44 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



abdomen closely punctured, opaque. Xantholoma has long 

 elytra also." — H. Moncreaff ; Soufhsea, February 14, 1870, 



Breeding the Tineina- — I wish to try and breed some 

 of the Tineina next season, and, knowing that you are 

 always ready to assist with your advice, 1 take the liberty of 

 writing to inquire of you wliat course is to be pursued on 

 finding a leaf-mining larva. If the leaf is picked off it will 

 of course die; and if a cutting is taken, though the cutting 

 may live, the leaf will still die. If you would kindly solve 

 my difficulty, and give me any further advice, you would 

 greatly oblige. — A. W. Druce ; 21, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, 

 February 8, 1870. 



[If you gather the mined leaves you will obtain a good 

 proportion of perfect insects, even though the leaves are 

 allowed to shrivel. Most of the species are so short a time 

 in the larval state that the death of the leaf makes but little 

 difference; but the leaf, when kept from the drying influence 

 of the atmosphere, will preserve its freshness for many days. 

 — F. Neivman.] 



The Grub in, Wine-corks. — Will you kindly state the name 

 of the grub feeding on the wine-corks in my cellar.? They 

 have lately increased to such an extent that they threaten to 

 make us all teetotallers. The corks which 1 send you are a 

 sample of the mischief now in progress. If you can suggest 

 a remedy it will be most thankfully received. — A. R. ; Yeovil, 

 February 7, 1870. 



[The grub which feeds on the corks of wine-bottles is the 

 larva of a small moth, the scientific name of which is 

 Oinopota V-flava, in English "the yellow-V wine-drinker." 

 This insect was the subject of much discussion at the Ento- 

 mological Societ}' some years ago, and it was suggested at 

 the time that it was introduced in the straw now so frequently 

 used for the covers to wine-bottles; this, however, was never 

 clearly established ; the only fact ascertained seems to be that 

 the straw covers and the " >vine-drinker" were simultaneously 

 introduced into our cellars. It was observed that corks when 

 sealed were never infested by this plague, and it was suggested 

 that corks should be sealed. The application of benzole 

 and corrosive sublimate to that portion of the cork which 

 remained outside the bottle was recommended ; but wine 

 merchants strongly objected to these remedies as being worse 

 than the disease. — Edward Newman.^ 



