232 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. [November 



Polyommatus phlaas, and only one or two of this, although the sun was 

 shining brightly most of the time. — A. Ford, Glen Mount, Braybrooke 

 Road, Hastings, October 9th, 1893. 



Agaracophagus cephalotes in the Hastings District. — I found 

 a fine specimen of this rare insect among some undetermined Anisoto- 

 midae ; it was taken at Bopeep, near Hastings, in flood refuse, October 

 21st, 1891. — -A. Ford. 



In my note on " Coleoptera in the London District," in the October 

 number of the " British Naturalist," I omitted to mention Coccinella 

 mutabilis, which I swept commonly at Oxshott. — A. Ford. 



Lepidoptera attracted by Honey-dew. — On the 24th of 

 August, 1887, while returning from the Ince Marshes after a 

 few hours work w T ith the lantern, my attention was attracted by 

 a number of moths flying round a large willow-bush. On 

 examining the bush more carefully, the leaves were found to be 

 covered with " honey-dew," which had been produced by a species of 

 Aphis. So attractive was the " honey-dew " that my father and I, in 

 the space of about an hour, had taken as many specimens as I felt 

 inclined to set out. The species for the most part were very common, 

 but, living in the hopes of obtaining better things, I visited the same 

 bush for three nights in succession. Each night the bush was equally 

 productive, but the end of it all was, that a thunder-storm came on 

 and washed the honey-dew away, and so put an end to my sport. 



I have heard of honey-dew being attractive to Lepidoptera, but my 

 experience is, that such instances are very rare. Hence I venture for 

 the first time to place this on record. 



The following is a list of the species taken : — Cidaria populata, C. 

 russata, very numerous, Epione apiciaria, many, Leucania lithargyria, a 

 few, Calamia phraymitidis , one, Xanthia cerayo, abundant and very 

 variable, Noctua rubi, five, N. xanthoyrapha, twelve. 



In my diary I find a note that five other species were taken, but 

 common and not worthy of note ; thus making a total of thirteen 

 species. — R. Newstead, Chester, May 6th, 1893. 



Macroglossa stellatarum— Several specimens of M. stellatarum 

 have been seen here this autumn ; two that have been taken are in 

 my possession. One of these, a very fine specimen, was captured on 

 October 2nd in my father's draper's shop. The shop is on the shady 

 side of the road, and, as the insect was taken about noon, when the 

 sun was shining brightly, I cannot account for its presence in so 

 peculiar a place. — F. G. Hewett, Sittingbourne. 



M. stellatarum emerges from the pupa at the end of September 

 or the beginning of October, flies about for a day or two only, and 

 then retires for hybernation. By the accounts that have reached me, 

 there is no doubt the insect has been unusually abundant. — J.E.R. 



