The Bionomics of So'idli African Insects. 329 



may bring the subject to the notice of naturalists, especi- 

 ally in the parts of the world where the struggle for 

 existence is keenest. 



A. Pirddccons I[iiincnoj)tera and Nenrojitcrct. 



The Neuroptera are included here and not under a 

 separate heading because I have as yet only re- 

 ceived a single record, and that one in association with 

 an observation on predaceous Hymenoptera, Accurate 

 observations on Odonata and MantispidiB are greatly 

 needed, as well as on the predaceous Heiniptera. Large 

 Tenthredinid<v should also be observed, for I have seen 

 them devouring insects. Locustid£B furthermore- are con- 

 siderable and indiscriminate enemies of their class. I 

 have seen them eating Acridians, and there is a specimen 

 of one in the Hope Department together with its victim, 

 a moth. 



The late Thomas Belt long ago recorded the capture of 

 Nicaraguan '^ Heliconidm'' by a yellow and black banded 

 wasp for the purpose of storing its nest : " Whenever one 

 of these came about, they would rise fluttering in the air, 

 where they were safe, as I never saw the wasp attack them 

 on the wing. It v/ould liawk round the groups of shrubs, 

 trying to pounce on one unawares ; but their natural dread 

 of this foe made it rather difficult to do so. When it did 

 catch one, it would quietly bite off its wings, roll it up 

 into a ball, and fly off with it" (" Naturalist in Nicaragua," 

 Lend., 1888, p. 100). The following observation of Mr. 

 Marshall's upon the chief unpalatable butterfly of the 

 Old World compares in an interesting manner with the 

 foregoing: — 



" Tugela River, junction with Blaainvkraantz River, Dec. 

 14, 1896. — I have observed two enemies of Limnas chry- 

 sipims lately: one is a large wasp which I saw carrying 

 off the larvae, and the other was a very large red dragon- 

 fly which was devouring an imago." It is quite likely 

 that tlie Odonata may not uncommonly attack such 

 conspicuous butterflies, but this is the only record I have 

 as yet received. 



Experiments and observations on ants suggest an almost 

 boundless field of inquiry. The following interesting 

 observation made by my friend Mr. 0. J. M. Gordon, M.A., 

 of Balliol College, clearly proves that certain ants neglect 



