Predaceous Insects and ther Prey. 363 
a single record* of the capture of the African wild form of 
the species as compared with 14 of the European domes- 
ticated race. It is interesting to observe that the Fossors 
contribute more victims than the Diploptera. The latter 
are doubtless more formidable and chiefly attacked by 
specially adapted Asilids. The ants were probably all 
winged when captured, and the numbers must here be 
considered in relation to the limited period when the prey 
possesses the power of flight. 
DiptERA.—The most striking facts are the wide range 
of selection in the Order, and the marked predominance in 
the number of victims from the Asi/idz themselves (14 out 
of a total of 57). This predominance goes some little way 
to reduce the economic significance of Asi/id@ as destroyers 
of insects. 
CoLEOPTERA.—The range of selection is here also very 
wide, but there is this in common between the victims: 
all are conspicuous flower-haunting forms or species which 
are freely upon the wing by day. 
LEpIDOPTERA.—The range of selection is wide, the only 
predominance being among the Lycanide and Pierine 
probably the two groups of butterflies most abundant in 
individuals. The moths—with the possible exception of 
the single Hepialid—are probably all such as are on the 
wing by day or fly readily when disturbed. 
Looking at the list as a whole there is, as we should 
expect, a marked absence of purely cursorial forms and of 
forms that hide by day. 
ASILIDA AS THE ENEMIES OF SPECIALLY PROTECTED 
Insects.—This investigation into the habits of predaceous 
insects was largely undertaken in order to ascertain the 
enemies of the specially protected groups. The conclusion 
had already been provisionally reached that the <Asilidz 
take an important place among these foes (Trans. Ent. 
Soc. Lond. 1902, pp. 336-837). “The stings of the 
Aculeates, the distasteful qualities of Danainx and Acrxinx 
and of the odoriferous Lagria, the hard chitinous covering 
of Coleoptera, the aggressive powers of Odonata, are alike 
insufficient protection against these active and voracious 
flies.” The sentence just quoted (I. ¢. p. 8386) conveyed the 
* Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall however writes as follows (Nov., 1906) :— 
“Mr. E. 8. Buttemer, of Estcourt, Natal, who kept wild bees on 
a considerable scale, told me that they were much preyed upon by 
Asilidx.” 
