REVISION OF STEEPSIPTERA PIERCE. 49 



This same tube is evident in other specimens also. In Xenidse the 

 attachment seems to be more general and to extend some distance 

 around the base of the abdomen. No definite conclusions may be 

 drawn at this time. 



BIOLOGICAL NOTES. 



Although the complete biology of no species besides Xenos ves- 

 •parwrn Nassonow, not Rossi, has been worked out, there are numerous 

 notes which contribute greatly to the biology of the various species. 

 These will be given by species. 



MYRMECOLAX NIETNERI Westwood. 



Westwood (1858) quotes John Nietner concerning this species 

 as follows: 



The only individual hitherto met with was taken by me at an elevation of 3,880 

 feet in the hills of Ramboddo, Ceylon, in the act of issuing from the abdomen of a 

 neuter of a species of ant, which had ascended a tuft of grass on an extensive pattena, 

 or meadow, the parasite making its exit back to back from the ant. The capture 

 was effected on the rainy afternoon of the 29th April last (1858). This being about 

 the change of the monsoon and the beginning of continued wet weather, I consider 

 the individual taken a late one, feeling certain that so tender an insect could, as a 

 rule, not well make its appearance during a wet and clammy season, but rather during 

 the preceding four months, which are dry and hot. 



STYLOPS ATERRIMA Friese, not Newport. 



Friese records this species from Andrena ovinia. On December 11 

 at 6 p : in. a male hatched and was still alive at 8 a. m. on December 14, 

 although dead at noon of this day, thus giving a minimum length of 

 life of 62 hours (Friese, 1883). On February 26, 1882, at Merseburg, 

 Germany, he took males flying about the Andrena holes between 

 12 and 12.30 at noon, with the temperature 8° to 9° R. (50° to 52° F.). 

 Concerning this record he says: 



Die Thiere schwirrten mit der ihnen eigenen flatternden Bewegung an dem 

 gegen kalte Winde geschiitzte'n Abhange der Andrena-Kolonie in langsamen Fluge 

 hin und her, ohne dass es bei der kurzen Zeit ihres Vorhandenseins zu entdecken 

 war, was ihr Vorhaben war, wenn es sich audi leicht vermuthen liens. 



STYLOPS CRAWFORDI Pierce. 



Triungulinids of this species were not taken. Although no adult 

 males were found, male exuviae were taken frequently between 

 April 26, 1906, and May 1, 1906. Male pupa? were taken April 27, 

 and 28, 1906, and from one of the two taken on the latter date an 

 adult male was extracted. 



