BIOLOGY OF THE COHOSTS. 73 



FORMICID^. 



Formica fusca (Linnaeus) suhpolita (Mayr) perpilosa Wheeler. This 

 species of ant is normally a honey feeder, but it is recorded by Rangel 

 (Rangel, 1901c) as a predator on adult boll weevils in Mexico. 



Formica pallidi-fulva Latreille. A single instance of this species 

 cutting its way into a square infested by a boll weevil was observed 

 by Mr. Hood at Ashdown, Ark., September 2, 1908. 



Prenolepis imparis Say. A single instance of this species cutting 

 its way into a square infested by a boll weevil was observed by Mr. 

 Hood at Ashdown, Ark., September 2, 1908. 



14. BIOLOGY OF THE COHOSTS OF THE BOLL-WEEVIL PARASITES. 



The biologies of the parasites concerned in the boll- weevil complex 

 have already been discussed. It now remains to consider the native 

 weevils which have already or may later enter into the complex of 

 cohosts of the boll- weevil parasites. Many of these weevils are 

 native to the territory already occupied by the weevil, while others 

 will become important as new territory is added. Other families of 

 Coleoptera and even other orders of insects may later be found to be 

 of more or less importance as cohosts of boll-weevil parasites. The 

 late Dr. William H. Ashmead stated that Microhracon mellitor had 

 been reared from many Coleoptera, while Ceramhycohius cyaniceps 

 bred in cerambycids and other beetles. It is important also to note 

 the record of Ceramhycohius cyaniceps from Languria. Our own 

 observations have been confined to the Coleoptera of the families 

 Lariidse, Anthribidse, and Curculionidse. 



PHYTOPHAGA. LARIID^. 



{Bru^cJiusY Laria sallxi Sharp. This bruchid is characteristic of 

 the Gulf Coast prairie of Texas. It breeds in the pods of huisache 

 ( VacJielliafarnesiana) , is a continuous breeder, and is generally highly 

 parasitized by VrosigalpTius hrucJii, Ceramhycohius hrucJiivorus , Cer- 



AMBYCOBIUS CYANICEPS 2; CeRAMBYCOBIUS CUSHMANI, LaRIOPHAGUS 



TEXANUS, EuRYTOMA TYLODERMATis, Horismcuus sp., and several 

 other undetermined parasites. 



Laria exigua Horn. This bruchid is apparently Austroriparian and 

 Carolinian. Its principal food plant is Amorpha fruticosa, in the seed 



1 The generic name Bruchus was first used by GeofEroy in 1762. Only one species is admissible in our 

 code of nomenclature and this is Cerambyxfur'Liixn.adns, which is also the type of Ptinus Linnaeus 1767, 

 The genus Laria was described by Scopoli in 1763 and the type thereof has been designated as salicis 

 Scopoli, a synonym of Dermestes pisorum (pisi) Linnseus. 



Liimseus's conception of Bruchus dates from 1767 and the type thereof was designated by Latreille 

 (1810) as Dermestes pisorum Linnseus. Hence we see that Bruchus Luinseus (1758) is preoccupied by 

 Geofiroy (1752) and an isogenotypic synonym of Laria Scopoli (1763). 



Although the genus has been subdivided into several genera, our American species have not been 

 studied with regard to such subdivision and it is hence best to consider all as in the genus Laria, 

 sensu latiore. 



2 The names of boll- weevil parasites are printed in small capitals; others in italics. 



