Predaceous Insects and their Prey. 403 
In addition to the above records Kirby and Spence 
quote Lyonnet’s observation of a Panorpa attacking a 
Dragonfly many times its size.* 
This brief list of the attacks made by Panorpide contains 
facts of much interest. The crowd surrounding a dead 
worm (No. 325) seems to prove beyond doubt that the 
Panorpas had been attracted by smell. The insects had 
congregated round the worm in a sheltered position on a 
roadside bank. The Telephorid victim (No. 329) is a 
striking example of specially protected prey; while the 
Empid (No. 328) and the Dragonfly recorded by Lyonnet 
show that predaceous insects are attacked as well as others. 
It must be borne in mind however that the first record 
(No. 325) strongly suggests, although it does not prove, 
that these insects devour dead prey. The record of actual 
capture and the condition of the victim become therefore 
of special interest and importance in the Panorpide. 
Ill. HEMIPTERA. 
Considering the immense number of predaceous species 
included in the Hemiptera the following table is insig- 
nificant. I trust however that it may lead to abundant 
future observations on which trustworthy conclusions may 
be based. 
So far as it is possible to judge from the following table it 
appears that Hemiptera will prove to be extremely danger- 
ous foes to the specially protected groups. Thus out of 15 
victims, we find 3 Lepidopterous larvee (Nos. 331, 333, 337) 
all probably defended by special qualities; 2 stinging 
Hymenoptera (Nos. 335, 338); 2 Phytophagous beetles 
(Nos. 332, 345) and a Cetoniid (No. 334); 2 Hemiptera 
(Nos. 341, 342) ;—altogether no less than two-thirds of the 
total records. The remaining five examples include a 
Lyceenid butterfly, 2 Longicorn beetles of one species, and 
2 Diptera. Even among these the conspicuous colouring 
of the beetle suggests the probability of special defence. 
* Kirby and Spence, 5th Ed. 1828, vol. ii, p. 253. 
TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1906.—PART lil. (JAN. 1907) 27 
