2788 Insects. 



The Tinearist's Calendar for April. — This month is generally very trying to the 

 patience of the eager collector, as the first setting in of warm weather immediately 

 produces a number of these tiny gems, and that warm weather rarely comes before 

 the end of the month, though in forward seasons it will sometimes — as in 1 848 — 

 appear much sooner. Exapete Salicella should now be looked for in earnest by those 

 who want it, or its season will be past. Chimabacche Fagella needs no looking for : 

 the dark varieties are, however, much scarcer than the pale ones. Semioscopis Avel- 

 lanella may perhaps yet be found among birches, and Steinkellneriana should now 

 be no rarity in blackthorn bushes. The cases of Talseporia pseudo-bombycella and 

 inconspicuella will now be found on fences. Tinea masculella and Zinckenii should 

 appear before the close of this month ; the latter is a birch-feeder. Tinea comptella 

 and cerasiella may also be looked for when the first warm weather appears. The 

 season for the early species of Micropteryx is now nearly at an end. The blooming 

 sallows should be visited by day in search of Adela cuprella. Juniper bushes should 

 be examined in the hope of finding the larva of Ypsolophus Juniperellus, though 

 hitherto this species has not been detected in this country. CEcophora incongruella 

 appears about this time on moors in the North. Hyponomeuta viginti-punctata must 

 be looked for where the Sedum Telephium grows. Many of the species of Depressaria, 

 having hybemated, will now be met with. Roeslerstammia pygmseana will now ap- 

 pear, and is not very scarce in the South of England. The larvse of many species of 

 Coleophora may now be met with, and the following plants should be diligently ex- 

 amined : — Calluna vulgaris, for pyrrhulipennella ; Ulex Europaeus, the blossom, for 

 albicosta ; roses, for lusciniaepennella ; Ballota nigra, for lineolea and ochripennella ; * 

 Artemisia campestris, for vibidgerella and ditella; Coronilla varia, for oriolella and 

 Coronilla ; Cytisus laburnum, for serenella ; Onobrychis (Saint-foin) for Onobrychi- 

 ella; Anchusa officinalis, for Onosmella; and larva? will be found on Glechoma 

 hederacea and Stachys sylvatica, but the species they produce are not yet known. 

 Clover-leaves should be carefully examined for the chance of detecting some of the 

 larva? of Metallosetia, none of which are at present known. Gracilaria stigmatella 

 will be found among sallows ; and near Warrington, among fir-trees, there occurs a 

 yet unnamed species of this genus, which hitherto I had confounded with elongella : 

 auroguttella, which I have now bred from Hypericum pulchrum, escapes from the 

 pupa in this month and the following. Elachista testaceella may be observed in 

 rather wasted condition ; and Epilobiella also appears to hybernate, as does decorella : 

 many of the smaller species of this genus — as nigrella, pulchella, obscurella, rufo- 

 cinerea — appear with the first warm weather. Phyllocnistis suffusella and saligna 

 must be sought for on poplars and willows respectively. Nepticula atricapitella, rufi- 

 capitella and aurella will be found singly after the setting in of the warm weather, 

 and gratiosella gregariously flying round hawthorn twigs. Nearly all the species of 

 Lithocolletis are to be expected on the first appearance of warm weather, having 

 passed the winter in the pupa state within the cuticle of dead leaves. — H. T. Stainton ; 

 Mounlsfield, Lewisham, March 15, 1850. 



* Those in italics are not yet known as British species. 



