NEPTICULA GEI. 241 



moultings of the larva. The larvae of N. r/ei leave the mine as soon 

 as full fed, unless the leaves have been wetted, when they remain for 

 a time ; direct exposure to sun or cold, however, at once causes the larva 

 to quit the leaf. With regard to the long moulting period, it would appear 

 that the necessity to moult comes on suddenly, larvae having been 

 noticed to perform the operation when the body was bent sharply in 

 an angle of the mine. The late appearance of the larva of N. r/ei, 

 and the possible ill-effects of early frost, led Eppelsheim to experiment 

 as to the possibility of its going over the winter in that stage, and to 

 feed up in spring, as does the allied N. pretiosa. Accordingly, he 

 obtained two larvae of the latter from Hoffmann, early in April, 1889, 

 and found both larvae and mine similar to those of N. r/ei, and was 

 surprised when from these there emerged, on May 19th, a N. r/ei, and 

 on May 22nd, a N. pretiosa. Stainton bred specimens from Geam 

 urbanum, on July 26th, 1852, from Lewisham, and on July 28th-29th, 

 1854, from Mickleham. 



Cocoon. — The cocoons examined average 3 mm. in length, and 2-1 

 mm. in width. Each is roughly oval in outline, slightly thinned out on 

 the margin, and rather wider at one end than the other. It is domed 

 centrally, the highest point rather towards the wider end, from which 

 the empty pupa-case projects. The colour of the silk is greenish-ochreous 

 (with a distinct greenish tinge to the naked eye), and somewhat 

 reticulated with darker markings. The surface is comparatively 

 smooth, but there are some strands of flossy silk scattered over the 

 surface, and a more plentiful supply on the outer edge. The empty 

 pupa-case is somewhat transparent, less delicate, however, than that 

 of many species, and with sundry delicate greenish-grey patches 

 scattered over the thoracic segments. ^Described under a two-thirds 

 lens, June 21st, 1898, from cocoons sent by Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher.] 

 All the cocoons are spun up in a depression on the underside of a 

 leaf of the food-plant. 



Time of appearance. — The species is double-brooded, imagines 

 appearing in May-June and August, from larvae found in October- 

 November and July respectively. Fletcher says : " N. r/ei is certainly 

 double-brooded, probably as far north as Alford in Lincolnshire, the 

 larvae being taken during the whole of October there." Eppelsheim notes 

 the species as double-brooded at Heidesheim Park, Grunstadt ; larvae 

 being obtainable throughout October and until the middle of November ; 

 the imagines appearing in May. 



Food-plants. — Geumurbanum preferring radical leaves (Eppelsheim). 

 Geum rivalis (Wocke). Geam urbanum and brambles, preferring 

 deciduous forms, as Rubus conjlifolius and Pi. caesius (Fletcher). Larvae 

 common on bramble at Portland (Richardson). 



Localities. — Dorset: Portland and Weymouth (Richardson), Purbeck 

 (Bankes), Bloxworth (Cambridge). Durham : Hartlepool (Bower). Kent : Chisle- 

 hurst (Bower). Lincoln: nr. Alford (Fletcher). Sussex: Bramber, Arundel, 

 Polegate, Worthing (Fletcher). Westmorland : ? Witherslack, on dewberry 

 (Hodgkinson). 



Distribution. — Northern and eastern Germany (Wocke). 



Notes on N. fragariella and N. gei. 

 It is evident from the foregoing descriptions, etc., that the 

 insects known as N. fragariella and N. r/ei must be carefully reared 

 in numbers before the difficulties surrounding f hem can be cleared 



