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11. 



NOTES OX LEPIDOPTERA OBSERVED IN HERTFOEDSHIRE 

 IN THE TEAR 1906. 



By A. E. GiBBs, F.L.S., F.R.H.S. 



Read at St. Albans, 6th March, 1906. 



There is only one species to be added to onr county list as 

 the result of the work of local lepidopterists in 1905, as against 

 seven in 1904, this being the smallest number of additions for 

 many years. The species is Senta maritima, Tauch. {iilvai, Hb.), 

 taken at Tring by Mr. A. T. Groodson. 



This is a very interesting record, for Senta maritima is usually 

 supposed to be found only in the eastern counties, and principally 

 in the fen districts. It laaunts reed-beds, and is seldom seen in 

 the daytime, flying after dark. 



The distribution of the Rhopalocera or butterflies in the 

 county has received so much attention that there is really very 

 little fresh to be said about it. Miss Alice Dickinson, of New 

 Farm, St. Albans, reports the presence of a specimen of the 

 second brood of the clouded yellow (Colias edtisa) on the 

 railway-bank near Harpeudeu on August 2nd. This is one of 

 the most variable of our British butterflies in point of 

 abundance, but judging from the few observations printed in 

 the entomological magazines I do not think that 1905 has been 

 an average year. Miss Dickinson also tells me that she did not 

 see any specimens of either the spring or autumn brood of the 

 holly-blue butterfly during the past year. This is an insect 

 which sometimes frequents my garden, but, as was the case in 

 1904, I failed to detect its presence. Lycaena argiolus is 

 a delightful little butterfly. It is double-brooded, the first 

 generation appearing in April or May, as soon as the weather 

 begins to get warm, and the females lay their eggs on the holly, 

 the larvae feeding on the buds, blossoms, tender berries, and 

 young leaves. The second or autimm brood which results from 

 these holly-feeding larvae, are on the wing in July and August, 

 and these lay their eggs on the ivy, which being an autumn- 

 flowering plant, furnishes abundance of blossoms to provide the 

 caterpillars with food. When beating the ivy-bloom for moths 

 at night I have occasionally taken these curious larvae, which 

 are not unlike wood-lice in shape. Miss Dickinson reports the 

 capture of the variety cxnileojnmcta of the small copper butterfly 

 (Polyommatus plilieas) , which, so far as my observation goes, is 

 not so abundant as was formerly the case. This aberration is 

 distinguished by the presence of blue spots on the hind wings. 

 Other butterflies mentioned by Miss Dickinson are the painted 

 lady (Vanessa car did) seen in small numbers in September, and 

 the brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rliamni) on the wing on 

 October 29th. This latter species hybernates on the approach of 

 the cold weather, and is often one of the first insects to gladden 



