XXVI LLOYD S NATURAL HISTORY. 



lives is to eat and grow. The leaves of plants and trees form 

 their chief source of nourishment, but a few species will feed 

 on dried animal or vegetable substances (hair, feathers, &c, 

 like the Clothes Moths), and a single instance is known of a 

 Lepidopterous larva being parasitic on an Homopterous insect. 

 This is Epipyrops anomala, Westwood, a Moth belonging to the 

 ArctiidcB, the larva of which is parasitic on the common Chinese 

 Lantern -fly, Hotinus candelarius, Linn. As we have said be- 

 fore, the eggs are laid by the parent Butterfly or Moth on or near 

 the appropriate food of the future larva, and in most cases the 

 parent insect does not long survive. But undoubtedly there is 

 a great difference in the length of life of different species, and 

 instances are on record in which Lepidoptera have been 

 observed to pair more than once, though this is believed to be 

 quite unusual in insects, the general rule being that male 

 insects generally die very soon after pairing, and female 

 insects soon after they have laid their eggs. This is un- 

 doubtedly the case with many insects; but further detailed 

 observations on the habits of a large number are greatly needed. 

 When the larvae emerge from the eggs, they at once begin 

 to feed, often making their first meal off the empty eggshell. 

 An explanation of this curious habit has lately been offered by 

 Dr. Scudder, who thinks that it is designed to prevent the 

 empty eggshell from acting as an indication of the presence of 

 the newly-hatched larva to insectivorous birds, &c. ; for, 

 while one function of larvae is to prevent the inordinate increase 

 of vegetation, especially in the Tropics, another is to furnish 

 a supply of food to birds and other insect-eating animals. 

 The excessive multiplication of insects is also kept in check by 

 the numerous parasites, by which they are liable to be infested in 

 all their stages. These are chiefly Hymenopterous parasites, 

 called collectively Ichneumons, but really belonging to five or 

 six very different families. There are also Dipterous para- 



