Host Records

Hudson (1926) records five specimens flying over nettle bushes (Urtica ferox) near Sinclair Heads during March, 1925, and concluded that this species was probably parasitising the red-admiral butterfly (Vanessa gonerilla). Gourlay (1926, p. 170) records that of 300 pupae of V. gonerilla collected at Governor's Bay by Mr. Carnes, 29 were parasitised by E. intricatoria. Another record given by Mr. Gourlay stated that during February, 1924, several specimens were taken hovering over a clump of Senecio parasitising larvae of Nyctemera annulata.

Mr. J. R. Manhire secured a single specimen from the case-moth Oeceticus omnivorus during April, 1922. Gourlay (loc. cit.) observed a female in the act of parasitsing a pupa of the native moth Mecyna maorialis. Later during 1924 many specimens were reared from the pupae of this moth, fully 60 per cent. being parasitised. Gourlay (1930, p. 5) records the following hosts. Vanessa gonerilla Fabr., Vanessa itea Fabr., Tholeria maorialis Feld, Nyctemera annulata Boisd., Liothula omnivorus Fered., and Tyria jacobaeae Lin. Dumbleton (1932) records specimens bred from Tortrix postivittana, a Tortricid All the above insects are native species except the last two named. Gourlay (loc cit.) further records that the parasite lays its eggs in the host larvae and the adult emerges from the host pupae.