1896.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 63 



eight of the Dipterous larvae and an abundant supply of food. 

 Pupae were also found in same place as the larvae. 



Specimens of full grown larvae which were secured were placed 

 in earth, pupated and gave out the imago in eighteen days be- 

 tween August 1 8th and September 5th. Of another lot secured 

 on September 5th only one has emerged to date. A specimen 

 was submitted to Prof. S. W. Williston, who was unable to de- 

 termine the species, it being " in all probability yet undescribed." 

 It belongs to the genus Prosphorysa. 



No flies resembling these at all were noticed about the holes 

 or wasps, and I do not know how the flies gained access to the 

 larval cavities, as in almost every instance the mouth of the bur- 

 row is carefully covered with earth by the wasp both when leav- 

 ing the hole or remaining in for some time. In the latter case 

 the dirt is pushed up from below, the angle of descent being small, 

 so that the earth does not run down into the hole. The state- 

 ment that no parasites are known that feed upon provision of 

 flies in the nests of any of the species of the genus Bembecinus 

 is upon the authority of Prof. L. O. Howard. 



-o- 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF IDOLOTHRIPS. 



By THEO. PERGANDE, Washington, D. C. 



Idolothrips coniferarum n. sp. Length 3.6-4.8 mm. General color 

 black and polished; the head and legs with a faintly bluish, and the pro- 

 thorax with a slight purplish reflection. Eyes dark brown; ocelli color- 

 less. Antennae black, with the basal two-thirds of the third, basal half 

 of the fourth and base of the fifth and sixth joints yellow; anterior tibiae, 

 especially in the male, frequently yellowish brown; tarsi dark brown to 

 black; sutures of the abdomen, if extended, dark red. Wings clear and 

 colorless, the veins and a short streak at base of costa of front wings 

 brownish or blackish; fringes dark brownish. Head about three times as 

 long as broad, cylindrical, its sides parallel; conical in front of eyes and 

 fringed along each side with sparsely set, short and stiff hairs; eyes oval 

 and slightly projecting; antennae slender and somewhat longer than the 

 head; third joint longest, the fourth slightly shorter, the following joint-; 

 gradually diminishing in length; joints 3 to 5 clavate, the last three fusi- 

 form; all are furnished with a few very slender hairs around the apex, the 

 hairs becoming somewhat more numerous on the last three joints. Pro- 

 thorax conical, anteriorly as broad as the head, arcuate and broadest 

 posteriorly and with a prominent lateral angle beyond the insertion of the 

 legs, each of which bears a rather long and stiff hair or bristle, while the 



