195 



larva of M. arundinis, N. (/eminipuncta, Helmanni, Ch. forficellus, or 8. ulvw, even 

 possibly of M. flammea, may be suspected ;* when the flowers of thistles have an 

 abortive appearance, some internal stem-feeding larva is generally the cause ; the 

 sickly appearance of Echiuni plants on the coast indicates the whereabouts of the 

 larval Odontia dentalis ; and as fui'ther examples, I may mention Leucania littoralis 

 (at roots of Ammophila arenaria), L. phragmitidis (reeds), Nonagria cannce and 

 N. typhoe (stems of Typha latifolia), Gortyna (Arctium lappa, Scrophularia, Sfc), 

 Hydroeda (roots of Tussilago, Cyperacew, &c.), B. tenvpli (Heracleum), 0. antiquana 

 (roots of Stachys), Argyrolepia (roots of various plants), E. cirsiana (stems of 

 thistles in woods), and scutidana (ditto in open places). 



This aspect of the plant is usually accompanied with a hole in the stem at 

 which the larva had originally entered ; after one or two stems or roots have been 

 inspected, and the hunter is assured that the larva of a Lepidopteron is the cause 

 of the drooping of the plant, then, if the stem be the affected part, it should be 

 cut off considerably above and below the position (as ascertained by experience) 

 of the contained larva, and afterwards kept stuck in damp sand ; when it is the 

 root which is affected, the stem may be cut off low down, the roots pulled up, and 

 placed in sand. 



Flowers or buds drawn together, or otherwise distorted or notched, should 

 be carefully examined (as indeed should be the flowers of all special food-plants), 

 when the cause will generally be detected without difficulty. The larva may be 

 simply feeding openly upon the flowers, as, for instance, "a shark" on golden rod or 

 mullein; it may be concealed, as Bianthcecia and Eup. venosata in the capsules of 

 Silene, Lychnis and Bianthus, or Eup. tenuiata in sallow, while Ep. viminalis and T. 

 elutata will spin together two or three female catkins, and so conceal themselves ; it 

 may hide itself by day, as Triphoena fimbria, which feeds by night on flowers (by 

 choice) of prinu-ose and other plants ; or larvae may spin a web within a flower- 

 head, as Spilodes palealis in the umbels of Baucus carota. Other instances of species 

 whose larvffi show preference for flowers are Lyccena argiolus, on holly and ivy ; 

 i/remobia, on grasses; the two Hecatera, on sow-thistles and other Compositai; young 

 Xanthia\arv3d in sallow catkins ; the members of the genus CucuJZia, on mullein, water- 

 betony, golden rod, wormwood, and chamomile respectively; Erastria venustula, on 

 tormentil ; most of the HeliothidoB, on Ononis, Erodiiim, Hyoscyamus, &c. ; a large 

 proportion of the Eupithecitv, .chie&j on Umhellifera; and Compositce ; Larentia 

 ccEsiata, on whortleberry ; the genus Emmelesia, on various flowers and seeds ; 

 Anaitis, on Hypericum; several Tortrices, and (though I refer the reader to 

 Mr. Stainton's " Companion " for information respecting Tineina), Bepressarice, and 



Gelechidce. 



(To he continued.) 



Entomological Society of London, Becemher 5f/t, 1864..— F. P. Pascoe, Esq., 

 F.L.S., President, in the Chair. 



Rev. R. W. Milner, of Matlock, Trovey Blackmore, Esq., of Wandsworth, and 

 William Hume, Esq., of Gracechurch Street, London, were balloted for and elected 

 Members of the Society. 



• Mr. Hellins mentions that the larva of C. sagittata bites through the stems of Thalictrum, 

 and then feeds on the leaves thus caused to wither. 1 have myself noticed this procedure in other 

 larvoe in captivity, but doubt if it is the case in nature. 



