Herbert W. Miles 179 



1919 pupated after about three days in the top |- inch of soil and 

 emerged in May 1920; this would indicate that there is but one brood 

 per annum. Field observations, however, showed some almost fully-fed 

 larvae in June and some very small ones feeding about a month later 

 — possibly there are two broods in a period of about eight weeks. 



A single larva of Rhyphus fenestralis was taken with some larvae of 

 Pachyrrhina imferialis feeding around the roots of italian rye grass in 

 June. Cameron records it in decaying vegetable matter and one specimen 

 at the root of Senecio Jacobea. 



Of the Lepidoptera, Odonestis potatoria and Arctia Caia were taken 

 feeding on grasses ; the former is a general grass feeder, mostly taken on 

 cocksfoot, the latter is a frequenter of waste places feeding, inter alia, 

 upon Lamium spp. and cocksfoot. I have taken the latter in one instance 

 feeding on seedUng crucifers in frames though it is not generally observed 

 as attacking farm crops. 



Hepialis larvae are very common on waste places and amongst grass, 

 they feed on any roots, and according to Theobald they are "found 

 during winter in hop-stacks and devouring the roots of grasses, where 

 they are extremely difficult to destroy." I have taken them at the roots 

 of rye grass and clover in April. The soil was medium loam containing 

 abundance of root fibres. 



The Tortrix larva as mentioned under "Winter Period" was again 

 observed on italian rye grass and in several instances feeding on oat 

 leaves. It was invariably taken singly and probably does little damage. 



VI. NATURAL ENEMIES. 



In the course of my work I have reared two parasitic Hymenopterons, 

 one from Agromyza nigripes and one from Cecidomyia destructor ; so far, 

 however, I have been unable to identify them. Most soil larvae are 

 subject to the attacks of various insect parasites and Roberts notes 

 instances of Proctotrupids emerging from larvae of Athous haemor- 

 rhoidalis and mentions parasites of Agriotes obscurus being observed 

 probably "also referable to the family Proctotrupidae." I have kept a 

 close watch on wireworms in captivity but have obtained no parasites. 



Carnivorous ground beetles such as Steropus madidus and Nebria 

 brevicollis are said to be enemies of wireworms and in both adult and 

 larval stages attack many soil larvae. In one instance I added to a pot 

 of soil eight wireworms and one larval Steropus spp. and subsequent 

 examination showed but four wireworms all ^vithin'the bottom 2 inches 

 of soil. As escape was impossible it is safe to conclude the missing wire- 



