June, '14] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 297 



The writer observed Polygnotus hiemalis ovipositing in eggs of Maye- 

 iiola destructor, and reared adults of this parasite from the Mayetiola 

 destructor puparium in the spring of 1908. Mr. Reeves of this Bureau 

 is now engaged in a more exhaustive study of Polygnotus hiemalis. 



It should also be stated in this connection that this same method 

 of oviposition in the egg and the subsequent emergence of the adult 

 parasite from the host larva occurs in Ageniaspis and Litomastix, with 

 the added phenomenon of Polyemhryony, as shown by Marchal and by 

 Silvestri. 



Thus there are now four families of Ilymenoptera, in which certain 

 forms have this method of parasitism ; Diplazon Icetatorius representing 

 the Ichneimionidce; Polygnotus hie7nalis and Poiygnotus minutus repre- 

 senting the Proctotrypida' ; Chelonus texanus representing the Braconidce, 

 and Tetrastichus asparagi, Ageniaspis juscicollis and Litoynastix {Copi- 

 dosoma) truncateUus representing the Chalcididxv. 



The writer first made these observations in spring of 1909, while 

 working, alone, in Wellington, Kan., and could get no corroborative 

 evidence, other than the reared specimens. The matter was presented 

 to Dr. L. O. Howard for publication the following December, but 

 owing to lack of corroboration, it did not at that time appear advis- 

 able to publish the data. 



Scientific Notes 



The Clover Leaf Weevil {Hypcra punctata), common in the eastern states, 

 has recently become abundant in a section of the Payette Valley in southwestern 

 Idaho. A field of red clover was eaten to the ground and surrounding alfalfa seriously 

 injured during April by the larva^ of this insect. The clover and some of the alfalfa 

 were promptly plowed under to kill the larvae. 



The infested field of red clover is situated along the right of way of a branch line of 

 the Oregon Short Line railroad which was constructed three years ago. Specimens 

 of the insect can now be found in red clover and alfalfa fields extending for a distance 

 of twelve miles up and down the valley, though little damage has yet been done 

 except in two or thi'ee places. 



There is no evidence of the presence of the fungus, Empusa sphaerosperma Fres, 

 which so effectively controls outbreaks of this insect east of the Mississippi River, 

 and some of this material, secured through the Section of Cereal and Forage Crop 

 Insects of the Bureau of Entomology, has been recently introduced into the Payette 

 Valley in an effort to establish it there. 



This is the first instance of the occurrence of this insect in injurious numbers in 

 the inter-mountain country and some anxiety is felt on account of the dry climate 

 being unfavorable to the rapid spread of the fungus which controls the pest in the 

 east. 



T. H. Parks, 



University of Idaho. 



