PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE LEPIDOPTERA OF MALTA. 19 



4168. Phragmatobia fidiginosa, Linn. — Not uncommon in March. 

 I have found the larva in May, so there is probably another brood 

 which emerges in the summer and oviposits in the early autumn. 

 Maltese specimens seem to incline to var. fervida, Stdgr. 



4203. Arctica vUlica, Linn. — One crushed larva upon a road near 

 Zurrico (Mathew). 



4238. Cymbalophora (Eiiprepia) pudica, Esp. — Common from July 

 to October. The larvae are common under stones, in waste places, 

 from January to March ; they feed by night on various kinds of grass. 



4249. Euprepia (Coscinia) striata, Linn, [grammica, Linn.). — One 

 specimen ; July, 1897 ; valley leading down to Birzebbugia (Mathew). 



4257. Utetheisa (Deiopeia) pulchella, Linn. — I never met with this 

 species, which appears to be scarce as a rule, but intermittently 

 abundant. There seem to be two ( ? three) broods, as dates noted 

 are: — May 9th (de la Garde); beginning of August, 1892 (Oaruana- 

 Gatto) ; and October 2oth, 1897 (Mathew). Mr. Caruana-Gatto gives 

 us an interesting note on the spasmodic abundance of the species in 

 1892. He writes (Medn. Nat. vol. ii. p. 239, September, 1892) :— 

 "It is worthy of notice that this pretty moth has occurred in unusual 

 abundance this year, and at the moment of writing (August 10th), 

 and for a fortnight past, it has been the commonest moth to be seen 

 on the wing. I do not remember, in fact, ever having had occasion 

 to record such extraordinary numbers of any butterfly or moth. In 

 the open country, and in fields, especially where the Heliotropium 

 eiiropmim (on which the Deiopeia feeds) grows, it is a most curious 

 sight to see the innumerable quantities of this pretty species, fluttering 

 here and there, looking like large animated snowfiakes. Nor is it only 

 by daylight that the moth appears, but also in the night it is found, 

 attracted by the lights. Mr. R. Briffa, a friend of mine, and a gentle- 

 man greatly interested in our Lepidoptera, was telling me that at 

 Sliena there were thousands of the species flitting about in every part 

 of the gardens and fields. The same may be said of all other parts of 

 the island, as I have seen the Marsa, Corradino, Notabilo, Attard, and 

 many other places, teeming with this motii and its caterpillar." 



" As to the cause of such an unusual frequence, I believe it is to be 

 referred to the rains which fell during the late spring causing an over- 

 growth of the Heliotropium. The extra abundance of this plant . . . 

 may therefore in a measure account . . . for the unusual numbers of 

 this insect." 



Psyche sp. — Larvae are abundant during the spring, and feed on 

 various kinds of grass. The moth appears in August. 



4641. Trypanus (Cossus) cussus, Linn, {ligniperda, Fb.). — Mr. 

 Mathew notes that he has often smelt the larva of this species. I 

 cannot help thinking that it is of rather doubtful occurrence in Malta, 

 and even then only as a casual importation in trees. 



II. 257. Ephestia calidella, Gn. — One specimen. April 5th, 1902. 



377. Heterographis convexella, Led. One specimen, June 14th, 

 1902. 



401. Oxybia transver sella, Dup. — Two; June 7th and 14th, 1902. 



516. Bradyrrhoa cantenerella, Dup. — Fairly common at the end 

 of May. 



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