hi 



THE ENTOMOLOGIST* 



Bananas, a Bait for Lepidoptera, — Over-ripe or decaying bananas 

 have been successfully used as a bait for night-flying moths, as well as butter- 

 flies. The fruit should be cut in slices and pinned on trees, or otherwise 

 exposed, as may be most convenient. — Richard South. 



Andrena bucephala at Box Hill. — This being an entirely new 

 locality for this species of spring bee, I have very great pleasure in re- 

 cording so interesting a capture. On the 5th of last month, in the 

 company of Mr. A. Beaumont, I visited the neighbourhod of Box Hill, 

 hoping to capture a few additional insects for my collection. The weather 

 was overcast, with a cold N.E. wind blowing, and anything but propitious 

 for our recreation. We were, however, favoured with an occasional spell 

 of sunshine, which, although very brief, while it lasted induced a host of 

 insects to appear. During one of these intervals of sunshine we came 

 across a magnificent clump of sloe bushes [Prunus spinosa), which were 

 completely covered with a dense mass of bloom ; hovering over and around 

 these bushes were numerous species of Diptera, Ichneumonidee, Andrenadse, 

 &c., and, amongst others, Andrena bucephala, Steph., several of which 

 were captured, Mr. Beaumont taking one with an abnormally large 

 head. As I was not familiar with this species, I submitted it to my friend 

 Mr. Edward Saunders, who, with his usual kindness, at once identified it 

 for me, and at the same time informed me that it was an extremely inte- 

 resting capture. Mr. Smith, in his Cat. Brit. Hym., 2 ed., p. 41, says 

 " the species is now rare," and gives as localities for it Bristol and Chobham 

 Common. Mr. E. Saunders says local, and adds Hampstead as another 

 locality, Andrena albicans, A., trimmerana, and A. nigrocenea were very 

 abundant, while Nomada rujicornis and N. alternata, although not so 

 numerous, were also in the company. — T. R. Billups ; 20, Swiss Villas 

 Coplestone Road, Peckham, S.E. 



Nomada lateralis, Panz., at Box Hill. — Two specimens of this 

 handsome parasitic bee were also taken by meat the same cluster of bushes, 

 and, as Mr. Edward Saunders only gives Norwich, Yorkshire and Newcastle 

 as its known localities, while Mr. Smith adds Highgate Archway, I think 

 it is nearly safe to assume that this is also a new locality for the species. As 

 it was captured in company of Andrena bucephala, which is said to be its 

 host, I have much pleasure in being able to record the capture of parasite 

 and host at the same time. — T. R. Billups. 



SOCIETIES. 



Entomological Society of London. — MayQth, 1891. — Mr. Frederick 

 BuCane Godman, M.A., F.R.S., President, in the chair. Mr. J. M. Ayde, 

 of Somerford Grange, Christchurch, Hants, and the Rev. John Seymour 

 St. John, B.A., of 42, Castlewood Road, Stamford Hill, N., were elected 

 Fellows ; and Mr. R. A. Dallas Beeching was admitted into the Society. 

 Mr. E. B. Poulton exhibited living larvae of Endroniis versicolora, and 

 commented on their habits. Mr. W. F. H. Blaudford called attention to 

 the fact that the larvae of Liparis monacha remained in small groups on 

 the bark of the tree for about a week after emerging from the eggs, and that 

 this fact was taken advantage of by the German foresters to destroy them. 

 Also that he had himself verified the statement that uric acid can be 



