THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 237 
pear trees by a small gelatinous grub, doubtless Blennocampa 
Cerasi (Tenthredo Cerasi, Zinn.). It was, first observed three 
or four years since in small numbers on a plum tree; in 1869 
they caused the fall of nearly all the leaves of a pear tree, and 
the total ruin of the fruit; in 1870 two large pear trees were 
totally spoilt, and not only pears, but large crops of plums and 
cherries were rendered worthless. 
[Although I suggested in the ‘ Field’ newspaper that this 
insect was the Blennocampa Cerasi, I expressed a doubt, 
because I had not succeeded in breeding the perfect insect. 
I assume Mr. Dunning has been more fortunate, or he would 
scarcely use the word “doubtless.” — Editor of ‘Entomologist.’ | 
Female of Psyche reticeliaa—Mr. Bond exhibited both 
sexes of Psyche reticella (Newman), taken near Gravesend in 
1870, by Mr. Button, the female being now for the first time 
known: in colour it is quite different from the female of any 
other British species of Psyche, being of a clear yellowish 
horn-colour, with bands or rings on the body of a dark 
vandyke-brown or nearly black; in fact, it is very similar 
when alive to a small larva of Euchelia Jacobex, but after 
death it becomes nearly black. 
Acidalia strigaria, nu. sp., and P. obductella——My. Bond 
also exhibited Acidalia strigaria, Hubn., from Gravesend, a 
species new to the British list; and Pempelia obductella, 
Fv. R., from Norfolk ; these were also taken by Mr. Button 
during the present season. 
Wasps larve and pupe destroyed by a Dipterous Para- 
site.—Mr. F. Smith exhibited some comb from a wasp’s nest 
sent to him in October from Gloucestershire, the larve and 
pupz in which had been destroyed by a Dipterous parasite, 
Phora florea: on a single larva or pupa of the wasp, for both 
were attacked indiscriminately, there were in some instances 
twelve or fourteen larve of the Phora, and the whole inside 
was consumed, leaving a mere shell, like the cast-off skin of 
a shrimp; out of 200—300 cells, not more than a dozen 
wasps escaped. Mr. Verrall mentioned that he had once put 
a hornet in a box, and on looking at it after a considerable 
time, found four or five specimens of a Phora had emerged ; 
so that all three stages of larva, pupa and imago seemed to 
be liable to the attacks of Phora. Bouché also had recorded 
the breeding of Phora from a species of Crabo. 
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