218 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
gating a dead willow-trunk in my garden. This particular 
trunk has been under my observation for ten years, and no 
Lepidoptera (the usual hosts of the genus Lissonota) are known 
to breed in it. Nothing nests there, as far as 1am aware, but 
Aculeates and, perhaps, Dictenidia bimaculata, Linn.; but the 
smaller Fossores—species of Passalecus, T'rypoxylon, and Pemph- 
redon—are abundant; though the only thing of sufficient size to 
render it a probable host for this Ichneumonid is the; bee Osmia 
leaiana, Kirby, of which numerous specimens were seen about 
the same time. The elongate ovipositor renders its parasitism 
upon some burrowing insect nearly certain. 
7. A Pugnacious Dolichopodid.— Pecilobothrus nobilitatus, 
Linn., is common about the moat, and on June 28th I watched 
one individual for about an hour. This was undisputed lord of 
a group of three overlapping water-lily leaves (Nymphea alba), 
about which it briskly walked and occasionally sucked their 
surface as though for nutriment. At irregular intervals it would 
make short flights to neighbouring leaves, but these appeared 
purposeless, and it always returned to its particular three, from 
which it drove away by flying point blank at them all other 
Diptera — mainly Notiphile and Dolichopodids — while the 
presence of Gerris gibbifera, Sch., larve was ignored. The only 
foes it feared were Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Sulz., and Agrion 
puella, Linn. ; from these it fled precipitately. At rest it would 
somewhat slowly and at long intervals vibrate its wings, much 
in the manner of Seoptera vibrans, Linn. 
(To be continued.) 
ACRONYCTA (HYBOMA) STRIGOSA 1n WICKEN FEN. 
By T. A. Cuapman, M.D., F.E.S. 
In the matter of Wicken Fen, Mr. Rowland-Brown’s article 
in the ‘ Entomologist’ for July, 1914 (p. 185), suggests to me 
to say a word for the protection of an old pet of mine, Acronycta 
(Hyboma) strigosa, if it still exists. Most probably it does ; 
though I understand that of late years it is rare or absent. 
The expression in Mr. Rowland-Brown’s observations that in- 
duces me to advance my plea is that in which he condemns, 
amongst other things, ‘‘low shrubby trees.’”’* Many years ago 
I reared A. strigosa from the egg for several broods, and I care- 
fully examined its habitat in the Wicken district, though I did 
not capture any specimens. It is long since I was at Wicken, 
and do not know what changes have occurred there since; nor 
* T suggest, of course, that these be cut, if at all, only where necessary, 
and with the greatest discretion ; I hope other entomologists will assist with 
their views.—[H. R.-B.] 
