Insects. 2037 



( next month I hope ), I do not say anything further about it here. — H. T. 

 Stainton. 



Descriptions of Lophoptilus Staintoni and Microsetia Bedellella, two new British 

 Moths of the Family Tineidce. — I forward to you, at the request of some London en- 

 tomologists, the following- descriptions of two new insects. 



Genus Lophoptilus. This genus, so named from the tufts on the wings, contains 

 but one species. The palpi are long, ringed or spotted, slightly curved upwards, ter- 

 minal joint acuminated ; spiral tongue shorter than palpi ; wings narrow, rounded 

 and convoluted in repose. This genus seems to connect that of Anacampsis with Lo- 

 phonotus. 



Lophoptilus Staintoni. Expansion of wings 3—4 lines. Anterior wings varied 

 with black, ochre and gray, having on the costa two dashes, in some specimens white, 

 in others ochreous ; the first a little beyond the middle, the second midway between it 

 and the extremity of the wing; transversely opposite, on the inner margin, are two 

 slightly elevated black tufts ; a black spot is posited in the centre of the apex. Head 

 gray ; cilia dusky, margined round the apex with black. Posterior wings and cilia 

 fuscous. Antennas and legs ringed with white. 



Microsetia Bedellella. Expansion of wings 3f lines. Anterior wings square, of a 

 fawn colour, which in some specimens, especially the female, is very pale ; two white 

 lines divide the wing into three nearly equal parts. Posterior wings and cilia similar 

 in colour. Head gray. 



These two species, similar in habits, frequent the scanty herbage of Durdham 

 Downs, flying a little above the blades of grass in the evening. I generally take them 

 by sweeping. They have also been captured by Mr. Stainton and others, at Sander- 

 stead, Eiddlesdown, and elsewhere, in May and July. — John Sircom, Jun. ; Brisling- 

 ton, near Bristol, February 3, 1848. 



Descriptions of the British Species of Bees belonging to the Genus 

 Halictus of Latreille. By Frederick Smith, Esq., Curator to the 

 Entomological Society. 



The insects which compose this extensive genus are almost uni- 

 versally distributed throughout the world : many of the species indi- 

 genous to America are brilliantly metallic in colour ; and although 

 none of the British species can vie with them in that respect, still two 

 or three partake of that brilliancy in some degree. 



Many of our native species are exceedingly abundant, frequently 

 forming colonies in favourable situations : they are partial to hard 

 sand-banks and trodden pathways; similar to their congeners com- 

 posing the genus Andrena: in general aspect, indeed, they closely 

 resemble them, but are easily distinguished, — the females by the ver- 

 tical incision at the apex of the abdomen, and the males by their 

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