277 



myself at rest on an old Lime tree in the Palace Grounds on 

 June 12 last* Fames fomentarius, Fries, was growing from 

 the tree, and this fungus had evidently served as food for the 

 tineid larvae, as a pupa case was found protruding from the upper 

 surface of the fungus. 



Cemiostoma (Leucoptera) spartifoliella was in great abundance, 

 and Mr. G. Nicholson is of opinion that, small as the insect is, it must 

 certainly be considered destructive. The larvae which feed from 

 September to May, eat out serpentine galleries beneath the bark 

 of the Broom (Cytisus scoparius). When full fed, they bore 

 through the bark, and then spin a thick white silken cocoon on 

 the outside of the bark. During this period of their lives, they 

 are therefore well protected, and it is difficult to devise means for 

 their destruction. Possibly spraying the Broom bushes with some 

 noxious compound, such as soft soap with paraffin, several times 

 during the period when the moths are on the wing in June and 

 July, might serve to decrease their numbers. In May and June 

 the conspicuous white cocoons might be scraped off the bark and 

 destroyed, but this process would be very tedious. 



On the 15th of April Mr. Nicholson handed me two larvae of a 

 Tortricid moth (probably those of Capua angustiarana). Ad- 

 hering to each was an Hymenopterous parasitic larva. These 

 parasites continued their existence, lying on the backs of their 

 hosts, and when full fed, left the shrivelled skins of their victims 

 and spun slight cocoons. When the winged insects appeared, 

 they were sent to Mr. Claude Morley, who kindly identified them 

 as a pair of Oedematopsis scabriculus, Grav., adding that the 

 attacks of this species appear to be confined to the Tortncidae. 



The larvae of Lepidoptera are frequently attacked by Hymenop- 

 terous and Dipterous parasites, but in most cases these remain 

 hidden in the bodies of their hosts until full fed. 



Q 



TINEINA. 



Yponomeutidae. 

 Swammerdamia caesiella, Hub. 



One taken by Mr. A. L. Simmons. 



S. pyrella, Vill. 



This pretty little species is common about the hawthorn in 

 in spring, and is also not rare on the stems of apple trees in V. 



Argyresthia glaucinella, Zell. 



One taken by Mr. A. L. Simmons. This is a local insect. The 

 larva is said to feed in the bark of oaks and chestnuts. 



A. semitestacella, Curt. 



One specimen. This is attached to the beech, and is doubtless 

 common in A. 



A. retinella, Zell. . . _ '.'ai 



Not rare in Q. among the birches, in the shoots of which the 

 larva feeds. 



