234 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [September, 



ous parasites, I placed it in a small vial, intending to give it to some dip- 

 terisl at the first opportunity, but what was my surprise when examining 

 the vial lately to find a specimen of the genus Pompilus, one of the fosso- 

 rial wasps, which proved to be, on identification, P. luctuosus Cress. It 

 is well known that species of the family Pompilidae make nests, generally 

 of mud, storing them with spielers, but I have never heard of them utilizing 

 snail-shells for that purpose, although some species of the bee genus 

 Osniia have been known to build in such places. A fact that makes this 

 note more interesting is, that Pompilus luchcosus has never before been 

 recorded east of Colorado. — Wm. J. Fox, Phila., Pa. 



Instances of Extended Pupal Term. Pieris sisytnbri. — Several 

 pupx were bred at Laggan from eggs, in July, 1890; four of these pro- 

 duced butterflies early in June, 1892, all males. 



Anthocharis hyaniis. — One male and two females emerged late in May, 

 1891, from chrysalids of 1889. 



The above are the only cases in my own experience, pf species remain- 

 ing two Winters in pupa; the fact is on record, however, as to Antho- 

 charis ausonides, A. sara, A. getiutia, and some other Lepidoptera. 



Tlie extension of pupal term through second Winter may be a com- 

 moner incident than we are aware, and I am inclined to consider it an 

 influential factor in causing the wide variance seen in different years in 

 the commonness of certain butterflies. Anthocharis hyantis is peculiarly 

 fluctuating in abundance in this locality. It is usually a rare insect, yet, 

 in 1S90, it was one of the commonest butterflies during its short time of 

 fliglit, and it is a certainty that far more than half the Hyantis, which have 

 taken flight here in the past seven years, were on the wing in two weeks 

 of that Summer. — Thomas E. Bean. 



In a paper in the " Entomologist" for June, 1893, by Robert McLachlan, 

 entitled "The Decadence of British Butterflies, with Suggestions for a 

 Close-time" he mentions the fact that Aporia cretcsgi has probably be- 

 come nearly extinct in England, if not totally so. Two British butterflies 

 have become extinct, and a third, Lyccena avion "shows signs of being 

 dangerously near extinction. Chrysophanus dispar was common in for- 

 mer years in the few of the eastern counties where it fed on the great 

 water-dock {Riimex hydrolapathuni). It disappeared entirely about the 

 year 1850. The other extinct butterfly, Lyccena acis, was widely spread 

 over England, but was always extremely local, and seldom, if ever, found 

 in numbers. Its extinction was going on for many years, and probably 

 commenced about 1840. Mr. McLachlan further states that the British 

 butterflies only number about sixty-three species, and that in times gone 

 by the list must have been larger. " I have spoken about the extent to 

 which the direct action of collectors may influence the extinction of a 

 species, and have said that I do not regard it as serious, save in cases 

 where other causes have already put the species far on the road to ex- 

 tinction. But I may have underestimated this matter, and it has occurred 



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