[43] Report of the State Entomologist. 139 



they had escaped, correspond closely with the description and figures 

 given of those of the " wheel-bug." They are arranged side by side, 

 on end, in a hexagonal cluster of about sixty, each one shaped like a 

 short flask, somewhat compressed on the four sides, and opening for 

 the escape of the larva by a rouaded cover with a central depression. 

 The young larvae are queer looking spider-like creatures, with their 

 loag leg* aad antennae, and the body, when distended with food, 

 several timss broader than the head and thorax. The abdomen is 

 red, while all the other portions of the insect, except the orange 

 terminal joint of the antennae, are of a shining black. 



In the figure given. P., cristatus is illustrated in its several stages. 

 The flask-shaped eggi are shown in enlargement (one with the insect 

 escaping from it) and in their natural size as arranged in a cluster. 

 The larvae are given in different attitudes and in feeding, and the 

 mature insect (enlarged about one-half) in a dorsal and side view. 



A Carnivorous Insect. 

 The insect is one of those which may claim our protection where- 

 ever met with, as it renders valuable service in the destruction of 

 large numbers of injurious insects, especially, in its younger stages, of 

 aphides or plant lice. As with its increase in size it acquires addi- 

 tional strength, it preys upon caterpillars, chrysalids, and does not 

 hesitate to attack other insects several times larger than itself. While 

 gregarious in the early larval stage, they will readily feed upon one 

 another, as was shown in the examples sent me, of which, although 

 they were furnished with a liberal supply of aphides, there are at the 

 present time of writing but two survivors, which for security have 

 been given separate apartments. 



A Combat. 

 The caution, persistence, courage, and ferocity which these young 

 creatures display in capturing and subduing their larger prey is 

 surprising and exceedingly interesting to observe. As a test of their 

 power I had given to one of the larvse a pupa of the rose-leaf tyer, 

 Penthina nimbatana (Clemens) — perhaps fifteen times its own size. 

 Its approach to its victim was by an imperceptible movement; not a 

 foot was lifted, although the intervening space could be seen gradu- 

 ally to lessen; only the antennae were observed in slow motion. 

 When with its hinder legs holding to the side of the box, its front 

 prehensile limbs had glided over and upon the body of the pupa, 

 an attempt was made, rppareutly, to insert therein the tip of its 

 formidable three-jointed proboscis. A sudden and violent contortion 



