PRACTICAL HINTS. 



207 



Gyrophaena laevipennis was shaken out of a fungus from a tree near 

 the field known as the " bloody meadow," the spot where so many of 

 the Lancastrians were slaughtered after the battle ; and Tachyporm 

 hiunerosn^ was swept at Breedon, a village near to Tewkesbury. This 

 terminated the more interesting captures of a most pleasant, as well as 

 a most successful, trip. — Horace Donisthorpe, F.Z.S., 58, Kensington 

 Mans.ions, S.W. 



JP>RACTICAL HINTS.* 



Field work for July. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



1. — From the commencement to the middle of July the very young 

 larva? of flepialus irlle<la burrow into the earth by the side of the 

 underground rhizomes of Pterh- aqinlina, eating the surface of the 

 stems on their way to the root-stock. 



2. — The full-grown larva^ of Hcpialiis i<ylH)ins are to be found 

 feeding in the roots of dock throughout July. 



8. — In late July the cocoons of Hepialn.^ ^ylriuiis are to be found near 

 the surface of the earth, at or near the tops of the mines excavated in 

 the roots of dock by the larva. The pupa, like those of all Hepialids, 

 emerges some hours before the imago appears in August and 

 September. 



4. — The young larv8B of Dirpana siciila must be given the tender 

 leaves of Tilia parnfolia ; they will not eat T. enropaea. 



5. — The larvae of Miltochrifita miniata will feed in confinement on 

 sallow-leaves that have begun to decay, also on withered oak-leaves and 

 various species of lichen. 



6. The ova of Lithofiia straminrola are laid in July and August, 



the larvje soon appearing, and feeding throughout the winter on Lichen 

 raninns, becoming fullfed in May and June. 



7. — The imagines of Lit/uisia iinisrenki is on the wing in July and 

 August from early dusk till darkness sets in, when it disappears until 

 midnight, after which it has another short fiight, and probably there 

 is a third flight in the morning dusk (Barrett). 



8. — The young larvse of Cybosia iiiei<omella may be fed from July 

 onwards on sallow-leaves, although this is probably not their natural 

 food (Hellins). 



9. — The cocoons of Lymantria monacha are to be found at the end 

 of July, in the crevices of the bark of the trunk of oak-trees (Greene). 



10. — At the end of July, keep a sharp eye on your breeding-cages in 

 the south of England for the imagines of many Notodonts, which, 

 though single-brooded in Scotland and northern F^ngland, are double- 

 brooded in the south of England. 



11. — ^The fullfed larvte of Lophnptoyj- cucullina are to be obtained on 

 maple in late July and throughout August (also feed on sycamore). 



12. — The fullfed purplish larvfe of Ln'ocaiiijja ilictaeoidea are to be 

 found on birch in July (and again towards the end of September). 



13. — The large grey silken cocoon of Leiocampa dirtaea, covered with 

 loose earth, is to be found at the roots of aspen and poplar bushes in 

 early July (and again in September). 



*'• Practical Hints for the Field Lepidopterist," Pts. I and II each contains 

 some 1"250 practical hints similar to these, but relating largely to the Maero- 

 lepidoptera. Interleaved tor collector's own notes. Price (5e. each part. 



