Editor Canadian Entomologist:

I have received from Dr. A. W. Chapman, of Apalachicola, descriptions of preparatory stages of several species of Florida butterflies, made by him 1870-1872, with permission to publish such as I saw fit. I send one instalment confined to the Hesperidæ, and where it seemed desirable I have added notes of my own in brackets.

In the summer of 1877, my attention was called to some “worms” which had been discovered in the heads of red clover (Trifolium pratense), and were said to be preying upon the seeds. They were found to be minute maggot-like creatures, hidden within the seed-pods and entirely destroying the seeds which they attacked.

It is hoped the following list of Noctuæ, taken principally at bait, will prove of some interest to readers of the Can. Ent, although it is not a complete exposé of the fauna of this locality, having been compiled from but two years' catches—'75 and ‘76. During the season of ‘75 the weather was very favorable for sugaring, as there were always two or three nights out of a week in which the baits were swarming with moths, from May to October, but baiting was not followed very steadily or thoroughly.

I received from Mr. Mead, 18th Aug., 1878, Nevada, several eggs and newly hatched larvæ of this species. The eggs had been obtained by ccnfining a female on Violet, and the female was also sent that I might identify the species. The larvæ became lethargic immediately after leaving the egg, as is the case with all our larger Argynnids whose history is known (at least in the late summer brood).

In my investigations of the insects of the Orange tree, I have discovered another curious insect on some branches infested with Scale Insects, and given me by Major A. J. Russell. I at first took them to be Aphides, but on closer examination they proved to belong to Psocus.

About the last of March my friend, Mr. Allen Curtiss, a botanist, brought me some Orange twigs infested with the Orange Scale Insect (Aspidiotus Gloverii). On examining them with my pocket lens, I was surprised to see numerous small black mites running in and out of the scales, and which no doubt prey upon the eggs of the Scale Insect, and probably prevents their increase.

Arctia rectilinea, n. sp.

Average length, ♂, .50; ♀, .55 of an inch. Expanse of wings, ♂, 1.30; ♀, 1.50 inches. Head reddish flesh color, or in some lighter; eyes and palpi black ; antennæ dark brown or brown black.

Hoplisus gracilis, n. sp.

♀. Length 10 mm. Black, clothed with an appressed brown pubescence as in Hoplisus phaleratus (Gorytes phaleratus Say) ; face with a very short silvery pile. Face, stripe between antennæ, anterior and posterior orbits, clypeus, labrum and mandibles (except the piceous tips), palpi, coxæ, trochanters and femora of anterior legs anteriorly, spot on intermediate coxæ, posterior margin of collar, a small and a large spot beneath anterior wings, broad bands on scutellum and postscutellum, large ovate spot on each side of metathorax (irregular and tinged with ferruginous within), broad band at apex of first segment of abdomen, sharply emarginate and bordered with ferruginous anteriorly, interrupted band at apex of second segment, small spot on each side of third segment and line on each side of second ventral segment, all pale yellow.

Anisota bisecta, nov. sp.

♀. Head sunken ; head and collar tawny. Antennæ short, simple, the joints showing as distinct rings. Thorax robust, globose, elevated in front, and projected over the head more than in A. bicolor or in A. Heiligbrodti. Shoulder-covers narrowly bordered above with brown. Abdomen short, not extending beyond the hind wings, concolorous with them.

The question how to check the ravages of obnoxious insects is a very important one, and I am very often asked for advice in special cases. While occupied with a close examination of the proposed remedies and looking through a large number of scientific tracts, some of them fell into my hands and induced me to study them again. The present communication is the result of those studies.

Tetracis crocallata Guen.

Mature larva, one specimen—Head brown, much narrower than the body ; two large dark brown spots in front. Body stout and very slightly attenuated anteriorly, the 1st and 2nd rings much narrower than the rest and retractile into the 3rd.

A. biviella Zell.

I have received both sexes of this species from Prof. Fernald, of Orono, Maine. It is a prettier species than A. bella Cham., with the fasciæ much more distinct. Zeller describes only the ♂.

The early appearance of Lepidoptera gave indication of an unusually good season for field work, but the cold and wet weather in May and June apparently depopulated the woods and fields. Papilios were rare, and the Argynnidæ that usually fly in clouds above the prairies were conspicuous by their absence. The number of species taken was not much reduced, but my notes show a less number of examples in proportion to the time given to their pursuit than in any previous season.

Tortrix (Loxotaenia) Clemensiana, n. s.

Head and thorax above ochre yellow; palpi darker on the outside, lighter beneath ; antennæ dark ochre yellow, minutely pubescent in the male ; legs straw yellow, in some specimens the fore and middle legs are fuscons in front ; thorax beneath and abdomen above and beneath silvery fuscous, in some specimens very light straw color ; anal tuft light straw color.

I have recently received from North Park, Colorado, two interesting specimens of Anthrax, one of which is remarkable for its neuration. They are of a new species of the A. halcyon group, and both apparently females.

Hadena passer.

Mamestra passer Guen., Noct. I, 195.

Luceria loculata Morr., B. B. S. N. S., 2, 110.

I have received from M. Achille Gueneé an outline drawing of his Mamestra passer, and with the help of his description am enabled to make the above identification. The black marks tying the reniform to the t. p. line are variable, sometimes wanting; the color varies from pale reddish brown to dark brown ; the claviform is thick and usually solid, but sometimes open ; the lines are usually effaced, but sometimes quite noticeable ; the ornamentation is exceedingly simple. The eyes are naked, so that, with several other species referred by Gueneé to Mamestra, as I have previously shown, this form should be placed in Hadena.