August, '17] ROCKWOOD: APHELINUS FEEDING AT PUNCTURE HOLES 415 



peared. It would seem, therefore, that its eggs may be laid very late 

 in the fall. 



We are still working on the locust borer {Cyllene rohinice) and have 

 some problems connected with its injuries and ecology to work out 

 during the season now opening. 



AN APHIS PARASITE FEEDING AT PUNCTURE HOLES MADE 

 BY THE OVIPOSITOR 



By L. P. RocKwooD, U. S. Bureau of Entomology, Forest Grove, Oregon 



Having had my attention called by Dr. L. 0. Howard to the fact that 

 probably no observation has yet been published on any parasite of an 

 aphis feeding on the juices of the host at puncture holes made by the 

 ovipositor, I present the following observation as of interest for this 

 reason. 



On September 8, 1916, while examining red clover stems infested 

 with Aphis hakeri Cowen, an Aphelinus, previously reared from this 

 aphis and recently described by Dr. L. 0. Howard in the Proceedings 

 of the Biological Society of Washington, vol. 30, p. 77, as Aphelinus 

 lapisligni n. sp., was found in the midst of a colony of A. hakeri 

 beneath a bract on a clover stem. The Aphelinus was observed to 

 approach a medium-sized aphis which was feeding. The parasite 

 examined the aphis with its antennae, then walked away about its own 

 length, turned its back to the aphis and exserted its long semi-trans- 

 parent ovipositor which it plunged into the aphis, a little to one side of 

 the anus. The Aphelinus kept its ovipositor inserted during a space 

 of several seconds, and during that time backed up toward the aphis, 

 apparently plunging the ovipositor deeper into the wound. The aphis 

 showed some discomfort and excreted a drop of honey dew from the 

 anus. The parasite concluded its operation, walked off a few of its 

 own lengths and returned to repeat the performance during a much 

 shorter period. The operation was repeated three times while under 

 observation, the ovipositor being inserted each time in approximately 

 the same place. Then the Aphelinus returned and placed its mouth 

 to the wound, and apparently fed on the juices of the aphis for more 

 than a minute. The aphis was not dissected so it is not known whether 

 one or more eggs were laid in the aphis. 



For instances of this feeding habit with other parasitic Hymenop- 

 tera and other hosts, consult the paper entitled "On the Habit with 

 Certain Chalcidoidea of Feeding at Puncture Holes made by the Ovi- 

 positor," by L. 0. Howard, Journal of Economic Entomology, vol. 

 Ill, No. 3, June, 1910, pages 357-360. 



