BIOLOGY OF THE COliOSTS. 73 



FORMICID^. 



Formica fusca (Tinnneus) suhpoUta (Mayr) perpilosa Wliceler. This 

 species of ant is normally a honey feeder, but it is recorded by llangel 

 (Rangel, 1901c) as a predator on adult boll weevils in Mexico. 



Formica palUdl-fulra Latreille. A single instance of this species 

 cutting its way into a s(|uare infested by a boll weevil was observed 

 by Mr. Hood at Ashdown, Ark., September 2, 1908, 



Prenolcpis imparls Say. A single instance of this species cutting 

 its way into a square infested by a boll weevil was observed l^y ]\Ir, 

 Hood at Ashdown, Ark., September 2, 1908. 



14. BIOLOGY OF THE COHOSTS OF THE BOLL-WEEVIL PARASITES. 



The biologies of the parasites concerned in the boll-weevil complex 

 have already been discussed. It now remains to consider the native 

 weevils which have already or may later enter into the complex of 

 cohosts of the boll- weevil parasites. Many of these weevils are 

 native to the territory already occupied by the weevil, while others 

 wHl become important as new territory is added. Other families of 

 Coleoptera and even other orders of insects may later be found to be 

 of more or less importance as cohosts of boll-wee\dl parasites. The 

 late Dr. William H. Ashmead stated that Microhracon mellitor had 

 been reared from many Coleoptera, wliile Ceramhycohius cyaniceps 

 bred in cerambycids and other beetles. It is important also to note 

 the record of Ceramhycohius cyaniceps from Languria. Our own 

 observations have been confined to the Coleoptera of the families 

 LariidjB, AnthribidiE, and CurcuHonidae. 



PHYTOPHAGA. LARHD^. 



{Brucliusy Laria saUxi Sharp. Tliis bruchid is characteristic of 

 the Gulf Coast prairie of Texas. It breeds in the pods of huisache 

 ( VacJielliafarnesiana) , is a continuous breeder, and is generally liiglily 

 parasitized by Uros'igalphus hrucM, Ceramhycohius hruchivorus , Cer- 



AMBYCOBIUS CYANICEPS^; CeRAMBYCOBIUS CUSHMANI, LaRIOPHAGUS 



TEXANUS, EuRYTOMA TYLODERMATis, HoHsmeTius sp., and Several 

 other undetermined parasites. 



Laria exigua Horn. Tliis bruchid is apparently Austroriparian and 

 Carohnian. Its principal food plant is Amorpha fruticosa, in the seed 



* The generic name Bruchiis was first used by Geoflroy in 1702. Only one species is admissible in our 

 code of nomenclature and this is Cemm6yj'/urLinna;us, which is also the type of Ptinus Linna}us 1707. 

 The genus Laria was described by Scopoli in 1703 and the type thereof has been designated as salicis 

 Scopoli, a synonym of Dcrmestes pisorum (pisi) Linnaeus. 



Lirmitus's conception of Bruchus dates from 1707 and the type thereof was designated by Latreille 

 (1810) as Dcrmestes pisorum Linnaeus, llcnce we see that Bruchus Llnnseus (1758) Is preoccupied by 

 GeofTroy (1752) and an isogeuotypie synonym of Laria Scopoli (1763). 



Although the genus has been subdivided into several genera, our American species have not been 

 studied with regard to such subdivision and it is hence best to consider all as in the genus Laria, 

 lensu laliore. 



> The names of boll-weevil parasites are printed iu small capitals; others iu italics. 



