VIII.—Some Records of Predaceous Insects and Their Prey 
in the Durban Museum, 
by 
C. N. Barker, F.E.S. 
es a paper entitled the ‘‘ Bionomics of South African Insects ” by 
G. A. K. Marshall, read before the Entomological Society of 
London and published in the ‘‘ Transactions” of November, 1902, 
Professor E. B. Poulton gives an instructive tabular statement (p. 
232) of the cases up till then recorded of the attacks of Asilide upon 
insects of various orders. He lays stress upon the necessity of 
acquiring further data to illustrate the attacks of predaceous insects 
on other insects and especially on aposematic butterflies. I have much 
reason to regret not having, at an earlier date, recognised the import- 
ance of keeping notes of the many occurrences of this nature that have 
come under my observation in the course of many years devoted to 
field work. Those tabulated below are principally the result of two 
season’s collecting and are now in the Durban Museum. 
In the Natal Coast areas, the most active and voracious enemy of 
the butterfly is, in my opinion, the Asilus fly ‘“Aleamus perlongus.” 
So far I have come across no other species of this numerous group of 
flies which preys on butterflies. I have the recollection of many cases 
in which the mantis is the aggressor and the butterfly the victim ; but 
unfortunately, have kept no notes of these occurrences. The last 
that remains on my memory happened in the summer of 1913. In 
that case a medium sized green mantis was devouring a Spindasis 
masilikazi, Wallengr. There were quite a number of Spindasis and 
a few Dendoria upon the bush and these appeared quite oblivious or 
unconcerned at the tragedy being enacted in close proximity to them. 
I have often sought for evidence of dragonflies preying upon butterflies, 
but so far without success. There is, however, in the Museum a 
single record of a butterfly, Colias electo, L., taken in the clutches of 
a dragonfly, Podogomphus preetorius, Selys! 
In this part of the world the Asilus fly is probably the most active 
and successful enemy of butterflies, though lizards of various kinds are 
undoubtedly also responsible for many victims. 
(94) 
