INSECTS 



Scotch fir. Aspilatts strigil/aria was recorded at Shull by the late W. Backhouse over fifty 

 years ago. There are no more recent records, but it is certain to occur in the west. Abraxas 

 grossu/ariata occurs everywhere, and some curious varieties have been taken ; one with a 

 deep yellow ground at Byers Green, one nearly black at Throston, and others elsewhere. 

 Larvz nearly black occur at Shields and Sunderland, producing absolutely ordinary forms of 

 the imago. A. ulmata occurs plentifully in the denes and woods ; it varies considerably in 

 the depth and extent of the markings; but extreme forms do not occur, except that one 

 specimen was taken in Castle Eden Dene of an unusually pale character. Lomaspilis marginata 

 is common in woods. It is an excessively variable species, but extreme forms are rare. All 

 the Hybernid<e occur : rupicapraria and progremmaria common everywhere, leucophearia and 

 aurantiaria rare, defoliaria and Anisopteryx ascularia rare on the coast, but common inland. 

 The Winter Moth (Cheimatobia brumata) is abundant everywhere. C. boreata has only been 

 reported from Darlington, but it is certain to occur elsewhere. It occurs in Northumberland. 

 Oporabia dilutata is common everywhere ; O. JUigrammaria common on the moors ; 

 0. autumnaria has been taken only once or twice. Larentia didymata abounds everywhere. 

 L. multistrigaria is common along the coast, and wherever Galium verum grows freely. 

 L. casiata absolutely swarms on the higher moors in Upper Teesdale and Weardale. 

 L. flavmnctata is at present only recorded from the Middleton-in-Teesdale district. It 

 probably occurs in all the higher land. L. sallcaria has also been taken in Upper Teesdale, 

 but not commonly ; L. otivaria is tolerably common inland, but has not been taken near the 

 coast. L. miaria is the most generally distributed, and most plentiful of the genus, except 

 didymata. It occurs in woods all over the county. Nearly all the Emmtlesia occur : affinitata 

 and alchemillata in denes and woods, but neither very common ; albulata plentiful among 

 Rhinanthus chr'nta-galli ; decolorata decidedly scarce, but occurring, generally singly, almost 

 everywhere. Tteniata was first taken in Castle Eden Dene by the late J. C. Dale ; many 

 years passed and the late George Wailes was in the dene and found an Emmelesia flying very 

 freely ; thinking it to be albulata, he took two or three only, but on arriving at home, he 

 found they were tteniata ; he went the next day, but never saw one, nor did he meet with it 

 again. Hundreds of collectors have been since, but no one has taken it there again. Dr. Lees 

 met with it far up the hills in Upper Teesdale. Unifasciata was common at the foot of 

 Hart Lane, near Hartlepool, some forty years ago. It has not been taken recently, but is certain 

 to occur. Blandiata was once taken at Hartlepool. No less than twenty-eight species of the 

 genus Eupithecia have been met with in the county, viz., venosata, which has an old record 

 for Darlington, and has been taken at Hartlepool once or twice. Linariata has been reared at 

 Seaham Harbour and Hartlepool. Pulchellata, common wherever foxglove grows, more 

 particularly in the extreme west. It is never seen on the coast limestones. Centaureata is 

 well distributed, but local, and never very plentiful. Subfulvata is fairly common, occurring in 

 most places. Pygm<eata is given in the Manual as occurring at Darlington. Satyrata and 

 castigata are generally common. Lariciata is well distributed, but not very abundant. 

 Pimpinellata was only once taken at Hartlepool. Albipunctata and valerianta have been taken 

 at Hesleden Dene. Innotata has a little doubt attached to its occurrence, as only melanic 

 specimens are known, and they might be some other species, but there is every reason to 

 believe that it does occur. Indigata is widely distributed. Nanata is abundant on the moors, 

 and common on the coast wherever heather grows. Subnotata has been taken occasionally 

 about Hartlepool. Vulgata is tolerably common and is found all over the county. Abiynthiata 

 is only recorded from the coast, where it occurs for the entire length ; Minutata only in the 

 west, where it is plentiful on the moors. Aaimilata is a garden insect, and widely distributed, 

 but never very common. Tmulata is to be found in the larval state in all woods, but the 

 imago is seldom seen at large. Subciliata is given in the Manual as occurring at Darlington. 

 Abbreviata has occurred in most places, but always scarce. Exiguata is generally common 

 among whitethorn. Sobrinata occurs all along the coast and again on the hilly land in the 

 west. The food plant appears to be dying off on the cliffs, and the insect must of course 

 disappear also. Togata is on the list from a solitary specimen taken at a gas lamp at 

 Darlington by the late John Sang. It is likely to occur in the many fir woods of the county. 

 Rectangulata occurs in orchards and is far from common. The black variety, nigrosericeata, 

 has not been recorded, but is sure to occur ; it is plentiful at Newcastle-on-Tyne. 



Lobophora viretata was taken freely in 1881, at Gibside, by the late Mr. Hedworth. I do 

 not know that it has been taken since, but the large number that were taken then could not 

 have been immigrants. L. lobulata occurs in Castle End Dene and many of the larger woods. 

 Thtra juniperata occurs in Upper Teesdale, above High Force Fell. Except that it was once 



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