i68 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. XVI, No. 6 



Description. — ^The larva of Liodonlomerus per plexus (fig. i) varies 

 in color from white to smoky gray. The length averages 1.5 mm. and the 

 thickness averages 0.7 mm. The general appearance 

 is grublike, while a side view shows the general shape, 

 suggesting an interrogation mark. The head of the 

 larva shows the eye lobes and on each a small tubercle. 

 The front of the head contains about eight fine setae. 

 Mandibles, slightly chitinous, are usually inconspic- 

 uous, but sometimes distinctly visible. Segmentation 

 of the 13 body segments is very marked. The body 

 is covered with bristle-like setae which are from 0.04 

 mm. to 0.1 mm. in length. Two rows, and a broken 

 third row, are present in the first segment. The 

 second and third segments each bear one row with a 

 broken second row. The other segments each bear 

 one row encircling the segment. Setae on the dorsal 

 portion of the body are much coarser than those of 

 the ventral side. The last segment is dorso-ventrally 

 bilobed and bears setae on each of the lobes. 



Fio. I. — Liodonlomerus 

 perplexus: Larva. 



PUPA 



Pupation. — After the pupa has completed its development within 

 the larval skin the latter breaks open along the antero-dorsal margin 

 and is slowly worked back to beyond the tip of 

 the abdomen by a slight movement of the newly 

 formed pupa. 



Descpjption. — The pupa (fig. 2) is white 

 when newly formed. It is about 1.5 mm. long 

 and 0.5 mm. thick. The eyes are at first white, 

 but after a few days turn to pale brown. The 

 head and thorax bend slightly forward. The 

 antennae, legs, and wing pads are folded close to 

 the body and the ovipositor sheath is bent back 

 across the end of the abdomen. In the last few 

 days of the pupa stage the pupa turns almost 

 black, with dark-brown eyes and pale-brown 

 antennae, legs, and ovipositor. 



Length of pupal period. — The length of the 

 pupal period varies greatly according to the 

 season during which -pupation occurs. Hiberna- 

 ting larvae under observation began entering the 

 pupa stage as early as March; others did not pupate until July and 

 August, and a few remained in the larva stage until the following year 

 before pupating. Twenty-six pupae, which proved to be males, averaged 

 23.7 days in the pupa stage; and 31 pupae, which proved to be females. 



Fig. 2. — Liodonlomerus perplex- 

 us: Pupa. 



