THE IMPORTATION OF TIPHIA PARALLELA INTO MAURITIUS. 97 



about one to a hundred. Mr. Nowell further states that towards the end of 1911 a 

 large number of coccons had been found by him in cane-fields infested with white 

 grubs, which cocoons were identified as being those of Tiphia parallela, the existence 

 of which had already been recorded in Brazil. 



At about the same time the writer of this article recommended that enquiries be 

 made from the Government of Barbados as to the natural enemies of the Phy talus 

 with a view to their introduction into Mauritius. 



From the labels attached to the specimens existing in the British Museum previous 

 to its discovery in Mauritius, it was supposed that Phytalus smithi was indigenous to 

 Trinidad. It was only in 1912 (March) that the nature of one of its enemies was 

 indicated to the writer by Mr. Gilbert Arrow, and soon after definitely identified by 

 Messrs. Bovell and Nowell of the Agricultural Department of Barbados, as Tiphia 

 parallela. 



The Government of Barbados was at once approached with a view to obtaining a 

 few of these valuable insects and arrangements were kindly made by Mr. John R. 

 Bovell, Superintendent of Agriculture, for the despatch of several shipments of 

 Tiphias to Mauritius under different conditions from April 1913 to August 1915 as 

 follows : — 



(1) 2nd April 1913.— First consignment shipped from Barbados, a short time 

 before the inauguration of the Department of Agriculture in Mauritius, and landed 

 26th June. It consisted of cocoons picked up in the fields and packed with some 

 earth in a small wooden case. None of the cocoons hatched out. 



(2) 8th July 1913. — Second consignment sent by parcel post, and reached 

 Mauritius 15th August. This shipment too consisted of cocoons which did not hatch 

 out. 



(3) 25th June 1913.— Third shipment despatched, and arrived 15th August 1913. 

 It consisted of four Wardian cases prepared under the care of Messrs. Bovell and 

 Nowell and containing larvae of Phytalus and of Tiphia as follows : — 



Case No. 1. No. 2. 



Tiphia larvae . . . . 50 40 



Phytalus larvae . . . . 190 160 



Tiphia cocoons . . . . 170 — 



The contents of these four cases were placed on the day of receipt in the Insectary 

 at Pamplemousses, which had been amply stocked with Phytalus larvae of different 

 stages during the previous six weeks. 



As far as could be ascertained without breaking up the earth mass, these cases 

 contained, besides 170 cocoons — 31 of which had hatched out during the voyage, 

 while the rest never hatched out — a fair number of cocoons in situ, numerous non- 

 parasitised Phytalus larvae, five parasitised ones and two male Tiphia. From 15th 

 to 28th August, one male emerged daily ; from 28th August to 14th September 

 none was found ; and from the latter date to 2nd February 1914, a few insects of 

 both sexes emerged daily, the greatest number in a single day being four males and 

 two females on 29th November and six males on 9th December. As a rule these 

 insects came out after 10 a.m. and buried themselves in the earth towards 3 p.m. 

 (C365) g 



No. 3. 



No. 4. 



Total. 



50 



41 



181 



180 



120 



650 



— 



— 



170 



