188 INSECTS OBSERVED IN 1882. 



the observer's farm in the past season, with the following remark : 

 " I am much inclined to think pests (bad as they are) are often 

 credited with more damage than they do. If there is a yellow 

 patch in barley or oats, wireworms are blamed for it, whereas a 

 land-spring may exist there; or it may be that some special manure 

 or mixing of soils is all that is necessary to make things right, and 

 the patchy spot as fertile as the rest of the field." 



One of the great insect-attacks of last summer was that of 

 caterpillars on the leafage of various trees, and that Hertfordshire 

 was not exempt was shown by a package kindly forwarded to me by 

 Mr. Hopkinson, of such a variety of attacked leafage, which he had 

 collected, that it might have served to illustrate the statement of 

 the late Mr. Edward I^ewman, regarding the caterpillar of the 

 winter-moth, that he " could not mention a tree the leaves of 

 which it did not devour." As far as I am aware, the damage 

 might for the most part be credited to those singularly destructive 

 caterpillars — the larvae of Cheimatohia Irumata — but I could not 

 undertake to say how many other kinds might also be present. 

 The female of the winter-moth is remarkable for only possessing 

 abortive wings ; it therefore has to use its legs for progression, and 

 consequently, if something it cannot cross be laid round the stem 

 of the fi'uit-trees it attacks, these at least may be defended from 

 it walking up their trunks to lay its eggs in the branches. Its 

 common name is given to it from its appearance from the chrysalids 

 in the ground taking place about the beginning of winter. 



The following notes of first appearance of a few of the insects 

 recommended for observation have been sent in by Mr. J. Hopkin- 

 son, Watford ; Mrs. Arnold, Redbourn Bury, St. Albans ; Mr. J. 

 J. Willis, Harpenden ; Mr. R. T. Andrews, Hertford ; Miss Simpson, 

 High Wych, Sawbridge worth ; and Mr. B,. B. Croft, Fanhams 

 Hall, Ware, for the respective localities. 



Meloloutha vulgaris (common cockchafer). — Watford, May 28. 



Apis melliftca (honey-bee). — Watford, Feb. 4; Ware, Feb. 11*; 

 Harpenden, Feb. 12; Hertford, Feb. 14; St. Albans, Feb. 26. 



Pieris Brassicce (large white cabbage-butterfly). — High Wych, 

 Sawbridgeworth, April 12; Harpenden, April 21. 



Pieris Rapce (small white cabbage-butterfly). — Hertford, March, 

 18; Watford, April 6; St. Albans, April 8; Harpenden, April 

 16; Ware. April 21. 



Epine])Mh Janira (meadow-brown butterfly). — Hertford, June 

 14; Watford, June 17. 



Trichoccra hiemalis (winter-gnat). — Watford, Dec. 27 (1881). 



* Mr. Croft observes of the honey-bees that " owing to mildness of weather 

 they have been seen at the mouths of hives nearly every day, but to-day 

 (Feb. 11) they are out in numbers and at work." 



