8788 



Insects. 



[The Editor leaves this task to his subscribers, some of whom may possibly retain 

 the name of capsophila, while others may accept Mr. Gregson's correction. — E. A 7 .] 



Description of the Larva of Dasypolia Templi. — The time and mode of oviposition 

 have not been observed, but there is liltle doubt lhat the egg is laid on the stem of 

 Heracleum sphondylium (cow parsnep), the larva while young feeding within the stem ; 

 as it grows older and larger it burrows downwards, head foremost, until it enters the 

 root, in the very centre of which it excavates a circular gallery, at least half an 

 inch in diameter : its presence in the root is delected by the dying appearance of the 

 plant on which its destructive powers are being exercised. Kemoved from its gallery 

 the full-fed larva neither feigns death nor rolls in a ring, but crawls slowly and deli- 

 berately, and embraces the first opportunity of again concealing itself in the root. 

 Head porrected in moving, but when at rest nearly withdrawn into the 2nd segment, 

 very glabrous *. body uniformly cylindrical, and having a conspicuous corneous plate 

 on the 2nd and another on the 13th segment; on the 12th segment are three minor 

 corneous plates, arranged transversely. Colour of the head and corneous plates tes- 

 taceous-brown, very glabrous: body dingy flesh-coloured, rather shining, and having 

 a number of dark brown dots on every segment; these dots form a transverse series on 

 the back of the 3rd and 4th segments ; they are four in number on the back of the 

 following segments, from the 5th to the 11th, both inclusive; the 12th segment has 

 but two dorsal dots in addition to the three corneous plates already mentioned ; on 

 each side of each segment are four such dots, and within the area bounded by these 

 four dots is a white spiracle margined with black, and there is one other similar dot 

 on each side of each segment at the base of each leg and clasper ; every dot emits a 

 minute hair : on the 5lh, 6th, 1 llh and 12ih segments are numerous smaller dots of 

 the same colour, and these are arranged in a transverse series : the legs and claspers 

 are nearly concolorous with the body. About the 8th of August the larva leaves its 

 gallery through a lateral opening, and changes to a smooth brown pupa in the earth, 

 without the slightest appearance of a cocoon, and generally from three to four inches 

 below the surface of the ground : the anal segment of the pupa is rather long and 

 slender, and terminates in two strong a-od sharp spines. A female emerged on the 8th of 

 September. I am indebted to Mr. W. K. Jeffrey, the discoverer, for specimens of this 

 larva, as well as for its history, which was previously unknown. Notwithstanding the 

 troglodyte character of this insect, it is very apt to be infested by an Ichneumon, 

 which, like the larva, leaves the root, and undergoes pupation in the earth, spinning a 

 large and extremely tough silken cocoon. — Edward Newman. 



Description of the Larva of Hadena Chenopodii. — The eggs are laid about Mid- 

 summer, on the stalks and leaves of several species of Chenopodium, on which the 

 larvae appear almost exclusively to feed ; they are full-fed about the end of August, 

 and then fall off their food-plant and roll into a compact ring if annoyed. Head nar- 

 rower than the body, porrected in walking : body obese, uniformly cylindrical, very 

 smooth and velvety, the anterior extremity sometimes extended in a leech-like man- 

 ner. Head glabrous, opaque green, reticulated on the sides of the cheeks with paler 

 markings : body olive-green, delicately reticulated with black, and having two parti- 

 coloured stripes on each side ; the upper imperfectly defined, white or pinky white, or 

 more rarely yellow ; it extends from the head completely round the anal flap, and is 

 bordered above with a series of amorphous patches of intense velvety black ; the lower 

 stripe is narrow, but very distinct and clearly defined ; it passes just below the spiracles 



