1898.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. ~l 



It will be noted that in the description we have referred to the 

 male as having six abdominal segments and the female as having 

 seven. A careful examination of several species, together with 

 Prof. Harvey's remarks on Epochra canadensis (Report Maine 

 State College 1895, p. 123), has led us to adopt this view. Of 

 course what Loew called the first segment is made up of the first 

 and second, closely united; the third, fourth and fifth are always 

 easily distinguishable and more or less similar in appearance 

 throughout the different genera of this family; the fifth segment 

 of the male is, however, in some species more elongated and 

 conical; the sixth segment of the male is always small and par- 

 tially or wholly concealed underneath the fifth; a careful exami- 

 nation, however, cannot fail to reveal it. In the female the sixth 

 segment is similar to those preceding it, but the seventh is, in 

 many species, more or less elongated, conical, or flattened, and 

 often of a different color than the other segments. This is usually 

 referred to as the ovipositor, or as the first segment of the ovi- 

 positor. Of course if we consider the ovipositor as being made 

 up of modified abdominal segments and we certainly must in this 

 group at least, it is not a matter of any great importance how 

 many of these segments we call abdominal segments and how 

 many of them shall be referred to as the ovipositor, but it seems 

 as if the use to which the respective segments are put should 

 decide this. As the seventh segment takes no part in making 

 the puncture, and, as in some species {R, ribricola, R. pomonella 

 and others), it differs very little in appearance, shape or structure 

 from the segments which precede it, we see no reason why it 

 should be any longer referred to as the ovipositor, or as a part 

 of the ovipositor. Retracted within the seventh segment is the 

 sheath of the ovipositor, and within this the ovipositor proper. 

 When not in use these are telescoped within the seventh segment 

 so that ordinarily little or none of the ovipositor is visible. 



The female of Rhagolctis ribicola when depositing her eggs 

 behaves in much the same manner as the female of Epochra cana- 

 densis as described by Prof. Harvey. It is interesting to note, 

 however, that after the ovipositor is withdrawn from the berry 

 she often turns round and sips up the small drop of juice that 

 flows from the puncture. 



This species is of considerable economic importance in this 

 State (Washington) as each year the larva destroy much of the 



