THE CYNIPID.E AFFECTING THE OAK. 27 



far as is known the species wliicli produce galls on the 

 oak do not take food, nor frequent flowers for nectar ; 

 they, however, occasionally imbibe water. Many kinds 

 when alarmed fold the wings, tuck their legs and 

 antenna3 close to the body, and remain motionless for 

 some time. 



They seldom fly more than a very short distance, 

 their distribution being accomplished more frequently 

 by the wind than by their own efforts. 



Several observers have recorded the fact that Cynips 

 Kollari is a most letharo-ic insect. Hundreds of 

 imagines may be reared, and only very rarely will one 

 be seen on the wing. Xor is this peculiarity confined 

 to that species ; it is common to most. 



On one occasion the author opened a gall of 

 Dryophanta disticJia which contained a mature imago. 

 It at once ran about the table, and when a glass was 

 placed over it it ran up the side and expanded its 

 wings completely, but neither then, nor when the glass 

 was reversed, did it attempt to fly. 



Almost all the species cling with remarkable tenacity 

 to leaf or twig, or even one's finger, and it requires a 

 sharp and strong puff of wind to dislodge them. 



The imagines of most kinds are difficult to rear, 

 because it is not easy to maintain the natural con- 

 ditions of life. But even when it has been possible to 

 accomplish this, success does not often follow. Some 

 remain in the larval stage for many months (e. g. 

 Anclricus glandiiim, Apldlothvix fecundatrix'), and for 

 many months more in the pupal condition, and then 

 perhaps they will die before the imago stage is 

 reached. Doubtless, in their natural surroundings of 

 hedges, woods, trees, etc., innumerable multitudes 

 never complete their metamorphoses. A few species 

 are able to endure great cold. Cameron states that 

 Biorhua apAera appears during frost and snow in 

 winter time and deposits ova {loc. cit., vol. iv, p. 3). 



Immediately after leaving the galls the Cynipid^e 

 l)egin to lay their eggs, and speedily die. The act of 



