254 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
Picipes, Bouché. * 
Black ; base of belly testaceous; palpi pale, excepting first joint, 
legs rufo-testaceous ; coxee black ; fore femora except at apex, middle 
femora except at extreme apex and hind femora entirely black (occa- 
sionally the hind femora are very narrowly testaceous at apex) middle 
and hind tibize dark at apex; hind tarsi somewhat infuscate. Wings 
hyaline, stigma and attached nervure dark fuscous, other nervures 
much lighter, beyond the second cubital cell they are decolorous. 
Body somewhat shining; metathorax finely punctate; scutellum 
smooth; metathorax rugulose. First segment of the abdomen almost 
smooth with scattered punctures, lateral margines piceous, truncate, 
about twice as long as its greatest width; second segment shorter 
than third, with two converging irregular impressed lines enclosing 
a subtriangular, shining, subrugulose space; the rest smooth and 
shining. Terebra very short, not surpassing the apex of the abdomen. 
Hind cox smooth. Spurs of hind tibie slightly shorter than half 
the metatarsus. Length 24-3 mm., expands 53-6 mm. 
I am aware that Bouché gives the impressed lines as being on 
the first segment of the abdomen, which must surely be an error, 
unless he refers to the sides of the ‘‘ shield.” In spite of this I 
think that I have correctly identified my specimens, particularly 
as Bouché bred the type from Pionea forficalis. 
The species is very similar to aljectus, but may be easily 
distinguished therefrom by the much longer first abdominal 
segment ; from octonarius it differs in the co’ r of the legs 
and in other particulars. 
Appears to be a not uncommon parasite of the larva of Pionea 
forficalis, from which I have bred it in May and July; the parasites 
coming from the autumn brood of the host pass the winter 
within their cocoons and emerge the following May. I have 
obtained broods of from three to thirteen individuals. The cocoons 
are constructed within the earthen cocoon made by the host 
beneath the surface of the ground, and are pure white. The 
larve of P. forficalis are only too well known as garden pests, and, 
no doubt, their numbers are greatly reduced by this useful parasite. 
(To be continued). 
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
EFricIENcy oF Sprayinc.—The discussion in the September issue 
of the ‘ Entomologist’ (p. 210) on the efficiency of spraying, under 
the title ““A Plague of Caterpillars,” is interesting to the American 
economic entomologist familiar with conditions in the North-eastern 
United States, where extended areas have been ravaged and many 
thousands of trees killed or threatened with destruction by such well- 
known pests as the Gipsy Moth, Porthetria dispar, Linn., the 
Brown-tail Moth, Huproctis chrysorrhea, Linn., and the Elm-leaf 
Beetle, Galerucella luteola, Mull., to mention only three important tree 
pests. The first two thrive on a variety of native trees, and are 
* ‘Naturg.,’ 1834, 158. 
