666 
LIMACODIDAE. General Topics by Dr. A. Seitz. 
parasitic agaric, nestling up to the wood of branches or bark like a purely white fungous mass to such a degree 
that nobody could take it to be an animal. Others form an arch aciossthe leaf like diminutive brown fruits 
or like yellow beans, sucking fast on the leaf, such as the larvae of Darna sordida Sn. or Olona albistrigella Sn. 
— A most peculiar fact is that such an old family has developed a kind of mimicry which is otherwise chiefly met 
with the most recent insect-groups; but at the same time we state that the models of these species are not to be 
found among the insects, but among the molluscs, and the spiders which are phylogenetically older and previous 
to the insects. The copies of these species (Phobetron) have been dealt with in Vol. VI; the Limacodid larvae 
copying the molluscs, however, appertain to the Indo-Australian region. As the Limacodid larvae anyhow exhibit 
a general resemblance to limacidae — from which they derive their denomination —, such an adaptation was, in a 
certain measure, a matter of course, and in case of this resemblance to a limacida protecting the larva better than 
a weapon consisting of burning hairs we find that the larva exhibits a smooth upper surface and lacks every protu¬ 
berances, in the same way as the European Cochlidion limacodes, where the copy of a gall-apple likewise demands a 
smooth green dorsum. But the resemblance to the limacida is not only confined to the exterior in the Indian 
species Cheromettia lohor (85 f): the snails are known to leave a trace in creeping across the leaf in the shape 
of a glossy mucous film; the same is also done by the larva of lohor. To the best of my knowledge, it has 
not yet been ascertained in what way this silvery stripe is produced, but we may presume that a fine silky 
web covers the way across which the insect has been creeping. The other case of mimicry, from the Ameri¬ 
can fauna, is unparalleled in India; this is the most striking copy of a long-haired spider by the Limacodid 
larva Phobetron hipparchia Or., being of the very same colour as the spider and sitting on the leaves in entirely 
the same attitude. The hairy legs of the spider are represented in the larva by quite similarly looking long 
hairy protuberances which, though not terminating in feet, rest on the leaves in the same downward curved 
position as if the insect were resting on them and could run with them. 
Many larvae of the Indo-Australian Limacodidae also exhibit conspicuous appendages and protuberances 
on their bodies, which are of the greatest life-importance for the insects. The larva of Scopelodes unicolor Ww. 
(87 g) has a great number of small bristly processes on its plump bluish-green dorsum, the bristles being laid 
together while in repose. But as soon as the insect is irritated, it erects these processes, and bristles up the 
fine spikes, as if it had taken lessons with a hedgehog in the use of the spikes — as a Dutch observer ex¬ 
presses himself. As these bristly cones cover the whole free upper surface of the larva in 4 parallel rows, the 
insect is protected on every side from which it might be attacked. 
The sting of the larva takes place by trying to touch the aggressor with the end of the protective 
cone. It is not necessary that the nettling bristle penetrates deep into the skin, for the mere contact with 
the extremely pungent secretion is sufficient to produce fierce pain even on the hard skin of human hands. 
The duration of this pain depends on the intensity of the contact as well as on the disposition of the person 
injured. On an excursion I undertook together with a missionary (L. Klapheck), both of us suffered the larvae 
of Parasa consocia (86 1) to sting us; whilst the pain passed away with me after three hours, my companion 
felt the stings yet days afterwards. The most disagreeable is probably the sting of Doratifera vulnerans (891), 
from Australia, which — as we mentioned at another place — has derived its name from its perilousness. 
Yet it is neither as intense nor as lasting as that of American Megalopygidae, and in fact it does not protect 
the insect against all its enemies, since it has been observed in collecting the pear-shaped cocoons of this 
bristly larva that the ichneumon Mesotenus albopictus slipped out of a great number of them. 
Quite recently a group of about 12 or 13 very small lepidoptera hitherto treated as a separate family 
(Epipyropidae) has been united with the Limacodidae, which undoubtedly represent Limacodidae having 
been transformed by regressive development. As far as they could be observed, all of these species are para¬ 
sites living on cicadas or among leaf-fleas (Psyllidae) and feeding on the exudations of these animals. Many 
cicadas secrete filiform wax-processes sometimes covering the whole insect like a coarse texture. The creeping 
sole of these parasites looking like small, intensely chitinized larvae of Cochlidion sticks very fast to the smooth 
armour of the infested animal which seems to be in no way injured or molested by its inhabitants — sometimes 
several on one cicada; but nevertheless the small larvae are able to leave this infested animal rather quickly, 
when it is captured. As yet little is known of the details of the habits of the Epipyropidae, because it is rather 
difficult to capture the hospitable animals, only very few of which are infested. 
The first larvae caught were found on Fulgoridae, and I took particular pains in getting hold of them 
at their habitat (Hongkong). The cicadae from the genus Pyrops, where such parasites are to be chiefly ex¬ 
pected, were very common during my stay in Hongkong, so that sometimes as many as 6 or 8 sat on the 
around the trunk to the averted side so that they can no more be seen, and immediately fly off with a wild 
trunk of a palm-tree. But as soon as one approaches the trunk at a few yards, the cicadae wander sideways 
