202 



ANOTHER SPIDER-EGG PARASITE, 



By L. O. HoWAiii). 



On p. 260 of vol. ii, Insect Life, 1 erected the new Proctotrypid 

 genus Acoloides for a species which was named suit id is from sx>ecimens 

 reared from the eggs of Saitis pulex, a not uncommon spider, by Mr. 

 Lawrence Bruner, of Lincoln, ISTebr. I find another distinct species in 

 this interesting genus among some spider parasites sent me by Mr. J. 

 H. Emerton, and submit the following characterization. Mr. Ashniead, 

 in monographing the Proctotrypidae, has found several other species 

 which lit into this genus and which he will describe in his forthcoming 

 work. None of these, however, have been reared, but it is quite 

 likely that they will also prove to be parasites upon spider-eggs. 



Acoloides emertonii, n. sp., Female. — Length, 1.4 mm.; expanse, 1.5 mm.; 

 black, shining, but closely microscopically pnnctulate ; autenme brown-black, the 

 scape pale at extreme base ; legs, inchxding coxae, brownish-yelloAv ; abdomen mostly 

 yellow, the second, segment, lateral and apical margin of tliird and the following seg- 

 ments fuscous or black. Head very wide, more than three times as wide as thick 

 autero-posteriorly ; eyes large, rounded, whitish (after death) and pubescent ; man- 

 dibles pale rufoiis, the tips black. Antennal club large, fusiform, as long as the 

 pedicel, and funicle united ; first funicle joint less tliau half the length of the pedicel, 

 the other funicle joints transverse. Thorax convex, with two punctate lines in front 

 of the scutellum, the latter semicircular, convex; metanotum very short, striated, 

 bounded by a carina posteriorly, the angles produced into a minute tooth. Wings 

 subhyaline, pubescent, extendingbeyond tip of abdomen; the venation dark brown; 

 the marginal vein short, stout, A-ery little longer than thick; the stigmal long, 

 slender, ending in a small knob. Abdomen oblong oval, one-third longer than the 

 head and thorax together, microscopically sculptured but lustrous, the first and 

 second segments about equal in length, striated. 



Described from 7 9 specimens, reared by Mr. J. H. Emerton from the 

 egg cocoon of an unknown spider. 



EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



Another Iiead-boriiig Insect. 



* * * I incloseadi'awingof a piece 

 of lead pipe wliicli I have that was cut 

 by tlie larva of MonohamniKs eoiifiiaor, or 

 from the description I think it was that 

 insect. You will note that the borer 

 ate through the wood and njton coming 

 to the lead did not stop. The lead is 

 2^mm. thick. A leak in the pipe led to 

 investigation, when tlie hole was found, 

 and the grub Avas also discovered. It 

 was a new house, only recently built. 

 The piece of wood and pipe both shown 

 in drawing. — [A. J. Cook, Michigan, 

 November 4, 1891. Fig. 2:!.— Lead pipe bored by an insect larva. 



