THe HYMENOPTERA OF MINNESOTA 183 
hard, stone-like wall is punctured by means of the ovipostor of this par- 
asite and an egg introduced. Fabre has observed that one bee cell may 
be visited at least four times by a parasite, four eggs being deposited in 
a cell where there is only food supply for one larva. This, says Fabre, 
appears to illustrate a deficiency in instinct, for the parasite first 
hatched apparently destroys the eggs of its brothers and sisters. 
Even a brief account of this group would not be complete with- 
out reference to the pollenization or caprification of the Smyrna Fig 
by a Chalcid. Caprification, as practised in Italy and the Grecian 
Archipelago, is a remnant of an old custom based upon the belief that 
figs would not develop unless so treated. It consists in making use 
of a chalcid, Blastophaga grossorum (and possibly other species), 
which infects wild figs. Branches of the wild fig are suspended 
amongst branches of cultivated varieties; the fruit on the latter is 
entered by the female insect and thus pollenization secured, altho 
she does not lay her eggs in the fruit of cultivated varieties. 
This time-honored custom is probably not necessary, for figs ripen 
in parts of the world where this is not practised, tho Kellogg states 
that this process has really added the Smyrna Fig to California’s 
fruit list. 
MYMARIDAE 
Hind wings linear, pedunculate at base, ovipositor usually issuing just in front 
of tip of abdomen. Antennae in female most frequently terminating in a distinct fusi- 
form or egg-shaped solid club, more rarely in a two-jointed club. 
Wings of members of this family are minute, slender, destitute 
of nerves, fringed with long delicate hairs and stalked at the base. 
Perhaps the most striking fact about the group is that two species are 
found in water, one form swimming by means of its wings. 
One species is parasitic on scale insects and another has been bred 
from eggs of the plum curculio. 
Here occurs Alaptus excisus West., said to be the smallest known 
insect. Westwood gives the following measurements: length 1/6 mil. 
or 1/150 of aninch. This, however, is probably A. pesculus Hal. and 
is about % mil. long. Other insects may be smaller; a certain beetle 
for example is %4 mil. long. 
