j)ASY(iiii{.\ I'.xioin.v. 193 



The cocoons in Avliicli they pupate are composed of four 

 distinct hiyeis, each of which represents a complete structure 

 or cocoon/ The outermost, or first spun, is thick and tough, 

 and within it the second and third are thinner and softer. 

 The innermost, or hist spun, is the thinnest and softest of 

 all. These envelopes are composed of silk and the hairs of 

 the cateipillar. There is a funnel-shaped opening- Avhich 

 jjrovides for the escape of the moth. This is so constructed 

 that some of the caterpillar's enemies are probably kept out. 

 When the cocoon is complete, the small larvae may be found 

 either on the caterpillar or between the cocoons ; but as 

 they can make their way through the meshes of the inner 

 cocoons, it would not matter mucli wliether they were enclosed 

 or sliut out by the cater])illai'. 



After about a week the caterpillar exudes an oily liquid, 

 and this has been found to kill some of the small laiTae 

 which were confined, ])erliaps too closely, with the 

 caterjjillars. 



Caterpillars and j^arasites may live together a long time 

 without anything happening, and many of the latter die 

 without having injured their host. After tAVo and a half 

 months to more than hve months from the time the cocoon 

 was s})un, the larva may be found attacking its host. What 

 the stimuhrs is which causes it to start feeding has not been 

 ascertained. If a larva is put with a caterpillar after it 

 has begun feeding on another, it will attack the fresh host, 

 and if a larva which appears not inclined to start feeding 

 on its host is removed and placed on a caterpillar already 

 injured by an(jt]ier larva, it will begin to feed on it, too. 

 Feeding starts sometimes Ix^fore, sometimes after, the 

 caterpillar has pupated. Tlie parasite larva is full-grown 

 when it is about 25 mm. long. It is possible that the 

 I)arasite larvae are repelled l)y the oily excretion of the 

 caterpillars, and can only attack them when this oil is 

 insufficient or has become dissii^ated. 



Some lai-vae seem to come to maturity fairly soon, and 

 to find one caterpillar enough, but others feed more slowly, 

 and the caterpillar may dry out before they have finished it. 

 They will then leave it and look for a fresh supply of food. 

 They make their way into other cocoons, and if they find 

 there smaller lai-vae of their own species present, the evidence 

 points to these being also devoiired. They sometimes eat 

 the head of the caterjiillar and also pupal shells. The larval 

 stage of the parasite has been found to vary from about six 

 months to more than a year, and the pupal stage from 18 

 to 30 days. The parasite emerged from January to May. 

 The Dasychira moths emerged mostly dining March, but 

 some were oiit as early as the beginning of December. Their 

 pupal stage varied from 14 to 23 days. 



The moth of the parasitic larva has been submitted to 

 Mr. Janse for detemiination, who found it to be an apparently 

 undescribed species, belonging to the Phycitinae. 



