Page:VCH Cornwall 1.djvu/263

 INSECTS county in the early autumn. Plusia chrysith and P. iota are generally distributed and in some seasons frequent. P. orichalcea was recorded from Cornwall in the Entomologist''! Annual for 1871; it has recently been taken at Mount Edgcumbe. P. festucae has been recorded from Whitsand Bay, Falmouth, and Penzance. P. pulchrina was taken by Reading at Saltash and by Baily at Paul. In 1 904 it was found near Liskeard and at Altarnun. P. gamma is everywhere plentiful from May to September. An example of P. ni was taken by Miss Carne in her garden at Penzance in May, 1869 (E. M. M., iii, 1 88). One of P. interrogationis was captured in the woods at Trerice near Newquay in July, 1902. P. tripartita and P. triplasia are generally distributed on the mainland and at Scilly ; the former is in some districts common. A fine specimen of Catocala nupta was taken at sugar near Looe by Marryat in 1890. Euclidia mi and E. glyphica are locally distributed along the southern half of the county ; the former is somewhat scarce, the latter in some seasons plentiful. Erastria fasciana is widespread but local, and nowhere common. Eustrotia venustula has been reported from Mousehole, but evidently in error. E. luctuosa has been taken on clover lately at Looe. E. uncula was not uncommon at Falmouth fifty years ago, but has apparently died out ; Marquand recorded it from Penzance. E. viridaria is commoner on the heaths and moor- lands of the east than of the west. Panemeria tenebrata is not infrequently taken in South-east Cornwall and occasionally as far west as Falmouth. Rivula sericea/is is very local, but not uncommon along the south. OCNERIADAE Orgyia gonostigma has been taken singly from time to time in the southern half of the county, but is very scarce. The larvae of 0. antiqua do occasional damage locally in Cornish gardens and orchards by devouring the foliage of the trees and shrubs. Apple trees have been attacked at Launceston and St. Columb, roses and laburnum at Bodmin, and a pear tree at Liskeard, but so far the mischief done has been small compared with its ravages in some counties. Dasychira pudibunda is common in woods and copses throughout the county, but has not been recorded from Scilly. The larvae are at times abundant on the young shoots of the elm. Co/ocasia coryli has been taken at Launceston, North Hill, Camelford, Liskeard, and Restormel. Porthesia similis has been taken in the Land's End district and occasionally at Scilly. Euproctis chrysorrhoea was obtained in the west by A. H. Jenkin. Stilpnotia salicis was obtained by Marryat near Looe in 1890, and has been taken lately near Calstock. Ocneria monacha has been frequently captured in East and Middle Cornwall but does not seem to have been recorded west of Truro. 0. dispar was taken by Marshall at Botus Fleming. NOTODONTINA HYDRIOMENIDAE Trichopteryx viretata has been reported from Bodmin and from near Helston, and was taken in 1902 at Launceston and Lostwithiel, and last year at Newquay and Millook. T. carpinata was first recorded by A. H. Jenkin, but has been subsequently obtained near Calstock, at Trebartha, and near St. Columb. Mysticoptera sexalisata was obtained in 1905 close to Liskeard. Lobophora halterata has been recorded from East Cornwall by Marshall, and was twice taken last year on the banks of the Lynher and once near North Hill. Chloroclystis coronata occurs very sparingly near Lostwithiel and has been obtained near Cargreen, at Liskeard, in the Penzance district, and by Adkin at Scilly. C. rectangulata is common in orchards throughout the county, and in some seasons, notably in 1900, the larvae do considerable mischief by feeding on the flower buds and newly formed fruit. In 1905 it practically destroyed the apple crop in one or two gardens around Bodmin, and specimens were sent in for identification and advice from Truro and from Penryn. C. debiliata is scarce and local, but has been obtained at Altarnun, Liskeard, Truro, and Newquay. Gymnosce/is pumilata is widely distributed, and in places not uncommon, especially in West Cornwall and at Scilly. Tephroclystis venosata is scarce, but has been found at Mount Edgcumbe, Callington, Bodmin, and Falmouth, and has been bred from the pods of Silene maritima from Padstow. T. expallidiata was captured by Miss L. M. Saunders at the flowers of golden-rod near Bishop's Wood, Truro. T. campanulata was taken several times by Marshall in East Cornwall. T. minutata was captured in 1901 on heather near St. Cleer, and in 1902 at Cardinham. T. absinthiata is wide- spread but local ; it has been taken lately on the middle Lynher, at Looe and at Fowey, is not uncommon some seasons at Scilly, and was recorded by Cocks from Falmouth and by Marquand from Penzance. T. assimilata occurs at times among currant bushes at Liskeard and Bodmin, and has been taken once at Newquay. T. va/erianata was bred from larvae on the fruits of valerian at Bodmin in 1902, and two were captured at Millook in* 1904. T. albipunctata has been taken at Angelica near St. Germans and at Looe. T. vulgata is mentioned by Atmore as common about Penzance. T. oblongata is local, but not uncommon, especially at Padstow, Helston, and Scilly % 211