21 



Some Notes on Hawaiian and Other Bethylidae (H5mienop- 

 tera) with Descriptions of New Species. 



BY JOHX COLBURX BRIDWELL. 



1. Pkrisierola. emigrata Eohwer 



This species has been previously known as a predator upon 

 the Pink Bolhvorm (Pedinophora gossypiella) , having; been 

 bred from that species bj Mr. Fullaway.in 1911 and later by 

 Swezey, Busck, Timberlake, Pemberton and Wilhird. On May 

 ?>0, 1918, while examining pods of kin (Acacia famesiana) I 

 fonnd it abundantly associated with the lepidopterous larvae 

 feeding there. Here were fonnd Crypiophlebia illepida, Mye- 

 lois ceratoniae, Pyroderces rileyi, and Ereunetis minuscula. 

 Of these the two former were found attacked under natural 

 conditions while the latter was readily attacked when confined 

 with Perisierola and eggs were laid upon the paralyzed larva. 

 Cryptophlehia and Myelois when full gro\\m are usually too 

 powerful for the Perisierola and destroy her with their man- 

 dibles when attacked. The smaller ones are, however, usually 

 mastered. The female stings them in three places, in the head 

 region at the throat, and near the middle and at the anal 

 extremity ventrally. Each operation results in violent strug- 

 gles of the larva during which the Perisierola hangs on desper- 

 ately by means of her mandibles, middle and hind legs and by 

 curving her body tightly about the caterpillar. When one ])or- 

 tion of the body is mastered she manipulates portions of it 

 apparently with the object of feeding on its juices. 



Oviposition was not observed but apparently takes place 

 an hour or two after she has mastered the larva. The eggs 

 are long elliptical nearly or (|uite three times as long as broad. 

 They are usually laid flat against the body with their length 

 parallel with it. The number laid seems to bear some propor- 

 tion to the size of the caterpillar, two eggs having been laid 

 on the little Ereunetis larva while eiii'lu is a common number 



Prnc. Haw. Ent. Soc. IV, No. i, June, igig. 



