Sept. 4, 1916 



.4 phidoletes Meridionalis 



885 



LIFE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTIVE NOTES 



The eggs (fig. 1) are very small, elliptical oval, chrome orange in color, 

 paler at the extremities, and measure 0.104 nun. in width and 0.313 mm. 

 in length. They are laid in clusters of from 1 to 12 on foliage amongst 

 a colony of aphids or may be deposited on the dorsum of the aphid itself, 

 as many as 7 having been noted on a single aphid. The number of eggs 

 laid by individual females was determined in two cases (Table I), and it 

 will be noticed that these females laid 116 and 125 eggs each, respectively. 

 The cages used for obtaining eggs were of the ordinary "chimney" type 

 and the results certainly were not above normal and more likely were 

 below normal. The exact length of the egg stage was not accurately 

 determined, but from the approximate records given in Tables I and II 

 and from some more exact miscellaneous records the length of the egg 

 period averages about three days. 



Table I . — Records of eggs of two individua If etna les ofAphido letes meridiona lis; La Fayette, 



Ind., August, igi2 



°This pair was observed in copula at 7.30 p. m. on Aug. 2. 



Immediately upon hatching the larva attacks the most convenient 

 aphid, and at this stage of t its life more often pierces the body of its host 

 from beneath, usually between the legs. After sucking the body fluids 

 from the first aphid and killing it, the larva leisurely moves to another, 

 this operation being continued until it becomes full grown. The larva 

 always seems to move about cautiously, at the same time quickly thrust- 

 ing its tongue-like anterior end in and out and to all sides much as does 

 a syrphid larva. When it locates its host it thrusts its proboscis into the 



