THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



Vol. XLV.] OCTOBEE, 1912. [No. 593 



NOTES ON THE LIFE -HISTORIES OF TAPINOSTOLA 

 CONCOLOR AND T. HELLMANNI. 



By H. M. Edelsten, F.E.S., & R. G. Todd, F.E.S. 

 (Plate IX.) 



Mr. Kershaw's notes on the oviposition of Tapinostola con- 

 color (' Entomologist,' xlv. p. 256) remind us of our promise to 

 record the life-histories of these species (*Ent. Record,' Oct. 1910, 

 vol, xxii. p. 240). We had been discussing the nomenclature of 

 T. concolor with the late J. W. Tutt, but his lamentable death 

 put a stop to our researches, and the notes got put on one side. 



Tapinostola concolor. 



Ova laid between July 3rd and 7th, 1909. Ovum round, 

 I mm. in diameter, of a shining dirty white colour, covered with 

 a glutinous substance, no markings visible. The pressure of the 

 sheathing-leaf slightly flattens the ova. Commenced to hatch 

 July 20th, 1909. 



Larva. July 25th. — Length 2^ mm. Yellowish white, head 

 rather large, and of a brownish yellow colour. Thoracic segments 

 whitish. First five abdominal segments yellowish, rest whitish ; 

 anal plate blackish ; body tapering from head downwards. A 

 few small bristles from tubercles. Larva full-fed. May 16th, 

 1910. — Rather stumpy, swollen in the middle and tapering 

 towards head and tail, but rather more towards the head. Head 

 yellow-brown, shining and rather indented, and partly withdrawn 

 into prothoracic segment. Plate on prothoracic segment shining 

 ochreous ; plate on anal segment also of same colour, and ex- 

 tending to thirteenth segment. Colour of larva creamy white 

 with a slight pinkish tinge along the back. Spiracles black. 

 True legs yellowish ; prologs white ; hooks blackish. Tubercles 

 with black bristles. Length 20 mm. 



Pupa. — 12^ mm. long, shining brown. Kremaster with two 

 sharp bristles curved outwards, enclosed in a stout earthen 

 cocoon. 



Parasite. — Ccelinius gracilis, Hal. 



The eggs are laid in bat( 



ENTOM. — OCTOBER, 1912. 



