Apr. 17, i9i6 Two New Nematodes 121 



Period of oviposition. — While in the specimens of Diplogaster 

 labiata under observation mating usually occurred but once, occasionally 

 a few individuals mated a second time. Oviposition began from two to 

 four hours after mating and lasted over a period of about two days, during 

 which time the average number of eggs deposited was seven. 



Habits. — These nematodes infested the intestines of adults of Saperda 

 iridentata in such large numbers that they prevented these insects from 

 performing their natural functions. They lived in the alimentary canal 

 in such large numbers that they ruptured the walls of the canal and, 

 escaping into the body cavity of the insect, caused its death. 



The examination of individuals of Saperda iridentata which had died 

 in this manner rarely showed eggs that had started to develop. Speci- 

 mens of Diplogaster labiata placed in water cultures were fed on macerated 

 bodies of Saperda Iridentata. They flourished on this, but since the supply 

 was soon exhausted, substitute foods had to be used. Different substances 

 were tried with varying success, but macerated beetles placed in water 

 seemed to be the most satisfactory. Nematodes in cultures without food 

 usually did not live longer than two days. The presence of food acted as 

 a stimulant to copulation and oviposition, but both varied directly with 

 the abundance and adaptability of the food. 



. The nematodes seemed to show no preference to either day or night for 

 depositing their eggs or any other of their habits. 



Length of active breeding state. — If the nematode is considered 

 to be mature from the time of mating, it spends an average of about two 

 days as a normal active breeding adult. 



DIPLOGASTER AERIVORA 



In 1856, Charles Lespes^ gave a meager description of a nematode 

 which he found parasitizing Leucotermes lucifugus. His description is 

 short and so indefinite that it might apply to several species of nematodes, 

 but the habits he discusses closely resemble those of the nematodes found 

 in L. lucifugus in Kansas. However, Dr. Cobb identified this nematode 

 as Diplogaster aerivora (fig. 2, I-L; 3) and described it as follows: 



Diplogaster aerivora, n. sp. j76~^ 3'9 '4*9 ^5 9 ^26 '"^ ™™' The transparent, mod- 

 erately thin layers of the colorless naked cuticle are traversed by ftne transverse 

 striae, resolvable with high powers under favorable conditions. The cuticle is trav- 

 ersed also by 24 longitudinal strise. These longitudinal striae are sometimes resolvable 

 into quadrate elements, each consisting of foiu- punctations arranged in a quadrangle 

 whose width is equal to the width of the stria. In the majority of specimens these 

 quadrate elements were not to be seen. The distance between the striae varies in 

 different parts of the body up to about twice their width. The striations of tlie 

 cuticle, both transverse and longitudinal, vary within pretty wide limits, the varying 



> Lespc's, Charles. Sur un ndmatoide parasite des Termites. In Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool., s. 4, t. 5, p. 335-556. 

 1856. 



