July IS, 191S 



Asparagus-Beetle Egg Parasite 



311 



sations of the abdomen noticed when the parasite feeds on an egg. It 

 is then withdrawn, and the parasite leaves the egg. In one or two in- 

 stances it appeared that the parasite after ovipositing in an egg returned 

 to it and repeated the act of oviposition. 



In another case a parasite observed in the act of oviposition was 

 approached by a second individual which, climbing up on the opposite 

 side of the egg, began to work the ovipositer up and down in the egg 

 in preparation for feeding. Each was aware of the other's presence, but 

 paid no observable attention to the other. 



Table IV gives the time required for oviposition and feeding for a 

 few individuals. 



Table IV. — Length of oviposition and of feeding of Tetrastichus asparagi at the River- 

 head, N . Y ., laboratory in igi2 



« Same eggs. 



EVIDENCE OF PARASITISM 



By means of a hand lens the beetle eggs which had been parasitized 

 were readily distinguishable. Where the ovipositor punctured the egg, 

 a small circular area appeared which projected slightly from the rest 

 of the eggshell and which had a shiny appearance, caused by the small 

 amount of the contents of the egg which had oozed from the puncture. 



Beetle larvae hatching from parasitized eggs appeared normal and con- 

 tinued to feed and grow until maturity. When matured, they went 

 into the ground and prepared their cells for pupation, but here their 

 activities stopped, and in a few days the cell was occupied by the para- 

 sitic larvae, all that remained of the beetle larva being the empty skin. 



IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARASITE 



The asparagus-beetle egg parasite is of considerable importance, as it 

 not only attacks the host during its parasitic development but is also 

 beneficial in destroying its host's eggs through feeding; in fact, it ap- 



