June, '11] CORY: ovipositiox of saxninoidea 333 



11a. m. to 3.10 p. m. she was on the peach foliage. At 1.45 she began 

 to gently swing the tip of her abdomen, with ovipositor extended, 

 from side to side, occasionally touching the leaf on which she stood. 

 At 1.56 she deposited her first egg; at 2.09 the second; the third at 

 2.15 and the fourth at 2.22. She then ceased ovipositing for the day. 

 One male left overnight in the cage. 



July 14- At 11.29 a. m. female number two was resting on leaves 

 with genitalia exserted, and one male appeared, which was captured 

 and introduced. At 11.39 a second male appeared at the cage. At 

 11.51 two more males came to the cage, at the same time the female 

 deposited one egg. At 11.53 one male was allowed to enter the cage 

 and he immediately copulated with female number two, remaining 

 in coitu until 12.44. At 12.46 the female began ovipositing, laying 

 five eggs by 1.01. The remainder of the day she rested on the side of 

 the cage. 



July 15. Female number two alive, re.sting on ground. At 2.30 

 p. m. she was dead. She deposited twenty-one eggs on the peach 

 leaves. Quite a mass of eggs were in the body, which was mutilated 

 by ants. 



Female No. 3, July 13. One female, number three, emerged between 

 9 and 11a. m., and was placed in cage B, surrounding four trees, at 

 11 a. m. At 11.45 she took up a position on a side of the cage, raised 

 her abdomen and extended her genitalia. At 11.56 one male appeared; 

 failed to catch same. At 12.01 p. m. two males appeared; one was 

 caught and placed in the cage. At 12.04 another male appeared; was 

 caught and placed in the cage; at 12.06 a fourth male and at 12.15 a 

 fifth, but neither was caught. At 12.17 female number three copu- 

 lated with one of the males, remaining in coitu for an hour. At 1.30 

 the female began ovipositing, two eggs being delivered between 1.30 

 and 1.40. She then ceased ovipositing for the day. In copulating the 

 male flew at female, waiting with abdomen elevated and genitalia 

 extended, and repeatedly darted the tip of his abdomen at the female, 

 finally joining and turning. The female retained her hold on the cage; 

 the male vibrating its wings rapidly for a time, finally settling on the 

 cage, head down. 



July 14- Three males left overnight in cage B. Flight of female 

 heavy. At 3 p. m. female number three began ovipositing again. 



July 18. Female number three gone, presumably dead and eaten 

 by ants during the night. She deposited 21, 30, 25, and 85 eggs re- 

 spectively, on the four trees. Largest number of eggs in one cluster 

 nine; largest number on one leaf twelve. 



These results were contrary to any account of the egg-laying habits 

 that the writer had seen and believing that they might be influenced 



