﻿HQ [October, 



Note on names and food of some species of Plicatce. — Scoparia cratcegalis (cratce- 

 gella, Hub.) — This name implies that the larva of this species feeds upon the 

 haw-thorn {Crataegus oxyacantha) . Nothing can be more injurious to entomological 

 science or to our progress than to give an insect a name from a plant it does nob 

 feed upon ; a recent instance of this is afforded by Scoparia ulmella, the specific 

 name of which appears to have misled one of our most acute practical friends (see 

 Ent. M. Mag., Vol. 6, p. 41). Having bred most of the genus Scoparia, as at 

 present constituted, I may say that so far as I know they feed exclusively upon 

 hepatics, mosses, lichens, and algae (Conferva). Thus, Scoparia cratcegalis feeds 

 upon Hypnum elegans and Jungermannia dilatata ; as do also S. cembrella (cernbrce. 

 Haw.) and the old mercurella (mercuralis) ; muralis (murana, Curtis) feeds upon 

 Qrimmea pulvinata (the cushion-moss), in company with Crambus falsellus ; S. 

 lineolalis (lineola, Curtis) feeds upon and lives under Parmelia parietana and P. 

 olivacea, lichens which grow upon rocks and old thorns, &c. ; and 8. resinalis 

 (resinea, Haw.) feeds upon Stigoneura mammillosa and Oscillatoria autumnalis, 

 living in galleries under the Conferva, and also on Bryum cespitosum, when growing, 

 as this moss frequently does here, amongst the above Algce at the bases of damp 

 walls, &c, on road sides. That some of these species eat other allied plants I 

 know, but I am not aware of any Scoparia or Crambus which finds sustenance upon 

 trees or shrubs, except that the mosses and lichens they eat sometimes grow upon 

 them and that the perfect insect often shelter upon or amongst their foliage : they 

 have no connection with any arboraceous plants as food; and, thinking that 

 these hints may be useful to any young friend who may venture into the little 

 known question of the food of our Plicatce or Crambidce, or both, I may say, " don't 

 look for larvae of Scoparia cratcegalis on hawthorn hedges, or for those of Crambus 

 pinetellus upon fir-trees, but rather upon the lowest order of plants." — Id. 



[We cordially agree with Mr. Gregson, that it is most undesirable to form 

 specific names of insects from those of plants, on the bare supposition that the 

 larvae feed on such plants, and that few things are " more injurious to science." 

 But why, does he, with so keen an appreciation of purity in nomenclature, ask us 

 to print such names as " Britanniodactylus " and " scabiodactyhts " (see his former 

 communication) ? On the continent, hybrid names (half Latin, half Greek), such 

 as punctidactylus and parvidactylus are universally ignored in the published Lists; 

 and Mr. Gregson must be prepared to see his species above quoted share the same 

 oblivion as " Millieridactylus," " Schmidtiformis,' , &c— Eds.] 



Note on period of appearance of larva of Polia nigrocincta. — Mr. Doubleday says 

 I have made a mistake in my " accounts " of the larva of this species. I can only 

 repeat my statement, that with me the eggs obtained at the Isle of Man hatched 

 as reported at p. 64, vol. vi, Ent. M. Mag. ; that the larva is there described, as 

 accurately as I can " word-paint," in its various stages, and in every way correctly ; 

 and that from it was produced the insect known to us as Polia nigrocincta. 



By a mistake in punctuation, in line 5 of p. 65 of the above-mentioned vol., I 

 appear to state that this larva makes its puparium "during the day-time;" that 

 expression was intended by me to refer to the preceding sentence, in which its 

 habit of concealing itself is referred to. At line 11 of the same page, alsoj 

 " Duchan " should be " Onchan.'' — Id. 



