402 THE GYPSY MOTH. 



small camel's-hair brush was found to be of great assistance. 

 After passing the first molt the nymphs were able to care 

 for themselves, and would boldly attack full-grown cut- 

 worms, of the species mentioned, when the latter were 

 placed in the cages. With increasing age and size they fed 

 readily upon hairy larvae (P. dispar, Tolype veUeda, et a?.). 

 The period of greatest rapacity and of greatest growth is 

 between the third and fourth molt, during which time the 

 nymph feeds almost continuously. 



This insect has been taken in the field attacking all stages 

 of the gypsy moth. Individuals in the first stage were this 

 year found feeding upon the eggs of the gypsy moth, but 

 when confined to this food died at the end of a few days. 

 It is not an uncommon thing for them to attack a pupa, and 

 on one occasion I found four nymphs in the second and third 

 stages feeding upon a single female pupa. Female gypsy 

 moths while depositing their egg-clusters, and males while 

 mating, are also occasionally attacked by this insect. 



This species has been found feeding upon the larvae of 

 Vanessa antiopa, Hyphantria cunea, Orgyia leucostigma, 

 Attacus promethea, Clisiocampa americana and disstria and 

 Paleacrita vernata. It has also been known to devour the 

 dead imagoes of Limenitis Ursula and Pyrophila pyrami- 

 doides. In confinement it readily attacks the larvae of 

 Datana ministra, Attacus cecropia, Telea polyphemus, 

 Anisota senatoria, Dryocampa rubicunda, Tolype velleda, 

 Rhynchagrotis alternata, Noctua c-nigrum and Cimbex 

 americana. 



When pressed by hunger these insects develop cannibal 

 tendencies and feed upon other individuals of the same 

 species, and also occasionally attack Podisus cynicus and 

 Menecles insertus, while the two latter species have in turn 

 been found feeding upon P. serieventris. I have seen P. 

 serieventris feeding in confinement upon leaves of Quercus 

 rubra, but I think it very doubtful if it is phyllophagous to 

 any marked degree. 



Mating Polygamy Oviposition. Mating takes place 

 in from three to six days from the time the insect reaches 



