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Wor. oxox Now I. January 157TH, 1919.
Myrmecophilous Notes for 1918. By H. DONISTHORPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S.
Mr. A. W. Pickazd-Cambridge having asked me to overhaul and name the ants belonging to his father, the late Rev. O. Pickard- Cambridge, I have now done so, and propose to publish a list of the same. Very few of them have locality labéls attached, but Mr. Cam- bridge tells me that it may be taken for granted that all those without were taken in the Bloxworth district.
Myrmecina graminicola Latr. 9? and %.
Monomorium pharaonis L. @ “ Sailsbury.”” New County record.
Myrmica laevinodis Nyl. 3 3, 2 Q,and % $.
Myrmica ruginodis Nyl. g¢ 3, 2 @, and % 8. New County re- cord. 1 @ labelled “ Blox. Heath, Sept. 1885.”
Murmica sulcinodis Nyl. gS, @ 2, and 99. = Bloxworth Heath.” Among these I detected an interesting ergatandromorph, which Mr. Cambridge has generously given to me. It may be de- scribed as follows :—
Head reddish brown, mandibles yellow, antenne and cheeks red, thorax light yellowish red, petiole and post-petiole red, gaster partly red, partly dark brown, legs red. 4
Whole body except gaster mostly normal ¥. . Head less rugose than in normal », thorax with rugose striae not longitudinal, but slanting on prothoraz, and transverse and rounded on mesothorax. Epinotal spines slightly shorter than in normal 8. Gaster deformed looking, triangular; ist segment divided into three parts, the section on right side rounded, blackish brown, very shining, and covered with hairs, the centre section only visible on dorsal surface, small, light brown and glabrous, the left section lighter to darker brown with a few haixs, continued over most of the ventral surface where it meets the section from right side. The next three segments on dorsal surface are light brown and shining, with rows of hairs near apex, and two small parts of the ventral segments on left side. The 4th seg- ment appears to form a continuous ring, which is slightly split at apex, and from ita bit of a 5th segment is visible. One stipes, the sagittae, and a sting are extruded from the latter segment. Long. 5.5mm.
Myrmica seabrinodis Nyl. 8 3,22, % 8. :
Myrmica scabrinodis Nyl. var. sabuleti Mein. 8 8. New County record.
Stenamma westwoodi West. 4 ¥%
Leptothoraz acervorum Li. S S
Leptothorax tuberum F. 9; an
| Tetramorium caespitum Ll. % 8;
January 17H, 1919.
One 2 @,and 8 8.
3% 8 * Portland.”
are labelled ‘‘ Blox. Heath.” -
>
2 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
Wasmannia auropunctata Roger. % %; “‘ Kew Gardens.”’
Tapinoma eraticum Latr. 8 8.
Acanthomyops (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus Latr. 9 2 and % 8.
Acanthomyops (Donisthorpea) niger L. 3S, 2, and 3 ¥. One deilated @ has the scale rather deeply emarginated ; it is clearly‘ however, only niger.
Acanthomyops (Donisthorpea) alienus Férst. 9 g, 2 2,and 8g.
Acanthomyops (Chthonolasius) flavus F. g, % &.
Formica rufa L. 29 29, 3 8.
Formica pratensis Retz. ¢ 6, 29 @,and 8 8.
Formica fusca Li. 3, 2 2, 8 8. 8 winged 2 9 and Zaqyaon one card are labelled “ Blox., Poole Rd., Aug. 9th, 1915.” Probably a marriage flight. .
Formica fusca L. var. glebaria Nyl. 8 8.
MyrMIcinaz.
Myrmecina graminicola Latr.—My interesting little colony of this ant, which I have had in my possession for over 8 years, is still in a flourishing condition; very many deflated 2? ¢, ¥ 8 and larve being present to-day (November 6th). Winged ¢ ? have been produced in it, for the fourth year in succession, this year; though in less numbers than in previous years. ¢ g however appeared in great numbers. The first g appeared on May 27th, and the first winged @ on June 80th. The last g died on October 7th. Most of the ? 2 removed their wings in about a month’s time, but one still retained her wings on August 25th, when she was observed to help to carry the larve. During the first week in July the g§ g exhibited signs of wishing to leave the nest, by being restless and running and flying all over the nest. On September 17th a ¢ was observed trying to copulate with a dead %, and he persisted in his efforts for a con- siderable time.
Myrmica laevinodis Nyl. var. ruginoilo- laevinodis Forel.—The Rey. HK. K. Woodruff-Peacock sent me specimens of this variety taken at Cadny, N. Lines. (June, 1917), which is a new county record for the same.
Myrmica scabrinodis Nyl. and var. sabuleti, Mein.—Specimens of this species and variety were taken at Church Stretton, Shropshire, by Mr. Leman (September, 1918), who kindly gave them to me. They are both new county records.
A large colony of the variety, found by me at the foot of a post in the New Forest on July 18th, contained very many winged 2 @, but only g pups. Some of the winged ¢ ? were observed to carry the pup into safety. On July 28th the colony was visited again, when numerous § ¢ had hatched. One specimen taken home and mounted, is peculiar in that there are apparently no nerves visible in the wings.
Leptothorax acervorum F.—Mr. Butterfield sent me, among other ants to name, a gynaecoid ¥% of this species, which was running on a rock at Rumbold Moor, Yorks (March 20th, 1918), and a very curious ? taken in a mixed nest of L. acervorum and Myrmica ruginodis at Mauley Bog, Keighley (April 26th, 1918). This is a small dealated 9 of L. acervorum, rather dark in colour, and is exceeding remarkable in that it possesses no trace of either a petiole or a post-petiole! The gaster is joined directly on to the epinotum by the small neck which
MYRMECOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1918, 3
joins the post-petiole to the gaster in normal 9 @. It measures 3.3mm. in length.
Tetramorium caespitum L.—A number of colonies were observed, when I was in the New Forest in July, which were mostly situated in sandy banks; one little nest, however, which was situated by the side of a road, consisted of a small cone, about 14 in. high, built of tiny pebbles. This ant also occurred in some of the flower beds in the Beaulieu Road Hotel garden. All the nests contained winged ? 2 and Beckia albina; in one nest only a g occurred.
A large colony was dug up on July 17th, to serve as an observation nest at home, which contained many winged ? ?, numerous % 3, eges, larve, and pups. The Aphid Paracletus cimiciformis, both alate and apterous, was present in numbers. A Coccid (unfortunately sub- _ sequently lost), and a Spider which the Rev. J. HE. Hull tells me is Acartauchenius (Mecynaryus) longulus Kalezynski @ , occurred in the ants’ galleries. This may be the same species which I have previously recorded as Acartauchenius scurrilis Camb., and which I discovered new to Britain with the same ant near Rame Head, Cornwall (April 19th, 1909) [Proc. Dorset N.H. and A.F. Club, 34, 55, 69 (1910)}. On June 11th and 12th, 1913, I captured specimens of the same spider, also with Tetramorium caespitum, on Lundy Island [Hnt. Rec., 25, 268 (1913)]. As to the synonymy | am of course unable to express an opinion; but Wasmann records Acartauchenius scurrilis Camb., with the same ant from Bohemia and the Rhineland.
A specimen of Staphylinus stercorarius Ol., was dug up from the very bottom of the nest. Wasmann has recorded S. stercorarius, chiefly with 7. caespitum, in Luxemburg, where he always found it deep in the nests. The beetle preys on the ants. I have one other record of it with Tetramoriwn in Britain, when it was taken at Dover in August, 1910, by a friend of Mons. Bondroit. In the Ent. Record for 1913 [25, 90 (1918)|, I gave a list of all the captures known to me of this beetle, with other ants, in Britain.
[It may be worth while to mention here that my friend Mr. W. E. Sharp tells me that on August 4th, 1918, at Crowthorne, after he had been watching a marriage flight of Acanthomyops (Chthonolasius) um- bratus, a fine specimen of Staphylinus latebricola emerged from one of the holes in the lawn, whence all the winged ants had been pouring. There are also a few other records of S. latebricola having been taken with ants in Britain. |
CaMPoNOTIN2..
Acanthomyops (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus Latr.cThe virgin 9 fult- ginosus which was accepted by my wmbratus § 8 on September 38rd, 1915 [see Hnt. Rec., 38, 23 (1918)], is still alive and in good health to-day. I have recorded that I strengthened the nest with niger pupe, and published the condition of the colony up to December 31st, 1917. In 1918 the wmbratus ¥ ¥ (all the rest of those brought up from Wey- bridge having been added to the nest), started to kill the niger 8 3, and by May 19th only one remained, this being killed before the end of the month.
The fuliginosus @ gradually got very swollen again, and on May 27th a small bunch of eggs had been laid, which was held up by several umbratus % %. June 16th, two packets of eggs were present; no more
4 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
were laid, however, and on July 7th only a few eggs. were to be seen. The % 8 evidently devoured them, as on August Ist (on my return home from the New Forest) neither eggs nor brood of any kind were to be seen. The 2 remains swollen and is surrounded by a large court of 8 3%; but no more eggs have been noticed. Both the Ampho- tis, which have lived in the nest for over two years and six months, are alive and well to-day.
[I may mention that the following Acari occurred on the wmbratus
8 8+: Cillibano comata Leon, on gasters of some % 8; Urodiscella
philoctena Janet, on the strigils; <Antennophorus uhlmanni Hall, on the chin; and Uropolyaspis hamuliferus Berl.,on the femora. I am in- debted to the Rev. J. EH. Hull for the name of the last species. It is the mite I have previously recorded as Uropoda ovalis Kram., having been misled by Janet’s description and figure [Hnt. Rec.. 23, 63 (1911), 24, 88 (1912)|. I took it first at Weybridge, in 1910, and subse- quently at Woking, always with -A. (C.) wmbratus, and always fastened to the femora of the ants.]
It is a curious fact that A. (D.) fuliginosus is very rare in the New Forest. One would expect that such a locality, with its numbers of large old trees and stumps, would be an ideal spot for this ant; such, however, is not the case. The lateG. R. Waterhouse recorded a colony at Brockenhurst, in 1856, and Dr. Sharp tells me he knew of one onee, which disappeared some time ago. I have always been on the look out for it, but it was not until this year that I ever found it there. On July 17th Inoticed ¥ 8% of fuliginosus running along in files on the fence, just near the bridge above the railway at Beaulieu Road. On looking more closely, I found this was a most interesting mixed colony, as & 3% of A. (C.) mivtus were walking along with the fuliginosus 8 8, and I subsequently found that the colony consisted of 2 of the fuligi- nosus to 4 of the miatus. [A. (C.) mixtus has not been recorded from Hampshire before.| The two species were quite friendly together, tapping antenne and saluting each other when they met on the tracks, and also when placed together in small tubes. I found that the tracks led right down the brickwork of the bridge to the ground beside the line. It was really a beautiful sight, when the sun was shining, to see the jet black fuliginosus and yellow miatws marching in files up and down the wall of the bridge and saluting each other when they met. As miatus is very subterranean in its habits, it must have learnt from the fuliginosus to march in files in the open. The tracks also led to and from a thick bramble grove growing by the side of a fence along the buttress of the bridge, and here the nest was evidently situated. I was unable to dig up the nest, as it would have caused the destruction of the fence, which was in a rather dilapidated condition. As it was, the railway people evidently thought I wished to blow up the bridge, as 1 was always digging under and round about it, in search of the nest. I found both species entering holes in the larger posts of this fence, which were surrounded by the brambles. A large red Coccid— Leucanium persicae, occurred in some numbers on the bramble stems, which no doubt attracted the ants. This was evidently a case where a fuliginosus ° had founded her colony in a nest of mixtus. It was a pity I was unable to get at the nest itself to prove if only a fulr- ginosus @ was present, or whether a miatns 2 also occurred; though I do not think the latter supposition probable.
* sesty
COLLECTING IN VARIOUS PLACES IN 1916-1918. 5
The only myrmecophiles found were Othius myrmecophilus and several Oxypoda vittata, in the runs of the ants. A specimen of Homalota liturata was taken walking with the ants on the bridge. A miatus 3 was observed carrying a very small Aphid in its jaws.
(To be continued.)
Collecting in various places in 1916-1918. By Carr. P. P. GRAVES, F.E.S. Keypt.
In 1916 and 1917 Rhopalocera were commoner than usual in Egypt. This was owing, I believe, to the combination of two high tides, which supplied more summer water to the usually thin vegeta- tion of the edges of the cultivated area, with two comparatively rainy winters, which brought out more vegetation than usual in the Desert Wadis. Further, I think that the restriction of cotton cultivation for maize and various pulse, in 1915 and 1916, contributed to the abund- ance of the three common Lycznids, which are never rare in Kgypt, viz., Lampides boeticus, Tarucus telicanus var. egyptiaca, and Zizera karsandra.
The ordinary “skippers ’—Gegenes nostrodamus, Parnara mathias, and Baoris (Parnara) zelleri, were also abundant during the summer and autumn. 8B. zelleri was to be found in numbers in most of the public gardens near Cairo, in September, 1916, and was found in some numbers in the larval stage on rice (Oryza sativa), at Teh-el-Barod, Behera province, early in the same month. The vernal brood was not taken by me either in 1916 or in 1917 at Cairo, and I have few speci- mens of the spring brood of G..nostrodamus, The abundance of goats, which crop the rather scanty grass in the winter months, and the ploughing up and clearing of agricultural land during the same period, no doubt accounts for this. But from July onwards, till November, G. nostrodamus and P. mathias, which latter species is commoner in spring than its relatives, seem to be continuously brooded. The second brood of Baoris zelleri first appears in the autumn, about the second week of September, and worn specimens may be taken in early November.
Hesperia (Powellia) amenophis, Rev., was to be found, though sparingly, in the desert, near Kassassin, Sharkia Province, in October, 1915, and Ootober, 1916. In late April, 1918, I took several speci- mens, mostly worn, on the plateau behind the Mokattam Hills, near Cairo. It is at least a double-brooded species and may have a summer brood. It always occurs to my knowledge in association with Convol- vulus lanatus, on which Mr. Andrés, of Cairo, has found and bred the larva. It has been taken at more than one point on or near the military railway from the Suez Canal to El Arish, and to judge from the quantity of Convolvulus lanatus which I saw in bloom on April 8th, near Mazar, Mehemdia (Mohamedia), and other stations on the rail- way, should be common in the sandy areas in N. Sinai.
I searched for EHrynnis rhamses at Dekehla, near Alexandria, in early May, 1918, but failed to take it, though I found its food-plant, ‘“Phlomis floccosa.
To turn to the Lycenids, some of my most interesting finds,
6 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
Tomares (Thestor) ballus var. mareoticus, Azanus ubaldus, and aberra- tions of Virachola livia and Chilades trochilus have been figured in the Entomologist, vol. li., p. 97, May.1918. Some other interesting records remain to be described.
On June 10th, 1917, I took a g Polyommatus icarus, in bad con- dition, on a patch of meadow in the grounds of the Gezira Sporting Club, Cairo. I had never seen P. icarus before in Egypt, and never heard of its capture there. True, several officers who had been quartered at Marsa Matruh, about 120 miles W. of Alexandria, have told me that ‘‘Common Blues” were to be seen there in early sum- mer, but I have not found previous information from non-collectors to be of any value, and suspect that these ‘“‘ Blues” may have been L. boeticus. In any case the strip of steppe prolonged W. of Alexandria along the coast to Cyrenaica is scarcely to be reckoned as Hgyptian from the faunistic point of view, though it is Hgyptian politically. Seitz is responsible for the statement that P. icarus does not occur in ~Cyrenaica. Perhaps Dr. Verity can tell us what does occur in that faunistically and geographically little explored country.
The specimen, a g,of P. icarus taken by me at Gezira had a decidedly ‘‘ southern ” facies. It may have been imported with forage from Italy or Salonika, or even §. Palestine, railway commuuication with which was open in June, 1917, and the absence of any previous records makes me inclined to think that my specimen was an acci- dental visitor—an ‘“‘advena.”’ Chilades trochilus was not till May, 1917, a species which I had ever taken in abundance in Egypt, though it occurred rather locally in many places near Cairo, e.g., Maadi, near Helwan (Heluan), Marg, etc. But in late May and throughout June, 1917, I found it in large numbers on the P. tcarus meadow at Gezira, ovipositing on the rose-purple flowers of a species of Vicia, from which I bred one specimen. I took a series of some 50 specimens here. They were decidedly large and well-marked. It was with regret that I found in May, 1918, that the meadow had been dug up and would be con- verted into a lawn tennis court.
Victa is not the only food-plant of C. trochilus. In May, 1917, I found it ovipositing on Alhagi manniferum or A. maurorum, in the Wadi Rished, near Helwan, andit probably feeds on other Leguminosae. The pabulum of L. boeticus and T: telicanus var. eyyptiaca is extremely varied in Egypt. I bred a number of the latter from a hedge of Sesbania aegyptiaca, a tall Papilionaceous shrub with yellow flowers, in the autumn of 1916. With these I also bred several L. boeticus, but the latter butterfly oviposited at least as much on some adjacent shrubs of Cajulus indicus, which the ¢ of TJ. telicanus var. egyptiaca did not seem to favour to the same extent, though I saw one or two instances of oviposition by the latter species on the buds of Cajulus. Both insects oviposit on Alhagi and on the red-flowered Vicia mentioned above. I have also seen L. boeticus oviposit on the following Legu- minosae--always, so far, on the buds of flowers—‘ Lablab ” (//olichos lablab), Sweet-pea, Broad Bean, Pea (Piswm sativum), Kidney Bean, “ Lubia’’ Bean, and on an ornamental Leguminous shrub with large yellow flowers and prominent pistil growing in the Gezira Gardens. I further have seen L. boeticus oviposit on flowers of Astragalus forskalet, the desert food-plant of Plebetws loewti in Egypt, and I suspect that the young flowers of Albizzia lebbek furnish T. telicanus with food-plant during the early summer.
COLLECTING IN VARIOUS PLACES IN 1916-1018, u
Both these species produce in summer and autumn a certain num- ber of dwarf specimens, generally with thin scaling and consequent pale colour. Otherwise L. boeticus varies but little, whether taken in the desert, the Delta, or in the Maryut Steppe. 7. telicanus var. egyptiaca, in Wgypt, is rare after the end of November, and remains so till April. Specimens taken during this period are sometimes of the typical form, with heavier and mouse-coloured markings on the under- side, and thicker scaling, and therefore richer colour on the upperside than those which abound in the hot months. ‘These latter are more thinly scaled above, while the underside marking is more yellowish- grey and opener, and in some cases 1s almost fawn colour.
I had only known of two Egyptian specimens of Cigaritis acamas, one taken in September on the abandoned Cairo Suez road, by Mr. E. Adair, and one taken by myself in April, 1916, on the Mokattam plateau. In late April, 1918, I took three perfect specimens of C. acamas, and saw others in the last mentioned locality, where Hesperia amenophis occurred, and near which P. loewit was to be found, though rarely. An expedition to the upper part of the Wadi Hof, in search of P. loewti, on May 5th, 1918, did not give good results. The collectors of the Entomological Section, Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, had here taken some fine P. loewti, with its blue 2 form johannae, Andres, thus far only signalled from Hgypt, but in 1918 the Astragalus plants were in poor condition, owing apparently to the attacks of a Coleophorid, and the specimens of P. loewit taken thereon were very small. I found Astragalus forskalei growing near Dekehla, early in May, 1918, on sandy grass-land near the sea. The flowers had been much eaten, but no Lepidopterous larvee were obtained in them and a single specimen of an Ino, which may haye been Ino orana was the only Lepidopteron taken thereon.
During the last two years two Pierids new to the Egyptian list have turned up near Cairo, viz., [dmais (Teracolus) fausta in Wadi Rished, Helwan, in early May, 1917, and Belenois inesentina (April, 1917), also in the desert Wadis, S.E. of Cairo. Mr. Marshall and others found Catopsilia florella on the move, probably migrating, in March, 1917, in the same area, and both the last named species have turned up in the western oases, Upper Egypt, where Dr. Gough and Mr. Storey of the Entomological Section, Ministry of Agriculture, have taken a good few specimens. 8. mesentina, in May, 1918, was found in the larval and pupal stages on Capparis, by Mr. Storey. The comparative rarity of Capparis in the desert S.H. of Cairo, and Mr. Marshall’s observations, convince me that his B. mesentina were migrants from the south. The
‘late Lieut.-Col. Manders’ record of JT. fausta, seen but not taken in Wadi Hof, in May, was confirmed by Mr. Marshall, who in early May, 1917, took T. fausta and also a fine specimen of the rare Huproctis susannae in Wadi Rished.
A small collection of insects taken in early May, 1917, near Sollum, on the border between Egypt (or more properly Marmarica) and Cyre- naica, by a brother officer, and presented to the collection of the Ministry of Agriculture, included a small, very dark, but unfortunately damaged, specimen of Papilio machaon, Pontia daplidice, Melitaea
- didyma var. deserticola, and Erynnis rhamses. Of the other Pierids, Pontia daplidice and Synchloé glauwconome were much in evidence in the early summer of 1917. The former was quite abundant on the rail-
8 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
way embankment at Ezbet el Nakhle, on the Cairo-Marg line, where Caylusia sp. ? (? canescens or pubescens), a Resedaceous plant, had sprung up in considerable quantities. With it flew some worn S. glauconome, a species I had never previously seen in cultivated country. Both spezies were also noted at Gezira and Maadi, also in the neighbourhood of Caylusia plants. The P. daplidice taken in May, 1917, resembled the Constantinople summer form. Some of those taken in June ap- proached the form raphani.
Mr. Storey took a very typical P. daplidice var. bellidice, a form hitherto not reported from Egypt, at Dekehla, in February, 1917, as well as a single Anthocharis cramert (belia) var. eqyptiaca. Anthocharis belemia was out in fair numbers in its usual haunts near Cairo, from November to February, in 1916-1917, but I failed to take any speci- mens of g. aes. ylauce. But of this species I shall have more to say.
Notes on British Ectobins, Steph. By Cart. MALCOLM BURR, D.Sc., F.E.S.
In the Ann. Mus. Zool. Ac. Im. Sci. of Petrograd, vol. 21 (1916), N. Adelung discusses the genus Hetobius, Steph.
He begins by subdividing off a new subgenus Hctobiella (type E. dusket, Adel., from §. Russia; the female later described by Holdhaus). In this genus the female has the elytra horny and veinless as in the allied Hololampra. It is in fact a link between EHctobius and Hololampra.
The author briefly discusses the very distinct Ff’. nicaeensis, Bris. (S. France), H. albicinctus, Br., and HL’. panzeri, Steph. (W. Hurope, in- cluding Britain), but discusses in detail H. lapponicus, L., EH. lividus, Fab., and FE. vittiventris, Costa.
British orthopterists have probably all discovered that the two former are not nearly so distinct as they would appear from their descriptions, and many are inclined to fuse them all into one. The regretted Blattist, R. Shelford, was a pronounced ‘‘lumper”’ in this respect.
Adelung, however, who has examined extensive material, is not inclined to agree, but gets out of the difficulty by adopting subspecies, of which he describes a number of new ones. He thus ranges E. per- spicillaris, Herbst, (1786), with long elytra in the female and paler in colour than in the type. Then subspecies hemiptera, Fab., with the elytra abbreviated to a marked extent. He confines H. lividus, Fab., to the pale macropterous southern species, and considers all more northerly records under this name, including the British ones, to be really the H. lapponicus sub. sp. perspicillaris. Incidentally he con- siders /. pallidus, Oliv., identical with this.
Thus typical FL. lapponicus has a monomorphic male but a dimorphic female, the form perspicillaris, paler, with long elytra, and hemiptera, Fabr., dark, with shortened elytra. All these forms are familiar to British orthopterists.
Adelung then proceeds to describe some new forms of EH’. lapponicus.
1. var. burri, Adel., a little smaller than the type, elytra a little shorter in the male and generally longer in the female ; pronotum and - elytra greyish, never reddish. Described from Delibat, Hungary.
The author then refers passim to the Balkan form with red prono-
A NEW BRITISH CAPSID (HEMIPTERA). i)
tum, referred to without a name by Brunner, inadvertently referred to by Burr as. ‘‘ var. erythronata, Br.” Adelung corrects this to var. erythronata, Burr, nec Br.
2. var. discrepans, Adel. Only female known; of the hemiptera form, the pale border of the pronotum dominating and almost extin- guishing the normal dark centre. Received from Vernon, Beauchamps and Demont, in France.
8. var. picta, Adel., bigger than the type and coloration more ornate and complex; described from Fontainebleau and Bouray.
4. var. chopardi, Adel., a little smaller than type; colour pale; approaches vittiventris, Costa. Described from France, Fontainebleau, Bouray, St. Germain, Beausset.
Our British orthopterists would do well to pay careful attention to all available material of EH. lapponica and so-called EH. lividus. It seems practically certain that the name &. lividus should be confined to our big, pale, macropterous, Mediterranean species, our pale British form hitherto called lividus really being H. lapponicus var. persptcillaris. Almost certainly the hemiptera form is known in Britain too.
A New British Capsid (Hemiptera). By EH. A. BUTLER, B.A., B.S8c., F.E.S.
On three occasions during last August and September Mr. H. Donisthorpe captured in Surrey a species of Capsidae, which has not previously been recorded from Britain. Five specimens in all were taken, one $ four ?s, two of them at Weybridge and the other three at Oxshott, and all occurred on Scotch Fir. These insects, though in colour varietal rather than typical, agree morphologically with the description of Megacoelum beckeri, Fieb., given in Reuter’s great work, Hemiptera Gynmocerata Europae, and they represent, I feel sure, one of the many forms of that variable species, and as such, make an interest- ing addition to our Hemipterous fauna.
M. beckeri is very closely allied to M. infusum, H.S. (the well-known Calcoris infusus of British catalogues), and for its recognition no more is needed than to mention the points of difference. M. infuswm is always described as glabrous on the upper surface, and this is suffi- ciently accurate for all practical purposes, though I find that in most specimens there are two or three long and very fine erect hairs, usually either on the disc of the pronotum, or at the apex of the corium close to the cuneus. WM. beckeri, on the other hand, is, when in good con- dition abundantly supplied on its upper surface with long erect hairs, which, however, are very easily rubbed off. The hind tibiae of MW. beckeri have also both the black sete on their outer edge and the fine hairs on their inner, evidently longer than in J. infusum, and there are similar long hairs on the hind margin of the posterior femora near the apex. It is also a slightly longer and more robust insect, with stouter antenne and legs. Some of Mr. Donisthorpe’s specimens show the dorsal hairs remarkably well, and though others have lost many of them, they are all recognisable by the features of the hindlegs and the size and general robustness of form.
The colour of both species varies a good deal, and while the typical form of M. beckeri is pale, like the majority of our British examples of M. infusum, both species have also darker forms, and the above speci-
10 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
mens are of this dark coloration, rufo- or castaneo-testaceous, with the cuneus bright red and the hind tibie dark.
In the “general collection at the British Museum, silandinie under the name M. infuswm, there are specimens from Austria which were in Dr. Eger’s collection, and still carry his labels bearing the name M. infusum ; but as they are strongly pilose, they clearly “belong to M. beckert ; one is pale and appears to represent the var. lethierryi, Fieb., of which { have seen an authentic specimen from Mr. Champion’s collection, and the other is dark like the Weybridge and Oxshott examples.
Mr. Donisthorpe tells me that his captures were all made from fir trees, at the foot of which in each case there was a nest of the ant Formica rufa, while no specimens were found on trees not so accom- panied ; and he considers that, like Pilophorus, which occurred with it, the bug may have some sort of association with the ant. Reuter gives as the habitat of M. beckeri, -Ulmus, etc.; but what the “etc.” covers nowhere appears, though it may, perhaps, include fir-trees. M. mrusum is with us most commonly found on oaks, but it is recorded on the Continent from fir-trees also, and in the light of Dr. Hger’s specimens mentioned above, the question naturally arises whether these fir-tree specimens may not, after all, have been M. beckeri. On the continent, IM. beckeri occurs in DAS, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Greece, and §. Russia, and it appears to be rather tore southern in its distribution than M. infusum.
I am much indebted to Mr. Donisthorpe for Py me placing three of his captures at my disposal.
New species of Aristotelia and Micropteryx. By the Ricur Hon. Lorp WALSINGHAM, M.A., LL.D., F.B.S.
ARISTOTELIA, Hb. 2894:1. Aristotelia aletris, sp. n.
Antennae distinetly annulate alternately with yellowish white and fuscous. Palpi whitish, the median joint with a fuscous band before the apex, broader on the outer than on the inner side; the terminal joint with a narrower fuscous band around it before the apex. Head and Thorax mealy whitish, dusted with fuscous. lorewinys mealy whitish, profusely dusted with fuscous, except on a terminal band wide on the costa, curved and narrowed to the tornus where it ends in a fuscous spot; there is a pale yellow outwardly curved fascia on the basal fourth widening toward the dorsum, a pale yellow patch at the middle of the dorsum rising to a little above the fold, and another pale yellow patch above the fuscous tornal spot, rising toward the costa at the end of the cell, but not reaching it; cilia mealy white, profusely dusted with fuscous, except at their outer extremities about the tornus. - Exp. al. 65mm. Hindwings and cilia shining steel-grey. Abdomen fuscous above, whitish beneath. Leys whitish, speckled with fuscous at the joints.
Type 2 (95976). Mus. Wlsm. B.M.
Hab. Sicmy : Syracuse, 26, iv., 1918 (Wism.). Unique.
Allied to eppelsheimi, Stgr., but smaller and much less brightly coloured, moreover, the bright yellow fascia in eppelsheimi is straight,
NEW SPECIES OF ARISTOTELIA AND MICROPTERYX. 11
not curved outward as in aletris where it bends inward nearly to the tornus.
MICROPTERYX, Hb. 47761. Micropteryx corcyrella, sp. n.
Antennae fuscous. Palpi shining steel-grey. Head ochreous Thorax purplish fuscous. Forewings shining aeneous, with a purplish tinge along the costa and around the termen ; with two bright silvery fasciae, the first at one-fifth of the wing-length, the second about the middle, tending very obliquely outward from costa to dorsum—each of these two fasciae is about half as wide as the space between them ; beyond the outer fascia, half-way to the apex, is an inverted shining silvery patch, at least as wide as the fasciae themselves, and reaching about half across the wing; cilia bronzy-grey, with a slight purplish sheen along their base. Hvp.al. 65mm. Hindwings shining bronzy, darker than the aeneous forewings ; cilia bronzy-grey. Abdomen and Leys shining bronzy; 3 genitalia strongly developed.
Type 3 (85880), Mus. Wlsm. BM.
Hab. Corru: Palaeocastrizza, 1872 (Wlsm.) Three specimens (all 3's).
Allied to berytella, Joann., but differing in the absence of a dorsal Spot beyond the middle and of the costal spot before the apex, nor is there any costal spot between the fasciae, moreover, the fasciae are broader and more conspicuous.
4778°2. Micropteryx erctella, sp. n.
Antennae fuscous. Palpishining pale aeneous. Head pale eneous, Thorax aeneous; tegulae bright purple, which colour, however, does not extend to the base of the forewings as in calthella, L. Forewings shining aeneous, with an oblong silvery white costal spot at one-fifth from the base, not reaching beyond the upper edge of the cell, its ex- tension lateral, not perpendicular: an outwardly curved, almost angu- late, silvery fascia at about the middle reaches the dorsum at a point further removed from the base than its origin on the costa; pointing inward toward the middle of this fascia is a broader silvery costal patch, extending over half the breadth of the wing—these are the only markings in the g, and they occur also in the @, thus differing from aruncella, Scp.—the curved fascia separates it from eaimiella, Z.; cilia pale fuscous with a brassy sheen. Hap. al. gf Tmm., 2? 6mm. Hindwings pale fuscous with brassy sheen ; cilia the same, but duller (more purplish) toward the wing-base. Abdomen fuscous above, shining steel-grey beneath. Legs, hind tibiae fuscous, tarsi paler.
Type 3 ( pena ). Mus. Wism. B.M.
Hab. Srcity: Monte Pellegrino, Palermo, 13-23, i1., 1918 (Wlsm.). Ten specimens (8 gs, 2 28).
The ancient Latin name of Monte Pellegrino was Ercta.
47783. Micropteryx uxoria, sp. n.
Antennae fuscous. Palpi cinereous. Head clothed with yellowish hair-scales. Thorax bronzy; tegulae rich purple. Forewings greenish brassy, with two complete silvery fasciae and an inverted costal patch; the first fascia straight, at about one-fifth from the base; the second fascia, leaving the costa at about the middle, is sometimes slightly
12 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
convex, but usually straight and diverging a little toward the dorsum, which it reaches scarcely beyond the middle; the costal patch, equi- distant between the second fascia and the apex, is inverted, and reaches half across the wing—these markings are conspicuous and of uniform width; cilia shining bronzy-grey. FHap.al. g 7-8mm., ? 8-9mm. Hindwings shining bronzy; cilia bronzy-grey. Abdomen greyish fuscous; genital segments of g strongly developed. Legs pale greyish fuscous,
Type 3 (95987), 2 (95988). Mus. Wlsm. B.M.
Hab. Siouy: Taormina, 1-3, v., 1918 (Wlsm.). Hight specimens (5 38,3 2s).
In the @ the markings are precisely similar, but there is a slight silvery sheen at the extreme base of the dorsum; in neither sex is there any purplish colour at the base.
I have carefully compared these specimens with four in the Zeller Collection and one in the Stainton Collection—all original specimens of evimiella, Z., received from Mann and labelled “ Ftrur.” The average size of my species is certainly larger; I was at first inclined to regard them as that species, especially as Chrétien [Le Naturaliste 30 (2s. 2) 60 (1908)] has stated that the ? of eaimiella has the same silvery bands and costal spots as the g, thus separating it at once from aruncella, Scp., and seppella, F., but it must be remembered that ~ this discovery refers to specimens taken at Digne, which may possibly have been wrongly identified. I have a @ (81721) from Rome (iv., 1898, Wlsm.) which has no markings, but it was taken there at the same time as eaimiella 3, and is certainly smaller than calthella, L., and has no violet at the base of the forewings.
The Sicilian specimens differ from the Tuscan, as well as from Zeller’s description, in the following points: first, there is no violet tinge at the base of the forewings in the g ; secondly, no reddish tinge along the costa; and thirdly, it is observable in all the specimens of eximiella that the first fascia stops slightly before reaching the costa,. whereas in uvoria it distinctly reaches it in all instances.
SSCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS.
Foop-PLANT, AND REARING, OF Hyproxcta cRINANENSIS.—A few days. since I received from Mr. L. A. E. Sabine thirteen magnificent bred specimens of a Hydrvecia, which he suggested were probably H. crinanensis. Having examined the genitilia I found that his guess was correct. In response to my request he has kindly supplied me with the following details of his discovery, which, with his consent, I now publish, as far as possible (because of space limitation), in his ~ own words ;—
“On June 22nd this year I noticed a plant of ‘ Yellow Flag’ (Jris pseudacoris) which had the central leaf of one of its main shoots. slightly withered. I, of course, investigated, and found that a larva had been feeding in the stem, but had departed. I thereupon decided to make a thorough search for other affected plants, and after examin- ing a few more was rewarded by discovering a larva about two-thirds. grown. After an afternoon’s hard working I had seventeen larve, varying in size from half to full grown, but only two of the larger size. In every case the larva was found feeding in the shoots which
SCIENTIFIC NOTES. 138
did not contain a flowering stem, and not one was discovered in the roots, although occasionally when the stem was rather short the larva ate the central portion down as far as the crown of the root, no further. The larvee were frequently found in the upper part of large shoots, a foot or more above the ground.
“« The locality was low-lying and damp, with a very small stream of water, near an area of bog, and on the borders of a wood. During the remainder of the month other larve were found in the same plant in similar localities, all damp and low-lying, and no doubt sometimes flooded in winter. Just a few larve were also discovered in Iris stems erowing on the extreme edge of a salt marsh, which was, I was informed, often flooded during the winter months, but I doubt whether the salt water would actually 1each the plants in which the larve were found, although it would seem quite possible. In this latter place, and in others near the coast, larve of H. micacea were found in the roots of Iris on July 16th and onwards, the larve of this species being always in some portion of the roots, and eating only so far as the base of the shoots.
“T ought not to attempt to deseribe the larve of H. crinanensis, as I have no notes of my observations. But I remember that it was of a dirty-white colour, with some longitudinal stripes of a pale pinkish, or flesh-colour, which became less pronounced when the larva became full grown. There were also black dots on the segments. Several of the larve were ‘ stung.’
‘‘T experienced no difficulty in feeding the larve. I cut fine, healthy shoots of Iris, with a fair portion of root attached, in order that they should remain fresh as long as possible. I then cut off the ends of the shoots and formed a hollow in the centre. I placed the head of the larva towards this hollow, at the same time making him very uncomfortable by tickling his tail. He immediately made for the hollow, and satisfying himself that it was his proper food-plant, at once settled down and made himself at home. It was not even necessary to change the stems, as I placed only one larva in each, and there he remained until full-fed.
‘‘ When full grown the larve leave the stems and pupate in earth. I lost a number at this period, as they burrowed about a good deal in the earth, and those which had already formed their cocoons were often disturbed by later arrivals. This naturally often ends in mal- formed pups and death. I was rather surprised at this as I gave them plenty of earth and they were not overcrowded.
“The imagines emerged from July 31st to August 10th, and show an interesting amount of variation of colour.”
Mr. Sabine also kindly sent me further specimens of H. crinanensis, taken in another locality in 1914, on ‘‘ Ragwort’”’ flowers, “on the lower slopes of a limestone mountain, the nearest fresh water being about a mile away.” This does not militate against the conclusions drawn from all former experiences that this species is always connected with fresh-water streams. These examples may have flown to the higher ground.
Mr. Sabine’s discovery is an interesting one. Our previous idea, that the food-plant of H. crinanensis might be Scabious or some other stream frequenting plant, is finally answered. It is for friends who have found the insects to confirm the observation by stating whether Tris occurs in the localities where it occurred.
14 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
Mr. Sabine tells me that he did not see any H. nictitans, H. paludis or H. lucens in the locality where the larvee were found—Ballysodare, Co. Sligo. Ireland is once more found to be a favourite home of this species. Mr. Sabine promises, all being well, to obtain larve for de- scription next season. This will be as it should be. Have the larve of H. nictitans, H. lucens, and H. paludis ever been described ?
Mr. T. Greer, of Stewartstown, Co. Tyrone, writes me. He has taken numbers of specimens. “ H. crinanensis must have some other food-plant besides Iris; as in many localities here this plant is absent where the insect occurs. Coarse grass and thistles are there in quantity and I surmise that it will be found to feed internally in these plants also.’’-—(Rey.) C. R. N. Burrows, Mucking, Essex.
J)OTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
Firitp Nores rrom Bata.—On May 81st, 1918, the Rev. A. M. Downes took me to one of his favourite localities, but it did not rro- duce much in the way of Micros. He found Agriades thetis and Poly- ommatus icarus common among the long grass, and took also Cupido minimus, which was new to him in that locality. Harly in June Enarmonia (Semasia) woeberiana was emerging from pup from the bark of an old Pyrus aucuparia in Victoria Park, and I took one very dark @. On the 8th of this month Blastotere glabratella was still on the wing at Bathford. (I have now been able to compare my speci- mens and to identify them as this species.) The common FEpinotia (Catoptria) hypericana also occurred, though I did not see it last year, the same may be said of Cacoecia (Cnephasia) musculana and Epiblema (Paedisca) bilunana. On the 18th Drepana falcataria was seen at rest at Bathampton, and on the 15th three Bryophila perla were noted on the walls. This seems an early date. On the 28rd, Acalla (Peronea) logiana emerged, and another the next day, from pupe previously gathered. The moths of the summer brood appear to be much less numerous than those of the autumn brood. At the time I was glad to take a few specimens of Hphestia calidella (ficella) at the grocer’s shop, and also to discover the headquarters of the gs of Tortria (Sphale- roptera) longana in an old quarry. The @s occurred in various places but the gs only in this one spot. They were resting on the taller bits of the herbage, and were very quick on the wing when disturbed. From a pupa spun up in the shoot of a Scot’s pine I bred Hvetria (Retinia) buoli- ana, and from a pupa between ivy leaves the nearly black var. of Cacoecia (Tortriv) podana ab. sauberiana. There is certainly a tendency towards melanochroism among the Lepidoptera of this district. I noticed one Lithocolletis cramerella nearly as dusky as those from the North of England and Scotland, and have already mentioned several dark specimens of other species that I met with. The tendency may be due to the damper air of the west. I did not find moths so abun- dant in 1917 as in the previous year, except perhaps Hucosma (Penthina) varieyana, which I think was more common. I spent some time getting series of the common “ Sciaphilas,’ which were abundant.
The Phycitids mentioned (vol. xxix., p. 169) as rolling the leaves of Turkey Oak into balls, produced the common Acrobasis (Rhodophaea) consociella, and the larger species taken later was A. (f.) zellert (tumt- della). I also mentioned some saw-fly larve in a web on hawthorn,
NOTES ON COLLECTING. 15
but I believe now that they were the larvee of Hurhodope (Rhodophaea) suavella. It was getting dark, and I was ina great hurry, when I came across them. Among other species which have not been men- tioned I found Tortrix (Aphelia) osseana common among rough herbage at Bathford, E'ipiblena (E’phippiphora) trigeninana among ragwort, Eipermenia (Chauliodus) chaerophyllella, one specimen at Combe Down, The mines of Lithocolletis lantanella were abundant in the viburnum bushes, in some of the lanes. This will I think conclude my notes from Bath, as I left the city on July 3rd.—Aturrep Sicw. December 5th, 1918.
Some Acunzats Hymenoptera From LeIcesTERSHIRE IN 1918.— . Leicestershire naturalists may be interested in these notes on a year’s casual collecting of bees and wasps in that county, since it is one of the shires to which practically no attention has been paid by Hymenopterists.
It has been a poor year for Aculeates here; the sallow bloomed in wet weather and, although there was a fine show of Senecio in the autumn, it did not bring mea single bee. I had very few captures in August and practically none afterwards.
The most productive localities were (a) Market Bosworth, (b) Peckleton Common, (c) Swithland Wood, (d) Great Glen and (e) Bransford Bridge, near Lutterworth. To these must be added (f) the Outwoods, Atherstone, just over the county border in Warwick- shire. My collecting was largely limited to these places and was - Intermittent on account of military duties ; the list is therefore in no way representative; but, since it adds somewhat to the records for Leicestershire, it may be worth publication. It is worthy of notice that many species recorded by Mr. Morice for Rugby occur also in Leicestershire, while several of the rarer captures have already been , recorded for this county in Mr. Bouskell’s list in the Victoria History of Leicestershire.
In the following list the letters after each species indicate the localities named above, and those marked * are included in Mr. Bouskell’s list. The nomenclature is that followed by the late Mr. Saunders, whose kindness to me some years ago I shall always bear in remembrance.
Myrmosa melanocephala, Fab. c; Sapyga 5-punctata, Fab. a; Pom- pilus minutulus, Dabl,d; Salius exaltatus, Fab., c, d: S. parvulus, Dahl., b; Agenia variegata, L.,c; Tachytes pectinipes, L., £; Trypowylon figulus, L., a, d, ec; * T. clavicerum, Lep., c,d; T. attenuatum, Sm., a; Pemphredon lugubris, Latr., b, d; P. shuckardi, Moraw., a; J”. lethifer, Shuck., a; P. morio, V. Lind, d; Diodontus tristis. VY. Lind, a; Passaloecus insignis, V. Lind, a,d; Psen pallipes, Pz., a, d; “Gorytes mystaceus, L., d; Oaybelus uniglumis, L., a, b; Crabro clavipes, L., a; c,d; * C. leucostomus, L., a, d; C. capitosus, Shuck., a; CO. podagricus, VY. Lind, ¢,d; C. varius, Lep., a. b, £; ©. elongatulus, V. Lind, d, e,f; C. 4-maculatus, Dhl., b; * C. dimidiatus, Fab., a, c, d, f; C. chrysostomus, Lep., a, b, d, £; C. eribrarius, L., b; * C. interruptus, De G., a; C. albilabris, Fab., £; *Vespa vulgaris, L., a; *V. germanica, Fab., a,d; *V. rufa, L., a,b, d; *V. sylvestris, Scop., a, d; *V. norve- gica, Hab., c; * Odynerus spinipes, L., a, £; * O. callosus, Thoms, a, ¢c; * O. parietum, L., a; O, pictus, Curt., a, b, e, £; O. 3-marginatus, Zett.,
16 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
a, £; O. 8-fasciatus, Oliv., a, b, c,d; * O. parietinus, L., a,b, d,£; O. sinuatus, Fab., ¢, d.
Colletes daviesana, Sm., a,c ; *Prosopis communis, Nyl., a, d; P. hyalinata, Sm.,a; P. brevicornis, Nyl., a ; Sphecodes gibbus, L., ¢.; 8. subquadratus, Sm., ¢,£; S. affinis, v. Hag., b,c; *Halictus rubicundus, Chris?, a, b;.c, d, £3." A cylendricus, Habs (by cad’ ovis pelemalnepes: Kirb.; H. pauawillus, Schenck, e; AH. punctatissimus, Schenck, f; H. nitidiusculus, Kirb., a, £; *H. twmulornm, L., b, £; H. smeathmanellus, Kirb., a; H. morio, Fab., a, b,c, £; H. leucopus, Kirb., a, ce; *“Andrena albicans, Kirb., a, @; *A. rosea var. trimmerana, Kirb., a, c; A. nitida, Foure., a; “A. jfulva, Sch:, a: *A. clarkella, Kirbi van bsaereee. nigroaenea, Kirb.,a; *A. gwynana, Kirb., a, e,d; *A. praecoa, Scop., c; “A. cingulata, Fab., e,£; *A. chrysosceles, Kirb., a; A. humilis, Imhoff, f.; A. nana, Kirb., a, c, d; A. dorsata, Kirb., b,c; A. wilkella, Kirb., b, £; Nomada roberjeotiana, Pz., c; *N. succincta, Pz., a, b, c, £3 *N, alternata, Kirb., a, c, e, f; N. lathburiana, Kirb., £; *N. ruficornis, Ti., 6) fee Nabifida, home a, 2);)e; 1 5° Ni ochrostonia cu pesamanmnie *N. fabriciana, L., £; *Chelostoma florisomne, Li, a, d, £; Coelioxys 4-dentata, L., a; C. rufescens, Lep., d; C. elongata, Lep., a; C. acu- minata, Nyl., a; Megachile willughbiella, Kirb., d, e. ; *M. circumeincta, Lep., f; M. ligniseca, Kirb., d; *M. centuncularis, L., a, d; *Osmia rufa, Li., a, G; O. wanthomelana, Kirb.,£; O. caerulescens, L., a, £5; O. fulviventris, Pz., a, £; O. spinulosa, Kirb., d; Anthidiwm manicatum, L., d; *Melecta armata, Pz., a, @; *Anthophora pilipes, Fab., a; A. furcata, Pz., a, d; *Psithyrus rupestris, Fab., d; *P. vestalis, Fource., a, cs SPs barbutellus, Kirb., a; ds *P. campestris, Pz., die ouaant. color, Lep., a; *Bombus venustus, Sm., a, b, e, d; *B. agrorum, Fab., a, c,d; *B. hortorum, L., a,c; *B. sylvarum, L., a; *B. derhamellus, Kirb., a, d; *B. lapidarius, li., f;.*B. pratorum, W., a, a, tb ccmes- _ tris, L., a, @; B. terrestris var. virginalis, Kirb, a.—Limeur. L. A. Box, Great Glen, Leicester. November 16th, 1918.
ABRAXAS GROSSULARIATA VAR. EXQUISITA.—Referring to the supposed new form of Abraxas grossulariata, which the Rev. G. H. Raynor pro- poses to name ab. eaquisita (Hint. Rec., vol. xxx., p. 189), the description he applies to it agrees exactly with a form which we have been breed- ing here for over a dozen years, and which we have always regarded as an extreme form of the male of ab. varleyata. My oldest specimen, bred from a wild larva, is dated ‘‘ Huddersfield, bred 1905,” and my most recent one, a beautiful second brood example, ‘“ Huddersfield, bred November 2nd, 1918.” In my big series of varleyata, I have specimens showing every gradation, so far as the large marginal cuneate white blotches are concerned, from this extreme form to the most ordinary form of the male, and beyond it to many males which show no trace of any cuneate mark at all. But we have always re- garded these cuneate marks as sexual, as it is very rarely indeed that they show in the females at all. I have only seven specimens (and have never bred or seen more than one or two more) in my series which do so, and they with not more than two (sometimes only one) in each hindwing, and none in the forewings. But my friend, Mr. Raynor, tells me that all his five specimens are females, which fact certainly is as new as it is extraordinary in this extreme form. The numerous and large cuneate marks undoubtedly give the variety an
CURRENT NOTES. lr
exquisite appearance, but anyone who knows how very variable in the number, size, and shape of its white marks ab. varleyata is, would see at a glance that Mr. Raynor’s exquisita is nothing more than a form of it, and as such it has no more claim to have another varietal name given to it, than have dozens of the many other forms of the variety, and which to name differently would be absurd.—Gxo. T. Porritt, Elm Lea, Dalton, Huddersfield. December 80th, 1918.
GXURRENT NOTES AND SHORT NOTICES.
In the annals of the Caucasus Museum (our copy of the reprint un- fortunately not giving reference), probably late in 1916 or early in 1917, N. Adelung describes a new species of Gampsocleis, G. shelkovnikovae, discovered by Captain Burr at Géok Tapa, in the Transcaucasus, in July, 1915. This is an interesting species. Unlike all but one of its congeners, which are mottled and usually brown, this handsome species is uniform green, and closely resembles the ubiquitous Locusta viridissima, for which it was for some time mistaken. It may, how- ever, be distinguished at once in the field by its characteristic Decti- cine note, and by the fact that it stridulates during the heat of the afternoon, leaving off at dusk, just when the chorus of Locusta strikes up. It is closely related to the scarce G. ussuriensis, Adel.‘ from the distant River Ussur, near Vladivostok, familiar now from the military operations being conducted there. Both are big, all green species, but in the Caucasian one the subgenital lamina of the male is longer and narrower, more strongly keeled in the centre, and more obtusely excised posteriorly ; there are also other slight differences. It has since been recognised from several other localities in the Caucasus, on both sides of the main range. Adelung concludes with a note on the nine species of Gampsocleis known in Russia. (Only two are known in Europe outside Russia, eg., G. abbreviatus, Br., from Macedonia, and the handsome G. glabra, sporadically occurring as far west as Belgium.) These are (1) G. glabra, Herbst., the type of the genus, throughout south-central Russia as far as Semirechinsk; (la) G. podolica, Shug., from Podolia; (2) G. spinulosa, Krauss, from the upper Hoang- Ho, and in the Governments of Irkutsk and Yeniseisk; (3) G. kraussi, Adel., from Siberia; (4) G. sovinskyi, Adel., from Siberia; (5) G. caudata, Adel., from Yakutsk ; (6) G. christinichi, Adel., from near Vladivostok; (7) G. ussuriensis, Adel., from the same neighbourhood ; (8) G. sp., from an unknown locality; and (9) G. shelkovnikovae, from the Cau- casus. Uvaroff has already sunk G. annae, Shug., in the first named species. As Russian specimens of G. glubra are paler and have a - longer ovipositor than those from Western Europe generally, time may show that it is a distinct sub-species, like the handsome Spanish form.—M.B.
The Russian scientific expedition to Persian Kurdistan referred to previously in these notes was a great success. The party left Tiflis on May 8rd, 1916, returning on July 11th, after visiting Tabriz, Maragi, Urmi, Salmasta, and Khoja, and a few other inhabited islands in the Lake of Urmi. In spite of the disappointing incapacity of the botanist, and the accident to Smirnoff the zoologist, who broke his leg early in the journey and had to return to Tiflis, the expedition was a great success. About 8,000 specimens of insects were taken. It was early for Orthoptera, but a fine series of the interesting genus Nocarodes was
18 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
brought home and some striking Callimenus, probably the handsome green and cream C. fernandezi, Bol. The whole material, zoological, botanical, and geological is the property of the Caucasus Museum, Tiflis ; the funds were supplied by the generosity of General Yanush- kievich, formerly Chief of Staff to the Grand Duke Nikolas. The material was being handed over to specialists when the tragedy of the Revolution cut our Russian colleagues off from contact with humanity. —M.B.
S OCOCIETIES.
Tue Soura Lonpox Hintomotoeican anp Natura History Society.
June 18th.—Prof. F. A. Dixey, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., was elected an honorary member.
The evening was mainly devoted to an exhibition of living speci- mens of Natural History.
Mr. Ashdown exhibited living feats of Anatis ocellata (Col.), and living imagines of Rhagium inquisitor (Col.).
Mr. R. Adkin, winter “nests”? and living larve of Huproctis similis (auriflua) and of EF. chrysorrhaea, the one solitary in hibernation, the other gregarious; and also living Scoparia dubitalis and its white form to show the Depressaria-like attitude of the latter.
Mr. H. Main, various early stages of Chrysomela graminis on Tansy, of Timarcha violaceo-nigra on Wood-ruff, of Timarcha tenebricosa, of Necrophorus mortuorum (all Col.), of Gastrophilus equi (Dip.), of Podisus luridus (Hem.), of Pseudoterpna pruinata and Coleophora genistae on Petty-whin, and of Dasychira pudibunda.
- Mr. Dennis, living larve of Dicranura vinula feeding on aspen, and stereoscopic slides.
Mr. K. G. Blair, various early stages of the Mosquitoes, Anopheles maculipennis, A. bifurcatus, and Culex pipiens, of the wasp Odynerus spinipes, of the beetles Lema melanopa, and the two sexes of Ptilinus pectinicornis, and on behalf of Mr. F. W. oe the rare beetle Gnorimus nobilis, from Kaling.
Mr. Bunnett, a flower of Anemone nemorosa, in which the sepals were leaf-like, with photographs of the palmate newt and of the cris- tate newt, and a common lizard, which had reproduced its tail which had originally been broken off.
Mr. H. Moore, a living Augiades sylvanus, and seasonal forms of the American Papilio marcellus (ajax), the spring form, and form telamonides, the late spring form, a transition to leconter (marcellus), the summer form.
Mr. Hy. J. Turner, a melanic specimen of Alsophila aescularia from Mansfield, and Pyrameis atalanta, with pale red bands, from Cornwall and Ireland.
Mr. F. W. Frohawk, the rare Trichius fasciatus (Col.), from 8. Wales, a male Euvanessa antiopa, from N. Britain, a series of female Pieris brassicae, showing gradation in the development of a band on the fore-wings, one example having a black spot on the hind-wing.
Mr. Lachlan Gibb, the very rare yellow form of Pieris rapae, from Canada.
Mr. Neave, a partially banded Pieris brassicae, bred from Nasturtium.
Mr. Simms, larvee of Ruralis betulae and Strymon pruni.
Mr. Edwards, a Calosoma sycophanta, from Kpping Forest.
SOCIETIES, 19
_ June 27th—A curious RESEMBLANCE.—Mr. Main exhibited the stalked seeds of Geranium robertianum attached to leaves, etc., near the ground and much resembling ova of insect species.
A REMARKABLE EMERGENCE.—Mr. Moore, for Mr. Cooke, living Tor- trix viridana, which had emerged from a mass of pupe taken from the throat and stomach of a dead jay.
A RARE COLEOPTERON ForM, Etc.—Mr. Priske, the rare blue form
- of the beetle Calosoma inquisitor, the egg-mass of the water beetle
Hydrophilus piceus beneath a Potamoyeton leaf and pointed out the “mast,” and specimens of Helix aspera and H. nemoralis, with their summer epiphragms, each having an opaque spot.
ABERRaTIONS OF H. maLvakr AnD P, 1canus.—Mr. Neave, an extremely pale brown form of Hesperia malvae, and an example of Polyommatus icarus ab. icarinus.
ABERRATIONS OF A. THETIS.—Mr. Sperring, aberrations of underside Agriades thetis, from Cuxton, one with unusually dark and well- developed submarginal spots, another with somewhat sagittate spots, and another deficient in the basal spots.
REstING posrPioN oF MALE P. aversata. — Mr. Main, noted that Ptychopoda (Acidalia) aversata male rested on the four front legs with the hind legs extended backwards.
STEREOGRAPHIC SLIDES sHowN.—Mr. Dennis, stereographic slides of the milkwort and the quaking grass.
Mr, Turner, for Dr. Chapman, a larva of the W. American Orgyia, O. vetusta, from California.
AN ABFRRATION oF Li. anron.—Mr. B. W. Adkin, for Mr. E. B. Ker- shaw, an example of Lycaena arion, with all markings absent except the discoidal spot and the marginal spots, also a specimen of the Hongkong butterfly Clerome eumeus, belonging to the Morphinae.
EXHIBITION AND DISCUSSION OF K\. atomaria.—The rest of the evening was devoted to the exhibition and discussion of Ematurga atomaria.
Mr. Adkin exhibited series from many parts of the British Isles, including a unicolorous dark brown male from Epping Forest, and the Lancashire dark form.
Mr. B. W. Adkin, races from many southern localities, and a blackish-brown race from Durham.
Mr. Ashdown, series from Surrey with the yellow Swiss form for comparison.
Mr. Leeds, series from the Midlands, one having a bright yellow ground. :
Mr. Barnett, pale examples from the Fens, and various series from the Surrey hills.
Mr, H. J. Turner, British forms, and a series from various places in France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany, showing the strong sexual divergence in colour in the former series and the strong sexual con- vergence in colour in the latter continental series. He then read a paper dealing with the named forms, and summarising the lines of variation.
July 11th.—Surrey Lepmoptera ExHipiteD.—Mr. Ashdown ex- hibited numerous species of Lepidoptera taken or bred by him in Surrey this season, including Cabera pusaria ab. rotundaria, Amphidasis betu- laria with var. doubledayaria and intermediates, Tricopteryx viretata, T. carpinata, Acronicta leporina, ete.
20 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
New Forest CoLHOPpTERA AND VARIATION IN HLATER SANGUINOLENTA. —Mr. W. West, Coleoptera taken by him recently in the New Forest, including a fine series of Elater sanguinolenta, which had been abun- dant, with extreme aberration of the dark marking, and seven yellow forms. He also showed LH. lythopterus, EH. miniatus, Oryptocephalus lineola, and the parasitic beetle Tomoxia biguttata.
STEREOSCOPIC SLIDES sHowN.—Mr. Dennis, one? slides of Orchis maculata and of Juncus obtusifolius.
AN EXAMPLE OF mimicry. A RARE KuPpLOEA sHown.—Mr. Bawands, Euploea depuiseti var. lyketa from the Tailaut Isles, Malay, and the Danaine Lycorea halias and its mimic the Arctiid i icopts angulosa from Venezuela.
A tocau captuRE.—Mr. Sich, an Ephestia taken in the room.
THE RARE CoLEoPTERON Gnorimus nositis.— Mr. Lachlan Gibb, specimens of the rare beetle Gnorimus, nobilis from Hereford.
Mr. Priske, the same species from Chiswick.
A Paprr.—Mr. Sich read a paper, ‘‘ A Beginner’s Remarks on the Tortricina.”
July 25th.—Surrey Conzoprera, 1918.—Mr. Ashdown exhibited aberrations of Leptura maculata (armata), a fine graduated series, also Clythra 4-punctata, Chrysomela orichalcea(g and ? ), and Ctestas (Tire- sias) serra, all from Surrey.
Brep Tortrices.—Mr. Barnett, a bred series of Hphippiphora scutu- lana from Epping Forest, and its Hymenopterous parasite; a bred series of Cydia pomonella; and blue females of Polyommatus icarus.
New Forest Cotroprera.—Mr. West, Coleoptera taken in the New Forest in June, Leptura scutellata, Hypera rumicis, Luperus nigrofasct- atus, Ceuthorhynchus chrysanthemi, and Cleonus nebulosus.
Aperration or Li, anion.—Mr. B. Adkin, a photograph of the under- side of the specimen of Lyct&ena arion with obsolete marking, previously exhibited.
PROTECTIVE COLORATION IN A. BETULARIA LARVZ.—Mr. Mera, living larvee of Amphidasis betularia. Brood A (1) on sallow and A (2) on beech. Brood B (1) on sallow, B (2) on blackthorn. In both broods those on sallow were green in colour, those on beech were dark, and on blackthorn very dark. The decision of colour occurred only in the very early stage.
AsERratIon oF D. vinuta.—Mr. Bunnett, Dicranura vinula in which the hindwings were unusually hyaline, anda Toxocampa pastinwm from Coulsdon.
FLoriDA BUTTERFLIES AND THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.—Mr, Moore, butterflies from Florida, including Heliconius charitonius, Thecla acis, Lycaena hanno, Papilio cresphontes, Anosia berenice, Dione vanillae, Junonia coenia, Limenttis floridensis, L. disippus, Pyramets RU aa ete., and discussed the distribution of the various species.
A Paper: Variation 1n L. QUADRIPUNCTELLA.—Mr. Jah Sith read a paper discussing the aberration of Lampronia quadri pune and naming two recurrent forms.
Economic Enromotocy 1LLustrateD.—Mr. Edwards discussed the devastation caused by Phyllowera vastatrix to the vine, Hylesimus pint- perda to the pine, and Doryphora decemlineata to the potato, illustrating his remarks with a series of large diagrams.
bee ie
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Duplicates.—T. pruni (fair types), Pisi (bred), «Lucipara (bred), ‘pups of Lanestris.
Desiderata.—Very numerous to renew and extend.—Wm. Foddy, 39,, York Street, Rugby,
_. Duplicates.—*Dissimilis, Velleda, Fibrosa, *Ambigua, Fulva, *Lubricipeda var. Fas- ciata, “Plantaginis, Coracina, Captiuncula, Mundana, Lutosa, Togata, *Valerianata, _ Cilialis, Inquinatellus, Caledoniana, Variegana vars. Sauciana, Geminana, Cinerana, 5 - Brunnichiana, Schulziana, Congelatella, Occultana, Vectisana, Dorsana, Rusticana,
*Suboccelana, *Strobilella; Nanana, Herbosana, Petiverella, T. corticella, *@icop, Fulvi-
gutella, etc. Desiderata.—Good Pyrales, Tortrices, ete.—T. Ashton Lofthouse, The Croft, - Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. *
: Desiderata.— Pieris napi—spring and summer broods with exact data (localities and. dates)—from all parts of the Kingdom, especially North of England and Scotland ; .
'Pararge egeria from Scotland, Ireland, and North of Hngland—exaet data needed. Will
e do my best in return or pay cash.—G. T. Bethune-Baker, 19, Clarendon Road, Edgbaston. .
' Duplicates.—Varleyata and other varieties of Grossulariata. Desiderata.—Good varieties and local forms. Spilosoma urtice, Advenaria, and other ordinary species to
- renew old series. Good Tortrices and-Tineae.—Geo. T. Porritt, Elm Lea, Dalton,
a Huddersfield.
Duplicates.—Grossulariata var. lutea, lacticolor, varleyata, fulvapicata, etc. . De-
Raynor, Hazeleigh Kectory, Maldon, Essez.
- Desiderata.—Buchloé cardamines from Ireland; also types of E. cardamines from
Switzerland, Italy, S. France ; var, turritis (S. Italy), var. volgensis, var. thibetana, and
of WH. gruneri, F'. euphenoides, H. damone, and any palearctic species of’ the genus.
_ Duplicates.—Loweia dorilis and vars., a few minor vars. of R. phleas (British), and many _ British lepidoptera.— Harold B. Williams, 82, Filey Avenue, Stoke Newington, N.
Duplicates. —Agrotis Ashworthii and A. Lucernea. Desiderata.—L. corydon, var.
Syngrapha, Irish butterflies and offers.—Joseph Anderson, Alre Villa, Chichester, Sussex. ; es
Duplicates.—A. coridon vars., including semi-syngrapha, H. Comma. Desiderata. ee coridon var. Albicans (Spanish) and yar. Hispana (do.), and good butterfly vars., - especially from Treland.—Douglas H. Pearson, Chilwell House, Chilwell, Notts.
3 CuAnces or ApprEss.—C. W. Colthrup, to 103, Woodward Road, East Dulwich _ §.H.22. Colbran J, Wainwright, to 139, Hamstead Road, Handsworth, Birmingham. ie: W. Hall, to ‘* Ardestie,”’ Station Road, Chorley Wood, Herts. Lieut. L. A. Box, ta
80, Northampton Road, Croydon. B. H. Crabtree, Holly Bank, Alderley Edge, Cheshire,
on ihe Mansbridge, Dunraven, Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool. ,
a i The
Non-receipt or errors in the sending of Subscribers’ magazines should be
siderata.—Other extreme forms of Grossulariata, or good vars. of Diurni.—Rev. G. H. |
cua shi @ ) |
|
“Batomelogical’ Society of London. i, Chandos. Si S 8 p.m, 1919, February 5th. ~~
The South London Rmebeole and. Skea: “History _ ‘Bolick et Chambers, London Bridge.—Meetings : The second and fourth Thursdays in t at 7 o'clock. January 23rd, Annual Meeting. ci Sec.; suey Hdwar _ German’s Place, Blackheath, ya) Ege paar (s iar be ioc
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The Entomologist’s Record Journal of Variation a
Bene BY i RIcHARD 8. BAGNALL, mn as..) FiReSy B.A CHAPMAN, ™.p., F.R.8., F.E.8. | Gzonce T. BETHUNE- BAKER, | Jas. E. COLLIN, r-z.s. Bebe 3 tae F.Z.8., F.L.8., F.B.S. idee. Os J. K, DONISTHORPE, F.Z.8., F.E.S. % M. BURR, b.sc., F.2.8., F.L.8., F.B.S. JoHN Harrtey DURRANT, F.z.s. 4 ee) C. R. N. BURROWS, =.z.s. Aurrep SICH, r.z.s. (Bev.) Gnorcr WHEELER, w.s., Fn.s., i . \, eo gh ee and se ae Henry J. TURNER, r.zss., PS Meee Alig See q EK: Editorial Secretary. mt Bae a i uy & Va sha : és ; ‘ e : : / ee CONTENTS. PAGE. 21 - : 26 "Seasonal Pol enornbiken and Races of oe ae Grypoce and Rhopsloere, Rog ger a Verity, M.D. He ay Wieneae kg é : os oO 96 ue Wander through Stainton’ s Hilly Field; W. G. Sheldon, F.E.S. a 31
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MYRMECOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1918. 21
Myrmecophilous Notes for 1918. By H. DONISTHORPH, F.Z.S., F.H.S. (Concluded from page 5.)
Acanthomyops (Donisthorpea) niger L.—This common species occurred in great abundance everywhere in the New Forest, occupying many situations under stones and in banks, etc., formerly inhabited by Leptothorax interruptus, Tapinoma erraticum, ete. I regard this ant ag a great pest, and Dr. R. C. L. Perkins tells me his experience is the same in Devonshire; as when he had moved a stone over a nest of Ponera, or Leptothorax tuberum, ete., 1b was always taken possession of by the wretched niger.
The Myriapod Polyxenus lagurus was found in several niger nests in the Forest. A marriage flight took place near Beaulieu Road Station, on July 28th, in the afternoon.
Marriage flights of niyer were observed on August 7th, at Charing Cross, on the Embankment, and at Putney; and again at Putney on August 20th. On the last occasion a sparrow was observed catching and devouring the winged female ants, leaving their wings on the ground.
On August 22nd, 1917, I captured a niger 9 at Putney, which had removed her wings after the marriage flight, and placed her in a small plaster nest. She laid eggs in a few days, which hatched, but died when the nest got too dry. Eggs were laid again in September, which hatched ; six small larve being present on January Ist, 1918. April ' 14th, larve larger, and a few eggs present. May 27th, three naked pup, small larve, and eggs present. June 16th, a 3% hatched, which was eaten by the 2. June 26th, another 8 hatched. June 27th, two % % now present. Gave them some honey, the first food given to the ? since she wascaptured. The @ and both ¢ 8 fed at the honey together. June 30th, 2 considerably swollen. July 7th, fresh eggs laid, twelve small larve, 9 and two ¥% 3, well. August Ist, nine small cocoons and fourteen larve present. August 11th, one of the two 3 8 dead. August 25th, five new % % hatched, five cocoons, twenty larve, and a few eggs present. September 22nd, eleven 3 3, twelve larve and some eggs present. November 7th, the 2 and eleven 38 3 well, and fourteen medium larve present. Some of the eggs and some larvee were used as food by the ?, and also by the 8 8.
A. (D.) alienus Férst.—Hallet discovered this ant at Wallasey, in Cheshire, in April; a new county record for the species.
Formica rufa.—An interesting nest of this ant was observed near Holiday Hill, in the New Forest, on July 29th, which was situated all round a gate post. The materials of the nest were piled right up to, and on, the top of the post, and the space between the post and the gate was also filled with the same. Part of the post was hollow, and this, and the cracks in the post were also packed with pine needles, bits of stick, etc., etc., and a continuous stream of ants kept bringing up further materials. % 8 and dedlated 2 9 of Leptothorax acer- vorum were running about on the post among the rufa % %, and in and out of the cracks. Numerous examples of the Bracon Hlasmosoma berolinensis, and also g g of the Dipteron Ceratopogon myrmecophilus, were hovering over the ants and the nest. Ihave nearly always found these two insects present at the same time over rufa nests, though I do
Freervuary 15ru, 1919.
29, THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
not know what the association can be. The Bracon is of course hovering over the ants to lay its eggs on them; whilst the Dipteron is probably only hunting for its own females. [I captured a ? of the Ceratopogon under a stone on a rufa nest at Weybridge on August 27th, 1918.] The construction of this nest calls to mind a somewhat similar case recorded by Forel near Munich, which was situated at the foot of two posts belonging to a balustrade bordering a thick forest [ Brit. Ants, 251 (1915)].
In an enclosure near Mark Ash, all the large trees of which had been felled, a small hillock, built of largé coarse materials, and inhabited by very large rufa 8 %, was examined on the same day. As all the 8 &% of this small colony were very large indeed ; it is pro- bable they had come from a very much larger nest, which had been disturbed by the removal of the trees from the enclosure.
Eggs were present (though I did not find a queen), and % cocoons; fastened on to a number of the latter were specimens of the mite Trachy- uropoda coccinea, its red colour showing up conspicuously against the buff ground of the cocoon. I have frequently found this mite in nests of F. rufa, but never before fastened on to the cocoons. Beckia albina was common in the nest, and a fine specimen of the beetle Muthia plicata was captured, quite at home among the fierce ants. There is little doubt that this beetle is a regular myrmecophile. Fowler records it from rufa nests at Buddon Wood, in Leicestershire, and Walker took it with the same ant in the Bleane Woods, Kent. It is much larger than our other British species, and I suspect some of our records, not with ants, really refer to H. schawmi.
On the Continent Markel recorded it with F’. rufa in Germany, and André with F’. exsecta in France; Ganglbauer gives both species as its hosts.
At Weybridge on August 27th, September 4th and 18th, the bug Pilophorus cinnamopterus occurred in some numbers, on fir trees over rufa nests, in company with rufa 8 8 attending Aphids. These bugs prey on the plant-lice, and obtain protection from their super- ficial resemblance to small rufa % 3. On the last mentioned date several specimens of Pilophorus perplexus, the ground colour of which being quite black, instead of red, as in specimens taken by me before, were beaten off birch trees, also in company with rufa % 8 and Aphids.
On August 27th, at Weybridge, I captured a larger species of bug which was on a fir tree over a rufa nest. On September 4th, another specimen was taken off the same tree. Mr. Butler, to whom I sent specimens, tells me it is Megacoelum beckeri Fieb., a species new to Britain (see antea p. 9). Subsequent hunting at Weybridge, when all fir and other trees, both near and away from rufa nests, were beaten, failed to produce more. On September 20th, however, when at Ox- shott, three specimens of the same bug were beaten off different fir trees, in each case only over rufa nests in company with rufa 3 % and Aphids. I was beating fir trees all day, and Mr. Ashdown, who was with me, was beating all other trees for varieties of Coccinellidae, and it was only on fir trees over rufa nests that these bugs occurred. It would thus appear that this insect is associated with ants, much in the same way as are the species of Pilophorus.
The Myrmecophilous Lady-bird Coccinella distincta Fald., was
MYRMEOCOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1918, 23
very abundant this year on various trees, fir, birch, and oak, etc., near rufa nests, in company with rufa % % attending Aphids. I have been working at the association of this beetle with H’. rufa for many years, and as I hope to write a paper on its life-history later on, I will only deal very briefly with the matter now. I found its larve in some numbers for the first time this year and reared them in-captivity, and Iam keeping a number of the perfect insect alive in a large rufa observation nest.
The marked difference in the treatment of the common Coccinella ?-punctata (a certain number of which occurred in company with (. distincta on the trees, etc., near the rufa nests) by the ants, from that exhibited by them to CU. distincta, as I previously recorded in 1900 [Hnt. Record, 12, 173-4 (1900)], was again noted this year; and on August 27th, I demonstrated the same for the benefit of Mr. Blair, when he went with me to Weybridge—he was much impressed by this.
Dr. Sharp has very kindly dissected the 3 genitalia of C. distincta and of 7-punctata for me, and he has found that they differ very greatly in this respect; those of (. distincta being very highly specialised.
Wasmann in a paper published in 1912 [Zeitsch. wissens. Zool., 101, 112-14 (1912)] reeords C. distincta from Luxemburg, “always in the close neighbourhood ”’ of various ants’ nests. This is the first record on the Continent in which this beetle has been mentioned as being in any way connected with ants. He quotes my experiments, etc., at Weybridge, and says, ‘‘ The larvee of this Coccinella lives from analogy with the other Coccinellid larvee without doubt, as Donis- thorpe already in 1900 has remarked, on the Aphidae and Coccidae dwelling with ants.” He goes on to say that the ant species with which it is most frequently found (I. rufa, etc., etc.) do not keep any Aphidae or Coccidae in their nests, but only seek such species to milk as occur everywhere outside their nests; and that this is a Darwinian paradox. He is not quite correct in stating that I’. rufa keeps neither Aphids nor Coccids in its nests, as I have taken of the former—Lachnus formicophilus (only known from such situations), Schizoneura corni and Aphis plantaginis, and of the latter—Orthezia cataphracta and New- steadia floccosa, in rufa nests. However this may be, when I found the Coccinella larvee this year, they were feeding on the plant-lice attended by the ants on the fir trees over the rufa nests.
In 1908 I. wrote [Hnt. Record, 20, 283-4 (1908)|—‘‘ My present view is that these beetles seek the nests of Mormica rufa for hiberna- tion, and leave in the spring or early summer.” I have taken them on and about rufa nests in every month from February to December inclusive. I hope to be able to visit the nests at Weybridge in January ; and also to clear up the remaining points in its life-history.*
On April 21st to 29th my friend Mr. J. W. Allen collected a number of beetles in nests of Formica rufa (and also with other ants) at Lustleigh Cleave, S. Devon, and as a certain number of them are new county records it seems well to mention them all here.
In nests of Formica rufa :—
* As I was unable to go in January on account of my bronchitis, my friend Mr. Mitford visited the nests for me on January 27th, and found several C. distincta on fir-trees above the nests.
24 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
Thiasophila angulata, Notothecta flavipes, N. anceps, Dinarda mérkeli (common), Oxypoda formiceticola, Myrmedonia humeralis, Quedius brevis, Xantholinus atratus,* (O. ochraceus), Trichopteryx montandont,* Myrmetes piceus, Dendrophilus pygmaeus,* Monotoma conicicollis.
In nests gf Acanthomyops (Dendrolasius) fuliginosus :-—
Myrmedonia laticollis, M. humeralis, M. lugens,* Oxypoda vittata, O. haemorrhoa, Notothecta confusa* (common), Quedius brevis, Amphotis marginata, (Homalota circellaris), (H. fungi).
With Acanthomyops (Chthonolasius) flavus :—
Claviger testaceus.
Formica rufa var. alpina SantschiimAmoneg some ants taken by Mr. G. A. J. Rothney, at St. Filans, Perth, in 1905, I detected speci- mens of F. rufa var. alpina ; a new locality for this variety.
In August, this year, the Rev. J. W. Metcalfe sent me some ants to name (from Rannoch), and told me that he and Mr. F. C. Whittle had had a curious experience with regard to the little moth Myrmecozela ochraceella and the particular nest from which these ants came. —‘They had searched every nest of F’, rufa they could find at all times of the day with but small success, but when they found the nest in question they took 45 ochraceella at the first examination; a bag which was sub- sequently considerably increased. The vast majority of the moths were 2 2,80 this was not a case of assembling. I found that the ants were the var. alpina ; and it 1s the first record of the moth being taken with this variety. It appears from what Mr. Metcalfe tells me, that the nest occurred quite near to the locality at Rannoch where I first discovered the ant in 1911. Later, Mr. Metcalfe very kindly gave me some of the long “ cases,” or rather ‘‘ runs,” of the moths’ larve, consisting of bits of the nest materials all fastened together. I had been unable to find these when I captured the moth in 1900 and 1911.
Formica sanguinea Latr.—On May 25th a very large populous colony of F’. sanguinea was found at Woking, situated in the stump of a large fir tree. After the most careful search no fusca 3 8 were found in this nest. This is the first colony I have ever found, or know of, in Britain in which no slaves whatsoever were found. A small beetle flew up, and after hovering over the nest, settled on the stump and endeavoured to enter one of the galleries; it was captured and proved to be a specimen of Notothecta flavipes, a species usually found with F. rufa.
The one pseudogyne colony which occurs at Woking (Brit. Ants, p. 296) was also visited and found to be in a flourishing condition. It contained 3 deiilated @ @, numerous 8 8 and pseudogynes, but only a few larve were seen. This, however, was the case with all the sanyuinea colonies this year, as they appeared to be very late as regards the brood.
In 1917, and again this year, a number of normal ¥% ¥ have been reared from eges laid by the @ in my pseudogyne observation nest [Hnt. Rec. 29, 49-50 (1917)|. As no pseudogynes have been produced from the eggs of this female, taken in 1916 with some of her % 8 and pseudogynes from a strongly infested colony, it shows at any rate that pseudogynes are not the result of pathogenic conditions in the egg, or mother queen.
* Those marked with an asterisk are new county records.
MYRMECOPHILOUS NOTES FOR 1918, 25
Formica fusca L.—Mr. Leman gave me specimens of F. fusca taken at Church Stretton, in Shropshire, in September ; a new county record for this ant. A colony of this species was observed situated in a cavity at the foot of one of the posts supporting the porch at Ramnor Lodge in the New Forest. At 12.80 on July 25th winged ? 2 were observed to emerge from the entrance to the galleries, and after run- ning all about the porch to re-enter the nest. Though none were actually seen to take to the wing, they were evidently preparing for the marriage flight, which no doubt took place later in the day, as at 2.30 a g was captured flying in the sand pit near Matley Passage.
Mr. Butterfield very kindly gave me a specimen of a Ceratopogon bred from one of several pup taken on the underside of a stone over a fusca nest at Grassington, Yorks, on May 5th. As this fly seemed to me to differ from the species (C. myrmecophilus) which I always find with the F’. rufa, | submitted it to my friend Mr. J. Collin, who is of the opinion that it is Veratopogon brauert Wasmann, a species new to Britain. Wasmann described it in 1893, having taken larvee, pupe, and perfect insects in nests of [’. fusca at Vorarlberg.
I believe Butterfield’s specimen to be a gynandromorph, as the antenne, and also the pubescence on each side of the body, differ ; Collin, however, is not I believe convinced of this. Butterfield in May, also at Grassington, found some 70 pupe of the Dipteron Micro- don mutabilis on the underside of a stone measuring 16” x 12", situated over a fusca nest.
Formica fusca var. glebaria Nyl.—Many nests of this variety were
found in the New Forest in July. One very interesting colony was in- habiting a large sphagnum mound in Matley Bog, the galleries of the nest leading right down through the sphagnum to chambers in the very wet earth beneath. Some of the % 8 were very light in colour; g 3, ® larvee and cocoons were present, but no winged ? 9 were seen, and Beckia albina was the only myrmecophile found. A small colony had established its nest by the side of a path through Denny Bog, the mound over the nest being covered with tiny pebbles from the path. Several large colonies were dwelling in large mounds by the side of the railway; these mounds being covered with little bits of cinders (no doubt picked up by the ¥% 8 on the line) which gave them a curious black appearance. The brood of these colonies only consisted of 8 larve, cocoons and naked pupe ; no sexes being found. In one of them, on July 22nd, a Cynipid and three specimens of Atemeles paradoxus were taken. This beetle, which has not been found in the New’ Forest before, is decidedly scarce in Britain; the only other localities known to me in which it has occurred are Folkestone, Charlton, Bournemouth, Isle of Wight, Weston-super-Mare, Land’s End, and the Plymouth district. In the last-named locality it was originally taken by Reading, and more recently by Keys, with whom I have had the pleasure of finding it, and also alone. Very many nests, however, had to be examined before a series could be ob- tained.
_ Formica picea Nyl.—Several nests of this ant were found in the original spot in Matley Bog, where I discovered it in 1914 (Brit. Ants, p. 383), but on July 18th a new locality was found further in the Bog, and here the ant was abundant. Over 20 nests were counted, 14 oc- curring in the space of a few square yards, nearly every tussock among
BAB | THE ENTOMOLOGIST 'S RECORD.
the sphagnum being occupied by them. Nearly all those examined contained two or more queens, sex pup# in cocoons, larve and naked 8% pup, but in only one was a g seen. Every nest was inhabited by the Coccid Psendococens sphayni Green, discovered by me, new to science, jn 1914. They occurred loose in the galleries, and on roots of grass running through the nests, and the picea 8 8 at once endea- voured to carry them into safety, when the nests were disturbed. The “Coccid Newsteadia jfloccosa also occurred in several nests, but pup (g and 2) of the fly Platyphora lubbocki were found in nearly every one. ‘These pup were loose in the galleries and among the bits of cut grass and sphagnum of which the nests were mostly built.
A striking new species of Catagramma from French Guiana. By W. J. KAYE, F.E.S.
Catagramma polypygas, n.sp. -
g. Forewing with the narrow base and broad apical area dark brownish black. Outer margin narrowly black at vein 2, and becoming slightly wider at tornus. A very broad flame-red discal patch extend- to costal margin and to inner margin but scarcely reaching tornus. Along median vein there is a slight extension inwards towards base. Outer margin slightly excised in middle. Hindwing deep violet blue, shading off into the velvety black ground colour at apex. Outer margin strongly toothed at the extremities of the veins. Underside of forewing as above except for a short yellowish costal stripe from base ; an ochre yellow curved stripe before apex followed by a short blue curved line at a short distance beyond. Cilia white at tip, black to vein 4 and alternately black and white to tornus. Underside of hindwing with markings as in hydaspes. Ground colour ochreous, a broad curved black stripe just inside inner margin. A large elliptical black central area containing four blue spots with white centres. From the upper edge of the black elliptical patch there runs a black curved line, edged externally with blue, merging with outer margin at tornus.
@. With more rounded wings and outer margin of forewing rounded and slightly scalloped.. Red area very large. Hindwing black, with a fragment of a blue subterminal line on outer margin just before tornus.
Exp. ¢ 46 mm., @ 48 mm. :
Habitat, French Guiana, Lower Maroni River. 2 9 g and 1 @. Types in coll. Joicey.
Seasonal Polymorphism and Races of some European Grypocera and Rhopalocera. By ROGER VERITY, M.D.
The following is an extract of a more extensive paper, in which I have compared the seasonal and geographical variation of the species occurring in Tuscany, with those of other Italian and European regions. The present difficulties as regards printing will probably make it im- possible to publish it for some time; moreover, most of its contents will chiefly interest Italian readers; I have consequently drawn out
SEASONAL POLYMORPHISM. 27
_ this short summary of the new forms described in it, and of some observations which may interest Knelish readers also, and I have added a few descriptions drawn from material of other Italian localities. Those who may wish for further information and details will find them in the fuller Italian work, to be published as soon as possible, probably in the Redia, edited in Florence.*
Erynnis (Carcharodus) altheae, Hib., race ausTRALIFoRMIS, mihi, This form stands to altheae as australis, Z., stands to alceae, Esp. In Tuscany, and probably in the whole of 8... Europe, it constitutes the second and third generations. It ismuch smaller than the nimotypical form ; the contrast between the dark pattern and the light ground colour is sharper.
Hrynnis (Carch.) lavatherae, Ksp., race AUSTRALIOR, mihi, corres- ponds exactly to the former by its size and pattern : replaces the larger form entirely in Tuscany. |
Erynnis (Carch.) boetica, Ramb., race rostacnor, mihi. Smaller, darker (moie brown and less greenish) than the Spanish race figured by Rambu:, more similar to the Pyrenean race figured by Oberthur [Et. de Lé. Comp., v., fig. 609-10], but not named by him; different from the mce octodurensis, Obth., of the Valais, and from the Sicilian race, which should be called opsrtHtr1, having been well figured by this author (fig. 605-6), but not named by him either. My type of rostagnot 1s ‘rom Oricola, in the Latium, 900m., where it was collected by Rostagno 4th of August 1918, but never recognised by him, the species havirg been till now unknown in Italy ; this unique specimen is now in my collection.
Hesperia vidae, Wisp., race occipENTALIs, mihi. Noone seems to have as yet observed how different the race of W. Europe is from the Russian one figured ly Esper; the form is much smaller, lighter in colour, and less boldly narked.
Hesperia armoricanus, Obth., second gen, FuLvornsPERSA, mihi. The ereat majoriy of individuals of the second brood (August and Septem- ber) differ fom those of the first by having the whole of the wings tinged with yellow-fulvous, so that the dark pattern is brownish and the light spies yellowish. Specimens of armoricanus very similar to onopordi, suh as that figured by Obthiir in vol. iv. of the Et. Lép. Comp. (fig. 509-10, occur also in Tuscany, but are very rare; they well deserve the 1ame of oNoPpoRDIFORMIS, mihi.
Hesperia onopordi, second gen. FuLvotincra, mihi. Similar to the correspondiug summer form of the preceding species. Individuals of the two broods, with the upperside densely scaled with. white, can be designated ly the name aLBoveLata, mihi.
* When 10 particular locality is mentioned in the description of new forms and races, itshould be understood that the ‘‘ types ’’ in my collection are from the neighbourhod of Florence.
28 THE ENTOMOLOGIST 'S RECORD.
Hesperia malvoides, Elw. and Edw., race rurt1, mihi. I propose this name for the very distinct race from Locarno, which Tutt [ Brit. Butt., i., p. 225 (May, 1906)] described, but wrongly referred to melotis, Dup., a distinct oriental species.
Powellia sao, second gen. Gracitis, mihi. Same colouring as the summer forms mentioned above, but also often much smaller Pach the Spring one.
Thymelicus acteon, Rott., race Racusat, mihi. This is, as far as I know, the most distinct race of the species which is so constantly invariable over the whole of its range; it seems quite constant\in Sicily ; the “types”? in my collection are from Palermo and S. Martino alle Seale; its characteristic is the total absence of the dark suffision over the entire surface of the wings, making them similar to those of Lineola, z.e., fulvous with a narrow black margin, and showing pnly in some specimens a faint trace of the dark suffusion.
Augiades sylvanus, Esp., race SEPTENTRIONALIS, mihi. Although this species does not vary much geographically, there isa distinst difference between the more northern races, such as the English on», and those produced further south; the former tend to melanism and produce such extreme forms as absaiicia. Tutt, and paupera, Tutt, \which are never met with in the latter, where most specimens belbne on the contrary to the forms opposita, clara and eatensa, of the same author ; series from England and series from France or Italy have in conse- quence a very distinct look. The specimen described, figured by Esper, was from France, and quite corresponds by its appearance to the southern race. I suggest the English race should be desimnated by the name mentioned above; my ‘“‘type’’ specimens are 12 distinetly smaller than the usual continental ones.
Tuersamonia, mihi. The genus Chrysophanus has a been subdivided into several minor genera; evidently this is quite right, but to my knowledge no name has yet been proposed for this very distinct group: thersamon, lampon, satraps, and asebinus ; takiny the first as typical, I should suggest the name THERSAMONIA.
|
Loweia alciphron, Rott., race mrrasitis, mihi. This may well be said to be the finest race of the species, on account of its Lies size and gaudy colouring; these characters at once distinguish it fom the much smaller nimotypical race of central Europe, the male of which it resembles by the dark suffusion covering the entire wing and the in- conspicuous, and often entirely absent, black spots; in 2rabilis, too, the anterior area of the hindwings is of a brighter orange/ulvous, con- trasting with the rest of their surface, which is dark, and shows off the brilliant purple gloss; the latter characters are simila to those of meliboeus, Stdgr., from Greece, but in this race the surfaceot the wings is generally less darkened and the black spots large. Th) female was described from the race romanorum, Frhst., of the hight Apennine, more similar to gordius in both sexes, but which occurs aso in colum- banus, De Prun., from Piedmont, in calabra, Vrty., and everin gordius ; some females of mirabilis have a black suffusion over te forewing.
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SEASONAL POLYMORPHISM. 29
My typical series of this race is from the southern slopes of the Mount Senario hill, not far from Florence.
Loweia dorilis, Hufn., race r1ranorum, mihi. Compared to the nimotypical race of Berlin the Italian race is seen to be larger, the submarginal fulvous lunules are larger and more vivid in both sexes ; the black shading, which is conspicuous in many males of the former on the underside, entirely disappears ; the black shading of the upper- side of the female is always very reduced and entirely absent in the ereat majority of specimens, which belong to the form phocas, Rott. (= fulvior, Stef.). There is no seasonal polymorphism, as in the Spanish bleuset, Obth.
Glaucopsyche cyllarus, Rott., race PAUPER, mihi. Size lesser than in the central European race, and extremely small specimens quite frequent ; females very often with no trace of blue scaling on upperside, and always restricted to a small basal area when present; bluish or greenish scaling of underside never reaches the outer half of the costal zone of hindwings, and never extends beyond the series of black spots. it must be noted that the females of pauper with no blue scales are not andereqgit, Ruhl., from the Valais, the latter being of a much darker tinge both on upper and underside; Riihl’s “type” is in Florence, in the collection of the R. Stazione d’Entomologia Agraria. I name compteta the form of the male with a distinct series of submarginal dots on the upperside.
Scolitantides baton, Brestr. Very early spring specimens (April) of the first gen. are always extremely small, and have a very white under- side with small black spots and narrow orange band ; the females are abundantly suffused with blue on the upperside, so much so that some are difficult to distinguish from the males (form pPRaxncocior, mihi.). Most specimens of the second generation (August) are also extremely small and have an underside colouring which is distinctly brownish (form opscurata, mihi).
Agriades aragonensis, Vrty., race saxonica, mihi. In the paper in which I separated this species from coridon, Poda [Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, \xxxiv., p. 517 (1916)], I pointed out that the large insect from Dresden, Berlin, etc., with very wide black marginal band and a dis- tinct green colouring, instead of a bluish one, seems to belong to the former rather than to the latter. In that paper I used the name vir- descens-marginata, Tutt, but, on second thoughts, it strikes me that such a compound name is perfect to designate specimens of coridon of any locality, which are slightly green and have a wider black margin, such as are often met with, but that itis quite necessary to distinguish from them the very different German form bearing many characters besides these two.
Agriades thetis Rott., race prrusca, mihi. First gen. maga, mibi., and second gen. Errusca, mihi.; race INALPINA, Mihi.; race APENNINICOLA, mihi.; race BRITANNORUM, mihi.; race vEctaz, mihi. Rottemburg’s typical specimens were from Landsberg, on the Warte; taking the central Huropean race on the whole, it reaches as far south as Pied-
30 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
mont, but further on the species acquires such a different look that it: is surprising no one should have as yet described it. The race of Central Italy resembles more the Spanish alfacarensis, Ribbe, but may be distinguished from it, more or less, by the same characters as dis- tinguish the Spanish A. arayonensis from its Tuscan race. Comparing Tuscan series with series from Central Europe the following differences are clearly seen: in etrusca the size is slightly larger, the wings are more rounded ; in the male the black streaks at the marginal end of the neuration are less distinct or absent; the black submarginal dots are less frequent and less conspicuous when present; the underside colouring is constantly totally different in the two sexes, whereas in the northern race it is so similar in both sexes that even such a minute analyser as Tutt described their variations as one; seasonal dimor- phism is constant and striking, whereas further north it is so incon- spicuous that Tutt is quite sceptical as to whether it exists at all. Our first generation differs less from the nimotypical race, our second generation is the most characteristic of etrusca. In my original paper I have accurately compared these three forms and made out their differential characters, which it would be too long to transcribe here.
I wish to draw attention to the fact that even in the large group: of Central European races taken as a whole, several will probably emerge on comparison of sufficiently large series; for instance, the Alpine race, as illustrated by a series collected in the Valais by Wullschlegel, and now in my collection, is far from identical with races of the plain; the submarginal series of black dots of the male- is much more conspicuous; the underside is very dark and in some individuals contrasts with a wide marginal white zone, somewhat as in. hylas ; the white rings round the black dots are very wide and the latter tend to obliteration; females with reduced or no blue sealing are quite frequent ; race INALPINA, mihi.
A sharp contrast exists between these Alpine characters and those displayed by thetis in the higher regions of the Apennines as compared to: etrusca, showing quite a different mode of variation ; the same con- trast | have shown to exist in coridon from the Alps and coridon race sibyllina, Vrty., from the mountain tops of the southern part of Cen- tral Italy. Here in both species the size is very small, the underside is extremely pallid (entirely pure white in culminating male indi- viduals), the black dots very minute, the premarginal lunules of a. pale yellow colour in the male and pale orange in the female (race APENNINIGENA, mihi). ‘Typical series from the Sibilline mountains in: the Piceno at 1200 mm., collected by Querci.
Turning our attention again to the Central Huropean group of races, it may be noticed that the English one differs markedly from Rottemberg’s race of the Warte in an exactly opposite direction from the Italian one, the race of Northern France (Kure) coming near to it}. the females are more blue; the lunules have a lesser extent and are less vivid ; the underside of the male is darker and less frequently tinged with fulvous; the black dots are smaller and set in a more regular median series. This I gather from a series collected by the late Conquest in June, 1906, and August, 1905, at Cuxton (Kent) ; I suggest the name Britannorum, mihi. Another very striking and interesting race was collected by the same entomologist in May, 1875, at Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight, and subsequently purchased by me ;
A WANDER THROUGH STAINTON’S ‘‘ HILLY FIELD.” 31
it is so different from any other as to give the impression of an aber- ration amongst races; it is very small and weak looking; the blue of the male is very silvery, more like hylas than the usual thetis; nearly all the specimens bear a series of minute premarginal black dots; the females are nearly all destitute of orange lunules or show three or four small ones, so much so that one of them, with very little blue scaling, looks exactly like an Italian female of cyliarus; the others are very blue, the underside of both sexes is very dark; the black spots vary in extent, but their white rings are very narrow; the orange lunules are very pale; the two basal black dots of the forewings are wanting in 8 specimens out of 21, which is a very high percentage indeed. This remarkable raze is certainly worthy of the name of vsstaz, and I should be grateful for information about it. 8
Agriades escheri, Hiib., race TuRaTI, mibi.—Several races of this species have already been described, but the one collected by Count Turati at Salsomaggiore, in the province of Parma, is certainly dis- tinct from them all; very large (mm. 38-80 of expanse) ; underside of male nearly entirely white, that of female of a greyish brown and displaying none of the brilliancy of the race splendida, Stef.; all the black pattern is very reduced as in rondoui, Obth.; orange lunules pallid and small, leaving a wide premarginal white space round the submarginal black dots; the latter are conspicuously pupilled with scales of a metallic green, in a way that is not seen in any other race ; the female has very reduced lunules on upperside; the blue scaled - female form subapennina, Turati, is comparatively frequent. I should name this race turatit.
(Lo be continued.)
A Wander through Stainton’s ‘ Hilly Field.” By W. G. SHELDON, F.E.S.
In the days when [ was in my teens an acquaintance lent me several odd volumes of the Jntelligencer, and in these were various accounts of the wonders of insect life to be found in the then famous «« Hilly Field,” near Mickleham, in Surrey. I made up my mind that, given an opportunity, I would visit this renowned locality, and in early June, 1882, being then resident in London, I started for it, but not until the 28th day of July last did I actually arrive at my destination.
The reason of my very slow progress was a question of misdirec- tion. I was told to make for the Dorking end of Headley Lane, to proceed up it until I reached the end of the wall on the righthand side, and then to turn in on the right through a short wooded lane, and I should see the “Hilly Field” in front of me. I followed out these directions, and did find a “‘ Hilly Field’ which answered botanically to the object of my search; I have visited there many times since, but it never came up to my expectations entomologically.
I suppose I should have rested contented to the end that I had succeeded in finding the object of my search, had I not last winter, in conning over some early volumes of the Zoologist, come across an article by J. W. Douglas, which gave full directions for reaching the real ‘‘ Hilly Field,” and I saw at once that I had been “sold,” whether intentionally or not I shall never know.
32 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
The ‘« Hilly Field’ was one of a number of localities worked by Stainton, and probably by every other micro-lepidopterist resident in or near London in the middle of last century. Stainton conducted parties there, and used to advertise the excursion in his magazine, the Hntomologist’s Weekly Intelligencer, thus, “ Mr. Stainton will be at Mickleham this evening, and will proceed to Headley Lane at 7 p.m. Incipients, who are too shy or too afraid of intruding, to come to ‘ Mountsfield’ (his residence), may perhaps pluck up courage to meet one in a lane!”
Following Douglas’s instructions, I—in imagination—met Stain- ton, and proceeded with him up Headley Lane for a mile or more, until I came to a farmhouse on the right; afew yards past this a stile is found inethe fence of the wooded hillside on the left. Getting over this stile one brevsts the hill steeply for a dozen yards or so, when an old path, deeply sunk in the chalk of the hill-side, crosses the track by which it is reached, at right angles; one turns along this to the right, and keeps to it, not leaving it for any cross paths, until the end of the wood is reached, when the real ‘“ Hilly Field is seen in front of one.
Seen, but alas, not reached; for it is now encircled with a very nasty barbed wire fence, difficult to negociate. The reason for which is that the field is now sacred to the culture of “‘ Brer Rabbit,” legions of which useful rodent make their home in it. The wire fence is not absolutely unclimbable, and after a search I found a vulnerable spot and entered. .
I was not molested on this, or on a subsequent visit which I made; gamekeepers have been practically non-existent during the past few years, and one has been able to wander almost anywhere without let or hindrance; I suspect, however, when times get normal it will be different, and the “ Hilly Field” will be “taboo”’ to most of us. It appears to be now very much what it was when Stainton and his com- pany rambled through. One description of it is ‘‘ there are so many flowers that the grass is without room to grow,’ and certainly the sward is almost entirely composed of the flowering plants that are so conspicuous on a chalk down, marjoram, woodsage, Inula conyza, and Pastinaca sativa were amongst the most conspicuous; less so, but almost equally abundant, were Prunella vulyaris, wild strawberry, Eviyeron acris, and many others the names of which I do not now remember.
One of the characteristics of the spot was said to be ‘‘ that there were as many insects as flowers,” and certainly this description applies now. Pyrausta purpuralis and P. ostrinalis were in thousands, one is tempted to say millions, on the occasion of my first visit, Sericoris rivulana was almost as abundant. ‘One does not usually meet with this species in great numbers!’ an old friend, who had studied micro-- lepidoptera for perhaps half a century, said to me a short time ago. I wished I had him with me! Peronea aspersana flew in dozens, with plenty of Setina irrorella. A pair of CMidematophorus lithodactyla, knocked out of Inula conyza, puzzled me, I did not recognise this as a food-plant of the species, and had hopes that they might prove to be Hellensia carphodactyla, with which I was not familiar. Amongst Erigeron acris [found Hupoecilia anthemidana common, they flew freely by six o’clock in the evening (summer time). A clump of spruce trees, planted since Stainton’s time, produced numerous examples of Paedisca
NOTES ON COLLECTING. 33
ratzburyhiana, probably earlier in the season they would have been good for other species. Tineina, which were the chief objects that the old lepidopterists visited the place for, were in shoals, and of many species.
I did not succeed in finding the special object of my visit, Oxyptilus ptlosellae, which was formerly taken commonly, and of which there are quite a number of examples in the National British collection, labelled by Stainton himself. The food-plant, Hieraciwm pilosella, does not now seem abundant, in fact it was hardly seen. I did obtain one worn specimen of 0. heterodactyla (teucrii), probably this was abundant earlier in the season.
I passed several pleasant hours wandering about, and saw enough of the old locality to realise its attractions, or some of them, and I felt I could almost see Henry Tibbats Stainton, the man who made micro- lepidopterists by the hundred, and his friends and disciples, Douglas, Machin, Healey, Jenner Weir, Standish, and the others who lived many long happy hours here when good Queen Victoria was still young, but who have all long since vanished into the land of shadows.
SSCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS.
THE FOOD-PLANT OF HypRoECIA CRINANENSIS.—The enquiry in the Record of January for further information on the above subject has brought me several replies. Mr. J. G. Le Marchant who has, from the first, taken the imagines in numbers, in Scotland, in the neigh- bourhood of Aberfeldy writes of the two glens in which he has col- lected: ‘‘I never saw an Jris plant in either glen. It is curious that I scarcely ever saw a Specimen away from the rivers.”
Sir Charles Langham writes me that in his neighbourhood, Co. Fermanagh: ‘ As far as I can tell we get only H. crinanensis in this Demesne, which has large quantities of yellow Jris growing in most of the low-lying fields. With the help of the late Mr. J. EK. R. Allen, I examined a number of the specimens, and we came to the conclusion that crinanensis is the only Aydroecia taken in this place.”
Can it be possible that the Jris is inconspicuous at the time when the imago is about ?
I may add that Mr. Le Marchant repeats his observation that the moths were observed in numbers “ on the flowers of the small scabious and appear to love the sunshine.’—C. R. N. Burrows, Mucking. blst January, 1919.
VOTES ON COLLECTING, Etc.
A FEW MORE NOTES FRoM SHERWOOD ForEst.—Since my last notes on Sherwood Forest my son has only paid a few visits in search of Lepidoptera, for he found early in the year that the greater portion of the Forest where he did most of his collecting had been cut down for government use, and that the greater part of the undergrowth has also been destroyed by the heavy timber “‘ drugs’’ and traction-engines in hauling the timber away. With the presence of the large gangs of men, and the fallen trees, it was not at all pleasant to collect there, and he gave it ashort rest and took up angling instead. During one of his early spring visits he found a pupa of Drepana binaria spun up in oak
34 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
leaves. The pupa was covered with a delicate bloom similar to that covering the pupa of Calymnia trapezina. On April 26th a fine female emerged, the first specimen either of us has taken here. In April also he saw a large number of Brephos parthenias flying around the birch trees, but at too great a height to obtain. Sherwood Forest is a poor place for butterflies, only the commonest species occur, the three ‘whites,’ the common ‘blue,’ the small “ copper,’ and the small ‘heath,’ with the small “ tortoiseshell’’ later in the year. In the autumn, on the trunks of trees, he took Cerastis vaccinti, Miselia oxya- canthae ab. capucina, and Cosmia paleacea. He also found a few larve of Hylophila prasinana, all but one of which werestung. Later on he took both light and dark forms of Epirrita (Oporabia) dilutata in plenty, and also made a selection of the forms of Hibernia defoliaria sufficient to renew my series of seventy specimens varying from slightly dusted forms, which look almost unicolorous, to forms with very dark eround, almost dark red-brown with still darker bands, and also some with cream coloured ground and very dark bands, very handsome specimens. Cheimatobia boreata and C.brumata could be taken in any number on the tree-trunks. In October my son took a larva of Dasy- chira pudibunda on an oak trunk, apparently preparing to spin up. From it was bred, on December 27th, a fine female. The pupa had been kept in the kitchen.—Wm. Daws, Wood Street, Mansfield.
Asunpance oF Dryas papaia.—lI thought it might be of interest to report the capture of the following :—While staying at Brockenhurst in July I had the good fortune to capture a fine variety of Dryas paphia male. Forewings nearly entirely suffused with black. Hind- wings striated. In practically perfect condition. I also took a number of var. valesina. The paphia were in the utmost profusion. —§. A. Cuarrres, 45, King’s Drive, Hastbourne. January, 1918.
An Earty Recorp.—On November 24th last I took a specimen of Phigalia pedaria (pilosaria) at Reigate. I believe this to be the earliest date ever recorded for this species—A. HE. Tonex, Reigate, Surrey. December, 1918.
ABRAXAS GROSSULARIATA AB. EXQuIsITA.—I am delighted to know that my old friend Mr. Porritt possesses specimens of the very beauti- ful and distinct ab. eaquisita. I cannot, however, follow his argument that the mere fact of his possessing specimens should have deterred me from giving it a varietal name. According to Mr. Porritt it is not advisable to name a variety of varleyata, even if it is recurrent (as in, the case of ab. evquisita), yet I find that in The Hntomologists’ Monthly Magazine for April, 1917, be himself has named a certain form albovarleyata! It is as well, of course, to use discretion in these matters and not to multiply names unnecessarily. Last year I had the intense gratification of rearing a few specimens of varleyata in which the white markings are replaced by yellow, or even by a beauti- ful orange, but I am content to label these as varleyata-lutea, instead of creating a new piece of nomenclature. I have now been studying this protean protean species for twenty years, and I have not come across a more striking form than the one to which I deliberately gave the
CURRENT NOTES. 85
mame of eaquisita.—(Rev.) G. H. Raynor, M.A., Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon. 4th February, 1919.
GXYURRENT NOTES AND SHORT NOTICES.
Many annual publications have”been late in appearance owing to the abnormal conditions brought about by the war. Still that they have been able to continue to appear is a matter for congratulation. The forty-eighth Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario (1917) has recently come to hand. After the usual Society Reports, of Council, Librarian, and Curator, the Annual Meeting received reports of the Branches at Montreal, Toronto, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia, and a series of special reports on the injurious insects of the year from the various divisions of the Province of Ontario. These are all printed with the addition of the numerous papers read at the sessions, including “‘ Notes on the Imported Onion Maggot (Hylemyia antiqua) and its Control,” by A. Gibson ; ‘‘ Some Important Insects of the Year,” by L. Caesar (the blackberry leaf-miner= Metallus bethunet ; the zebra caterpillars= Ceramica picta ; the codling moth=Carpocapsa (Cydia) pomonella; the white-marked tussock-moth= Hemerocampa (Orgyia) leucostigma ; the wheat midge=Contarinia tritici; the eight- spotted forester= Alypia octomaculata ; etc.) ; “‘ The Apple and Thorn Skeletonizer (Hemerophila pariana),’' by H. P. Felt ; ‘‘ Some Notodon- tian Larve,’’ by the Rev. Dr. J. A. Corcoran; ‘‘The Problem of Mosquito Control,” by Thos. J. Headlee (Registration of Areas, Acquirement of Funds, Means of Elimination, Execution of Plans, Valuation of the Results of the various Controls, Conclusion and Results so far); ‘‘ The Black Cherry-aphis,’” by W. A. Ross (giving the results of a large number of breeding experiments); “‘ Trans-Canadian Spiders,” by J. H. Emerton; “A Further Report on the Value of Dusting versus Spraying to control Fruit Tree Insects and Fungus Diseases,” by L. Caesar (showing the much greater advantage from the latter method of control): ‘“‘ A few Notes on the Ecology of Insects,’ by W. Lock- head (Inter-relations between insects and plants, Insectivorous plants, Bacteria and fungi, Insects as carriers of plant diseases, Insects and birds, Insects behaviour towards stimuli, such as light, heat, gravity, moisture, contact, etc.) : “‘ Notes on an Unusual Garden Pest in Nova Scotia, Gortyna micacea,’ by W. H. Brittain ; and various records of captures make up a very useful and interesting annual of some 180 pages; most of the contributions are illustrated.
The Transactions of the London Natural History Society for 1917 was published late in the year. It contains the usual summary of the meetings with many interesting entomological items. Then follow the various reports of the sectional activities, which apparently have been successfully continuing. Only two of the more lengthy papers have been included, (1) “A Spring and Summer at Oxshoit,” an extremely useful and interesting paper, by Russell E. James, containing a full account of the Lepidopterous Fauna of a well-known and delightful Surrey rendezvous. (2) ‘The Report of the Birds of Epping Forest for the year 1917,” for the Ornithological Committee, by A. Brown, Secretary.
36 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD.
The Ent. Mo. May. for November contains an interesting account of the occurrence in some numbers of the Buprestid beetle Melanophila acuminata, during the progress of a pine-wood fire at Crowthorne, Berks, many specimens being captured even on the still smoking trunks, by Messrs. W. E. Sharpe and Bedwell; and Commander Walker gives an account of the Butterflies of the Oxford district.
The Ent. News for November has a note on an attack by a dragon- fly larva on a water-snake, causing its death; a statistical paper on Protandry in Bees and lengthened period of flight by the females after the males have disappeared; and a discussion of the assertion that Seasonal Dimorphism occurs in the females of certain species of Mealy Bug (Coccidae) with a result pointing to a negative reply.
The Naturalist has kept up its interesting contributions to natural science very ably during the period of the war. The November num- ber contains a continuation of the fully annotated list of the Spiders of Yorkshire, by W. Falconer; records of the occurrence of varicus species of insects generally scarce in the northern counties, such as Rumicia phlaeas, Gonepteryx rhamni, Cicindela campestris, Nephodesme (Sciaphila) sinuana, etc. ; and contributions to the discussion on Scent Glands in Lepidoptera recently begun in its pages.
In the Bull. Soc. ent. France for November, L. Demaison dis- cusses the distribution of Saturnia pavonia, from the mountains in the north of Europe to the Mediterranean Sea, from Skye in the Hebrides to the summit of the Flégere, near Chamonix, and records an example of the melanic form infumata, Newnham, which he points out was figured many years ago by HEngramelle (Sup., plate ii., fig. 178 7, k), and also refers to fig. 178 / on the same plate, depicting an aberration of the male with hindwings entirely of a bright orange. He also names an aberration of Hnnomos erosaria as ab. angulifera, in which the two black oblique lines on the forewings, well separated on the costa, are united to form a sharp angle before reaching the inner margin. At the same time he points out that Kngramelle figures an aberration of this species with these lines quite obsolete as ab. wni- colorta.
In the same rumber, M. J. de Joannis contributes an article on the presence in France of Grapholitha (Laspeyresia) leplastriana, Curtis, an insect which some entomologists have doubted ever to occur outside England, where it is confined to the neighbourhood of Dover. Then follows a very complete history of the species from the observa- tions of Stainton, Mann, Zeller, Merrin, Weston, Elisha, C. G. Bar- rett, etc. Recently it has been met with at Niort, and M. de Joannis has received it from Italy (Fano) from Prof. Cecconi. In England the species has only one generation, the imago occurring in July and August, but in Italy there are two generations, in July and again in September.
In the Scottish Naturalist for November is an article by W. Evans, on “Insects and other Terrestrial Invertebrates from the Bass Rock.” He gives a list of Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, etc., recorded. ‘There were two species of butterflies, Aglais wrticae (dead), and Pieris brassicae (one). Xylophasia monoglypha (polyodon) was a common visitor to the lantern, Charaeas graminis were also in num- bers. Odd specimens of about a dozen species of Noctuidae, plenty
OURRENT NOTES. 37
of Gelechia (Lita) obsoletella among Atriplex, and of course Vecophora pseudospretella from the lighthouse itself. There is one record which requires completion, that of “pupa cases common on stones,” etc., among Silene maritima. The moths emerged in July and were identified for me by. Mr. Barrett, Coleophora solitariella.” Now C. solitariella has nothing whatever to do with Silene, but is attached exclusively to Galium holostea. Does this plant grow there? The cases, of course, are distinct enough. Of the Hymenoptera, two ants are recorded, Tetramorium caespitum and Myrmica ruginodis, one Vespa, V. sylvestris and two Bombus, B. lapponicus and b. terrestris race lucorum. About a dozen species of Coleoptera and one Orthopteron (sens. lat.), the ubiquitous Porficula auricularia.
The following is a list of the Officers and Council of the Entomo- logical Society of London for the ensuing year. President, Comm. J.J. Walker, M.A., R.N., F.L.8.; Treasurer, W. G. Sheldon ; Seere- taries, Rev. G. Wheeler, M.A., F.Z.S. and Dr. S. A. Neave, M.A., H.Z.8.; Librarian, G. C. Champion, F.Z.S., A.L.8.; Council, H. C. Bedwell, G. T. Bethune-Baker, F.L.8., F.Z.S., K. G. Blair, B.Sc., Malcolm Cameron, M.B., R.N., W. C. Crawley, B.A., J. Hartley Durrant, Dr. H. Eltringham, M.A., F.Z.8., Dr. C. J. Gahan, M.A., Dr. A. D. Imms, B.A., F.L.8., Dr. G. A. Marshall, F.Z.S., Rev. F. D. Morice, M.A., and H. EH. Page.
The Canadian Entomologist for November has (1) an article on * Insect Tropisms,” the behaviour of insects in response to the environ- ment in whica they live. (2) A record of a“ Long-fasting Lepidopter,” _ twenty-four cocoons of a moth, Rothschildia jorulla, were received from Texas in May, 1915, collected in the autumn of 1914, and the emer- gences were, October, 1915, one; October, 1916, three; July and September, 1917, two; April and May, 1918, one. (8) A new species of the Order Zoraptera, from. the United States, Zorotypus hubbardi. The only species known previously are 7. guineensis (Africa), 7. ceylo- nicus (Ceylon), Z. yavanicus (Java), and Z. neotropicus (Costa Rica), all described by Prof. Silvestri, of Portici, Italy.
The Entomologist for November contains articles on the Lepidoptera of Purbeck in 1918, Cannock Chase in 1918, a record of Anosia plex- tppus (which?) taken in Cornwall, and notes on minor butterfly aberrations in 1918.
In the Ent. Mo. Mag. for December R. 8. Bagnall announces a Campodea (C. devoniensis) as new to science, from the neighbourhood of Torquay. J. H. Collin announces the occurrence of the Dipteron Hormopeza obliterata, associated with the rare beetle Melanophila acu- minata on burning pines in Berkshire, sent to him by Messrs. W. E. Sharp and Bedwell, and hitherto only recorded from Finland.
An aberration of the larva of Eumorpha elpenor is recorded in the Trish Naturalist for December, ‘remarkable in having three pairs of well-defined eye-markings, showing as six eyes when the sphinx atti- tude is assumed, and remarkable also in having the caudal horn reduced to little more than a rudiment.”
The gold medal of the Linnean Society has been awarded to Dr. F. D. Godman, the surviving author editor of the Biologia Centrali Americana.
In the Entomological News for December Prof. Skinner reports a
38 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
gynandromorph example of the large Callosamia angulifera. ‘ The wings of the left side are of the dark colour of the male and the antenna of this side is male. The wings and antenna of the right side are female in colour and character. The specimen was a captured one.” There is also a nomenclatorial article by J. McDunnough on the ‘‘ Dates of Issue of the Plates of Guérin’s Iconographie du Régne Animal (Lep.).”
The Entomologist for December contains (1) ‘‘ A Month’s Collect- ing at Rannoch,” by the Rev. J. W. Metcalf. (2) “A Season’s Entomology in South Hampshire,’ and (3) “‘Some Notes on the New Forest in July, 1918.” .
The following is a list of the Officers and Council of the South London Entomological and Natural History Society for the present year: President, Stanley Edwards, F.L.S., F.Z.8., F.H.S. Vice- Presidents, K. G. Blair, B.Sc., F.E.S., and H. J. Turner, F.E.S. Treasurer, A. EK. Tonge, F.K.S. Librarian, A. W. Dods. Curator, W. West. Editor of Proceedings, H. J. Turner, F.E.S. Hon. Secretary, Stanley Edwards, F.L.S. Council, B. W. Adkin, F.E.S., R. Adkin, F.E.S., W. J. Ashdown, R. T. Bowman, E. J. Bunnett, M.A., A. W. Dennis, F. W. Frohawk, F.E.S., M.B.O.U., Lachlan Gibb, F.E.S., and T. W. Hall, F.E.S.
After nearly a quarter of a century as Hon. Treasurer of the South London Entomological Society, Mr, T. W. Hall is retiring this year. Owing to his removal beyond the London outskirts, and continued increasing pressure of business, he has been compelled to give up the office which he has held so long. It is a difficulty always to so mar- shall the financies of a Society as to publish an adéquate report of its proceedings. With Mr. Hall’s assiduity it has always, even during the war period, been possible for the Council to publish an annual which is a credit to the Society, and that ‘‘ without breaking the bank.” To Mr. T. W. Hall we owe many thanks.
In the January number of the Ent. Mo. Mag., Dr. Chapman con- tinues his contributions to the egg-laying of the sawflies, in an account of the habits of Hmphytus serotinus, which is attached to oak, Dr. R. C. L. Perkins, in the same number, lists the Additions to B. Saunders’ Catalogue of British Hymenoptera since 1902, and also the changes in Nomenclature.
The first two parts of the Transactions of the Entomological Society of London have come to hand. It contains (1) ‘“‘ Coleoptera from the Seychelles and Aldabra Islands,”’ by Antoine Grouvelle, with two plates. (2) ‘‘New Species of Staphylinidae from Singapore,” by Malcolm Cameron, M.B., R.N., F.H.S. (8) ‘ Australian Braconidae in the British Museum,” by Roland Turner, F.Z.8., F.E.S. (4) “On the Naming of Local Races, Sub-species, Aberrations, Seasonal Forms, etc.” by Lord Rothschild, F.R.S. (5) :‘ Molippa simillima,” with two plates, by E. Dukinfield-Jones, F.E.S. (6) “ On Mimiecry in certain Butterflies of New Guinea,” by Dr. F. A. Dixey, M.A., M.D., F.B.S. (7) “An Instance of Mutation in Coccidae,” with four plates, by K. Kunhi Kannan, M.A., F.E.S. (8) “ Notes on the same,” by EK. Ernest Green, F.Z.S. (9) “‘ Observations on the Lepidopterous Family Cossidae and on the Classification of the Lepidoptera,” by A. Jefferis Turner, M.D., F.E.S8. (10) “The charina group of Pinacopteryx,” by Dr. Dixey, M.A., M.D., F.R.S. (11) ‘ Studies in Rhyncophora,” with one
OBITUARY. 39
plate, by David Sharp, M.A., F.R.S. (12) “ Notes on the Ontogeny and Morphology of the male genital tube in Coleoptera,” with one plate, by F. Muir, F.E.S. There are also thirty-two pages of the Proceed- ings, containing a large number of smaller communications on the exhibits at the meetings, including many observations made by Fellows in the interior of Africa.
The Aculeate Hymenoptera seem to be attracting a considerable amount of attention during the past year. Several erstwhile persistent students of the Orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera for many years past have taken up the study of one section or other of this Order, and reports of their captures and observations are coming more frequently into the pages of the magazines. The Irish Naturalist for January contains an account of the Hymenoptera observed during 1918 in the counties of Donegal, Fermanagh, and Armagh, from the pen of the Rev. W. F. Johnson. No doubt such books as Sladen’s The Humble-bee, its Life- history and how to Domesticate it, J. H. Fabre’s Bramble Bees and Others, Donisthorpe’s British Ants, etc., have helped to encourage this attention.
The Naturalist for January contains the “ Report of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union” for the year 1918. The part devoted to the Ento- mologieal Section deals with Lepidoptera by B. Morley, Coleoptera by Dr. W. J. Fordham, Neuroptera and Trichoptera by G. T. Porritt, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Hemiptera by J. F. Musham, Diptera by L. Butterfield, and Arachnida by W. Falconer.
BITUARY. Hereward Chune Dollman, F.E.S.
Hereward Chune Dollman died of sleeping sickness on January 3rd, 1919, in his 30th year, and thus was cut short at an early age the promise of a brilliant career.
Born on March 10th, 1888, he was educated at St. Paul’s School and St. John’s College, Cambridge. He obtained an open Scholar- ship in Natural Science at St. John’s in 1906-1907 and an exhibition for Cambridge on leaving St. Paul’s.
The St. Paul’s School Museum contains many exhibits of his, representing Insect Metamorphosis, Protective Coloration, Mimicry, and the like. He was a very good tennis player, and played for his College when at Cambridge both in Tennis and La Crosse.
He commenced his entomological work at the early age of five, and, as with so many others, his first love was British Lepidoptera ; but subsequently, while still at school, he took up the study of British Coleoptera. Well do I remember his first visit to me, as a schoolboy armed with a letter of introduction from his father, and how struck I was at once with his quickness and grasp of the subject, his vitality and “joie de vivre.”
Many an excursion we took together in the following years before he left England, and no one could have wished for a more interesting companion, while his energy and generosity in the field filled one with admiration and affection.
Before passing on to his work abroad, one may mention among his many interesting captures and discoveries in the British Coleoptera
40 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
—Stenus formicetorum, Mann, added to the British list in 1910, and Longitarsus plantago-maritimus, Dollman, a species new to science, dis- covered and described by him in 1912. On January 8rd, 1918, he left Kngland for Central Africa to act as entomologist to the British South African Company in connection with their sleeping sickness survey.
Most of his time was spent at Mwenga and Kashitu, where, be- sides his work on the “ Fly,”’ he studied various problems of malaria, and made a very exhaustive collection of North West Rhodesian Coleoptera, as well as Lepidoptera; and a large number of ants, which, with his usual kindness and generosity, he presented to me.
His chief work was of course in connection with the “ Tsetse” fly, and he set himself to find, if possible, some parasite that would stamp it out. In this he was partially successful in the discovery of a species of Mutilla--Mutilla glossinae, Turner, a species new to science. The account of this remarkable discovery and his beautiful paintings of the g and ? of the Mutilla can be found in the Trans. Hnt. Soc. of London for 1915, pts. iii. and iv., pp. 394-96.
He returned home in October, 1915, and married on February 23rd, 1916, Norah, eldest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Holloway, of Bed- ford Park, taking her back with him to Central Africa, They crossed N.W. Rhodesia, reaching Kasempea in June, where on July 5th she died, passing away in her sleep.
After this he moved to Solwezi and began his work with Lepidoptera, breeding as far as possible, and making most beautiful and elaborate drawings of the larve.
Towards the close of 1917 he realised that he had got infected with sleeping sickness, and on his return to Kngland in the autumn, he pushed on with his work on the South African Lepidoptera, endeavouring to get as much done as possible before the end. He had brought back a very large collection of live pupe, which are still hatching out.
On Sunday, December 29th last, he was taken ill with fever— which rapidly got worse—and died of sleeping sickness in the early hours of January 3rd.
His African collections, containing many thousands of specimens and much that is new, are to go to the National Collection. H.D.
‘= DITORIAL.
We much regret to have to announce that our esteemed colleague J. R. le B. Tomlin has felt obliged through pressure of other work to retire from our table of Editors. Mr. Tomlin’s knowledge of our Coleopterous fauna was a great asset to us and his practical help in more ways than one, and particularly in the preparation of the Index, will be much missed. He wanted to retire soon after war broke out, but kindly consented to remain for the duration of the war. From the first entomology has been with him a ‘side line,” for his first love is shells, and with the heavy task of the editorship of the ‘“‘ Malacological Journal’ on his hands, we feel really grateful to him for sticking to the ship during the rough times through which we have been passing. We regret also to announce that Professor T. Hudson Beare has likewise sent in his resignation.—G. T. B.-B.
“The Back Wane (r. XXX) of the Ent. Record, &c. (published at 10s. 6 net), ‘ean be obtained direct as follows—Single volumes, 7s. 6d., except vols. I. and II., which are 10s. 6d. each; of the remainder 2 or 8 volumes, 7s. 3d. each; 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 vols ; 7s. each ; 10, 44, 42, 13 or 14 vols. at 6s. 9d. each; 15, or more aes at 6s. 6d. each. Back copies of ‘the Magazine at double the published price (plus postage). Special Indexes to Vols. II-XXX, sold separately, price 18. 6d. each. Subscriptions for Vol. XXXII. (10 shillings) should be sent to Mn. Herbert” E. Page, “‘ Bertrose,”’ Gellatly Road, New Gross, -S.E.14 [This subscription includes all numbers published from January 15th to December 15th, 1919.]
Non-receipt or errors in the sending of Subscribers’ magazines should be notified to Mr. Herbert H. Page, “ Bertrose,” Gellatly Road, New Cross, S.E. 14
' Subscribers are kindly uequested to observe that subscriptions to Lhe Untomologist’s Record, &e.,are payable in advance. The subscription (with or without the Special Index) is Ten Shillings, and
must be sent to Mr. Herbert EK. Page, *‘ Bartrose,”’ Gellatly Road, New Cross, S.H.14 Cheques
and Postal Orders should be made payable to H. E. Paan,
- ‘ApypRriseMents of Books and Insects for Sale, or Books wanted will be inserted at a minimum charge of 2s. 6d. (for four lines). Longer Adyertisementsin proportion. A reduction made for a series, Particulars of Mr. Herbert E. Page, ‘‘ Bertvose,’’ Gellatly Road, New Cross, 8.H. 14
Subscribers who change their addresses must report the same to Mr. H. BH. Page “ Bertrose,””
- Gellatly Road, New Cross, London, 8.H., otherwise Be magazines will probably be delayed.
Articles that require Illustration are inserted on condition that the author defrays the cost of the - illustrations.
All Foreign Exchange ay must be" forwarded to H, J Turner 98 Drakefell Road, New Cross, S.H. 14
Duplicates. 7. pruni (fair types), Pisi (bred), Lucipara (bred), pupe of Lanestris.
. Desiderata. —Very numerous to renew and extend.—]Vm. Foddy, 39, York Street, Rugby.
Duplicates.—*Dissimilis, Velleda, Fibrosa, *Ambigua, Fulva, *Lubricipeda var. Fas- raaltar *Plantaginis, Coracina, Captiuncula, Mundana, Lutosa, Togata, *Valerianata,
» Cilialis, Inquinatellus, Caledoniana, Variegana vars, Sauciana, Geminana, Cinerana,)
_ Brunnichiana, Schulziana, Congelatella, Occultana, Vectisana, Dorsana, Rusticana, *Suboccelana, *Strobilella, Nanana, Herbosana, Petiverella, T. corticella, *(Ecop, Fulyi-
gutella, etc. Desiderata. —Good Pyrales, Tortrices, ete.—T. Ashton Lofthouse, The Croft; x _ Linthorpe, Middlesbrough:
_ Desiderata.—Pieris napi—spring and summer broods Bin exact data (localities and » ae aioe all parts of the Kingdom, especially North of England and Scotland ;— Pararge egeria from S¢otland, Treland, and North of Kngland—exact data needed. Will, do my best i in return or pay cash. 2h lon BOS Baker, 19, Chard Road, Hdgbustow.
Desiderata. —Good
x seieies nd loos ee Spilosoma Pas Mino aa other ordinary species to renew old series. Good Tortrices and Tineae.—Geo. T. Porritt, Him Lea, Dalton, : Huddersfield.
_ Raynor, Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, Essex.
wwitzerland, Italy, S. France; var, turritis (S. Italy), var. volgensis, var. thibetana, and
sritish lepidoptera.— Harold B. Williams, 82, Filey Avenue, Stoke Newington, N.
‘ Duplicates. —Aprotis Ashworthii and it Iucernea. Desiderata.—L. corydon, var. Syngrapha, Irish butterflies and offers.—Joseph Anderson, Alre Villa, Chichester, Sussex,
Duplicates. —A. cofidon yars., including semi-syngrapha, H. Comma. Desiderata. _—A. coridon yar. Albicans (Spanish) and var. Hispana (do.), and good butterfly vars.,
pepe from aa —Douglas H. Pearson, Chilwell House, Chilwell, Notts.
| MEETINGS. OF SOCIETIES,
Entomological Society of London.—11, Chandos Street, Cavendish wie: W., oe.m. 1919, March 5th, 19th; April 2nd; May 7th:
‘The South London - Entomological and Natural History Society, Hibernia in ‘Chambers, London Bridge.— Meetings : The second and fourth Thursdays in the month ee at 7 o’clock.—Hon. Sec., ‘Stanley eye 15, St. German’s Place, Blackheath, 9 S.B. 3. yee j
- - Duplicates.—Grossulariata var. lutea, laeticolor, varleyata, fulvapicata, etc. - De- siderata. —Other extreme forms of Grossulariata, or good vars. of Diurni.—Rev. G. H.
‘Desiderata.—Buchloé cardamines from Tveland; also types of H. cardamines fae
f EH. gruneri, F. euphenoides, E. damone, and any palearctic species of the genus. Duplicatés.—Loweia dorilis and vars., a few minor yars. of R. phleas (British), and ae a
“The ce Natheet iietony. Society (the amalgamation of the it Entomological and Natural History Society and the North London Na Society).—Hall 20, Salisbury House Finsbury Circus, H.C. The First and - Tuesday in the month, at 7 p.m. ono invited. Hon. Sec., J. Hoss, ane Pa Grove Road, Chingford, N. i. z em
; Communications have been received or have been promised from Rev. G. Whe er Messrs. R. S.- Bagnall, Hy» J. Turner, C. P. Pickett, Parkfison Curti f _ Donisthorpe, A. Sich, Dr. Verity, C. W. Colthrup, Rev. ©. R. N. Burrows, Dr. T. Chapman, Capt. Burr, G. T. Bethune-Baker, HE. B. Ashby, P. A. H. Muschamp, ¢. H. Durrant, Orazio Querci, Capt. P. P. Graves, Rev. F. D. Morice, Harold | Williams, H. W. Andrews, Russell James, etc., with Reports of Societies a «Reviews. All MS. and editorial matter should be sent and all proofsreturned to Hy. J. Tonnen, 98, Drakefell Road, New Cross, London, §.E.14 : We must earnestly request our correspondents nor to send ws communications DENTIC L With those they are sending to other magazines. 1 Lists of Dupricares and Drsipprata should. be sent direct to Mr. H. E. ‘Phe Bertrose, Gellatly Road, New Cross, 8.H. 14.
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_ H.W. HEAD, Gutomolonis a - BURNISTON, Nr. SCARBOROUGH
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Na 4 size, 2/6 each. - ails 1000 yds. ene Tiffany (soft finish) fo. sleeving, etc. - 30" wide, 404d. per y ae A large stock of British, Continental, and Exotic Lepidoptera. Birds’ Eggs and Cabinets. Setting Boards. ~— | Setting Houses. . ' Breeding Cages. —, _* . Travelling Boxes, with and without setting boards.
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Lipase CHAPMAN, M.D.,-E.R.8., B.E.S.
“| Jas. H. COLLIN, ¥.z.s. - 1H. Sr. JK. DONISTHORPE, ¥.z.s., F.2.8. JouN Hartiny DURRANT, r.z.s. ‘Auenzp SICH, F.n.s.
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(Rey.) Guoree ‘WHEELER, MA», F. B.S, y : and- 5 oe SS aa ease Hone T TURNER, F.E.S., ; a LOE SE ES ae Editorial Secretary. As pare et ae AS ee aes CONTENTS. Re a Se as, | PAGE. ; ual eee ae a ee 2 OAs
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Plain Ring Nets, wire or cane, including Stick, 1/5, 2)2,. 2/6, 3/2. : 4/3, 4/9. Umbrella Nets (self- acting), Zj-. Poeket Boxes (deal), 7d., 104., i 1/10. Collecting Boxes, 9d., 1/-, 1/6, 2/-. * Nested Chip Boxes, 9d. per ‘four “dozen, 1 gross Entomological Pins, 1/6 per ounce. Pocket Lanterns, 2/6 to 8/-. Sugaring Tin, brush, 1/6, 2/-. Sagar} mg: ‘Mixture, ready for use, 1/7 per tin. Store- Boxes, with cam _ cells, 2/3, 2/9, 4]- 4/6, 5/6, 6/8. Setting-Boards, flat or oval, lin., 6d.; 1in., 84.; 2in., * opts » T-Sh in, L4 pein. Rae 5in.; 1/10; Complete Set of fourteen Boards, 10/6 _ Settin . Houses, 10/6, 12/9; bofked ack, 15/9. Zine Larva Boxes, 9d., 1/-, 1/6. Breeding Cage 2/9, 4/6, 5/6, 8/3.) Coleopterist? s Collecting Bottle, with tube, 1/6, 1/8. Bomiiedl Cases 4 japanned double’ tin, 1/6 to 4/6. Botanical Paper, 1/1, 1/4, 1/9, 2/2 per quire. ‘Inséct Glazed Cases, 2/9 to 11/-. Cement for replacing Antennm 4d. per bottle. Steel Forceps, 1/6, 2/-, 2/6 per pair. Cabinet Cork, 7 by 34, 1/2 per dozen sheets. Brass Chloroform | Bottle, 2/6. Insect Lens, 1/- to 8/6. Glass-top and Glass-bottomed Boxes, from dozen. Zine Killing Box, 9d. to 1/-. Pupa Digger, in leather sheath, 1/9. Taxiderm Companion, containing most necessary implements for skinning, 10/6. Sealpels, 1/3 Scissors, 2/- per pair; Eggdrills, 2d., 3d., 9d., 1/-; Blowpipes, 4d., 6d.; Artificial Kyes- for Birds and Animals.. Lapbel-lists of British Butterflies, 20.3 ditto of Birds’ Hgegs, 2d., 3d., 6d.; ditto of Land and Fresh-water Bhells, 9d. Useful Books on Insects, Higgs, ete, SILVER PINS for collectors of Micro-Lepidoptera, etc., as well as minute insects ° all other families and for all ingects liable to become greasy. = We stock various sizes and lengths of these Silver Pins which have cones advan over ordinary entomological pins (whether enamelled black or silver Or gilt).= ame NESTING BOXES of various patterns which should be fixed in ee or shrub. baries by lovers of birds before the breeding season.” : SHOW ROOM FOR CABINETS ee Ot every description for InsnoTs,-Bimps’ Eaas, Coins, Mrcroscorrcan OxsEors, Possins &e. Catalogue (84 pages) sent on application, post free. 2
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Bexley} L. W. NEWMAN __ [Kent
Has for sale a superb stock of 1918 specimens in fine condition, including Varleyata Bicuspis ; Pendularia var. Subroseata ; Melanic forms Lariciata, Consortaria, Conson- aria, Abietaria; Irish forms Aurinia and Napi, fine vars. Tiliae, Yellow Dominula eté., etc. Quotations and Insects sent on approval with’ pleasure.
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A NOTE ON ORGYIA VETUSTA. 41
A Note on Orgyia vetusta. By T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.R.S.
Towards the end of 1917 Dr. J. W. H. Harrison gave me three ege masses of Orgyia vetusta, a Californian species. They were a large and two smaller ones.
During May, 1918, and on into June 7th, over 400 larve hatched. I did not note the first day of hatching, but on June 7th I thought they must nearly all have hatched, as the emergences were falling off, and some larvee were well grown in their third instar. By the 9th, however, 82 more larve had hatched, between the 9th and 11th 835 appeared, and they continued hatching for another month; the numbers being—
June 9th, 82; 11th, 85; 13th, 46, one is now in 4th instar ; 15th, 20 in last two days; 17th, 24; 19th, 29; 21st, 19; 23rd, 19; 25th, 11; 27th, 10, at this date the earliest larve spun up in 5th instar; Bota NG. Julyist, S\vordya youu | ch 29th. se) dith, i) 13th: 4, the last to hatch. Total, 273.
The long period over which the hatching spread, about ten weeks, is quite parallel to that of O. antiqua, making many observers believe that species to be double-brooded ; this is the case more or less in the South of Hurope, but in the British Isles, never. Well, hardly ever!
The dates of spinning their cocoons were taken roughly, by taking the cocoons in batches a few days after each lot was completed, largely with the view of finding relative dates for male and female larvae. spinning up.
The first larva to spin up did so on June 27th. By July 10th a number had done so, and had moulted to pups, so that the sexes were uniuistakable, and afterwards a census was taken, as convenient, as each lot reached this stage. 9
The results were as under— ’
The spinning occupied two months. The 5th and 6th lots, and again the 8th and 9th, should probably be taken together, as I think they were affected by my separating the larve with a view to detect whether the females moulted once more than the males. It is obvious that the males spun up sooner than the females, not because they hatched earlier, but because they had less feeding to do.
3S Oe July 10 ast cee Be (4 1 Of next lot... Rees ira 7 July 11 third lot ... 22 38 fourth lot... 10 2 uel tii Ginlouy ace 29 We oe SIG 1 Oboe: 79 60 » 28 seventh lot 34 31 » 27 eighth lot... 6 37 Aug. 1 ninth lot... 26 2 Pa ee cerita lotr. 30 30 » 13 eleventh lot 13 38 » 10 twelfth lot 2 5 sau zal dp Bes Wy 4 there remaining as larve, apparently 2 L Totals 327 336
Marcu 157, 1919.
42 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
We may add these up thus ;—
Males. Females. First 4 lots to July 14 25.58 LOB 48 Next three lots to July 23 ... 142 168 Remainder to August 21... 80 120 327 336
These were dates, I may repeat, of counting, the mean dates of spinning up would be about a week or ten days earlier.
Though the moths look very different from O. antiqua, and their habits of egg-laying are very different, the larvee very much resemble those of the ‘“‘common vapourer.’ They have more brilliant red tubercles and want the lateral tufts of hair, but are otherwise very close. I was interested to discover whether the larve had the curious moulting discrepancy of O. antiqua, in which species each brood may be said to have two sets of larve, one set having one more moult than the other, and in each set the females one more moult than the males.
I carefully noted a very large number of larvee, chiefly by passing them forward to another jar as they moulted, but I found that apart from this each instar had such distinctive plumage that all the re- mainder obviously confirmed the results of the more carefully noted- sections. The result was that no larva spun up in the fourth instar, but all did so in the fifth, with an interesting exception. Amongst 336 female larvee that spun up all but 14 did so in the fifth instar, but these 14 took another moult, that is, entered a sixth instar. These grew decidedly larger than the others, but presented no difference in plumage.
This shows a very distinct constitution from that of O. antiqua. My recollection of the larva of O. splendida is that they gave no indication of variation in the number of moults, though I made no exact observa- tions from the first stage onwards.
The number of extra-moulters (in females only) amounted to 4%. of the female larve, and may probably be regarded as being merely ordinary variation as to moulting that occurs in so many species, giving of course in all such species a basis for selection to such definite specialities of moulting as occur in O. antiqua and in Arctia caja, and many others. I give this as my own view, though it might no doubt be taken to be the remains, by regression, of such a habit as obtains in O. antiqua.
I may briefly note the plumage of the five several instars. In the first the prothoracic projections are obvious, but there are no hair tufts—full grown length 55mm. to 60mm. In the 2nd instar the tufts are all represented, but so weakly that they have to be looked for, and might on a superficial glance be regarded as absent—length full- grown 7mm. to 9mm. In the third instar all the tufts are very obvious, almost conspicuous. In the fourth the tufts are markedly larger than in the third. The dorsal tufts are of a dirty white, darker certainly, but all four are not of uniform tint. In the fifth (and last) instar the tufts are all larger.
The dorsal tufts are now all of the same coloration, pure white at moult and may remain so, but generally get darker medially down the
SEASONAL POLYMORPHISM, 43
dorsal line, even quite black; the white gets yellowish towards spin- ning up. The lateral red tubercles are usually very brilliant.
The sizes of the heads at each instar are distinctive.
The moths pair as soon as an opportunity offers. The female, which emerges from the cocoon and rests on it, is supplied with good lees and antenne.
She lays her eges in a mass on the cocoon, or beside it, if she has moved, or wherever she may happen to be. The eges are intermixed with wool from the body and with some glutinous material that makes them adhere, as a solid lump. ‘The egg mass is laid in layers, and each layer is covered outside by a separate line of wool, so that a newly laid mass is rather neat with its rows of felted thatch. Without any special interference these rows gradually become less obvious and the covering looks more uniform, possibly by the contraction of the cement- ing material. An unfertilised female lays her eggs irregularly, some- times in a long string, in which case the cementing material, which cannot be seen in an egg mass, exhibits very numerous pearl-like air bubbles.
There is a good deal of variation in the male moths, from very dark to quite pale, and in the intensity of the markings, and as to which of these are more pronounced than others. There is also great variation in colour of the females. The general body is pale mouse colour, but the wool clothing the last segments, used for covering the eggs, varies much, from pure white to nearly black.
I was very much struck by the healthiness and vigour of the larve. I do not think I exaggerate in saying that none died except by accident, though I had a good many of them unduly crowded at times.
I was very careful to let none escape, and I have now many eggs that I must destroy, as it was obvious that they would be a serious plague to our apples and plums, if they were as healthy and hardy at large as they were in captivity. It is very probable that, as natives of California, our climate would not suit them, and an attempt to accli- matise them here would be as unsuccessful as such attempts with Lymantria dispar are. Nevertheless, I feel satisfied that such an attempt would be quite unjustifiable.
Seasonal Polymorphism and Races of some European Grypocera and Rhopalocera. By ROGER VERITY, M.D.
[CorrEcTIONS AND HiMENDATIONS.—p. 27, 1. 17, for ‘less greenish” put ‘‘variegated ;”’ 1. 25, for << unknown ” put ‘‘ only ‘and once ; 1. 29, before form ” insert “ western.’
p. 28, 1. 32, correct to asabinus; 1. 44, after “female” insert “ chiefly belongs to the form intermedia, Stef., which;’ last 1., for “some ”’ put “only a few;” J. 11, “alle” =“ delle.”
p. 29, for bleuser put cleusei.
p- 380, 1. 81, after “characters”? insert “‘as compared to the nymotypical one;” 1. 41, mm.=m.
p. 31, 1. 9, before “very” insert “always;” 1. 12, vestan=vEoTazE ; ]. 14, ruratu=Turati; 1. 19, splendida=splendens.|
Agriades thersites (Cant.), Chapm., race merrprana, mihi: first
44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
generation HIBERNATA, mihi; second generation mERIDIANA, mihi.— The nymotypical form of this species, first described by Chapman, is the second generation of a French race, having two broods, but in which no difference was, according to its author, detectable to the naked eye between the first and the second. The microscope revealed remarkable differences in the structure of the scaling, which were very accurately described by Chapman himself a year after the discovery of the species in the Trans. Ent. Soc. of London, October, 1914, p. 309. I think such a distinct form should have a name by which to distin- guish it, and I suggest that of hibernata; it can be extended to races with one generation only, as Chapman has shown that they are identical with the first generation of the double-brooded ones. In Italy the first generation is equally identical with hibernata, so far as 1 can make out, but the second generation differs from it considerably by very constant characters, parallel to those exhibited by Polyommatus icarus, Rott., A. thetis, Rott., and-A. aragonensis, Vrty.; the most con- stant of these is the total absence or very great reduction of the metallic scaling of the underside; then comes the distinctly fulvous tinge, often very bright in the females, of the ground colour of the same surface; a slight touch of it may be seen also in June specimens of the first generation, but the presence of a wide-spread metallie scaling leaves no doubt as to what brood the specimen belongs; no trace of blue scaling is present in the females of the second brood on the upperside; this character is also sometimes seen in late June specimens of the first brood ; I propose the name inTeRJEora for inter- mediate seasonal forms exhibiting characters of the second generation, but having the constant metallic scaling of the first on underside. The name meridiana mentioned above is no doubt necessary to desig- nate the second brood, different also to the naked eye, from the first, and it should be extended to the entire double-brooded races which produces it, taking the Florentine one as nymotypical of it.
Polyommatus icarus, Rott., race zuLuERI, mihi, celina, Aust, and first gen. puLcHERRIMa, mihi. Zeller (/sis, 1847, p. 154) well described the southern race as compared to the Central Kuropean one of Rottem- bure, but gave it no name. Tutt suggested the name meridionalis, but unfortunately he had already used it for what he thought was the cor- responding form of coridon, and which instead turned out to be a different species (= A. arayonensis, race rezniceki, Bartel); this makes it impossible to use the name for any Lycaenidi. I should replace it by the name zellert, the names vernalis and aestivalis, also of Tutt, holding good for its two broods. Another observation is necessary: the name zellert must be restricted to the less southern area of Southern Europe, for in the extreme south, such as in Sicily, as well as in Morocco, another race makes its appearance, characterised by the presence of numerous individuals of the form celina, Aust., with a comparatively wide black marginal streak on all the wings of the male, and generally, but not always, as it is erroneously believed, with conspicuous black submarginal dots; the name celina should be used in a general way for the whole of the latter race; it also differs from zelleri in the first generation by producing also in this brood males with the black dots mentioned above, whereas they only occur in the second brood of rellert ; the females are the most beautiful of the species, because they
SEASONAL POLYMORPHISM. 45
associate large, vivid, orange marginal lunules with a wide-spread blue suffusion ; I should call the first brood of celina puLcHsRRma, taking as typical a series collected by Querci at S. Martino, near Palermo. Seitz, in Gross-schmett, i., p. 3812, mentions this lovely form from Africa and Sicily, but makes the blunder of giving it the name rujina, Obth., which was meant only for female specimens in which the orange lunules diffuse inwardly to an enormous extent and reach the discoidal cell, such as are found now and then amongst the pulcherrima.
Cyaniris semiargus, Rott., race PoRRECTA, mihi; race QueRcH, mihi ; race AUSONIDARUM, mihi. In Tuscany the race of the plain may be referred to cimon, Lewin, but in the higher Apennines quite a different one occurs, to which the name porrccta may well be applied, its wings being very elongated and angular on account of the shortness of the hinder neuration (anal) as compared to the fore ones (radia!), and on account of the much straighter termen, thus making it the mountain form corresponding to allous of Aricia medon in this respect ; the under- side is a little darker than that of the race of the plains, but the black margin of upperside is not wide, as in the Alps. The latter character © combined with those of porrecta is, on the contrary, frequent in the race found by Querci on the highest tops of Calabria (race quercn, mihi). The most distinct of the western races is the beautiful one found by Querci on the Aurunci Mountains (Caserta); it measures even in the male sex 29mm. of expanse, thus being much larger than cmon (26mm.), and it is of a clear ,vivid blue, giving it the appearance of a cyllarus above, and a very narrow, sharp, black border increasing the resemblance; the underside is dark and brownish.
Plebeitus argus, Li.,* race APENNINICOLA, mihi; race IraLORUM, mihi ; race TUSCANICA, mihi; race LUNENSIS, mihi; and race caALABRICA, mihi. The race for which I propose the first of these names is similar to the well-known alpine philonomus, Berg., which has been renamed so often, but it differs from it in constantly having the ground colour of the underside of the male of a perfectly pure white, and in being on an average smaller, and sometimes extremely small (18-20mm.); my typical series is from Mount Pratofiorito (at 1000m.), near Lucca; it contains the only female from Tuscany I have ever seen bearing blue scaling above. In the Apuane Alps, which stand close by, but have quite a different alpine geological structure, the race philonomus is pro- duced. Not far off, on the Abetone Pass (1,300m.) a third race is to be found; itis the largest of the Tuscan ones (22-25mm.); the black margin is narrower than in the preceding and the blue is brighter; the black dots of the underside are very small, and the median series is very straight (race rraLorum) ; in other localities intermediate races occur. The Tuscan race of the plains has, as in other countries, a very narrow black marginal band on the upperside of the male, nearly obliterated on the forewings and not reaching the black dots on the hindwings; these dots on the underside bear no metallic pupil ; the female has very widespread fulvous marginal lunules on both surfaces ; this race comes nearest to orientalis, Tutt, from Asia Minor, and I name it tuscantca; typical series from the Baths of Casciana, near Pisa. At Pertusola,
* Plebeius aegon.—G.W.
46 THE ENTOMOLOGIST ’S RECORD.
on the Gulf of Spezia, quite near the seashore, I collected in August a race consisting entirely of the unusual male form in which the black marginal border is very wide on the hindwings and quite absent on the forewings : ; females very dark, with lunules nearly obliterated on upper- side (race LUNENSIS). Finally, I must mention the race found by Querci on the Aspromonte range, in Calabria, at 1,200m.; it comes near the large iberica, Tutt, of Spain, by its size, ranging up to 28mm., and also by some specimens having a brilliant white underside, such as is com- mon in Spanish races but rarely found in Italy, where the undersides are nearly always white, but of a duller tone; the black margin of the male is very wide and distinctly alpine; the lunules in females are very limited, and even absent; the premarginal black dots of eri have no metallic pupils, or very indistinct ones.
Plebetus idas, .,* race aLporHina, mihi, race AUSTRALISSIMA, mihi, and race APENNINOPHILA, mihi; subspecies calliopis, Bsd., race caLLI0- PIDES, mihi.—True idas, as distinguished from calliopis, Bsd., which may be called a subspecies rather than a simple race, produces in Tuscany a mountain race and a race of the plains. The first is a transition to the alpine one, which Oberthiir described well, but wrongly proposed to call alsus, Hiib., because the latter name was created by Esper and given to an argus of the race philonomus; I suggest to substitute it by aLpopnima, mihi.
The race of the Apennines, as shown bya large series of the Fegana valley, m. 500 (near Lucca), in my collection, belongs clearly to the alpophila mountain group by its distinctly brown underside, but it is less dark on both surfaces; the females have a limited blue area at the base of the wings on the upperside. The race of the plains of Central Italy has a white or light grey underside in the male; the colours are brighter in both sexes; the female has large orange lunules and the premarginal black spots of upperside are elongated as in nevadensis, Obth., from Spain ; specimens with no blue scaling are common ; it measures 25-28 mm. in expanse, whilst aPRNNINOPHILA, just described, measures 23-25 mm.; I propose the name ausrRa- Lissima, taking as type the race of the Tuscan coast (Forte dei Marmi).
Oberthtr has shown that calliopis, Bsd., is a very distinct sub- species, if not a species, and that it has, like idas, a mountain race and a race of the plains; the former he figures on pl. xxxix. and xli. of his Et. de Lép. Comp.; a name being necessary to designate it, I should call it cattiopipns. The Tuscan race which I have named abetonica is very similar to Boisduval’s French race of the plains, although it flies at an altitude of 1,300 m.
In October a few very small weakly specimens of idas sometimes occur near Florence, evidently being precocious autumnal individuals of the first brood (misERa, mihi.).
Lycaenopsis argiolus, Li., race caLipoGEniTa, mihi, and race BRIT- anna, mihi.—The nymotypical race is that of Northern and Central Europe, with two broods, the second of which has been well described by Fuchs under the name of parvipuncta. In Southern Europe there
* Plebetus argus (argyrognomon).—G.W.
SEASONAL POLYMORPHISM. 47
are three broods, and the second and third are much more distinct from the first, not only by a greater constancy and prominency of the characters of parvipuncta, as described by Fuchs, but by their larger size and by the much greater extent of the black marginal band in the female; I should restrict the name of Fuchs to the second brood of Central Kurope and name the southern second and third canicu- LaRis, mihi. It must furthermore be noticed that also the first brood differs markedly in the south from the northern one by its larger size and warmer, less silvery, colouring, so that it is well worth distinguish- ing by the name of cALIDOGENITA,
The race of the British Islands varies in an exactly opposite direction, if | may be allowed to judge from a series of specimens collected in May at Woodford in Epping Forest; they are of an exceedingly bright blue, very cold in tone above; on the underside the blue basal suffusion is vivid and expands to an extent it does not reach even in the nymotypical northern race; the little black dots and streaks are much more prominent; I also notice a female form of the 7th of May, which certainly never occurs in the south; in this form the underside characters of the first brood mentioned above are asso- ciated with a very wide marginal black band on upperside, such as is only found in parvipuncta or calidogenita (female form, mixta, mihi.).
Cupido minimus, Fuessl., race TRINACRIAE, mihi.—Querci has col- lected in Sicily (S. Martin delle Scale, m. 700) in April and May a very distinct race of this species; it is the smallest known, never sur- passing 18 mm. of expanse and frequently being as small as 14 mm. ; there is never any trace of metallic scaling at the base of the wings on the upperside in either sex and the colouring is of a dull, greyish black, lighter than in other races.
Cupido sebrus, Boisd., race ancuLosa, mihi.—A female I have col- lected in the mountains of Tuscany (Firenzuola, m. 500), and others collected by Querci in the Sibillini mountains (Piceno) are remarkable on account of the shape of the wings, the hindwings forming a dis- tinct angle on the second cubital nervure ; it is evidently a mountain character; the males are distinctly smaller than the usual ones of the plain and the black markings on the underside are more minute.
Evveres alcetas, Hib.—Seasonal dimorphism is not so marked in this species as in argiades, Pall., but the first brood is generally smaller and pale specimens occur, such as are never found in the second; the name DiminutTa, mihi., seems appropriate to the former. Hibner states particularly that there is no trace of the orange lunules on the underside, so that specimens bearing traces of such lunules can be designated by the name LuTEUMFERA, mihi, although in the figure of that author they do exist.
Thecla (Nordmannia) ilicis, Kisp.—Oberthir rightly observes that Staudinger has made a blunder in using the name esculi of Hubner for the aberration of ilicis in which the white streak on underside is missing, the figure of that author clearly representing another species; the name ALingata, mihi, can be substituted.
48 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
Thecla (Nordmannia) acaciae, Fabr., race 1rautca, mihi.—Courvoisier has shown that the nymotypical race is the oriental one, usually called abdominalis, Gerh.; he has called the western race nostras. The latter, however, includes more than one local race, and the Tuscan race is certainly very different from the more northern ones by its lighter and more reddish tinge on the underside and by the marked reduction and paleness of the whole pattern: white spaces, black streaks, and fulvous lunules.
Thecla (Klugia) spini, Sehiff., race mrnuta, mihi.—Oberthur has given the name of major to the very large race from the Maritime Alps; in my Italian specimens from Chiot (Piedmont) and in the French ones from Moulinet, the pattern is also very conspicuous on underside and two or more fulyous patches exist on upperside of hind- wing. A specimen from the Aurunci Mountains, near Caserta, col- lected at 1,200 m., corresponds to the same race, but specimens found by Querci in the Sibillini Mountains (Piceno) at the same altitude are exactly opposite in character; they are small (24-25 mm.), very dark black on upperside, with only a faint fulvous patch at the tornus; all the pattern on underside is reduced in extent and pale; the white streaks strongly sinuous.
Bithys quercus, L., race intERJECTA, mihi. The extreme variations of this species consist in the nymotypical northern race, and in dberica, Stdg., from Spain and Algeria. The race of Central Italy cannot be referred to either, as it is by its variations intermediate between the two, never reaching the most highly characteristic forms of either one or the other, the brownish underside of the former, with wide-spread blackish pattern and vivid orange lunules, or the pale pearly grey underside of the latter, with ill-defined pattern and yellow lunules; a distinctive name becomes, in consequence, necessary.
Gonepteryx rhamni, ., race transiens, Vrty., second gen. sECUNDA, mihi, and third gen. Tertia, mihi. The second and third brood are different from the first, a fact which has not been sufficiently recog- nised ; in both sexes the underside is often of a fine reddish ochre, most individuals being of a pale ochreous colour or pale greenish or white, when the reddish and greenish tinges are in such a proportion as to neutralize each other; in the first brood, instead, vivid green Specimens are frequent and ochreous: ones very scarce. Independently of seasonal polymorphism, I propose the names of virIDISSIMA, ALBES- CENS, and ocHracka for the three extreme individual forms, which are also produced by the northern nymotypical race, and of which I possess British specimens.
(To be continued.)
WOTEHKES ON COLLECTING, Ete.
TreacLe In Decemper.—Having never previously treacled later in the year than early November, I tried the experiment on December 14th last—a very close evening—and treacled a few trees in the wood near at hand. These had been very productive earlier in the autumn, and I was interested to see if a warm evening, so late in the year,
NOTES ON COLLECTING. 49 / would attract hibernating moths. The result was that Scopelosoma satellitia and Orrhodia vaccinii turned up in some numbers, but O. ligula, which had not put in an appearance until October 27th, had entirely vanished. These two were all, and there was not a single belated example of any non-hibernating species.
Hybernia defoliaria males were in countless numbers all over the leafless undergrowth in the wood, and mostly still in excellent condition, but whereas, six weeks earlier, H. aurantiaria and H. defoliaria had been present in almost equal numbers, now no awrantiaria were seen, not even a single worn one, although I searched for them very care- fully. The only other species seen was Cheimatobia brumata, common, but not nearly so plentiful as defoliaria.
H. aurantiaria is evidently a short-lived species compared with H. defoliaria, which was plentiful in October, some ten days before aurantiaria put in its first appearance.—RusseLtt James, Ongar Park Cottage, Ongar. February 5th, 1919.
Some Lepipoprera or an Essex Woop.—Having taken a summer cottage near Ongar, I have had the opportunity of working one of the local woods.
In the little time at my disposal I have been much interested in noting the difference in the local fauna from that of Hpping Forest, so near at hand.
My knowledge of the district is as yet somewhat superficial, but I have already come across a considerable number of species that I have .never met with in a very long experience of Epping Forest. On the other hand, many of the Forest species are absent, although, of course, further research may remedy this deficiency.
Two of the most striking instances are Boarmia roboraria and Lymantria monacha. These may occur sparingly in the Forest, although unknown to. me, but in my local wood the former abounds | and the latter is quite reasonably common. JB. roboraria, moreover, is an exceedingly interesting race, practically every specimen very dark, and the transverse markings largely obscured. Of all the specimens seen, only a single one—a male—was of the type form, and the numbers are astonishing.
On the first evening that I discovered their cxistence (June 23rd), I found seventeen males and two females sitting on oak trunks in the course of an hour, in one case three on a tree, and all in exquisite condition. They continued in these numbers for a week or so, and then quickly declined, the last occurring on July 4th; but only eight females in all.
Lymantria monacha is very late, and freshly emerged females were found on oak trunks as late as August 19th, and a full-fed larva on July 4th. The specimens are rather large and strongly marked, but not strikingly dark.
Another tree-trunk species not known to me in Epping Forest is Acidalia inornata, not at all uncommon, also Lobophora halterata, and earlier, a great abundance of Tephrosia eatersaria and Cidaria silaceata. Among summer Noctuae taken, Dicycla oo, of course, is an Epping species, but as far as my knowledge goes, Cymatophora or, U. duplaris, Orthosia suspecta, Noctua umbrosa, and Cleoceris viminalis are not. I shall refer to these species later on, when dealing with treacle. The only
50 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
other species of special interest at this time was Euchloris (Phorodesma) pustulata, of interest because of its numbers. On several evenings it was in such abundance a little before dusk that half-a-dozen or more could be seen on the wing at once, but, as usual, nearly all were worn or faded, and I scarcely got a really good specimen out of the lot.
I was away most of August and early September, but the moths on treacle in the autumn again showed some marked differences from those of the Forest, in proportionate numbers perhaps, more than different species. For example, Miselia oxyacanthae, which swarms in countless numbers on a good night in the Chingford section, was here almost a rarity. Amathes (Anchocelis) pistacina was also very scarce, but on the other hand, A. helvola (rufina), Orthosia lota, and Hadena protea, were common, and Agriopis aprilina occurred now and again. © In the latter days of September, H. protea was quite the commonest moth. Calocampa vetusta occurred, but no C. evoleta, while in the Forest I have taken the latter, but no vetusta.
I did no larva-beating between May, when Hylophila bicolarana was so abundant, and the end of August, but on the last day of that month I did a couple of hours mixed beating with my boys. Although larvee were very plentiful, all might have been taken in Epping Forest except Cymatophora or, but scarcely in the same quantities. Dasychira pudibunda came down two or three at every beat, and were crawling all over the trunks. An occasional Demas coryli was among them. OC. or was common on aspen, and other species that occurred in varying numbers were Lophopteryx camelina. Notodonta dromedarius, Notodonta tremula (dictaea), Drepana hamula, D. lacertula, Hylophila prasinana, H. bicolorana (very small), Geometra papilionaria, and many unidenti- fied small Geometers, which were clapped into a large sleeve and left with a pot of earth inside, as I was going away next morning.
The great capture of the day, in the eyes of my two boys, however, was Humorpha (Choerocampa) elpenor, six full-fed larve of which were found on small willow-herb round a pond on the edge of the wood. From traces left, there must have been many more, the others probably gone down, as these commenced pupating at onee.
Throughout July, and again in the autumn, I treacled in the wood and never without a certain amount of success. Of course, I had to be very sparing, but I made a 2lb. tin of golden syrup go a long way. The usual allowance was a tablespoonful well diluted with water, and a few drops of pear essence. This liquid was so thin that I feared it would soak in or run off the trees, but by avoiding mossy or lichen- covered surfaces, I managed to ration it out over 50 or 60 trees, and it proved quite attractive. Treacling once or twice a week, until I went away at the end of the month, always produced a fair sprinkling of moths, although never such numbers as came later, in October.
The best species were those previously referred to:—Cymatophora or, C. duplaris, Dicycla oo var. renago, Orthosia suspecta, Noctua baja, N.- umbrosa, Cleoceris viminalis, Triphaena fimbria, and very dark Boarmia repandata.
I did not see many repandata, but all I saw were dark, none typical. D. oo only occurred one night, and the two specimens taken were var. renago, but C. or was in greater numbers than I have ever before seen anywhere, sometimes two and three on a tree, and continuing until the end of July. There must be a continuous emergence, as when I
NOTES ON COLLECTING. 51
started on July 5th, most were worn, and yet the last specimen on the 26th was quite fresh. After this date I treacled’no more until Septem- ber 18th, and then continued about twice a week until October 27th, and once more on December 14th as already recorded.
The only other species of interest taken besides those mentioned, were Asphalia diluta (not uncommonly in September), Xanthia fulvago var. flavescens, Peridroma saucia, and P. suffusa.
The quantities of Orrhodia vaccinit and Scopelosoma satellitia on some evenings were quite phenomenal. My small patches were much more than covered, the moths crawling over and knocking each other on to the ground. The wood is full of hills and hollows, and I always found that success depended much more on wind than warmth. Some very warm still nights were the poorest, while on windy ones, even when very cold, the moths swarmed.
The foregoing notes are, of necessity, very disjointed, as there has been little time at my disposal. But from what I have seen I am anxious to explore the district more thoroughly in the coming year, unhampered by war restrictions.
The wood in question is a large private one, mainly oak, with a very varied undergrowth, including a lot of birch and aspen, and in. pre-war days somewhat strictly preserved for game. With a cottage on the spot, however, I have had no difficulty in gaining access.
I have never seen or heard of an Entomologist in the district, but should imagine I am on some of the historic ground worked by Doubleday, and probably the scene of his Glyphisia crenata capture.
Needless to say, this species has not turned up, but from the look of the place, I can well believe it holds many treasures as yet un- discovered.—RusseLt James, Ongar Park Cottage, Ongar. Hebruary TOU:
Treactine in 1918.—It is the ill-fortune of war that we appear to have had an exceptionally good treacling year in 1918, when the restrictions of light, and rationing, made the pursuit of this collecting method well-nigh impossible. With a little management and economy, however, something could be done, and I made small quantities of syrup goa long way. Besides finding moths whenever | treacled in my local wood, I had really first class nights on the only two occasions on which I tried in other districts.
The first of these was on June 20th, at Wyre Forest. I ran across for one evening when business had taken me to Wolverhampton. A fariahouse, which I knew to be the haunt of several Worcester collectors, not only gave me comfortable quarters, but supplied treacling ingredients in generous measure. Thus armed, I treacled my only really long round since rationing started, and happily the moths appreciated it. Agrotis eaclamationis far outnumbered all other Species put together, but among them were a nice lot of useful insects, the most conspicuous being Aplecta tincta, of which I took a long series in the loveliest condition.
Aplecta herbida was rarer, but A. nebulosa was abundant, strikingly pale in colour after my dark Ongar specimens. I was very surprised at the absence of Cymatophora duplaris, C. or, and C. fluctuosa, the first-named usually very common, and even the last I expected in fair numbers on such a night. I remember Mr. A. J. Hodges taking, I
52 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
believe, 25 specimens in a single night on this actual ground. As it was, the only Cymatophorid to turn up was a fine C. ocularis, which was gratefully boxed. Other species out of the common herd that occurred not infrequently were Acronicta leporina and Hadena contigqua, and Pharetra rumicis was so common and fine that | was tempted to box a renewal series. There was nothing else of any rarity, but with series of those already named, and good forms and well-marked specimens out of the host of commoners, my supply of boxes soon gave out, and I had to return to the farm and kill my captures between rounds.
Just before putting on treacle, I took eight beautiful Boarmia roboraria from oak trunks (2 g and 6 ?), of a form paler than those from the New Forest, and therefore strikingly different from my dark Ongar specimens, taken a few days later.
My second evening was also snatched from a business trip to Leeds, when rather than spend the night in a hotel in that smoky city, I ran across to Warthill, just oufside York, only in time to get a meal and put on treacle. J had about a quarter of a pound of golden syrup with me, and this I diluted with rum and water to such an extent that I managed a round of some 100 trees. I was afraid I had overdone it, as when I came to the end the first patches were practically invisible.
But the moths found them out all right, and from the first tree, I saw I was in fora good night of it. Thirty, forty, fifty and more moths were on and around every patch. I had about a hundred boxes with me, but with very poor killing facilities I had to pick my specimens carefully, and thus left hundreds that I would have eladly. taken. The two outstanding species were Orthosia suspecta (eight and ten on a tree, but many worn), and Cosmia paleacea. I brought away 35 picked specimens oi the latter and could have taken many more. Four beautiful Aplecta occulta were also very acceptable.
In striking contrast with Wyre Forest, Cymatophora duplaris was here perhaps the commonest moth, often twenty or more on a iree, but wanting much picking over. Both the dark unicolorous and typical forms, with intermediates, occurred, but the prevailing tendency was in the dark direction. Another most abundant species was Calymnia trapezina, from which I picked out one very striking variety, in colour a dull, dark brick-red, quite different from anything I have seen before, with the stigmata and transverse lines much paler. Another moth puzzled me at first. It was quite fresh and had a strange, yet somehow familiar, look. J eventually realised that it must be an abnormal second-brood specimen .of pamea basilinea—very _ small, dark and grey, but with quite the characteristic markings.
Three fine black Xylophasia monoglypha were taken and some mahogany-coloured Triphaena fimbria, shaggier and darker than our southern specimens, while late in the evening Ayrotis tritici began to appear in some numbers, when my boxes were all full. I was sorry at. having to leave these, but it could not be helped. Cleoceris viminalis occurred not very commonly, including one or two almost black, and such things as Noctua baia, Caradrina taraxaci, C. alsines, Leucania pallens, L. impura, and many others helped to swell a huge total. Among afew Geometers that appeared were two nice male Hpione parallelaria. Lophopteryx camelina flew up to my lamp, and before.
NOTES ON COLLECTING. 53
dark Cymatophora duplaris were flying down from the pines and birches in some numbers as I walked among them.
I was back in Leeds by 9 o’clock next morning, congratulating myself upon making the most of my opportunities, but regretting that an important engagement in London that night prevented my having another evening in the woods.—Russett James, Ongar Park Cottage, Ongar. February dth, 1919.
Ranpom Norms rrom Nortu-Hast Irenanp.—My battalion moved from Salisbury Plain to Belfast in early May of this year. I had anticipated some interesting collecting on the plain, and had already found larvee of Arctia cata and Cosmotriche (Odonestis) potatoria abun- danily. <Aglais urticae, which was so common last autumn, had reap- peared after hibernation and the females were everywhere ovipositing. The species must have been extraordinarily abundant in the larval stage in May and June.
The Belfast district is not a convenient centre for one whose ento- mological excursions have to be fitted in in the intervals of military duty. Moreover, it is one of the rainiest districts in the British Isles. May was delightful and the greater part of June also, but early in the latter month I fell a victim to the so-called ‘‘ Spanish influenza,” and in consequence many things, which should have been done in this month, particularly the collection of Polyommatus icarus and of the larvee of Huchloé cardamines, were leit undone.
I was surprised at the abundance of Lepidoptera generally compared - with the North of Hngland. Huchloé cardamines, for instance, I have never seen in such abundance as in the Newtonards district from May 20th to June lst. The species was already worn on May 20th, and few useful specimens were obtained. One dwarf male 82mm. in expanse (centre of thorax to apex X 2) is perhaps the most interesting. (C. Down, April 29th, 1918.) Ova and young larvee were abundant on Cardamine pratensis, and I saw none on any other food-plant. Sisym- brium alliaria does not occur in the district—at least, I have never seen it. The presence of six ova on one plantof C. pratensis (Newtownards, April 29th, 1918), suggests at once a sound economic foundation for the cannibalistic habits of young larve of this species, and an explana- tion of the prevalence of dwarfed specimens.
The three common Pierids, P. brassicae, P. rapae, and P. napi all occurred freely throughout the summer; the first brood of P. rapae - and the second of P. napi producing fine forms.
The only Argynnid observed was a solitary Argynnis aglaia, at Ballykinlar, on the coast of Co. Down, on August 10th.
Larvee of Aglais urticae swarmed on every suitable patch of nettles in May and June. The pupe were much infested with the small Chalcid parasite and imagines were not common. I bred a good num- ber—all large, brightly coloured examples, not differing in any way from South of Kngland forms. dA. urticae in Haugland appears to be continuous brooded ia a sense. Larve could be found last year towards the end of September, which were certainly a third generation. In Ireland I searched for the second-brood larve about three weeks after the appearance of the first-brood imagines, but none appeared. The imagines first appeared on June 25th, and were well out early in July. No larvee were seen in July, or early August, and in the places
54 THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
where spring larve has been abundant I found none. Only two broods were observed, one at Malone, Belfast, on August 25th, half-grown, and the other at Ballykinlar, Co. Down, on September 4th, also half- grown. These were both reared. I doubt very much if any would have survived in nature. Torrential rains lasting nearly a fortnight set in before they were full-fed, and one or two frosts occurred during the pupal stage. In all I reared 42 imagines from these pups during October.
The imagines of the Malone brood emerged from October 8th-19th. By the end of this time it was necessary to place the box containing them near the fire before the imagines would emerge. No tendency to ab. polaris, nor, with two slight exceptions, to ab. nubilata, was ob- served, though I had expected this with some confidence. In three specimens aberrational marking of one forewing, apparently due to pupal injury, was noted, and five very pale forms of a ‘‘ washed” out appearance emerged, three of which were cripples. There were thirty specimens in this brood. The Ballykinlar brood produced twelve specimens remarkable for a tendency of the ground colour to replace the usual yellow markings and suppression of the blue marginal spots. In one specimen the yellow areas are, however, considerably extended. Pyrameis cardwi and P. atalanta occurred sparingly in May and at the end of August.
The Satyridae were very interesting. The first observed were Pararge megera and P. aegeria, on May 19th, in perfect condition. P. megera soon disappeared, and a second brood appeared in August. The life cycle of P. aegeria is more puzzling. I give dates and notes of captures :
April 19th, 1918, Newtownards, 2 3, light form, fresh condition.
April 29th, 1918, Newtownards, both sexes, worn.
June 5th, 1918, Belfast, 1 9, light form, fresh condition.
July 4th, 1918, Belfast, 2 seen, worn.
July 17th, 1918, Belfast, 1 ¢, light form, fresh.
July 28th, 1918, Belfast, several seen, apparently fresh.
July 80th, 1918, Belfast, 1 g, light form, worn (slightly).
August 25th, 1918, Dunmamy, several gs, dark form, fresh.
September 4th, 1918, Ballykinlar, gs and ?s, dark form, fresh.
The Ballykinlar specimens inelude a 3 which is the darkest speci- men of the species I have seen, the yellow spots being almost com- pletely obsolete.
Epinephele jurtina (iantra) was common in July and August, and L obtained several nice females with additional spots on forewing-under- side. Aphantopus hyperantus occurred in some numbers from July 4th onwards. ‘The specimens are much lighter in underside ground colour than South of England forms and approximate to the Cumberland form referred to and figured in South’s Butterflies of the British Isles. Hipparchia semele was common and well marked. I observeda attempting to pair with H. jurtina 9. There were two broods of Coenonympha pamphilus and of Rumicia phlaeas—I obtained no striking forms of either species.
Polyommatus icarus first appeared on June Ist, on which date a fine large gf ab. nigromaculata (=celina?), was secured. Large and well- marked 9s occurred in June, and then only wasted specimens in July and August.
NOTES ON COLLECTING. 55
About the end of August and early September fresh specimens again occurred, smaller and less strongly marked. J had been under the impression that P. icarus was single-brooded in the north of Treland, but these facts seem to point to at least a partial second brood. I saw no other “blues” and no “ skippers.”
I had little opportunity of collecting moths. Arctia caia was frequent in the larval state and a nice ¢ form was bred from a Belfast larva. Spilosoma menthastri and Diaphora mendica occurred freely in the larval state in September. The imagines of S. menthastri in May were of a creamy tint. I reared a brood of D. mendica larvee from a Belfast @ which are now in the pupal state, and I have not yet seen the g form in the district. S. lubricipeda was not met with in any stage. Some few Noctuae were obtained which await identification. (I regret to say I know practically nothing of this group).
Among the Geometers the most interesting were Xanthorhoé fluc- tuata and Boarmia repandata. Of the former a lovely melanic form occurred, the most extreme specimen being of a uniform dark erey,. with whitish veins and subterminal line, the usual markings being present. The hindwings are uniform dark grey, the usual transverse lines being very faintly indicated. The specimens form a pleasing contrast to a very light form taken on Salisbury Plain in Apri]. The B. repandata are a very dark mottled form. One uniform dark grey Specimen was also obtained.
Among other Geometrae obtained were Hydriomena furcata (Hypst- petes elutata), Opisthograptis luteolata (Rumia crataegata), Lozogramma (Panagra) petraria, Xanthorhoé (Melanippe) montanata, Cidaria fulvata, Dysstroma citrata (C. immanata), Lygris testata (swarming throughout August and early September among dwarf sallow on the coast), Male- nydris (Larentia) didymata, Ochyria (Coremia) unidentaria, Anaitis plagiata, and Ematurga atomaria. All are quite common insects and quite ordinary forms. Certain things were not met with at all. Ou- rapteryx sambucaria, Ennomidae, etc., and only isolated specimens of Abraxas grossulariata. é
Hepialus humuli occurred towards the end of June, the males being quite of the southern form.
Zygaena filtpendulae cocoons were obtained in Belfast and Co. Down in early June and again on the Down coast in August, the imagines showing a tendency to confluent spotting. In the earlier specimens this confluence chiefly affected the outer two spots, and in the later specimens the central areas. In August I found two speci- mens in a lonely spot on the Co. Down coast impaled on the marram grass.
The ‘“ Micros” are not yet identified.
A few notes of a more general nature may be of interest. In July I reared a great number of Arctia caia from Salisbury larve. Among these were two or three rather interesting varieties and about a dozen extreme forms—all crippled. These included two with black hind- wings; one with the white markings light brown, one hindwing black the other normal; two or three with hindwing markings all united into a blotch; one with all wings cream-coloured, without any mark- ings; one in which one forewing had the white and brown distributed in a very abnormal manner; and one with forewings suffused. All these insects were very weak and some scarcely able to crawl about,
56 THE HENTOMOLOGIST’S RECORD.
leaving little doubt that disease was the cause of the variation in marking. On July 27th, while removing dead pupze from a box I accidentally cracked one and found it contained a living moth. I then removed the pupa case entirely and the moth, a large 9, after sitting still for some hours, developed its wings in the normal manner.
On July 22nd I put several specimens in a large box with a muslin eover, to obtain a pairing. In the morning two were paired, so I removed them to another box. They remained united till 8 a.m. on July 80th, when I “killed” them and sent them to the Rev. C. R. N. Burrows for examination. They reached him alive, but still united, and having been “killed”? by him a second time, were still united when I last heard of them.
On July 15th I watched Huproctis similis emerge. The effort required to escape from the pupa and cocoon was very great. Hscape was achieved by a series of revolving movements of the abdomen, the legs not assisting in any way.. The process occupied some twenty minutes, and the insect then crawled to a suitable position, where it rested for some time before development begun. Development was not rapid but progressed evenly. This insect, and Arctia caia, which develops its wings very slowly indeed, formed a remarkable contrast to Aglais urticae, which has usually completed the process within two or three minutes of emergence.—Haroxnp WiniraMs.
Nores on Lepimpoprera 1x 1918.—After collecting the Macro-, lepidoptera in Chiswick for over forty years, it was somewhat surprising to be able to add three species, new to the local list, this last summer. On July 28th I found a larva of Notodonta dromedarius on a birch in the garden, and my brother took another a few days later. One of. these was bred a month later. Harly in August, a larva of Acronicta leporina occurred on birch, and my brother took larve, also on birch, of Drepana lacertinaria and D. falcataria, the first being new, but the second is certainly an old inhabitant of Chiswick, as I took it in 1878. Hitherto, I have not connected Pyrausta aurata with suburban kitchen gardens, but on July 23rd I saw four or five flying over thyme and marjoram flowers in the hot sun, and some days afterwards, I saw another on a large ox-eye daisy in the flower garden. From three larvee taken off hop, three imagines of Hypena rostralis were bred, and all were ab. variegata, Tutt. On August 10th, when strolling along some allotment gardens, I watched a Q Pieris napi ovipositing on some plants of Lepidium sativum (Cress) which had been allowed to run to seed. On the 18th, I noticed some Laspeyresia (Semasia) ianthinana flying over hawthorn bushes, and was fortunate to see a 2 ovipositing on the red haws. She laid one egg on the upper part of the berry, just under the calyx, and a second at the base of another berry, near the stalk. The eggs were thus simply attached to the outside of the haw. Crossing the river one morning to Barnes, I found Hedya aceriana abundant and in fine condition, several were drying their wings after emergence, on the trunks of black poplars. One H. neglectana, and one Hucosma (Antithesia) salicella were also obtained. The last hunt of the year occurred on Wimbledon Common, September 8rd. A few Epiblema (Paedisca) solandriana were found at rest on birch and buckthorn, and a nice Pandemis (Tortria) corylana was taken on the wing. Ona heathy spot, Huaanthis (Hupoecilia) angustana was flying freely, but most of them were worn.
OURRENT NOTES. 57
On August 21st, I spent a few hours on Hayling Island, Hants, in the hopes of obtaining imagines of Acroclita (Paedisca) consequana, but of this I saw nothing whatever, nor did I find any plants of spurge. When on the island in 1889, I saw plenty of spurge, but at that time gave no heed to Microlepidoptera. I must have gone to the wrong side of the island this time. Satyrus semele was abundant about the grassy patches on the shingle, and Anaitis plagiata was common on fences ; a few other common species were observed. The shingly scrubland, the marshy flats, and some of the lanes, looked as though they would yield good things if worked. My son had previously sent me a box of privet shoots, containing larve. From these I bred a series of Cacoecia (Tortrix) podana, and of Pandemis (T.) heparana,