66 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. vi. no. 2 



fig. i). This was kept outdoors in a partially shaded position. The 

 adults were fed as before with sugar solution. 



A Douglas fir branch bearing cones about 3 weeks old was placed in 

 this cage on April 18. The young cones were then about i}4 inches long, 

 the scales were still soft, and the seeds had the milky interior and un- 

 hardened coat. The base of the branch was kept in a jar full of moist 

 earth. Fresh branches were placed in the cage at intervals until May 

 15, when the cones were estimated to be about half mature. 



Mating was observed in this cage and in the emergence vials of the 

 rearing boxes during the entire period. The first oviposition of a female 

 on a cone was observed on April 20 at about 3.30 p. m. A female was 

 observed crawling about over the bracts and feeling the scales with her 

 antennae. This lasted for several minutes; then the female paused on 

 one of the exposed scales with her head pointed toward the base of the 

 cone. After resting quietly for a moment the abdomen was lifted and 

 at the same time the posterior end was doubled under so that the sheath 

 of the ovipositor was brought forward between the legs until the tip 

 rested on the surface of the cone scale at a point directly under the 

 insect's head. The point chosen for the insertion of the ovipositor was 

 close to the outer edge of the scale on which the female rested. The 

 sheath of the ovipositor was then withdrawn and assumed its normal 

 position back of the abdomen, while the ovipositor was slowly forced 

 down into the cone. The abdomen was gradually lowered as the ovi- 

 positor was thrust into the cone until finally the entire body rested close 

 to and in a line parallel with the surface of the cone scale (PI. VI, fig. 3). 

 In this position the female rested for about a minute and then withdrew 

 the ovipositor. This was accomplished by raising the body and doubling 

 the abdomen until it assumed a position similar to that in which the 

 oviposition was started (PI. VII, fig. i). This allowed the ovipositor to 

 be withdrawn and returned to its sheath. 



The oviposition of two females was recorded on April 22 and that of the 

 same number on April 23. Between this date and April 26 no oviposition 

 and very little activity on the part of the seed chalcidids were observed. 

 On the morning of April 26 a female was observed ovipositing, and this 

 operation was recorded four times during the day. On April 27 about 

 the same activity occurred. April 28 was a warm, sunny day and great 

 activity on the part of the females occurred. The cage at this date con- 

 tained 10 cones and about 50 females. At almost any hour during the 

 day from one to three females could be seen either ovipositing on the 

 cones or preparing to do so. From April 29 to May 2 cool rainy weather 

 prevailed, and almost no activity on the part of the chalcidids occurred 

 in the cage. May 3, 4, and 5 were warm, sunny days, and the oviposi- 

 tion could be w^itnessed at any time during the day. Oviposition in the 

 10 cones in the cage on these dates was in progress continuously during 

 the day, at which time the best observations of the act were obtained. 



