104 



In 1842 (June 10) 1 had already found one specimen pursuing a Cocciuella. VVesmael 

 also captured it in the middle of Juue and Nees in October (I, 30). 



We have here also an Ichueumou Fly which oviposits in imagos, but imagos which 

 are long-lived and in which the brood cau mature (West wood, lutrod. II, p. 143, aud 

 Forstinsecteu III, 18). 



Within two days the Ichueumou Fly repeated its stings very often. It died tl^en and 

 shortly afterwards also the Cocciuella.— [Ratzeburg, Ichneumoueu d. Forstinsecteu, 

 Vol. Ill, pp. 61,62.] 



Fig. 16.— Co pi dry as 

 GLOVEKi. Egg, greatly en- 

 larged. 



THE PURSLANE CATERPILLAR. 



(Larva of Copidryas gloveri, Grote & Robinson.) 



In August, 1879, we received larv?e of this insect from Columbus, 

 Tex., where they were found by Mr. Schwarz in tolerable abundance 

 feeding upon the common Purslane {Portulaca ole- 

 racea) in company with larvae of Deilephila lineata 

 which so commonly feeds upon this plant. 



We did not receive them again until the summer 

 of 1887, when they were sent to us by several cor- 

 respondents in Kansas and Nebraska, who stated 

 that they occurred in such great numbers upon the 

 Purslane that thej' could not but anticipate great 

 damage to field cropn after the original food-plant 

 should give out. As a sami)le communication we 

 may quote from Mr. H. W. Lipp, of Eossville, Kans., who wrote us 

 under date of August 22 : 



"Inclosed please find a few larvie, and if not asking too much will you be kind 

 enough to iuform me to what order and family they belong? They have appeared 

 here for the first time, and do no damage to crops just now. » » * Up to date they 

 jire feeding on purslane aud nothing else, aud the oldest and largest ones are com- 

 mencing to go into the ground. To all appearances they are going to stay with lis, 

 and for that reason I would like to know if they are liable to attack growing corn 

 next spring or no . They are here in very large numbers aud some alarm is felt as to 

 what they will feed on next spriug. * * * 



We reared a number of adults in 1887, 

 and had intended publishing au account 

 of the insect that year, but Prof. E. A. 

 Popenoe, of Manhattan, Kans., who had 

 the advantage of being actually on the 

 ground, j)ublished so good an article in 

 the Kansas Industrialist for October 1, 

 illustrated by figures drawn by Mr. C. L. Mailatt, that the immediate 

 necessity was overcome, especially as Professor Popeuoe's j^aper was 

 quite widely quoted. The facts, however, should be put upon more per- 

 manent record and hence this note. The accompanying figures of larva 

 and moth were engraved several years ago, while the figures of the egg, 

 pupa, and cocoon are copied from Mr. Marlatt's figures. 



Fig. 17.— Copidrtab gloveki. Newly 

 hatched larva, greatly enlarged. 



