36 NONAGRIA FULVA. 



NONAGRIA FULVA. 



Plate LX, fig. 4. 



In the Manual of British Butterflies and Moths 

 fulva is said to be the commonest of the small species 

 of Nonagria, and therein is given from Treitschke a 

 brief description of the larva ; yet it appears that in this 

 country no one ever found the larva until Mr. John 

 Sang, of Darlington, while in quest of another species 

 of larva, found this one, and meeting again with it in 

 the following summer, proved its identity by breeding 

 the insect, as recorded by him in the Entomologist's 

 Monthly Magazine, vol. xvi, p. 110. 



Most obligingly redeeming his promise made to me 

 on that occasion, Mr. Sang has this season again 

 sought successfully for the larva of fulva, and kindly 

 sent me for study — first, a very young example on the 

 19th of June ; secondly, on the 9th of July, four fine 

 larvae approaching maturity, thus affording an intense 

 gratification in figuring this long-desired object. 



The habit of the larva is to mine downward within 

 the inner white lower part of the triquetrous flower- 

 stem of Gar ex paludosa, a few inches more or less 

 above the root while young, and nearer the root when 

 full-grown. It must be admitted that no external 

 trace of its presence can be seen, for though a slight 

 blackish discoloration does really exist, yet this is so 

 completely masked by the close investing leaves as not 

 to be detected without very strict examination. 



When the first little larva arrived I saw it was laid 

 up waiting to moult, and not liking to disturb it then, 

 made no further search for another doubtful smaller 

 larva reported to be in the stem, and this eventually 

 proved to be a Coleopteron of carnivorous propensity, 

 to which fulva became a prey while in its helpless con- 

 dition. 



From the four larvna of fulva more matured I took 



