74 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA: 



this moth. It has long been a matter of doubt as to 

 which moth this fungus-infected larvae belonged. I 

 have now settled this, so far as the simple "stiped" 

 Cordyceps is concerned, by having reared the fungus 

 from larvae when placed in a large case of soil. It is a 

 certainty, however, that the fungus is not confined in 

 its attacks to any one genus or species, as some of the 

 specimens of Cordyceps which I have found in situ were 

 attached to the larvae of a much larger moth, probably 

 Trictena labyrinthica , the empty pupa cases of which 

 latter moth may be seen commonly near Melbourne, and 

 especially in lightly-timbered forest land, the empty 

 cases projecting above the ground for from one to four 

 inches. When first dug out of the ground, the fungus 

 is of an olive green color, and soft ; but, soon after 

 being exposed to the air, the tissues harden, and the 

 whole becomes of a soft and velvety wooden texture. 

 (See plate.) 



In the early days of Melbourne, the late Mr. W. 

 Kershaw and myself, in the course of our entomological 

 rambles, have frequently come across dozens of these 

 simple stiped Cordyceps, a favorite .spot for them being 

 the portion of Studley Park fronting the Yarra Bend 

 Lunatic Asylum ; and Mr. Kershaw always held 

 that the larvae to which these fungi were attached were 

 those of either Porina or Trictena, or both. I am pleased 

 to be able to clear up part of the mystery at any rate. 



Cordyceps tayloriv* a fine branching species of fungus, 

 .and these I have frequently received from Cape Otway 

 and other moist and heavily-timbered districts. I had 

 not room on the plate to figure this fine species, which 

 not infrequently grows to a length of from one foot to 

 eighteen inches. 



It is a most interesting question as to how the fungus 

 becomes attached to the caterpillar; the general belief 

 of observers being that spores of the fungus, resting 

 upon the moist bodies of the grubs, take root, and, 

 growing rapidly, cause the grubs to swell, gradually 



