181 



few of the beetles were at work in the flowers in the mornings, but 

 later, in the heat of the afternoon, they were much more numerous. 



Summary of the Life-history. — A brief summary of the life-history of 

 this species, based on the past year's observations in this locality, is 

 given herewith. 



The insect undergoes true hibernation, i. e., in the adiilt state, and in 

 April individuals of this hibernating brood begin to crawl forth from 

 their winter quarters, fly to the nearest flowers, and commence feeding. 

 They probably continue to issue from their hiding places for a month 

 after the first arrivals make their appearance. 



Strawberry buds are attacked as soon as they are fully matured. Stam- 

 inate varieties begin blooming in the neighborhood of Washington as 

 €arly some seasons as the second week in April, audit is probable that 

 they begin their bud-destroying labors here at least by the middle of 

 April, egg-laying commencing at this time and continuing through the 

 month of May, although the principal damage to this crop is done from 

 the latter part of April till toward the middle of May. 



Blackberries are invaded in turn at the time that the plants begin 

 blooming, or about four or five weeks later than the Strawberry. 

 Wild Blackberry is \asited still later and the beetles continue on this 

 plant for some time. 



The injury to these plants is done by the female in the course of 

 oviposition, and is produced by puncturing the stems just beneath the 

 buds, causing the deatli of the plant above the point of attack. A sin- 

 gle egg is deposited at this time in each flower-bud. 



The larvas are believed to hatch within from three to five or six days 

 after the egg is deposited in the bud, and probably attain their full 

 growth three or four weeks thereafter, when they transform to pupae. 



The pupal stage lasts from about five to eight days, according to 

 thermometric conditions, and the first mature insects of the new brood 

 begin to issue from the strawberry buds toward the end of May, con- 

 tinuing through the month of June, and in exceptional cases into July. 

 The beetles are so seldom seen after the middle of July that they are 

 believed to begin to hibernate at this time. 



Our observations indicate only a single annual generation. 



All of the earlier stages of the insect are passed in the bud. It never 

 attacks the fruit. 



PARASITES AND NATURAL ENEMIES. 



Four species of parasites were bred during the season from the Straw- 

 berry Weevil, two species of Braconidae and two Chalcidids of the sub- 

 family Pteromalinae. One of these, Galyptus tibiator Cr., is described; 

 the remainder are new and are described in the note appended by Mr. 

 W. H. Ashmead, who is making a special study of these forms. 



Galyptus tibiator Cr. was by far the most abundant species of this 

 year. Specimens issued from June 10 to 20. 



