168 Psyche [October 



specimens of Chelanops dorsalis Banks, were clinging to the lower 

 surfaces of the stones, and were usually resting quietly in the small 

 depressions or crevices, with their legs and chelse folded up against 

 their bodies. They were often covered with clusters of ants which 

 seemed to be quite unaware of their presence. In the same locality 

 and under stones of the same size, there were also many colonies 

 of a Myrmicine ant, Aphamogasier suhterranea var. occideyiialis, 

 but none of these contained any of the insects, Isopods or pseudo- 

 scorpions above mentioned. I believe, therefore, that Chelanops 

 dorsalis may properly be regarded as a synoekete, or indifferently 

 tolerated guest, of F. suhpolita. At any rate, the observations 

 here recorded and those of Donisthorpe above quoted, suggest 

 that the association of pseudoscorpions with ants may not be as 

 accidental and insignificant as we have hitherto supposed. 



FLUFFY CECROPIA COCOONS. 



« By Phil Rau, 



St. Louis, Missouri. 



Much discussion has been carried on^ as to the nature and abun- 

 dance of the large, loosely woven cocoons of Samia cecropia Linn, 



Chief among the conclusions to be gleaned from these casual 

 observations are: (1) that the fluffy cocoons occur only on low 

 boughs or in damp places; (2) that they bring forth only female 

 insects, and (3) that they harbor only parasitized pupae. All of 

 the writers agree that they are uncommon, or even "rare." 



The following data collected upon this subject during the past 

 two seasons will probably throw some light upon these little under- 

 stood points. 



In the spring of 1910 and also 1911, large numbers of the cocoons 

 were gathered at random about the fields near River des Peres and 

 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis. In making these collections, no 

 appreciable difference was observed in the positions o the two 

 kinds of cocoons, the large, fluffy ones as well as the tightly woven 

 ones occurring in both the high and the low, the dry and the damp 

 positions. 



»Ent. News, Vols. XI-XIII, XVII. 



