Ant-friend Lepidoptera of Queensland. 579 
or other insects which I found them fraternising with, 
but I had left the red ant until almost the last, for it could 
have been added at any time; however, I finally took the 
species, and as it varied much in size and colour I collected 
it from several localities. One day a small boy of mine 
whom I had sent to a particular spot for several of them 
and their Jassidae friends, where | had taken some’ only 
a few weeks before, when bringing me the required insects 
remarked that there were several reddish ticks on the 
Jassidae! Examination showed that they were /epido- 
pterous larvae, so I rushed off at once with this now precious 
boy to the tree upon which he had found them. There 
proved to be many of the homopterous insects on the tree, 
in groups here and there, and upon a considerable number 
caterpillars were to be seen. I now had but little doubt 
that these were the long-sought-for ant-friend larvae in 
their first stage; however, selecting the hosts with the 
larger larvae, and keeping them under glass, I soon had 
the satisfaction of seeing the latter crawl away and com- 
mence to construct the cocoons, and upon the third day 
the altered larvae emerge. Upon leaving the cocoons they 
would move but a short distance, then assume quite a 
peculiar attitude, thus, resting upon the abdominal legs 
the front segments were raised a little and the terminal 
ones turned over the back, so that the tails often projected 
beyond the head, at the same time the anal parts and 
claspers were stretched out as far as possible. ‘This 
position, in a somewhat modified degree, is frequently 
assumed by the larvae, often for many minutes at a time, 
throughout their existence, and the reason for it has lately 
been made apparent to me, and is explained further on. 
To ascertain how the soft little larvae reached the ants’ 
nests, often many yards away, was the next matter, so I 
took several to the tree and placed them in the way of 
ants, who as soon as they became aware of their presence, 
would eagerly examine them, then the larvae, touched 
by the ants’ antennae, would endeavour to raise their 
uplifted segments higher than before and further thrust 
out the already distended claspers and anal parts. When 
an investigating ant came to these protruding parts she 
seemed thoroughly satisfied, for she would then quickly 
seize the larva and bear it off to the nest. So ends the 
first larval stage; what a change for the little thing, to 
be carried away from the fresh air and warmth of the 
