120 [Appendix B.N.F.C., 



The Knockagh near Carrickfergus is of a similar character, 

 but there are several insects to be found there which do not 

 seem to occur either on the Belfast hills or on Islandmagee. 

 Lyccena minima (Little Blue) occurs about the top of the cliff, 

 this being also the favourite ground for several good species, 

 such as Melanippe tristata, Nemeophilia p/antaginis, Ennychia 

 cingulata, Oxyptilus parvidactylus, and Scoparia ingratella, 

 most of which seem peculiar to this hill, at least so far as our 

 district is concerned. 



The cliffs and slopes of Islandmagee between Black Head 

 and Gobbin Head are very productive. The morning is the 

 best time here, for in the afternoon the sun soon gets behind 

 the hill and the temperature falls rapidly. Of the night-flying 

 insects I know nothing, as the locality is too far for walking 

 back after work, and there is no late train to town. 



Lyccena minima is exceedingly abundant here in June, and 

 may be seen wherever Anthyllis vulneraria grows. The tiny 

 larva feeds in the woolly flower- heads of this plant, but is very 

 difficult to find. Lyccena icarus is common, also Pararge 

 megcera, Vanessa urticce, atalanta, and cardui. 



Nemeophila plantaginis is commoner here than anywhere 

 else in the district and in some years is exceedingly abundant. 

 Spilosoma fuliginosa occurs, and the larvae of Bombyx quercus, 

 var. callunos may be collected in June, feeding on bramble. 



Of the other families of Lepidoptera may be mentioned 

 Strenia clathrata, Emmelesia albulata, and Eiipithecia con- 

 strictata among the Geometroe ; Scopula /erruga/is, Aciptilia 

 tetradactyla, Homeosoma senecionis, and Phycis subornatella 

 among the Pyralides ; and Peronea Schalleriana, Penthina 

 gentiana, Sericons littoralis, and Conchylis straminea among 

 the Tortrices. 



Plutella cruciferarum (the Diamond-back Moth), which has 

 sometimes completely destroyed the crops of turnips and other 

 cruciferous plants in England, is fairly common here, but I 

 have never seen any sign of damage, so it may be hoped that 

 the climate is unfavourable to its multiplication. 



