I 



83 



elastic and admit of being drawn ont. The number of eggs de- 

 posited by one female depends entirely upon the strength of the 

 individual, since only a general wearing out of the system, or an 

 untimely death through foreign agencies seem to control the number, 

 They range from five hundred to the number which the strength of 

 the inseot admits of, 'J'he cottony secretion is soluble in alcohol, 

 ether etc. and insoluble in water, glycerine etc. The deposition con=r 

 tinues from fifteen to twenty days, the embryo is developed outside of 

 tie body and is much influenced by the temperature of the weather; 

 the time required is less when the days are even and dry than when in-. 

 t3rrupted and irregular, it usually requires a little less than three 

 weeks and it is not unfrequent that the young lice are crawling about 

 on the leaf while tlie mother is still in the act of deposition. 



When at length she is obliged to yield to the failing strength, her 

 body dries beneath the cottony covering and, as frequently happens, 

 the leaf has become so weakened that it can no longer remain attached 

 to the tree, and falls to the ground conveying also the dead body, 

 tlie young insects having previously left for more palatable food. At 

 times the leaf is unable to remain until deposition has ceased and the 

 female is then starved. This, however, more frequently follows a 

 storm. 



PAKASITE8. 



The female is often stayed in her act of deposition by tht 

 presence of guests in her body. She commences her labor and at 

 times proceeds until a portion of the egg mass is formed, when she 

 yields to the lives within and becomes a victim to the cncmv who gains 

 an existence through her own life. 



1 regret the insect is unknown to science and tliat we have no 

 specialist at this time Avho is describing the Chalcididae. Having sub- 

 mitted specimens to Mr. E. T. Cresson and others, who failed to re- 

 cognize the insect, I supply the following descriptions in order to give 

 so important an insect, as this species has jiroved to be,, in the life of 

 the Pseudococcus aceri% a place. 



AcerophagUS Nov. Genus, one .specie:?. 



Head wider tlian thorax. Antennae nine jointed, second joint 

 one third ag long as the remaining eight taken together. Firgt, third, 

 fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth joints shortest, ninth large and forms 

 ;i club. The antennae inserted a distance apart. Tarsi five jointed: 

 f\}.e stigmal brancli long, titrong and .straight. Oviposit cxserted, 



