juiyis, I9I5 Asparagus-Beetle Eegg Parasite 309 



Parasites which were separated as soon as they emerged, and confined 

 with asparagus-beetle eggs, immediately commenced feeding and ovi- 

 positing and another generation was reared from the parasitized eggs. 

 In one case where six parasites emerged in one vial and were immediately 

 separated, each being given beetle eggs, five of the six were observed to 

 feed on an egg within 15 minutes after they were placed with the eggs, 

 while the other one was observed to oviposit first. From this it would 

 seem that, as a rule, the parasite after emerging feeds on a few eggs before 

 beginning to oviposit. These five adults were observed to oviposit later 

 in the day. 



NUMBER OF GENERATIONS 



Apparently this insect produces three generations a year on Long 

 Island, for it was very abundant early in June, when it disappeared, to be 

 found again in July, after which time two generations were reared in the 

 laboratory. However, indications are that the third generation, in the 

 fall, is only a partial one. 



In one case three beetle eggs were found to be parasitized On August 9, 

 and on August 11 the beetle larv^ae hatched and were given food. On 

 August 17 they went into the ground to pupate, and on September 7 five 

 adult parasites emerged. On January 3, 191 3, when the soil in the vial 

 was taken out and examined, it was found that one of the two cells which 

 were still in the ground held five dead adult parasites. In the other cell 

 there were five parasitic pupae. These pupae, being confined in a warm 

 room, immediately began to change and on January 8 emerged as adults. 

 In another case, from beetle larv^ae hatched on August 1 1 from eggs that 

 had been confined with one parasite, 10 parasites emerged on September 5 

 and 6. As no more issued from this vial, the soil in it was taken out and 

 examined February 3, 191 3. In one cell were found five parasitic larvae. 

 These larvae pupated February 7 and on February 17 were emerging as 

 adults. From these facts it would appear that the last generation was 

 but a partial one. The fact that in the laboratory experiments repre- 

 sentatives of the third generation emerged in one vial only, whereas on 

 examining the soil in some of the vials during January a number of para- 

 sitic larvae were found, would indicate that the third generation might be 

 the exception instead of the rule. 



HIBERNATION 



During the latter part of January and the first of February the soil in 

 several vials was examined in order that the stage in which this insect 

 passed the winter might be ascertained. Seven cells containing para- 

 sites were found, in six of which they were in the larval stage, while in 

 the seventh they had passed to the pupal stage. This would indicate 

 that the insect hibernates as a full-grown larva in the cell of its host in 

 the sround. 



