242 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. in 



The spider is usually killed prior to maturity and most often while in 

 the penultimate ins tar. As has been observed by Locket (1930) and 

 Schhnger (1952, for Opsebius), the spider spins a thin cell-like web 

 just prior to its death, the web inadvertently acting to protect the 

 maturing parasite. This web is similar, if not identical, to that spun 

 by the spider prior to molting. The parasite larva is not discernible 

 until about three hours before its emergence from the host, when 

 close examination reveals the rapidly moving mouthparts which 

 indicate consumption of the host. The host skeleton can usually be 

 found just beneath the maturing parasite (pi. 1, fig. 1). 



For this study, 45 specimens representing 5 species of Ogcodes 

 have been reared from California spiders during the past 10 years. 

 The hosts belonged to 9 species in 5 families, most of which were either 

 Lycosidae or Agelenidae. Although there appears to be no definite 

 host-parasite association, the fact remains that Ogcodes species, as 

 well as all the recorded species of the subfamily Acrocerinae, are 

 kno^vn only as parasites of the spider suborder Labidognatha. This 

 compares well with the fact that acrocerids of the subfamily Panopinae 

 are known to be parasitic on spidei-s of another suborder, the Orthog- 

 natha. No host data are available for the other acrocerid subfamily, 

 the Philopotinae. 



Adult habits : The adults are often encountered in great numbers by 

 sweeping wet grassy areas such as meadows or grass-covered orchards, 

 or by picking them up by hand from the dead branches where the 

 females are depositing their eggs. For the most part the females are 

 quite sluggish, primarily because of their gravid condition at emer- 

 gence. The males, however, are much more active, and at times are 

 difficult to catch even with a net. Mating usually occurs in flight, 

 where, upon contact, the couple drops to the ground or onto a nearby 

 bush to complete the process. If disturbed during mating, they may 

 take flight, at which time they are easy to collect. Almost immedi- 

 ately after mating the female may begin to deposit eggs, thus showing 

 that there is little if any time factor restricting the oviposition or 

 fertilization processes after mating takes place. 



The adult longevity periods for the known species under caged 

 conditions vary from 3 to 12 days, with 3 to 4 weeks probably being 

 the maximum span in nature. Apparently the adults take no food, 

 and although it is possible that they obtain moisture tlirough their 

 oral membrane, no evidence has been found of their feeding on water, 

 sugar-water, honey, flowers, or several nutrient solutions given them 

 under caged conditions. (For more detailed results of adult habits 

 and host-parasite relationships, see the discussions under adaptatus, 

 new species, borealis Cole, eugonatus Loew, melampus Loew, and 

 pallidipennis Loew.) 



