THE BANKSIA MOTH. 123 



than a half-dozen specimens of tlie apple-root borer 

 {Lepiops Uopei), but since it has taken to our introduced 

 fruit trees they have increased at an alarming rate, as in 

 one orchard near Castlemaine no fewer than 1,600 full- 

 grown beetles were taken in the one season, and many 

 similar experiences could, if necessary, be cited. 



This caterpillar is occasionally attacked by the larva of 

 a Dipterous fly, which fly is closely allied to the Mus- 

 cidae, to which group the common house fly belongs. 

 The larvae has also been found to have been " stung " by 

 some Ichneumon fly, but this is of a comparatively rare 

 occurrence. It is a singular fact that ants seldom, if ever, 

 attack caterpillars whilst the latter are feeding on the 

 plants, but only let them fall to the ground, then the 

 ants, seeming at once to recognise the comparative 

 helplessness of certain caterpillars, attack them in force, 

 and if in suflficient numbers the caterpillar is soon torn 

 to pieces and eaten. Should it happen, however, that 

 the skin of the grub is tough or hard, the contents of the 

 body are scooped out leaving the shell or covering re- 

 maiuins;, this beino- a common occurrence when laroe 

 Coleoptera or beetles are attacked by ants. 



