38 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol.1, 



NOTES ON A CHALCID (Syntomaspis druparum Boh.) 

 INFESTING APPLE SEEDS. 



[ By Cyrus R. Crosby, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 



(Abstract.) 



On July 27, 1906, while exammmg some crab apples at 

 Ithaca, N. Y., for the apple maggot, Rhagolitis pomonella Walsh, 

 the writer noticed that many seeds contained a small Hymenop- 

 terous larva. It occupied only a small portion of the interior 

 and was evidently devouring the kernel. During the remainder 

 of the summer the seeds were examined at frequent intervals, 

 and it was found that the larvae gradually increased in size while 

 the kernel slowly disappeared until in September the larva alone 

 occupied the cavity of the seed. 



Egg-laying was not observed, but as the female is provided 

 with a long ovipositor it is probable that the eggs are inserted 

 directly into the young seed while the apple is very small. The 

 full-grown larva passes the winter in the seeds and in May 

 pupates. The adults appeared in June. Specimens w^ere sent 

 to Dr. L. O. Howard who determined them as probably Syn- 

 tomaspis druparum Boh. 



An account of the occurrence of this insect in Crimea where it 

 infests the seeds of the wild apple has been published by Sigis- 

 mond Mokshetsky (Ztschr. Wiss. Insbiol., II, pp. 390-392, 1906) 

 under the name of Syntomaspis pubescens Forst. I have com- 

 pared adults reared at Ithaca with specimens kindly sent me by 

 Mokshetsky and find that they are without doubt the same 

 species. 



This insect is of interest not only on account of its being the 

 only representative of the genus known to be phytophagic in the 

 larval state, the other species being parasites, but also because it 

 may possibly become an important horticultural pest. It is 

 generally distributed in New York State and infests the native 

 wild apple, Malus coronaria, as well as a number of cultivated 

 varieties. 



