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The valorous wasp {Polistes heUicosa Cr.). This species builds its 

 iiests in the old worm-fences inclosing cotton and corn fields. Many 

 specimens were observed carrying off small rounded white particles, 

 composed evidently of the chewed-up fragments of some larva. 



The potter- wasps of the family Eumenidne build cells formed of clay, 

 or clay and sand mixed, attached to twigs or leaves, or occupy the old 

 deserted cells of other wasps and bees. These they fill usually with 

 lei>idopterous or coleopterous larvte, which they first paralyze with 

 their powerful sting, for the subsistence of their young. 



Three species were not uncommon flying about the cotton : The four- 

 toothed potter wasp (Monobia quadridens Linn.) was frequently seen to 

 carry off cutworms, and probably jjreys upon the cotton worm and boll- 

 worm. Odynerus confonnis Sauss. and O.fidvipes Sauss. Avere also cap- 

 tured preying upon small lepidopterous larvic. 



There can be no longer any doubt of the important role played by 

 many species of ants in the destruction of some of our more injurious 

 insects, and while it is doubtful whether all of the species recorded 

 below will attack and destroy large and vigorous caterpillars, most of 

 them do, however, destroy those which are diseased or injured, as well 

 as immense numbers of fresh pupai and eggs. The species taken and 

 observed by me were as follows : 



The Pennsylvania wood ant {Camponotus pennsylvanicus DeG.). 

 Observed only on low damp places contiguous to a wood, and never 

 found in the middle of the fields or on high dry soil far away from 

 timber. It is doubtful whether it ever attacks caterpillars. 



The chestnut-colored ant ( Camponotus castaneus Latr.). Occasionally 

 seen with* the former, but no observations on its habits were made. 



The honey-yellow ant ( Camponotus melleus Say.). Common in several 

 fields, the formicaries being built in the ground, but although common 

 on the cotton, running up and down the stems and over the leaves, I 

 never discovered upon what it fed. 



The coal-black ant {Monomorium carbonarium Smith). Twice observed 

 feeding upon the pupa of the cotton worm and once on the boll worm. 

 I first observed these ants August 11 destroying an Aletia pupa which 

 had webbed up on a leaf of the cocklebur. It was fairly covered 

 with from 40 to 50 individuals, and I have no reason to believe the 

 chrysalis was injured before the ants attacked it. 



The grooved-faced ant {Solenopsis geminata Fabr.). August 3 I took 

 numerous specimens feeding on the pupa of a boll worm, and August 

 14 it was observed destroying the eggs of this same moth. 



Only three species belonging to the family Proctotrypidiie were taken, 

 viz., Goniozus platynotce Ashm., a parasite on the cotton leaf-roller, 

 Platynota sentana; Ceraphron sp., and Anopedias sp. The last two are 

 probably parasitic on some cecidomyiid larva found on cotton. 



A small black cynipid belonging to the genus Hexaplasta and closely 

 allied to H. zigzag Riley, a common parasite on Phora aletice Comst., 



