450 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 2 



NOTES ON THE PARASITES OF THE SATURNIIDAE^ 



By W. F. FiSKE and W. R. Thompson. 



The main object under way at the Gypsy Moth Parasite Laboratory 

 at Melrose Highlands, Mass., as is generally well known, is the im- 

 portation and colonization of the parasites and predatory insect 

 enemies of the gypsy moth and the brown-tail moth. Studies of the 

 biology and habits of the various parasites and predators have been 

 undertaken whenever opportunity permitted or necessity demanded, 

 and in addition, when it could be done without prejudice to more 

 important work, occasional studies have been made of the parasites 

 of native insects. The result has been the accumulation of a quantity 

 of notes upon the general subject of parasitism in its relation to the 

 natural control of insects, and upon the biology and inter-relations 

 of the parasites themselves. The knowledge thus gained has been of 

 considerable practical assistance in the prosecution of the work on 

 numerous occasions. 



It has been the rule to select as subjects for such minor investiga- 

 tions those insects which most closely approached the gypsy moth in 

 habit or in their natural affinities. American representatives of the 

 family Liparidse, whenever they could be secured in sufficient num- 

 bers to make the results representative of the conditions, have received 

 particular attention, while the fall web worm, tent caterpillars, etc., 

 have come in for a lesser share. The native silk worms, on account 

 of their dissimilarity to the gypsy moth were not considered as sub- 

 jects for such a study until the publication of Dr. Smith's paper on 

 the parasites found in cecropia cocoons in the Journal of Economic 

 Entomology for October, 1908, suggested it. 



Credit for its inception is due to Mr. C. H. T. Townsend, at that 

 time associated with the laboratory, who desired particularly to secure 

 additional data upon the Tachinid parasites of these hosts, and upon 

 their hibernating habits. In the preparation of the notes for publica- 

 tion the junior author undertook the compilation of the statistical 

 data on percentage of parasitism in various localities, etc., and also 

 completed the study of the Tachinid parasites which was begun by 

 Mr. Townsend before he severed his connection with the laboratory to 

 accept a position with the Peruvian government. For the collection 

 of material the authors are wholly indebted to the officials and field- 

 men associated with the work against the gypsy moth and brown-tail 



^Occasional Contributions from the Gypsy Moth Parasite Laboratory, I. 

 Published with the approval of Dr. L. 0. Howard, Entomologist, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



