76 



THE YOUNG NATUKALIST. 



The wings of Homoptera meet roof-like over the 

 back of the insect, not overlapping nor flat as in 

 other cases. The mouth is a tube for sucking the 

 juices of plants. The head is often large and 

 broad in proportion to the insect. The antennae 

 are fine and short, most of the British kinds are 

 very small. If you thrash an alder or other tree 

 into an inverted umbrella you will find some small 

 insects of this kind with green or brown bodies 

 and transparent wings, which are folded roof-like 

 over the back. If you touch one it will jump a 

 considerable distance. These are insects of this 

 order, and are called in science Psyllidce. By 

 these distinctions you should know the members 

 of this sub-order when you meet with the perfect 

 insects. The larva and pupa state are, in most cases, 

 similar to the perfect insects, excepting that they 

 have no wings. Insects of this sub-order may be 

 distinguished from those of the Heteroptera as we 

 have already said, by the appearance of the upper 

 wings. In the Homoptera they are all of one 

 substance — either transparent like the Aphis, or 

 leathery like the Froghopper — and fit over the 

 body at a considerable angle. In the Heteroptera 

 they are leathery in the first half and transparent 

 ' at the tips, and lay flat upon the back. From 

 small species of Trichoptera they may be dis- 

 tinguished by the under wings of the latter being 

 nearly as long as the upper ones, and the antennas 

 are proportionately longer. They may be known 

 from small Lepidoptera as this is the only order 

 were the wings are clothed with "down," or 

 scales, and small Hymenoptera have all the wings 

 transparent and carry them flat upon the back. 



We cannot this week spare space for the other 

 sub-order Heteroptera, but will speak of it in our 

 next number. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Cucullia Chamomile certainly does not 

 hybernate in the imago state. I have taken 

 hundreds of its larvae in Sussex ia the month of 

 July, and never reared it the same season. Quite 

 thirty per cent, remain in the pupa state two 

 winters, at least ten per cent, remain in that state 

 for three winters, and always appear at their usual 

 time, viz., the end of March and throughout 

 April."— E. G. Meek, 56, Brompton-road. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES 

 FOR BEGINNERS. 



By C. S. Gregson, Liverpool. 

 WORK FOR JANUARY. 



L 



I hope for January now because it is rather ap 

 dead month, and enables me to get last year's p 

 captures into my cabinet. A few years ago 1 1 ' 

 longed for it, as I hope you do, that you mayft 

 commence to hunt for Lepidoptera in the larva orlk 

 pupa state as the case may be, or for ColeopteraJp 

 in the perfect state, and I well remember the longlp 



walks taken on the first of the month, time aftea 

 time, in search of Paras ia carlinella in the heads! 



of the Carline thistle (Carlina vulgaris) on the 

 sand hills, 01 for P. Jajpella in the heads of the 

 burdock (A. lappa) around Wallasey, and|u ; 

 especially when searching for Eupcecilia roseanc 

 in the heads of the teazle (Dipsacus sylvestrism 

 because the plants had to be searched for them! 

 selves, after the first winter or two. Bidstoi 

 Marsh was then hard hunting ground, ditches* 



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15:. 

 b 

 t :. 



broad and deep everywhere, and the teazle yoijp 

 had found, always on the other side of the ditch|p 

 The low ground about Moreton and Leasowe, anc 

 especially between there and the Meols, toward f 

 Hoylake, was the richest, and also furthest off •■ 

 Here, and in such places, you will be sure 0 

 Roseana in its winter quarters, as you are sure d 

 Peronea mixtana by smoking amongst heat] t 

 {Calluna vulgaris), and of Depressaria umhellell 

 amongst dwarf furze {Ulex nana), and of the com 

 mon Depressarice, &c, amongst tufts of grass e 

 rough weeds in ditch bottoms, or by beatin :s 

 thatch, &c. Whilst on the swamps Coleophof 

 ccespititiella may as well be collected. Bidsto 

 Hill and such like ground where rushes grow ar 

 the proper places to obtain this case. It appeal 

 like a dead seed or white projection on the rus 

 seed-head or stem, and contains a living mov 

 larva, which will require a few rush-heads to g 

 upon. Old walls, stumps of trees, palings, &c 

 should now be carefully examined for cases of tr. 

 genus Solenobia. The loose stones on moorlanc 

 should be turned over to see if there is a bit < 

 stick fast only at one end upon them, if so ren^ 

 it carefully with a penknife and expect to brec 

 Solenobia inconspicuella therefrom in April nex 

 The stunted fir trees at Noctoruin and arour 



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