LASIOCAMPA QUERCUS. 95 



In this instar the differences already noted are still more clearly 

 marked; traces of the oblique stripes are still present (January 3rd, 

 1897). Sixth instar: No real change from previous instar, al- 

 though the difference between the larva of var. meridionalis and 

 the larva of var. viburni is still more strongly accentuated ; 

 traces of oblique stripes are present in both forms of the larva 

 (Bacot, January 17th, 1897).] 2. Larva from Dorsetshire L. 

 querctls: ? Third instar: Very different in appearance from the 

 two French forms of the larvae (meridionalis and viburni J; the white 

 markings on face, conspicuous in the French larvae*, being usually 

 absent (occasionally faintly discernible); the body hairs scanty, and 

 almost exactly resemble those of French larvae (of both forms) that are 

 still in second instar, although twice as bulky ; no trace of the white 

 lateral hairs that occur in larvae of var. viburni and var. meridionalis 

 (December 6th, 1896). ? Fourth instar: Larger than var. meridionalis in 

 third, not so large as var. viburni in fourth, instar ; the larva is longer, 

 thinner, and less thickly haired than either form of the French larvae, 

 and there is quite a bright blue, but narrow, band in the centre of the 

 velvety - black intersegmental areas (the blue much more marked 

 in some larvae than others) ; the oblique stripes more conspicuous, 

 the spiracles also very distinct ; usually no trace of white markings 

 on face (although they can be faintly traced in a few larvae, but in no 

 case are they so well marked as in the French larvae). The differences 

 between the English and French larvae are now so clearly marked 

 that they can be distinguished at a glance (December 20th). ? Fifth 

 instar: Head : Still deep blue, face-markings very faint or absent ; 

 if face-markings be present they differ from those of the French 

 larvae by being divided by a A-shaped mark of the ground colour. 

 Body : The dorsal fur much more scanty ; the fur varies in colour 

 from red-brown on the thoracic, to dull whitish on the abdominal, 

 segments ; the whitish dorsal fur on the abdominal segments en- 

 croaches, along the mediodorsal line, upon the red-brown hair of the 

 thoracic segments ; the white subdorsal line, although interrupted, as 

 in the French larvae, is much stronger, and the oblique lines show up 

 more markedly; traces of blue shading are often present on the 

 black intersegmental bands ; in some larvae this feature is specially 

 well marked f ; the skin surface can still be clearly seen laterally, 

 blue mottled with black. In this stage the English larva is more 

 striking and rather prettier than the French. In the adult English 

 larva the dorsal fur has a dusky, silky appearance, very different 

 from the pure white and bright red-brown of var. meridionalis and var. 

 viburni larvae ; also the long hairs of the English larvae are brown, 

 whilst in the larvae of both the French races they are white (Bacot, Jan- 



* Some larvae of mixed broods of French meridionalis received later show rather 

 more similarity to the English larvae, in these particulars, than those of the 

 first brood examined. In one or two examples of the mixed lot, the face-markings 

 are absent or very faint, and the white wedge-shaped patches on the dorsum 

 show up clearly, whilst in several others there were rather more red and orange on the 

 sides than was usual in the larvae of the first batch (Bacot). 



f In an earlier stage some English larvae have the blue shading so strongly 

 developed that it almost replaces the black of the intersegmental areas just above the 

 subdorsal line (Bacot). Some larvae are much darker and bluer when young than 

 when fullfed, the blue marks between the segments becoming later of a rust-red 

 colour (Whittaker) . 



