Mephisto

[mra1]

Lulled into a false sense of security - did just fine until last 2 17 down Trees disappear in alien planet for instances ?A?GOSA? and 34 across a nasty spot's seen around membrane ??RO?A (these clues are interdependent)

Also I have STOPES for 1 across (female campaigner in digs) being the only solution I could get She was a campaigner but I don't get the digs reference which makes 2 down ORCHEL (dye of yellow colour seen on Buddhist mostly) but orchel is a red dye Can anyone clear these up for me?

[Lie-in King]

17d Margosas (trees) - 'go' (disappear, in) 'Mars' + 'as' (for instance)
34a Serosa (membrane) - a sore's (round; back)

[mra1]

Thank you once again Lie-in King to the rescue as usual!

[Lie-in King]

Stopes - excavates, mines, digs

[mra1]

Thank you for that also. Incidentally I have not seen anything from Bibblebub recently - do you know whether he is okay?

[Lie-in King]

Orchel (dye) - 'or' (gold, heraldry) + 'chel(a)' (Buddhist novice, mostly)

[mra1]

Ah too much of a one track mind

[Lie-in King]

I've no information on bibble, sorry - his profile shows he was last active on Jan 10th.

[mra1]

He, like you, is one of my stalwarts and I get worried when I don't hear anything. I much appreciate the time and trouble you both take to clarify parsing for me as well as enabling me to finish what I started!