the Larvcc of the Xoctuce. 25 



p. 204), in which he calls attention to the fact that the 

 newly hatched larva of Calocampa exolcta possesses only three 

 pairs of claspers. This was followed by a note by our 

 member, Mr. Bernard Lockyer, who states that *' most, if 

 not all, of the larvaB of the Noctuae belonging to the section 

 Genuince have, when first hatched, but three pairs of claspers, 

 the first two pairs being quite undeveloped ; they are 

 gradually developed as the larvae increase in size, and by the 

 third moult they are as large as the other pairs, and fit to 

 be used in walking. Consequently, when first hatched, the 

 larvae are semi-geometriform, and loop more or less when in 

 motion." ('Entomologist,' vol. v., 1871, p. 133). Mr. 

 Lockyer gives the following list of species, which he had bred 

 from the egg : — LeucaniidcB, L. lithargyria ; Apameida, M. 

 BrassiccB and persicaricB ; Caradrinida, (jr. trilinea ; Noctuida, 

 R. tenebrosa, X. /estiva and hrumiea ; OrthosiidcB, T. gothica ; 

 HadenidcB, E. lucipara, H. serena, A. nehidosa, and H. Cheno- 

 podii ; Xylinidw, X. lithorhiza.^ Among the HeliothidcB, H. 

 dipsaceus appears to be an exception, the larva never pos- 

 sessing less than the usual number of claspers.* 



The next observation to which I propose to direct attention 

 is contained in a note published last year by Mr. Stainton 

 (Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xvii., 1880, p. 135), and referring to 

 the young larva of Triphmna pronuha. Having received a 

 batch of eggs for determination, Mr. Stainton observed that 

 the young larvae were half-loopers, and concluded that they 

 were those of Plusia (jamma. He was informed by his cor- 

 respondent, however, that the eggs were those of T. pronuha, 

 and, in order to have this view confirmed, he forwarded a 

 batch of similar eggs to the well-known larva breeder, Mr. 

 W. Buckler, of Emsworth, who reported that the larv* were 

 undoubtedly T. pronuha, and added some descriptive notes, 



3 Of this last species, Mr. Lockyer states that the larva " is especially 

 geometriform when young, and has the habit of resting attached only by 

 its claspers, with its body held straight out from the surface on which it 

 is resting, after the manner of true Geometry." 



4 This exception may be only apparent ; in such doubtful cases it is 

 advisable to extract the embryonic larva before it actually leaves the egg. 



