294 
THE entomologist’s RECORD. 
to have taken it myself this year, but the total failure of sugar has pre- 
vented me, or at least has made it impossible for me to do so. By the 
way, I almost forgot to say that the larvae are full-fed by the middle or 
end of June. — W. Reid, Pitcaple, Aberdeen. 
Habits of Plusia orichalcea. — Captain Robertson’s capture of 
Plusia orichalcea is interesting, as it adds another locality for this 
local and beautiful species and he should work for the larvae on Eupa- 
torium cannahiniini (hemp agrimony). Some entomologists beat for 
the young larvae in October, and hybernate them ; I always find this 
unnecessary as I can find them easily in the spring, and save “ loss 
and trouble ” hybernating them. They are a good size and fairly easy 
to find about the last week in May and first in June. They eat pieces 
out of the centre of each side of the leaf to the midrib, and the end 
of the leaf losing its support hangs down and fades, many leaves 
on a stem served in this way looking very conspicuous. Carefully (as 
they drop off) bend the stem down, and the larva will probably be 
found resting on the underside of a leaf, if young, or if full-fed, 
with its hind-claspers grasping the main stem, and its front legs 
holding on to the underside of one of the bent leaves. If it is not 
on the stem first noticed, look on all near, its presence will soon 
be evident by fresh feeding. — W. Farren, Fern House, Union Road, 
Cambridge. August 26th, 1891. 
ScoPULA DECREPiTALis AT GLASGOW. — Amongst some insects I had 
brought me by a young collector to name, I found a Fyrale, which is 
undoubtedly Scopula decrepitalis. — T. J. Henderson, Glasgow. October 
loth^ 1891. 
Times of Emergence. — I most decidedly agree with Mr. Farren on 
the “times of emergence” question {ante, p. 139), and I can add one 
species at any rate to the list which he gives, viz., Notodonia dictcea, 
which has a most inconvenient habit of emerging between ten and 
eleven p.m. I have bred it now for several seasons successively, and 
find this an invariable rule. The males, too, must be killed as soon 
as possible after the wings are dry, or they will be worthless as 
specimens in the morning. — Charles F. Thornewill, The Soho, 
Burton-on-Trent. September 2nd, 1891. 
Mites. — I find the following preparation very useful in getting rid of 
mites. It consists of equal parts of oil of thyme, oil of aniseed and 
spirits of wine. I find this efficacious both for destroying them in 
imagines and also for prevention. I went through a large collection 
for a friend of mine three years ago, which was swarming with them, 
and although not touched since, there is not a. mite in one of the 
40 drawers. The preparation is given in the Insect Hunter’s 
Companio7i. — T. Baxter, St. Anne’s-on-Sea. Oct. ^th, 1891. 
TyENiocAMPA OPiMA. — It may be of interest to note that I bred a fine 
series of T. opinia (as far as the pupal state) from ova collected on the 
Lancashire coast, and believe I did not lose a single larva ; they were fed 
on sallow, on the air-tight principle and were kept in the shade with 
just a little sunshine before 7 a.m., none afterwards. They have 
pupated in loose shallow trays which fit the bottom of my breeding 
cages, into which the larvae were removed from the bell-glasses, about a 
fortnight before going down. I have over 150 pupae, and, should they 
emerge all right next spring, I shall be pleased to give fuller particulars 
