Entomological Botany. 



4773 



albicosta : the larva may be found in autumn and spring, but its case 

 closely resembles a dried calyx of the plant, and it requires a very 

 close scrutiny in order to distinguish it. One Lithocolletis, ulicico- 

 lella, frequents the furze, and no doubt the larva feeds on it, but 

 hitherto we have failed to find it ; indeed, the Germans have far out- 

 stripped us in their skill in finding Lithocolletis larvae in Papiliona- 

 ceous plants, and at present we are quite laggards in the race. 



Vlex nanus. Dwarf Furze. 



Probably most insects which feed on Ulex europaeus feed also on 

 this, but the observations of Mr. Brockholes and Mr. C. S. Gregson 

 show that the larva of Butalis 

 grandipennis has a decided pre- 

 ference for Ulex nanus. This 

 larva may be found from Ja- 

 nuary to April, in little webs 

 near the stems of the twigs 

 of the Ulex : an idea of the 

 appearance which a shoot as- 

 sumes, when furnished with a 

 web made by one of these in- 

 sects, may be gathered from the 

 annexed woodcut. Within the 

 last week I have found on this 

 plant at Dartford Heath a fat 

 greenish larva, inhabiting a 

 more opaque white web, and 

 which I am disposed to think must be the long-sought larva of 

 Depressaria umbellana. 



Genista tincioria. Dyer's Weed. 



Speyer mentions as feeding on this, Thecla Rubi, Anthrocera 

 Minos, Hadena Genistae and H. contigua, Calocampa exoleta and 

 C. vetusta, Hemithea cythisaria and Boarmia crepuscularia. In 

 May and June the shoots are contorted by the larva? of Gelechia len- 

 tiginosella, which may then be collected in abundance, and at 

 the same time the larvae of Depressaria atomella may be met with, 

 and the larvae of Gelechia vorticella, and a little later the larvae 

 of Anarsia Genistae ; at the beginning of June the shining black cases 

 of Coleophora vibicella should be sought for on this plant. Coleophora 

 xiii. 2 T 



