304 MISCELLANEOUS INSECTS. 



4th. Hpccimons of peach branches were brought mc by Mr. 

 Dye, of Wahiut Grove, in this county (Sacramento). On each 

 branch were three or four mud nests (Fig. 372, Plate 4,) each 

 one containing a hirva feeding upon a species of small spider 

 placed in the nest by the parent insect. They were placed in 

 boxes. The wasps did not mature entirely, but nearly com- 

 pleted their changes. One of the nests produced a golden- 

 green fly, belonging to the Chrysididse — a beautiful specimen. 



Description : Length of body, nearly four lines ; color, 

 ultramarine-blue ; ovipositor, blackish ; wings, hyaline (trans- 

 parent). 



I do not think that this insect is injurious to fruit. 



5th. Bees. — A great difference of opinion exists among fruit- 

 growers as to whether bees attack fruit and grapes. Some 

 growers make positive assertion that they do attack fruit and 

 grapes, while others are equally positive that they do not until 

 the fruit or grapes are punctured by other insects, such as 

 plant-bugs, wasps, etc. 



In my investigations, I found an orchard and vineyard 

 located at least two miles from any other orchard or vineyard. 

 In this place are kept a large number of bee-hives. The owner 

 informs me that his grapes are used for making wines, and 

 that the bees do not touch them until the picking of the grapes 

 commences ; then they feed upon the broken berries and such 

 as are attacked by other insects ; also, that they do not attack 

 the fruit until it is punctured by other insects. My informant 

 gives this as the result of many years "experience. 



Fiff 373 -^^S" ^^^' — ^Icipstmus Jccontei; ventral and 



-W- V (dorsal views — color, black. 



:M\ ^ 6th. In 1882, Mr. R. B. Blowers, of Wood- 

 ' ™ land, sent me specimens of a small dark-colored 

 beetle (Fig. 373), al)()ut one third of an inch in length, found 

 in some vineyards near AVoodland, feeding ui:)on the leaves 

 and young growth of grapevines. I ascertained them to be 

 Blapstinuis lecontei. This species had not been reported as being 

 injurious heretofore. It belongs to the same family as the 

 following species — Tcncbrionida'. 



