PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 555" 



Species, Euhlemma quadrilineata, has been seen to clear off colonies 

 of P. hirsutus on mulberry shoots, but they appear late when the majority 

 of the damage has been done. 



During August-September-October 1912, and again during October- 

 last year, a large number of Drosophilids, Gitonides perspicax, Knab., 

 was seen on cotton shoots affected by P. conjmhatus and P. hirsutus.. 

 Hitherto I have seen only the puparia of the fly lying in large numbers 

 within, near and under the whitish felted material formed by a number 

 of females having congregated together to feed and to lay eggs. The- 

 literature so far available for reference shows that Drosophilid flies 

 are not parasitic in habit. They are attracted either by the secretions 

 of insects or by the special aroma wafted from plants infested with 

 plant lice and scale insects.* But in this case I have reasons to believe, 

 though I am not as yet certain, that the flies are predaceous on the 

 female mealy-bugs. I shall avail myself of the next opportunity of 

 confirming the above opinion. In the majority of cases examined 

 the empty puparia of the fly have been seen in large numbers lying 

 close to or below the female mealy-bug in such a position as to show 

 that the fly must have affected the female adversely. In- some cases 

 the puparia were found with a portion of the cuticle of the female mealy- 

 bug adhering close to them (Plate 96, fig. 1). However, it is only 

 future observations that, will clear up this point. In August 1912 

 and again late in December 1918, a large number of flies was seen 

 to emerge from cages containing affected cotton shoots. I have 

 hitherto found the fly on affected cotton shoots and in one- 

 instance bred it from mulberry shoots affected by P. hirsutus. 

 Besides these, a large number of Anthocorid nymphs are found 

 on shoots infested by the mealy-bug and it is possible that they 

 are predaceous on both the cotton Aphis and the nymphs of P. 

 corymbatus. In one instance a pupa of a Hemerobiid, Notiobiella sp., 

 was found on a cotton shoot heavily infested with P. hirsutus and P. 

 corymbatus, and on the 29th January last, the adult emerged. The 

 pupa was lying embedded in the whitish felted material forming the 

 ovisac of females of the two species of mealy-bugs. As no more nymphs 



* Note. — After this note was read on the 8th February 1919 my attention was drawn 

 to an article in the Bulletin of Entomological Research, Vol. IX, part 2, pp. 157-162, 

 figs. 1-4, September 1918, where Mr. C. G. Lamb had described Drosophila paradoxa as 

 being parasitic on a Cercopid of the genus Clastoptera. On a further reference to past 

 Literature it was found that the late Mr. Frederick Knab had described Gitonides 2>erspi- 

 cax as parasitic on Pseudococcus on sugarcane, Honolulu (Hawaii), on Pscudococcus 

 common on shrubs and trees, Manila, Plulippine Islands, also on a Pseudococcus, Phihp- 

 pine Islands. He recorded the distribution for the species from Honolulu (Hawaii) , 

 Mpjiila (Pliilippine Islands) and Pusa (India). The latter specimens were sent to him 

 from a Coccid on cotton shoots. 



Drosophilidse with parasitic larvse-F. Knab. 



Insecuior Inscitioe Menstruus, Vol. 11, No. 11, November 1914, pp, 166-167, 



