36 
OTHER PARASITIC AND PREDACEOUS ENEMIES. 
The value of ants in interposing checks to the excessive increase of 
the fall army worm in the South was known in Glover’s time, and 
especial mention is made of them in his report for 1855 (3). Ants are 
also mentioned by our correspondents as being efficacious in destroy- 
ing this pest. 
Of the operations of ants as destroyers of the ‘* grass-worm” Glover 
says that on a plantation in the vicinity of Columbus, .Ga., num- 
erous colonies had formed their holes or nests in the road passing 
through the center of an infested field and here lay in wait for any 
unfortunate caterpillar which should be tempted to cross this dan- 
gerous path for a fresh supply of food. 
First, one ant more vigilant than the rest would rush to the attack; then another, 
and another, until the poor caterpillar, entirely covered by its pigmy foes, and com- 
pletely exhausted in strength by its unavailing efforts to escape, was finally obliged 
to succumb to superior numbers and die as quietly as possible, when the carcass was 
immediately carried off by the captors to their nests, or, when too heavy to be 
dragged away at once, they fed upon it as it lay 
in the road. This warfare was carried on every 
day as long as the grass-worms prevailed, and no 
doubt their numbers were diminished in this 
way to a considerable extent. 
Among other material obtained by Dr. 
Howard during 1881 were three para- 
sites of this species, one of which has 
been identified by Mr. Coquillett as 
Fic. 6.—Polistes bellicosus—somewhat Hrontina frenchit Will. The fly issued 
enlarged (Marx del). é ¥ - 
September 9 from Laphygma larve bear- 
ing Tachina fly eggs collected at Columbia, 5. C. 
Apanteles laphygme Ashm. MS. was reared August 29 and 30, 
{881, from material received from Savannah, Ga. 
Mr. Quaintance (40, p. 511) states that there are several species of 
wasps (Polistes bellicosus 4 and others) that attack these larvee, as also 
a species of Bombyliid, or bee fly, which was reared by him from the 
larve. Polistes bellicosus is shown in figure 6. 
Limneria dubitata Cyr. is mentioned as a doubtful parasite of the 
fall army worm (Insect Life, Vol. ILI, p. 158). 
The larvee of a Calosoma, specimens of which were received with a 
letter dated March 19, 1900, from China Spring, Tex., were observed 
by Mr. G. G. Hood feeding on the fall army worm. The species is 
perhaps the fiery ground-beetle (Calosoma calidium Fab.), which has 
been recorded by Professor Morgan to attack this caterpillar (38). 
The larva of C. cal/dum is shown in figure 7. 
Euplectrus comstockii How., a common chaleidid enemy of Aletea 
aylina, or cotton worm, is recorded as a parasite of Laphygma frug?- 
perda. From the latter host 25 individuals were reared from a single 
