GIRDLE-SPINNING OF L.ERTIAS PHILENOR. 157 



LojuL, 1892, p. 61) has resuscitated the name for viretata, carpinatn ( = 

 lobiilata) and others not Hiibnerian, without mentioning the possible 

 homonjany." The type is carpinata, chosen by Pearsall [Journ. N. Y. 

 Ent. Soc, XV., p. 132), even if not earlier fixed by the " Merton Rules" 

 {vide Stephens' List. Brit. Aniin., p. 199), or by the " first species 

 rule." Hcar}iinata and viretata Avere really congeneric (which they are 

 certainly not f) we might evade the question of priority in Trichopteryx, 

 for viretata is abundantly supplied with generic names — Acasis, Dup. = 

 Bri/odis, Gppbg. = Ai/ia, Hulst. On the whole, in the absence of 

 certainty of exact dates, it seems right to leave Trichopteryx to the 

 coleopterists, and to rename Trichopteryx, Hiibner (Meyr. et Pearsall, 

 restr. ; there is an excellent characterisation in Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc, 

 XV., p. 182, to exclude the viretata -viridata section). I propose for this 

 genus, as defined by Pearsall (type, carpinata, Bork. = lobi(lata, Hiib.) 

 the name of Nothopteryx, Prout, nov. nom. 



I may add that Hiibner' s Trichopteryx was originally almost 

 equivalent to Curtis's prior Lobophora, and contained its type {halterata, 

 Hufn.) ; and this would, in the eyes of some Avorkers, debar its use in 

 sensu Meyrick. Art. 30, Rule 8 of the " Code," enforcing this principle, 

 has fortunately been cancelled, and we are, therefore, not bound by it, 

 but I mention the fact because it may win the adhesion of a feAv free- 

 lances (who still prefer their oAvn hobbies to an international system) 

 to my proposed change to Nothopteryx. 



* It must be borne in mind tiiat when Meyrick wrote, an earlier date was 

 assumed for Hiibner than is now considered possible — at least for pp. 305 seq. 



f As ex cathedra statements do not advance science, I may digress to point 

 out that, apart altogether from early stages, and from slight differences in shape, 

 viretata is separated by its long palpi, its hindwing neuration, etc. ; in viretata 

 the discocellulars of hindwing are biangulate, with vein 5 from near 4, and in its 

 <? , 8 anastomoses with the cell, whereas in carpinata «r it is separate, connected 

 by a bar at the end. 



Girdle°spinning of Laertias philenor. 



By CECIL FLOERSHEIM, B.A., F.E.S. 



The following notes are the results of observation of a larva of 

 Laertias philenor Avhich spun its pupal girdle on the fine hot morning 

 of July 27th of the past year (1908). 



Having completed its anal pad and the silken carpet which, though 

 obviously the survival of the old cocoon-making habit (the larva still 

 attempts at times to Aveave in the air and tosses its head about just 

 like the larva of Satnrnia pavonia {carpini) when spinning its cocoon), 

 serves now the useful purpose of providing a secure foothold,''' the 

 larva AA'ith its anal claspers securely fixed just above the pad began 

 weaving its girdle. This operation had been preceded by a quiescent 

 interval of about five minutes, at the end of Avhich the larA'a trembled 

 convulsiA^ely several times. 



It started on the left-hand side by fixing down a thread Avhich it 

 caught just like someone playing catch-cradle, Avith a rapid movement 

 of the first two pairs of thoracic legs in the suture between the legs, 

 and then carried it there, bending back its head and segments doAvn 

 to the first pair of prolegs, which were continually off the surface of 



* A larva which I removed from its carpet fell to the floor of the cage, made 

 no further attempt to affix itself in its normal position, but pupated successfully 

 in situ. 



