132 [June, 



in Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xiii, pp. 1 13-4, the record for Acton Green, 1874-, is the only 

 previous one for Britain, and probably not ten specimens are known to have 

 occurred altogether.— E. F. Studd, Oxton, Exeter : April 19th, 1902. 



Concerning Mr. Dale's " Pericoma punctum, Eaton," ante p. 107. — The name 

 punctual should be fathered upon Megerle MS., instead of upon me [cf. Ent. Mo. 

 Mag. (2), vii, 72 (1896)]. Query No- 3 of Mr. Dale's is due to a misunderstanding 

 easily explained. His cabinet labels are synonymic, and often include MS. names 

 of ascertained application that have appeared in print. I remember having given 

 him Megerle's MS. appellation of the species attributed by Sehiner to P. canescens, 

 Meigen, to rank as a synonym thereunder. — A. E. Eaton, Woodlands, Seaton, 

 Devon : May, 1902. 



Ants displaced by Wood-lice in New Zealand. — The phenomenal increase and 

 dispersal of exotic insects and other animals are, in most cases, greater in New 

 Zealand than in any other country where the same species may have been accidentally 

 or purposely introduced. The introduced English woodlouse (Porcel/io grangei), 

 is a case illustrating in a striking manner the great incrense and rapid dispersion of 

 an exotic species. The exact or approximate date of its introduction is not known. 

 During the last twenty years, however, it has spread in prodigious numbers over the 

 whole of the settled districts in the South Island, and it occurs in some of the more 

 remote forest clearings in the forest-clad region of Westland ; but it is only with its 

 effects on the native ants in the Ashburton district I have now to refer. Eight 

 years ago several species were numerous, inhabiting nests excavated under the larger 

 stones and boulders lying among the stunted vegetation growing on the open river- 

 bed, and on the flax flats a mile down river from the quiet township. At the 

 present time ants' nests are rare over the area mentioned, while the hollows beneath 

 the larger stones formerly tenanted by ants are occupied by hordes of the objection- 

 able Crustacean. I have lately discovered several nests of Ruberia striata, the 

 largest native species, which seems to hold its own better than the six smaller 

 species inhabiting the district. I observe that P. grangei is being badly attacked 

 by the parasitic mite (Uropoda vegetans, De Geer) more so during the late wet 

 summer than in any previous season. The occurrence of U. vegetans on woodlice 

 in New Zealand was first recorded by the late Mr. Maskell five years ago, and since 

 then it has increased and spread rapidly in several districts in the South Island. 

 Unfortunately its attacks are not confined to the destructive woodlouse, as it now 

 attacks several species of native Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. When will this fair 

 land cease receiving this class of detestable interlopers ? — W. W. Smith, Ashburton, 

 N. Z. : March 10th, 1902. 



Encyrti wanted. — I am studying the life-history of an Encyrtus, and want 

 specimens of the species which Bugnion worked at. His came from larvae of 

 Hyponomeuta spp. and Lithocolletis quercifoliella. I would like to get any of these 

 larvae which appear to be parasitised by the Encyrtus. — Alice L. Embleton, 

 Balfour Laboratory, Cambridge : May 16th, 1902. 



Mydradepliaga at Askham Bog. — Though Easter this year fell rather too early 



