286 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Abraxas grossulariata has swarmed in altogether unprecedented 
numbers. During the first fortnight in June the larve were 
particularly abundant on the blackthorn hedges, and so continued 
for some time. Contrary to all previous experience, although I 
made repeated search both in my own and other gardens, not a 
larva was to be found on either gooseberry or currant. The first 
imago was captured on July 24th, larve being still abundant, and 
imagos continued more or less common until September 19th. 
A. grossulariata hybernates quite exposed as a very young larva. 
Mr. Silcock’s (Entom. xii., 20) and other notes appear to refer to 
some abnormal second brood. At the September meeting of the 
Entomological Society Mr. W. C. Boyd referred to the extra- 
ordinary abundance, presumably of the second brood, of Anaitis 
plagiata; this also has a hybernating larva. I have found 
Odonestis potatoria especially abundant, both as larve and imagos, 
and many other species, e.g., Lithosia quadra, Emmelesia decolo- 
rata, Hupithecia expallidata, &c., have been noticed in these 
pages. I found Sesia myopeformis very abundant, with Cossus 
ligniperda and Zeuzera e@sculi common, as usual, though late ; 
these and other internal feeders are probably but little subject to 
climatal conditions in their earlier stages. Many familiar 
Lepidoptera I have altogether missed this year. Pygera buce- 
phala larve often quite defoliate certain elm trees and sallow 
bushes near here; this year I have not seen the species in 
any stage. Almost the same remark will apply to Bombyx 
neustria. Plum pies, especially of the black damson variety, have 
been particularly enjoyable this autumn by the knowledge that 
the unsavoury larva of Opadia funebrana altogether non est ; 
neither have I seen the closely allied Carpocapsa pomonana, 
although the imagos were perhaps more than usually common 
last July. As an instance of unusually early appearance I may 
say I bred a single specimen of Hupacilia vectisana, indoors 
though, on June 12th. 
Miss E. A. Ormerod has already made some remarks on the 
effect of temperature on insect development in our June number, 
and in a paper read before the Entomological Society (Trans., 
1879, pp. 127—180). In discussing this latter paper Mr. Stainton 
remarked on the sufferings of certain leaf-mining lepidopterous 
larve. I could mention the absence of many other species, but 
one other instance will here suffice. I know a mill on the 
