218 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



gating a dead willow-trunk in my garden. This particular 

 trunk has been under my observation for ten years, and no 

 Lepidoptera (the usual hosts of the genus Lissonota) are known 

 to breed in it. Nothing nests there, as far as I am aware, but 

 Aculeates and, perhaps, Dictenidia himaculata, Linn. ; but the 

 smaller Fossores — species of Passalcecus, 2'rypoxylon,Q,nd Pemph- 

 redon — are abundant ; though the only thing of sufficient size to 

 render it a probable host for this Ichneumonid is the] bee Osmia 

 leaiana, Kirby, of which numerous specimens were seen about 

 the same time. The elongate ovipositor renders its parasitism 

 upon some burrowing insect nearly certain. 



7. A Pugnacious Dolichopodid. — Pcecilohothrus nobilitatus, 

 Linn., is common about the moat, and on June 28th I watched 

 one individual for about an hour. This was undisputed lord of 

 a group of three overlapping water-lily leaves (Nymphcea alba), 

 about which it briskly walked and occasionally sucked their 

 surface as though for nutriment. At irregular intervals it would 

 make short flights to neighbouring leaves, but these appeared 

 purposeless, and it always returned to its particular three, from 

 which it drove away by flying point blank at them all other 

 Diptera — mainly Notiphilse and Dolichopodids — while the 

 presence of Gerris gibbifera, Sch., larvae was ignored. The only 

 foes it feared were Pyrrliosoma nymphida, Sulz., and Agrion 

 puella, Linn. ; from these it fled precipitately. At rest it would 

 somewhat slowly and at long intervals vibrate its wings, much 

 in the manner of Seoptera vibrans, Linn. 



(To be continued.) 



ACRONYCTA {HYBOMA) STRIGOSA in WICKEN FEN. 



By T. a. Chapman, M.D., F.E.S. 



In the matter of Wicken Fen, Mr. Eowlaud-Brown's article 

 in the 'Entomologist' for July, 1914 (p. 185), suggests to me 

 to say a word for the protection of an old pet of mine, Acronycta 

 (Hyboma) strigosa, if it still exists. Most probably it does ; 

 though I understand that of late years it is rare or absent. 

 The expression in Mr. Eowland-Brown's observations that in- 

 duces me to advance my plea is that in which he condemns, 

 amongst other things, "low shrubby trees."* Many years ago 

 I reared A. strigosa from the egg for several broods, and I care- 

 fully examined its habitat in the Wicken district, though I did 

 not capture any specimens. It is long since I was at Wicken, 

 and do not know what changes have occurred there since ; nor 



* I suggest, of course, that these be cut, if at all, ouly where necessary, 

 and with the greatest discretion ; I hope other entomologists will assist with 

 their views.— I H. R.-B.l 



