8408 



Insects* 



Heliothis armigera in the Isle of Wight. — In looking over a collection of Lepi- 

 doptera which I made, during the summer and autumn months, at the Isle of Wight, 

 I see in my journal that I came across a very good specimen of Heliothis armigera in 

 the latter part of Septemher, at Sandown, Isle of Wight. — R. L. Lovelace ; 57, Pern- 

 bridge Villas, Bayswater, January 7, 1863. 



Fore Wings of Phlogophora meiiculosa.—I wonder if it has ever been observed 

 that the bind margins of the fore wings of this moth, in repose, form an elegant 

 double-feathered head for a light in a gothic window. Any one acquainted with 

 architecture would at once recognize the resemblance.— E. Horton ; Wick, Worcester, 

 November 21, 1862. 



Xylomiges conspicillaris in Worcestershire. — I have bred several fine specimens of 

 this rare species during the past five years. The pupae were all obtained by digging 

 in the ordinary manner, and could not be distinguished from the Taeniocampa family. 

 I could never be certain that I had one until the moth actually appeared, which was 

 always between 7 and 8 o'clock in the morning. My impression is that I dug them 

 all from under elm trees ; but I do not mean to say that the larvae fed upon elm, but 

 more probably upon " low plants," and had crawled to the base of the trees for better 

 security in undergoing their transformation. The perfect insects emerged on the un- 

 dermentioned days: — 1858: March 13th, 1. 1859: March 13th, 1. 1860: April 

 23rd, 1. 1861 : March 27th, 1 ; April 10th, 1. 1862: April 3rd, 1. I must remark 

 that the whole of the pupae were kept in a room where there was a fire occasionally, 

 but they were tolerably remote from its influence. The present season, for pupa 

 digging, is certainly the worst I ever remember. There are scarcely any to be ob- 

 tained in this neighbourhood ; and, besides, the earth has been, and is still, so satu- 

 rated with rain, that although I have often gone poking, routing and digging upon 

 my bended knees nearly the whole day through, I have returned with but little hope 

 of adding to my series of X. conspicillaris in 1863. — Abraham Edmunds ; The Ty- 

 thing, Worcester, December 17, 1862. 



Dasypolia Templi in the Isle of Wight. — On the 6th of October last I bred a spe- 

 cimen of Dasypolia Templi. I cannot give a description of the larva, as I took no 

 note of it at the time I found it. In July or August I found a handsome green larva, 

 but, thinking it to be only one of the Hadenas, I placed it with several other larvae in 

 a breeding-cage: I took it in a wood, at rest on broom, close to some oak underwood, 

 and I believe it fed on the latter. When Dasypolia Templi appeared, of course my 

 suspicion was aroused that it was produced from this said larva. I wish it to be under- 

 stood that this is all conjecture. One thing only is certain, and that is I bred the 

 insect. A few days ago I took it to Mr. Rogers, of Freshwater, who pronounced 

 it to be a genuine D. Templi. As I have always understood the larva was unknown, 

 I thought it might be worth noting. — J. Pristo ; Alverstune, Whippingham, Decem- 

 ber 15, 1862. 



Economy of Depressaria applana. — The sluggish habit of this little creature, when 

 in its summer bloom, is in remarkable contrast with its liveliness in the early spring. 

 I saw a specimen on the wall of an out-house on the 20th of August, which I can 

 answer for having been on the same spot, and in the same position, for four days and 

 nights, although the weather was fine and the thermometer at 60° Fahr. Mr. Stainton 

 says that Depressaria) do not lay their eggs till spring, and probably therefore do not 

 pair till then ; and the same rule, though not without exception, is supposed to hold 

 with all hybernating Lepidoptera. If so, Dame Nature seems more rigorous towards 



