HOST RELATIONS OF COMPSILURA CONCINNATA 21 



reared from overwintering material. Rogas stig?natar Say has also 

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

 during that month. 



Collections of Apatela furcifera 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. furcifera is 

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



Apatela brumosa 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 

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

 sought of the host insects. 



Calpe 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 larva? 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 Calpe canadensis, the species is 

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



The zebra caterpillar {Ma/inestra picta Grote), Mamestra legitima 

 Grote, M. adjuncta Boisd., and Pyrophila pyramidoides 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, another tachinid, Masicera sp., overwinters in this host. 

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

 mator Say and Microplitis quadridentatus Prov. 



Euthisanotia grata Fab. is rather uncommon. It appears in the 

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

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

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



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

 the field during July and August and overwintering as a pupa- 



