Provincia Museum Reporr. 12a 4 















































interesting facts from other workers in the Province; a little more previously undetermined 
material has been worked oyer; and these, together with some of my own captures, will enable 
us to present a fairly comprehensive account of the work done in the Province in this particular 
A branch of science during the year 1919. 
Tn last year’s report mention was made of the remarkable scarcity of noctuids during that 
year, but this past season was far worse. In fact, this scarcity extended to all orders of insects, 
and was not confined to any particuiar district, but was noticeable in every section of the 
Province. There is no reasonable explanation that can be given of this sudden diminution of 
numbers, and even of species. 
As usual, there were a few exceptions to the general rule, one of them being our old friend (7?) 
the forest tent-caterpillar (Malacosoma pluvialis Dyar). ‘The larve of this moth were particu- 
larly numerous in the early spring, even worse than the year previous. but fortunately before 
they became “ full-fed”’ they were attacked by a disease—of a fungoid or bacterial origin—which 
killed them off in thousands. * 
In the south-eastern part of the Province, especially along the border, a great deal of damage 
was done by several species of locusts—one of the worst invasions we have had for many years. 
‘Mr. E. R. Buckle, of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, has been working in the infected 
area during the season, studying the conditions and using remedial measures with a view to 
preventing the occurrence of a further outbreak. 
In the Report of the Provincial Museum, 1918, on page 12, is a note on the occurrence of 
Hemerocampa vetusta gulosa at Chase, B.C., in which the writer stated that the insect was 
double-brooded. ‘This I find is not the case, as in a subsequent letter from Mr. R. C. Treherne, 
Dominion Field Officer for British Columbia, he remarks that from the data in his possession 
he is quite satisfied that this destructive insect is only single-brooded. It is interesting to note 
in this connection that Mr. W. B. Anderson found a slight outbreak at Armstrong during the 
past year in addition to the one reported from Chase the year previously, which latter had spread 
much farther than when first noted. 
Rare AND UNCOMMON INSECTS TAKEN IN Britist! COLUMBIA DURING 1919. 
Owing to the dearth of insects in the Province during the past season, it would be only 
reasonable to suppose that this section of our report would be smaller than usual; nevertheless, 
quite a few items have been reported which are of more than passing interest. 
Victoria.—In late May two worn specimens of that rather rare Sphingidie, Proserpinus 
clarkie Bdy., were taken at rest on a peach-tree at Swan Lake. A very fine specimen of Polia 
variolata Sm. was taken by Mr. W. R. Carter on July 11th; this capturé is exceedingly interest- 
ing in view of the facts set forth in last year’s Museum Report, wherein this species was figured. 
The same collector also took a nice specimen of Jpimorpha nanaimo Barnes, to which, curiously 
enough, the same remarks apply. 
In addition to the specimen of Cucullia omissa Dod, which is figured on Plate IIJ., another 
specimen was taken in the Hollywood District by David Livingstone, a young and enthusiastic 
collector, who has kindly donated it to the Museum collection. 
A male specimen of Hrebus odora Linn. was captured the first week in October by Mr. W. R. 
Nairnes, of this city. It was taken about 4 o’clock in the afternoon of an exceedingly windy 
day, and at first sight Mr. Nairnes thought it was a large leaf being blown about. This is the 
first capture of this Florida “ migrant” we have heard of for several years. 
Goldstream.—The writer spent a few hours at the Goldstream Flats on July 20th, and 
amongst other interesting material obtained was a short series of Epirrhe alternata Mull, a 
pair of Dysstroma occidentata Tayl., and a single specimen of Stamnodes blackmorei Swett. 
Fitzgerald.—This station is situated about eleven miles north of Goldstream and is in the 
midst of a mountainous district. Mr. W. R. Carter, of the Museum staff, spent many week-ends 
_in the locality and obtained many desirable species. Amongst the Diurnals several specimens 
were taken of both sexes of that rather uncommon little skipper, Buphyes vestris Bdy. The 
most interesting noctuids were Huroa ochrogaster gularis Grt.; Feltia herilis Grt.; Zosteropoda 
hirtipes Grt.; Septis multicolor Dyar; and S. plutonia Grt. Amongst the geometers the follow- 
ing were of special interest: Cosymbia lumenaria Hbn.; Didctinia silaceata albvolineata Pack. ; 
Bupithecia eretaceata Pack.; Drepanulatrix faminaria Gn.; and Sericosema juturnaria Gn. 
‘We are glad to have this last record, as very few specimens have been taken on Vancouver 
