SEASONS OF INSECTS. 



for me some memoranda he had made with respect to 

 the sudden appearance of Cercopis bifasciata. On one 

 occasion the white dress of a lady sitting upon a hay- 

 cock was covered by these insects ; but on the following 

 day the same steps were taken at the same time to pro- 

 cure some, when after the most diligent search not a 

 single one could* be found. The same circumstance was 

 observed a few years afterwards by another friend of his. 

 He himself was of opinion that the insects in question 

 were then migrating a . 



I may here observe, that the London amateurs have 

 particular seasons for collecting moths. For the imago 

 they go into the woods in April, May, June, and Octo- 

 ber. For the larva they take the beginning of April, 

 June, the beginning of July, and September. They dig 

 for pupae late in July, and in January and February. 



I shall lastly make a few observations upon the times 

 of action and repose of insects, the knowledge of which, 

 as far as it can be obtained, is of essential use to the in- 

 dustrious collector. Entomologists have divided the Le- 

 pidoptera, with a view to this circumstance, into diurnal, 

 crepuscular, and nocturnal ; or butterflies (Papilio L.), 

 hawkmoths (Sphinx L.), and moths (Phalcena L.). These 

 terms may be applied to insects in general. 



i. Diurnal insects are abundant. Butterflies in parti- 

 cular fly generally at no other time: they accompany the 

 sun in his course, and before he sets disappear. Some 

 other Lepidoptera, though not so named, are day insects : 

 such are the Zygcenidce, &c. amongst the hawkmoths ; 



* VOL. II. p. 11. 



