307 



until 1 found burrows containing larvae. These were then 

 transferred with a brush into Ilypothenemiis burrows in a 

 short bit of a twig and this placed in short sections of glass 

 tube and this plugged up with cotton after placing a female 

 Cephalomomia with them. This is not such a simple matter, 

 since tlie female is only a millimeter long and the Ifi/potJiene- 

 mus is shorter though very much stouter. 



One of the females was unfortunately injured and was 

 mounted for preservation. Three females remained for lireed- 

 ing purposes. 



After three or four days one of the twigs was opened and 

 two larvae were found bearing each a single egg on the venter, 

 and in about two weeks, from these a female bred out. This 

 fenuile was so treated for live successive times and each exam- 

 ination revealed larvae of Hypothenemiis bearing one, two 

 or three eggs or larvae, according to circumstances, and a fair 

 share of these reached full growth and coeooned. The other 

 two females were less fruitful and only a single pupa bearing 

 a larva of the Ceplidlonomia on the dorsum of its abdomen was 

 •obtained. One of them died witjiout any egg laying. 



These trials revealed certain interesting facts : The egg 

 laying is slow; the females can live for considerable tiuie with 

 only their host insects for food; usually adult Hypotliememus 

 present in the twigs were dead or if living had lost their power 

 r)f locomotion, the only sigTis of life being a slight twitching 

 movement of the legs. Further observatidu showed that when 

 pressed for food the CepJialono^iria will fi-ed u]ion the TJypo- 

 ilicnenuis pupa and adult as well as sucking the juices of the 

 larva. 



Having gone so far in the study of these species, I became 

 desirrtus of seeing how the minute CepJialoiiomia goes to work 

 in attacking its victims. I had found them not disposed to 

 Avork upon the larvae outside of the tunnels in the wood and 

 they did not easily become interested in Inrgcr XyJi'/ionis larvae 

 in williwili wood. 



At lenath it occurred to me that thc\- uiiizlu work under 



