336 THE entomologist's record. 



EUPITHECIA INNOTATA, HfN., IN THE IsLE OF WlGHT AND NoRTH 



Devon. ^ — I had the pleasure of breeding, on June 29th last, a specimen 

 of this very rare (or overlooked) British species, from a larva taken on 

 mugwort (Artenusia rid/Ian'^), not far from Sandown, the previous 

 September. It was obtained in exactly the same way as were those 

 taken by Hellins, at Exeter, being beaten out in company with a few 

 E. absinth iata and E. casti/iata, when I was working for E. succenturiata, 

 and I supposed it (the larva) to be a variety of the first-named. By a 

 curious coincidence, my friend and fellow-worker at "pug " larvge, Mr. 

 J. Gardner, has also bred a single E. innotata this season from an 

 unknown larva taken near Brendon, north Devon, when we were collect- 

 ing together last August. His larva was on a less orthodox foodplant, 

 namely, Crepis virens, but, as the imago is most certainly either E. 

 innotata or E. fra.vinata, I think Ave are quite safe in recording it as 

 the former — the larva of which has been observed on various flowers 

 abroad. — Louis B. Prout. Xoreinln'r I8t/i, 1904. 



SiREX juvencus in LANCASHIRE. — Another good insect captured by 

 Mr. Sopp, and sent to me with the Z. caerulea mentioned antea, p. 267, 

 was a splendid $ of the above species. — Oscar Whittaker, 39, 

 Clarendon Road, Whalley Range, Manchester. Noiruibcr 19th, 1904. 



:iaOTES ON LIFE-HISTORIES, LARYiE, &c. 



Preservation of colour of green larvae. — In reply to your cor- 

 respondent Mr. Bell {aiitm, p. 268) asking for information on the pre- 

 servation of green colours in preserved larvse, the following methods I 

 have found to answer very well. Some larvje turn more yellow than 

 others after being rolled, due to the green colour being supplied by the 

 internal organs, or the foodplant. When such is the case the green 

 can be renewed with the aid of a fine dry green powder, poured into 

 the larva by the glass-tube which holds it during the stoving operation; 

 this process is greatly assisted by using a line wire to help the powder 

 through the aperture, which is often very small. When the larva is 

 quite filled up with powder, a little methylated spirit should be poured 

 down the tube to make the powder find its way into all the corners. 

 Another method, and one which I find even more successful than the 

 above, is to preserve and stove the larva, and, while warm, run a little 

 paraffin-wax between the glass-tube and the anal segment ; this is to 

 prevent the dye coming out on the external surface. A filler, such as 

 one uses with a fountain-pen, should then be taken, and as much colour 

 (liquid dye) as will fill the larva, poured down the glass-tube, holding 

 the larva on end so as to make it run to the head. Allow this to 

 remain for a minute or two, then drain oft". This can be most easily done 

 by making a small hole in the spinneret below the mouth and gently 

 blowing down the tube. Care should be taken to hold a piece of blotting- 

 paper to the hole to catch any liquid which otherwise may run over 

 the larva. Replace in stove for a few seconds to dry. This method 

 works well for larvae having an uniform green ground colour with no 

 heavy lines or markings. For those which have, I prefer the following 

 method : Roll out and stove as before, wax the anal end, and. while still 

 warm, apply the colour externally by the aid of a fine camel-hair pencil, 

 taking care not to run over any surface not requiring colouring, replace 

 in stove and dry. Use the colours under strength, and repeat until 



