i8 93 .] THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 113 



THE PTEROPHORINA OF BRITAIN. 



BY. J. W. TUTT, F.E.S. 



(Continued from p. 97). 



. Leioptilus microdactyla, Hb. — This interesting, little, double-brooded 

 species is not at all uncommon in most localities where Eupatovium 

 abounds. 



Synonymy — Microdactyly Hb., 26-27; Tr., IX., 2, 248; ZelL, 'Isis,' 

 1841,854; ' Linn. Ent. Zeit.,' VI., 388 ; Dup„ IV., 88, 12 ; H.-S., 

 V., p. 380 ; Frey, 417 ; Sta., ' Man.,' II., 443. 



Imago — There is a very great deal of difference in the size of the 

 specimens of this species, the smallest specimens being only about 

 four lines in expanse whilst some of the largest are eight lines, or as 

 large as osteodactylus. These small specimens are generally found 

 among those of the early brood, although specimens of the autumn 

 brood are also sometimes much -below the average size. I took a 

 large number of specimens in May, 1890, at Kingsdown, near Deal, 

 and among these are some of the smallest and also some of the largest 

 individuals in my collection. This variation in size is therefore in no way 

 entirely seasonal. The fore-wings of* this species are divided into two 

 lobes ; the apex acute ; the colour, sometimes of as bright a sulphur 

 yellow, as in osteodactylus, is at others much greyer; some specimens are 

 faintly powdered with minute dark scales, while at other times it is quite 

 devoid of them ; there is usually a black dot on the disc and another 

 at the end of the cleft with a costal spot directly above the latter ; the 

 upper lobe has a small dot near the apex and there are three other 

 very minute ones in the lower lobe. The hind-wings are divided into 

 three plumules, and are of an unicolorous pale greyish colour. This 

 is another of Hiibner's species. His figures may be described as : — 

 " Fig. 26. 6. Anterior wings pale sulphur yellow, suffused with black 

 atoms, with a black dot on the disc." Stainton's diagnosis is as 

 follows : — " Fore-wings pale sulphur, dusted with brownish, with a 

 small brown dot before the fissure, two small brown dots on the costa 

 beyond it, and some brown dots round the tips of both lobes " 

 (" Manual," Vol. II., p. 443). A figure of this species, its larva and 

 pupa are to be found in the " Entomologist," Vol. XV., PI. 2, figs. 1, 

 1a, ib, ic. 



Larva — The larva of the summer brood feeds in the flowering 

 stems of Eupatovium cannabinum generally at the axils of the leaves on 

 such stems. It has all the characters of an internal feeder having the 

 legs ill-developed, and the segments provided with rough projections 

 or hooks apparently to aid its movements in its burrow, whilst the' 

 colour is brownish and the skin somewhat shiny. Stainton gives 

 " larva in the blossoms of Eupatorium cannabinum " an error which 



