EUPTERYX MELISSA. 129 



confluent black triangular spots, fancifully suggesting 

 a mask. Abdomen black, with yellow marginal edges 

 to the rings. Legs pale greenish. Pnlvilli and claws 

 black. Elytra colom-ed and marked much like E. 

 stachydearwn, but the basal crown spot is neither X- 

 nor V-shaped. A black V-like mark, however, occurs 

 near the first apical cellule. 



The insect feeds on various kinds of Labiata3, such 

 as the common balm (Melissa officinalis), the sage 

 (Salvia offijcinalis) , and the garden thyme (Mentha). 



It is a hardy species, and seems to be but little 

 affected by cold. Probably there are two broods in the 

 year; for I have found them numerous in October 

 nestling on the garden mint, and afterwards above the 

 roots of the same plant throughout the whole winter 

 into the following spring. How long each individual 

 may live I have not ascertained, but active young 

 larval forms were to be found during the January of 

 1887, notwithstanding the five weeks of snow lying on 

 the ground, part of which time the thermometer at 

 Weycombe had sunk to the night temperature of 11° of 

 Fahr., or 21° below the freezing-point of water. On the 

 dead brown leaves I also found isolated specimens of 

 the pupa and pupa-cases, from which the imagoes 

 seemed only recently to have emerged. I have, with- 

 out success, searched for the autumn eggs, which are 

 doubtless concealed in grooves cut in the stems of the 

 food-plants. The thousands of round, v/hite, scented 

 oil-glands which cover the under surface of the sage- 

 leaves would make it difficult, from their similarity, to 

 see the oblong Cicada eggs, even if they were present 

 amongst them. 



The pupae are active, pale green, and finely punc- 

 tured with black. The brown exuviae have much the 

 appearance of the cast of a chrysalis of some minute 

 Lepidopterous insect. 



The external male reproductive organs are complex, 

 and unlike those of E. auvitus, its close ally. 



T. Scott took this insect at Devonport, feeding on, 



VOL. II. K 



