lear 
A single specimen of the hymenopterous parasite Lampronota frig- 
ida Cr. was reared from a cocoon of this Saw-fly and also an undeter- 
mined species (not found). 
CEPHUS OCCIDENTALIS N. SP. 
The Cephus sp. referred to in the opening of this article as being 
reared from grass in California by Mr. Koebele proves to be unde- 
scribed. 
/- The habits of this insect are exactly similar to the European Corn 
Saw-fly Cephus pygmeus, the larve boring in grass working from the 
top towards the root and spinning in the base of the grass stem a silken 
tube in which it hibernates. 
Before spinning up the grass stem is partly cut through (Fig. 15, ¢) 
to facilitate the emergence of the adult insect which takes place in May. 
Fic. 15.—Cephus occidentalis n. sp: a, larva; b, adult insect, female; c,base of grass stalk showing 
excavation of larva, all inclosed (original). 
The larva (Fig. 15, a) is about one-half inch long, cylindrical, whitish 
in color and with a resinous brown head. The general characteristics 
of shape and structure are shown in the figure. It does not differ from 
the larva of Cephus pygmeus except in being smaller and less robust. 
The adult insect (Fig. 15 b) agrees almost exactly with Cephus pyg- 
meus in coloration, coming much closer to it in this respect than to any 
other American species, but is in every way more slender and graceful 
and would never be mistaken for the European species. The head is 
_harrower in proportion to the body and is more globular when viewed 
from the side. Viewed from above it narrows more posteriorly from the 
eyes than pygmeeus. The grass in which this insect breeds was not de- 
termined, but is a hollow-stemmed marsh grass, probably a species of 
Elymus. 
a at 
