Insects. 



8407 



blotches margined by a number of lateral white stripes. Each lateral segment orna- 

 mented with a large orange-red and dusky purple spot. Spiracular line white. Head 

 dusky purple. Back and sides mote or less suffused with orange. Whole body 

 rugose, studded with minute tubercles. Tapers considerably towards the head. Belly 

 purplish gray, with a central dusky purple line margined with white. Resembles iu 

 appearance the first variety of the larva of Eupithecia nanata ; the lateral stripes also 

 recall to mind the larva of Eupithecia virgaureata. Feeds on Artemisia campestris, 

 (Zeller), and according to Knoch and Schvvaz, on A. vulgaris and A. Absinthium. It 

 most probably occurs in this country, and any entomologist in whose locality Arte- 

 misia campestris occurs will do well to search for it. It is full-fed at the end of 

 September and beginning of October ; at least it was at the beginning of the latter 

 month that Professor Zeller forwarded the larvae to me. Pupa enclosed in a slight 

 earthen cocoon. Thorax and wing-cases yellowish green, base of latter almost yellow. 

 Abdomen pale yellowish red. Altogether paler than E. fraxinata. 



Larva of Eupithecia feaxinata, Crewe. 



Long, smooth, rather slender, tapering towards the head. Ground colour uniform 

 dark green. Central dorsal line faint purplish, enlarged into a very distinct purple 

 spot on the anal appendage. Segmental divisions yellow. Spiracular line waved, 

 yellowish. Belly wrinkled, whitish. Central ventral line dark green. A variety occurs 

 in which the central dorsal line is supplied by a series of dusky triangular blotches, 

 very faint or altogether evanescent on the anterior and posterior segments. On each 

 side is a row of slanting, faint yellow stripes, tinged with pink. Feeds upon ash. 

 Full-fed at the end of August and beginning of September. The larva of Eupithecia 

 tamarisciata, Frey, as described by Guenee, p. 332, seems in some degree to re- 

 semble this larva. Pupa enclosed in a slight cocoon, under moss on the trunks of 

 ash. Long, slender and tapering. Thorax and wing-cases dark olive ; abdomen still 

 darker, almost black, tinged posteriorly with red. Perfect insect appears in June and 

 July. The larvae will feed upon flowers of laurustinus if reared frem the egg in con- 

 finement. I have described this larva as Eupithecia innotata in the ' Entomologist's 

 Annual' for 1861, p. 136, and in the ' Zoologist ' (Zool. 6610, 6770.)— H. Harpur 

 Crewe ; The Rectory, Drayton Beauchamp, Tring, November 12, 1862. 



Leucania Loreyi (Duponchel), at Brighton. — On the 14th of last October, Mr. 

 Thorncroft captured two specimens of this species in Sussex, a few miles from 

 Brighton ; they are both females, and rather wasted. On the Continent of Europe it 

 is found in the South of France and in Spain, but appears to be rather a scarce species. 

 M. Guenee says of it, " I have not found any essential difference between the L. Loreyi 

 of Europe and those I received from Dr. Horsfield, which were reared from the larvse 

 in Java. I have also a female given to me as coming from Brazil, which is only 

 rather smaller and a little paler in colour. It is therefore probable that this Leucania, 

 like Heliothis armigera, inhabits a large portion of the globe. It varies in colour." 

 Mr. Thorncroft has kindly presented one of the specimens to me. The fact that nearly 

 all the species of Lepidoptera recently discovered in the South of England are natives 

 of the southern portion of Europe, and are never found on the northern coast, renders 

 it very improbable that these specimens are of continental origin. In a letter re- 

 cently received from Dr. Staudinger, he remarks upon the singularity of our country, 

 which produces so many southern forms. — Henry Doubleday ; Epping, January 

 12, 1863, 



