386 



Bulletin 265. 



As a rule, each berry showed three or four of these groups of punctures 

 corresponding in number and position to the seeds. Figure 92 shows 

 the punctures in the pit on the outer surface of the seed itself. 



On July 13 the writer found a single egg in the kernel close to this 

 pit. It is white, .45 mm. long by .18 mm. wide, oval, rounded posteriorly 

 and pointed anteriorly where it is produced into a tail-like process about 

 one-half as long as the egg. At the posterior end there is the rudiment 

 of a similar process. The surface appears perfectly smooth, without 

 sculpture (Fig. 94). 



Among cultivated grapes we have examined Concords from Ithaca 

 and Catawabas, Delawares and Dianas from Lake Keuka, N. Y., and 

 none were infested. 



THE SEED-CHALCIS OF THE VIRGINIA CREEPER 



(Prodecatoma phytophaga Crosby, Can. Ent., XLL, p. 50, 1909) 



This insect was first observed on Dec. 7, 1907 at Taughannock Falls, 

 N. Y., where the seeds of the Virginia Creeper were found to contain 

 a small white larva which had devoured the kernel. Infested berries 

 were kept indoors and adults emerged in May and June. This is much 

 earlier than would occur under natural conditions for females were not 

 observed ovipositing until July 25th. 



Oviposition takes place so late in the season that the seeds have 

 become hard and the egg is inserted through the chalaza, as in the case 

 of the Grape-seed Chalcis. 



Larva. — (Fig. 96). Length, 3 millimeters. The larva closely resem- 

 bles that of the Grape-seed Chalcis; it is grub-like in form, cylindrical, 



rounded at both ends; 

 it is white with brownish 

 motith parts; the sur- 

 face is smooth with a 

 few hairs near the an- 

 terior end. The anten- 

 nal tubercles are distinct 

 and brownish. The 

 mandible has one large 

 tooth on the inner edge, 

 back of which there is 



a slight emargination. 

 96. — Full-grown larva of Seed-chalcis of the ^ 



Virginia Creeper ^ &• 97/- 



Fig. 



