274 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



by narrow dashes on the anterior portions of 3rd to 8th segments. Two or 

 more black spots on 2nd segment. Subdorsal line darkish green ; this is of 

 variable width, sometimes assuming the proportions of a stripe and invading 

 the spiracular area. There are no perceptible tubercles, but the whole body 

 is thickly covered with hooked bristles, some of which appear dark coloured, 

 others whitish ; there are also some longer whitish hairs, singly along the 

 dorsal area, but in pairs laterally. Spiracles black. Prolegs and anal 

 claspers shining pale green, with a pale brownish tinge. Food, Scabiosa 

 siiccisa and S. columbaria. First brood eat the tender inner leaves of the 

 main shoots. April and May (sometimes in June). 



Pupa. — Pale green, with an obscure reddish pink dorsal line or stripe, 

 which in some examples is only represented by short dashes behind the 

 thorax and on the last four segments. The anal segment and tip of leg- 

 cases pale pinkish; sometimes the whole of the dorsal area is also suffused 

 with pinkish. Wing-cases tinged with yellowish. Leg-cases detached from 

 abdomen. Suspended by anal attachment from a leaf or stem of food-plant. 

 April, May, and June. 



Plate I., fig. 3, MimcBseoptihis plagiodactylus ; 2 «, larva enlarged; 

 2 b, pupa enlarged ; 2 c, devil's-bit scabious {Scabiosa succisa). 



I am obliged to Mr. W. Purdey, of Folkestone, for sending me 

 larvae of this species. 



The foregoing descriptions only apply to the various stages of 

 the first brood. The larva of the second brood feeds in the 

 flowers of Scabiosa in July (perhaps also in June) ; and the 

 imago appears in July and August (sometimes even later). 



Mr. Trimmer Williams exhibited, at a meeting of the South 

 London Entomological and Natural History Society, a series of 

 a MimcEseoptilus, which he said he had bred from larvae found 

 feeding in the flowers of Scabiosa. These insects I identified as 

 M. 2)lagiodactylus. I bred this species from a larva swept off 

 certain flowers, among which was Scabiosa, in July, 1883. A 

 description of this larva will be found on page 99 of this volume, 

 but I do not consider it quite trustworthy, because at the time I 

 took it down I was standing under a glaring sun, and the subject 

 under observation was very restless. 



In Wales Mr. Gregson finds a Mimaseoptilus larva feeding on 

 Scabiosa columbaria. These Mr. Gregson says, in his note 

 {ante, p. 150), are to be found in March and April; and the 

 imago is on the wing in June and July. One or two larvae, kindly 

 sent me by this gentleman in 1881 during May, continued feeding 

 until the 23rd of that month, and pupated on the 27th. In 1882 



