52 
DR ALFRED E. CAMERON. 
indication of the fauna. Conversely, the composition of the latter will in a very 
general way be a reflex of these same factors. 
Some species of Coleoptera that are pests of grassland are equally injurious 
to cultivated crops. Wireworms will adapt themselves to various root and 
graminaceous crops besides natural grasses. This accounts for the fact that rotation 
has very little effect in diminishing the numbers of this pest. 
The Nitidulid beetle, Epursea sestiva (Table V), is probably a scavenger feeding 
on debris in the nests of wild bees. According to Fowler # the species is said to 
have been reared in numbers by Chappell from those of Bombus lucorum. Another 
member of the same family, Rliizophagus bipustulatus (Table IV), which the author 
has found under bark in the early part of the year, preys upon wood-boring larvae. 
An allied species, R. depressus, has been recorded attacking the larvae of the Scolytid 
beetle Hylesinus. 
Those species which could be traced to habitats other than those of grassland 
have been indicated in the tables (IV, V) by means of symbols ( q.v .). 
Lepidoptera and Tenthredinidse. 
The night-flying moths of the family Noctuidse (Caradrinidae) are typical of 
grassland associations (Table VI). Their larvae, surface-caterpillars or cutworms, 
burrow into the soil or hide beneath some ground-shelter during the day and feed on 
the surface at night. In general, those Lepidopterous species will occur in any given 
locality where their food-plant is at hand. Isolated trees of willow along the banks 
of the Dane and elsewhere in close proximity provided food for Smerinthus populi, 
Earias elorana, and Acronycta rumicis. Quite a number were invaders from wood- 
land, whilst ruderal species were not uncommon. The Pieridse, for instance, affect 
cabbage ( Brassica ) principally, and several Agrotids have a like habit. In the 
north corner of .Glover’s Meadow, closely grown over with bracken ( Pteris aquilina ), 
Pseudopanther a petraria and Melanchra pisi occurred in fair numbers. 
The nomenclature of Meyrick t has been adopted in designating the various 
species recorded. 
Of the Tenthredinidse (Table VI) which have been included in the same table as 
the Lepidoptera because of the similar larval habits of both, the species and speci- 
mens were preponderantly of the genus Dolerus. They appear first in the late 
spring and fly lazily about among herbage on which their larvae feed, never, seem- 
ingly, undertaking very extensive flights. The fully fed larvae do not spin a cocoon, 
but pupate free in an earthen cell. Allantus arcuatus also occurred in great 
abundance. Species of Selandria, Blennocampa, Fenusa, and Nematus were taken 
occasionally. 
* Fowler, C., British Coleoptera, 1899, vol. iii, p. 228. 
f Meyrick, E., Handbook of British Lepidoptera, London, 1895. 
