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NOTES ON THE LEPIDOPTERA OF SKELMANTHORPE 

 DURING 1901. 



B. MORLEY, 

 Skel manthorpe, Hudde rsfi eld. 



The year 1901 has been a fairly successful one with the macro- 

 lepidoptera at Skelmanthorpe, and although at certain periods 

 insects have not been abundant, at others they have been out 

 in great numbers, some of the common species being very 

 plentiful. 



A few new species have been added to the local list, making 

 a total of 221 species taken within a radius of four miles of the 

 village of Skelmanthorpe during the last six years. 



The following account deals briefly with the more interesting 

 work done in this district during the past season. 



The first capture of the year was a lead-coloured form of 

 Phigalia pedaria, the only one noticed as a departure from the 

 ordinary type. 



Hybernia leucophcearia produced nothing but the type, and 

 though much attention was paid to the species, not a single 

 variety was noticed, while in former years usually at least one- 

 fourth of their numbers have been of the dark form. 



Hybernia marginaria swarmed as usual, and after careful 

 observation it was concluded that about one-tenth of their 

 numbers were the variety fuscata, 



Sallow T bloom attracted crowds of the common TczniocampcB, 

 Pachnobia rubricosa being, abundant, and Tceniocampa incerta 

 and T. stabilis very plentiful and in great variety. Two images 

 of T. populeti were also taken, being an addition to the local 

 list., . , , 



\Cidaria snffumata came out in Some numbers, but was 

 unusually true to the ordinary form; only one imago of the 

 variety porrittii was taken, and none of the intermediate form 

 between it and the type. 



Larentia ?niiltristrigaria was disappointingly scarce, only two 

 dark males being taken, while the ordinary type was very scarce 

 indeed. . 



One of the principal features of the early season was the 

 great abundance of larva? after hybernation. Tryphtuna fimbria , 

 T. ianthijia,, and T. comes were very plentiful ; Aplecta nebulosa 

 was /abundant, while Noctua bruniiea, X. festwa i X. baja, 

 N. augur, a.ndM. xanthographa, were extremely plentiful. 



1902 -April 1. 



