150 GENUS TENTHEEDOPSIS. 



Tenthredo gibbosa (Yol. I, p. 101). 

 This should he called aucuparise i Klug. 



Genus Tenthredopsis. 



This difficult and most variable genus has been re- 

 vised by Pastor Konow (D. E. Z., xxviii, p. 306, et 

 seq., and Revue d'Entomologie, ix). In the former 

 work he renames the genus Thomsonia, but reverts to 

 the original in his later papers. 



He lays particular stress on the aid to be derived 

 from the study of the S genital organs : — " Organs 

 extremely important to know the characters which 

 constitute a species ; but as it is very difficult for the 

 author to describe these hidden organs of very small 

 size, or for the reader to recognise the differences 

 indicated, I have preferred, in constructing the ana- 

 lytical tables, to choose the characters visible exte- 

 riorly; but these characters, sometimes so variable, 

 require a most careful attention to avoid being 

 mistaken in using these tables " (Konow, Revue 

 d'Ent. ix). 



It is to be regretted that beyond the observations 

 of Brischke recorded below nothing is known about 

 the early stages of these variable insects. There can 

 be no doubt that extensive rearings from the larvae 

 would throw great light on the specific distinctions of 

 the insects. 



Of T. brevispina, Thorns., he says that he found the 

 larva on various species of grasses, on Juneus, Pim- 

 pinella saxifraga, Artemisia campestris, and Sarotham- 

 nus scoparius. They are 15 — 20 mm. long, transversely 

 wrinkled, bare, bright green, with two transverse 

 rows of fine white warts on each segment. The bluish- 

 green back is bordered on each side with a fine white 

 line, and over the stigmas and under the white dorsal 



