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HousER (J. S.) The Coccidae of Cuba. — Ann. Entom. Soc. America, 

 Columbus, Ohio, xi, no. 2, June 1918, pp. 157-172, 1 plate. 



This paper deals mainl}^ with the sub-families Conchaspinae and 

 DiASPiNAE, and includes a description of Aspidiotus fahernii, sp. n., 

 taken on Fahnna in Havana, and of A. suhsimilis var. anonae, var. 

 nov.. taken on Milliflores verbenacm, Magnolia grandiflora, rose and 

 other plants in the Botanical gardens at Havana. Keys are given 

 to the species of Conchas'pis and Psevdischnasfns. 



Graham (S. A.). An Interesting Habit of a Wax Moth Parasite. — Ann. 



Entom. Soc. America, Columbus. Ohio, xi, no. 2, June 1918, 

 pp. 175-180, 1 plate. [Received 6th September 1918 ] 



Dibrachys clisiocampae. Fitch, was observed in large numbers 

 issuing from cocoons of the bee moth, Galleria mellonelh, while the 

 latter were bemg reared in 1916. Previous records of this parasite 

 give the host as the forest teut caterpiilat, Mahcosoma disstria. In 

 view of its possible value in checking the ravages of the bee moth 

 in stored combs, the hfe-history has been studied. G. mellonella is 

 attacked after spinning the cocoon, usually while still in the larval stage, 

 but occasionally the pupa, while still soft and white, may be attacked. 

 The parasite stabs its victim several or many times with its ovipositor, 

 until the larva wdthin the cocoon is quiescent ; several larvae are 

 usually so attacked until they become sluggish and finally die. Eggs 

 are then deposited on the body of the larva, usually in wrinkles in the 

 skin. In 3 to 7 days these hatch and the young parasites immediately 

 fasten themselves to the body of the host and begin to feed. The 

 larval stage usually lasts 2 to 4 weeks or longer. The bodies of larvae 

 of G. mellonella were almost invariably attacked by bacteria before 

 the parasitic larvae completed their growth. The parasite reqidred 

 14 to 25 days for the pupal stage, making a total life-cycle of 31 to 

 59 days. The females were observed to puncture dead larvae with 

 the ovipositor and carefully draw up parts of the body tissue to the 

 surface of the cocoon and then feed upon it. Since the dead larvae 

 on which D clisiocanijjae feed are in a state of decomposition and 

 continually changing chemically and physically during the feeding 

 period, it is possible that under proper conditions such parasites 

 could be fed and reared on some animal matter other than insect 

 larvae. This would simplif}" the problem of finding sufficient suitable 

 food for this, and perhaps certain other parasites. 



The habit of killing the host before oviposition is probably common 

 to many of the ecto-parasites among the Chalcidoidea. The larvae 

 of Pissodes strobi. Peck (white pine weevil) were always found by 

 the author to be dead when larvae of the Chalcidid parasite, Eurytoma 

 fissodis, Gir., occurred on them. The oviposition of this species 

 has not yet been observed. During investigations on Anthonomus 

 signatus, Say (strawberry weevil), the eggs of certain Chalcidoid 

 parasites were found only on dead larvae, but at the same time many 

 of the weevil lar-vae were also dead or dying without apparent cause. 

 This indicates a condition similar to that produced by D. clisiocmnpae. 

 The killing of the host before ovipositing is a decided advantage to 

 such an ecto-parasite, as it ensures the safety of the eggs and larvae from 

 injur}^ that might arise fxom movements of the host within the cocoon. 



