THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XXX.] JULY, 189 7. [No. 410. 



ZYG^NA FILIPENDULM var. HIPPOCREPIDIS. 



When I visited a certain meadow on the Hertfordshire bor- 

 der of Middlesex on June 12th last, Ino statices was worn 

 and seemed to be almost over for the season. Zi/gcena trifolii, 

 however, was still about and in fine condition, but much less 

 common than when I had the pleasure of seeing it in that 

 particular field on a previous occasion. There were no Z. fili- 

 penduUe with it this year, and there were no varieties worth 

 mentioning. About a quarter of a mile distant from the Z. trifolii 

 field Z . filipemlLiUe was flying in numbers, and there were also a 

 great many cocoons and a few larvae of the species about, the 

 latter preparing to enter the pupal stage of their existence. It 

 was curious to note that the cocoons were not only attached to 

 the stems of grass and other plants, but also to posts, and even 

 iron hurdles, which under the brilliant sunshine were really hot. 



The question having been raised as to whether or not these 

 June Zygaenas of the six spot persuasion are specifically distinct 

 from Z. jilipendalie which appears in July and August on chalk 

 downs, &c., I took the opportunity of collecting a goodly sample 

 of the imagines then on the wing, as well as a liberal supply of 

 the cocoons. These latter, I may remark, were not always 

 afSxed to the higher parts of the stem, but were found in all 

 kinds of positions from quite near the ground, and well concealed 



ENTOM. — JULY, 1897. Q 



