200 Transactions. — Zoology. 



its prey by an infinitesirnally fine thread or cord. I have not 

 seen De Geer's description of U. vegetans, but Maskell has 

 defined its structural characters and its method of attach- 

 ment to its host. Notwithstanding that I have collected seve- 

 ral thousand specimens of Coleoptera in Ashburton County 

 during the last fifteen years, I have not previously observed 

 this mite parasitic on any specimens I have preserved. 

 Captain Hutton, however, informs me that when collecting 

 Coleoptera some years ago he noted it parasitic on several 

 species in the neighbourhood of Christchurch. 



Mr. J. H. Lewis, of Ophir, who is an enthusiastic collector 

 and student of New Zealand Coleoptera, has also recently 

 informed me that he has observed U. vegetans parasitic on the 

 undermentioned species: Uloma tenebrionides , Lissotes reticu- 

 lata, Thoramus tuakefieldi, Pterostichus pracox, Mmona 

 hirta, Coptomma variegatum, and Xilotoles griseiis. The 

 three first named are wood-eating species, the fourth is a 

 Carabid, and the three last are Longicorns, which shows 

 that many species of beetles of very different habits are 

 liable to be attacked by the mite. Mr. Lewis mentions 

 having also observed it on a fly (unknown) in the Welling- 

 ton District. 



When on a visit to Ashburton lately Mr. G. W. Howes, 

 F.E.S., informed me that he had twice observed U. vegetans 

 parasitic on two species of native moths (Xanthorrhoe beata 

 and X. rosearia) at Invercargill. They were attached to the 

 sides of the thorax and the thighs of the moths. Although 

 the mite would be of great service to man by destroying 

 the destructive Elater and detestable woodlice, it is regret- 

 table to see it attacking beautiful and useful native insects. 

 The predaceous ground - beetles are invariably beneficial 

 on farms, but are becoming rare in settled districts. Mr. 

 Howes, my son William, and I, lately spent half a dav 

 collecting on the flax flat below the town of Ashburton 

 and near the Ashburton Eiver. Instead of finding great 

 numbers of ants' nests, as formerly, under the half-embedded 

 stones, we found their old homes tenanted by swarms of wood- 

 lice, some of them being abnormally large and robust, and 

 very variable in colour. In several parts of this district the 

 woodlice have almost displaced the native ants. Although 

 we seai-ched very carefully we were unable to detect the pre- 

 sence of the mite on any woodlice, or under the cool slightly 

 damp undersides of the stones, to which they occasionallv 

 cling in groups. The year Mr. Maskell recorded the occur- 

 rence of U. vegetans in New Zealand I sent him infested 

 woodlice from Ashburton ; but I have not detected them in 

 this neighbourhood since then, until the infested Carabid was 

 received lately from Mr. Thomas. The specimen was found 



