28 IMPORTED PARASITES. 



summer, before the eggs of the gypsy moth are available, and 

 that there will be no native insect which will give what may 

 prove to be some such necessary aid to its continued existence. 



Parasites of the Cateepillae. 

 Olyptapanteles fulvipes. 



Although this was almost the first parasite of the gypsy moth 

 which attracted any attention in Massachusetts, and the first 

 which it was attempted to import after the beginning of active 

 work, it was one of the last to be liberated under satisfactory 

 conditions, and its establishment in America is not yet certain. 

 Extraordinary methods were necessary to bring it to America 

 living and healthy, and it was not until Prof. Trevor Kincaid, 

 who was selected by Dr. Howard as the best available man for 

 the purpose, visited Japan, and personally superintended the 

 collection and shipment of the cocoons, that success was achieved. 

 The story of Professor Kincaid's experiences and of the difficul- 

 ties which he met and overcame is interesting. He was accorded 

 great and material assistance by the Japanese entomologists, and 

 the work inaugurated by him in 1908, was continued with even 

 greater success in 1909. 



The adult parasite (Fig. 7) deposits a number of eggs be- 

 neath the skin of the active caterpillars, and any stage, from 

 the first to and possibly including the last, may be attacked. 

 The larvae, hatching from the eggs, become full grown in from 

 two to three weeks, and then work their way out through the 

 skin of the still living caterpillar (Fig. 8) within the body of 

 which they fed. Each spins for itself immediately afterward, 

 for its better protection during its later stages, a small white 

 cocoon. The number of parasites nourished by a single host 

 varies in accordance with its size. There may be as few as 2 

 or 3 in very small caterpillars, or 100 or more in those which 

 are nearly full grown. 



The unfortunate victim of attack does not, as a rule, die im- 

 mediately after the emergence of the parasite larvfe and the spin- 

 ning of their cocoons, but it never voluntarily moves from the 

 spot. Its appearance, both before and after death, surrounded 

 by and seeming to brood over the cocoons, is peculiar and char- 

 acteristic, and once seen can never be mistaken. (Fig. 9). 



