1908 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 55 



distinguislied from each other by the fact that members of the Aphelininae 

 have 8-jointed antennae, a divided meso-pleiira, and the middle tibiae are not 

 specially adapted for saltatory purposes. The Encyrtinae, on the other hand, 

 are characterized by the large saltatory spine of the middle tibiae, which 

 is generally long and stout, though less frequently it is found dilated at the 

 base, and armed with a double-row of black teeth or spines. This last 

 feature readily marks off Encyrtinae, as no other family, as far as I am 

 aware, possesses this large saltatory spine. 



The Aphelininae are generally parasitic iipon the Aleyrodidae or, 

 amongst Coccidae, upon members of the sub-family Diaspinae. The 

 commonest member of this family is Aphelinus mytilaspidis, a small yellow 

 parasite which attacks several species of scales but principally the Oyster- 

 shell Bark-louse. The larva feeds on either the scale body or eggs accord- 

 ing to the time of the year; but like most Aphelinids there is not usually 

 more than one larva to a single scale. The larvae, when full grown, are 

 about 1 mm. long and very stout, being almost as broad as long; the pupae, 

 stout, dark and contracted. 



It appears to be double brooded as the adults were reared at the begin- 

 ning of June and end of August; the adults may be usually observed ovi- 

 positing on the young scales during -June. Another closely related species 



a b 



Fig. 7. Twice-stabbed Lady- Fig- 8. Lace-wing fly and Fig. y. Lace-vvinj: Fig. 10. 



bird, larva and beetle. eggs. fly eggs and larva. Thirteen- 



spotted 

 ladybird . 



is Aphelinus fuscipennia which attacks both San Jose and Curtis Scales. 

 This parasite is widely distributed, one being common on Sari Jose Scales in 

 some parts of the United States. It differs from the preceding species in 

 having slightly clouded wings. 



Another very important member of this family is Coccophagus lecanii 

 — a small Chalcid with yellow markings upon the meso-scutum and scutel- 

 lum. It is this parasite, acting in conjunction with Hyperoapis sifjn^tus 

 mentioned previously, which so effectively controls the outbreak of Cottony 

 Maple Scale (Pulvinaria irinumerahilk). It is amongst the Encyrtinae, 

 however, that we find the most important Hymenopterous parasites of the 

 Coccidae. During the last summer some twenty species of parasites belong- 

 ing to this family were reared by me from various scales — but principally 

 from the various species of Lecanium.' No fewer than ten of these species, 

 or 50 per cent, were reared from one species of scale, namely Enlecanium 

 Fletcher/. 



The most common of the Guelpli representatives of this family belong 

 to the genus Comys, of which three species are found in this neighborhood. 



Co7n>ys scutellata is a large, handsome species which parasitizes Eule- 

 canium caryae to such an extent that few scales escape. It is probably a 

 European species, accidently introduced and now widely distributed in 

 Xorth America. Comys f^isca, a closely allied form, is very common around 



