NOTES ON EUPITHECIA LARV^. 39 



Var. 2. Ground-colour pale yellowish-green. Down the 

 centre of the back a series of. semi-lozenge-shaped dusky 

 brown spots, connected by a central line of the same colour, 

 and becoming indistinct on the posterior and confluent on the 

 anterior segments. Sub-dorsal lines dusky, indistinct. On 

 each side a series of dusky blotches. Central ventral line 

 dusky, interrupted. Whole body, especially back, studded 

 with minute white tubeicles, and a few short blackish hairs. 

 The dorsal, sub-dorsal and lateral blotches, spots and lines, 

 are sometimes almost or entirely wanting, leaving the larva 

 a uniform pale yellowish-green. 



This larva very strongly resembles that of 1^. Satyrata 

 in form and appearance, but is less robust. It tapers towards 

 the head, and has a slightly wrinkled appearance. When 

 full fed and ready to spin up it turns pink. Pupa inclosed 

 in a slight earthen cocoon. Thorax yellowish-green, wing- 

 cases dark green, furrowed and wrinkled. Abdomen taper- 

 ing, rough, dull red. A slight ventral protuberance. 



I have, for the last four or five years, been in the habit of 

 taking this larva and breeding the perfect insect, which, 

 from the first, I recognised to be quite distinct from all our 

 previously known British species. 



After much delay I have at last, through the kindness of 

 Mr. Doubleday and Dr. Herrich-Schaffer, succeeded in get- 

 ting it named. The larva appears to be totally unknown on 

 ihe Continent. It feeds in September in damp woods, on the 

 flowers and seeds of Angelica syhes.tris, and occasionally 

 upon late flowers of Heracleum Sphondylium. I have 

 taken it in Suffolk, Kent and Derbyshire. The perfect 

 insect appears in May and June. The larva is uncertain in 

 its appearance. In 1859 it was by no means uncommon ; in 

 1860 it seemed to have entirely disappeared. It is fright- 



