the Larvae of the Noctuae.
25
p. 204), in which he calls attention to the fact that the
newly hatched larva of Calocampa exoleta possesses only three
pairs of claspers. This was followed by a note by our
member, Mr. Bernard Lockyer, who states that "most, if
not all, of the larvae of the Noctuae belonging to the section
Genuinae have, when first hatched, but three pairs of claspers,
the first two pairs being quite undeveloped; they are
gradually developed as the larvae increase in size, and by the
third moult they are as large as the other pairs, and fit to
be used in walking. Consequently, when first hatched, the
larvae are semi-geometriform, and loop more or less when in
motion." ('Entomologist,' vol. v., 1871, p. 433). Mr.
Lockyer gives the following list of species, which he had bred
from the egg:—Leucaniidae, L. lithargyria; Apameidae, M.
Brassicae and Persicaria: Caradrinidae, Li. trilinea; Noctuidae,
B. tenebrosa, N. festiva and brunnea; Orthosiidae, T. gothica;
Hadenidae, E. lucipara, H. serena, A. nebulosa, and H. Cheno-
podii ; Xylinidae, X. lithorhiza.3 Among the Heliothidae, H.
dipsaceus appears to be an exception, the larva never pos-
sessing less than the usual number of claspers.4
The next observation to which I propose to direct attention
is contained in a note published last year by Mr. Stainton
(Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. xvii., 1880, p. 135), and referring to
the young larva of Triphaena pronuba. Having received a
batch of eggs for determination, Mr. Stainton observed that
the young larvae were half-loopers, and concluded that they
were those of Plusia gamma. He was informed by his cor-
respondent, however, that the eggs were those of T. pronuba,
and, in order to have this view confirmed, he forwarded a
batch of similar eggs to the well-known larva breeder, Mr.
W. Buckler, of Emsworth, who reported that the larvae were
undoubtedly T. pronuba, and added some descriptive notes,
3 Of this last species, Mr. Lockyer states that the larva "is especially
geometriform when young, and has the habit of resting attached only by
its claspers, with its body held straight out from the surface on which it
is resting, after the manner of true Geometrae."
4 This exception may be only apparent; in such doubtful cases it is
advisable to extract the embryonic larva before it actually leaves the egg.