Predaceous Insects and their Prey. 403 



In addition to the above records Kirby and Spence 

 quote Lyonnet's observation of a Panorpa attacking a 

 Dragonfly many times its size.* 



This brief list of the attacks made by Panorpidm contains 

 facts of much interest. The crowd surrounding a dead 

 worm (No. 325) seems to prove beyond doubt tliat the 

 Panorpas had been attracted by smell. The insects had 

 congregated round the worm in a sheltered position on a 

 roadside bank. The Telephorid victim (No. 329) is a 

 striking example of specially protected prey ; while the 

 Empid (No. 328) and the Dragonfly recorded by Lyonnet 

 show that predaceous insects are attacked as well as others. 

 It must be borne in mind however that the first record 

 (No. 325) strongly suggests, although it does not prove, 

 that these insects devour dead prey. The record of actual 

 capture and the condition of the victim become therefore 

 of special interest and importance in the Panorpidse. 



III. HEMIPTERA. 



Considering the immense number of predaceous species 

 included in the Hemiptera the following table is insig- 

 nificant. I trust however that it may lead to abundant 

 future observations on which trustworthy conclusions may 

 be based. 



So far as it is possible to judge from the following table it 

 appears that Hemiptera will prove to be extremely danger- 

 ous foes to the specially protected groups. Thus out of 15 

 victims, we find 3 Lepidopterous larvas (Nos. 331,333,337) 

 all probably defended by special qualities; 2 stinging 

 Hymenoptera (Nos. 335, 338) ; 2 Phytophagous beetles 

 (Nos. 332, 345) and a Cetoniid (No. 334) ; 2 Hemiptera 

 (Nos. 341, 342) ; — altogether no less than two-thirds of the 

 total records. The remaining five examples include a 

 Lycasnid butterfly, 2 Longicorn beetles of one species, and 

 2 Diptera. Even among these the conspicuous colouring 

 of the beetle suggests the probability of special defence. 



* Kirby and Spence, 5th Ed. 1828, vol. ii, p. 253. 



TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1906. — PART III. (jAN. 1907) 27 



