73 



NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



Hawk Moth Pupating in Branches of Trees. — During February 

 larvfe of Panacra lupiaria were common here on Pisonia aculeata. One 

 large creeper, which clambered up and over a tall tree, was quite de- 

 nuded of its foliage by them. Whilst examining some shrubs and young 

 trees which grew immediately underneath, I discovered many of the 

 larvae spun up therein; continuing my search, I found many more 

 changing, and an occasional pupa, in the branches. Some were close 

 to the ground, others being seven or eight feet therefrom, probably 

 many more were higher up. Though larvfB of many of the Queens- 

 land Sphingidae are known to me, this is the only species which I 

 have observed to pupate above ground. I have referred to several of 

 our experienced entomologists, and none of them have known of 

 Sphingidse pupating in trees. — F. P. Dodd ; Warburton Street, North 

 Ward, Townsville, Queensland. 



Scent Organs of Hepialid^. — During a lengthened experience 

 with the southern Hepialid^e, I have always noticed a powerful and 

 somewhat pleasant scent emanating from the male of Charagia 

 daphnandri (should be scotti), and was for some time unable to locate 

 the organ from which it i^roceeded, but finally discovered that the 

 large hair-like tufts on the diminutive hind legs of this species gave 

 forth the scent. It will be noticed that each of these hairs is enclosed 

 from the base to some little distance above in a delicate skin, forming 

 a gland. Tliese glands proved to contain a yellowish fluid, the fluid 

 possessing the strong scent so noticeable in freshly emerged and 

 handled males of this species. In ramsayi, cyanochlora, splendens, and 

 others, the tufts of the male are much smaller, and I have not noticed 

 any pronounced odour arising from any of these. During the past 

 two years I have bred out a series of the magnificent mirabilis of 

 Rothschild, which is the largest and generally considered the finest of 

 Queensland Hepialidae ; the male has the tufts largely developed, and 

 they, too, give forth a powerful and sweet scent, which is also secreted 

 at the base of the hairs. The scent from these two species does not 

 finally depart until long after the insects have been placed away in 

 the store-boxes. — F. P. Dodd. 



Bat Killing a Moth at Sugar. — While my sister. Miss Harvey- 

 Jellie, was sugaring in a garden in Essex last September, a large bat 

 swooped down just as she was approaching a tree, and, in the full 

 light of the lantern, settled on the patch of sugar, demolished a 

 M. brassiccB, and flew away. — B. Harvey- Jellie; Moorside, Hartlepool. 



Variety of the Moth Hypsa substracta (Walker). — Having bred 

 a very large number of specimens of H. substracta last year, and 

 several this, among which were a good many of the banded variety, 

 and also a few other examples, I think a specimen which emerged 

 to-day, September 8th, is worth noting. Tlae fore wings are quite 

 typical, but the right hind wing has a distinct band, which is totally 

 different from the ordinary banded form ; the other hind wing is like the 

 type, all yellow. Besides those I have bred myself I have also seen a 

 great number of others, but nothing like the one now recorded. The 



ENTOM. — MARCH, 1902. G 



