ENTOMOLOGY 401 



feed. The hymenopterous families of IchneumonidaB, Braconidae, 

 Chalcididae, and Proctotrypidse are largely composed of insects 

 which parasitize other species, rendering enormous service to the 

 fruit grower. Species of Microgaster attack sphinx and other larvae 

 in vineyards and elsewhere, and one often sees a feeble caterpillar 

 with its back covered with the brilliant white bodies of the cocoons 

 of these parasites. Plant lice are parasitized by species of Aphidius, 

 the adult cutting a round hole in the back of its host on leaving, 

 and the chalcis flies attack the smaller insects or even eggs, and in- 

 clude a long list of highly beneficial forms. The chalcis fly de- 

 stroys the eggs of the codling moth, the cotton bollworm, and cotton- 

 leaf caterpillar. Proctotrypids are among the smaller insects, and 

 parasitize principally the eggs of other species. 



In the Diptera the bee flies (Bombylidae) parasitize the larvaa 

 and pupae of moths and wasps, and also the egg sacs of grasshop- 

 pers. Larvae or maggots of Tachnid flies are parasites principally 

 of caterpillars, and are important checks to the increase of injurious 

 insects. 



Predaceous Insects. These are predatory insects, searching out 

 their prey, which they attack and destroy. Predaceous insects in- 

 clude those with sucking and biting mouth parts. Among the for- 

 mer are the assassin bugs, as the blood-sucking cone^nose and the 

 wheel bug ; also the spined soldier bug and the little Triphleps. These 

 all impale their victim on their beak, sucking out the body juices. 

 Among the latter are the praying mantis, tiger beetles, ladybirds, 

 and wasps, some of which latter paralyze their prey, to be stored in 

 their nests for future use of their young. The ladybirds (Coc- 

 cinellidas) constitute a large family of small hemispherical beetles 

 more or less marked with rW^ yf>11nw ) pj foja^kj which feed on plant 

 lice and scale insects. Numerous attempts have been made to estab- 

 lish these in orchards, to secure the subjugation of destructive 

 species, as the importation of the Vedalia, which now controls the 

 cottony cushion scale in California, and the Chinese ladybird, 

 brought over from China to destroy the San Jose scale. While it is 

 a pleasing proposition to secure the control of insects by arraying 

 them against each other, in general, the fruit grower must depend 

 on the intelligent use of sprays. (U. S. E. S. B. 178). 



BEES.* 



Bee culture is the means of obtaining for human use a natural 

 product which is abundant in almost all parts of the country, and 

 which would be lost to us were it not for the honey bee. The annual 

 production of honey and wax in the United States makes apiculture 

 a profitable minor industry of the country. From its very nature 

 it can never become one of the leading agricultural pursuits, but 

 that there is abundant opportunity for its growth can not be doubted. 

 Not only is the honey bee valuable as a producer, but it is also one 

 of the most beneficial of insects in cross-pollinating the flowers of 

 various economic plants. 



Bee keeping is also extremely fascinating to the majority of 

 people as a pastime, furnishing outdoor exercise ati well as 1 intimacy 



* See page 555 for illustration, 



