ICEEYA PUKCHASI. 97 



appearance and a sketch of the neuration of a portion 

 of one wing. 



Since then specimens reared by Mr. F. S. Crawford 

 have been forwarded to Prof. C. V. Kiley, and at his 

 request been identified by Dr. S. W. Willeston as being 

 of a new genus and new species of the Oscinidce, and 

 they have been named by him (descriptively of their 

 habits of killing or plundering the Iceryd) Lestophonus 

 Icerya.* 



I have not yet seen a specimen or description of the 

 larva, but for general purposes the fly may be described 

 as about the sixteenth of an inch long, broadest across 

 the middle of the head, or in my specimens just behind 

 it, whence it gradually slopes off to the tail, so as to be 

 bluntly wedge-shaped when seen from above, and twice 

 the length of the widest part. Head with two large 

 compound eyes of a reddish colour, each occupying 

 about one-third of the width of the head, as seen from 

 above. The general colour or appearance dark greenish 

 black, or dark blue. The legs are stated by Dr. Willeston 

 to be rather short and strong, dark brown or blackish 

 brown ; front tarsi more lutescent or brownish yellow. 



Those who wish full description, with good magnified 

 figure, are referred to Dr. Willeston's paper. 



As this serviceable parasite has already been artificially 

 introduced into California, and further measures re- 

 garding it are now under consideration of the U.S.A. 

 Department of Agriculture, it may be hoped that means 

 will be discovered by which we also may be aided in 

 measures for serviceably reducing one at least of the 

 destructive insect-pests of South Africa. 



Observation of Male Specimen of Icerya purchasi 

 from Natal. 



On April 26th, this year, I was favoured by informa- 

 tion from Mr. Eichard J. Lewis, of Mount Park Crescent, 



* See " An Australian Parasite of Icerya purchasi," by Dr. S. W. 

 Willeston, ' Insect Life,' No. 1, pp. 21, 22. Government Printing Office, 

 Washington. 



