October, 1S85.] q,- 



THE METALLIC GREEN SPECIES OF THE GENUS COLEOPHOEA 

 {METALLOSETIA OP STEPHENS, DAMOPHILA OF CURTIS). 



BY H. T. STAINTON, F.R.S. 



From time to time I am asked by correspondents questions as to 

 some of these species ; I will, therefore, note a few details respecting 

 them, treating of them m the following order: — 1, Frischella, li. ; 

 2, melilotella, Scott ; 3, deauratella, Z. ; 4, Fahriciella, Yill. ; and 5, 

 alcyonipennella, Kollar. 



1. Frischella, Lin.,Z., Sta., trifolii, Curtis, B. E., fo. 391.— This ia 

 the largest and brightest of the group, but I imagine it is in very few 

 collections. I believe there are specimens of the case in Mr. Bond's 

 collection : " long, curved, and black, being formed of silk ; it most 

 resembles the case of the larva of C. consjiicuella'" (Ent. Ann., 1861, 

 p. 88). 



2. melilotella, Scott, Trans. Ent. Soc, London, n. s., Y, p. 408, 

 pi. 17, f. 1. — This is rather smaller than the preceding, and though a 

 brilliant insect, is scarcely as glossy as Fi'iscliella, but I think it 

 extremely probable that captured specimens of this insect may have 

 been recorded as Frischella. 



The larva of melilotella feeds in the seeds of Meliloius officinalis, 

 j and was first detected by Mr. John Scott in August, 1859, at Stockton- 

 on-Tees. 



I received this larva from Mr. Scott on the 11th August, 1859, 

 and nine days afterwards I received the same larva from Erankfort- 

 on-the-Main, where it had been independently observed by my friend 

 Herr Gr. Gr. Miihlig — this is a most curious instance of synchronous 

 discovery. The larva feeds in the seeds of the Melilotus, using the 

 husk of the emptied seed as a case ; at first only a single seed is used, 

 then two are clumsily attached together, ultimately they are so blended 

 as to form a symmetrical cylindrical case. 



The larvae require to be kept out of doors during the winter, as 

 they do not assume the pupa state till the following season is well 

 advanced — some even pass two winters in the larva state, thus sadly 

 retarding the appearance of the imago. 



After the perfect insects had been bred towards the end of June, 

 1860, from the Stockton larvae, Mr. T. H. Allis visited the locality and 

 succeeded in taking a fine series of the insect. 



Mr. Earn has since met with the insect at Charmouth, and has 

 very kindly supplied me with specimens from that locality. 



