138 



my hands quite easily. In this connection I would state that all the young rabbits — 

 killed in mowing — vipon this plantation, for the last two years had these larviB about 

 their lu-oks. [John N. Johnson, Virginia, July 21, 1892.] 



Note. — The specimen sent was the larva of the Rabbit Bot {Vuterehra cit>iici(1i). 



Second letter. — This evening I killed a rabbit about one-third grown. Between 

 the fore limbs were two worms imbedded in the skin. The entire body except an 

 exposed portion was covered with stiff black hairs. This part was the free end and 

 was flush with the surface of the skin. Parting the fur at this point one might think 

 ho was looking at a warty appearance on the rabbit's skin. The rabbit was fat and 

 otherwise in good condition. 



What is this worm? Does it feed upon the rabbit or does it draw its sultsistence 

 from the outside world by means of the exposed part? * * * [W. C. Smith, In- 

 diana, August 3, 1892. 



Reply. — The insect which you found infesting the rabbit is the common Rabbit 

 Bot ( Cuterebra cunicull). This insect belongs to the family of two-winged flies known 

 as the CEstridie, which includes the common Ox Warble and Bot-fly of the Horse and 

 the Sheej) Bot and other similar parasites of many wild animals. It derives its 

 nourishment from the animal itself and not from the "outside world." * * * 

 After reaching full growth, these grubs leave the rabbit by issuing through the per- 

 foration of the skill aud drop to the ground, where they transform to jiuparia, from 

 which the adult flies subseciueutly emerge. — [August 6, 1892.] 



Parasites of the Harlequin Cabbage Bug. 



I send the following : (1) Small parasites on eggs of Harlequin Bug. (2) Larger 

 do. (3) Cocoon of No. 2. (4) Eggs of Harlequin Bug. Out of over 1,000 eggs but 

 very few Harlequin Bugs hatched. Kindly identify the parasites for me. * * * 

 [H. A. Morgan, Louisiana, .September 9, 1892. 



Reply. — It is interesting to know that you have at last reared a parasite from the 

 eggs of the Harlequin Cabbage Bug. So far as we know, none has ever been reared 

 heretofore, although we always sujiposed that these eggs would prove to be parasit- 

 ised by some species of the subfamily Scelioninse. This supposition your smaller 

 parasite proves correct. It is a new species of the genus Trissolcus, to which Mr. Ash- 

 mead has given the manuscript name T. murgantkv. It will be described in his 

 forthcoming monograph of the Proctotrypid.'B of North America. The two other 

 parasites are, in my oi>iuioii, not to be connected with the eggs of the Harlequin 

 Bug. The larger one is a species of Apanteles and the smaller one is a common 

 parasite of Apanteles cocoons known as Glyphe viridascens Walsh. It is likely that 

 the Apanteles was parasitic upon some Lepidopterous larva feeding upon ilie same leaf 

 upon which the eggs of the Murgantia were laid and that the cocoon cluster was 

 accidentally attached to the egg mass. You should be able to settle this point posi- 

 tively, however, by future observations. — [September 14, 1892.] 



GENERAL NOTES. 



INSECTS AND THE WEATHER. 



Prof. Harriugtou, chief of the Weather Bureau of this Department, is 

 preparing- a work upon weather proverbs, including- all the information 

 obtainable regarding- animal and vegetable kingdoms in so far as mem- 

 bers of either give indication of changes in the weather, and has asked 

 us for data concerning insects. 



