, will still attract the lovers of Science and Nature and will not be captured by the paid professional, whese disabilities arising from his professional outlook and limitations arising from his personal resources must influence his attitude towards the broad aims of a Society thus founded. ‘* Nature never did betray The breast that loved her; ’tis her privilege Through all the years of this our life, to lead From joy to joy.”’ Wordsworth. By [The adults of Stone-flies, Lace-wings, Mayflies are easily separable. 13" WWivithipartsrabiemiary 8 S26!4 LIT ee Maryflies. Mouth-parts-welltdevelaped’® 6.02208. SR ee eae 2 Ot) ara WV itae es Secaimeattod tee. 0) i A EOP ae ASHES Lace-wing Fhes. Tarsi wit tess Shas’ hy sevinents’ 204! “ova Be ee Stone-flies. The Mayflies and Stone-flies are both primitive groups, whilst Lace-wing Flies (and other true Neuroptera) belong to.a more recent group. ]— tT &.alr: May we remind our readers of the request published in the November number of this magazine asking for full details of the exhibits which it was intended to bring to the Annual Exhibition of Varieties of the South London Entomological Society had it been possible to hold it as it was proposed. It will be remembered that last year a fuil report was published of some very fine varieties, some of which it was possible to exhibit at other meetings of the S. London Society and illustrations were also added in the Society’s Proceedings issued later in the year. Particulars should be sent either to Mr H. G. Denvil, 4 Warwick Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, or to Mr S. G. Castle-Russell, ‘‘ Cotswold,’’ Forest Gardens, Ringwood, Hants, who will edit the matter received as he did last year. CORRECTION. “ on Cruciferae ’ On p. 120 for the references to ‘‘ watercress ’’ substitute > in each case. IBBA0 BONTENTS,OF VOLUME LEI. ee Zoology By Hy. J.. TURNER, F.RiE.S.,) F.ROASS. PAGE “A. australis, f. ingenua at Sand- wich, Kent,’ A. J. L. Bowes Aberrations of (unnamed): C. den- tatus (Col.), 7; H. nigrita (Col.), 7; A. hyperantus, 53; B. euphro- SUE Oa eb. GUrINta: 53; F. W- album, 21; S. pruni in S. London * Records” Abnormalities (figured) Abundance of Lepidoptera in early August at Nevache “ Acrididae and Tetligonidae in An- os, 2 A. Re Balt Aculeata of Easton, Cumberland ** Appeal for the Insect House at the Zoo,’ N. D. Riley Additions to the British Fauna, 7 (Golbne2>. 33, 33. 86, 91, 96 (Dip.), 120° (Cok.). Apterousness of B. pallida (Cynipi- dae), The reputed, H. J. Burkill “ Beetles new to the I. of Canna,” Prof. J. W. H. Harrison “ Biotopes in Syria, Iraq and Iran, eee e rere nese ees eeeseseseesseees Imsacti By Pe Wiltshire <....5..:.. Blood-sucking Flies, British (Re- MeN) Peele Wr AME WS .3f5..-.25.-.5 Breeding, for Varieties, 12; of P heraclei (Dip.), H. W. Andrews, 100; Notes on Breeding “ British Trypetidae,” M. Niblett ... “Buff forms of B. betularia, The,”’ Dr Ee. A. Cockayne “ Caloptilia pyrenaeella, 18 bs Bb. Eletcher Care of small parcels in the post ... “€. conyzae in Devon,’ S. C. Brown “C. eroceus in Hampshire, August 1939,” H. G. Harris “ Coleoptera at Easton,’ T. F. Mar- riner Collecting, O. musculosa Collecting Notes ... 8, 19, 35, 62, 80, 103, 11 198" “* Collecting Note on Diptera, A,’ H. Was HANI [TRE TSW Soe 8 a es ane ae 89, “Collecting Notes, 1939, January- May, > A. i. i: Bowes: 533. ditto; June-September, 76: in October “Colony of E. aurinia in Snow- donia, A New,’ A. Thompson, M.A., 112; Thos. Greer Congress for Entomology, Berlin, 23: VIith, Madrid Corrections 52, 108, 120, “CC. rhamniella in Hants and Dor- set,’ S. C. Brown (atearaioe inde OL Coll, VProt cd. We H. Harrison Chretien, i Sesiastle = cs ; Bee w eee rece tee tee eens eee es 33, 53, 85, (4) 86 31 114 105 137 106 113 116 140 & @ e+ JAN 27 1941 LIBRARY PAGE “Cumberland, Note from,’ T. F. Ji Ee Tet AEs Goel SBMA SOR eh ec med Ooh ole 128 Current Notes ... 11, 23, 66, 81, 92, 106, 113, 131, 139 “MatesyioricA. “hispidaria.:) Hy... J). LETH Gy OVEN Ohne vi taal aie MAR NIRROEN aaa eG x 36 “ Delayed emergence of H. pinastri,’”’ Pe Bs VE ATL meets ae nie son ee 104 Description of the larva of J. lac- tearia, 110: P. pruinata, 123: Con- ditions of insect life of Syria, aay Ce Tr ay 1as 5. ees, thy eee a, 43 “ Diary, Notes from an entomologi- Calo? As PCCM CT ae ses 5. eo eae 133 “ Distribution of G. fasciata (Dip.),” Ty, oP AIM M GCI ee ete teeta ae eee 104 “D. pudibunda, ab. bicolor and ab. concolor,’ Dr EB. A. Cockayne ... 86 “ Drepana binaria: Partial 2nd and sd. seneralions a iCapta +a sO: A SOMS. epes.. ch: eee Sa aan enaiics sano 10 Drosera rotundifolia capturing B. LOM ANKON ALOT Sie (O, BIAOMVIN copecceecocecec 81 ** Earthy, ndNotes,’ Bs VV aeeSillsiae6s: ~ Migrants,” H. B. D. Kettlewell 65 “ Early Stages of A. albipennis (ear- Wit )e4 Bac. Sills: eke eee 103 “EB. aurinia new to Snowdonia,” J. A. Thompson, 113; T. Greer ......... 139 “*Eclosion of A. vripae from the pupa-case, Notes on the,’ C. Q. Rarsonst iCaptt)” .ih.:.cct eee 22 ‘Effects of Extreme Wintry Weath- er on Lepidoptera,’ F. D. Coote 36 Entomological Club (See Societies). “ BE. semele and M. jurtina on the Isles of Coll and Gunna, Inner Hebrides? 7J. “a. Harrison 7. 20 Faunal areas, 8.E. Palaearctic ...... QQ “ Flashing, of Fireflies,’ M. Burr, 35; “of Glow-worms, Simultane- ous; 1. SB: “Hletchers 63s aor Firefiies,’? C. L. Collinette ......... 64 *““Gall-causing Trypetidae (Dip.),” Mis ANT bNett: 2.2551 SEE 13 Generic-VNamMes. OF cfs pisesa eee ee ee 67 “Genus Zygaena in the Western Isles of Scotland, The,’ Prof. J. Wi sHesl0 Pp sHaritSOMm nse tee eee 134 Geographical Features of the Syria, iraq amd Aranemarcay ees. 2) es eee 4h Gynandromorphs, 85. (Records of S.L. (1) = 3, (3), (4).) “ Harmodia lepida (Dianthoecia car- pophaga),’ A. J. Wightman ...... 126 Hesperiidae of S. America ......... 67, 114 *“Homonym Rule, The Misuse of PDOs eV Piso. LUMEMEPIG £05) ee 79 * 142 HNTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD. 15/ X1J/194¢ PAGE PAGE “Hybrid Platysamia.’ Dr,» .e »A- New biniilsSh ColLeoprerae. +9 se eee 7 Cockayne... ..t:fks. aks. ee See 8&2 “New Zealand Lepidoptera,’ T. B. ‘7 lactearia.’ the late Rev. C. R. LUCIE yr cs.acktie: Cooke eee 68 iN. Burrows) £2) ee 101, 199.) New ‘Generic Names ‘for Microlepr Larvae, of O. musculosa, 44; Travel- BAe eee =. = Sunes ey a: whe NN: | Ra een at OR, oN ee 98 ey ee Hebridean Localities ee for .N. zonaria,’ J. H. Harrison. 20 “ Lepidoptera, at Nevache, Hautes New var. of Psylliodes napi (Col.) ... 120 Alpes, 1938,” Wm. Fassnidge, 1: ‘Nine’? generations of P. rapae 12 “from Loch Eriboll,” J. H. Har- |‘ Noctuae, Random Notes on Brit- HIS) 6 (haere i a be A oe ee ea Bae os Sane se 3 138 1st aecAc a Wichtimaine ca 5 45.48 117 Life-History of O. musculosa, 37: I. “Note on, Saturnia pavonia,”’ A, P. lactearia, 109: P. pruinaia ......... 121 B. M. Allan, 4; “‘ Genitalia of S. Light, in August at Nevache, 3; saxifragae,’ F. N. Pierce ....-.... 29 SAND) 4 goiscuat brn c elleccepice at cet asetesaccep heen ace 132 | “‘ Notes, on the larva of Tricoptilus List of, Lepidoptera at Nevache in paludum, Zell., Some,’ -S. .C. viii.38, 1; Aculeates of Easton ...... mt Brown, 10; from an entomological Local and rare: L. onobrychiella, 1: Diary,” (ABreedern eee 133 CO DOWCUUS 3a. DUTCROCELLG a) 18 “Notes: from | Hastings, cei Hg LOCaIIeS, LOM J) OClLCOIIG peso ee 113 Hamm, 19: from Cumberland ... i28 Localities : Ascot, 53; Aviemore, 54: “N. zonaria and a new aberration Angus, 65: Bernera, inner and of P. lapponaria, A new ssp. of,” Outer, 20, 134: Berneray, 20: Ben- de Wein lies (Ea EES OM) 28h: oe: eee 33 becula, 138: Cumberland, 1, 128: Obituary: ‘‘ Sir T. Hudson Beare,’’ Coll, 20, 129, 137: Caithness, 22: H. DoOMIsSthorpe: °... 2.415... 4 .¢ee ee 107 Chiddingfold, 55: Colonsay, 129: “Occurrence of A. euphorbiae on Canna, 138: Durham, 130; Easton, thes rof A... MSs Ralhouke S25 87 Ti, 89, 96; Lebanon, 69; Mon- *S OLYNG parielinga «(Dips an ENE tagne de Lure, 29; Mont Dore, Kenitise:. lk WV .9 Amide ws: a basse eee 96 29: Nevache, 1: New Forest, 75: * Pairing of O. parietum (Hym.),’’ Oxfordshire, 83: Poole, 104: Sy- Sa SMaAnSON ise... Bees eee. ae 22 Tides 4S) 694 Sis suGrey., as) 742 “Pairings Habits, Of 4..wstevusee see Struan, 54, 55: Swanage, 76; Sus- BY ‘lepehe. yrcat cae ane ears 63 sex, 117, 183; Snowdonia, 112, 137: ** Plume-moth, A new Irish,’ T. B. Sutherlandshire, 138; Tyrone, LECCE ans eerste Siocon een I 117: Wimbledon, 36: Witherslack, ** P. moneta in the Inner Hebrides,” 55: Wales, N., 62: Wye, 74; Wilt- Proteadcs Wa He ame SOne ee. eee 138 SMa Pe Fe ed Phe BOR, sk re ed Oe oe 76 “