528 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 10 



time would have thought to look for a parasite ovipositing into the egg, 

 knowing the adult issued from a pupa. The comparatively large size 

 of the parasite precluded such an idea. However, within the last few 

 years, several entomologists have made such observations, and there 

 are now on record about a half dozen species of parasites which have 

 this method of oviposition in the egg, with the subsequent emergence of 

 the adult parasite from larva or pupa of its host. 



This parasite was again noted in 1891 in Insect Life, as having been 

 found at Ames, Iowa, by Prof. Herbert Osborn, where it preyed upon 

 Meromyza americana so abundantly that the injurious multiplication 

 of the host was not feared. It was reported from Canada a year later 

 in Report No. 22 of the Entomological Society of Ontario, by Dr. C. J. S. 

 Bethune. In a letter dated April 11, 1916, addressed to the writer, Mr, 

 A. B. Gahan, of the U. S. Bureau of Entomology, states that he has 

 determined the species from a number of localities in the United States. 

 Meromyza americana has been recorded from nearly every state in the 

 Union, and this parasite evidently occurs wherever its host occurs. 

 The parasite has been recorded from Canada to Texas, and specimens 

 in the United States National Museum, together with the records in the 

 Cereal and Forage Branch of the Bureau of Entomology, indicate that 

 it is widely distributed in the United States, east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. 



The generic name, Coelinidea, was proposed by Viereck, Proceedings 

 U. S. National Museum, Vol. 44, page 555, for Coelinius (Nees) of 

 authors. 



While observing the habits of Meromyza ainericana in the fall of 1908, 

 the writer observed, on September 22, a small Hymenopteron oviposit- 

 ing into the long white eggs of the Meromyza. A note made by the 

 writer at that time, which has since been on file in the office of Cereal 

 and Forage Insect Investigations of the Bureau of Entomology, states 

 that a small Hymenopteron was observed in the act of ovipositing into 

 the long white eggs of Meromyza americana, which were on the leaves 

 and stems of wheat plants. She thrust her abdomen forward between 

 her hind legs, beneath her body, very similar to the position taken by 

 Aphidius testaceipes, while ovipositing, and with a sharp, quick jab, 

 struck the white egg. This species was again observed ovipositing on 

 October 2, 1908. 



The parasites thus ovipositing into the Meromyza eggs were collected 

 for further study and identification, and were submitted the following 

 winter to Mr. J. C. Crawford for determination. However, Mr. Craw- 

 ford was not in position to identify them at that time, and therefore 

 they were put away for future reference. They were recently de- 

 termined by Mr. A. B. Gahan as Coelinidea meromyzce Forbes. 



