t'RtJiT versus sugar. 161 



and other large Noctuids measuring from two to three inches 

 across the wings, of the names of which I am quite ignorant, — 

 probably some are new, — and a host of smaller ones, amongst 

 which the most conspicuous was Homoptera ustipennis. A 

 peculiarity about this moth is that out of twenty specimens no 

 two may be alike. It was a puzzle which to take, they all seemed 

 so good ; however, my sons worked away at them till late at 

 night, and at last had to desist from sheer want of room ; every 

 available box being filled, much to our disgust, as we were so 

 greedy, it being a disajipointment to see the moths and not be 

 able to preserve them. However, we set by a good series, for it 

 is not often such a grand display of insect-life occurs here. 



The strange fact of all this is that it happens after a severe 

 drought of two successive seasons, wherein insect-life was 

 scarcely seen, and trees and shrubs in many places had died out. 

 Did the few survivors breed quickly and numerously after the 

 first rains in November, the surroundings being favourable to a 

 quick growth ? I consider the smaller moths were attracted to 

 the juice oozing from the figs, &c., and that the Ophideres have 

 the power of piercing the rind of any of the ordinary fruits, as 

 they are often seen on oranges, and the fruit-growers of Rock- 

 hampton loudly proclaim against them. The chief mischief to 

 oranges is caused by a small fly, wbich pierces the rind with its 

 ovipositor and deposits its eggs. The maggots feed to the 

 interior, when the orange drops off. As a trial I hung up a 

 nearly-ripe banana, and, after watching the moths for some time, 

 took it down, when three or four small punctures were easil}' 

 seen, the juice already beginning to ooze from them. 



Such was our collecting in a few evenings in January. We 

 have always considered March the very best month for Lepi- 

 doptera, the last brood being then out ; so perhaps we shall have 

 to use the cyanide bottle again, it may be with equal effect. I 

 have tried sugaring, but, beyond drawing multitudes of ants and 

 some other noxious beasts, nothing came to it. 



Coomooboolaroo, Duaringa, Rockhampton, Queensland, Feb. 23, 1885. 



ENTOM. — JUNE, 1885. 



