!11 



the species is preclaoeous upon small lepidopterons lai'\"ae, 

 probably those feeding about dead wood. 



It is uncertain whether this species is endemic or iutvci- 

 dnced. The region where it was found is near sea level but 

 harbors many endemic insects because the aridity prevents the 

 spread there of the ant, Pheidole inegacephala, which destroys 

 most endemic insects where it occurs. 



15. lIoLKPYKis iiAWAiiENsis (Ashmcad) AXD ITS Prev. 



This species is far more common than its congener //. 

 Jiospes Perkins, being very commonly found abovit houses and 

 in places where stored food and feeds are kept. Many 

 desultory attempts have been made to breed it by the writer, 

 but without any definite results indicating the nature of its 

 ])rey. Some observations by Dr. F. X. Williams paralleling 

 those here recorded revealed the fact that it attacks lepidop- 

 terons larvae in a fashion quite as characteristic of the Fos- 

 sores as the work of Epyris extraneus observed by him. 



Neither he nor I have succeeded in breeding the species 

 through from egg to adult, though we have secured oviposition 

 in numerous instances. The lepidopterons larvae worked with 

 by me have been Erennetis flacistriata Walsingham, Plodia 

 interpunciella lliu^bner, and Corcyra cephaJonlca (Stainton) 

 (all determined by Mr. Swezey). 



The female lays but a single egg upon a caterpillar, as 

 recorded by Silvestri of one of the Italian species. 



An adult taken shortly before noon on Sept. 13, 1919, was 

 placed in a tube and a sugar cane budworm added. At 

 about 3 :45 it was attacked and stung in the mouth and then 

 attacked in the head region l)y the wasp using her mandibles, 

 first at the left antennae and around the labium. By the 

 struggles of the Holepyris the larva was turned over and 

 seized by the left leg at the apex of the basal joint. Here she 

 fed for seven minutes. After a time she seized the still fairly 

 active larva, l»y the laluum apparently, and dragged it slowly 

 resisting as much as possible but not very actively, the Avhole 



