THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 195 



and may be found there occasionally ; but tliis insect 

 evidently prefers the stameniferous plant. The larva is full- 

 fed in August, and spins a cocoon underground. — [Rev.] G. 

 A. Smallwood ; Barrow-ov-Treut, Derby, July 28, 1875. 



Description of the Larva of Hydroecia Petasitis. — Of 

 nearly uniform thickness throughout, but slightly tapering 

 towards both extremities. The segmental divisions are not 

 clearly marked, but the sectional divisions are very distinct. 

 The head is glabrous, and of alight brown colour. The body 

 creamy white, and with dark brown oval spiracles. The 

 dorsal surface of the 2nd segment is glabrous, and of a pale 

 brown colour; the 5th and following segments have each a 

 transverse dorsal series of four raised wart-like brown dots ; 

 the interior pair are generally more prominent and distinct 

 than the outer ones; in younger specimens these warts are 

 scarcely perceptible. There are a number of strong brown 

 bristles scattered over the larva, and particularly about the 

 dorsal warts, sometimes actually emanating from them, but 

 generally in the interstices between them. The under side is 

 creamy white. These larvae,- for which I am indebted to the 

 courtesy of Mr. Robert Kay, of Spring Bank, Bury, bear a 

 verj' striking resemblance to those of Phragmatoecia Arun- 

 diuis, probably owing to a similarity of economy, both being 

 internal feeders. Hydroecia Petasitis feeds in the substantial 

 subterranean stem of the coltsfoot, Petasites vulgaris, in which 

 it makes large excavations. It is usual to speak of this part 

 as the root, but it seems to me rather an underground stem, 

 from which leaves and flowers emanate every spring. I pre- 

 sume it is generally known that this species is the Vindelicia 

 of Frey. Mr. Kay accompanies the larvae with the following 

 interesting particulars. — Edward Neimnan. 



Hydroecia Petasitis. — With us Hydroecia Petasitis is not 

 near so common as formerly, partially owing to "improve- 

 ments ;" and again, the larva is a desideratum with the anglers 

 for bait. Not having obtained eggs at any tiuie I cannot say 

 how or when they are deposited ; but imagine they are placed 

 as low down the stem of the food-plant as possible, so that 

 they may not be destroyed when the plant dies off. With the 

 exception of a few Hydroecia micacea, and now and then a 

 H. Humuli (feeding in the stems), H. Petasitis appears to be 

 the only Lepidopterous larva which feeds internally on the 



