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A STUDY OF COMPSILURA CONCINNATA. 38 
hibernation. The gipsy-moth larvee are a little later, and the bulk 
of the Compsilura reared at the gipsy-moth laboratory come from 
this host. 
HISTORY OF COMPSILURA CONCINNATA MEIGEN. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Compsilura concinnata is larviparous, the eggs hatching in the 
uterus and the young being injected into the host by means of a 
larvipositor, which is inserted in an opening of the host integument 
made by a grooved, curved piercer, resembling a V in shape. When 
parasites were first imported there were among them certain tachinid 
puparia, some of which were not specifically identified at that time. 
It is probable that in this lot of unidentified puparia were some of 
the Compsilura concinnata, although, if such was the case, no record 
was kept. 
Compsilura concinnata was first described in 1824 by Meigen, in 
““Systematische Beschreibung des bekannten europiischen zweifliige- 
ligen Insekten,” Volume IV, page 412, under the name of Jachina 
concinnata. Following is a translation of the original description: 
Length 74 mm. Face white, both sides to above the middle with vibrissx; 
palpi orange. Vertex rather narrow, white, with a deep. black stripe; bristles 
reaching up to the hypostoma. Antennz somewhat shorter than the hypostoma, 
brown, with a larger bristle, which is thickened for about one-third of its length. 
Thorax whitish; the dorsum with blackish iridescence and four deep black 
stripes ; the outer somewhat broader. Abdomen cone shaped; the first segment 
and a dorsal line and band on the hind edge of the next segment polished black; 
venter of abdomen carinate, black, with whitish incisions. Legs black, alule 
white; wings almost glossy transparent; apical cross vein straight, with 
rounded corners; the veins converge closely on the edge of the wing before its 
apex, the usual cross vein somewhat curved. The above description was from 
a female. 
The larva and puparium (PI. I, fig. 2) of Compsilura were both 
described in 1834 by Bouché in “ Naturgeschichte der Insekten . . .”, 
printed in Berlin, page 57. A translation of the descriptions follows: 
The larva is elliptical, somewhat narrower anteriorly, roughish, fieshy, soft, 
variable, with swollen outlines and very finely grooved. The thoracic incision 
is black, as are also the articulation pieces of the abdomen, armed with little 
sharp points. The spines are arranged more or less in wavy rows. The black, 
short, and stout mouth hooks are almost straight. The antennae are wartlike, 
double, clear brown. The prothoracic stigmata are short, yellow, and parted. 
The hind part (last segment) is small, rounded, shallowly excavate posteriorly. 
In this depression are the two round, black stigmata bearers, provided on the 
inner side with white, round, transparent spots and brown three-divided stigma. 
Length 74 mm. 
The pupa is dark brown, elliptical-stout. ~Almost a smooth barrel. The seg- 
ments are linked together, a little muricate at the abdomen. The prothoracic 
stigmata of the coming fly forms short blunt points. The blackish-brown pos- 
terior stigmata bearers are close together, and are provided with trifoliate 
stigmata. Length, 64 mm. 
