24 



of these is attached to the larva of Crijptophhhia vulpes as a 

 predator. This moth lives as a larva in the immature pods of 

 the koa, feeding at the expense of the young seeds. During 

 its development the larvae frequently cut their way out of the 

 green pods and enter fresh ones. They finally pupate in the 

 pods from which they have eaten out the seed. The Sierola 

 enters the cavity in which the caterjDillar has devoured the seed 

 and oviposits upon the larva after stinging it and stupefying 

 it. The larvae completely destroy the caterpillar and from 

 five to seven of them can find food from one larva. Upon 

 reaching full growth they spin silken cocoons within the emptv 

 seed cavity and the adult Sierolae emerge about the time the 

 pods begin to ripen and change color. In all the pods where 

 Sierola larvae and coccoons were found were openings apparent- 

 ly made by the Cryptophlchia larvae in entering one pod from 

 another. While I have not been able to make out the 

 details of the stinging of the Cryptophlehui. larva, the gen- 

 eral aspect of the conflict between them is much like that be- 

 tween Perisierola and its prey, the Sierola attacking with 

 great fury and hanging to the prey with legs and man(lil)les. 

 They also feed on the juices of the prey as do the other Bethyli- 

 dae observed. I have seen no indication that they linger with 

 the prey during the larval development. 



The koa pods are also injured by the larvae of Crypfo- 

 phlebia illepida and of Adenoneura rufipennis. C. iUepida is 

 too large to be readily mastered by the Sierola but doubtless 

 the larvae are occasionally utilized. 



The larvae of the species of Cryptoplilehia attack the koa 

 pods in a later stage of development than Adenoneura. Tlio 

 larvae of th^ latter emerge from -the pods and hide elsewhere to 

 pupate. They are also probably used occasionally bv the 

 Sierola. 



A larva supposed to belong to C. vulpes was mastered by 

 the Sierola and five eggs laid by June 25. These eggs are 

 elliptical in outline perhaps 2 1/2 times as long as broad and 

 rather large in proportion to the mother insect. Thev are con- 



