THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XXL] SEPTEMBEE, 1888. [No. 304. 



THE EFFECT OF METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS 

 UPON INSECT-LIFE. 



By William White, F.E.S. 



The problem whether or not there is any precise correlation 

 between the light and dark forms of lepidopterous insects and 

 their climatic condition is one that has received little attention as 

 yet. Similarly, the influence of irregular or intermittent tempera- 

 ture upon the emergence of insects has scarcely been dealt with. 



In consideration, therefore, that the present extraordinary 

 summer is remarkable for having contained two of the coldest 

 days in July that have ever been known for that month in Britain, 

 it seems to me very desirable that observers make a special 

 point this season of registering their experiences respecting any 

 abnormity in the appearance of insects of various orders noticed 

 by them. 



The climatic variations throughout the spring and summer, 

 up to the present time, have been altogether abnormal. Mr. 

 G. J. Symons, F.R.S., the well-known meteorologist, states that he 

 knows no parallel to the July weather of this year, and he records, 

 in a letter to the 'Times' newspaper, July 13th, 1888, that on 

 the 11th of July the lowest temperature registered in London was 

 "absolutely without precedent " in the annals of British Meteoro- 

 logy, and very nearly so on July 12th also. The mean tempera- 

 ture registered by him on the former date was as low as 46'3'', 

 and on the latter 48*1°; whilst the lowest records in July of 

 any previous years are 47*7°, reached on July 20th, 183G, and 



ENTOM. — SEPT., 1888. U 



