1890.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 139 



This species is, I believe, the first known to have been captured 

 in the eastern United States, and can be at once distinguished by 

 its entirely black color. It belongs to Blake's Division II, hav- 

 ing two submarginal cells, and the first segment of abdomen 

 being nearly sessile with the second. 



It gives me great pleasure to dedicate this species to Mr. E. 

 T. Cresson, whose labors have done much to advance the study 

 of the North American Hymenoptera. 



o 



OVIPOSITION OF ANOMALON S P .* 



BY C. P. GILLETTE. 



While passing an apple tree on August i8th, last, on which 

 were a brood of Datana ministra larvae about one-third grown, 

 my attention was attracted by the presence of a large hymenop- 

 terous parasite busily ovipositing in their soft bodies, and, ap- 

 parently, much to their discomfort. The parasite was a large 



black Anomalon sp. not in my col- 

 lection, unless, possibly, it is a va- 

 riety of A. pallitarse Cress. It dif- 

 fers from Cresson' s description of 

 this species by having its middle and 

 hind pairs of legs black, and its face, antennae and front pair of 

 legs entirely yellow. 



This parasite was so intent upon her work that she did not 

 leave when I pulled the limb down close to my face so that I could 

 distinctly watch operations. The entire brood of larvae were ap- 

 parently alarmed and were striking their heads violently from side 

 to side to frighten away their enemy. The parasite stood upon 

 a leaf in easy reach of a number of her victims watching their 

 movements, and, as soon as one became quiet enough, she would 

 quickly thrust it with her sharp ovipositor. The manner in 

 which this was done was what especially interested me. I had 

 supposed that these parasites would stand upon or above their 

 victims and thrust (jown upon them, but such was not her man- 

 ner. I was reminded of one who fences, and, with a quick thrust 

 straight in front, pierces his combatant. This insect stood upon 

 her two back pairs of legs, the front pair not being put to any 



* Read before the Iowa Academy of Science, at Des Moines, Sept. 5, 1890. 



