1880 .] 
139 
On this hint, Baron von Nolcken says that he collected in December, when at 
Cannes, a number of thistle-heads, without, however, knowing anything of the colour 
of the flowers, which were then long out of bloom — the result was that he bred, as 
already mentioned, a fine series of Pyroderces argyrogrammos. 
Any Entomologist who has friends in the South of France, might utilize their 
stay there by getting them to send home a lot of thistle-heads during the winter 
months. — H. T. Stainton, Mountsfield, Lewisham : October 9 th, 1880. 
Noctua c-nigrum in June. — I took five specimens of Noctua c-nigrum in June, 
and a friend two specimens. I did not look upon its occurrence at that date as 
singular till I saw a notice in the August No. of the Ent. Mo. Mag. by Mr. Douglas 
C ante p. 70) of a specimen having been taken on June 27tli. 
I took four of the specimens on hedge-row trees at sugar, three of the others 
were netted ; four of them were in fine fresh condition, all of which I have set out ; 
the others had a worn appearance. 
Most of the species of Lepidoptera that I have had experience of here have 
appeared on the wing considerably earlier than usual' ; but 1 have one instance in 
marked contrast to note, that being the capture of a very good male specimen of 
Saturnia carpini, which I took in bright sunshine on the 24th of June last. — 
A. Elliot, Samieston, Jedburgh, N.B. : September 15 th, 1880. 
\_Noctua c-nigrum also appeared at Pembroke in June. There seems reason to 
suspect that if the autumn be unfavourable, this species does not emerge at its usual 
time, but lies over in pupa until the succeeding June. This may also be the case 
with Agrotis suffusa, and even saucia. — C. G. B.] 
The destructive effects of Anisoplia austriaca in Russia. — The British Vice- 
Consul at Nicolaieff in a recent report says, “ One of the most destructive insects in 
South Russia is the beetle Anisoplia austriaca, called by the rural population of 
Kherson CouzJca. This insect first appeared in 18G5 in the Melitopol district, but 
there is nothing known as to how and whence it came, as it had never been heard of 
in any other part of Russia or bordering countries. The form of the insect is oblong 
and slightly convex ; it is of the size of a grain of Ricinus-seed, and of a 
cinnamon colour. The change from egg to larva and from larva to a full-grown 
beetle takes nearly two years. The female lays her eggs about two inches deep in 
the earth, and the larvee, after leaving the eggs, grow very slowly, live the whole 
winter in the earth, finding nourishment in the soil, and then become more developed, 
but remain as larvse during the following summer and winter ; then on the approach 
of spring they rise to the surface of the ground, where they accumulate. As many 
as ten bushels of the beetles have been collected from one acre of wheat. They fly 
from ear to ear and do not quit it until it is destroyed. They are capable of making 
long flights from one Government to another. Last summer a mass of these beetles 
was discovered in the sea near Ochakoff ; they were so thick that it was difficult to 
pull a boat through them. They were gradually washed on shore, and the people, 
instead of taking prompt measures, allowed them to remain there. When at last 
they recognised the danger with which they were menaced, persons were sent with 
horses, casks, &c., to destroy them, but it was too late ; about three-fourths had 
recovered strength and flown into the neighbourhood to form a new generation in 
