240 



THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and the nymphs in a pill-box, all on moist sand. On May 4th, when 

 examined, the nymphs appeared unusually swollen, so that parasitism was 

 suspected, and they were immediately isolated in small tubes with 



absorbent cotton stoppers. The posterior portion of 

 the body of the host soon became translucent, indi- 

 cating that parasite larvae were at that end of the 

 body. The first adult parasites appeared May 22, 

 and 51 specimens issued from five ticks on the 22nd 

 and 23rd. 



The full life-history of the parasite is not known, 

 and the time and method of oviposition would be 

 very interesting if they were known. It seems that 

 it is the habit of the host to drop off the animal to 

 which it is attached and to pass both moults on the 

 ground. This would afford a good opportunity for 

 the parasite to deposit its eggs while the young nymph 

 is awaiting a host animal. From the fact, however, 

 that a number of parasites issue from a single tick, 

 there is a possibility of a polyembryonic method of 



Fig 14.— H u n t erell u s j i , • i  i ■. • ■<-\ \ ^^ ^ ^\ 



Hooiieri, female— max- development, HI which case It IS nkely that the 

 1 arypapus. Chalcidid may lay its egg in the egg of the tick. 



The exact dates sent in by Mr. Hooker are as follows: April 16, 

 approximately the date when the nymphs became attached to the dog ; 

 April 20 the engorged nymphs were collected ; May 12 parasites pupated ; 

 May 22 the parasites began to emerge. Parasites were bred only from 

 nymphs, and not from larvae or from adults. 



The parasite appears to be rather closely related to Ixodiphagus, 

 but will form a new genus. As pointed out in the article in Entomological 

 News above referred to, Ixodiphagus belongs to the subfamily Encyrtinae, 

 but does not fit into any of its tribes. It will therefore be desirable to 

 found a new tribe, Ixodiphagini, to include Ixodiphagus and the new 

 genus Hunterellus, about to be described. 



Family Encyrtid.^, Walker (1837). 



Subfamily Encyrtinae, How. (1886). 



Tribe Ixodiphagini, How. 



Hunterellus, gen. nov. 



Female. — Differs from Ixodiphagus in the following respects : Head 



triangular when seen from side ; antennae inserted well above middle of 



