CAPTURES AND FIELD REPORTS. 17 



Lepidoptera in 1899. — In summarising the past season, we are inclined 

 to think, judging from our own experience, that it has l)een fairly productive 

 as regards Lepidoptera in the perfect state ; but the same cannot be said of 

 larv«, except as regards Vanessa alalaitta. Sugar was rather uncertain, as 

 throughout July scarcely an insect of note appeared ; while June and August 

 were decidedly better. We may remark that Macroglossa stellatarum was 

 unusually abundant; we saw as many as five at one time hovering over 

 Phlox. The following are the chief insects met with : — Argynnis paphia var. 

 valesina ; Limenitis sihylla, plentiful at Holmesley, but soon became worn ; 

 Thecla hetula, bred ; nice variety of a male LyccBiia corydon, with the usual 

 black border replaced with white, similar to those described by Mr. Fowler 

 {vide Entom. xxxii. 269); Hesperia actceon, common at Swanage, in poor 

 condition ; aberrations of Zyyana tri/olu and Z. JilipendulcB, previously 

 described by our friend Mr. Corbin [vide Entom. xxxii. 210); Lithosia 

 yriseola var. stramineola, a few (this species was abundant in 1898) ; 

 Emydia cribrum, took a number at Verwood, also a fine series from the New 

 Forest locality, lately discovered by Mr. Fowler, to whom we are indebted 

 for showing us the exact spot ; a specimen of Cossus liyniperda was brought 

 to us in a tin, with the inevitable cabbage leaf for its food ; three males and 

 a female Stilbia anomala ; about twenty Caradrina amhigua, netted, flying 

 over heather ; one Agrotis agathina ; three Epunda nigra, best insect at 

 ivy ; Boarmia cinctaria and Cleora lichenaria, common at rest ; Geometra 

 vernaria, Nemoria viridata, and Scodioiia belgiaria, rather plentiful ; 

 Eugonia alniaria, E. fuscantaria, and Himera pennaria, at gas lamps. 

 Sugar produced: — Calligenia miniata, Dipterygia scabriuscida, Caradrina 

 morpheus, C. alsines, C. taraxaci, Leucania turca, Rusina tenebrosa, Agrotis 

 suffusa, Noctua triangulum, N. stiginatica, N. brunnea, N. umbrosa, N. cas- 

 tanea, Triphana ianthina, T. fimbria (3), T. subsequa, Hadena protea, and 

 Catocala sponsa. The latter was not plentiful; a tattered specimen occurred 

 as late as September 9th. Of larvae we may name : — Bombyx trifolii, three, 

 all of which unfortunately died before pupating ; a few Asphalia ridens, 

 Thecla betulce, and Dasychira fasceliiia : one Agrotis agathina, one Chcero' 

 campa elpenor ; and Nonagria anindinis, commou. Of the latter at least 

 sixty per cent, were destroyed by some aquatic bird, probably moorhens 

 and coots. Two Acherontia atropos were taken here during October. 

 — F. & C. Bellamy; Ringwood, November 7th, 1899. 



Notes from North Staffordshire. — Macroglossa stellatarum appears 

 to have been abundant everywhere this season, and in North StaflFordshire 

 there were two broods. The first appeared in June, as on the 3rd of that 

 month I saw at least half a dozen of these moths flying along under the 

 sunny side of a stone wall in the moorlands in the extreme north of the 

 county, and one specimen was netted by my friend Mr. E. D. Bostock. 

 The second brood appeared about the middle of August, and most of my 

 friends reported specimens as seen in their gardens about that time and 

 into September. A specimen found its way into my conservatory in 

 October. Orgyia antiqua I have never seen so far north in this county 

 before, several larvae and one imago having been taken near here, and one 

 imago is reported to me as having been taken near Leek ; these larvae 

 were all taken singly. Vanessa atalanta has swarmed this autumn, and 

 I counted no less than thirty-five specimens of this beautiful insect close 

 around me on flowers of scabious (Scabiosa succisa) at one time, and with 

 them were five V. to, several V. urtica, and innumerable Pierids. A female 

 Sirex juvencus was given to me in October, taken at Madeley, in this 



ENTOM. — JANUARY, 1900. C 



