1919. Notes. 91 



NOTES, 



ZOOLOGY. 



Ploiaria culiciformis in Co. Armagh. 



On May 27th I was sitting at my study window which was open, 

 the day was fine and warm, when a little insect flew in and alighted on 

 a book I had open for reference. At first sight I thought it was a gnat 

 but as its wings appeared to be rather dark I applied a low power lens 

 to it and then saw it was a hemipteron or Plant Bug. I was greatly 

 struck with the curious way it held its front legs, for instead of having 

 them on the same plane as the rest, it held them up in front, reminding 

 me of the attitude of the Praying Mantis. I sent it to Mr. J. N. Halbert 

 who very kindly informed me that it was Ploiaria culiciformis, De Gear. 

 I have asked him to supplement this brief note. 



Poyntzpass. W. F. Johnson. 



It is fortunate the little gnat-like visitor was secured by Mr. Johnson 

 for it is certainly the above-mentioned insect which has not been recorded 

 from Ireland nor do I know of any Irish specimens in collections. There 

 are only two British species of the genus Ploiaria, i.e., P. vagahunda and 

 P. culiciformis, the latter insect is the smaller of the two with shorter 

 legs and antennae and there are other differences. The commoner 

 species, P. vagahunda, was recorded from Ireland many years ago by 

 Dr. Power [Entomologist, vol. xi., p. 8). He probably found it somewhere 

 in the neighbourhood of Waterford, though as his south of Ireland list 

 refers to an area ranging from Thomastown in Co. Kilkenny to Tramore 

 on the Waterford coast, there is doubt as to the exact locality. P. 

 culiciformis has been recorded from a few places in England, chiefly in 

 the southern counties, and it occurs as far north at least as Yorkshire. 

 Curiously enough the insect appears to have a liking for the thatch of old 

 cottages, and owing to the small size and peculiar form it would be 

 difficult to find in such a habitat. 



National Museum, Dublin. J- N. Halbert. 



Carabus clathratus in Co. Clare. 



During the second week of August I found, at Kilkee, Co. Clare, a 

 specimen of this large ground beetle, which Mr. J. N. Halbert thinks a 

 new record for the county. I found the insect under a stone in a dried 

 water-course ; it was unfortunately dead when I saw it. 



Ascot Terrace. Limerick. Ernest H. Bennis. 



