es rac 6e oer eee pres at 
on the Bionomics of Southern Nigerian Insects. 427 
I didn’t wish to expose what I had got to the sun. I 
thought the fly ova had been lost in the soil. The wasp 
ege was placed about the middle of the host body and was 
quite conspicuous. It could not have been seen without 
‘digging out the larva. Yet shortly after, when I reached 
my quarters, I observed signs of life beside the wasp egg. 
Four or five minute maggots were “crowding” round it. 
To-day the wasp egg has disappeared, as far as I can see, 
and the maggots appear to be trying to enter the larva. 
Now, unfortunately, there is a doubt as to the fate of the 
wasp egg. I think the maggots accounted for it. But the 
moth larva though unable to crawl is capable of a very 
strong reflex, and, as the maggots try to penetrate it, it 
jerks with vigour, and I have not been able to confine its 
movements as they would be in a cell in the ground, and the ~ 
egg may have been damaged in this way. On the whole, 
however, I think not, for the larva was unable to roll over 
so that the egg would be underneath, and the egg could not 
come into contact with anything above. It was interesting 
to note that the larva, though it couldn’t crawl away, could 
yet function in another way and excreted about fourteen 
faecal pellets. This would, I take it, materially assist its 
parasites by checking decomposition. I shall try to rear 
the flies, and if I succeed will be sure to send them on. I'll 
know by next mail, I think. 
July 3, 1915.—{Referring to the material despatched. | 
No. 2 is the wasp of which I told you. Her prey had 4 
or 5 viviparous Tachinid larvae dropped on to it as she was 
just about to close the nest. I failed to get the parent 
Tachinid which worked with such extraordinary suddenness 
and rapidity. None of the other flies have emerged, though 
I can see the pupae more or less distinctly. 
[Comparing this statement with that of May 31, it must 
be regarded as uncertain whether the Tachinid larvae 
were deposited as such or emerged from quickly hatching 
eggs. 
C. DIPLOPTERA. 
Odynerus lateralis F., building its Nest in a Teapot. 
April 24, 1918.—I’ve just noticed a most extraordinary 
and very funny thing. I’ve a strong weakness for tea. 
It is the finest restorer in the world (closely followed by a 
bath) and, even in this rather hard-living part, most men 
confess that they’d miss any ‘“‘ meal” of the day rather than 
tea, so I keep a reserve of teapots. Hearimg a buzzing 
