104 PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



National Museum collection bears stumps of veins on both the inner and 

 outer sides of this vein while one of the females in the series before me 

 possesses an extra short vein, originating at the middle of the posterior 

 cross vein (which is bent outward at a distinct angle) and running parallel 

 with the fourth vein, before its bend, nearly to posterior border in either 

 wing. 



Species described from four specimens, male and female, all 

 collected at electric lights at night, Forest Glen, Md., by Mr. 

 Otto Heidemann, April 19 to 28, 1914. 



Structurally this species closely resembles setosa Coq., but dif- 

 fers as follows: Wing veins black, wings distinctly smoky, entire 

 body pollinose and much darker in general color. Sides of face in 

 transverse depression much darker brown, abdomen with re- 

 flecting spots, head more obtusely conical in side elevation, 

 average size much larger. It is possibly entirely and certainly 

 partially nocturnal in habit of flight. Judging from this fact and 

 the habitus of the fly it seems probable that this genus is parasitic 

 upon nocturnal Coleoptera, possibly Lachnosterna. 



Mr. R. C. Shannon has previously 1 mentioned the nocturnal 

 habit of this interesting fly. 



A FEW NOTES ON THE HABITS OF PARASITIC 

 HYMENOPTERA. 



BY W. DWIGHT PIERCE AND R. A. CTJSHMAN, 

 Bureau i,f Entomology, U. S. Department of Agriculture . 



In the course of several years spent in the study of parasites a 

 number of interesting observations have been made which are of 

 interest to the biological entomologist but have no direct bearing 

 upon any economic problem. A few of these records which are 

 considered worthy of publication have been gathered together to 

 form the present paper. 



Among the hymenopterous parasites sexual attraction seems 

 to be a strongly developed instinct. In the Braconidse under 

 observation there is no courtship, the mating taking place almost 

 immediately. This was first observed and noted for Sigalphus 

 curculionis Fitch on April 30, 1908 (W. D. P). The male when- 

 ever it came close to the female fanned its wings very rapidly and 

 finally jumped on her back, but was off inasecond. A little later 

 it approached again and this time was attached for forty seconds. 

 < Hisorvutions of other braconids were of the same nature. 



Among the ( 'halcidoidea studied, a very interesting courtship 

 always precedes mating. On June loth the actions of a pair of 



l Proc. Knt. Soc. Wash., vol. XVI, 1M14, p. ISL>. 



