The Bionomics of South African Insects. 315 



— NymphaliniV, Picrinm, Lijcxnidm, and Hes2)cridx. Tlio 

 only species with marked aposematic colouring and habits 

 was the Lycaniid ALv/m ai)ia:Miihi, and of this only two 

 specimens were offered, both being eaten freely. After 

 fifteen days of this diet the Mantis escaped : she was then 

 as healthy and vigorous as when first captured. 



Mantis XL, female, species resembling Splwdromcuitis 

 lineola, Salisbury. Fed solely upon Aciwa caldarena and 

 A. (ixina, and Limnas chrysvppus, with long periods of 

 starvation, two of them a month in duration. Seventeen 

 chryup2nis,^\x ccdda^'cna, and three CLvi^iawere eaten without 

 any signs of distaste, while four axina were discarded after 

 tasting several times. The Mantis was captured on April 

 3, 1898, and refused food on September 4, dying on Sep- 

 tember 8 without signs of ill-health or blindness. Mr. 

 Marshall suggests that the species may be a winter form 

 (possibly of 8. lineola) specially adapted to eat Acrieas 

 when other butterflies are scarce. — E, B. P.] 



3. Conclusions from Experiments on Ma.ntid.e. 

 (E. B. P.) 



Certain conclusions stand out very clearly, while others 

 are suggested as probable. These voracious insects did 

 not show any dislike of butterflies outside the Danaimv 

 and Acr/eincV. The undoubtedly aposematic Pierine genus 

 Mylothris was freely eaten, and so were the following 

 genera with probable warning colours, movements, and 

 attitudes — Neptis, Ahvna, Pentila, and the moth Egyholis 

 vaillantina. Even the Danainm were generally eaten with- 

 out hesitation (II., IV., XI.), and never rejected alto- 

 gether-. In marked contrast was the behaviour of 

 MantidiG towards Acrcvin^v, which were constantly refused, 

 and often eaten only after one or more trials and long- 

 intervals of time. When the Acrseas were eaten freely 

 and without hesitation there is reason for suspecting 

 exceptional hunger. The summary of experiments 

 shows very clearly that " Fardopsis appears to be consider- 

 ably more distasteful. . . . than the general run of 

 Acrffias " (G. A. K. M., October 7, 1897, Malvern). There 

 were also less marked differences in the de^ee of dislike 

 shown towards other species ; thus axina was less freely 

 eaten than caldarena (XL); caldarena appeared to be 

 eaten more freely than hcdali, ncolule, induna, and natcdica 



