THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 237 



pear trees by a small gelatinous grub, doubtless Blennocampa 

 Cerasi (Tenthredo Cerasi, Linn.), It was first observed three 

 or four years since in small numbers on a plum tree; in 1869 

 they caused the fall of nearly all the leaves of a pear tree, and 

 the total ruin of the fruit; in 1870 two large pear trees were 

 totally spoilt, and not only pears, but large crops of plums and 

 cherries were rendered worthless. 



[Although I suggested in the 'Field' newspaper that this 

 insect was the Blennocampa Cerasi, I expressed a doubt, 

 because I had not succeeded in breeding the perfect insect. 

 I assume Mr. Dunning has been more fortunate, or he would 

 scarcely use the word "doubtless." — Editor of ^ Entomologist,''] 



Female of Psyche reiicella. — Mr. Bond exhibited both 

 sexes of Psyche reticella [Newman), taken near Gravesend in 

 1870, by Mr. Button, the female being now for the first time 

 known: in colour it is quite different from the female of any 

 other British species of Psyche, being of a clear yellowish 

 horn-colour, with bands or rings on the body of a dark 

 vandyke-brown or nearly black ; in fact, it is very similar 

 when alive to a small larva of Euchelia Jacobaeae, but after 

 death it becomes nearly black. 



Acidalia strigai^ia, n. sp., and P. ohdiictella, — Mr. Bond 

 also exhibited Acidalia strigaria, Hnhn,, from Gravesend, a 

 species new to the British list; and Pempelia obductella, 

 F, V. R., from Norfolk ; these were also taken by Mr. Button 

 during the present season. 



Wasp's larvcB and piipm destroyed hy a Dipterous Para- 

 site. — Mr. F. Smith exhibited some comb from a wasp's nest 

 sent to him in October from Gloucestershire, the larvae and 

 pupae in which had been destroyed by a Dipterous parasite, 

 Phora florea : on a single larva or pupa of the wasp, for both 

 were attacked indiscriminately, there were in some instances 

 twelve or fourteen larvae of the Phora, and the whole inside 

 was consumed, leaving a mere shell, like the cast-off skin of 

 a shrimp ; out of 200 — 300 cells, not more than a dozen 

 wasps escaped. Mr. Verrall mentioned that he had once put 

 a hornet in a box, and on looking at it after a considerable 

 time, found four or five specimens of a Phora had emerged; 

 so that all three stages of larva, pupa and imago seemed to 

 be liable to the attacks of Phora. Bouche also had recorded 

 the breeding of Phora from a species of Crabo. 



