OF WASHINGTON. 211 



2. A Coleopterous larva (Buprestidae) with its imago, Thrin- 

 copyge alacris. 



3. An interesting Dipterous pupa belonging to the Bom- 

 byliids. 



4. An Ichneumonid in all stages, Labena grallator, which 

 was undoubtedly parasitic upon the Buprestid, Thrincopyge. 



5. The cocoon of a Mutillid. 



6. The male of Elis quadrimaculata, showing some slight 

 variation. 



A PROBABLE MICROGASTER PARASITE OF ELEODES IN 

 THE IMAGO STATE. 



BY C. V. RlLEY. 



The number of Microgasters which affect Coleoptera is com 

 paratively small. In Marshall's Monograph of the Braconidse 

 the following species are mentioned as affecting insects of this 

 order, though there is no record as to whether they have been 

 reared from the larva or the imago. 



Apanteles hoplites on Rhynchites betuleti. 



on Lina tremulae. 



breviventris on Orchestes quercus. 



impurus on Anthonomus pomorum. 



" lacteus, on " " 



sericeus, on Hypera variabilis. 



In each case it will be noted that these parasites belong to 

 the genus Apanteles in the Microgasters. I present a speci 

 men of Eleodes suturalis, recently received from Mr. C. K. 

 Ward, of Belvidere, Neb. He was out collecting on the 2yth 

 of April and found this specimen in the roadway. Benzine did 

 not kill it, so he brought it home alive, keeping it in a cigar 

 box. The next night Mr. Ward found that the edges of the 

 cigar box were lined with cocoons, which I believe to be those 

 of some Microgaster, and which are also exhibited. The habit 

 here illustrated of spinning cocoons in a linear manner along 

 the angles of the box is doubtless exceptional. If my surmise 

 prove true, I believe this is the first parasite of this sub-family 

 recorded in this country as affecting a mature beetle, as the 

 Microgasters ordinarily affect Lepidopterous larvae. A dissec 

 tion of the beetle showed that the contents of the abdomen 

 had been pretty well absorbed, and when compared with a 

 normal pinned specimen taken from the cabinet they confirmed 

 the accuracy of Mr. Ward's statements. 



