100 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



6 mm., and the wings 3 mm. The next moult occurred on 

 July 10th, the dimensions increasing to — ovipositor 15 mm., 

 wings 9 mm., and total length 34 mm. The antennae, which 

 were damaged and of unequal length before, became normal 

 after the second moult. It greatly appreciated being placed in 

 the sun, leaning over on one side and extending the long 

 jumping legs to expose as much of its body as possible. These 

 sun-baths appeared necessary after each moult to enable it to 

 acquire firmness and proper coloration, an operation extending 

 over a period of about two days. For three days before a moult 

 the nymph ceased to feed, and became sluggish and whitish in 

 colour, somewhat after the style of a snake before sloughing 

 its skin. 



The empty nymph skin was always eaten immediately after 

 being cast, this employing the insect about an hour and a half, 

 the skin of the large hind legs being eaten last. The final moult 

 took place on July 31st at about 6.30 a.m. The imago, after 

 eating the empty skin, clung for some time to the grass stems to 

 allow the wings to unfold and attain their proper development. 

 This specimen when taken in the hand would bite fiercely with 

 the mandibles, occasionally retaining its hold until set at 

 liberty. 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF KENT APHIDID^. 

 By Fred. V. Theobald, M.A., F.E.S., Hon. F.R.H.S., &c. 



During the past two years I have found or identified from 

 material previously collected the following Aphides, so far not 

 recorded from Kent, and some of which are new to the British 

 fauna. Several new species of MacrosipJmm have been described 

 since the previous list, and these are also included here. 



The year 1913 was noticeable for three things: first, the 

 comparative paucity of the species of Aphides to be found, 

 secondly, the presence of numbers of sexuparae in the autumn 

 months, and thirdly, the vast numbers of three or four species. 

 Most abundant and harmful of all has been Aphis sorbi, which did 

 untold damage to the apple crop ; next in importance has been 

 A. ahietina, Walker, which has been most harmful to the Sitka 

 and Norway spruces in Ireland and parts of the South of 

 England, in many cases causing complete defoliation. This is 

 one of the species which breeds entirely viviparously, no sexu- 

 parae having been found, whilst parthenogenetic females occur 

 right through the winter. So far no sexuparae have been found 

 of A. gossypii, Glover, the so-called Cotton Aphis, which is 

 recorded here for the first time in Britain. Only once have I 



