274: LIST OP LEPIDOPTERA. 



The eggs are laid by the parent insect in the trunk of the tree, about 

 four feet from the ground. When hatched, the larva burrows into the 

 tree, and its presence may easily be detected by the frass and little 

 hole in the wood, like that produced by a gun-shot. The larva must 

 gradually work its way downwards, as the cases are always found either 

 level with or below the surface of the earth. The case consists of little 

 pieces of wood tightly matted together, and lined with a glutinous silk. 

 Inside the larva passes the winter, not changing to a pupa until the end 

 of April. Directions for finding these cases will be found in the third or 

 fourth number of the "Intelligencer;" but they are extremely difficult to 

 rear. I only bred one out of forty in my possession this summer. This, 

 I think, was partly owing to the probability of their being injured in 

 cutting them out of the trees, and partly to their not having received 

 sufficient moisture. They must do great injury to the trees, as the poplars 

 round Playford were quite honey-combed by them; and when I was at 

 Schwalback this year, I saw a number of young poplars, lately planted by 

 the Grand Duke of Nassau, either dead or dying, while the young trunks 

 were quite perforated with the little holes made by the larvae of, I presume, 

 this or an allied species. 



N.B. — The pupae of this insect require to be kept rather moist; they 

 are then not difficult to rear. I have now and then had them by a dozen 

 at a time from the Cambridge collectors, and have seldom failed to breed 

 the perfect insect when I attended to the moisture. I think the best plan 

 is to place them in a tin box, the lid of which fits pretty tight, about 

 half full of slightly damp earth. It must be only slightly damp, or the 

 pupaa will go mouldy. (C.) 



5. JBL bembiciformis. — The larva of this insect is common in the sallow 

 stumps in this neighbourhood. It is difficult to rear from the larva, and 

 even after the pupa is cut out it frequently dies. (B.) 



6. Sesia bombyliformis. — Rare. (B.) 



Taken at Ringshall, near Stowraarket, by Mr. W. Baker. (C.) 

 [, 7. S. fuciformis. — Rare. (B.) 



Taken at Ringshall by Mr. W. Baker. The larva feeds in June and 

 July upon honeysuckle. When full fed, it is pale green on the back, 

 brighter on the sides, the whole rugose, and minutely spotted with yellow; 

 on each side is a pale yellow line from head to tail; the spiracular spots 

 are red; the caudal horn is purple, lighter at the tip; the mouth, legs, 

 and belly are purple, the latter edged with yellow; the head dark green. 

 The pupa, which is a dusky purple, is enclosed in a slight cocoon amongst 

 moss or the roots of grass. I beat a larva, when quite small, into my 

 umbrella, June 30th., 1856. It was full fed, and spun up July 30th., 

 and the perfect insect appeared June 6th., 1857. This insect, when bred, 



