Ant-fricnd Lemdoptera of Queensland. 581 
out) with the head at the base; if the host is a pupa 
the forepart of the caterpillar is thrust well under the 
projecting wing sheath. A well-grown larva upon a pupal 
host of one species pushes the abdomen a little to one 
side, giving the victim a queer lopsided appearance, or 
it may be that a caterpillar completely covers the upper 
surface of a larva’s abdomen, and even wraps a little over 
the end. In some species of Jassidae the larvae prefer 
to affix themselves to the dorsal surface of the abdomen 
or along the sides; in others, where the abdomen curves 
upward, the underside is chosen. The caterpillar spins 
a white floor of web to cling to, adding a little wall to 
this which leans over somewhat, the whole being com- 
parable to the toe of a slipper; in this the head and 
several segments are protected from the pressure of the 
host’s wing, if same is a pupa or imago, and from the 
movements of the legs, but the larger part of the insect 
is unprotected. 
Occasionally, after a long dry period, there are not many 
groups of Homoptera about, so that the trees first to put 
forth young foliage soon carry numbers of these, and the 
moths freely oviposit on such trees, then strange sights 
are to be seen, almost every homopteron having its rider 
or riders, some with only one or two, others with three or 
four, and some of the imagos with seven or eight, mostly 
packed away under the wings, and forcing them apart. 
Recently I have seen several of these remarkably inter- 
esting communities, and amongst many overloaded imagos 
I took one with six good-sized larvae, and as I boxed it 
there were five more newly-emerged examples underneath, 
doubtless meaning to crawl on, too. Some of these over- 
loaded imagos will be seen in the tubes exbibited. Where 
these insects are in such numbers the ants are exceedingly 
numerous, and they valiantly fight for their pets. As the 
season advances, and various trees put forth young shoots, 
the Homoptera and caterpillars become more scattered, 
and the latter might be overlooked. In approaching one 
of these social communities the ants quickly become 
alarmed, and rush about seeking for something to fight; 
then the Homoptera, many with their burdens great and 
small, doubtless understanding there is danger, toddle 
away as fast as possible to more protected spots, at the 
same time freely emitting their little drops of clear liquid ; 
as matters quieten the ants again turn their attention to 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1911.—PaART. III. (JAN.) QQ 
