BEPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. iili 



may have been some other cause besides the flies, but it was not hunger, 

 for at that time plenty of food was left. 



The ChaJcid which I have already sent you seems to be parasitic od 

 the Dipterous larvte while they are still in the locust. This will be easier 

 for you to decide. I am only certain that they were inside of the 'bop- 

 pers and came out with the Dipterous larvoe issuing from their pup;e. 

 Since that was sent two more have been bred from Dipterous pupa? ob- 

 tained from the "hoppers. 



When infected with Dipterous larvee the 'hoppers lose the power of 

 their wings, or do not make use of them as in the healthy slate, yet they 

 are still very active. I have found them still alive after the larva3 had 

 left them. The larvjB will nearly always come out on top of the neck, 

 or between the epicrauium and prothorax; if there is a hole hero tlie 

 larva? liave nearly always left their prey; sometimes others may still be 

 found, as tbeir uuinber varies from one to six in each locust in several 

 hundred which I have examined. In one instance I found three youiig 

 larvffi in one of them which alreadj* had this hole on the neck, showing 

 that they were evidently of another brood; this fellow was not very 

 lively any more. 



While at rest, if any wasp, fly, or other insect came near tbem,tlioy 

 would always lift their l\ind legs in a vertical position, and keep tbcni 

 so until the danger was over. The many peaches on the ground at- 

 tracted a large number of insects, but none were noticed interfering 

 with the locusts ; all joined in devouring the fruit ; even their enemies, 

 the flies, very seldom tried to fly after them. 1 saw one Digger-wasp 

 devouring a fresh locust in the grass ; another of the same species was 

 flying about and, seeing its companion, joined him. They were driven 

 away, but always came back to look for it. I did not see any in the act 

 of killing a locust.* 



Various birds were seen eating them, amongst them a flock of about 

 five hundred blackbirds, which came to a certain place every day where 

 the locusts were very numerous. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



ALBERT KOEBELE. 



Prof. C. y. Riley. 



INSECTS AFFECTING FALL WHEAT. 



By F. M. Webster, Special Agent. 



Lafayette, Ixd., Octoier 15, 1885. 

 8iR : I herewith submit my report upon the insects observed aflfocting small grains, 

 more especially "wheat, during the season of 188o. 



For the determination of material, as well as for numberless other favors, I am in- 

 debted to yourself and your assistants. Whatever advance I have been able to make 

 in 1]jo study of these species has been largely duo to your aid. 

 Re.spectfuLlv submitted, 



F. M. WEBSTER, 



Special Ag»nt. 

 Dr. C. V. RiLKY, 



United States Entomologitt. 



IsosoMA TRiTici Riley, rfnd I. grande Riley. 



At the time of making my report last year these two species were en- 

 sconced in the straw as larva). By the 17th of October nearly all of these 



* The Chalcid referred to by Mr. Koobele from Tachina pupaa is Chalcis ovaia Say, 

 the specimens very variable in size, and some measuring only 3""^ in longtli. Tho 

 Digger-waap ia a i Friononyx atrata, as kindly verified by Mr. E. T. Cresson, — C. V. R. 



