ATHALIA LUGENS. 315 



until in the light variety the black has disappeared 

 entirely. 



A. rosce is an exceedingly common species, and is 

 found everywhere in Britain in June and July. It is 

 very fond of frequenting flowers, and appears to have 

 a special fancy for those of Ajuga reptans. This latter 

 circumstance was first pointed out to me by Mr. James 

 Hardy, and I have since verified it myself. According 

 to J. Scheffler (quoted by Taschenberg, Ent. Gart., p. 

 152), the larva feeds on Sedum album, but no details 

 are given. 



The species has a very wide Palasarctic range, and 

 it is found also on the west coast of Africa. The spe- 

 cimen from the latter locality (in the British Museum) 

 has the breast and pleuras quite black, and the wings 

 yellower than is usual with northern specimens, but 

 otherwise does not differ. 



5. ATHALIA LUGENS. 



Tenthredo lugens, Klug, Berl. Mag., viii, 128, 3 ; Htg., Blattw., 



285, 3. 

 Athalia abdominalis, Lep., F. Fr., pi. 13, fig. 2 ; Mon., 23, 68 ; 



Ste., 111., vii, 44, 10 (?) ; Bouche, S. 



E. Z., xii, 290; Kalt., Pfl., 3. 

 lugens, Ste., 111., vii, 44, 9 ; Dbm., Prod., 66, 11 ; Thorns., 



Op., 267, 3; Hym. Scand., i, 174, 4; 



Cam., P. N. H. S. Glas , 111, 131 ; 



Fauna, 16, 4 ; Andre, Species, i, 286 ; 



Cat., 35,* 1. 



Antennae, head, pronotum in front, meso- and metanotum and base 

 of abdomen, black ; tibia? and tarsi fuscous-black ; the edge of pronotum, 

 pleurae, sternum, tegulas, abdomen and coxae, femora and anterior tibia3 

 behind, luteous. Wings blackish ; nervures, costa and stigma deep 

 black ; the costa paler at the extreme base. Apex of sheath black. 



The (^ has the mouth white ; the two basal joints of antennae beneath 

 are pale testaceous ; the tibiae are broadly luteous at the base, and the 

 tarsal joints more or less pale at the base, especially with the anterior 

 pair. 



Length 2 3 lines. 



The only information we have of the early stages of 

 this insect is that given by Bouche (1. c.). He states 

 that the ? bores into the young branches and leaf- 



