78 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [March. 



A Variation in Tachinid Attack. — An instance recently came under 

 my observation which not only appeared to be something of a departure 

 from the ordinary method of attack, as it is usually observed in these 

 parasites, but afforded an illustration of the fact that a protective resem- 

 blance or mimicry does not always protect. Ordinarily, the eggs of 

 Tachiiia and closely allied species when deposited on Lepidopterous 

 larvae, are placed on the dorsal or lateral surface, more frequently the 

 former, and especially on the thoracic segments, where they are least 

 liable to become detached by the victim. In this case the host was the 

 larVa of one of the Geometridae, and when first observed was alive and 

 attached posteriorly to a limb, with the body thrown out at an angle, as is 

 the habit in caterpillars of this family, while the eggs had been placed on 

 the ventral surface of the thoracic segments about the bases of the legs 

 and in the region of the oesophagus. None of the parasites developed 

 to adults, and hence the species cannot be determined. Just what led the 

 parent fly to place her eggs in this locality it is of course impossible to 

 say. A slight movement in the limbs of the larva might, if not already 

 known to the parasite, have led to the discovery of its true nature; but 

 even in that case it would seem that the larva should have been able to 

 defend itself in that quarter and driven tlie fly to attack a less protected 

 part, even if the latter had not found it out of its own accord. 



F. M. Webster. 



A BUG GNAWED HIS HEART. — A young boy's death gets a strange ex- 

 planation. Muncie, Ind., Jan. 19, 1894. A remarkable case of a boy 

 being killed by a bug that gnawed his heart deeply interests local physi- 

 cians. Samuel Lennox, seven years old, died a few days ago with very 

 peculiar symptoms. The boy had been sick for some time, but his case 

 was different from any other. A post-mortem examination revealed that 

 part of the heart had been eaten away by an insect, causing death. Nearly 

 a year ago the boy drank water from a brook and swallowed a water bug. 

 The insect ate its way through the boy's stomach and then began devour- 

 ing the heart, the boy bleeding to death. 



Note. — This is undoubtedly a species of bug we have had occasion to 

 refer to before in the News — humbug. — Ed. 



A further note on Oceanic Hemiptera. — The species of Rhagovelia 

 mentioned in my article in the February number of the News is, accord- 

 ing to a recent communication from Mr. Heidemann. not collaris, but a 

 new species which is about to be described by Prof. Uhler as plumbea. 



H. F. WiCKHAM. 



The Texas Goddess of Liberty has more than a bee in her bonnet. 

 She isn't a Populist of the Mrs. Lease order, but a 17-feet high statue 

 poised on the highest pinnacle of the State Capitol at Austin. In cleaning 

 the statue a few days ago it was discovered that a swarm of bees had made 

 their home in the hollow head of the goddess, using the nostrils as an 

 •entrance, and had filled it half full of honey. — New York Sun. 



