TORTRIOES TAKEN IN SOUTH ESSEX. 211 



previous autumn feeding on roots of Helminthia echioides, and a few on 

 Picris, on the railway bank near Stanford-le-Hope. 



Argyrolepia baumanniana, Scliiff. — Scarce and local in damp places 

 amongst Scabiosa succisa, in the roots of which plant it is believed to 

 feed. Near Brentwood, and beside the road leading from the ' Eobin 

 Hood ' to High Beech, Loughton. 



A. suh-haumanniana , Wilk. — Another scarce and local species. I 

 have only met with it in a rough place on the chalk near Purfleet. 

 I am inclined to think that Scabiosa columbaria roots will be found to 

 be the food of the larva. 



A. zephyrana, Tr. — Not uncommonly found where Dmicvs carota 

 grows ; in the root and lower part of the stem the larva may be found 

 through the winter. Like so many other Tortrices, it is partial to 

 railway banks. 



A. maritimana, Gn. — Entirely confined to those places on the 

 coast where Eryngium maritinmm grows. The larva may be found in 

 the winter far down in the sand in the root of this somewhat local 

 plant. I have bred a good number in past years from roots dug up in 

 the neighbourhood of Clacton, but I expect the plant is scarce there now. 

 A. badiana, Hb. — Generally common amongst burdock, in the seeds 

 (not the stems) of which the larva feeds, together with Parasia lapella, 

 leaving when full-fed and pupating amongst rubbish on the ground. 



A. cnicana, Dbl. — Mr. Machin used to take this amongst thistles, 

 &c., in boggy places in Epping Forest. I have not met with it. 



A. cBneana, Haw. — This, perhaps the most beautiful of all our 

 Tortrices, although local, is by no means rare in Essex. I have met 

 with it (usually the larva) on the railway banks near Eomford, Harold 

 Wood, Stanford-le-Hope to Thames Haven, also at Fobbing, Beufleet, 

 and near Upminster. The larva may be found in the autumn and 

 winter in the roots of Senecio jacobaa, in which it pupates. 



Conchylis dipoltella, Hb. — Another beautiful but far more local 

 insect. Mr. Machin used to find the larva in seed-heads of Achillea 

 millefolium near Southend ; I have not met with it in any stage. 



C. francillonana, Fb. — Locally common amongst its food-plant, 

 Daucus carota. Harold Wood, Komford, and commonly near Upmin- 

 ster and Benfleet. 



C. dilucidana, St. — More commonly found in the larva state in dead 

 stems of Pastinaca sativa wherever it grows abundantly. 



C. smeathnaiiniana, Fb. — Somewhat local among A. millefolium, and 

 Anthemis cotula on waste ground. Very common at Temple Mills, near 

 Stratford, Komford, Blackmore, East Horndon, &c. I have found it 

 difficult to breed. 



C. stramineana, Haw. — Only met with at Harold Wood and near 

 Pitsea, always amongst Centaurea nigra, in the heads of which the 

 larva feeds. 



Aphelia osseana, Scop. — Common as this curious species is in many 

 places, I have only met with it on one occasion in South Essex, on a 

 rough, dry slope near Upminster. 



Tortricodes hyemana, Hb. — In great abundance in March in oak 

 woods, and varying considerably ; some of the specimens are rather 

 pretty, but the majority of them plain. The female is less often met 

 with ; I once got a good many by searching the trunks of the oaks 

 after dark. 



