144 abstracts: entomology 



The presence of other mineral substances added to the soil may or 

 maj' not increase or decrease the rate at which this adsorptive phenom- 

 enon takes place. E. G. P. 



ENTOMOLOGY. — The Calliephialtes parasite of the codling moth. R. 

 A. CusHMAN. Journal of Agricultural Research 1 : 211-237. 1913. 



This parasite was introduced into California from Europe in 1904. 

 The start on the work discussed was made with specimens secured from 

 the California State Insectary. 



The adult female is about half an inch long, exclusive of the oviposi- 

 tor, which about equals the body in length. It is long and slender, 

 black with red legs. The male is somewhat shorter and more slender 

 than the female. There is considerable variation in size depending on 

 the larval food supply. 



The codling moth is attacked in the larval stage after it has spun 

 its cocoon, the parasite first killing the host by stinging and then depos- 

 iting a single egg within the cocoon. The egg is white and smooth, 1.5 

 mm_. long and about one-fifth as wide at the widest part, rounded at 

 the cephalic end and tapering toward the caudal end. The incubation 

 period was found to average slightly over two days. 



The newly hatched larva is yellowish in color with the head large 

 and distinct. After the first molt the form changes to the normal 

 larval habitus of insects of this class. It feeds externally on the host, 

 entirely consuming the fluid contents. This requires on the average 

 about 7 days, after which the larva spins its cocoon. About 10 days 

 later for females and 7.5 days for males, pupation takes place. The 

 act of pupation requires about 15 minutes for males and 35 to 41 min- 

 utes for females, the difference being due to the fact that after exuvia- 

 tion the ovipositor increases greatly in length. The average pupal 

 period for females was about 1 1 days and for males about 9 days. The 

 average time spent in the cocoon by females was 21.5 days and by males 

 17.7 days. 



Transformation to the adult took place about a day before the emer- 

 gence from the cocoon. The average total developmental period for 

 females was about 30 days and for males about 25 days. 



There were found to be two complete and a partial third generation 

 during the breeding season, a part of the third and all of the fourth 

 constituting the hibernating brood. Hibernation takes place in the 

 full-grown larval stage. The males appear in the spring about 10 

 days ahead of the females. R. A. C. 



