INSECTS 



Scotch fir. Aspilates itrigillaria was recorded at Sliiill by the late W. Backhouse over fifty 

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

 grositilanata occurs everywhere, and some curious varieties liavc been taken ; one with a 

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

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

 the imago. ^. i/A/w/^; 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. LomaspUis tiiarginata 

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

 the Hyhernidie occur : rup'uapraria and progrcrnnuiria common everywhere, leucophearia and 

 aurantiaria rare, defollaria and Anisopteryx ecscular'ui rare on the coast, but common inland. 

 The Winter Moth [Chelmatobia brumata) is abundant everywhere. C. horcuta has only been 

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

 Oporab'ta d'tlutata is common everywhere ; O. fil'igrammaria common on the moors ; 

 O. autumnar'ia has been taken only once or twice. Larent'ia didymata abounds everywhere. 

 L. mult'ntr'tgar'ia is common along the coast, and wherever Galium verum grov/s freely. 

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

 L. Jiav'icinctata is at present only recorded from the Middleton-in-Teesdale district. It 

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

 but not commonly ; L. olivaria 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 Emmelesia occur : affinitata 

 and akhemillata in denes and woods, but neither very common ; albuhita plentiful among 

 Rhinanthui christa-galli ; decolorata decidedly scarce, but occurring, generally singly, almost 

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

 years passed and the late George VVailes 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 titniata ; 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., venomta^ which has an old record 

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

 Seaham Harbour and Hartlepool. Pulcbellata, 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. Pygmaata 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. Alhipunctata 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. Fulgata is tolerably common and is found all over the county. Absynthiaia 

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

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

 but never very common. Tenuiata 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. 

 Rcctangulata occurs in orchards and is far from common. The black variety, nigrosericcata, 

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



Lobophora viretata was taken freely in i88i, 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. 

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



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