84 TF£E ENTOMOLOGIST. 



it seems that the cold alone forces it to retreat. My larvae of 

 Rubi very seldom, if ever, fed in the spring, although they 

 seemed to enjoy the sun's rays after their winter sleep. 

 I may state that my larva-box was always exposed to the 

 weather — out of doors. The larvge of B. Quercns undoubt- 

 edly come out from their winter retreat before those of Rubi, 

 as I have found those of the former species on several occasions 

 whilst beating the leafless hawthorn branches for females of 

 H. rupicapraria. The larvae of Rubi, when kept in confine- 

 ment, are sometimes attacked to a considerable extent with a 

 white kind of mould, arising, no doubt, from too much 

 dampness. — G. B. Corhin. 



Anisopteri/:v JEscularia. — Would you kindly inform me 

 what is the name of the enclosed little moth ? I took it off a 

 young cherry-tree, and it was laying a ring of eggs round a 

 twig, after the manner of Bombyx neustria, and covering 

 them slightly with down from its body. The eggs are large 

 and numerous, so that the moth must have been twice as 

 large previous to laying. 1 have taken another ring of the 

 same kind of eggs off another cherry-tree, since I took the 

 others, a ^qw days ago. — VV. J. Skelton ; The Bounds, Heme 

 Hill, near Favershani, March 7, 1872. 



The moth is Anisopteryx iEscularia (ihe March moth), 

 described and figured at p. 105 of British Moths.' 



Scarlet Spider. — 1 have sent you a little insect that has 

 been found amongst long grass. If you would kindly tell me 

 the name of it, and what class of insects it belongs to, I 

 should be much obliged. — Thomas Marson ; Kay s Build- 

 ings, Sanderson Street, Wakejield. 



The little creature is Trombidium holosericeum, commonly 

 known as the scarlet spider. It belongs to the division of 

 articulate animals called Acaridea, or mites ; its eggs are a 

 pleasing microscopic object, and have more than once been 

 described as fungi. In April and May they may often be 

 found on stones. 



Does the Larva of Riissula hyhernate ? — Can you give me 

 any information in the next 'Entomologist' respecting 

 E. Russula, viz., Does the larva hybeinate .? If so, in what 

 month does it come abroad before pupation ? Does it spin 

 up on the ground, or on the food-plant ? — E. D. Kemp- Welch ; 

 Bournemouth, February 24, 1872. 



