LARVA OF '• PRODENIA SYNSTICTIS." 95 



ON THE LARVA OF "PRODES^IA SYNSTICTIS," 



Hampson. 

 By T. Bainbriggb Fletcher, R.N., F.E.S. 



(~\^ August 3, 1907, whilst searching on plants of Drosera 

 ^^ burmanni, Vahl., at Diyatalawa, for the immature stages of 

 Trichoptilm paludicola, I fomid a small dark noctuid larva beside a 

 Drosera plant, on which it was feeding. It was placed on sundew, 

 and on the next day was observed to have taken up a position on 

 the underside of a grass stem preparatory to undergoing an ecdysis. 



On August 7 it was noted as feeding on the red glands of the 

 Drosera. It was then naked and nearly black in colour ; each 

 abdominal segment bore a square black dorsal spot ; the thoracic 

 segments bore a narrow interrupted dorsal line ; each segment had 

 a black sub-dorsal spot bordered below by two contiguous yellow 

 dots ; there were also numerous minute yellow dots scattered over 

 the larva. The head was nearly black, with a paler A-shaped mark, 

 and the mouth parts of a dirty orange colour. Legs all present, 

 the same colour as the body — a very dark fuscous, almost black. 

 On the head and prothorax were numerous short black hairs ; 

 probably these, as in the case of T. paludicola, act as " feelers " to 

 prevent too close contact with the Drosera gum. 



On August 10 the larva is noted as being 9 mm. long and pro- 

 portionately stout. When not feeding it liked to rest on a grass 

 stem, especially if the stem was within reach of a Drosera plant. 



On August 12 it was feeding on the flower buds and unripe seeds 

 of the Drosera, and at a casual glance it looked quite black. 



By August 18 it had attained a length of 19 mm., and was eating 

 the Drosera flower stems. 



On August 20 the larva was about 20 mm. long, stoutly built, 

 almost black in colour, sprinkled with minute yellowish dots (which 

 were not distinguishable except under a lens), with a series of 

 creamy yeUow dots along the latero-dorsal region, these last giving 

 to the naked eye the appearance of a narrow yellow stripe. " The 

 larva is very voracious , and prefers to feed on the seed pods and buds 

 of the Drosera, though it will also eat the leaves, and has now 

 apparently little fear of the gum." 



On August 23 the larva had just undergone an ecdysis and 

 assumed a very handsome appearance. " It is 23 mux. long, stout, 



