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ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



[Nov., '07 



was examined, and six Hymenopterous parasites, all dead, 

 were found. A large hole, considered to be an emergence hole 

 of parasites, was noticed in one nymphal tick. On the same 

 day Mr. Mitchell sent in a number of specimens of the same 

 tick taken alive from a jack rabbit in the same county. There 

 were several nymphs in this lot, and these were placed in a 

 pill-box exactly as in the other case. On May 6th this box 

 was examined ; no parasites were seen and no emergence hole 

 was observed. But on May 8th another examination showed 

 six specimens of the supposed parasite, all alive. As before, 

 a large hole was observed near the posterior margin of one 

 of the nymphal ticks. The pill-boxes were carefully examined 

 by Mr. Hooker, without finding the remains of any insects. 

 Mr. F. C. Pratt examined the sand in the petri dish, and re- 

 ported that no cast skins or other indications of the presence 

 of insects could be found. From these circumstances Mr. 

 W. D. Hunter, in charge of the laboratory, concluded that 

 the ticks had been parasitized while they were still on their 

 host, or, possibly, while on the ground after transformation 

 from the hexapod to the nymphal stage, and the parasites were 

 sent to the writer at Washington 

 for examination. Not perfectly 

 satisfied with this evidence, the 

 writer sent to Dallas, and had the 

 pierced skins of the nymphal ticks 

 sent to Washington, placing them 

 in the skillful hands of Mr. R. E. 

 Snodgrass. A very close examina- 

 tion finally indicated a portion of 

 the cast skin of the head of a Chal- 

 cidoid larva, showing the charac- 

 acteristic mandibles. These are il- 

 lustrated at Fig. c, Plate XIV, and 

 the emergence hole is shown at Fig. /. 



The evidence now seems conclusive that in the species de- 

 scribed below we have a true primary parasite of an injurious 

 Ixodid. Whether this parasite will equally affect the Texas 



Ixodiphagus texanus. — Female : 

 adult above ; front view of head 

 below; antenna at right; middle 

 tarsus and tip of tibia at left. 

 Greatly enlarged (original). 

 Drawn by J. F. Strauss. 



