228 [March, 



Blastohasis coccivorella, Chambers, n. sp. (Fam. Tineidce), 



The larvse feed inside the scales of an undescribed Kermes, allied to K. pallidus, 

 Ee'aum. Many specimens of the Kermes were found on oak at Cedar Keys, Fla., 

 and on March 15th, the larvae of the moth commenced to pupate. A round hole 

 was first cut through the scale, which had hitherto been intact, and a comparatively 

 compact cocoon was spun outside, attached to the edges of the hole. Moths 

 appeared on the Ist and 10th April. 



Euclemensia Bassettella, Clemens (Fam. Tineidce). 



Prom the large gall-like Kermes found on oak at Cedar Keys was also bred a 

 beautiful greenish-black moth, with its fore-wings marked with reddish-orange. 

 This was first described by Clemens (Proc. Ent. Soc. Phil., ii, p. 423),* under the 

 name of Hamadryas Bassettella, after Mr. Bassett, in Connecticut, who had stated 

 that he had bred it from a gall ; but Prof. Eiley pointed out that the supposed oak- 

 gall was really a Coccid. 



I wonder if there are not more instances in which " galls" have 

 been reported to have yielded Lepidopfera, and these have really been 

 produced from the shells of Coccids, often so like true galls that in 

 France they are called " GaUinsectes.^' Collectors will, perhaps, 

 make a note. 



In " ISTature," December 30th, 1886, p. 215, is a notice of the 

 papers read at the meeting of the Linnean Society of New South. 

 Wales, on October 27th previous, as follows : — 



"Descriptions of new Lepidoptera, by E. Meyrick, B.A., F.E.S. In this 



paper descriptions are given of sixteen new species of Australian Lepidoptera, 



belonging to fourteen genera, of which six are new. Among them is TTialpochares 



coccopTiaga, of which, at the December meeting, Mr. Masters exhibited specimens of 



both moths and larvse, and called attention to the singular habits of the latter, 



which feed on a species of Coccus infesting a Macrosamia, living concealed in a 



Gocoon-like shelter, formed of the exuvise of the Coccus, and finally pupating 



therein." 



It thus appears that in Europe, N. America, and Australia, there 



are Lepidoptera of different Families, whose larvse are exclusively 



coccophagous, and it cannot be doubted that more are yet unknown. 



In other regions where Coccidce abound, there is also a wide field for 



investigation : possibly resulting in the discovery of new species, or 



the identification of the larvse of some already known only in the 



perfect state. "Whether or not man may be able to utilize the 



devourers of Coccids to Ms purpose remains to be tried ; the idea 



seems feasible. 



8, Beaufort G-ardens, Lewisham : 

 November 26th, 1887. 



* See also " The Tmeina of North America, by Dr. B. Clemens, with Notes by the Editor 

 H. T. Stainton." London, 1672.— J. W. D. 



