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W. A. LAMBORN. 



At Rifu, finding pupae both under shelter of dead trees and under cover of rocks, 

 I took the opportunity of collecting some with a view to determining, when both 

 situations are present, whether either is especially favoured. The following are the 

 results :— 



The small number of living pupae is to be accounted for by the breeding season 

 being at a minimum during the late dry season, confirmation of which is afforded by 

 laboratory experience. 



Mutilla glossinae, Turner. 



A large number have now been bred from known pupae. The act of parasitism 

 has already been described in a previous report, and to my account I should add that 

 in most cases, when the pupa attacked has been on the surface of the ground, the 

 female is at particular pains to cover it with soil subsequent to oviposition, collecting 

 earth together with its fore-limbs from various points, after the manner of a Bembex 

 closing its burrow, and shovelling it back over the pupa with its hind limbs. 



The site for puncture is invariably about midway between the two poles of the 

 pupa. The delicacy with which the operation is effected seems to vary considerably, 

 so that though in some cases the site is readily found on examination with a lens 

 and may be marked by a little shining sticky patch to which a few grains of earth 

 sometimes adhere, in others no sign of it can be detected. 



Indisputable evidence has been obtained that this Mutilla is a direct parasite, for 

 it has been bred from pupae of known history, i.e., from pupae obtained from captive 

 flies and not subjected to other parasites, and a fact of importance is that the pupa is 

 attacked, especially I believe, in the later stages. As already noted, an undersized 

 female specimen was found on opening a tsetse pupa containing the head and most 



