234 PARASITES OF GIPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTHS. 



would appear that in their respective host relations the two species 

 possess a difference, and it is probable that it will be found to extend 

 to other hosts than the silkworm when all the hosts of both species 

 are known. In consequence it is not only well to have Crossocosmia 

 to fall back upon in case Blepharipa fails to come up to expectations, 

 but it is well that it be given a trial in order that the relative value 

 of the two species may- be determined. 



CROSSOCOSMIA FLAVOSCUTELLATA SCHINER (?). 



It was with considerable surprise, accompanied with no small 

 degree of doubt as to the accuracy of our records, that the presence 

 of a species of Crossocosmia was recognized among the flies issuing 

 from European pup aria in the spring of 1910. At first it was thought 

 that there must have been some Japanese puparia mingled with them, 

 and when reference was made to the notes it was found that some- 

 thing like 15 or 20 larvse of Crossocosmia sericarise had been received 

 the summer before, and that their disposition was not indicated. 

 Accordingly, for a time it was supposed that the Crossocosmia issuing 

 were from these, but it was not long until more adults had issued than 

 could possibly be accounted for in that manner. There were as 

 many Japanese Crossocosmia puparia producing Crossocosmia as the 

 notes called for, with never a Blepharipa among them, and when 

 after a time it became apparent that the number of European 

 Crossocosmia would run into the hundreds and that they came from 

 a variety of lots of puparia under several numbers and received at 

 different times, it was finally decided that the existence of what has 

 every appearance of being an European race of C. sericarise could no 

 longer be doubted. 



Its occurrence in Europe is the more surprising because, like 

 Blepharipa, it has never been recorded from the silkworm in any of 

 the silk-producing districts. In its distribution it also exhibited 

 peculiarities, practically all that issued having come from a lot of 

 puparia received in gipsy-moth caterpillar importations from the 

 vicinity of Charroux, a town in western central France, and one which 

 would hardly be expected to differ particularly in its fauna from 

 other localities from which material was received. 



Only a very few specimens of this European Crossocosmia were 

 pinned for the collection, but so far as the closest scrutiny manifests 

 there is not the slightest structural difference between the bona fide 

 "up" parasites reared from the silkworm — that which is consequently 

 believed to be the same species reared from the gipsy moth in Japan — 

 and the species under present consideration from France, which is 

 seemingly not present, or, if present, not common in other parts of 

 Europe from which parasite material has been received. 



