1888.] 243 



TORTRICES IN NOEFOLK IN 1887. 

 BY C. G. BA.KEETT, F.E.S. 



This diatrict is so rich in Tortrices that it would be manifestly 

 ungrateful in me to allow a season to pass without some notice of 

 them. 



Tortrix Lafauryana, Eagonot. — As a matter of course, I looked 

 eagerly for the larva of this fine species : following Mr. Atmore's 

 friendly directions, and having, through the good offices of a kind 

 friend, obtained admission to the strictly guarded (and rich) game 

 preserves in which it loves to dwell, was not disappointed. The green 

 larva was readily discovered in its tube of upright joined leaves in 

 the top of the shoot of Myrica gale. Here it appears to be little 

 troubled with parasites, for I think that we reared almost every larva 

 obtained. The moth is rather sluggish, flying only on the most 

 favourable evenings. The large size of the body of the female must 

 render flight laborious. 



Tortrix decretana, Tr. {cf. ante, p. 125). — Several specimens of 

 this novelty occurred, reared, I believe, among common species, but I 

 overlooked them at the time, taking them to be pale varieties of 

 Podana, which the species closely resembles in both sexes ; indeed, 

 these specimens are much more like typical Podana than are some 

 aberrations of the latter. The shape of the wings in the two species 

 is precisely the same, but the whole tone of colour in decretana is 

 paler, the ground-colour of its hind-wings being wbitish in both sexes, 

 with grey shading and a faint tinge of reddish-brown at the apex, 

 while the fore-wings in the male are of a lighter chocolate-red, and of 

 the female a slightly paler brown. The only distinguishing character 

 that seems really reliable is in the shape of the line forming the 

 anterior margin of the central fascia. In Podana this line is very 

 oblique, but not angulated, only slightly curved or sinuous ; while in 

 decretana it is twice or thrice angulated ; after crossing the costal cell 

 it turns abruptly along the nervure away from the base, then abruptly 

 again across the discal cell, thus forming two right angles, then bends 

 again in the previous direction, and passes with a decided curve to the 

 middle of the dorsal margin. It is curious that the most reliable 

 distinguishing character in several of the species of this group is to 

 be found in the form of the same transverse line. Decretana is 

 recorded from Germany, Switzerland, and Russia. Its larva, accord- 

 ing to V. Tischer, is very similar to that of Podana, but without the 

 little black shield on the anal flap. Feeding on bii'ch and hazel in 

 June. 



