584 Mr. C. L. Withycombe's Notes on 



on the twigs and truuk. Eleven or twelve days after 

 spinning, in a temperature of 70°- 75° F., the imago appears. 

 It has been asserted that larvae of Coniofteryx found 

 on conifers feed on Chermes laricis. Although I have 

 found this aphid often present on the same tree as larvae 

 of Coniopteryx I do not think the latter feed on Chermes, 

 since, when offered this as food, the Coniopteryx larvae 

 appear unable to deal with the waxy wool of the aphid, 

 and often take little notice of Chermes unless denuded of 

 wax. I can offer no definite alternative suggestion except 

 that the many mites, eggs and young stages of Psocids, 

 etc., found on conifers would probably form a more suitable 

 food. 



Coniopteryx tineiforrais Curtis. 

 Wing expanse 6-7 mm. 



Of larger size than C. pygmaea and more likely to be 

 mistaken for Semidalis in the field, as the abdomen is 

 generally more yellow and less red than that of pygmaea. 

 The cross-veins from su.bcosta to radius and radius to 

 radial sector are usually apart in both pairs of wings, and 

 thus differ from those of pygmaea. Unfortunately this 

 character is not always reliable, so that several other 

 features have also to be taken into consideration with 

 doubtful examples. If a male has been captured, there 

 can be no doubt as to the specific- determination, since 

 the genitalia are most distinct. 



Near London, tineiformis appears to be less common 

 than pygmaea, and until this year I had taken very few on 

 pine. More often the species occurs on oak and beech, 

 also sallow, but never commonly, in my experience. 

 Examples of the first brood may be found from the middle 

 of May until early July, and of the second brood from 

 mid-July until the end of August. 



The eggs are yellowish- white in colour, 45 mm. long, 

 of flattened oval shape, with the usual pointed micropylar 

 cone and reticulate chorion. They darken slightly as 

 hatching approaches, which takes place in from one and a 

 half to two weeks with a temperature averaging 65° F. 

 When laid on leaves, such as those of oak, the position 

 chosen is generally the edge of the leaf. 



The young larva is -7 ram. long, approximately, and 

 pale yellow or whitish in colour. It will feed on the oak 



