﻿THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XLV.] OCTOBER, 1912. [No. 593 



NOTES ON THE LIFE-HISTORIES OF TAPINOSTOLA 

 CONCOLOR AND T. HELLMANNI. 



By H. M. Edelsten, F.E.S., & R. G. Todd, F.E.S, 



(Plate IX.) 



Mr. Kershaw's notes on the oviposition of Tapinostola con- 

 color (' Entomologist,' xlv. p. 256) remind us of our promise to 

 record the life-histories of these species (' Ent. Record,' Oct. 1910, 

 vol. xxii. p. 240). We had been discussing the nomenclature of 

 T. concolor with the late J. W. Tutt, but his lamentable death 

 put a stop to our researches, and the notes got put on one side. 



Tapinostola concolor. 



Ova laid between July 3rd and 7th, 1909. Ovum round, 

 I mm. in diameter, of a shining dirty white colour, covered with 

 a glutinous substance, no markings visible. The pressure of the 

 sheathing-leaf slightly flattens the ova. Commenced to hatch 

 July 20th, 1909. 



Larva. July 25th. — Length 2| mm. Yellowish white, head 

 rather large, and of a brownish yellow colour. Thoracic segments 

 whitish. First five abdominal segments yellowish, rest whitish ; 

 anal plate blackish ; body tapering from head downwards. A 

 few small bristles from tubercles. Larva full-fed, May 16th, 

 1910. — Rather stumpy, swollen in the middle and tapering 

 towards head and tail, but rather more towards the head. Head 

 yellow-brown, shining and rather indented, and partly withdrawn 

 into prothoracic segment. Plate on prothoracic segment shining 

 ochreous ; plate on anal segment also of same colour, and ex- 

 tending to thirteenth segment. Colour of larva creamy white 

 with a slight pinkish tinge along the back. Spiracles black. 

 True legs yellowish ; prologs white ; hooks blackish. Tubercles 

 with black bristles. Length 20 mm. 



Pupa. — 12^ mm. long, shining brown. Kremaster with two 

 sharp bristles curved outwards, enclosed in a stout earthen 

 cocoon. 



Parasite. — Coelinius gracilis, Hal. 



The eggs are laid in batches within the sheathing-leaf of the 



ENTOM. — OCTOBER, 1912. Z 



