74 NE W ZEALAND ENTOMOLOG Y. 



For an account of a Dipterous insect, parasitic in the 

 present species, I refer to page 59. 



Family 



CEceticus omnivorus (Plate X., fig. I $, la $, ib larva, 



ic $ pupa). 



This insect is very rarely seen abroad, but can be easily 

 reared from the larva, which feeds on manuka and other 

 plants throughout the year. When very young, and in 

 fact immediately after leaving the egg, it constructs a wide 

 spindle-shaped case, principally composed of silk, with 

 a few small fragments of leaves, &c., attached to the 

 outside. It has a large aperture in front, through which 

 the head and anterior portion of the larva are projected, 

 and a much smaller one at the posterior extremity, which 

 allows the pellets of excrement to fall out of the case as 

 they are evacuated. The body of the enclosed caterpillar 

 is of a light straw colour, the head and three first segments 

 being dark brown, with numerous white markings. The 

 abdominal segments are considerably thickened near the 

 middle of the insect, rudimentary prolegs being present on 

 the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth segments of the abdomen. 

 The anal prolegs are very strong, and are furnished with 

 numerous sharp hooklets, which retain the larva very firmly 

 in its case. As it grows it increases the length of its 

 domicile from the anterior, causing it gradually to assume 

 a more tubular form, tapering towards the posterior aper- 

 ture, which is enlarged from time to time. The outside is 

 covered with numerous fragmentary leaves and twigs of 

 various sizes, placed longitudinally on the case, and fre- 

 quently near the anterior aperture, the materials, owing to 

 their recent selection, are fresh and green. The interior 

 is lined with soft, smooth silk of a light brown colour, 

 the thickness of the whole fabric being about the same 



