1920] Mann: Ant Guests 69 



Lepidoptera. (Family Lycaenidas). 



Liphyra brassolis Westw. 



a^ig. 9.) 



Several individuals of the singular, Dipterous-like larvae 

 of this species were found at Tulagi, British Solomon Islands, 

 in the leaf and silk nests of Oecophylla smaragdina var. subnitida 

 Emery. L. brassolis is found from Australia to India. It 

 feeds on the larvae of the host ant. The latter are unable to 

 harm it, because of the heavy corneous larval skin, the edges 

 of which fit closely to the leaf. At the time of pupation the 

 larval skin becomes modified into a cocoon, within which the 

 quiescent stage is passed; a condition analogous to that of the 

 cyclorrhaph Diptera. When the adult emerges it is densely 

 covered with scales which come off if the ants become aggressive 

 and distracts their attention while the Liphyra escapes from the 

 nest. 



The larvae much resemble those of Microdon, and glide along 

 in a similar manner, though very much faster. 



* Dodd (Ent. 35, pp. 153-156, 1906) has given an interesting account of the 

 habits, and Chapman (Ent. 35, pp. 225-228 and 252-255) of the development of 

 specimens from Queensland. 



