NOTES ON EUPITHECIA LARVM. 41 



olive. Between the sub-dorsal and spiracular lines is a row 

 of slanting, bright yellow stripes, interspersed with dusky 

 blotches. Segmental divisions orange-red. Body thickly 

 studded with minute white tubercles, and thinly clothed with 

 whitish hairs. In appearance strongly resembles the larva 

 of Eupithecia Virgaureafa. 



Yar. 2. Ground-colour pale yellowish-green. Central 

 dorsal line and blotches similar to those of var. 1, but much 

 paler olive. Spiracular line, segmental divisions and lateral 

 stripes greenish-yellow. 



Var. 3. Ground-colour orange-red. Back tinged and 

 suffused with dull yellowish-green. Dorsal blotches wanting, 

 Central dorsal line reddish-brown or olive, enlarged in the 

 centre of each median segment. Sub-dorsal lines same 

 colour, slender. Spiracular line and lateral stripes greenish- 

 yellow, the latter indistinct. Strongly resembles the larva 

 of Eupithecia ahhre'viafa. 



The larvae, from which the above descriptions were taken, 

 were reared from eggs kindly sent me by Mr. M'Lachlan, of 

 Forest Hill. They fed on oak, from which tree I have 

 been in the habit of occasionally beating the larva for some 

 years past. I have no doubt that it also feeds on white- 

 thorn, as my friend Mr. Greene has frequently taken the 

 pupa under the bark of this tree, at some distance from any 

 oaks. It is a very delicate larva. Almost all mine, this 

 summer, died when full fed. They seemed to prefer the 

 youngest and most succulent oak leaves, and I principally 

 attribute their death to the difficulty of finding a constant 

 fresh supply of newly-expanded foliage. Pupa either en- 

 closed in a slight earthen cocoon or under bark ; dark dusky 

 red ; upper edge of wing-cases brighter red than the rest of 

 the pupa, has a rough, wrinkled appearance. The perfect 

 insect appears in May and the beginning of June. 



