1 899. J Notes, 163 



INSECTS 



IVlacrogiossa stellatarum in Co. Dublin. 



During the past few days I have observed an unusual abundance of 

 the Humming-bird Hawkmoth in this part of Co. Dublin. On June 1st 

 and 2nd I noticed a large number of them about a bed of Columbine in 

 my garden, and next day found them in great numbers along every 

 roadside in the neighbourhood, and especially along the sea side of the 

 West Pier battery wall at Kingstown, where scores of them were 

 flitting back and forward, their loud crackling hum attracting instant 

 notice. The insect is usually common enough in this district, but I 

 have never previously seen it in such numbers. 



H. G. CUTHBERT. 



Blackrock. 



Vcspa rufa in Co. Clare. 



While staying in Limerick during the Whitsuntide holidays I spent a 

 day at Scariff, ill Co. Clare, and noticed there a great abundance of the 

 females of this wasp. All the specimens captured were engaged in 

 hawking flies, showing that nest-building had commenced, although I 

 was unable to locate the position of any nests. I saw no specimens of 

 V. austriaca, a wasp I have always taken 011 the wing much later in the 

 season. 



H. G. CUTHBERT. 



Blackrock. 



Vespa austrlaca In Derry and Donegal. 



While hunting for Longicorn beetles yesterday in Walworth Wood, 

 Co. Derry, I observed Vcspa austriaca, Panz. (arborea, Smith), females in 

 abundance. It was in company with V. rufa, which is very abundant in 

 Derry and Donegal this season, from which it may readily be dis- 

 tinguished when on the wing by the much deeper tone of its hum, the 

 contrast being quite as strong as the difference between Bombus horiorttm 

 and B. tcrrcstris. I had no suitable net. for taking them, but succeeded 

 in capturing four examples in less than half an hour, besides missing 

 others. The black dots on the clypeus vary in each example ; in two 

 cases the three dots are united, all have" 1 a yellow line on the front of the 

 first joint of antenna?, and in one specimen there is only the faintest 

 trace of the yellow dot under the wings. 



On 16th August last I took a male V. aitstn'aca at White Castle, Co. 

 Donegal. Mr. Edward Saunders kindly examined and verified this for 

 me. I believe this to be the second male V. austriaca taken in the 

 British Isles, the previous example being taken in 1S96 by Rev. 

 O. Pickard-Cambridge, in Dorsetshire, and recorded in the Irish 

 Naturalist, vol. vii., p. 18. 



