1 
Fup, 1900 ] QUEENSLAND AGRRCULTUIAL JOURNAL. 143 
faa each, in masses of 50 or 60 together, and are commonly met with 
ine ed to the stalks of grain where caterpillars occur. Those whose observa- 
wa ave brought them to light have, however, invariably regarded them as 
ive rpillar’s gges” meet for destruction. The female insect may, moreover, 
Rae attention, be detected moving at the base of the herbage that is being 
eno in quest of its prey, often running for this purpose over the ground. 
Ree: found a caterpillar, the Apanteles probes it with its ovipositor, and. so 
upon ee its tissue its own tiny eggs by the score. The resulting larve feed 
Rane 6 * juices” of their victim, and so gradually effect its destruction. This 
‘complished, however, before the chrysalis stage is reached. The approach 
j a is heralded by a general torpidity and sluggishness in the movement 
ieee Pula which may, however, crawl aimlessly to exposed situations. 
iain aa ile, the young of the parasite which infest it, after raising minute 
iy ed swellings upon its surface opposite where they individually occur, 
i ® its skin, and immediately on issuing spin their cocoons; and when this 
tem tecomplished, nothing but a shrivelled and darkened skin remains to 
Present their host. 
Halide” Queensland insect appears to be identical with Apanteles ruficrus of 
piven 7 as Is seen on comparing it with the very full description of the latter 
Les B y Rev. T. A, Marshall [vid. Species des Hyménopttres D’ Europe. 
authori oats, Vol L, page 410 (1888) ]. This insect, according to the latter 
Specie ty, Occurs in Europe in parasitic relation with no less than seven distinet 
ie th, of caterpillar, amongst which are included two species of Lewcanta— 
ve genus to which our present pest belongs. 
ot parasite is generally very efficacious in destroying the Leucanta during 
Upon erpillar phase of its existence. It is, however, itself in turn often preyed 
about a still smaller hymenopteron. This is a bronzy-black insect, measuring 
haa te in length, and is a chaleid-id fly apparently belonging to the genus 
decom, fe The Dibrachys, however, does not appear to attack it until it has 
num plished, for a season, its useful work. Itmay, nevertheless, occur in such 
Th 4! 88 to render the Apanteles locally scarce for some considerable time. 
ton ie ordinary course of events, each little cocoon in the mass opens at the 
P by a little cap-like lid as if it had been cut across at this spot, and so the 
rem ary parasite emerges. But when the Dibrachys has attacked it, the end 
a closed, and a small round opening eventually occurs in its wall. 
Fic i Linnemyia nigripalpus, n. 8. [Fam. Tachinide.] (Plate CLXXIV., 
thay This insect, that resembles in general appearance a Meat Fly (Sarco- 
the’. ); or large house-fly, is very serviceable in preventing the transformations of 
i ob Pillars to egg-laying moths. Where its victims occur, it may frequently 
settle slowly wending its way amongst the wheat stalks and constantly 
eyishe thereon. It measures, as a rule, about % inch in length, and is of a 
ray colour, has an ashy white face, a dark-striped thorax, more or less pale 
iHoreg Upon the hind body, and brownish-yellow legs with black feet. It is, 
“aig ver, clothed with numerous stout black bristles and stiff hairs. Its habit 
Slue one or more of its numerous eggs to the surface of the body of — 
th , 
He Caterpillar it attacks. These, on hatching, produce tiny maggots that 
develonci” Way into the tissue of their host, and feed thereon until fully 
ped; and then, without fabricating any special covering, they transform 
br ual Dee within their own hardened, discoloured skins, becoming smooth, dark- 
4 or nearly black, cylindrical, objects with rounded ends. 
‘Hones peccrpillan has meanwhile entered the soil and become a chrysalis, 
degre it would appear that sometimes the victim is not able to reach this 
eosed development. In the latter event the pupe of the parasite are 
ise din the soil instead of remaining within the protecting covering other- 
available. 
a mene period that elapses between the attachment of the egg of the Tachinid 
ite to the caterpillar and the appearance of the fly is about three weeks ; 
“nditions subject to variation as the. result of special climatic and other 
