406 • Records of the S.A. Museum 



upon mosquito larvae and pu])ao, both of wliieli are captured with ease: indeed, 

 the adults and, to a lesser degree, the fifth instar nymphs, appear to favour the 

 pui)ae, for if sueh are present they are taken before the larvae. The victims are 

 securely held beneath the comb-like bristles arming the margins of the anterior 

 and intermediate legs, and are dexterously turned about as the beak is applied 

 to fresli portions. The rapacity of the bugs is remarkable; unless unduly 

 disturbed, examples which have captured a "wriggler" do not relinquish their 

 prey when lifted out of the water during transit to another vessel. 



Throughout the life cycle the nymphs also fed upon this diet; egg rafts of 

 Culex were placed in the jars containing the hatching bugs, and the tiny emerging 

 larvae were easily captured by the precocious nymphs. Between the second and 

 final moults (a period of less than four weeks) isolated examples on an average 

 each accounted for about 200 medium sized larvae, while during the first two 

 stages many hundreds of newly-hatched larvae were eaten. A laying female 

 during one month caught 33 large larvae and 37 pupae of Scutomyia notoscripta. 



Breeding Habits. There are at least two generations every year, eggs 

 being deposited as late in the season as April, the progeny wintering as adults 

 and breeding the following summer. Copulation has been noted at the beginning 

 of August. 



With the object of recording the breeding and other habits of the species, 

 examples hatched during the summer were installed in balanced aquaria towards 

 the end of the season (April). Throughout the winter these bugs remained 

 active and feeding. In early spring mating took place, and the first batch of 

 larvae hatched on October 27th. 



The courtship is most fascinating : the male, stridulating rapidly the while, 

 poises below and a little behind the female, and in this position accompanies her 

 every movement ; finally, with the extended posterior legs quivering Avith excite- 

 ment, he attempts to clasp her from below. He is not, however, in any way 

 faithful to one consort, for if another female passes near, and the first has not 

 responded, position is taken below the newcomer ; if she proves more amenable 

 a union is efifected and the couple remain in copula for an hour or more ; the male 

 occupies a position below and slightly to the right side of the female (that is to 

 the left, as the bugs are viewed upside down), the curious, finger-like anterior 

 tarsal claws enabling him to maintain his embrace. 



A description of the stridulatory apparatus of the male of Anisops is given 

 in the introduction to this paper. When A. hyperion is stridulating the anterior 

 legs are flexed still more than usual, the tarsi almost touching the body; the base 

 of the til)ia moves up and down over the rostral prong with extraordinary 

 rapidity, and sometimes a tiny, silvery bubble may be seen at the point of 



