THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XXXVL] MARCH, 1903. [No. 478. 



THE EARLIER STAGES OF LYCiENA ARION. 

 By p. W. Frohawk, M.B.O.U., F.E.S. 



Since my last notes on the earlier stages of Lijcmia arion, 

 published in the 'Entomologist,' vol. xxxii. p. 104 (May, 1899), 

 I have been yearly endeavouring to solve the mystery which still 

 surrounds the last stages of the larva. Before dealing with the 

 slight advances I have gained concerning its" economy, I will 

 describe the larva in its first stage, which I omitted doing in my 

 previous notes, so that the descriptions of its first four stages 

 may be complete. 



The larva, directly after emergence, is exceedingly small, 

 measuring only j^^ in. long ; it is rather stout in proportion ; the 

 segmental divisions are deeply defined, and with a longitudinal 

 dorsal furrow ; on the first segment is a large dorsal darkly 

 coloured disk, and a smaller one on the anal segment. The 

 colour of the body is pale ochreous yellow, tinged with greenish ; 

 on the dorsal surface are longitudinal rows of glassy white 

 serrated hairs, placed in two pairs on each side of each segment 

 above the spiracles, the dorsal row all curve backwards, the 

 anterior one on each segment is much the longest, and all have 

 pedestal-like bases of an olive colour, the subdorsal pair are 

 both short, the anterior one curving forwards, the posterior one 

 backwards ; below the spiracle, which is black, are three brownish- 

 coloured serrated hairs placed in a triangle, all project laterally, 

 and have dark bases ; the central one is very long ; below these, 

 on the first lateral lobe of e.ach segment, is a single simple white 

 hair, and two other similar ones on the base of each clasper. 

 The head is of a shining olive-black. The whole surface of the 

 body is densely sprinkled with blackish points, giving it a rough 

 appearance, and adding to the appearance of the depth of the 



ENTOM. — MARCH, 1903. ^ 



