15 



LEPIDOPTERA AT LIGHT. 



Male v. Female Insects at Light. — I can corroborate Mr. ArLde's 

 experience of males coming to light (Entora. xxv. 320). For some years 

 I have taken Neuronia popularis abundantly, and they have all been males ; 

 also all the specimens of Hiinera pennaria that have been attracted by light 

 have been males. I found the females of H. pennarla this season at rest 

 on the tree trunks. N. popularis, I may add, is remarkably punctual in 

 its appearance at light, for many years coming at 9.30 p.m., till this last 

 season, when it came at 10 p m. — Gteorge Bell RouTLEBGii; ; Stone House, 

 Hayton, Carlisle. 



Illuminated Moth-trap. — My moth-trap, which had been out of 

 repair, was set going on Nov. 12th for a few nights. The weather was 

 very favourable for light, and I obtained six Ptilophora jdumigera (T have 

 only taken one specimen of this moth here before), one Pcec'docampa populi, 

 four Asteroscopus sphinx, besides a lot of Hybernia aurantiaria, Oporahia 

 dilutata, Himera pennaria, and a few H. defoUaria. I have now put the 

 trap away for the winter. — W. M. Christy ; Watergate, Emsworth, Hants, 

 Nov. 20, 1892. 



Having read Mr. Christy's notes on the results of his illuminated 

 moth-trap,* I constructed one very much on the same principle, and set it 

 every night from Aug. 17 to Oct. 24, last year, at Oxton, near Exeter, 

 with the following result: — Psilura monacha (male and female), Cilix 

 glaucata (one), Leucania pallens (one), Tapinostola fulva (one), Hydrcecia 

 nictitans (one), Neuronia popularis (numbers, all males, sixteen in one 

 night), Luperina testacea (several), L. cespitis (one), Noctua plecta (several), 

 N. umbrosa (three), N. xanthographa (numerous), OrtJiosia macilenta (one, 

 the first in the locality), Anchocelis lunosa (one), Hadena protea (one), 

 Miselia oxyacanthcB (one), Rumia luteolata (several), Eugonia alniaria 

 (caaaria) (one), E. quercinaria (one), Himera pennaria' (two males), Cleora 

 glahraria (four, not taken here before), Cleora lichenaria (three), Acidalia 

 hisetata (common), A. aversata,Oporabia dilutata (several), Larentia viridaria 

 (several), L. didymata, Thera variata (one), Melanthia ocellata (two), Coremia 

 designata (several), C ferrugata, Anaitis p)logiata (one), Herbula cespitalis 

 (several), Scopula ferrugalis (one), 8. decrepitalis (one), Alucita hexadactyla 

 (polydactyla) (several), Crambus tristellus (several), G. genicuellus (common), 

 0. culmellus. Some Micros not yet identified. The best night was Sept. 

 1-2 ; catch : — Psilura monacha (male), Neuronia popularis (sixteen males), 

 Noctua plecta (one), jV. umbrosa (two), N. xanthographa (three), Eugonia 

 alniaria (one), Crambi and Micros. The bulk of the above insects were 

 quite perfect, and, in the case of worn and injured insects, they do not seem 

 to have suffered from being in the trap. Should your readers desire it, I 

 will give a full description of the trap, with dimensions. — E. F. Stddd ; 

 130, Queen's Gate, S.W. 



From Nov. 7th to Nov. 12th I had fine sport with Pcecilocampa populi 

 on the gas-lamps, having taken forty during the week. The insect is 

 generally considered rather rare here, and I have not heard of it being 

 taken in such numbers before. The nights on which there was a thick fog 

 seemed to be the most favourable. — Douglas H. Pearson ; Chilwell, Notts, 

 Nov. 17, 1892. 



* See Entom. xxiii. 231. — Ed. 



