Antler moth parasites. 19 



Whether the "flacherie" was general in the C. graminis larvae, 

 which came to hand last year for observation, we have not definite 

 proof from specimens reported on in this country, for few of us con- 

 cerned, and unfortunately myself amongst the number, were then fully 

 qualified to identify, but certainly many of the symptoms pointed to 

 this being the case. On the 17th of August, Mr. Kobert Service wrote 

 me from Maxwelltown, Dumfries, N.B. : — "I had many hundreds" 

 (of the caterpillars of C. graminis, Ed.) "in confinement, and of these 

 scarcely 5 per cent, reached pupahood, and the few pupte nearly all 

 died off also. The larvae reached their last stage, then died off of a 

 disease that converted their bodies almost into fluid." 



In the case of " a large supply of the larvie of Charaas graminis," 

 which were sent by Mr. Service to Mr. Eichard South, F.E.S., 

 Macclesfield, Cheshire, Mr. South kindly let me know that these were 

 nearly full-grown, and appeared to be quite healthy when they came to 

 hand ; they were supplied with a growing sod, and in a few days dis- 

 appeared, and, it was hoped, had pupated. However, with the excep- 

 tion of about a dozen which attained the pupa-stage, the entire batch 

 were found dead under the sod. These were almost black in colour, 

 and greatly contorted. 



Amongst the specimens under my own observation (not one of 

 which developed beyond the pupa-stage), I found some of the dead 

 caterpillars stiff" and dark brown or black, with the head thrown back, 

 and the body burst into a hole below about the fourth segment. The 

 exceedingly bad smell was a point that was only too obvious. 



We did not get "flaccid" specimens from the caterpillars at large, 

 perhaps because this was not looked for, but the conditions of carriage of 

 large numbers would be precisely those suited to develop the "flacherie," 

 if present ; and from the circumstances of the case, joined to the cer- 

 tainty of the disease being found present in one instance by Dr. Eitzema 

 Bos, it seems to me that we have ground for hoping that this disease, 

 so fatally infectious, was present, and may be running its recorded 

 course in so weakening the next generation as to free us for a while from 

 recarrenee of the pest. 



Of the maggot-parasites, one kind was proved, by a few specimens 

 reared to the imago-state by Mr. Service, to be of larvte of the Tachina 

 flies, which are known to infest lepidopterous caterpillars ; another 

 appeared to me, from the formation of the cocoon, to be an Ichneumon 

 infestation, but as I had not the good fortune to develop the insect, 

 I cannot speak with certainty. From the definite record, however, 

 which we have secured of at least three distinct kinds of parasites, or 

 disease being present, we have found that there are powerful natural 

 helpers at work in lessening amount of recurrence of the Charaia 

 graminis. 



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