547 



The larva and adult of Ceplins occidentalism a new species found on grass 

 in California, I^evada, and Montana, are also described and illustrated. 

 Mention is made of a number of parasites observed to attack the saw- 

 flies studied. Plowing and rotation of crops are recommended as a 

 remedy iu case these insects become troublesome. 



Importation of a Hessian Jiy parasite from Europe, IS. A. Forbes (pp. 

 179-181). — An account of the breeding of a generation of Semiotellus 

 nigripcs in 1891 from imported Hessian fly puparia on infested wheat at 

 Champaign, Illinois, and the successful distribution of the bred insects 

 in fields infested by the fly at the station and in southern Illinois. 



Origin and devcJopnicnt of parasitism among the Sarcoptidw, H. Gar- 

 man (pp. 182-187). — A paper read before the American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science, at Wasliington, D. C, August, 1891. The 

 author holds that "mites are degraded Arachnidcc; that Sarcoptidce are 

 degraded mites, and are not the lowest in rank of the order ; that their 

 parasitic habit has been recently assumed 5 and that their immediate 

 ancestors were free-living mites." 



Origin and development of the parasitic habit in MaUophaga and Fedicu- 

 lidw,II. Osftorn (pp. 187-191). — A paper read before the American Asso- 

 ciation for the Advancement of Science, at Washington, D. C, August, 

 1891. Peculiarities in the structure of members of these groups are 

 described. For the MaUophaga the conclusion is reached that "with 

 the exception of wings, the loss of which has been stated as occurring 

 before the assumption of the parasitic habit, we must admit that para- 

 sitism has resulted iu specialization and progressive evolution, not 

 retrogression or degradation." 



The use of grape bags by a paper-mahing loasp, M. E. Murtfeldt (pp. 

 192, 193). — A paper read before the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, at Washington, D. C, August, 1891. Notes 

 on observations on the rust-red social wasp {Polistes rubiginosus) which 

 tore off fibers and layers of paper from grape bags, presumably for use 

 in nest building. 



Methods of pupation among the Chalcididw,L. 0. Howard {p]). 193-196). — 

 This includes the following general statements, which are enforced by 

 references to particular instances: 



As a rule Chalcidid larvae "whicli are internal feeders on their hosts transform 

 internally into naked and more or less coarctate pupae. 



With certain Encyrtince, for one of which Dr. Riley has proposed the excellent 

 descriptive name of the " inflating chalcisfiy," particularly of the genus Copidowma, 

 but also of Bothriothorax, Homalotylus, and perhaps others, the larvae inhabiting 

 the host insect in great numbers, when about to pupate, cause a marked inflation in 

 the host larva by the formation of oval cells around the parasite. * » * 



Species parasitic upon eudophytous larva;, and therefore feeding externally, trans- 

 form to pupae close to the remains of the host in the burrow or leaf mine, usually 

 attached at the anal end by the praepupal excrement. I have observed a curious 

 variation in the case of Chrysocharis shigular'is in the mine of Li thocolletis Jiamadryadella 

 on oak leaves, which I have described in tlie American Xaturalist for January, 1881. 

 In this case the Chalcidid pupa is surrounded by small excremental pillars arranged 

 in an ellix)se and connecting the roof and floor of the mine. * * * 



