BIKCHALL CATALOGUE OF IKISH LEPIDOPTEEA. 73 



Euperia Fulvago. — Mr. Greene's list. No locality known to me. 

 Cosmia Trapezina. — Common everywhere. 



,, Affinis. — Powerscourt. 

 Dianthaecia Carpophaga. — Mr. Greene's list. All the Irish specimens 

 I have seen are referrible to the following species : — 

 , , Capsophila (Fig. 9). — First captured by Mr. Barrett in June, 



I860 — See " Zoologist," p. 7324; occurs commonly on 

 the Hill of Howth, but has not yet been found elsewhere. 



The larva feeds on the unripe seeds of Silene maritima from June 

 to August ; and the moth, though only single-brooded, is on the wing 

 for the greater part of the same period. 



There has been much discussion as to the claims of this insect to be con- 

 sidered a species distinct from Carpophaga, some of the darker varieties 

 of which from Scotland approach Capsophila both in form and colour. 

 The larvae of Carpophaga and Capsophila, like the perfect insect, differ 

 principally in colour — Capsophila in both cases being the darker. The 

 larvae of Capsincola and Conspersa are, however, equally difficult to sepa- 

 rate, and their slight variations in the larva state seem to be characte- 

 ristic of the Dianthaeciae, and alone are insufficient to enable us to dis- 

 criminate the species. Some may suppose that the common origin of 

 the various species of the genus is indicated by these slight differences 

 in the larva state; but for the purpose of classification Carpophaga 

 and Capsophila seem to me abundantly distinct, and must be so [re- 

 corded. 



Dianthaecia Capsincola. — Generally distributed, and common. 



,, Cucubali. — Howth and Killarney ; not uncommon. 



,, Barrettii (Fig. 7). — This fine insect, discovered at Howth by 



Mr. Barrett, in June, 1861, and described by H. Doubleday 

 in the "Entomological Annual" for 1864, p. 124, is not 

 known to have occurred either in England or upon the 

 Continent ; four specimens have been captured — the first, 

 a male, by Mr. Barrett ; and the others, one male and 

 two females, by myself. The larva has not yet been 

 discovered ; it will probably be found to feed either on 

 the leaves or seeds of Silene maritima in July. 



,, Conspersa. — Belfast. Mr. Bristow. 



,, Compta (Fig. 8). — A pair of this well-known Continental 



species, taken in Ireland by Mr. Tardy, are in the collec- 

 tion of Trinity College ; but I am unable to indicate the 

 exact locality of their capture. The insect has long been a 

 reputed British species, and I confidently anticipate its 

 admission to our lists when Dublin collectors bestir them- 

 selves a little. Ireland appears to be peculiarly rich 

 in the genus Dianthaecia, producing eight species, whilst 

 only four are known to occur in Great Britain. 

 Hecatera Dysodea. — Mr. Greene's list; locality not stated. 



,, Serena. — County Wicklow ; Howth. 

 vol. v. L 



