94 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



shorter than the segment ; appendages long and almost parallel, ex- 

 cept towards the end, where they slightly approach each other. 



Length of body, 11 mm. ; expanse of wing, 15 mm. 



A male specimen captured at Chuzenji, Nikko, July 27th, 

 1910, by Mr. Gallois Edme, of the French Embassy. 



As this species is new to science, I take great pleasure in 

 naming it after my friend, an enthusiastic collector of Coleo- 

 ptera, and captor of this specimen, who was so kind as to put 

 the specimen at my disposal to be studied and described. 



To a certain degree P. galloisi is allied to such European 

 species as P. germanica, annexa, and others. Of the Japanese 

 forms, however, only cornigera and gokcensis are somewhat 

 allied to the species ; but many points, and, above all, the 

 structure of the sixth abdominal segment distinguish it well from 

 the other species. 



Zool. Inst. Agr. Coll. Imp. University, 

 Tokyo, Japan : Oct. 1910. 



THE DURATION OF THE LARVAL STAGE IN SOME 

 OF THE SESIID^. 



By Lt.-Colonel C. G. Nurse, F.E.S. 



Considering the mode of life of the larvse of this familj', it 

 is scarcely surprising that our information regarding the dura- 

 tion of the larval stage is scanty and insufficient. It is 

 impossible to watch the progress from the egg to the imago, as 

 may be done with the greater number of Lepidoptera, where the 

 actual number of days between the different ecdyses can fre- 

 quently be calculated. The following notes are, therefore, offered 

 with a view to inviting other entomologists to place on record 

 their experience regarding the life-history of such species of 

 this family as they are able to study. 



The prevailing view appears to be, to quote South's * Moths 

 of the British Isles,' that '* the majority, possibly all, are nearly 

 two years in arriving at full growth." I have personally been 

 able to study, very inadequately, four species, viz. Trochilium 

 apiforme and crabroniforme, and Sesia vesinformis {asiliformis) 

 and culiciformis. 



Of T. apiforme Barrett says, " full fed in April, after feeding 

 probably nearly two years." This is not quite accurate, as the 

 larva ceases feeding and spins its cocoon in September or 

 October, though it does not change to a pupa until the following 

 April, as noted by Greene in ' The Insect Hunter's Companion.' 

 Of the total duration of the larval stage I cannot speak with 

 certainty, but I think it reasonable to suppose that the life-cycle 

 extends at least two years, and I should not be at all surprised 



