﻿HOST RELATIONS OF COMPSILURA CONCINNATA 21 



sreared from overwintering material. Rogas stigTnator Say has also 

 ^been bred, five adults issuing in September from a larva collected 

 during that month. 



Collections of Apatela furdfera Guen. extend over a period of 

 •seven years. The larvae are found in the field from the middle of 

 June until the latter part of September. The food plants of this 

 species seem restricted to the various varieties of cherry. It is not 

 considered uncommon, although it has never been received in abund- 

 ance. From these collections (83 individuals) there has never been 

 reared any other tachinid than Compsilura. On three occasions only 

 ~have any hymenopterous parasites appeared, species belonging to the 

 genera Apanteles, Meteorus, and Rogas being bred. A. furdfera is 

 •of first importance as a summer and winter host of Compsilura. 



Apatela hrumosa Guen. and another species of Apatela as yet 

 'Undetermined are never found in abundance but are received in 

 small numbers each year. The insects are usually found in the 

 woodlands, principally on willow, birch, cherry, and oak. Larvae 

 of these species may be found in the field from the middle of June 

 imtil September and, although never abundant, are among the most 

 sought of the host insects. 



Galpe canadensis Beth, appears early in June; it is common and 

 sometimes plentiful. There seems to be but a single generation, the 

 adults issuing during July. The larvae feed principally upon 

 :meadowrue (Thalictrum) and are somewhat difficult to find because 

 ■of their protective coloration. Perhaps because of this,, only a 

 limited number of Compsilura has been bred. 



Scoliopteryx libatrix L. is either double-brooded or else has a very 

 remarkable larval stage. It is a rather rare species in the writer's 

 •collections, only 12 specimens having been received in eight years. 

 It is said to hibernate as an adult, the food plants being listed as 

 willow, poplar, and cherry. Unlike many of the noctuids it does not 

 enter the soil to pupate but transforms within its cocoon attached to 

 ■the twigs of the host plant. Like Galpe canadensis^ the species is 

 well protected by its coloration and has given a few Compsilura. 



The zebra caterpillar {Maviestra picta Grote), Mamestra legitima 

 'Orote, M. adjuncta Boisd., and Pyrophila pyrartiidoides Guen. are 

 •all acceptable as hosts to Compsilura. They are, as a rule, garden- 

 crop insects, and the two former are at times very abundant. All 

 of them hibernate as pupae beneath the soil. 



Arsilonche albovenosa is ordinarily found on marshland. Cat- 

 tail {Typha latifolia L.) and the various marsh grasses are its chief 

 food plants. It ranges in the field from June until October, hiber- 

 nates as a pupa, and is considered a favorable host. Besides Comp- 

 silura. unother tachinid, Manicera sp., overAvinters in this host. 

 There have also been two hymenopterous parasites bred, Rogas stig- 

 mator Say and Microplitis quadridentatus Prov. 



EuthiAOjiwtia, grata Fab. is rather uncommon. It appears in the 

 field during the latter part of July and feeds principally on grape 

 and Virginia rreeper. It is an acceptable host, but the collections 

 liave been small and the data give little idea of its true status. 



Nadata glhhosa S. and A. is a species not uncommon, appearing in 

 the field fliiring Jiily and August and overwintering as a pupa- 



