TlIK MONTIILV BULLETIN. 



lidl 



pai'asitt' in tlio position of depositing an ogg. Tlie parasite jal)S the 

 liost larva with its ovipositor several times, tiie hirva often otTei'ing snch 

 a stubborn resistance tliat the parasite is unable to subdue it. The 

 points at wliich the ovipositor enters the codling iiiolh larva soon be- 

 comes almost bhick. The larva after being jabbed several times is 

 apparently killed. The pai-asite, after subduing the host larva, with- 

 draws the ovipositor from the body and remains almost perfectly still 

 for several minutes. Then begins a series of rapid pulsations in the 

 apical abdominal stc^rnites and the lancets or inner pieces of the ovi- 

 positor move rapidly up and down. This motion continues for several 

 minutes, after which the parasite rests again. Then another series of 



Fig. 59. — Position assumed by female of Calliephialtes sp. in oviposition. (Original.) 



pulsations is begun, these being much slower and more powerful than 

 the preceding, the egg slips quickly down the ovipositor caudal end 

 first, and may be seen with the naked eye as soon as it leaves the 

 vagina. Having deposited the egg, the parasite withdraws its ovipositor, 

 which snaps back into the sheath. The parasite usually remains quiet 

 for some time. 



This method of oviposition varies to some extent, the first series of 

 pulsations being apparently unnecessary for the egg deposition, several 

 having been observed to have laid eggs without these movements having 

 taken ])lace. The parasite also does not always rest after stinging the 

 larva. The average time re(|uired foi' the de]K)sition of an egg is about 

 fifteen minutes. We noticed one female which deposited two eggs in 

 the same cocoon in exactly five minutes and omitted the first series of 

 pulsations mentioned above. Another required thirty-five ihinutes to 



