172 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol, XV, 



could be distinctly seen. The posterior three-fourths of the egg 

 was pinkish, even reddish. In the mid-ventral line, just below 

 a line connecting the eyes, could be seen the egg burster. The 

 eggs lie on the dorsum with the venter uppermost. Just before 

 hatching the egg burster and the general coloration of the 

 embryo appeared quite distinct. 



The first visible evidence of the beginning of hatching was 

 certain peristaltic movements of the abdomen. The embryo 

 appeared to push itself upward by means of the abdomen. 

 The end of the abdomen was first pulled by these so-called 

 peristaltic movements towards the posterior pole of the egg and 

 as a result of crowding there, pressure was exerted at the anterior 

 pole. This upward pushing, it has been observed, may con- 

 tinue at intervals for ten to thirty minutes. As a result of this 

 pushing, the egg burster was closely applied to the chorion. 

 As the pressure continued, the upper end of the toothed burster 

 was pushed through the chorion. It is difficult to ascertain 

 sometimes the exact time the burster pierces the chorion, for, 

 under pressure the burster often appears through when it is 

 not yet through, due to the transparency of the chorion. After 

 the upper end of the burster was through the chorion, the 

 upward and outward thrusts of the embryo became more 

 pronounced. At each upward thrust, more of the chorion was 

 cut, the cutting proceeding away from the micropyle. By this 

 time the clypeal region of the head of the emlDryo could be 

 seen in the rent. It was dull and whitish in contrast to the shining 

 glassy chorion. The burster cut to its full length, and in the 

 meanwhile the embryo pushed its head through the upper 

 part of the rent. This is followed by the thorax and a part 

 of the abdomen. At the time that the thorax was well out, the 

 thin embryonic cuticula split over the prothorax, due in part 

 to its being attached to the chorion in the mid-ventral line. 

 The exact time could be ascertained by observing the straighten- 

 ing up of the dorsal setae. The thorax and a part of the abdomen 

 were pushed through the molt, but the mouthparts and head 

 appendages were retarded so the larva formed an inverted U 

 over the egg. The mouthparts were pulled from this thin 

 membranous cuticula slowly and carefully. The molt with 

 the attached egg burster slipped down between the labial palpi 

 and the antennae. The burster and the' thin shrivelled molt 



