THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 101 



THE MATING OF BOREUS CALIFORNICUS. 



P.Y J. W. COCKLE, KASLO, B. C. 



The habits of these insects, which are found travelHng over snow in 

 winter, present many curious features, amongst them being the fact that 

 cold seems to have little effect on them, I have collected them on the 

 snow when the temperature showed several degrees of frost, but even at 

 this low temperature they would be capable of motion. They are usually 

 very lively when the temperature is just above freezing point, and when 

 the snow is deep in the woods and a slight thaw is commencing is the 

 most favourable time at which to go out collecting. This afternoon, 

 Jan. ■26th, whilst travelling along a road through the timber, I picked up 

 several specimens, and transferred them to a box in the hope of shipping 

 them to Dr. Fletcher, who was desirous of seeing specimens of them alive. 

 Having secured several, on the way back home I noticed a specimen 

 which appeared to have something on its back, which, on closer observa- 

 tion, proved to be a pair in copulation ; the day was cloudy, and the 

 temperature had held at just the freezing point all day, but at this time 

 a change was coming over the snow and a slight thaw was setting in. It 

 is probable that the temperature at the time I noticed them was below 

 33 degrees. As I have collected large numbers of these insects, and this 

 was the first occasion that I had seen a pair together, I took occasion to 

 examine them closely. I had with me only a small pocket-lens with a 

 three-quarter-inch focus, and in order to observe them through this I was 

 compelled to lie down on the snow. Such a position, it can readily be 

 understood, was not particularly favourable for an extended study. The 

 female was riding on the back of the male, her front legs folded up in the 

 position of kneeling, the second pair resting on the back of the male, 

 whilst the much elongated third pair hung down below the abdomen of 

 the male ; the ovipositor was released from the sheath, which remained in 

 its normal position, whilst the ovipositor itself was thrust down perpen- 

 dicularly into the organs of the male. The male presented a very 

 extraordinary feature, the embryonic wings, which are curved at the tips, 

 were extended and hooked over the tibiae of the kneeling female, thus 

 holding her in an upright position on the back "when he moved about. 



The fact of the wings being used as an aid in holding the female 

 daring copulation, may be possible with other insects, but this is the first 

 instance which has come under my observation where they have been put 

 to such a use. 



My recumbent position in the snow being very unpleasant, I picked 

 up the pair with my forceps, and transferred them to a box, but as they 

 immediately separated, further observations were suspended. 



March, 190S 



