NEPTICULA FRAGARIELLA. 237 



eupatoria, the frass-track is markedly continuous ; on the other hand, 

 one example shows a considerable spreading of the frass pellets 

 throughout its course. We quite agree with Eppelsheim that the 

 mines in Fragaria and Ayrimonia are very similar. 



Larva. — The larva is shining, unicolorous, brownish-yellow, with 

 the head and prothorax more shining and rather darker ; on the head 

 are to be seen (as in the allied species) two diverging darker lines ; 

 the mouth is also darker (Heyden). Heinemann notes the larva as " pale 

 amber-yellow, with the head brownish." 



Cocoon. — -The cocoons (2) average 2-5 mm. long and 2 mm. wide. 

 They are of an orange-yellow colour, rather paler, perhaps, than those 

 of N. dulcella ; the surface is moderately smooth, and is covered with a 

 fine branching reticulation, red-brown in colour. The outline of the 

 cocoon is an almost regular oval, with scarcely a shade of difference 

 in the two ends. There appears to be no lateral flange, but a series 

 of silken threads branch off all round the edge, evidently for the 

 attachment of the cocoon. The pupa-skin is perfectly transparent, 

 quite glossy, or watery-looking, on the thoracic and abdominal 

 segments, wings greyer. There is a distinct stellate structure (a 

 series of depressions internally) on the centre of the mesothorax. 

 [Described June 15th, 1898, under a two- thirds lens, from cocoons 

 sent by Dr. Wood.] Heinemann describes the cocoon as " rather 

 broad, flat, and of a brownish-yellow colour." 



Food-plants. — Fragaria vexca, Agrimonia eupatoria. 



Time of appearance.- Heyden found lame at the end of October, 

 on the hill-slopes of the Bergstrasse, at Jugenheim. The imagines 

 commenced to emerge (in a warm room) as early as the end of March. 

 Heinemann says that the larva feeds in July, and again at the end of 

 September and beginning of October. Bower found the imagines 

 flying in the morning sun, on March 29th, 1891, at Chislehurst. 



Localities.— The species is probably generally distributed over a 

 large part of the country, but much confused with N. aurella. The 

 only recorded localities are : — 



Durham: Darlington (Sang teste Dun-ant). Hereford : Tanington in Fragaria 

 (Wood). Sussex: Balcombe in Agrimonia, Arundel in Fragaria (Fletcher). 



Distribution. — Germany : Jugenheim, Frankfort - on - the - Main, 

 Black Forest (Heyden) ; Wolfenbuttel (Heinemann), Alt Damm, 

 Friedland (Hering). 



nepticula dulcella, Heinemann (? sp. Brit.). 



Synonymy.— Species: Dulcella, Hein., "Wien. Monats.," 1862, p. 267; Hein. 

 and Sta., Zoologist, 1863, pp. 8367-8; Staud. and Wocke, "Cat.," p. 337 (1871) ; 

 Hein. and Wocke, " Schmett. Deutsch.," p. 746 (1877) ; Hutchinson, " List of Heref. 

 Lepidop.," p. 16 (?1893). 



Original description. — ■ Nepticula dulcella. Capillis ferrugineis, 

 antennarum conchuia luteo-alba ; alis anterioribus dimidio basali 

 olivaceo-ameis, subnitidis, postice atro-purpureis, fascia post medium 

 recta, argentea nitidissima, ciliis apice griseis. Exp. al. 2£ lin. 

 (Heinemann, Wien. MonaU., 1862, p. 267). To this Heinemann adds 

 the following remarks : " Very like X. continuella. I can only find a 

 difference in the paler colour of the anterior wings, and in the 

 narrower dark fascia which precedes the silvery fascia being more 

 obsolete towards the base. The anterior wings are pale olive-bronze 

 from the base, rather glossy ; they become gradually darker towards 



