42 Timehri. 



likely that the caterpillar when attacked by the adult parasite had been feeding 

 beneath the leaf-sheath. In about 14 days the perfect insect emerges, so that 

 the time from egg-laying to adult is about 19 days." 



" The perfect insect can live for a long time. I have kept a male 

 alive for 53 days by feeding it about every three days with a little 

 sweetened water. As this and the other caterpillars-parasites deposit their 

 eggs one to a caterpillar, with probably long intervals between the depositions 

 it is necessary for them to have an extended life as compared with parasites 

 which deposit all, or a large number of their eggs, to a single caterpillar." 



(1). The larva of Cremnops parvifasciatus feeds internally, and not 

 externally like that of Iphiaulax, while the attacked caterpillar keeps feeding 

 and healthy-looking almost until the parasite larva is about to break through 

 and weave its cocoon. When this period approaches, the caterpillar becomes 

 sluggish and ceases to feed, while in another day or two it is totally consumed, 

 only the hard shell of the head, and bits of the skin being left. 



(5.) Somewhat common in cane-fields is the larva of a beetle, probably 

 that of one of the Elateridae or click-beetles. It is found in Diatrcea borings, 

 in decaying cane-tops, and in decaying cane-stools. It feeds on the larva? of 

 Diatrcea, on pupa* (perhaps larvae too) of the weevil-borer, and probably also 

 on various organisms that frequent decaying vegetable matter. It attacks the 

 Diatrcea caterpillars in a manner that calls to mind how the larva? of 

 Axpidosoma maculatum, one of our common coast fire-flies (Larnpyridce) attack 

 slugs. The caterpillars writhe and twist in vain efforts to escape from the fatal 

 grip. These Elaterid larva? are often taken by estate gangs cutting out Diatrcea 

 caterpillars from dead hearts. They should not be collected but left in the 

 field. It was Mr. Bodkin, the Government Economic Biologist, who first drew 

 in v attention to the fact that they were predaceous on Diatrcea larva?. 



(6). Another enemy of Diatroea is the lama of a fly, of the family 

 StratiomyidoB. The adult fly is somewhat wasp-like in shape, and of a 

 brilliant metallic hue, and is at certain times fairly plentiful in cane-fields, 

 where it may generally be seen at rest on the cane-blades. The larva has 

 moderate powers of locomotion, and attacks the caterpillars in their tunnels. 

 Tt is broad and flat, pale straw colour with three rather conspicuous longitu- 

 dinal brownish stripes. The head is small, and the mouth parts pointed and 

 well suited for piercing. The pupal form is assumed within the larva skin, 

 which retains its usual appearance, so that there is nothing to show that the 

 change from larva to pupa has occurred, save what is apparently a lifeless larva. 



(7). Up to the present 1 am acquainted with thirteen or fourteen insect 

 enemies of Diatroea and there are probably more yet to be discovered. 



