Abstract
LONDON. Entomological Society, October 15.—Prof.E. B. Poulton, F.R.S., vice-president, in the chair.—Mr. A. J. Chitty showed an entirely black specimen of Metoecus paradoxus as tending to disprove the mimicry suggested by him at the meeting on October 1. Dr. Chapman said that in his experience one out of every six specimens of this species was black. Mr. Donisthorpe stated that out of about one hundred specimens he had never caught or bred a black Metoecus.—Mr. E. P. Pickett exhibited a variety of the female of Argynnis aglaia, varieties of Satyrus janira and a long series of Lycaena corydon taken near Folkestone and Dover in August last, including four males of the last-named species, with the black band on the edge of the forewings much deeper than usual; also twelve dwarf male specimens of this species, four dwarf females and many other aberrant forms. Mr. Goss said this dwarf form of L. corydon occurred constantly in one valley about two miles east from Dover, but he was unaware of its occurrence elsewhere in this country. He remarked that a dwarf form of L. arion occurred everywhere where the type was found, both in Gloucestershire and Cornwall. Dr. Chapman and Mr. Sloper also remarked on the dwarf form of L. corydon.—Dr. Chapman exhibited specimens of Notodonta (Hybocampa) dryinopa from Queensland. It was remarkably similar in appearance, structure and habits to Hybocampa milhauseri. He stated that the pupa with a similar spine to that of H. milhauseri does not cut out a regular oval lid from the cocoon like that species, but by a stabbing process pierces it with a number of holes, so that a piece is more easily pushed off. The cocoon being covered with bits of bark, stone, &c., a cutting process would be impossible, whereas the cocoon of H. milhauseri was of pure gum-like silk. He pointed out that the larva much resembled that of H. milhauseri, but the hinder segments were more like those of Stauropus fagi. He also exhibited living eggs, larvæ and imagines of Orina tristis, var. smaragdina, from Pino, Lago Maggiore. The beetles were taken on May 30, and had laid many eggs. Dr. Chapman said that the embryo, ready to hatch, might be seen within some of the eggs and its hatching spines observed.—Mr. Sloper exhibited a specimen of Lycaena hylas, caught at Dover on September 7.—Mr. Martin Jacoby communicated a paper entitled “A Further Contribution to our Knowledge of African Phytophagous Coleoptera.”—Mr. Malcolm Burr read a communication from Hofrath Dr. Carl Brunner von Wattenwyl entitled “Observations sur le nom générique Acrida.”
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Societies and Academies . Nature 67, 23–24 (1902). https://doi.org/10.1038/067023a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/067023a0