1920. ] 250 



larvae died, probably because they were allowed to get too dry. Tliis year 

 I liave had better success, by keeping the cones in tins with some slightly 

 damp moss. About 70 likely-looking cones were collected on March 21st, not 

 far IVom the first locality (the original trees having been felled). After a largo 

 number of Grapliulitha strobilella had emerged from April 2nd onwards, the 

 first terehrclla appeared on May 25th; between that date and July 11th 

 ten more specimens emerged. On September 6th I opened about a dozen 

 cones, and found two larvae still feeding, one appearing quite full grown ; 

 I am, therefore, keeping the cones through the winter. It is clear that 

 sometimes, if not always, the larva spends two winters in tlie cone. On 

 September 3rd, while staying at Bournemouth, I. took another specimen of 

 C. terebrella, in quite good condition, on a street-lamp after dark (Tower Road, 

 Branksome). As July and August are given by Meyvick and Barrett as the 

 months during which the moth appears, each of the summer months is now 

 represented. As an internal feeder, no doubt the larva is comparatively in- 

 dependent of seasons. It seems difficult to decide whether the species has 

 hitherto been overlooked, or whetlier it is extending its range in England. 

 Perhaps the latter is the more probable opinion. The Oxford district is well 

 supplied with spruce-feeding LepidojAera. As already mentioned, GraphoUthx 

 strobilella L. can be bred plentifully from spruce-cones, and it occurs in all the 

 woods. Other species that occur commonly, and sometimes in great abundance, 

 are Tephrocfi/stis pusillata F., Epiblema tedelJa CI., Steyanoptycha nnnana Tr. 

 and Asthenia pyymaeana Hb. Species that I liave found more locally and more 

 sparingly are Larentia variata Schiff., Steyanoptycha ratzeburyiana Rtz., and 

 Aryyresthia iUuminatella Z. The chief absentees, up to the pre.sent, are 

 Tephroclystis toyata Hb., and Steyanoptycha subsequana Haw. — E. G. R. 

 Waters, 40 Leckford Road, Oxford : September 29th, 1920. 



[The late C. Ct. Barrett bred Cateremna terebrella in considerable numbers 

 from Norfolk larvae during his residence at King's Lynn. The series in his 

 own collection, when sold at Stevens', contained twent}' specimens, and there 

 were others in the late S. J. Capper's collection. I have it in my own cabinet, 

 given me by Barrett, and no doubt he distributed it among several of his old 

 friends.— G. T. P.] 



Another food-plant of Tortrix pro7tubana Hb. — On September 3rd, 1920, 

 when visiting Sandbanks, near Poole, I noticed a Tortrix larva fairly plentiful 

 on some bushes of Tree Lupin (Lupinus arboreus) — a plant which grows freely 

 there in gardens. Not knowing what species it could be, I hastily collected 

 a few specimens, all in spun shoots or leaves, and have since been rewarded 

 with some nice 2'ortrix pronnbana (one J and two $ 5 to date). A good 

 many larvae and pupae perished owing to parasites. It seems as though every 

 botanical order will soon be represented in the list of food-plants of this 

 species — E. G. R. Waters : September 2dth, 1920. 



Dark Males of Bofiibus Incorum Sin, in the West Riding. — In the 2ud ed,, 

 1876, of F. Smith's " Catalogue of British llyiuenoptera " the description of the 

 cJ of this very common humble-bee covers only forms which iiave " the face 

 densely clothed with yellow pubesiien^e " and the underside of the body also 

 with pale pubescence. It is stated iu the same place that the <j" of B. vir^i/ialis 



