ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FROM ASHFORD. 



As might, be expecteJ from the large amount of rainfall, and the really few summer days and nights 

 we have hid this year, inreots have not been much in evidence. Yet it is noteworthy that some fine 

 butterflies have been more than usually abundant, especiaUy the " Pa.nted Lady, Fanessa cardu. of 

 which many were noticed in June, probably the parents of the large number that have been seen during 

 September. Not having l.>oked for the larviE on the thistles this July, I cannot say they were seen, 

 thou.»h they have been collected and reared other years in this neighbou>-hood. 



The beautiful " Red Admiral " butterfly, Vanessa atalanta is also about in some numbers this 

 autumn— even flying in the streets of Abhfiiri in September. ,. , ,_ ,.. . »i, ; 



The" Large Tortoise-shell," V. polyMoros, was frequently seen after hybernation in the spring 

 month!., giving promise of a good batch in the autumn-some have been seen in August and September, 

 but hardly so many as we ejected. In contrast with these, "Clouded Yellows" have been rare indeed^ 



I have not seen either of the species of Colias on the wing this year; indeed they have hardly 



been observed in any part of the country. ,. „ rr ■ -a- j m-„*v " v,oc 



Sphinges generally appear to have been scarce, even the active Humming-Bird Moth has 

 been seen but seldom, and I can only vouch for three as having been observed on the wing at Ashford. 

 one in June and two in September. i „t ;,, t„t,o 



A sin..le specimen of a scarce "Clearwing," Scsia culiciforme. was taken at rest on a leaf in June. 



The following moths have been reared from larvae taken in the di-.triat-.-Drymonxachaoma ; 

 Leiocampa dictseoides.-lhe larva of this fed on till late in October, 1902, and yet the moth did not 

 appear this year till August instead of about Way, as expected, being probably retarded by the 

 prevailing low temperature ; Acronycta leporina ; Acronyctamegacephala ; Cuculha asterxs (C gnaphaln 

 did not appear, but may be staying over till another year in the pupa state as others of the genus 

 frequently do) ; Beliotha marginala ; Plusia Moneta; Epione apiciaria ; Boarmia consortaria ; Macana 

 Notata: Acrohasis angusiaUs as also its parasite, an Ichneumon, with a long ovipositor, doubtless 

 required to penetrate the fruit of the Spindle inside which its host feeds. 



The following were taken in the perfect state -.-Neuria saponarix ; Cengo cytherea ■ Noctaa 

 rhomioidea ; Noci.ua baja ; Cosmiapyraliaa (seen for the first time in this district); Gnophosobscurata , 

 Melanippe hastata; Bivula sericealis ; Pionea stramentalis , Pempelia comella : Bypenodesalhistrigahs. 



Since jotting down the above notes, the November number of the "Entomologists Monthly Mag- 

 azine " has been published. Is it the Editors have a note bearing on the subject of the swarms ot 

 Fonessa cosdui-comparing it with what took place in "spring and early summer ot ISiy, also a 

 "record " year for wet, adding that "the swarms ot 1879 were of a different brood and probably 

 came from much further south." Doubtless they did-like some, or all, of those which were observed 

 here in June ot this year, as aU seen then were noticed to be worn and hardly recognisable -but tne 

 September butterflies have been in good condition, implying that they were brad in this country, 

 apparently the offspring of the early summer lot. I regret not having looked for the larva m JUiy 

 as if found it would have thrown much light on the question of their migration. j. .. v,- i, 



Of insects that have forced themselves on our attention, may be mentioned the gnats wnicn 

 have been so troublesome this year, producing irritating blains. Two ot these creatures sent from 

 Canterbury to Professor Theobald were pronounced to be true mosquitoes— being the 1 neooaiaia 

 annulata ot Meigen. He also stated that adult females hibernate in outhouses, coming out on warm 

 days in winter, when they will bite as much as in autumn. 



Another dipterous insect which attacks one savagely in swampyplacesabout mid-sumoer and alter 

 was only too common this year at Gyminge Brooks. When botaniaing there with Mr. W H. Hammond 

 on the first of July, they were very troublesome, settling on our hands and biting cruelly. 



This fly is a Tabanus, but whether the same as attacks cattle, I have not yet ascertained. 



WILLIAM K. JEFFREY, 

 November 2nd, 1903. Ashford. 



With reference to the above fly, Mr. Theobald writes as follows : -" The biting fly that causes so 

 much annoyance is one of the TabanidcB and belongs to the genus Hcematopota, the species being 

 Crassicornis. The most common one I have found about Kent is H. pluviahs £.,the two species are 

 very similar. A third species occurs in Great Britain H. Italica Meig. I have not seen it in Kent. 

 Walker gives it as a synonym of pluvialis, but it is not so. These Hamatopota ate locally known as 

 " Brimps " in Kent, and as Rain Breeze Flies, and Horse Breeze Flies in other parts. 1 hey are 

 particularly abundant along roads and paths, through woods and in the neighbourhood of water. 1 bey 

 are the most vicious of all Tabanidoe, attacking both man and animals especially horses. 1 beir Dite 

 is very painful, and they not only draw away quite a lot ot blood, but leave behind a wound from wnicn 

 blood continues to ooze. Many nasty wounds are caused by these flies, they undoubtedly carry pjisoncus 

 eerms, which pass into the system when the proboscis is inserted. To bathers in most small rivers in 

 the South ot England they are most annoying. The fe iiales only bite, the males live upon the juices 

 of flowers. Their flight is silent aud like other species of Tabanidoe they occur in greatest numbers m 

 hot and sultry weather, delighting in the brightest sunshine." 



