10 Geo. 5 Provincial Museum Report. P 17 



interesting facts from other workers in the Province; a little more previously undetermined 

 material has been worked over; and these, together with some of my own captures, will enable 

 us to present a fairly comprehensive account of the work done in the Province in this particular 

 branch of science during the year 1919. 



In last year's report mention was made of the remarkable scarcity of noctuids during that 

 year, but this past season was far worse. Tn fact, this scarcity extended to all orders of insects, 

 and was not confined to any particular district, but was noticeable in every section of the 

 Province. There is no reasonable explanation that can be given of ibis sudden diminution of 

 numbers, and even of species. 



As usual, there were a few exceptions to the general rule, one of them being our old friend (?) 

 the forest tent-caterpillar (Malacosoma pluvialis Dyar). The larva; of this moth were particu- 

 larly numerous in the early spring, even worse than the year previous, but fortunately before 

 they became " full-fed " they were attacked by a disease — of a fungoid or bacterial origin — which 

 killed them off in thousands. 



In the south-eastern part of the Province, especially along the border, a great deal of damage 

 was done by several species of locusts — one of the worst invasions we have had for many years. 

 Mr. E. R. Buckle, of tbe Provincial Department of Agriculture, has been working in the infected 

 area during the season, studying the conditions and using remedial measures with a view to 

 preventing the occurrence of a further outbreak. 



In the Report of the Provincial Museum, 191S, on page 12. is a note on the occurrence of 

 llcmcrocampa vctusta gulosa at Chase, B.C., in which the writer stated that the insect was 

 double-brooded. This I find is not the case, as in a subsequent letter from Mr. R. C. Treberne, 

 Dominion Field Officer for British Columbia, he remarks that from the data in his possession 

 he is quite satisfied that this destructive insect is only single-brooded. It is interesting to note 

 in this connection that Mr. W. B. Anderson found a slight outbreak at Armstrong during the 

 past year in addition to the one reported from Chase the year previously, which latter had spread 

 much farther than when first noted. 



Rare and Uncommon Insects taken in British Columbia during 1919. 



Owing to the dearth of insects in the Province during the past season, it would be only 

 reasonable to suppose that this section of our report would be smaller than usual ; nevertheless, 

 quite a few items have been reported which are of iriore than passing interest. 



Victoria. — In late May two worn specimens of that rather rare Sphingidse, Proserpinus 

 clorkicB Bdv., were taken at rest on a peach-tree at Swan Lake. A very fine specimen of Polia 

 variolata Sm. was taken by Mr. W. R. Carter on July 11th; this capture is exceedingly interest- 

 ing in view of the facts set forth in last year's Museum Report, wherein tins species was figured. 

 The same collector also took a nice specimen of Ipimorpha nanaimo Barnes, to which, curiously 

 enough, the same remarks apply. 



In addition to the specimen of Cucullia omissa Dod, which is figured on Plate II.. another 

 specimen was taken in the Hollywood District by David Livingstone, a young and enthusiastic 

 collector, who has kindly donated it to the Museum collection. 



A male specimen of Erebus odora Linn, was captured the first week in October by Mr. W. R. 

 Nairnes, of this city. It was taken about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of an exceedingly windy 

 day, and at first sight Mr. Nairnes thought it was a large leaf being blown about. This is the 

 first capture of this Florida "migrant" we have beard of" for several years. 



Goldstream. — The writer spent a few hours at the Goldstream Flats on July 20th, and 

 amongst other interesting material obtained was a short scries of Epirrhce alternata Mull., a 

 pair of Dysstroma occidcutaia Tayl., and a single specimen of Stanmodes blackmorei Swett. 



Fitzgerald. — This station is situated about eleven miles north of Coldstream and is in the 

 midst of a mountainous district. Mr. W. R. Carter, of the Museum staff, spent many week-ends 

 in the locality and obtained many desiral le species. Amongst the Diurnals several specimens 

 were taken of both sexes of that rather uncommon little skipper. Euphyes vestris Bdv. The 

 most interesting noctuids were Euxoa ochrogaster gularis Grt.; Feltia heriUs Grt.; Zosteropoda 

 Itirtipes Grt.; Septis multicolor Dyar; and .s'. plutonia Grt. Amongst the geometers the follow- 

 ing were of special interest: Cosymbia Ivmenaria Hbn.; Diactinia siiaceata albolineata rack.: 

 Eupithecia cretaccata Tack.; Drepawulatrio) fceminaria Gn.; ami Sericosema jutumaria Qn, 

 We are glad to have this last record, as very few specimens have been taken on Vancouver 



