14 british lepidoptera. 



Comparison of larvae of Sesia stellatarum and Hemaris 

 tityus. — The larva of Sesia stellatarum has a strong white stripe 

 edged with distinct black above, where the subdorsal pale band is in 

 that of Hemaris tityus. The caudal horn has a brown or yellowish point 

 and black ring below in S. stellatarum. The latter also has a bright 

 yellow flange line edged with dark above, the spiracles black with 

 yellow spots within margin at top and bottom. It is also without the 

 red lateral spots of the larva of H. tityus. The subsegments in both 

 species appear to be the same, but in .S. stellataruvi each has a single 

 row of largish white spots bearing minute hairs, 8 from spiracle to 

 centre of dorsum ; legs brown (Chapman). 



Cocoon. — The larvae in our possession have spun up on the surface 

 of the ground, using almost any surface debris to mix with the 

 silk. Reaumur notes that sometimes the larvae go under the ground 

 in order to make a cocoon in which to pupate, but others make 

 one on the surface of the ground, composed of earth, pieces of 

 leaves, or any branches of the foodplant or other plants that may 

 surround them at the time (Mem., ii., p. 276, pi. xii., fig. 2). 

 The larva makes an open cocoon on the surface of the ground in 

 which to pupate, and is usually sheltered by a plant or stone 

 (Hellins) ; spins a very slight cocoon, sometimes among the food- 

 plant, at others on the surface of the ground, using, whenever 

 possible, grains of earth with the silk (Ransom) ; spins under moss 

 in a slight cocoon with a few threads of silk holding the moss 

 together (Lambillion) ; larvae sometimes pupate naked on the surface 

 of the ground (Burrows) ; the cocoon consists of leaves spun together 

 on the surface of the ground ; the pupa does not go over the winter, 

 but produces an imago before the winter (Bartel). 



Pupa. — Length 30mm. — 35mm., width 8"3mm., somewhat flattened 

 antero-posteriorly, and with an S curve well-marked, the 3rd and 4th 

 abdominal segments (end of proboscis) and the flange of proboscis being 

 prominent ventrally, and the mesothorax and 6th and 7th abdominal 

 segments dorsally. The anal spine points a little ventrally rather 

 than directly backwards. From the mesothorax to abdominal segment 

 6 the dimensions are much the same, thence to the anal extremity 

 it tapers rather rapidly, the outline being convex. From the anterior 

 extremity the measurements are, to end of proboscis 23mm., ot 2nd leg 

 17mm.. of antenna 15mm., of 1st leg 12mm. There is no trace of 1st 

 femur. The proboscis keel round the front ot the head, and rather 

 flattened from side to side, gives a special facies to the pupa (in 

 common with its allies). There is some depression on each side 

 of the back of metathorax and 1st abdominal segments giving a 

 definite "waist." The head, thorax and appendages may be 

 described as very smooth and polished ; the wrinkling of surface 

 being so fine and delicate that one takes it at first for delicate 

 colour shading rather than surface sculpture. A suture differentiates 

 the brown part ot the clypeus from the cheeks on either side, but 

 there is nothing superficial to represent labrum, jaws or palpi. 

 There is a very definite suture separating the scape of the antenna 

 from the flagellum. The segmentation of the antennae is indicated, 

 but by very slight difference of surface. The wings show the 

 neuration, the cell with median nervine, and the fust eight nervures, 

 the others are lost in costa. Poulton's line is very distinct on the fore 



