BP Es Clete he? were
re ee
> 1 aves S280 wey ate hae
7 ant : £0 OHO eS taee a Tee)
a " + © ores ey
‘ r . - a .
- ’ , ee . .
. . ’ r
: 7 ‘ ‘ - A tH obsnae oa “ rans
; : f - } 7 : i Nn
: 7 7 ee ihe beWer ehety
+ 7 : “ ta"? » 4 La? « (Th eUn PAS? “OAD AW OAS aaron
; if a . = SEE OE AU Od tego y bo rp rye
: . : : a pon ; er ete ee ee
° 7 ‘ DY 7 POAT ONE, AB iy
- : 7 : ne 8 certs be a oy, ae.
7 " aie Praeit ‘ bt eta ter Ae aay Ads Oar rus
~ ; . 10 Gis fem ane t Te Ae ad ntee be MOE gig th
os : : > - 4 Paibbeds eet Te
‘¢ a b ie i oan - me
i : ie i - € P ie ? ah rns Ty Viet aay see oe tang
~ 4 “ ae vin tale ene
; * J « + Oa Meigs ba thi
: Str >, ow . Z POR a tarete
: : ‘ ‘ie cal * ao ote se ent
i fe Se ae ’ ts wep ea we Fore att ea bets « ome ebity ta tifes
. * . : Y + ‘ we snes
- : 7 7 a hd teed peek ft
2 . _ : ame Ye fe hier aad,
“ : ' . : or y : Pew
2 : rig Weim pees sede 380 0 bythe shea bor a 5s)
7 : . arom asp ; yi eb teks toon re hte MP fe? ews s0 4
a re 7 . 2's. 0. Cenubes as
: : : pee Bh bieopviee . We teen rete sey.
_ 7 ¥ by. = Winte
( .. ; ‘ é ‘ Oe adh
aim 7 }- ‘ oh Trey aI Nee
: - Ao 7 re 5 - : ep Ee othe ates go
. - . vie rr. ne
bd e “ . : é 2 te Adee sade
. - . - 7 - - :
« 4 - . * 7 ‘ ;
f ®
; A : ei 4 7 t= rtomjele «
ine . - - : 4 7 Were na sm Rgtere 8
ra - _ fa Th oe ne ed eA edleey oa a . aw Tks eee ay
: : Pay ‘ WN +4 PN HBO Ed Ode ag © he eee a“
us 7 e ‘ : ever - ete dene Doth dol Lee Cte ret ne
7 _ . . bes > 1 TEV Rawr ee tg ee Hang ett Mer din 4 hey metn, ge
: F A : Ps vee : SOAS e Oat ed meme he © PAASOR ENG 18 0.5 14 tong 0 ome
. ol -
. > iS ‘ we : ’ re 7
: . ' so fe . .
: - Var 7 1a ne) av seh ras tory
- 3 ‘ ‘ ea ne Ti tetlertontes
A 7 7 ‘ - .
| - : ; ont Se @ hererel fos pgh
_—s : Me pee ey on
: 7 : : oo i bg 24 Omg
FOO ASS Thnb yey ara, 0ceres
; - 7 : : ee ost ; 7 ee art Te} Se he eee tent
7 : : : TF eg et eM,
= : ‘ » é
23 \ ‘ +h ate ta
mt ak / 5 : - ad ‘ ,
= - Sie 6 te 8 oe oid oF dnd EAT ge
P 7 , at — ti Oe ets 08% A ede
ah a iny tn bardee my
« ry atte y Te lamenessanaese. 5
: : - eh) PAPO Vp0 CO ea ee em
e . , ; BP ORS 2-46 Ose Gein’ ss
Bg = : . P “tg oO eke Bren Marke ewe a
: ri : > 7 7 Wel bevece ram ty 4
- 2 2 7 7 o oe eo Meera
, : Z ; : : : : : i 7 oe 4
. ‘ “ é Reece eared?!
eo, 3 : _s : : : ‘dens a NTP 0 Os Pome tine wy 5
ee . ‘+ ~o 6 8 btw etabeay es
. 7 _ 7 FEO OST e ae ed p
: : ane, we 60 Te ternn’ ‘
5 ? Ge, D a. . - ‘ a re es aan
; a : ; - : 7 fap UE se S29 Oto Ore 4 ides 'g
: / 7 : : Sn Lee aie or Siete bres a es
y : 7 . eS oy a
- 7 aie id by } ord 5 ee i
Ps, oa R : vo ee tert e
: : ESO 9 ree esti &
er 7* ¥ 7 :
' Ps
uy A ., = - t ‘ . © rw '
. 7 . ‘ ' - on
>, / ‘ ~~ a
i : 7 :
hit bd : .
: : * ‘ i
: ’ i are * Piewan
. ae esi 4s
: . - a a ao > SS 4) ee oh kr ieee
27 & % 7 ; : fo yey iyi thow sear 02451 R asta gigi nw chsi pte ems,
. . 7 + + Ret «Fees ii ri inte oe it te 7
; - : . ‘ ‘ Pa o: ke 5 - sla
ae of : : . 7 - oa! eeler ae : NHN is da race Sie ve
i ~ n ah 4 ht bp io Ogee! soy
; ; . +e . fate warey wer -
- © eles ‘ ; *Al re a ee
“ 5, 7 * esis tary .
” 5 1534) « eeit f ae? sare
: : + : > - - PREG yes ou
7. ; at : : rat ’ ° + UerEete wie gy
7 - Yr ~ * ‘oi - : re
” 7 7 - . . ‘ oar
. . : :
. . i . n . re M ‘ 7 * -
ey r
+ : a oe ‘
- : > ,
me - z : 7 7 H :
“ . . - ‘ a > ;
er B ita . o * 4 ts
. F * .
: . r i . ' e-. s
: . é ‘a
. +o% =
i : a -_ pe ry '
, ’ ;
; i P 7 ie 8
: * 49 ds
me ’
+ 7 can i
ote at ie : i =
1 2 7 er ' ° id
4 *, dy . . : : oP 8 Oo Freee wy tem pa i
. : ' “s owe tow (6 Weta ay)
* ' +) Vi easere Hey,
. 7 ., . A 7 : : ‘~ hel atch
; = fe ? f . ‘
: —
: \ 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.
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, Price TWO SHILLINGS (net). —
WATKINS & DONCASTER
CAN SUPPLY EVERYTHING NEEDED BY THE
COLLECTOR, :
At Keenest Prices.
Large Stocks oho 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 9451.
J. J. HILL & SON,
ENTOMOLOGICAL CABINET MANUFACTURERS,
YEWFIELD ROAD, N.W.10, ‘Phone: WILLESDEN 0309.
L Specialists im interchangeable wnit systems.
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 2”),
, 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 a 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 eenene New Price List Free.
THE ENTOMOLOGY Co.,
446 Strand, LONDON, Ww. -C. 2. 44 Gt. Russell St., LONDON, W.C.I
“BENTOMOLOGIST’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 6d
Supplement to Tutt’s British Noctuae, Vol. I. By Hy: J. Turner, F.R.E.S.,
F.R.H.S. (Vol. II in course) Sus anesdoctactvugemetccancwuaratseecpaos Secet leememneca ie Me 6d.
_ Butterflies of the Upper Rhone Valley. By Roger Verity, F.R.E.S. «.. »=68S: 6d.
FOODPLANTS OF THE LARVAE OF BRITISH TRYPETIDAE (DIPTERA). parr
BY. M. NIBLETT," A FEW COPIBS. ONDY \....0520c5.ccc. cccssevnsscecnseercereuas is 0d
To be obtained post free from H. W. 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.
New Address—Bernard Embry, Esq., 23 Mill Drove, Uckfield, Sussex.
IRISH NATURALISTS’ JOURNAL.
A MAGAZINE OF NATURAL HISTORY, ANTIQUITIES AND ETHNOLOGY
Published Quarterly.
Edited by J. A. S. STENDALL, M.R.I1.A., M.B.0O.U.,
Assisted by Sectional Editors.
Annual Subscription, 6/- pest free. Single Parts, 1/8.
All communications to be addressed to :—
W. M. CRAWFORD, B.A., F.R.E.S., F.Z.S., Hon. Secy.,
” i Orissa, Marlborough Park South, Belfast.
| BOOKS ON THE ©
7 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
on K. LEWIS & Co. Ltd., 136 Gower Sireet, London, W.C.1
ii LARGE LENDING LIBRARY
ae SELECTION AVAILABLE || Prospectus and list of recent
‘ Catalogue post free on request. additions on application.
. Telephone: EUSton 4282 (5 lines.)
MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.
WAR-TIME ARRANGEMENTS.
THE ROYAL ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON : 41 Queen’s Gate, S.W.7.
October 2nd, at 5 p.m.
THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
—2nd and 4th Thursdays from April onwards, 6 for 6.30 p.m., Chapter House Hall,
St Thomas Street, S.E1. Hon. Sec., S. N. A. Jacobs, Ditchling, Hayes Lane, .
Bromley, Kent.
THE LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—Fixtures as printed in peetunk
syllabus cancelled. Members will be notified of further arrangements. Hon.
Sec., A. B. Hornblower, 91 Queen’s Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.—Evening Meetings. On the third Monday of each
month, 7 p.m., at 55 Newhall Street, Birmingham. Visitors welcomed. Those
who would like to attend or exhibit please apply to G. B. Manley, 72 Tenbury
Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham.
SOCIETY FOR BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY.—All meetings suspended till rivtier
notice. Hon. Sec., E. 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, 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. London—Generic nomenclature and the Acronyctidae—A fortnight at Ran-
noch—Heredity in Lepidoptera—Notes on Genus Zygaena ge a a ol bia
—Hymenoptera—Life-history of Gonophora ae, etc., etc., 312 pp.
To be obtained from :—
Mr H. E. PAGE, 9 Vanbrugh Hill, Blackheath, London, S.E.3,
to whom Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable. ie A
Printed by T. Buncle & Co, Ltd., Arbroath.
No. 10
OCTOBER 1940.
eum Of Comp.> PaaS
Cos Zoology. 7%,
AND ~ DEC 2 1949 }
a URNAL OF VARIATION
EDITED with the assistance of
‘MALcoum BURR, D.Sc., F.R.E.S. | 'T. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, R.N., F.LS.,
E. A. COCKAYNE, A.M., D.M., F.R.ES., F.Z.S., F-R.ES.
F.R.C.P. H. E. PAGE, F.R.ESS.
J. E, COLLIN, J.P., F.R.E.S, ALFRED SICH, F.R.E.S.
pa DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S. | Rev. G. WHEELER, M.A., F-R.ES.,F.Z.8.
es Editor Emeritus—G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.Z.S., F.R.E.S.
| —__—s«By-HENRY J. TURNER, F.R.ES., F.R.H.S., Editorial Secretary.
CONTENTS.
EW GENERIC NAMES FOR MICROLEPIDOPTERA, T. Bainbrigge Fletcher,
RN. 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.
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 2”),
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 ay will last from 3 to 6 months, and is
easily recharged. In modern aluminium box, size 7 x 5 x 2”. Price 2/9.
STAINLESS STEEL PINS for Lepidoptera. New Price List Free. |
THE ENTOMOLOGY CoO.,
446 Strand, LONDON, W.C.2.
‘“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, is6a —
Supplement to Tutt’s British Noctuae, Vol. I. By Hy. J. Turner, F.R.E.S.,
FRAES.. SAW ols 09 AE COMYSB) Wee tes a ee es ae ea 10s 6d
Butterflies of the Upper Rhone Valley. By Roger Verity, F.R.E.S. ... 83 6d
FOODPLANTS OF THE LARVAE OF BRITISH TRYPETIDAE (DIPTERA). a
BY M!: NIBLETT (cA PEW oCOPIBS (ONDW: cope eee chee tec enee anise is 0d |
To be obtained post free from H. W. ANDREWS, 6 Footscray Road, Eltham, S.E.9.
THE MICROSCOPE MADE EASY.
By A. LAURENCE WELLS.
The purpose of this book is to Se that a Microscope can be purchased without 3
great expense and easily handled. ‘‘ Here is a useful introduction to an attrac-
tive subject, with practical advice on rough mounting, pond life microscopy,
: mounting materials and methods.’—The Times.
FULLY ILLUSTRATED. CLOTH BOUND, PRICE 3/6 NET; BY POST 3/ 10.
FREDERICK WARNE & CO. LTD., 1-4 BEDFORD COURT, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.0.2,
NEW GPNERIC NAMES FOR MICROLEPIDOPTERA—IODIS LACTEARIA. 109
NEW GENERIC NAMES FOR MICROLEPIDOPTERA.
By T. Barinsricce Fiercuer, R.N., F.R.E.S., F.L.S., F.Z.5 of Com
b) ) p) A Pars
Ag Zoology %
\ DEC 2 1940
To, S20 (Continued from page 19.)
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. 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.—EDSs.
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.
Urgenily 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.
New Address—Harold B. Williams, from Bramley, to 2 Mitre Court Buildings,
Temple, E.C.4.
New Address—J. Antony Thompson, from Rhas School, to Roe Wen, near
Conway.
THE VASCULUM.
THE NORTH COUNTRY QUARTERLY OF SCIENCE AND LOCAL HISTORY.
EDITED BY
The Rev. J. E. HULL, M.A., D.Sc., Belford Vicarage, Northumberland, assisted
by A. W. Bartlett, M.A., M.Sc.; Miss K. B. Blackburn, D.Sc., F.L.S.; William
Carter; F. C. Garrett, D.Sc.; B. Millard Griffiths, D.Sc., F.L.S.; J. W. H. Harrison,
D.Sc., F.R.S.; A. Raistrick, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.G.S.; J. A. Smythe, D.Sc.; George
W. Temperley.
The Vasculum is now in its twenty-sixth volume. The annual subscription is
five shillings and should be sent to
WILLIAM CARTER, 13 Kimberley Gardens, Dew eaare. on- Tyne.
BOOK ~" BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AL K. LEWIS & Co. Ltd., ba Gower Street, London, W.C.1
LARGE | LENDING LIBRARY
‘SELECTION AVAILABLE Prospectus and list of recent
Catalogue post free on request. at additions on application.
Mane ' Telephone: EUSton 4282 (5 lines.)
A ae
ere
ces
»
MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.
WAR-TIME ARRANGEMENTS.
THE ROYAL ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON : 41 Queen’s Gate, S.W.7. —
(Nearest stations: S. Kensington and Gloucester Road.) General Meetings at 3 ©
p.m., on the first Wednesdays of the month, February-June; October-December.
Annual Meeting, third Wednesday in January.
THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
—2nd and 4th Thursdays from April onwards, 6 for 6.30 p.m., Chapter House Hall, —
St Thomas Street, S.E1. Hon. Sec., S. N. A. Jacobs, Ditchling, Hayes Lane, —
Bromley, Kent. j
THE LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.—Fixtures as printed in current 3
syllabus cancelled. Members will be notified of further arrangements. Hon. —
Sec.,.A. B. Hornblower, 91 Queen’s Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.—Evening Meetings. On the third Monday of each
month, 7 p.m., at 55 Newhall Street, Birmingham. Visitors welcomed. Those
who would like to attend or exhibit please apply to G. B. Manley, 72 Tenbury
Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham.
SOCIETY FOR BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY.—AIl meetings suspended till further
notice. Hon. Sec., E. 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.
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 jak from 3 to 6 months, and is
easily recharged. In modern aluminium box, size 7 x 5 x 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.,
FURS OV Oly FE As CORSO) isco aie ronan esi oe oak ee bias ance ces Deap anes 10s 64
Butterflies of the Upper Rhone Valley. By Roger Verity, F.R.E.S. Ss 6d
FOODPLANTS OF THE LARVAE OF BRITISH TRYPETIDAE (DIPTERA).
BY M.ONIBSLETT:>“A\ FEW: COPIES: ONEWY a4 aii ccnesrssoscenaaeacebcowessueene is 0d
To be obtained post free from H. W. ANDREWS, 6 Footscray Road, Eltham, S.E.9. a
THE MOTHS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 4
By RICHARD SOUTH, F.R.E.S ‘
(New Editions now Ready)..
Edited and Revised by H. M. EDELSTEN, F.R.E.S.,
With accurately coloured figures of every species and many varieties : oy also a
drawings of eggs, caterpillars, chrysalides and food plants. i ae
in 2 vols. Price, 12/6 net. per vol. 2 vols. By Post, 25/-
FREDERICK WARNE & CO. LTD., 1-4 BEDFORD COURT, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C.2.
‘
RANDOM NOTES ON BRITISH NOCTUAE. 117
~. RANDOM NOTES ON BRITISH NOCTUAE, lp
Zoology
3. 2320 By A. J. 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. Brown, Kingsholme, 454 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth.
New Address—Kenneth J. Hayward, F.R.E.S., F.R.G.S., F.Z.S., Estacién Experi-
mental Agricola, Casilla Correo 71, Tucuman, Republica Argentina.
New Address—Harold B. Williams, from Bramley, to 2 Mitre Court Buildings,
Temple, E.C.4.
New Address—J. Antony Thompson, from Rhas School, to Roe Wen, near
Conway.
THE VASCULUM.
THE NORTH COUNTRY QUARTERLY OF SCIENCE AND LOCAL HISTORY.
EDITED BY
The Rev. J. E. HULL, M.A., D.Sc., Belford Vicarage, Northumberland, assisted
by A. W. Bartlett, M.A., M.Sc.; Miss K. B. Blackburn, D.Sc., F.L.S.; William
Carter; F. C. Garrett, D.Sc.; B. Millard Griffiths, D.Sc., F.L.S.; J. W. H. Harrison,
D.Sce., F.R.S.; A. Raistrick, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.G.S.; J. A. Smythe, D.Sc.; George
W. Temperley,
The Vasculum is now in its twenty-sixth volume. The annual subscription is
five shillings and should be sent to
WILLIAM CARTER, 13 Kimberley Gardens, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
BOOKS ON THE | : |
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
| H. K. LEWIS & Co. ae 136 Gower Street, London, W.C.1
LARGE | LENDING LIBRARY
_ SELECTION AVAILABLE Prospectus and list of recent
_ Catalogue post free on request. additions on application.
Telephone: EUSton 4282 (5 lines.)
ah
MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.
WAR-TIME ARRANGEMENTS.
THE ROYAL ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON : 41 Queen’s Gate, S.W.7.
(Nearest stations: §, Kensington and Gloucester Road.) General Meetings at 3
p.m., on the first Wednesdays of the month, February-June; October-December.
Annual Meeting, third Wednesday in January.
THE SOUTH LONDON ENTOMOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
—Winter meetings. second Saturday of each month from 9th November to 8th
March, 2 p.m. for 2.30 p.m., Chapter House Hall, St Thomas Street. S.E.1.
Hon. Sec., S. N. A. Jacobs, Ditchling, Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent.
THE LONDON NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. —Fixtures as printed - in current
syllabus cancelled. Members will be notified of further arrangements. Hon.
‘Sec., A. B. Hornblower, 91 Queen’s Road; Buckhurst Hill, Essex. ci Ae
ENTOMOLOGICAL SECTION, BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY AND
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.—Evening Meetings. On the third Monday of each
month, 7 p.m., at 55 Newhall Street, Birmingham. Visitors welcomed. Those
_who would like to attend or exhibit please apply to G. B. Manley, 72 Tenbury
Road, King’s Heath, Birmingham.
SOCIETY FOR BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY.—All meetings suspended till further
notice. Hon. Sec., E. Rivenhall Goffe, 102 High Street, Southampton. ¥i
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, 8. 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.
BACK VOLUMES OF ae
The Entomologist’s Record and Sst
Journal of Variation
(Vols. I-XXXVI.)
CONTENTS OF VOL. I. (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.
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 2”),
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, 1s 0d; two, 1s 64
Supplement to Tutt’s British Noctuae, Vol. I. By Hy. J. Turner, F.R.E.S., Bi
ERAS. CVOrS TT Fi Course) eek cacclic tiie ite cece pee cee eee ee 10s 64
Butterflies of the Upper Rhone Valley. 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 “