26 CATALOGUE OF MOTHS. 



May I add a note here respecting the members of this genus. 

 Those who desire to obtain a fine series should take a killing 

 bottle with them when they expect to captui'e any Scoparia. 

 They are so restless when confined in small boxes that they 

 soon spoil their appearance, and in an hour or two may be 

 almost unrecognisable. 



APHOMIA, Steph. 

 47. Aphomia colonella, Linn. 



Aphomia colonella. Staint. Man., vol. ii., p. 164. 

 ,, sociella. Leech, Brit. Pyr., p. 109. 



,, ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 385. 



Imago. Leech, pi. xiii., fig. 3. 



Larta. Buck., vol. ix., pi. clvi., fig. 2. 

 The sexes of this insect differ so much that Linnaeus thought 

 they were different species, and gave them separate names, 

 describing the S' first as Sociella, and the J subsequently as 

 Colonella. The rule, which appears to be a perfectly proper 

 one, is that when both sexes have been named, the name of the 

 male takes priority. In this case too the male was named 

 first, and the species undoubtedly should be, and is now 

 generally known as Sociella. The difference in the sexes is so 

 great that Curtis placed them under different genera. The 

 larva of this species is said to feed in beehives, which I think 

 very doubtful, and in nests of humble bees. This may be so, 

 but it is certain that they live in wasps nests, eating the papery 

 substance composing the cells. "Wasp's nests are generally 

 common, and this insect is widely distributed and not at all 

 rare. Mr. Maling says, "I met with several specimens of this 

 moth in July near Hexham, the larva of which feed in bee- 

 hives" (Trans., vol. v., p. 280). Mr. Finlay took it occasion- 

 ally in Meldon Park. These are all the records I have of it for 

 ITorthumberland, and in Durham I only know of a solitary 

 specimen I took myself on the sand banks just beyond Hartle- 

 pool Cemetery, on the 17th July, 1874. I see no reason for 

 this apparent scarcity, and expect it will be found widely 

 distributed over both counties. 



