280 [December, 



A Note on the Ufe-hidori/ of Rediwius pemonatus, L. — This insect, in an 

 immature stage of development — the wing cases not being apparent — was found 

 in a druggist's shop by Mr. C. Viggers of this town in the third week of June last. 

 It carried a load of dusty fibrous matter on its somewhat hollow back. The insect 

 being unknown to me at the time, was forwarded to Dr. Chapman, who kindly gave 

 me its name, when I was enabled to look up some of the numerous accounts that 

 have been written respecting its life-history. After it was returned to me, I kept 

 the creature in a cage, so as to be able to watch its movements, supplying it with 

 living flies from time to time, for which it would lie in wait, pouncing on them 

 after the manner of a hunting-spider, then holding them with its fore-legs, would 

 pierce them with its rostrum, sucking till its victim was dead. 



It was some weeks before a live Cimex lectularius was brought to me, and then 

 only a very emaciated one, possibly it was on this account that the creature was 

 taken but little notice of when put in the cage, as I several times watched it 

 crawling over the back of the Reduvius, the latter taking it very quietly. However, 

 it was eventually found dead with an evident puncture in its body, so it would 

 appear that Reduvius does make use of the bed-bug as food when it can be got, 

 and possibly a better fed one would have been appreciated at once. 



My specimen did not seem at all inclined to avail itself of material supplied 

 for the purpose of renewing its clothing, and I am inclined to think with Dr. 

 Chapman, that though not averse to such clothing, it is more likely to be an acci- 

 dental result of the dusty places it frequents in its earlier stages than a constant 

 habit. 



For some weeks the Reduvius was quite active, and I watched it with much 

 interest ; it plumped up considerably, and the wing cases made their appearance, 

 so I felt quite hopeful of rearing it to maturity ; it made less progress in September, 

 not being so active, and on the 27th of that month I was much disappointed in 

 finding that it was dead. 



On looking through the pages of this Magazine frona its commencement I find 

 but few notices relating to this insect, and only one recorded instance of its 

 occurrence in East Kent, at page 82 of vol. xxvi. M r. C. G-. Hall records it as 

 flying to light at Deal and Dover.* — William K. Jeffrey, Ashford : November 

 3rd, 19U9. 



Epicypta trinotata, Staeg. : a correction {see ante, vol. xliv, p. 131)- — This 

 species must not at present be claimed as British. Staeger's original description 

 (Naturhistorisk Tidskrift III, 242) expressly says : " Fortarserne ikke dilaterade " 

 (fore tarsi not enlarged), aud Zetterstedt so quotes him. Winnertz omits this 

 character, probably by an oversight ; for in the case of E. scatophora, he mentions 

 that the fore tarsi are not enlarged.— F. Jenkinson, Southmead, Chaucer Road, 

 Cambridge : Octoher 3Ut, 1909. 



* I have taken Redv.vius personatus, in fine clean condition, flying at dusk on the sea-front at 

 Sheerness, on a very hot evening in June, 1899. —J. J. W. 



