150 [July. 



STRAY NOTES ON SOME MICHO-LEPIDOFTEBA OP THE EEADING 



DISTEIOT. 



BY THE EEV. C. K. DIGBT, M.A. 



The localities in which the species mentioned below were taken 

 are in no case more than three miles from my door, and do not include 

 any part o£ either the pine district round Wokingham, or the beech 

 woods and chalk downs of the Oxfordshire side ; in fact, none of them 

 are more than a mile from either the Thames, or its tributary the 

 Loddon, and may therefore be considered as belonging strictly to the 

 valley of the Upper Thames. In former times Windsor Forest reached 

 to Reading, and the grand stag beetles which may be seen flying about 

 the old elms in Sonning itself on warm June evenings are no doubt 

 the descendants of its inhabitants. With the exception of Alispa 

 angustella and Ptocheuusa inopella, which were taken in Oxfordshire, 

 all the species referred to occurred in Berkshire in the seasons of 

 1896-97. 



Alispa angustella, Hb. — The larva is locally common on the Oxfordshire 

 side of the Thames, feeding from the end of July to October. It is a most aggra- 

 vating species to breed, and as three-cornered in its ways as the fruit it feeds on ; 

 any one who has bred or tried to breed it will have a very clear perception why it is 

 not often offered for exchange. 



Tbeas fereugana, Tr. — I bred a pale, small and very distinct variety of this 

 from oak last year, which emerged on July 1st, and I also took several more of the 

 same pattern in the New Forest among oaks on July 12th. The birch bushes in 

 this district were being devastated by the larvae of this species in September, but 

 from a number gathered I bred nothing but the ordinary varieties. 



CocHTLis Smeathmanniana, F. — In this district this is certainly attached to 

 yarroto, among which it flies at late dusk, and the females may then be noticed de- 

 positing their ova on the flower heads. I have taken the imago as early as May 3rd 

 and as late as August 5th. 



Penthina sellana, Hb.— a specimen taken by a road side rivals in size and 

 beauty those found on the Noi'folk " breck," having the same admixture of rich blue 

 which, so far as my experience goes, is totally wanting in the small dull coloured 

 specimens taken on the S.W. coast. 



Geapholitha Seevillana, Dup. — I have found the larva of this species 

 widely but very sparingly distributed throughout this district feeding in sallow 

 twigs, and even twice in those of the common willow ; the tits have a great liking 

 for it, and split open the swellings to get at the larva. 



Phthoeoblastis jTriiANA, Tr. — Bred from acorns ; the newly emerged imago 

 may also be found sitting on oak trunks, but must be approached with caution as it 

 is very wary. 



DiCHEOEAMPHA SEQTTANA, Hb.--This occurrcd commonly among yarrow last 

 year ; the nearest tansy grows in cottage gardens two miles distant. 



