26 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



CAPTURES AND FIELD EEPORTS. 



Insects at Light during lyQo. — During the past year I have been 

 working light pretty systematically, and the results may be of interest to 

 entomologists in general. It was not until the end of June that 1 looked 

 for insects at electric light. There are only two large globes here, which 

 are situated about forty yards apart, and are almost in the centre of the 

 town. Having, however, commenced to work electric light, I included 

 these in my nightly rounds, giving them particular attention, and staying 

 sometimes as late (?) as half-past one or two o'clock in tlie morning. From 

 eleven to twelve seemed about the most profitable hour. My reward was the 

 .capture of the following in more or less abundance, and in more or less 

 bad condition, between June 30th and October 30th : — Smerinthus populi 

 (3), Sphinx Ligiistri (saw 1), Nola cucuUatelia (2), Lithosia lurideola (I), 

 Arctia caia, Fortheda similis, Orrjyia antiqua, Trichiura cratcEyl (I), 

 Bombyx nevsiria (several), Uropteryx sambucaria {coinmon), Rumia lateo- 

 lata, Selenia biliumria tjuliaria), FAiyonia alniaria (common), E.fuacantaria, 

 Himera pennaria, Aiiiphidasys betalarla, Boarmia gemmaria, Acidalia 

 viryularia, A. avemala (common), Halia vauaria, Abraxas yrosudariala, 

 Larentia didymata, Exipithecia succenturiata, E. rectanynluta, Hypsipetes 

 sordidata, Melanippe jiuctuaUi, Catnptuyramma fluviala [l], Cidaria asso- 

 ciata, Cilix gkmcata ^several), Phalera bucephala, Lophopteryx cainelina, 

 Notodonla dictcca, Bryophlla perla (common), Acronycta tridens, Leucania 

 coniyera, L. iithargyria, L. pollens, Nonagria lutosa (fairly common), 

 Gortyna ochracea (1), Hydrcccia uiicacea, Axylia putris, Xylophasia mono- 

 gjypha (common), Neuronia pojnilaris (3), Liiperina testacea (very comnioi:), 

 Mavicstra pcrsicarice (excessively al)undant in July), Apamea didyina, Muoia 

 bicoloria, Caradrina aldnes, C. taraxuci, C. quadiipunclala, Agrutis puta 

 (2), A. segetum, A. niyrkans, A. tiitici, A. aquiliiia, Noctiia augur 

 (common), N. plecta, N. c-nigrum (any number), A\ xanlhogruphu, Tri- 

 phana comes, Mania typica, Anchocelis p>istacina, Xanthia gilvago, X. 

 Jiavago, Calymnia ajjinis, Hecatera serena, Folia Jiavocincta, Cleoceris 

 viminalis (?), Phlogoplwra meticulosa, Hadena trifolii, H. oleracea, Piusia 

 chrysitis, P. iota, P. pulchrina (Ij, P. gamma. 



Besides the above, I have taken, mostly flying towards the light: — 

 Coleoptera : Pterostichus nigrita, Amara tibialis, Creophilus viaxillosus 

 (several), Aphodius rujipcs (comnon). Hymenoptera : Formica rufa 

 (several), Aphion luteics (common). 



In my diary I find the following note under September 7th : — " Noclua 

 c-nigrum is now going off. It has been a perfect pest, often four or five, 

 sometimes more, round the light at a time. After a little practice, 

 however, one can distinguish them by their flight, and, when caught, by 

 the habit they have of running very fast up the net. They settle any- 

 where on the lamp, near the lamp, and on the ground, windows, or 

 masonry." I would be much obliged and interested if lepidopterists in 

 other parts of the country would inform me whether their notes as regard 

 this moth are identical with my own. All local collectors have had the 

 same experience. Noctua c-nigrum has by no means been confined to 

 electric light, having been taken at street-lamps, sugar, ivy, honeydew, 

 among low plants, and, indeed, by every conceivable method, and in every 

 possible situation, by which and in which moths are taken. The first 

 specimen emerged fium pupa on tiie 15ih of May, and the insect continued 

 to be present with hardly a break until the 9th of October, when I took my 



