72 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



:]§>RACTICAL HINTS. 



Field Work for Spring Montlis: March— May. 



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



1. — At the end of March and early April, kick sharply the stems of 

 young aspens ; look carefully at everything that falls from the branches. 

 In this way liroplm?; notha is to be ol^tained, in the afternoon. 



2. — Larvffi of Thera rariata should be beaten for in late March and 

 early April. 



3. — Hybernated larva} of Pltorodesiiia smarai/daria, very much like 

 a little bunch of withered leaves, may be obtained by searching Arteui- 

 isia maritima in April and May. 



4. — In April and ]\Iay the young leaves of burdock will often show 

 the little round holes made by the feeding larvfe of Aciptilia tjalacta- 

 dacUila, which hide on the undersurface of the leaves and are well pro- 

 tected by their pale greenish-white colour. 



5. — The ova of Lohophoya viretata should be searched for during the 

 last week in April on the terminal shoots of holly at the tops of trees 

 bearing flowers (Tunaley). 



6. — In late April collect the heads of coltsfoot {Titmlatin farfara) ; 

 tie up in linen bags ; you will breed Platyptilia i/ojwdarfi/Ia. 



7. — The larva of Srsia cynijiifoDnis is to be found in April (and 

 May) betAveen the bark and solid wood of oak stumps, and spins a 

 small cocoon before pupating, which may be found by pulling off the 

 bark. 



8. — The larvfB of Sexia citliciformii^ are to be found in two-year-old 

 birch stumps ; those cut down in the winter of '97-98 will be found to 

 contain larva3 in April, 1899. It feeds just under the bark, in the wood, 

 but the large quantities of frass thrown out between the wood and bark 

 leave no room for doubt where this species is to be found. 



9. — To find whether an alder contains a larva of Sfsia Kjilw/iifnriDix, 

 bend over the branches carefully to see whether the bark cracks, then 

 gently raise the bark. If there be a round hole, it is almost sure to 

 contain a ,SV.s/rt larva or pupa. The branch must then be cut, low 

 down, and the stick kept in damp sand. The month of April is the 

 best time to find the larvje. 



10. — During the last fortnight of April look out for drooping or 

 faded leaves of striped grass in gardens. Gently pull the infested 

 shoot from the bottom, and in the stem the larva of Apanica ojihio- 

 (jramma will be found. 



11,— On April 27th I swept 27 larvs of Aijmtis aijatJiina, and a few 

 days afterwards hundreds more (Norman). 



12. — At the end of April the oaks give larvie of llmuDiia yolxiraria, 

 JlijhijiJiila (pwrcana, and r/idrodrsnia haiidaria. 



18. — At the end of April the trunks of birch trees should be searched 

 for LiipJiojitcrij.r caniielita. 



14.—" Sugar should always be applied to the trees before sunset, 

 and, Avhen practicable, it should be put on warm, as the scent is much 

 more powerful than when it is applied cold. The greatest number of 

 moths will generally be found about three-quarters of an hour after 

 sunset. Many species visit the sugar about an hour before sunrise in 

 the morning " (II. Doubleday). 



15. — The catkins of sallow should be collected just as they are com- 



