154 PROCEEDINGS ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



The first adult Perilitus secured in the spring of 1913 was reared 

 May 5 from a Meg ilia maculata. This was fed on diluted honey 

 and placed in a large vial. She was then given access to various 

 species of coccinellids including Adalia bipunctata, Anatis 15- 

 punctata, Hippodamia glacialis, Coccinella Q-notata, Hippodamia 

 convergens, Megilla maculata, Cycloneda sanguinea ( = munda), 

 and Hyperaspis sp., as well as a number of undetermined larvae. 

 All of the species including the larvae were observed to be attacked 

 except Hyperaspis sp. The larvae were apparently attacked at any 

 point, while the adults seemed to be attacked only between the 

 segments, usually those of the abdomen, although the sutures 

 between the head and thorax and thorax and abdomen were not 

 neglected. 



In oviposition the parasite assumes a position exactly similar 

 to that taken by Aphidius, facing the prospective host and thrust- 

 ing the ovipositor forward beneath the body and between the legs. 

 The parasite perceived the presence of the beetles -from a distance 

 of at least 1 inch, when she would show great excitement by rapid 

 vibration of the antennae and quick movement toward the beetle. 

 Having approached within feeling distance she extended the ovi- 

 positor in readiness for the attack and began dancing about her 

 prospective victim, advancing and retreating and finally, when a 

 good opening offered, rushing in and giving a quick thrust. This 

 was repeated with each beetle several times. Another female 

 parasite reared May 14 was placed in the same vial and began its 

 attack on the beetles immediately without taking food. At later 

 dates other parasites were reared. All were females. 



During the progress of the observations many beetles and larvae 

 were attacked. Of these only one, an adult Megilla, showed any 

 further signs of parasitism. The parasite larva emerged from its 

 host and spun its cocoon but did not mature. 



The latest parasite to emerge in the spring appeared on June 14, 

 having developed within the body of a Hippodamia convergens. 



Some years ago there was published in Insect Life some discus- 

 sion as to the point from which the Perilitus larva emerges from its 

 host, the ventral sutures between the abdominal segments and 

 that between the thorax and abdomen being suggested as possible 

 points of egress. The actual emergence of the parasite from its 

 host was apparently, however, never observed. On May 19,1913, 

 it was my good fortune to find a Megilla, from which the parasite 

 larva was just emerging. It was protruding from beneath the 

 elytra of the host and had forced the tip of the abdomen down- 

 ward. Very carefully I clipped the elytra and wings of the beetle 

 to determine the exact point from which the parasite was coming. 

 This point I found to be the suture between the fifth and sixth 

 abdominal segments slightly to the right of the median dorsal line. 



