African Entomology 



Thus it will be seen that observations under this head are of 

 little significance .[In the case of mimetic forms the observations 

 are important. — G. T.] 



There appears to be an interesting line of research amongst 

 the parasitic larvae of small moths to be found on other 

 insects, such as Epipyrops fulvipuncta Dist., a Limacodid 

 moth whose larva lives in the nest of a Homopterous insect 

 and feeds on its nymphs, also in the fact of larvae of certain 

 Lepidoptera being found inhabiting some ants' nests, where 

 they appear to be fed and attended to by these wonderful 

 insects. There are also in Africa a number of species of 

 social moths of the Anaphe group which form " nests " of 

 cocoons from which a fine quality of silk can be spun, and 

 with which the Germans experimented successfully in the 

 weaving of silk. Then again there is much work to be done 

 in the breeding of such species as the Euphcedra, Euryphene, 

 Euryphura, Diestogyna and Cymothce to determine the relation- 

 ships of the many varied forms they present. 



The life-history of the greater part of African Lepidoptera 

 is entirely unknown, and much work remains to be done. A 

 thorough investigation into the life-history of the smaller 

 moths would be of great utility, as many of these insects 

 become serious pests to the planters or plants. 



Such lines of research are only possible to entomologists 

 with time and the necessary equipment at their disposal, and 

 who have permanent bases in Africa, such as Government 

 entomologists, to whom I would commend these notes. 



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