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



Coniopierii.r. In both pairs of wings the cross-vein between fore 

 cubitus Cuj and media stiilies the latter on the lower arm M3 ' 4 of 

 fork. The abdomen in life is yellowish, often grey, due to scanty 

 black pigment. 



A common species in the south of England, but apparently 

 rare in the north. Near London it is often abundant on 

 oaks. The typical form and its variety curtisiana End. 

 occur in about equal numbers. Less often it may be foimd 

 on the following trees : hawthorn, crab-apple, pear, birch, 

 alder, holly and rarely on pine. The first brood appears in 

 May and June, and usually there is a second in July and 

 August, though some of the progeny of the first brood often 

 fail to emerge the same year, but pass the winter in the 

 cocoon, appearing in May of the following year. 



The eggs (Plate XLIII, fig. 13) are laid singly on the edges 

 of leaves, as in the case of Conwentzia. They are -5 mm. 

 long, white in colour, with a reticulate chorion pointed at 

 the micropylar end. Sometimes they are a little more 

 elongate than are the eggs of Conwentzia, but otherwise it 

 is difficult to draw any distinction. In about a week the 

 egg becomes slightly greyish, and just before hatching the 

 black patches on the embryo are distinctly visible through 

 the chorion. In all cases observed, eggs hatched in about 

 two or three weeks after oviposition. This appears to be 

 an excessive length of time, but frequently with an average 

 temperature of 60°-65° F., the incubation period has been 

 three weeks. Another record gives twelve days at 70° F. 



The young larva, length -T-'S mm., is marked in black 

 and white on the body in exactly the same way as the later 

 larva, so that identification is easy in all stages. The head 

 at first is larger, and the legs longer in proportion to the 

 body=than is the case after some days of feeding. 



Description of Third-instar Larva. (Plate XLIII, fig. 4.) 



Length 2-2-5 mm. when full fed. Short spindle-shaped, con- 

 spicuously marked in black and white. Head small, colour dark 

 grey, projecting cone of mouth-parts almost black at apex. Eyes 

 bright red or crimson. Antennae fairly short, grejdsh. Palpi 

 greyish, translucent. 



The body is most easily described as a whole, but it is difficult 

 to give in a description an adequate idea of the real api:)earance. 

 The ground-colour is white. There are two black, diamond-shaped 

 markings, one mainly on the thorax, the other abdominal and some- 



i 



