SECTION VI. — NATURAL EXKMIES OF THE FROGlIOl'l'ER. 81 



On two occasions I have found similar flies associated with frog- 

 hoppers. Once in British Guinna when they were found in captivity 

 destroying dead nymphs of a Clastoptern. sp., and the second occasion 

 was in Panama wlien they were found emerging from dead adult frog- 

 hoppers of the genus Tnviaspis. On neither of these occasions was it 

 possible to say that the froghoppers had not been dead before being 

 infested. 



Phoridce are known as parasites, but further investigation is needed 

 before it can be said if the above is of this nature. 



Soldier Bugs (Reduviid^e). 

 These insects are general predators and many of them occur among 

 the grasses and canes where fr.ighoppers are found. Their value as 

 enemies of the froghopper is difficult to estimate in view of their wide 

 range of food. 



Several species are not common in Trinidad and the following have 

 been found in the cane fields : — 



Sirthenea stria. F. 

 liasakios liamatus. F. 4ti 



Narvesus carolineiisis. Stal. 

 Saica recurvata, F. 



Numerous other species are found in other countries associated with 

 froghoppers. The most important are the following :— 



Heza peramata, a large species found in British Guiana hiding in the 

 axils of cane leaves and destroying adults of Toniaspis Jiavilxtera. 



Zelus mimus, a smaller species common along the edges of the drains 

 through the cane fields in British Guiana where it was on several 

 occasions seen to eat froghoppers. 



Castolus plagiaHcoIlis. The Mexican Bug. (Fig. 18.) 



When on a visit to Mexico in September 1911 Mr. F. W. Urich sent 

 to Trinidad eggs of this bug which was found preying freely on frog- 

 hoppers in Mexico. 



Fig. 18. 



Fig. IS— The Mexican Bug (Oasto/ us p/a</ti(tirolh's), (From F. W. Uiich). 

 The eggs were hatched out by Mr. Guppy and the insect kept breeding 

 in captivity until March 1914 (Urich, Bull. Dept. Agric. XIII. ]). 102.) 



At intervals several thousand were released in the fields but con- 

 ditions were apparently unfavourable as none was ever recovered. 

 Urich suggests that they wore killed by spiders. 



In Mexico the eggs were destroyed by a species of Telenomus 

 (Urich 1918 B. p. 247.) 



Repipta taurus. This small red Reduviid was very common in the 

 Bocas-del-Toro district of Panama in the first half of 1917 and was 

 frequently seen feeding on adults of Tomaspis. 



At one time I intended sending specimens to Trinidad but lack of 

 communication made it impossible at the time and the few specimens 

 I brought back with me died on the journey. 



