288 BRITISH ICHNEUMONS. iPam'scus 



Most of these have been inserted under the respective species ; but one 

 or two must — as in the case Epliialtes — be jjlaced genericallv for lack of 

 specification. ."Miss Clara Kingsford (Entoni. 1883, p. 6q) found a cater- 

 pillar of .-Jtrr^/ir^? />.« beneath lime trees on August 24th, bearing two 

 chocolate-brown eggs of unequal size on its left side between head and 

 horn. On 2bth the larger was expanded and part was white; it enlarged 

 thence to 29th, when it appeared like an elongated and pedunculated 

 bladder, firml)- attached to the caterpillar; this bladder was the parasitic 

 larva, segmented, transparent white, with white tree-like opaque mark- 

 ings, gradually darkening interiorly. It continued to grow till 31st, when 

 it was a quarter-inch long, forming an arch over the back of the cater- 

 pillar, which ineffectually attempted to dislodge it. On ist September 

 the host had become very torpid and lost its colouring ; by the 2nd the 

 larva was nearl}- opaque white and at three p.m. when it deserted its just- 

 dead host, was half-an-inch in length, apodous, progressing slightly and 

 unwieldily by propulsion of the anus. On 3rd it had still increased in 

 size, but was less lively ; and on 6th had changed from cream colour to 

 bright yellow. On October 12th it began to darken, and subsequently 

 died in the act of cocoon-spinning. Fitch says "there can be little 

 doubt" that this was P. cephalo1cs\ but the evidence is too slender, though 

 the facts are so carefully observed as to be worth perpetuating. 



An even less definite experience befel me: I swept a larva (of f PItisia 

 ga?)i}ua) from bracken at Covehithe Broad on the Suffolk coast on 12th 

 Sept., 1 9 10, and noticed two eggs, brilliant black and more attenuate at 

 the base which was fixed extremely lightly to the skin, one on dorsal line 

 at incisure of third and fourth segments, and one disco-laterally at the 

 incisure of fourth and fifth. First egg hatched on i6th and larva began 

 sucking diligently, causing a black wound in host below insertion of egg; 

 on 17th it had doubled its size by 10 a.m. Second egg was exactly 24 

 hours later in emerging. On i8th at 10 a.m. the Panisciis larva was 

 white and treble size of its egg-shell, in which its anus is still hidden; 

 later one was as first 24 hours ago; host showed strong signs of pupating. 

 On 19th at 10 a.m. the first larva had doubled its size since i8th and was 

 now green ; it had changed position of mouth to exact incisure, but anus 

 still in shell ; the second was as first 24 hours ago; the host now rolling 

 helpless (probably for lack of earth in which to pupate). On 29th at 10 

 a.m., both again much grown ; the first with head again moved to fresh 

 spot, nearer host'"s head. On 21st host, failing to pupate, turned black 

 except area where first parasite is feeding; second parasite appears to 

 have died through feeding in black body; unaltered on 22nd. On 24th 

 and 25th the only remaining parasite attained size of 3 mm., ver)- pale 

 green with white granular markings, wanting along dorsal line, segmenta- 

 tion very distinct, sides rounded but with no deplanate lateral margin, and 

 anus still retained in egg-shell ; the host is becoming much depleted, out 

 of all proportion to size of parasite, and is black everywhere but in hitter's 

 immediate vicinity. On 26th very little green area left ; parasite 5 mm. in 

 length. On 28th latter cast its skin and dorsal prolegs were aj)parent ; 

 mouth-hold of host lost. On 29th parasite not recovered its suction and 

 seems somewhat shrivelled; died 30th. 



