144 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



anywhere ; and it is usually considered one of the rarer members 

 of the genus. 



Perhaps the best sport of any, in collecting larvae of 

 EupithecifS, is to be obtained by beating the flowers of ragwort 

 into an inverted umbrella. This may be conducted at any time, 

 until the flowers have even turned to seed. The larvae are often 

 numerous, both as individuals and species. We may expect 

 among the latter E, oblongata {centaureata) , E. virgaureata (also 

 from flowers of golden-rod), E.ahsynthiata, E.castigata, E.vulgata, 

 and others. All these pupate in turfy mould, and should be kept 

 exposed to all weathers in winter, but not in too damp a place. 



Just before dark on evenings in July, when there is 

 little wind, we shall find sjoecimens of E. succenturiata, flying 

 gently and gray looking in the twilight round clumps of mugwort 

 (Artemisia). These are most suitable when growing on a shelterd 

 bank, or on the lee side of a hedgerow. The larvae are strictly 

 nocturnal in their habits, and are said to hide by day under 

 fallen leaves, &c , on the ground, only coming up to feed at 

 night, when they may be beaten along with those of E. absyn- 

 thiata in September. Very difi"ercnt are the habits of the larvae 

 of the allied (at one time supposed to be a variety of the same) 

 species, E. suhfulvata. These feed on the leaves of yarrow 

 (Achillea millefolium), and are to be found at the end of August 

 at rest, in the daytime, lying along the midrib on the upper side 

 of the leaf. After finding one or two, one immediately gets the 

 knack, and soon bags enough for a long series, which is always 

 worth rearing, and from many localities, as this is one of the most 

 variable of our pugs. 



Eiqyithecia scahiosata {siihumbrata) is a carrot-flower feeder, 

 and the larvae should be looked for when the wild carrot is in full 

 flower on salt-marshes, or by the sides of our large tidal rivers. 

 It may be swept by the sweeping net, or beaten into an umbrella 

 in numbers. Evening is the best time to get these larvae, as 

 they are more active then than by daylight. The moths may 

 be netted in June, but only sparingly in number. 



E. jasioneata, one of our more recent additions to the British 

 list of these insects, has as yet only been taken in Devonshire 

 and South of Ireland. If the blue flowers and seed-heads of 

 Jasione montana (sheep's-bit) were gathered and bagged in 

 September, we might reasonably expect to find it in most 

 localities where the food-plant grows. 



