Entomological Sockit/. 



6187 



Of Coleoptera there are several species, sotne of which are Myrrnecophilous and 

 Staphyliiiidous. 



Of Geodephaga, an Acanihogenius, and a Cicindela, allied to nitidula. 



Of Lumellicorns (and the Celoniadous family in particular) may he specified 

 Plcesiorhina recurva {Fabr.}, Schaum. ; Pachnoda fimbriata {GorySj- Perch), Burm, — 

 perhaps only a variety of P. olivacea ; Pachnoda marginella. 



Of Longicorns, the Mallodon and Hamniaticherus, with their transformations, are 

 interesting. 



Of Neuroptera, the male Termes is worthy of notice. 



And lastly, of the Spiders; there is the large Nephila, belonging to the same 

 group as our garden Epeira Diadema, and which makes very thick silken ropes, 

 which the late Mr. Whitfield once told Mr. White were so strong, that in the forest 

 the wanderer must take care of his face, as he might, if careless, be hurt by coming 

 against them. 



Mr. Smith also exhibited some interesting nests of Hymenoptera sent by Mr. Fox- 

 crolt from Sierra Leone, amongst which was that of a species of Vespa, formed of a 

 perfectly white material ; and a leaf from the same locality covered with small purse- 

 shaped galls, from which a minute black species of Thrips had been bred. 



Mr. Westwood observed that although the species of Thrips were certainly 

 insectivorous, yet that certain species were well known as being amongst the greatest 

 pests to the horticulturist, puncturing the leaves of melon, cucumber and other 

 greenhouse plants ; the discovery that any species of this group formed galls was cer- 

 tainly quite a new fact, although from the great analogy with the Aphides, it was not 

 improbable that they might be gallicolous, in the same way as certain Aphidce forming 

 the genus Byrsocrypta. 



Mr. Walker also suggested that it was not improbable that the small {iui;er-like 

 galls found so constantly on lime-tree leaves, and of which he had never observed the 

 inhabitants, were also the production of Thrips. 



Mr. Westwood, in reference to the exhibition by Mr. Janson, at the preceding 

 Meeting, of a minute species of Heteropterous Hemiptera found in ants'- nests, now 

 exhibited the type specimen of his Microphysa pselaphiformis, together with a speci- 

 men of Microphysa myrmecobia of Germar, which last was identical with Mr. Jan- 

 son's insect, although it was certainly not congenerical with the British type of the 

 genus, which had abbreviated elytra, whereas they entirely cover the abdomen in M. 

 myrmecobia, although destitute of an apical membrane. 



Mr. Stevens exhibited a small box of insects sent home by Mr. Shield from 

 Bahia. 



Mr. Stainton exhibited some leaves mined by the larvge of Nepticulce also sent 

 from Bahia by Mr. Shield, and being the first tropical examples ever brought to this 

 country. 



Mr. Stainton also exhibited specimens of Authrocera Minos found on the west 

 coast of Scotland ; and the larvae of Cemiostoma lotella, mining the leaves of Lotus 

 major, in which they had been found in some plenty by Mr. T. Wilkinson. 



Mr. Westwood would take this opportunity uf correcting the erroneous view which 

 Mr. Stainton had taken of the remarks made by him on sj)ecific diifcrcnccs, at the last 



