8700 



Insects. 



devour: it is full-fed in May, and then descends to the earth and changes to a pupa 

 near the surface. — Edward Newman. 



Description of the Larva of Larentia salicata. — The female lays her eggs on Galium 

 verum, Galium saxatile, and probably other species of bedstraw ; in confinement it 

 not only feeds on bedstraw, but thrives equally well on Asperula odorata, a plant much 

 to be recommended as growing luxuriantly in London gardens, and as furnishing an 

 acceptable food to nearly all those larva? which in a state of nature feed on the dif- 

 ferent species of bedstraw. The larvae of Larentia salicata, when full-fed, rest with the 

 claspers attached tightly to the food-plant, and from the abdominal pair the body 

 ascends at a right angle, the anterior segments being bent gracefully over: when an- 

 noyed the peculiarities of this posture become intensified, the anterior segments 

 assuming the form of an Ionic volute, of which the tightly-tucked-in head is the 

 centre; this figure becomes more and more rigid as the annoyance continues, until 

 the larva abandons its hold on the food-plant, rolls itself in a compact ring, and, 

 feigning death, falls to the ground. Head rather small, semiporrect, not notched on 

 the crown, beset with a few hairs : body of uniform thickness throughout, without 

 humps or warts, but beset with scattered hairs, and having a rather remarkably con- 

 spicuous tuberculated double skinfold along each side below the spiracles. Head 

 pale, semitransparent umber-brown, spotted with dark umber-brown : body umber- 

 brown, with four narrow approximate parallel whitish stripes, extending the entire 

 length of the back ; on each side below the spiracles, and' comprising the skinfold 

 already noticed, is a broad pale somewhat flesh-coloured stripe; the ventral surface is 

 rather pale along the middle, but darker on the side where-it touches the pale lateral 

 stripe ; it also exhibits traces of four parallel narrow stripes, of which the inner pair 

 are very obscure ; feet and claspers similar in colour to the darker parts of the body. 

 Feeds on Galium verum and Galium saxatile. I am indebted to Mr. Doubleday for 

 specimens of this larva, which he received from Mr. Robinson, of Cockermoulh. They 

 were full-fed on the 18th of May, and spun together the leaves of the Asperula, incor- 

 porating particles of cocoa-nut husk, and forming tough cocoons. This species is 

 regularly double-brooded. — Id. 



Description of the Larva of Lobophora lobulata. — The egg; is laid in the spring, on 

 Lonicera periclymenum (honeysuckle), and perhaps also on Salix caprea (sallow), on 

 which shrubs, as well as Salix viminalis, it feeds freely in confinement. When full- 

 fed, which is towards the end of June, it rests in a nearly straight position, the ante- 

 rior extremity being slightly raised, and the middle of the back slightly arched. Head 

 prone, hidden from above by the anterior margin of the 2nd segment, not perceptibly 

 notched on the crown : body rather obese, rather depressed, with a conspicuous dilated 

 skinfold on each side just below the spiracles, and two short points directed backwards 

 just below the anal flap. Head dull green, with intensely black ocelli: body dull 

 opaque green above, and a narrow white stripe on each side, including the dilated 

 skinfold ; this white stripe extends from the head to the apex of the anal flap ; anal 

 points slightly tinged with pink ; belly with a broad median glaucous stripe, between 

 which and the white lateral stripe the belly is nearly concolorous wilh the back; legs 

 semitransparent pale green ; claspers green, slightly tipped with pink. It spins a 

 slight web on the surface of the ground, and, changing to a pupa, remains in that 

 state throughout the winter. I am indebted for a supply of this larva to Mr. Nicholas 

 Cooke, of Liscard. — Id. 



Description of the Larva of Leucania Phragmitidis. — The eggs are laid in July, 



