COLLECTING THE GENUS EUPITHECIA. 145 



E. phimheolata feeds upon cow-wheat (Melampyrum) flowers, 

 from middle of July to middle of August, the moth appearing in 

 May in copses and woods where the food-plant abounds. E. 

 pygmcBata is a somewhat rare species, occurring in all three 

 sections of the United Kingdom. The larvae feed upon petals and 

 anthers of stitchwort [Stellarla holostea) in June, but in captivity 

 it has eaten the petals and stamens of Cerastium. The imagines 

 fly about the middle of May. E. campamdata is another wood- 

 land species, feeding in August and September on the flowers and 

 unripe seeds of the nettle-leaved Canterbury bell {Campanula 

 trachelium) in a state of nature, though in captivity it will eat the 

 seed-heads of other species of that genus, the moths appearing 

 in the following July, but of course only in localities where the 

 food-plant occurs. 



About the middle of May we must not forget to search or 

 beat the flowers of maple for the larvse of E. suhciliata, which is 

 a " good thing " among pugs ; but if worked for would probably 

 be found in many unexpected localities. We should rear the 

 moths in August. Another of the rarer Euplthecia is E. dodo- 

 neata, which must be looked for in May and June in large oak 

 woods. The larvse may be beaten from oak, but are better reared 

 from a brood of eggs, and should be fed on young and succulent 

 leaves. 



Eupithecia togata is unique among British pugs, for its manner 

 in which the larvae feed. These are to be found by examining in 

 autumn the unripe cones of spruce trees. The indication that 

 larvae are there is to be found by the little groups of frass which 

 hang to the sides of the cone. When found and gathered, the 

 cones should be placed in some receptacle, so as to stand with 

 the narrow point downwards over some turfy earth, for the larvae 

 to pupate in. This is considered a rare species, but I believe it 

 will be found wherever spruce trees are common and sufficiently 

 high to produce large cones, A good field-glass will be found 

 useful in examining the cones at a distance, and save much 

 uncomfortable climbing. The moths occur in June. 



The larvae of E. dehdiata occur early in May, feeding upon 

 the leaves of bilberry or whortleberry [Vaccinium myrtdlus). It 

 spins the leaves together and resides in this tent-like home, 

 much like the larva of the genus Hypsipites. The moths are 

 found in the localities where they have been found at rest, 



ENTOM. — MAY, 1885. U 



