538 



Mr. C. L. Withycombe's Notes on 



giiish between larvae of hunuili and luteseens. No constant 

 specific cbaracters have been found. 



The pupal stage lasts one or two weeks, in summer. 

 Winter is passed as a larva within the cocoon. One record 

 has been obtained of a specimen attempting to hibernate 

 as a pupa, but it did not survive the winter. There is a 

 succession of broods in the year. 



All the above examples were from the eggs of one female, 

 and show the amount of variation in time, which often 

 occurs, even when, as far as possible, all are under the 

 same conditions. The temperature was almost the same 

 in each case, and food was supplied in excess of daily 

 requirements. Larvae of H. luteseens will accept any aphids 

 as food. On beech, Phyllajpliis fagi L., together with 

 various stages of Psocids, etc., form their principal diet, 

 but other trees with other aphids are equally suitable. 



Hemerobius stigma Stephens. 



Wing expanse 14-16 mm. Colour reddisli- or blackish-brown. 

 Venation of fore-wings dotted with dark fuscous. Black spot in 

 basal third of fore-wings, so characteristic of humtdi and luteseens, 

 is here less marked. Membrane clouded with blackish, especially 

 about gradate veinlets. 



This species is very common on conifers, throughout the 

 whole year, except in very cold weather. In winter only 

 dark greyish forms are met with; in summer a reddish- 

 brown colour is more usual. Apparently deciduous trees 

 are never visited, although the larvae will, in captivity, 

 eat any species of aphis, and the majority bred have been 

 reared on Aphis nimicis L. 



