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Prof. Poulton said that he had written to Mr. Lamborn, 

 asking him to send specimens of the actual ants in attendance 

 on each species of Lycaenid larva, as their determination 

 would add immensely to the value of these most interesting 

 observations. 



The Food of the Carnivorous Lycaenid larva, Spalgis 

 lemolea, H. H. Druce (S-signata, Holland). — Prof. Poulton 

 exhibited specimens and gave an account of observations sent 

 by Mr. Lamborn, which threw further light on the letter 

 written Jan. 1891, by the Rev. A. C. Good, Ph.D., from 

 West Africa — a letter from which Dr. W. J. Holland had 

 inferred that the larvae of S. lemolea are aphidivorous 

 ("Psyche," vol. vi, 1892, p. 201). The following extracts 

 from Mr. Lamborn's letters, together with an investigation 

 of his material, indicate that their food consists of Coccidae. 



"Sept. 17th, 1911. 

 "I have now found another kind of Lycaenid larva, perhaps 

 Spalgis lemolea, consorting with aphides or tiny Coccidae." 



"Sept. \9t?>. 

 " My newest Lycaenid larvae were found on Sunday after- 

 noon, Sept. 17th, associated on the under side of leaves with 

 other insects which 1 believe to be Coccids. I must write of 



[cv 

 them when the butterflies emerge, but I believe they will 

 turn out to be Spalyis lemolea, H. H. Druce, for I have seen 

 several of these near the tree in the clearing, and have not 

 made out why they come there in the face of a strong breeze 

 which is now blowing almost constantly." 



" Oct. 3rd. 

 " All the larvae were found among Coccids on a shrub in 

 Oni clearing. I will send Coccids. Each larva bore a cover- 

 ing of grey material, which looked to me as if composed of 

 cast skins of Coccids ; and I think they must have eaten 

 these [or their products, for they did not eat leaves. I am 

 told that the plant they were on is a species of Croton, but I 



