136 fJune, 



On March 7th of this year, at the place mentioned, I noticed on a 

 fence what appeared at first sight to be a female of this species, but on 

 being closely observed it was seen to possess male genitalia. I then 

 examined the fence rather closely and found scores of similar specimens, 

 as well as numerous normal males and females. Subsequently, I found 

 others at Oughton Head, near Hitchin, and again at Radwell on 

 April 2oth, when all three forms were present in large numbers. On 

 examining material collected here in 1918, I found a single male among 

 a number of females, besides normal males. 



The males with short antennae were at first thought to be a distinct 

 species, but close examination failed to reveal the slightest difference 

 between their genitalia and those of normal males, the only differences 

 observable in other parts of the body being those usually associated with 

 sex. The antennae of the short-horned males are absolutely identical in 

 stmctui-e, down to the details of the hairs and " taste-bristles," with 

 those of the females. The normal males vary in colour, the mesonotum 

 usually being shining black, with yellowish shoulders, though in some 

 specimens there are three separate black stripes. In the females, and in 

 the short-horned males, the stripes are always well separated. Also, 

 in these abnormal males the abdomen is shorter than usual and looks at 

 first sight more like that of the female. 



All the short-horned males Avere taken sitting on the fence, and 

 none were observed swarming, though swarms of normal males were 

 observed at the same time. Copulation was not observed. 



The short-horned males evidently constitute a definite form, and are 

 not mere sports, since they occur in large numbers. 



May 10th, 1920. 



Iletaci-ius ferrugineus 01. in the Isle of Wight. — A single example of this 

 rare myrmecophilous insect was found by uie in an ant's nest at Luccombe 

 Chine, 1. of W., on April 7th last. The record is new to the list of the island 

 Coleoptera, and the only capture for Britain of late years is that by Mr. Bedwell 

 at Box Hill (Ent. Mo. Mag-. 1909, p. 165).— C. E. Stott, "Eaton," Reigate: 

 Ai)ril 20th, 1920. 



Note on the life-history of Triecphora vulnerata llliger (Homoptera, 

 Cercopidae). — Throngh Mr. L. E. Robinson, A.R.C.S., of the Quick Labora- 

 tory, Cambridge, I have received a number of nymphs and adults of this 

 conspicuously coloured " frog-hopper," which were found in a cavity in the 

 ground. It appears, on inquiring of Mr. James Edwards, that the early stages 

 of this insect are not well known, hence the following particulars may be 

 worth placing on record. 



The colony was found on May 1st, 1920, by Mr. J. Philbrick, of Watford, 

 Herts, to whom I am indebted for the following detailed report. It was 



