Vol. XXXl] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 173 



the result of the muscular contortions of the larva within. 

 The membrane composing the sac seemed very tough and 

 leathery but gave way slowly to the compelling force inside. 

 When the delivery first began the jassid seized a grass blade 

 firmly with its feet but soon let go and raced down the tube. 

 It then forced its beak into another blade and with its claws 

 took a firm grip that was never relaxed until death came nearly 

 three hours later. In every case where an emergence has 

 been witnessed, the host has always died during the final 

 act, when the larva leaves its victim. And in each instance 

 life continues with strange persistence to the very farewell 

 move of the destroyer. 



The struggles of the larva for freedom continued without 

 cessation for an hour. At 12:15 it became quiet for thirty 

 minutes, possibly for rest, withdrew into the host's body and 

 the rent in the sac nearly closed. At intervals now the 

 jassid moved its legs feebly. At 12:45 the larva again be- 

 came active and for forty-five minutes labored most strenu- 

 ously until it gained its entire freedom. Not all larvae are 

 so fortunate for unless conditions are exactly right at this 

 stage emergence is checked and death ensues. 



The last few minutes were marked with extraordinary 

 exertion. Peristaltic waves ran cephalad in rapid succession 

 and each one served to propel the body an infinitesimal dis- 

 tance farther out. It will be understood that emergence 

 was backward, for the tapering head was the last thing to 

 appear. Even when finally free it seemed unwilling to leave 

 its happy home for it remained for some little time thrusting 

 its head again and again into the abdominal cavity of the 

 jassid through the remains of the now much tattered sac. 

 After about fifteen minutes of hesitation of this sort it moved 

 away from the dead body of its host and began to travel. 



The progress of the larva is peculiar. Its caudal end is 

 first slightly advanced cephalad, then a constriction pro- 

 gresses anteriorly, this being followed in quick sequence by 

 others, all this action tending to propulsion forward. Loco- 

 motion is certainly energetic even if not at all rapid. 



(To be Continued) 



