1916] Life History of Pterodontia 319 



specimen was too large to clear ; hence the entire spider was imme- 

 diately dissected. One spiny larva was found in the abdomen 

 and three in the thorax. As in the first case, the larvae were 

 alive and active but no change had taken place. All of these 

 larvffi were carefully examined, and in all cases the spines and 

 scales of the body and the caudal setae were found to be intact. 

 Although the foregoing cases of parasitism were brought 

 about under abnormal conditions in the presence of hundreds 

 of larvae, they manifest several interesting points: First, it 

 would seem from the large number of larvae found in the 

 cephalothorax thorax and legs of the host that most of the larvae 

 enter the body of the spider by- penetrating the thin membrane 

 at the articulations of the legs. The broad scalelike plates and 

 spines undoubtedly enable the larvae to penetrate the host and 

 aid in traveHng through the muscles of the thorax. Second, the 

 occurrence of first-stage larvae in the host seventy-nine days after 

 entering, and during November, would lead to the conclusion 

 that the growth of the parasite does not start until after the 

 hibernating season of the host is over. Third, the location of 

 the larvae in the cephalothorax thorax further indicates that 

 the first-stage larvas do not have any connection with the 

 respiratory organs of the host. This is further confirmed by 

 the lack of spiracles. 



LITERATURE ON THE EARLY LARVAL STAGES OF 

 THE CYRTID^. 



Very Httle has been pubhshed concerning the early larval 

 stages of the species of this family and as far as could be ascer- 

 tained none of the American species have been described. Of 

 the European species only the larv^ of Oncodes have been 

 described. Professor Brauer (2) in quoting from his corre- 

 spondent. Dr. Gerstacker, states that this observer reared 

 larvae from the eggs of 0?icodes zonalus. He does not describe 

 the larvas further than to say that they were very active and 

 sprang like the cheese-maggot, Piophila casei. In 1894, Konig 

 (10) found eggs and young larvae of Oncodes. The exact, 

 identity of the larvae is not certain, though he took the species to 

 be either O. gibbosus or 0. zonaius, since adults of both species 

 were taken in the same locaUty. The larvae are figured and 

 described in detail. They are described as being 0.3-0.4 mm. 

 long and of a dark brown or black color. The body is made up 



