220 THE entojiologist's record, 



J^RACTIGAL HINTS. 



Field Work for August and the autumn months. 



By J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



1, — In late July and August the imagines of Krcinohia uchrulcnca are 

 to be found seated in the middle of a flower of Centaurea scabiosa in the 

 afternoon. 



2. — The larva of Hecatcra dijsvdea is to be found stretched at full 

 length over the blossoms and seed-heads of the garden lettuce during 

 August. 



3. — LarviB of Ptilojihora iilniiu'iera buried in a dry sandy soil, after 

 three weeks the pupie were removed and laid on a perfectly dry surface, 

 with a little moss thrown over them ; they were subject to a high tempera- 

 ture during the latter part of summer and autumn, without any 

 moisture whatever, yet all emerged well (Gascoyne). 



4. — The full-grown larviB of Boti/s terreaU.^ live in July on SoUdiifio 

 vinjaKrea, they eat the flowers, often strip the entire spike, spinning a 

 slight web among the flowers, out of which they wriggle when 

 disturbed (Newman). 



5. — In July and early August the little Coeiiohia rufa (despecta) 

 flies rapidly through the low herbage in damp places when quite dusk. 



6. — For collecting, the wind should be south or south-west, dark, 

 light rain, slight breeze, and the result Avill be good, but if one point 

 to east or north no good ; north-west if any wind, no good, if calm a 

 little may be done ; south or west, still and warm are breeding nights, 

 sugar little or no good ; north or east, with a light wind, little 

 good, Avith a strong wind, no good. No time is good just before rain, 

 but sultry weather just before a thunder storm is good, but not after, 

 in general entomologise after rain and not before (Harding). 



7. — On the sea coast, beneath the plants of Atrijile.v littoralh and 

 Scdsola kali, the larvte of Ai/rutU ripae may be obtained in large num- 

 bers, resting when young on the stems and leaves of the food-plant, 

 but afterwards tunnelling under the sand, where they hide during the 

 day. They are best obtained from the middle to the end of August, 

 Avhen they are nearly full grown, and can generally be found simply 

 by passing the fingers through the sand. 



8. — The larvte of Goiiiodonia limonidla are to be swept from flowers 

 of Statice limonitoii in September, when they use an empty flower for a 

 case. "When full-fed they bore into the stem, dropping the flower, and 

 close the hole with silk. The larvte hybernate in the boring, and in 

 May the old stems of N. liiiioniiun should be collected for them ; they 

 pupate in June and the imagines emerge in July (Fletcher) . 



9. — In early August search the StacJn/.'i in woods and by hedges 

 for larvtB of Ainhbiptllia cosmodactijla and A. avantliodactnla. 



10. — Towards the end of August the larvas of Ciicidlia asteris are 

 freqxiently very abundant on sea starwort. 



11. — Towards the end of August the imagines of Ar/rutia agathina 

 fly for about three-quarters of an hour at dusk, and can then be netted 

 by the aid of a lantern. They do not fly fast and are very quiet in the 

 net. 



12. — A 5 of Cai,ipto[iraiiuiia jiaciata taken in August or Septem- 

 ber should be kept for eggs. The larvffi feed up well on knot-grass 

 and dock, and will emerge in November. 



