al 
] 
Hymenoprerous Parasite ON ? PacnyLiaA syces.—Dr. 
J. WarTErRsTON also exhibited several large snow-white cocoon 
masses of a Braconid from Jamaica, and made the following 
remarks :— 
‘These masses are the work of Apanteles americanus Lep., 
a species until lately not represented in the Brit. Mus. Coll., 
but within a week recently received first from the Imperial 
Bureau of Entomology (sent for determination by Sir Francis 
Watts, K.C.M.G.) and again from Mrs. H. Fife, 41, Linden 
Gardens, W. 2, who left several masses at the Museum with 
the note that they occurred frequently ‘ on Cassava.’ 
“With the Apanteles there were in both consignments 
numerous examples of Horismenus nigroaeneus Ashm., which 
is apparently a hyperparasite through the Braconid. 
“The host of the Apanteles was not ascertained by either 
collector, but it is almost certainly one of the Sphingidae, 
most probably in Lord Rothschild’s opinion Pachylia syces, 
subsp. insularis. 
‘Similar large cocoon masses are made in Ceylon by Apan- 
teles acherontiae Cam., which parasitises Acherontia lachesis 
feeding on leaves of the ‘ dadap’ tree (Hrythrina lithosperma). 
Cameron notes that A. acherontiae also suffers from the attacks 
of hyperparasites (Hemiteles (Ichn.) and a Chalcid genus), 
but gives no specific determination of these. (See Cameron, 
P., Spolia Zeylanica, vol. 5, p. 17, and Green, E. E., abid. 
p. 19, with plate, 1908.) ” 
The PreEsipENT said that on going over the Sphingidae 
in the Tring Museum he had found there were two very large 
masses of the parasite, bred by the Rev. Myles Moss; and the 
moth on which it is found is Pachylia syces insularis Rothsch. 
Mr. Myles Moss bred the insect at Para from typical Pachylia 
syces, but as Dr. Waterston’s examples came from the West 
Indies, they were doubtless fed on the island race of syces. 
Mr. Lye. said the silk much resembled that of the silk- 
worm, and was quite as fine. 
Letter from Mr. H. Powell, FES. 
The TREASURER read a letter he had received describing 
the entomological expedition on which Mr. Powell is at 
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