476 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



In compaiinf^ these larvse with the larvae of Liphyra hrassoUs 

 Doctor Eltringham notes that in the latter the cuticle is not pro- 

 \'ided with interlocking plates as in Euliphyra 7nirifica^ but is covered 

 all over with chitinous tubercles, and at the edges of the mantle is 

 provided with numerous short setae. There is no dorsal groove, and 

 the cuticle is not thrown into ridges. As Doctor C'hapman has 

 stated, the spiracles are minute holes without marginal structure. 

 The mouth parts are larger than in Euliphyra. The antennae are 

 certainly longer and more conspicuous, and the jaws are more 

 adapted for piercing and tearing. The peculiar modification of the 

 prolegs is not evident in Eulipliyra. 



ASLAUGA VININGA 



As was discovered by Mr. W. A. Lamborn at Oni Camp, in South- 

 ern Nigeria, the larvae of this species are carnivorous, feeding upon 

 tiny smooth hemispherical coccids {Pseudococcus longispinus, a com- 

 mon and widely distributed pest, and Lecanium punctuliferuni) 

 which are attached in colonies to the stems or leaves of different 

 plants. On some leaves they occur in great numbers at the base on 

 the under side, filling up the depressions between the main ribs and 

 clustering also on the stem just below the insertion of the petioles 

 {Pseudococcus longispinus) , or on the stems of various plants, 

 especially kola {Lecaniuni punctuliferuni var. laTribo)^) . 



The coccids are attended by ants, which cover them with carton- 

 like shelters composed largely of finely comminuted vegetable detri- 

 tus among which there are fragments of bud scales and numerous 

 unicellular epidermal plant haii's. 



AsLAUGA LAMBORNI 



Mr. Lamborn found that the larvte of this species present the same 

 general characteristics as those of A. vlninga, being oblong in dorsal 

 view with lateral surfaces sloping downwards and outwards. They 

 have a hard, tough, toad-colored skin covered with coarse rough 

 tubercles evidently protective in function, which is extended down 

 as a fold on all sides in carapace fashion so as to protect the softer 

 lateral and ventral surfaces. The lower margin of this fold bears a 

 fringe of very fine hairs, such as would efficiently prevent small 

 insects from crawling underneath. The segmentation characteristic 

 of lepido])terous larvae is shown only by the presence of spiracles; 

 but rather more than half way to the anal extremity is a deep 

 transverse groove, the only region at which, owing to the leathery 

 consistence of the cuticle, it is possible for flexion to take place. 

 The cuticle is indeed so hard that a larva placed on its back is 

 unable to bend itself sufficiently to turn over unaided. Toward the 



