THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



155 



which can be found. Working in this way I took four Polia nigrocincta larvse, 

 five Dianthecia c&sia larvae, one B. conspersa larva, and quite a lot of D. 

 capsopMla larvse ; the latter remain in the capsules of the flowers during the 

 day, and are easily gathered with the flowers, but casia and conspersa larvse 

 do not, and required to be searched for in holes and nicks in the rocks, and 

 to be tickled out with a grass stem, &c. Mind you don't tickle them 

 deeper into the fissure ! Turning from flowers to grass, I got two pupa of 

 Agrotis lucernea (since emerged), several full-fed larvse of Luperina testacea ; 

 these had fed upon and at the roots of Air a cespitosa, hitherto I had always 

 found it at the roots of llolcus mollis, or at the roots of Bactylus 

 glomeratus, where it makes a large bed of frass. Of Luperina cespitis 

 I took two larvae half-fed, and amongst these grass tufts were no end of pupa 

 cases of Hepialus velleda sticking out, but not one pupa could I find, all had 

 emmerged. But now I am hungry, thirsty, and tired, but I have not com- 

 pleted the work I laid out, — I yet wanted some larvae of Depressaria alstrce- 

 meriella which I got on the Conium maculatum, which grows freely on the 

 shore between the lime quarry and Castletown ; and a lot of Eubolia cervinata 

 which feeds in plenty on the mallows (Alllma officinalis and Malva sylves- 

 Iris), growing on the shingle and along the walls. It will thus be seen that 

 the collector who goes scientifically to work has plenty to do during the 

 day-time at the Isle of Man. 



OBNOXIOUS AND INJURIOUS INSECTS. 



By JOSEPH CHAPPELL. 

 (Continued from page 102.) 



Fissodes notatus is a recent acquisition to Chat Moss, although it is 

 now abundant on the western end. The larva feeds beneath the bark of Pinus 

 syhestris, especially on the trunk and large branches, where it eats numerous 

 galleries which prevent the sap from rising. It may be detected by the holes 

 in the bark, from which the beetle has emerged, and by the leaves being yel- 

 low. The larva when full-fed makes a cocoon of wood, frass, &c, in which 

 it changes to a pupa, and eventually a beetle. The perfect insect may be 

 shaken into an umbrella, by beating the branches with a walking stick. 

 This species has destroyed a considerable number of trees on the western part 

 of Chat Moss. 



Pissodes pini is found in Scotland, where the larva feeds between the 

 bark and the solid timber of recently-cut pine trees, If careful observation 



