1889.] 245 



Larva between united leaves and shoots of Myrica gale (bog 

 myrtle), and full fed at the beginning of July. It then usually quits 

 its habitation to pupate amongst rubbish or dead leaves. 



The larva of T. Lafauryana contents itself with drawing together 

 the terminal leaves of a prominent or terminal shoot of its food-plant, 

 which is also Myrica gale. But the larger and often irregular habi- 

 tation of T. decretana (which is mostly concealed from view by being 

 situated somewhere about the centre of its shrubby food-plant) is 

 constructed of one or more of the lateral shoots and the remains of 

 old flowering spikes. Of all the larvae of Tortrices with which I am 

 acquainted as selecting bog myrtle for a pabulum, that of T. decretana 

 seems the most slovenly. So far as the United Kingdom is concerned, 

 T. Lafauryana appears to be confined to this district. It would be 

 odd, indeed, if T. decretana should be equally restricted in its range ! 



King's Lynn, Norfolk : 



February 5th, 1889. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA OF EOMCEOSOMA N1MBELLA. 

 BY GEO. T. PORKITT, F.L.S. 



On August 16th, 1887, 1 found larvse of Homceosoma nimbella 

 feeding commonly in wild camomile flowers on the rocks near Douglas, 

 Isle of Man ; and on the 27th of the same month I described them 

 as follows : — 



Length, about one-third of an inch, and obese in proportion ; head small, and, 

 together with the frontal plate, is highly polished ; it has the lobes rounded, and is 

 considerably narrower than the second segment ; body cylindrical, almost uniform 

 in width, tapering a very little at the extremities. Grround-colour yellowish-green, 

 varying in depth of shade in different specimens ; head dark brown, but darkest on 

 the upper part of the lobes ; frontlet yellower-brown, with distinct intensely black 

 border behind. The markings are all purple, and conspicuously defined ; the medio- 

 dorsal stripe appears rather irregular in outline, caused by slight interruptions made 

 by the segmental divisions, and by a slight transverse depression on each segment ; 

 sub-dorsally is a pretty series of large round marks, one on each segment, the centre 

 of each in some specimens being of the pale ground-colour, and so forming a ring- 

 like mark, though in other specimens the " ring " appears to be almost filled up ; 

 below these, along the spiracular region, are other marks, usually three on each 

 segment, one situate over two others, so that if extended to each other they would 

 form a triangle. Ventral surface and prolegs very pale green, anterior legs black 

 and glossy. 



The first imago appeared on the 24th of June following. 



Huddersfield : March llth, 1889. 



