A HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE 



to entomologists in the future to work up the different orders which are 

 inadequately treated here. 



There is little variation to be noted in the insects generally captured, 

 but amongst the Lepidoptera melanistic examples have been secured of 

 the Coronet {Acronycta ligustri), the Treble Lines [Caradrina trigrammica 

 var. bilinea), the Marbled Rustic {Hadena strigilis var. aethiops), the 

 Brindled Crescent [Miselia oxyacanthce var. capucwa), the Peppered Moth 

 {Biston betularius var. doubledayarius), the Mottled Beauty {Selidosema 

 repandata var. destrigaria), the Dark Arches [Hadena polyodon). 



From my own personal observation in the county it seems that a 

 considerable number of the females of the Oak Beauty {Biston stratarius) 

 are crippled in nature, and this forms some ground for supposing that 

 the female of this species is tending towards an imperfectly winged con- 

 dition. The season 1900 was marked by a considerable migration of the 

 Clouded Yellow {Colias edusd) and the great number of the larvs and 

 pups of the Death's Head {Acherontia atropos). 



NEUROPTERA 



The list of Fsoctdce contains some twenty-two examples and is of 

 average length. The Planipennia present a fairly strong list, but the 

 Odonata, or dragonflies, commonly called ' horse-stingers,' have not been 

 well worked up to the present and are poorly represented. From my own 

 personal observation in the county I have noticed that Calopteryx virgo 

 passes through a notable early stage. After emerging from the water, 

 and when its wings have become firm enough for flight, it rises and flies 

 slowly over the meadows to the top of some low tree, where it settles in 

 the sun. At this period it is of a reddish-brown colour, with sooty 

 wings. In this state it used to be considered a distinct species, and was 

 named C. vesta. When it becomes mature its colour is lighter, and 

 its wings to a very great extent have lost their sooty hue. 



ODONATA 



Sympetrum vulgatum, L. Woods and lanes 



— scoticum, Don. Dodder hill Common 



(Rea) 

 Libellula depressa, L. Woods and lanes 



— quadrimaculata, L. Tibherton 

 Gomphus vulgatissimus, L. Woods and lanes 

 Cordulegaster annulatus, Latr. Broadwas, 



TVyre Forest 

 jEschna cyanea, Mull. Woods and lanes 



— grandis, L. Shrawley, Cotheridge 

 Calopteryx virgo, L. Himhletoriy the Teme 



— splendens, Harr. Laughern Brook 

 Platycnemis pennipes, Fall. Meadows by the 



Teme 

 Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Sulz. Lanes outside 



woods 

 Ischnura elegans, Lind. Pool at Cotheridge 

 Agrion puella, L. Lanes and wood sidings 



PSOCID^ 



Atropos divinatoria, Mull. 

 Clothilla pulsatoria, L. 

 Psocus nebulosus, Stph. | 



— variegatus, F. 



— fasciatus, F. V 



— bifasciatus, Latr. 



— 4-macuIatus, Latr. ) 

 Stenopsocus immaculatus, 



Stph. 



— stigmaticus, McLach. 



— cruciatus, L. ) 

 Caecilius pedicularius, L. Often indoors 



— flavidus, Stph. 1 „ • i 



T "^ \ Beating oaks, etc. 



— vittatus, Latr. J ^ ' 



Peripsocus alboguttatus, Dahn. 



— subpupillatus, McLach. 



— phaeopterus, Stph. From a hedge, Coihe- 



Indoors 



By beating trees 

 and hedges 



By beating hedges 



Indoors 



84 



