DORSET LEPIDOPTERA. 171 



on the juniper have been Eupithecia solrinata and ffypsolophus 

 marginellus, though in Purbeck, where bushes of juniper occur in 

 similar circumstances, Argyresthia dilectella is also found. The 

 latter is a common species on this plant, and its absence from the 

 Weyrnouth locality whilst it is present in Purbeck is curious. I 

 doubt if any of these species occur much on the down outside the 

 wood, and it is probable that at one period, before the woods were 

 planted, these moths had a severe struggle for existence on the 

 exposed down, and the little Argyresthia could not hold its own. 

 On the other hand it may be that the juniper and its two attendant 

 moths were introduced together to the Weymouth locality at a 

 comparatively recent date, quite independently of the Purbeck 

 plants, though this has not taken place within living memory. 



In these woods there have been for the last two yeais a great 

 many wasps, which infest the fir trees, especially perhaps the 

 silver fir and spruce, to such an extent that one wonders that there 

 is any other insect life about them. I tried to discover what the 

 wasps were engaged upon when slowly winging their way along the 

 fir shoots and occasionally settling on them, but I could not see that 

 they did anything more than this, though I watched one for some 

 time on several occasions. I think that they go there for the sake 

 of the resinous matter which exudes from the leaves and branches, 

 and it would seem as if they did not take much notice of the 

 caterpillars and other insects, of which there are a good many on 

 the trees. 



Before leaving the neighbourhood of these woods, I must 

 mention the capture therein of a rare neuropterous insect, 

 Nothochrysa capitata, and of another rather uncommon 

 Trichopteron, HemeroUus concinnus. I have a strong impression 

 that I found a larva of the first named in the same locality, on 

 account of the superficial resemblance which it bore to the perfect 

 insect with the exception of the beautiful network wings. It is 

 now in the pupa state, so that I hope to see the imago this year. 

 I have to thank Mr. C. W. Dale for naming these two insects 

 for me. 



