SOUTH AFRICAN BAGWOBMS. 191 



Abdominal segment 7 adorned with a fringe of hairs and 

 hair-like scales near its posterior edge. Eighth abd. segment 

 much smaller than the preceding ones^ annular, bearing the 

 genital opening ventrally on a small membranous cone 

 directed forwards. No genital armature. Ovipositor blunt, 

 conical, directed ventro-posteriorly, strengthened on its dorso- 

 lateral aspect by two chitinised rods. 



Copulation. — Copulation takes place in a manner similar 

 to that described under the Wattle Bagworm. In one case 

 observed in the laboratory copulation started at 2.37 p.m., 

 and lasted until late in the afternoon (after 4 p.m.). The 

 exact length of time was not noticed, but by 6 p.m. the sexes 

 had separated. In the open I have seen the males flying in 

 the late afternoon (5.30 p.m.), while the Rev. Junod states 

 that the male flight occurs after sundown. 



Dispersal. — The dispersal takes place during the first 

 instar of the caterpillar and is mainly caused by the wind and 

 air-currents, in a manner similar to that described under the 

 Wattle Bagworm. Notwithstanding the gi-eat fecundit}^ of 

 the female (averaging some 3300 eggs), the species is not as 

 common nor as widely distributed as the Wattle Bagworm. 

 The mortality amongst the young must be very great, and it 

 is probable that in this species the young, as yet, do not so 

 readily adapt themselves to a variety of food-plants, and they 

 do not thrive so well on the wattle. 



Geographical Distribution. — This species appears to 

 be widely spread all over South Africa, but seems to thrive best 

 on the high veld. A few isolated specimens have been found 

 at Winkle Spruit, Natal Coast, but it appeared much more 

 abundant at Ladysmith, Natal, and Pretoria, Transvaal, while 

 specimens have been collected at Christiania, Louis Trichardt, 

 Hill Crest, and Mid-Illovo. It has also been mentioned by 

 the Rev. Junod as occurring in Portuguese East Africa. 



Economic Importance. — For the present, outside of the 

 native thorn trees, the species shows a predilection for various 

 fruit trees, mostly of the pomaceous group, and for oaks. On 

 the former it may in some seasons cause great damage. In 



