1906] 
aiRAULT—TRICHOGRAMMA PRETIOSA RILEY 
139 
to insert the ovi])ositor, the antennae become non-vihratile, lying against the face; 
and in some observed cases, just as the ovipositor was wholly within the egg, the 
wings were lifted straight up over the body, perhaps to help in ])reserving a balance. 
The ovipositor is in.serted always between the ])olar ridges on the host egg. 
While engaged in oviposition, the female is very intent on her work, and is not 
easily disturbed. Indeed, large things do not .seem to frighten or annoy these mi- 
nute parasites, and no indication is given that they are aware of the presence of an 
observer, even when this presence is forced upon them. When they are sufhciently 
disturbed, however, they remain perfectly motionless, very seldom re.sortingto flight. 
On account of this apparent nonchalance, they are, in spite of their minutene.ss, 
very easy to breed. 
2. Oviposition in regard to time. The time taken for single depositions aver- 
ages about two (2) minutes, and is fairly constant in a large number of cases. The 
following observations were made on this ])oint. 
On June fourth, at 3 P. M., four females and one male, i.ssuing from host eggs 
during the morning of the same day, were confined beneath a large bell-jar of con- 
venient size, with eighty-one (81) fresh ova of ohsoleta deposited in confinement dur- 
ing the afternoon and evening of June third, on a large piece of bristol-board. The 
latter was simply covererl by the jar and the parasites then introduced. 
After crawling about for several minutes, two (2) of the females found the eggs, 
and without hesitation, began to oviposit. They were so intent on their work, that the 
jar was removed and the individuals closely watched for a period covering two hours. 
This whole time they made no attempts whatever to escape, even showing no di.s- 
position to do so. They were so absorbed, indeed, that the piece of bristol-board 
was cut to a convenient size with a pair of scissors, and moved about freely, most of 
the time being on the stage of the microscope. 
Oviposition was almost continuous for the first half-hour (3.00-3.30 P. m.), both 
females working actively. Then the paj)er was moved to the stage of the microscope. 
The parasites became perfectly motionless when this movement was made, remaining 
in their respective positions for another half-hour, doubtle.ss, at first, slightly annoyed. 
At 4 P. M., one again began to oviposit, and soon the other joined her, though both 
showed tendencies to wander, or rest, and seemed to be more or less jaded. They 
continued thus until 5 P. M., when observations were suspended. 
During the first half-hour, observations were made with a hand lens (aplanatic, 
triplet, ^-inch, Bausch and Loml)), but the latter was then discarded becau.se the 
ovipositor, though visible, was difficult to follow, and the time of oviposition had to 
be judged in most cases by the movements of the insect. Hence, the time varied 
