200 



THE IMOXTIIIA' BULLETIN. 



No extensive observations were made on the period between emer- 

 gence of the adult female CaUicphiaUes sp. and the first deposition of 

 eggs. At a temperature of 68° F. one female emerging on February 26. 

 1913, began depositing eggs on April 3d, or a preoviposition period of 

 practically seven days. 



Each ovary of CaUiephialfcs sp. consists of six ovarian tubes, or ovari- 

 oles. A number of the ovaries of the sexually mature females of this 

 species were dissected. The results of these dissections are shown in 

 Table No. 1. 



TABLE NO. 1. 

 Dissection of Ovaries of Calliephialtes sp. 



Eggs in ovaries 



-Niiniljei- of feiiiak' 



The ovaries of the six females dissected contained an average of five 

 fully developed eggs, three half or over half developed eggs and twelve 

 less than half developed. These dissections would indicate that the 

 daily oviposition is small. We have observed one female to deposit five 

 eggs in one day. The average daily egg deposition is from two to 

 three eggs. As the egg development is so slow the number deposited by 

 any female would certainly be less than one hundred eggs. 



Oviposition. The stage of the host Carpocapsa pomoneUa attacked- 

 ])y this parasite is the full grown larva in the cocoon. The stimulus to 

 oviposition is evidently the odor of the codling moth. Adults have 

 been noticed to attempt oviposition in wood and even in glass in places 

 formerly occupied by the cocoon of the codling moth. On one occasion 

 a female deposited two eggs in a glass vial which had contained cod- 

 ling moth larva?. Attempted oviposition was noticed several times in 

 cocoons containing the pupal stage of the codling moth but in no case 

 were eggs deposited. Only one egg is deposited at a time, but several 

 eggs may be laid in the same cocoon by the same parasite or by difi'erent 

 individuals. Super-parasitism may occiu' although it is not common. 

 Calliephialtes larvae, when placed together, readily feed on each other 

 and even on eggs of the parasite. 



The general method of oviposition is as follows : The female feels the 

 cocoon of the host with its antenna?, then standing as nearly over the 

 cocoon as is possible, according to the position of the host, raises the 

 abdomen to a vertical position, the ovipositor being released from its 

 sheath and lowered. The parasite presses on the tip of the ovipositor 

 until it penetrates the cocoon of the host, often turning around com- 

 pletely several times, evidently to enlarge the hole in the cocoon. The 

 abdomen is lowered as far as possible if the cocoon of the host is at a 

 distance from the surface on which the parasite is standing. Figure 

 58 shows the position of the parasite when it is attempting to penetrate 

 the cocoon of the host with its ovipositor, and Figure 59 shows the 



