68 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. vi, No. 3 



its course, and in a number of the dissections the ovipositor was bent and 

 twisted around to a course directly opposite to that intended. This con- 

 dition was not encountered where the cones were still young and soft. 

 In fact, after the cones become hardened it is difficult to realize how they 

 can become infested at all by the chalcidids. 



Actual oviposition in the field by the seed chalcidids was observed only 

 once — on May 28 by Entomological Ranger J. B. Patterson. While 

 collecting cones he noted a female on one cone with her ovipositor 

 inserted. The insect withdrew the ovipositor and left the cone very soon 

 after it was noticed. 



PLATE V 

 Oviposition of Megastigmus spermotrophus in the cones of Douglas fir: 



Fig. I. — Type of cage in which the oviposition of Megastigmus spermotrophus was 

 observed. This cage was kept under outdoor conditions. A branch bearing young 

 cones of Douglas fir was set in a jar of moist soil and kept in the cage with the females. 



Fig. 2, 3. — Female resting on cone with ovipositor inserted. Photographed from 

 life. On left, original; on right, enlargement of same to show exact attitude of the 

 female. 



