196 PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



In copulation the male rides on the back of the female curving 

 the tip of his abdomen under the tip of her abdomen so the coch- 

 learii of the extended genitalia grasps the side of the knob at the 

 base of the sheath and the hypopygidium fits over the knob. 

 The use of the preputium and penis was not observed. During 

 copulation which lasts about 90 seconds there is a contraction 

 and expansion of the muscles of the stipes so there is a strong 

 push and pull motion. The wings are held flat against the body. 

 The legs of the female are placed in the usual position assumed 

 when resting, i.e., the fore legs directed anteriorly, the middle 

 legs almost at right angles, the hind legs slightly posteriorly. 

 The antennae may be held still or waved slightly. 



DIPRION LECONTEI (FITCH). 



These notes dealing with the mating habits of Diprion lecontei 

 are summarized from extensive notes on this species which have 

 been accumulated at the Eastern Station of Branch of Forest 

 Insects, and the material used came from localities covering most 

 of the range of the species although most of the detailed notes 

 were made on material collected near Falls Church, Va. 



In the life history of this species there are some interesting and 

 unusual conditions. The one which concerns this paper may be 

 summarized as follows: In the first generation mating is the rule 

 while in the second it is exceptional. In localities where there is 

 only one generation mating normally occurs and there is a prepon- 

 derance of males; in localities where there are two or more genera- 

 tions mating occurs normally only during the first, but in such locali- 

 ties mating maybe witnessed throughout most of the season because 

 of the great overlapping of generations. There is no courtship in 

 this species, and the females of the first generation take as active a 

 part in finding a mate as does the male while the females of the 

 second generation will fight and may kill a male rather than mate. 

 During copulation the wings are held flat against the body; 

 the legs are spread rather far apart, the fore legs projecting an- 

 teriorly, the middle slightly anteriorly and the hind posteriorly; 

 the antennae are usually moved slowly up and down. 



Copulation lasts about 100 seconds and is accomplished by 

 I IK- two individuals facing in opposite directions and the extreme 

 end of the male abdomen being bent at an obtuse angle because 

 of the truncate abdomen of the female. The hypopygidium 



the male fits over the knob at the base of the sheath, the coch- 



learii grasp the sides of the knob in the manner of a ball and socket 



vhile the position occupied by the preputii and penis was 



)served although they arc probably, used as in Euuru 



macgillivrayi. 



