Leindopterovs genus Ophideres. 239 



It Avas fi'om the examination of the proljoscis of the moth 

 some eight years ago, that I first began to doubt the statements 

 about the capability of an insect, fitted with such an instrument, 

 to perforate the tougli rind of an orange, though the apparatus 

 appeared adapted for enlarging a hole already existing. 



I then made encpiiries, and ascertained that the oranges fell 

 off in other colonies in Australia, where the Ophiderida> were 

 unknown, and being thus strengthened in my supposition that 

 the moth Avas, at all events, not the primary enemy of the orange, 

 I endeavoured to find out what wa«. 



I accordingly obtained a munber of newly fallen oranges for 

 examination. On squeezing these Avitli the hand, a sniall drop of 

 juice Avas seen to exude from the orange, and. on opening the 

 corresponding qi:arter of the orange, two or three maggots Avere 

 visiljle, A'arying in size, according to the stage of groAvth at Avhich 

 they had arrived ; only the division in Avhich the larva' Avere 

 Avas effected ; the remaining quarters appeared to be sound and 

 eatable. I then enclosed a number of the oranges in boxes Avith 

 a little sand, and at the end of a fortnight, tlie dy (of Avhich I 

 have sent tAvo specimens to Mr. Janson)* appeared ; and I 

 thought I could noAV see hoAv it was that superficial olsservers 

 had Ijeen led to think that the moth Avas the destroyer of tlie 

 orange ; Avhereas it Avas only an accomplice after the fact. Now 

 also, I could admire the Avonderful perfection of the mechanism 

 of the proboscis of the moth, and see hoAV Avell it Avas adapted 

 for enlarging a hole already made by some other insect, thongh 

 totally unfitted for commencing one, and that to this hole it Avas 

 attracted by the drop of juice exuding from it. 



* These specimens, doubtless referable to the genus Tryprtii,M.eig., 

 I have deposited in the national collection at the British Museum : the 

 species is evidently distinct from any therein extant, its nearest ally 

 appears to be T. srvratulcc, Linn. (Locw. europ. Bohrflieg-en. p. i\'l, 

 T. X. f. \).—E<I. 



x2 



