69 

The cocoon stage—at least, for those wasps shipped to Hono- 
lulu—was often very great. A certain number shipped during 
the latter part of 1916 hatched very shortly—or even sometimes 
en route from the Philippines—and up to the month of January, 
1917, but other cocoons of this fall shipment did not produce 
wasps until from June to September of the following year. 
Thus in a few cases nearly a year was consumed in the cocoon 
stage. Cocoons shipped early in 1917 all issued the same year, 
though covering a period of several months. 
While a series of Tiphia from Baguio seems identical with 
IT. Ashmeadi at Los Banos, the former parasitized mainly Ano- 
mala, more rarely Adoretus. The egg is deposited on the under- 
side of the thorax or immediately posterior to it. It is possible 
that here is a distinct variety. 

THYNNIDAE. 
Methoca. 
The remarkable little wasps of this genus, which numbers per- 
haps upwards of thirty species, are found in all parts of the world 
except Australia. The best known is Methoca ichneumonides 
Latr. of Europe, and it was upon this insect that Adlerz (’03, ’05) 
made his biological studies and first discovered that the genus 
preys upon the larva of the Tiger-beetle (Cicindela). 
By a layman, the female Methoca would undoubtedly be mis- 
taken for an ant. She is entirely without wings, and her body 
is slender and polished; nevertheless, she is easily distinguished 
from any ant, for her abdomen is not notched above at the base 
nor are the antennae elbowed. Furthermore, her gait is different 
and her long curved sting may project beyond the tip of the 
abdomen. The male, on the other hand, is not at all ant-like. 
Of greater size than his mate, possessed of stout thorax and 
strong wings, is it any wonder that he was first named Tengyra! 
He, indeed, much resembles some of the scoliid wasps. 
The grub which the slender wasp must conquer is a formidable 
creature. Many times larger than her aggressor, a flesh-eater 
armed with sickle-like jaws, it would seem proof against the 
attack of such a puny antagonist. The top of its head and first 
segment are strongly armored, fit snugly together, and being held 
in a horizontal position at the surface of its trap-burrow whence it 
snaps at unwary insects, effectively block the aperture. But the 
wasp is more than a match for the beetle larva. She herself 1s 
exceedingly nimble and hard-shelled, and her very slenderness is 
an advantage. Moreover, she is cool and cautious and knows 
when and where to use her long sting—as we shall presently see. 

