124 THE entomologist's record. 



was able to identify the manner of flight, and to observe some ascending 

 from a neighbouring meadow, where humuli was on the wing, and I 

 think I also recognised ? 's, though these might have been some 

 NocTUA or other. Ulmus and Humulus are botanically nearly related. — 

 T. A. Chapman, Firbank, Hereford. Alay^ 1892. 



Hepialus lupulinus. — I have been reading the first part of Mr. 

 Robson's paper on " The genus Hepialus," in the Record, and can fully 

 endorse some of his remarks ; but it is curious what a mass of ignorance 

 exists about some of our very commonest insects. As to H. lupidinus, 

 no doubt the larva of this species will eat the roots of very many 

 plants. If one goes into a grass meadow when the species is " out," 

 the imagines may be seen flying by scores just below the tops of the 

 grasses, at the roots of which the larvae feed. I know little of their 

 earlier stages, beyond the fact that the ? ^ows her eggs, as she hovers, 

 among the herbage. The larvae feed in a long vertical silken tube, in 

 which they are tolerably active, and the pupa is formed in the same 

 tube. I have seen the pupa sticking out of these tubes in hundreds 

 where the turf has been cut and piled up, about the time the larva is 

 full-fed. As I said before, I daresay the larva is not over particular as 

 to diet. Few abundant species are. I have found it at the roots of 

 mint and thyme abundantly, also at those of strawberry commonly, and 

 at the roots of many other plants ; but I have little doubt that its true 

 food is the roots of coarse grasses. The pupa (with the hairs omitted) 

 figured by Buckler, is very representative, and the larva certainly 

 reminds me very considerably of what I know as the larva of lupulinus. — 

 C. Fenn. May, 1892. 



Protective resemblance, etc., in Cuspidia (Acronycta) leporina. 

 — Dr. Chapman's interesting account of Cuspidia leporina, in the 

 February number of the Record, has enlightened me considerably. 

 I have taken both the green-white and yellow-black form on Cannock 

 Chase, and have always looked on the latter as a "seasonal form," 

 since I have always found the yellow one in late autumn, sometimes as late 

 as the end of October, and have been accustomed to look on it as 

 being analogous to the brown form of Notodonta dictcea, which never 

 puts in an appearance until the poplars begin to lose their foliage, and 

 which then rests on the small branches, whereas the green form rests 

 on the edges of the leaves. The yellow larva of leporina is of much 

 the same tint as that which the birch leaves assume in the autumn. 

 But, however late I have taken leporina from alder, I have always found 

 it to be the green form. I have taken the larvce from birch, alder and 

 poplar {Populus nigra). It is most common on birch, and least so on 

 poplar, from which tree I have only taken the yellow form. In the 

 country district around Cannock Chase, I have only found it on alder. 

 My resultant imagines have been both leporina and var. bradyporina. 

 With regard to "protective resemblance," I cannot think that leporina 

 possesses any, beyond that resulting from its superficial resemblance to 

 green or yellow leaves, from its habits (always resting on the under 

 side of a leaf), and from its hairy coat. I am aware that birds will eat 

 hairy larvse ; but it seems fair to assume that they prefer smooth ones 

 when they can get them. The hairs and spines of larvae are probably 

 the remains of an epidermal stinging apparatus, such as is still found 

 in certain exotic larvae, and in a modified form in our own Porthesia 



