ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 455 



Lists of North American species unljnown to tlie autlior and of species wrongly 

 classified as Opiinse are included. The genus Allobracon of which Diachasma 

 pilosipes is the genotype is characterized. 



Species of Opiinse have been recorded as parasitic on dipterous, coleopterous, 

 and lepidopterous insects, the usual hosts being phytophagous Diptera of the 

 families Agromyzidse, Trypetidse, Anthomyidre, and related families. Observa- 

 tions of Silvestri (E. S. R., 31, p. 455) and the author indicate that the eggs are 

 deposited in or upon the host larva in one of its immature stages. In all in- 

 stances observed the host larva completed its development and assumed the 

 pupal stage before being killed by the parasite. 



Biology of Apanteles militaris, D. G. Towee {U. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. 

 Research, 5 (1015), No. 12, pp. Jt95-508, pi. 1, fig. 1). — A report of studies com- 

 menced in September, 1914, in which particular attention has been given to a 

 description of the life stages of this braconid endoparasite of the army worm. 



In observations extending from the last of September to the last of October 

 the total length of the life cycle averaged 25 days. The time spent by the 

 third instar and pupa in the cocoon varied from 5 to 7 days during the first 

 two weeks of August as compared with 11 and 12 days during September and 

 October. In oviposition observations it was found that one-sixth of the ap- 

 parent depositions in the larvse of the third stage, one-fifth of those in the 

 fourth, and one-half of those in the fifth were unsuccessful. The parasite 

 larvae usually emerge after the caterpillar is full grown. From 56 to 113 

 cocoons were collected from single hosts in the field under natural conditions. 

 Observations show that the species is parthenogenetic, and that unfertilized 

 females give rise to a generation of males. 



It is stated that the army worm has been found to pass the winter at Nash- 

 ville, Tenn., as young larvoe, and that specimens under observation have been 

 parasitized in the fall, the parasites completing their growth and emerging the 

 following spring. Attention is called to the fact that Gibson (E. S. R., 27, 

 p. 659) found the army worm to winter in Canada as young larvfe beneath 

 tufts of grass. " Considering the data at hand, the theory is advanced that in 

 the North the parasites winter as partly developed forms in immature larvae, 

 while in the South they no doubt also winter while in the cocoon." 



The paper concludes with notes on the origin and function of the caudal 

 vesicle. 



A bibliogi-aphy of 9 titles is appended. 



Two scoliid parasites on scarabasid larvae in Barbados, W. Nowell {Ann. 

 Appl. Biol., 2 {1915), No. 1, pp. 46-57, pi. 1, fig. 1). — During the course of inves- 

 tigations of the root grubs of sugar cane the author has found Tiphia parallela 

 to attack PJiytalus smithi, some 30 per cent of grubs and cocoons discovered 

 during extensive digging having been parasitized. An examination of the ovary 

 tubes of the parasite seems to indicate an egg capacity of at least 70. Five 

 to 6 days are said to be required for the development of the egg, which is laid 

 in a fold of the dorsum of the thorax. A chart record of Tiphia larvae shows 

 11 or 12 days to be required for their development, with the completion of 

 which they spin up, for which about 24 hours are required. The time spent 

 in the cocoon, as observed in the insectary, is usually from 32 to 40 days. 



The second scoliid, {Dielis) Campsomeris dorsnta, a species found in Bar- 

 bados throughout the year, has been discovered to parasitize Ligyrus grubs. 

 The development is said to be very similar to that of Tiphia. A rhipiphorid, 

 identified as Macrosiagon octomaculatiis, is said to have several times been 

 found to emerge from cocoons of a Campsomeris, and is taken on flowers of 

 Antigonon leptopus frequented by Campsomeris. 



28855°— No. 5—16 5 



