NOTES ON LAEV^, ETC, 85 



judge, quite as unsatisfactory as that of others, who are apparently 

 handicapped in having to supply the larva; with substitute food. My 

 plan is to keep the larvas in a potted plant, covered with a muslin 

 (calico in continued bad weather) bag ; but as the plant does not thrive, 

 particularly when potted away from the saltings, a frequent change 

 becomes necessary, with the result that many larvffi are lost. In this 

 way, I consider, I lose quite 60 per cent, of my larvfe ; the death rate 

 does not exceed 10 per cent. ; perfect insects reared, 30 to 35 per cent. 

 I have no compunction in taking the larvae freely (I have a very large 

 number at the present time), knoAving how well they are protected 

 and how abundant they are in one or two favoured saltings. It is 

 very different with those of Clisiocampa castrensis, a conspicuous 

 larva, which is, I fear, likely to disappear from this part of the world. 

 — F. G. Whittle, 3, Marine Avenue, Southend. September 21st, 1895. 



How SHOULD larva: OF AcfROTIS ASHWORTHII BE HYBERNATED ? 1 



should be glad if anyone can give me any information as to the best 

 mode of hybernating larva? of Agrotis asliworthii. I bred some fine 

 specimens of this insect in July last, and succeeded in obtaining fertile 

 eggs from a pairing. The larvfe hatched about the third week in July, 

 and are nearly an inch long. I fed them till a few days ago in tins 

 (on willow), and they had up to that point done well; then some of 

 them ceased feeding and died. I at once sleeved out the others, and 

 so far they are all right, but I am very doubtful whether they will 

 survive the winter in a sleeve, and I should be very grateful of any 

 hints from anyone who has bred the insect, or any analogous insect. 

 My attempt to force on the larva) failed entirely. — T. A. Maddison, 

 South Bailey, Durham. September 1G</*, 1895. 



Knowing that Mr. Porritt had once got a brood of larva? through 

 the winter, we wrote to him for a note thereon, considering that his 

 experience might prove of general interest. He very courteously 

 writes (Oct. 12th, 1895) : — " I am afraid a note from me on wintering 

 the larvfE of Agrotis asliworthii would be of no value, because the only 

 time I attempted to rear the species I bred no moths. I did, however, 

 get a pretty large brood through the winter, but the larvre all died off 

 in early spring. . . . Mr. Brady, of Sunderland, by forcing, got a 

 second brood of the moth out in the autumn, and if I had some now, 

 I should try and do the same. But if too late for that, I should put 

 them in a roomy cage out of doors, but not exposed to rain, fill the empty 

 bottom of the cage with dry dead leaves for them to hide among, but 

 . always have a supply of suitable low-growing plants in for them to 

 nibble at during the winter, if they liked ; just the way, indeed, that 

 I treat most of my hybernating larva?." We are quite sure no bettor 

 advice than this can be obtained. — Ed. 



Though I have never tried to winter the larvix? of A. asJnrdrthii 

 myself, I believe the following plan, which I have found decidedly 

 successful with other species, would prove to be so with it also. Pro- 

 cure a large, deep and strong wooden box, and put 6 or 8 inches of 

 light, sifted earth into it. (The sifting is necessary to exclude earwigs 

 and other depredators.) Then get a few small fiower-pots, and fill 

 them with roots of the necessary food-plant — the bulk of hybernating 

 larvae, including A. aslnvorthii, will eat knotgrass — and plunge them in 

 the earth. As soon as the larva? are nearly ready to cease feeding, 

 turn them all out into the box, cover it closely, with strong muslin, and 



