4180 Insects. 



Remarks on the Larva of CEcophora and Elachista. — Many entomologists labour 

 under the impression that there is nothing to be done during the winter months, at 

 least among Micro-Lepidoptera. " It may be very well," say they, " for a beetle- 

 hunter to go poking into old stumps, and picking up moss, but that sort of game don't 

 suit us." So, as nothing is to be got by poking into old stumps, nobody thinks of look- 

 ing, and nothing is got ; but is the assertion true? It has several times been recorded 

 that Dasycera sulphurella feeds, as larva, under the bark of decaying trees ; has it 

 alone that habit? Where did Mr. Wing find the larvae of CEcophora unitella last 

 spring? In some old pea-sticks, which he had used in the formation of an arbour. 

 Where did Herr Richter find the larvae of CEcophora similella (stipella, Sta. Cat.) ? 

 Under the bark of decayed fir-stumps, which were brought to his house as fire-wood. 

 Now, in order to discover the larvae of the species of a genus, you must first discover that 

 of one species, next assume that the habits of the others are similar, and look for them in 

 the then most likely places. The larva; of CEcophora angustella, Woodiella, formosella, 

 lunaris, Lambdella, subaquilla, Panzerella, tinctella (arietella, Sta. Cat.), flavifron- 

 tella and fuscescens, are unknown ; probably they are all rotten-wood feeders. Profes- 

 sor Zeller found CE. formosella rather freely last summer in a wood-yard, along with 

 CE. unitella. This strengthens previous suspicion. Most of the other species appear, 

 by their haunts, to frequent places where their larvae might have fed upon decaying 

 wood ; CE. Lambdella, originally found swarming in a furze-bush, may feed in the de- 

 caying stems of the furze. If formosella and Lambdella won't tempt an entomologist 

 out in January, I don't know what will. And it should be borne in mind, that proba- 

 bly all these species feed, like Dasycera sulphurella, throughout the winter, so that 

 from December to February, when other sport is scarce, is the very time to seek for 

 the CEcophora larvae. When the collector is weary of poking into the old stumps, he 

 can agreeably diversify his occupation by collecting Elachista larvae, of which he had 

 probably destroyed several by treading on them, whilst at work on the CEcophora lar- 

 vae. They are to be found mining the leaves of grasses, preferring such long grasses 

 as grow in the shelter of a hedge, or at the foot of a tree: he may here find a goodly 

 variety, hardly two grasses containing the same larvae. These again may be found 

 throughout the winter. I am purposely brief, as I know you are pressed for space : 

 my sole object is to dislodge a few well-meaning entomologists from their fire-sides ; if 

 they want further information, I shall be happy to give it. — H. T. Stainton ; Mounts- 

 field, Lewisham, December, 1853. 



Correction of an Error in the Note on the late Appearance of Insects. — Allow me 

 to correct an error in my note on the late appearance of insects, (Zool. 4129). It is 

 this : — Instead of the capture of Semiophora Gothica " on the evening of Tuesday, 

 the 19th of June last," it should be, " on Tuesday, the 19th of July last." Had their 

 capture been on the 19th of June, I should not have thought it so late as to be worthy 

 of note; but a month on to that again makes a deal of difference. There can be no 

 mistake about its having been the 19th of July, and not June, for that day was the 

 first day's collecting I had this season ; moreover, I only went into Dorsetshire from 

 home on the Saturday before, (the 16th). — Octavius Pickard-Cambridge ; Hatch 

 Beauchamp, December 2, 1853. 



Occurrence of Zygcena Minos in Ireland. — I am informed by my friend, Mr. 

 Thomas H. Allis, that about a dozen specimens of Zygaena Minos were taken last 

 summer on the west coast of Ireland, by Henry Milner, Esq., of Nunappleton, near 

 York. — Edward Netvman. 



