NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 301 



Nematus septcntnonalis having been described in English 

 works (see Zoologist, s.s. 8175, 18G2, for van Vollenhoven's life 

 history ; and Ent. Mag., i., pi. 1, f. 5, for figure of larva), I need 

 not enter into its history here, beyond remarking that it is the 

 commonest species, and that the larva feeds on alder, birch, hazel, 

 poplar, and, according to Stephens {loc. cit), gooseberry. The 

 larvoe frequently occur in such numbers as to strip the trees almost 

 completely of their leaves. 



Nematus varus is not uncommon both in England and Scotland. 

 It may be known from septentrionalis by its smaller size, the red 

 femora, and by the wings wanting the smoky blotch. As the 

 larva has not been described in any English work, I now give a 

 description of it here. 



The head is rather small, and covered with microscopic hairs ; 

 the colour is pale grayish-green, a brownish spot is on the face, 

 and above this splash is a small black dot ; the vertex is dotted 

 with minute fuscous points; the eyes black. The feet are longish, 

 green, with brown claws — a somewhat triangular mark is over 

 each ; the claspers are glassy green. The body is long and cylin- 

 drical, tapering a little towards the anal end, the colour bright 

 green throughout ; the last segment a little paler, and with a faint 

 brown mark over the top. On the middle of the sides there is a 

 row of black dots, placed rathei* wide apart, and ending on the 

 twelfth segment. Below this row there is another line of 

 smaller black dots ; and directly over each of the feet there are 

 two or three little black marks. Near the head the superior row 

 is placed higher up. So far as I am aware the larva feeds only 

 on alder ; the pupa I have not observed. 



In the autumn of 1872 I received from a correspondent in 

 Lancashire a Croisus larva which was new to me. Unfortunately 

 it died ; but I still possess, preserved in spirits, the only specimen 

 I received. However, on comparing it with van Vollenhoven's 

 fig. and description of Nematus latipes (Tidj. voor Ent., 2^" serie, 

 DeeL ii., BL 174-7, pi. 8), I at once recognised it as identical 

 with the one I got from Lancashire : the black colour of the body, 

 the yellowish legs, and the abdominal glands, leaving no room for 

 doubt. I have never seen a sj^ecimen of the imago, nor am I 

 aware of its having been reported for Britain ; but still I think 

 that it may now be added with safety to our lists. 



The following is a description of the larva : — 



