293 



own offspring'. In any case the fenuiles ai-e nsnally fertilized 

 by close in-breeding, either fraternal or filial. Out-breeding 

 is not however exclnded, for in some of these masses oi co- 

 coons the males fail to complete their transformations and 

 these fem^lles may be impregnated by strange males and a fe- 

 male which has left her cocoon mass after laying most of 

 her impregnated eggs may encomiter and mate with a strange 

 male. In every case studied the eggs laid by unimpregnated 

 females produced only males, as seems to be general among 

 the Bethylidae. Mr. Busck's observations on Ferisierola ta 

 the contrary have not agreed with my experience with the 

 same species and Mr. H. F. Willard has conducted a long 

 series of as yet unpublished experiments in which isolated 

 females have never produced female progeny. 



The emerging females also assist the others to emerge and 

 remain together upon the cocoon mass for some days and be- 

 fore the colony scatters the cocoons are almost entirely des- 

 troyed, apparently being eaten by the adults. 



Food. Careful examination of the habits of the adults 

 have failed to disclose any habitual use of food other than 

 that furnished by the prey. Saccharine substances sucli as 

 honey or sugar and water were always refused and water was 

 refused unless after a period of starvation. Adult females 

 placed with bits of the pulp of banana at first refused it Init 

 fed upon it freely after it had fermented and developed a 

 growth of moulds. The males upon being placed witli fe- 

 males with their prey fed in the same manner. 



Conflict with the Prey. The conflict between the SrJero- 

 dermus and her prey was quite peculiar and certain differences 

 were revealed between *S'. immif/mns ordinarily utilizing C'olep- 

 terous larvae and the endemic species which habitually attack 

 the more aggressive Lepidopteroiis larvae, but in either case 

 the first attack was directed toward the mouth and seemed 

 designed to pai-alyze the mandibles. In this attack the 

 Srlerodenmts holds herself straight and attacks backward. 



