238 Forty-fifth Report on the State Museum. 



■writhings and contortions, sucking ou<t the contents of their 

 skins." Others of the same family of beetles, the Car abides, also 

 feed largely upon them. 



One of the Hemiptera which preys upon quite a number of 

 other species of insects, and which from its belligerent propen- 

 sities has received for its common name that of the "spined sol- 

 dier-bug," and is known in science as Podisus spinosus (Dallas), 

 will fearlessly attack a young cut-worm much exceeding it in 

 size, and piercing it with its formidable beak, extract its juices 

 from it, leaving only its shrivelled skin. 



The toad deserves introduction, shelter and protection in our 

 gardens, from its coming abroad at night during the period of 

 activity of the cut-worms, and contributing largely to the diminu- 

 tion of their numbers. 

 Parasites. — The quiet and concealment in which these noc- 

 turnal marauders of our gardens and fields pass their time during 

 the hours when most of the parasitic insects are upon the wing, 

 in ceaseless search for their victims, into which they can thrust 

 their ovipositor and insert the fatal egg, give them a large degree of 

 immunity from parasitic attack. Yet as even the "white-grub," 

 which never appears above ground, is sought out in its subterra- 

 nean retreat by its parasite, Tiphia inornata, so e\en these are far 

 from enjoying immunity. The bronze-colored cut-worm before 

 referred to, in my attempts to rear it, has proved to be quite 

 liable to be parasitized by one or more species of a Tachina fly. 

 A species of Microgaster, Apanteles militaris (Walsh) and an 

 Ophiow have also been obtained from it. Other parasites reared 

 from other larva? are Paniscus geminatus (Say), a large yellowish- 

 brown ichneumon fly; Nemorma leucaniai (Kirkp.); Masicora 

 arclvbppivora (Riley); and Scopolia sequax Williston --three 

 species of Tachina flies. 



Preventives and remedies. — The measures recommended for 

 preventing or arresting cut-worm ravages have been exceedingly 

 numerous, and perhaps each one might claim a degree of value 

 under certain conditions, but at the present only those from which 

 the best results have been obtained will be referred to. 



