192 PARASITES OF GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



The several native species spinning similar cocoons attack a variety 

 of hosts, and one of them, L. clisiocampde, is sometimes common and 

 quite effective as a parasite of the host indicated by its specific name. 

 The larvae, after spinning the cocoon and before discharging their 

 meconium, are very active for a period of about 24 hours, convul- 

 sively wriggling the body in such a manner as to make the spherical 

 cocoon move about in an extraordinary manner. It is altogether 

 probable that the gipsy-moth parasite has the same characteristic, 

 and that the cocoons so spun in the trees are quickly dislodged, fall 

 to the ground, and become hidden beneath leaves and debris. 



Prof. Kincaid was especially instructed to seek for evidences of 

 parasitism by this species in Russia on the occasion of his trip to 

 that country in 1909. He did not find it at all abundant, however, 

 and only secured three or four cocoons. In 1910 the junior author 

 sought diligently for these cocoons in the forest about Kharkof, 

 where the caterpillars had been very abundant the season before, 

 but he was entirely unsuccessful and as a result thoroughly convinced 

 that it was not an important parasite in any of the several forests 

 visited. There was no opportunity at Kief to make a similar search, 

 because the caterpillars had not been sufficiently abundant within 

 recent years in any of the localities visited to make likely the discovery 

 of these cocoons, even though the species had been of importance as 

 an enemy of the gipsy moth. 



In 1909 and again in 1910 it, or another practically indistinguish- 

 able species, was received in very small numbers from Japan, but at 

 the same time under circumstances which were in a way as suggestive 

 of the possible importance of the species as were those under which 

 it was first received from Russia, as detailed above. As in the case 

 of the Japanese Meteorus, it is hoped to be able to determine defi- 

 initely whether it is to be considered as of more than technical interest 

 in the connection in which it is here considered. 



LlMNERIUM (ANILASTUS) TRICOLORIPES VlER. 



From time to time several specimens of Limnerium cocoons, all of 

 them oblong in shape, and most of them partially concealed by the 

 skin of the host caterpillar, have been received from Europe. In no 

 instance have they been in sufficiently large numbers to make the 

 species appear promising as a parasite. 



Less than a dozen specimens have been received, all told, and were 

 it not for the fact that the remains of the host accompanied the 

 cocoon, it would not be possible thus definitely to associate the para- 

 site with its host. 



