26 



THE LEPIDOPTERIST'S CALENDAR 



LARVJE] 



APRIL 



for much profit to result from beating, but night searching will well repay the 

 labour. Examine the underwood of one or two years' growth, and the grass at 

 the edges of ridings, with a lantern, immediately after dark, every mild 

 evening. Large numbers of different larvae may be thus taken during this and 

 the following month. Nearly all the genus Noctua can be thus easily found. 



The rolled-up leaves and shoots of sallow contain a large number of species, 

 chiefly tortrices. They should be put into a flower pot in a cool place, 

 and fresh leaves added when these are becoming dried up. The following 

 are among the species which may be thus bred, and which will appear in 

 June : E. viminalis, T. crataegana, P. Lecheana, P. capraeana, S. dealbana, 

 H. angustana, G. populella, A. pygmaeella. By shaking or beating wild 

 plants and flowers into a net or other receptacle many larvae may be ob- 

 tained, particularly of the smaller species. 



Grasses, rushes, and carices are now productive of sundiy Elachistidae and 

 Coleophorae, and several of the larger tribes. Sheltered spots in woods and 

 lanes are the best places ; and for the larger species wet evenings the best 

 time. The mealy guelder rose, is an early tree, and will repay a search. 

 Hawthorn trees nourish hordes of common larvae. P. Verhuellella must be 

 taken now, mining in the seed fronds of A. Ruta muraria, and other ferns. 

 L. Rubiella is often too common in raspberry shoots. The pink larva be- 

 trays its presence by the blighted aspect of the young shoots. 



A. Niobe from Aug., violet & 



heartsease ; should be looked 

 for in localities where A. Aglaia, 

 and A. adippe abounds 

 Euphrosyne,e. from July, dog and 

 sweet violet, feeds in the sun- 

 shine ; hides beneath primrose 

 and other leaves 



tr Selene, e from July, dog and 



sweet violet 



M. Artemis from Aug., in wet 



meadows, among scabious, plan- 

 tain, honeysuckle, &c. ; rest ex- 

 posed in the sunshine 



E. Medea- from Sept., moor- 

 land poa, and other grasses 



S. Megaera from Sept., grasses 



hyperanthus from Aug. , grasses ; 

 may be found at night among 

 long grass near woods, &c. 



P. Phlaeas from Oct., sorrel, 



dock, ragwort 



L. agestis fromSept.,Erodium 



circutarium [&c. 



, f Alexis ., rest harrow, trefoil, 



Adonis from Oct., Hippo- 



crepis comosa, &c, 



L. Arion thyme in dry and 



elevated districts, and hilly, 

 thyme-covered slopes and fields 

 S. alveolus bramble, wild rasp- 

 berry 



T. tages from Sept., Lotus 



corniculatus 



S. myopaeformis in stems of apple, 

 pear, plum, hawthorn ; chiefly 

 old or unhealthy trees 



,, culiciformis ...in birch and alder 



,, formicaeformis from Sept., in osier 

 stumps ; the larva-hole, or the 

 gn a wings therefrom are often 

 visible; the larva is best sawn 

 out 



chrysidiformis inside r. of sorrel 

 and dock ; at Folkestone and 

 Eastbourne, and probably other 

 places on the S. & E. coasts ; 

 supposed to be 2 yrs. feeding 



,, cynipiformis in the bark of un- 

 healthy-looking oaks and old 

 stumps 



tipuliformis ...from Oct., in the 

 stems of old currant bushes 



