8 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 



and transparent that the enclosed larva and pupa can be observed. These 

 cocoons occupy the cell formed by the Bdlaniims, and are shaped much 

 like those of the large ants, but-much larger. The imago is quite graceful, 

 the $ ovipositor being proportionately as long as in Rhyssa. Mr. Cresson 

 would have described this species under the specific name balani?ii, but 

 was anticipated by Mr. W. H. Ashmead, who probably describes the same 

 thing imder the name Urosigalphus armatus (Proc. U. S. Nat. Museum, 

 1888, p. 637, but only issued Oct. ist, 1889). Besides the larvse of 

 Balaniniis, those of at least four lepidopters infest acorns, two of which 

 seem to enter by the holes made by the Balanhms in leaving, and live on 

 the debris within. The other two are found with the Balaninus larvae, 

 one of them feeding on the refuse made by them, but the other depredates 

 on the substance of the acorn, and is sometimes found in acorns by itself; 

 it pupates in the earth without forming a cocoon. The others formed 

 thin papery cocoons against the sides of the jars in which they were con- 

 fined. I failed to obtain their names, the gentlemen of whom inquiries 

 were made being seemingly unacquainted with these forms, 



SUMMARY. 



B. proboscoideus is so far only known to depredate on chestnuts, 



B. rectus has been reared here from chestnuts only, but elsewhere 

 from Arizona acorns. 



B. quercus was reared in about equal numbers from the acorns of all 

 the biennial fruiting oaks mentioned. 



B. nasicus prefers the acorns of the annual fruiting oaks (white and 

 chestnut), but depredates sparingly on those of biennials. 



B. caryce. has been reared from pecan hickory nuts elsewhere, and 

 many larvae from nuts grown here are now in rearing and will almost 

 certainly develope this species. 



B. uniformis prefers the acorns of biennials, but will depredate 

 occasionally on those of annuals (chestnut oak). 



B. obtusus is only known to depredate on hazel nuts. 



The indescript form probably lives in acorns in the larva state, but 

 has not been reared. 



Obs. — The acorns of all species were collected from oaks growing in 

 the same place promiscuously, so that the parent beetles evidently dis- 

 criminated in their choice. 



