98 



HALIDAY ON 



Fern. — Alae hyalinse nervis fuscis, stigmate liiteo, in exsiccatis piceo, 

 radice et squamulis stramineis: pedis intermedii fusco-nebulosi, 

 postici coxis et femoribus, tibiis medio tarsisque fuscis : petiolus 

 fuscus apice lutescens : abdominis segmenta anteriora utrinque 

 fusco-maculata. — Color luteus in hac specie clarior fere in croceum 

 transit. — Mas, niger ore luteo, palpis piceo-pallidis : antennae 

 20-articulat8e : alarum radix et squamulae picescentes : pedes 

 antici lutei fusco-lineati, posteriores picei trochanteribus et tibi- 

 arum basi lutescentibus ; coxae omnes nigrae : abdomen piceum 

 segmenti secundi medio et incisuris lutescentibus. 

 Habitat in Aphidibus, Rosce.'^ — {Mus. Soc. Ent.) 



■= This is the species most frequently noticed by authors, being a familiar inha- 

 bitant of our gardens, where the male may be seen throughout the summer hover- 

 ing over the rose-trees, or creeping under the leaves. His partner is of less roving 

 habits, and will generally be found busy in providing for the establishment of her 

 numerous progeny. Placed at her birth amid the myriads of Pucerons which 

 encircle the young shoots of the rose, she has no dwelling to construct with artful 

 industry, nor stores of food to collect by distant rovings. With extended antenna^ 

 and wings, " shivering with desire," she paces leisurely among the defenceless 

 herd, and as soon as she has selected one by a light touch of her antennae, she 

 stops short at about her own length from it, and rising on stiffened legs, bends 

 her abdomen under her breast till the end of it projects beyond her mouth; then 

 erecting her thorax by depressing the hinder-part, she simultaneously makes a 

 lunge forward with the abdomen, which is then extraordinarily lengthened, and 

 by a momentary touch, deposits an egg on the iinder-side of the Puceron, near 

 its tail. The victim will sometimes kick and sprawl, so as to discompose her ; 

 but being anchored by its sucker plunged in the bark, can make no effectual 

 attempt to elude the deadly weapon. Should it, however, be wandering at large 

 and free to struggle, she shows great activity in traversing around it in the 

 attitude of attack till she can take it in flank. The delicate sense of the antennae 

 seems to warn her where a germ has been already deposited, as she will pass by 

 those which have been stung some days before ; and I have never found more 

 than a single grub in each individual. When all the interior of the Puceron is 

 consumed, it will be found separate from'its fellows, and motionless, usually on 

 the upper side of a leaf, to which it is glued by some viscid exudation. It now 

 appears distended, and of an opaque hazel or lighter tint. If opened, the full- 

 fed grub of the Aphidius will be discovered doubled up, and filling the cavity, 

 its head being next the tail of the Puceron. In a short time the parts of the 

 perfect insect are developed in a quiescent state and in the same position, the 

 integuments of the grub being shrivelled up below it in black grains. Like 

 Cynips and CaUimome it spins no cocoon for its transformation, being adequately 

 protected by the indurated skin of its victim. A few days are sufficient to give 

 consistence to its parts ; and while the new risen sun is yet glistening in the 

 early dews, the winged insect, by a push of its head, detaches the latter rings of 

 its case, which separate in the form of a circular lid, often springing back to close 

 the orifice after the inhabitant has gone forth, born in the maturity of her 

 energies and instincts, to renew the circle of existence. Sometimes, indeed, a 

 difterent occupant will issue from its dark chamber, as several still minuter 

 parasites of the present order ( Megaspilus Carpenteri, Curt. E. B. 249. Cynips 



