1922] Taylor — Biology of Wasps of Genus Ancistrocerus 53 



Nest No. 3. 



Date of Cell No. 1 Cell No. 2 Cell No. 3 Cell No. 4 



9(f) (n c^ c^ 



Oviposition June 16(?) June 16 June 16 June 17 



Hatching * June 19(?) June 19(?) June 20 



Cocoon spinning ** June 24 June 25 



Pupation June 29 June 30 



Imagination July 10 July 10 



Emergence July 14 July 11*** 



Death Oct. 6 Aug. 27 



*Did not hatch. 

 **Died June 22. 



***Emergence probably premature; cocoon broken open 

 for observation. 



The above tables give the following as the lengths of the 

 stages in the life of Ancistrocerus tardinotus: egg, 3 days; larva, 

 10-14 days; pupa, 11-14 days. The larger figure for the larval 

 and pupal stages represents the length of these stages in the 

 single female which reached maturity, from the innermost cell 

 of nest No. 2. The other five individuals which matured from 

 these two nests were all males. 



The eggs of this species, like those of other species noted 

 here, show the first sign of hatching by a swelling of the chorion 

 on one or both sides. This seems to be due to the flattening of 

 the larva, the pleura becoming somewhat protuberant. (Fig. 4). 

 The chorion then becomes ruptured at its anterior or lower end, 

 and the minute larva by slow movements works about three- 

 quarters of its body out. Thus suspended it remains for half or 

 three-quarters of an hour during which time it appears to derive 

 some nourishment through the integujnent of the caterpillars 

 which it may be able to reach. Figure 5, sketched from an un- 

 determined larva of Ancistrocerus illustrates the appearance of 

 the larva in this position. Soon freeing itself from the chorion, 

 the larva moves about actively, finally taking a position with its 

 mouth closely apphed to the integument of one of its caterpillars 

 often just behind or near the thorax. At first it appears to feed 



