148 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



[April, '15 



A few specimens of this parasite were sent to Mr. A. B. 

 Gahan, entomological assistant, United States Bureau of 

 Entomology, and he determined them to be Abella sub- 

 flava Girault. In commenting on his determination Mr. Ga- 



FlG. I. 



FIG. 2. 



FIG. 3. 



Fig. i. Chinch bug egg showing exit hole of Eumicrosomdbenefica. Greatly enlarged. 

 Fig. 2. Two chinch bug eggs deposited together. (A) shows exit hole of Abella sitb- 



flava. (B) shows an adult Eumicrosoma benefica emerging from egg. Greatly 



enlarged. 

 Fig. 3. Eggs from which Abella subflava were bred in large numbers. Probably eggs of 



a leaf-hopper. (A and C) show the exit holes of A. subflava,. Greatly enlarged. 



han says, "According to Girault this species occurs widely 

 distributed in the United States and also in Australia. He 

 says that it is parasitic on the eggs of a Jassid that infests 

 wheat straw. Your specimens agree nicely in the generic 

 characters with the types of Girault's species and I was un- 

 able to find any character that would indicate a different 

 species although your specimens appear a little lighter in 

 color. I attribute this to their having been in alcohol. I 

 showed the specimens to Mr. J. C. Crawford and he agrees 

 with me in the determination." 



A number of attempts have been made to carry the life his- 

 tory of this parasite through on chinch bug eggs but in all 

 cases the results have been negative. In two cases there was 



