832 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



SOME NOTES ON XYLOMIGES CONSPICILLARIS. 

 By Harris Doidgk. 



On page 130 of the present volume you were good enough to 

 publish a record from me of this insect in Somerset. Subse- 

 quently to the two reported, my friend Mr. Butler and I had a 

 dozen emerge in our breeding eases. 



The pupae were obtained in a private park several miles from 

 here, and in answer to Mr. Percy C. Eeid's enquiry {aiite, p. 157), 

 they were dug under both oaks and elms, their presence there 

 being probably due to the fact that their food-plant — the bird's- 

 foot trefoil — happened to grow in immediate proximit3^ 



After losing several in futile attempts to procure a pairing, 

 we were at last fortunate in obtaining a fine batch of ova. 



The impregnated female was placed on a growing plant of 

 bird's-foot trefoil [Lotus corniculatiis), but the ova were deposited 

 in a compact batch on the leno covering instead of on the food- 

 plant. They were laid on May 21st, and were at first nearly 

 white, soon changing to a pale lilac shade. On May 81st the 

 larvae hatched almost simultaneously, and were at once placed 

 on their food-plant. The young larvae, which on hatching were 

 a purplish grey colour, began feeding on the yellow flowers, and 

 rapidly became of the same colour. After finishing the flowers 

 they commenced on the leaves, by which time they were a pale 

 green colour, with a yellow spiracular stripe, and were fond of 

 resting b}^ day on the stems of the plant. As they approached 

 the final stage, the green became shaded with brown and black, 

 the larvae now bearing a remarkable resemblance to the seed 

 pods which were ripening. This protective colouration was 

 equally noticeable when the young larvae were feeding on the 

 flowers, and later, when resting on the stems. Finding a 

 difficulty in procuring food for them, we gradually shifted them 

 on to blackthorn, to which they adapted themselves freely, feed- 

 ing by night, and hiding in crevices and under leaves by day. 

 We found they would also eat dock and the lesser trefoil {Tri- 

 folium mimi-s), the former sparingly. 



About July 8th they began to go under ground to pupate. 

 The pupae, which were of a dark reddish brown colour, and 

 somewhat obese and blunt, being enclosed in a very compact 

 and brittle earthy cocoon. 



We should be glad to know if this insect is as rare now as 

 formerly, and in what localities it has been recorded of late years. 



Sherford, Taunton : November 6th, 1901. 



