550 



entirely consumes the contents of the seed and matures in early July, 

 by which time the fruit is ripening and falling to the ground. The 

 larva hibernates within the seed, pupates in the following spring, and 

 the adult emerges a few days later. The life-cycle therefore occupies 

 nearly a year. 



Syntomaspis amelanchieris, sp. n., appears as an adult from two to 

 three weeks later than M. amelanchieris, when the berries are nearly 

 full-grown, oviposition occurring in the latter part of June. The 

 results of rearing experiments lead to the suspicion that Syniomas'pis 

 amelanchieris is parasitic on Megastigmus amelanchieris, and this is 

 borne out by the fact that examination of a seed showed traces of 

 both species, an adult of S. amelanchieris emerging, while a dead and 

 shrivelled larva of M. amelanchieris remained within the seed. Whether 

 S. amelanchieris is normally parasitic is not definitely known, but the 

 later emergence of this species, together with its comparative rarity 

 and the condition of the seeds at the time the adults are active, all 

 indicate that such is the case. 



Burke (H. E.). U.S. Bur. Entom. Oryssus is Parasitic. — Proc. 

 Entom. Soc, Washington, D.C., xix, no. 1-4; March, June, 

 September, December, 1917 ; pp. 87-89. [Received 22nd October 

 1918.] 



Observations made during the past two years have definitely 

 confirmed the supposition that the members of the genus Oryssus are 

 parasitic, several species of Buprestids having proved to be its hosts. 

 Many instances of parasitism are recorded, including a larva found 

 near a larva of Biiprestis aundenta, L., in the outer wood of Douglas 

 spruce ; a larva that developed into an adult of Oryssus occidentalis, 

 parasitising a larva of Biiprestis confluens. Say, in an old log of aspen 

 {Populus tremidoides) ; 0. occidentalis parasitising Biiprestis laeviventris 

 in old logs of yellow pine [Pinus ponderosa). A pupa of the genus 

 Oryssus was also found in the same logs in what appeared to be the 

 pupal cell of the Buprestid, Chrysophana placida. The act of 

 oviposition into a Buprestid larval mine in yellow pine was witnessed. 

 The length of the life-cycle of the parasite is not yet determined. 

 The larvae have as yet been found only with large Buprestid larvae 

 and it is not known whether they are internal feeders in the small 

 Buprestid larvae or whether they only attack the host larvae when 

 well developed. The larvae of the genus Buprestis which serve as 

 hosts live for several years in the wood of the host plant. 



EoHWER (S. A.) & CusHMAN (R. A.). U.S. Bur. Entom. Idiogastra, 

 a new Sub-order of Hyraenoptera, with Notes on the Immature 

 Stages of Oryssus. — Proc. Entom. Soc, Washington, D.C., xix, 

 no. 1-4 ; March, June, September, December, 1917 ; pp. 89-98, 

 2 plates. [Received 22nd October 1918.] 



In view of the discovery of the habits of larvae of Oryssus occidentalis 

 [see preceding paper], the authors suggest that the Oryssoids should 

 be raised to the rank of a sub-order, Idiogastra. The larva and pupa of 

 0. occidentalis are described. 



