76 PROC. ENT. soc. WASH., VOL. 22, NO. 4, APRIL, 1920 



Acmaeodera Esch. 



This genus contains a number of species little represented in 

 collections. Many of these seem confined to the chaparral for- 

 ests of the arid and semiarid regions of the southwest. All appear 

 to transform in the fall and to remain in the pupal cells in the 

 wood until spring. The various species usually can be taken in 

 fair numbers during the winter months from the oaks (Quercus), 

 wild lilacs (Ceanoihus), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus) , chem- 

 ise (Adenostema) , cascara (Rhamnus) and similar shrubs which go 

 to make up the brush forests. Patience and a good sharp hatchet 

 will produce many fine specimens for the collection. 



Collecting from the wood is not so easy as beating and not so 

 much territory can be covered, but the results are surer. If the 

 first tree does not produce results, try, try again, not only another 

 tree but another locality and success is assured as skill develops. 

 The most important point in this method of collecting is that 

 once the host of a species is determined the usually desired addi- 

 tional specimens can be obtained with much more certainty when 

 wanted. Also, along with the specimens, one obtains many fine 

 observations on the life histories. 



Very often much time can be saved by searching out the trees 

 which show emergence holes instead of chopping into every scar. 

 Most of the woodborers live for several years in the wood and 

 usually all of the beetles of the same brood do not emerge the 

 same year. 



VIERECK'S FAMILY LABENIDAE WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A 

 NEW SPECIES OF APECHONEURA (HYM., ICHNEUMONIDAE.) 



BY R. A. CUSHMAN, Bureau of Entomology. 



In a paper published in the January number of the current 

 (1920) volume of Entomological News, H. L. Viereck erects the 

 new Ichneumonid family Labenidae, based on the single char- 

 acter of the high insertion of the abdomen on the propodeum. 

 In this family he includes the genera Labena Cresson and Psilo- 

 paria (new genus) and "possibly Apechoneura Kriechbaumer," 

 and excludes Grotea Cresson. The last named genus except in 

 the position of the abdomen is obviously more closely related 

 to Labena than to any other Ichneumonid genus. There can be 

 no doubt that the new genus is synonymous with Apechoneura 

 Kriechbaumer; the genotype is certainly congeneric with Apecho- 

 neura longicauda Kriechbaumer, which is represented in the 

 National Collection bv a female from Colombia. Certonotus 



