April, "loj 



KXIGHT: 



C-\PSID OVIPOSITIOX 



295 



23. On the morning of June 24, one individual was photograplied 

 while ovipositing on apple. This female was then placed on a branch 

 of Cratagus sp. and other photographs were obtained the same after- 

 noon (Fig. 1, pi. 11). Thus it is seen how easily the species may go 

 from ha^-thorn or wild crab to the cultivated apple. 



The number of eggs laid varies with the individual from day to day. 

 One female was observed to oviposit in six different places between 

 10.00 a. m. and 12.00 o'clock noon. This same female was observed 

 to oviposit daily from June 23 to June 27, but died on the 28th. One 

 female captured June 21 and kept in a cage was observed to oviposit 

 as late as Jul}^ 5 but was found dead on the 7th. Several females were 

 captured July o on Crataegus and wild apple trees near Attica, X. Y. 

 The ^\dld fruit showed characteristic red bug injury as seen in culti- 

 vated orchards (Fig. 11, pi. 12). Two females heav}^ with eggs were 

 captured on quince, July 11, at Byron, N. Y. Characteristic injury 

 was observed on the quince fruit. Four females were taken on Crqke- 

 gus sp., July 13, near Batavia. One of these individuals lived in the 

 insectar}^ until Juh' 17. Xo more specimens were taken after this date. 



False Apple Red Bug {Lygideo. mendax Rent.) 



Lygidea mendax matures from seven to ten days later than H. raali- 

 nus. The first adult was captured on June 14 but the majority of the 

 species matured about June 20. Several females were watched closely 

 but no eggs were obtained until Juh' 8. The adults m.d,y be seen to 

 feed on the branches T\dth proboscis deeph^ inserted for several min- 

 utes at a time. These holes are never used for inserting eggs. When 

 ready to IsiX, the female moves about over the twigs searching for 

 lenticels on wood of the previous year's growth. Several of these may 

 be tested with the tip of the beak before one is selected for ovipositing. 

 The behavior of this species is very similar to that of H. vialinus. 

 The lenticel is drilled out by means of the proboscis. One female re- 

 quired ten minutes for this operation. Three attempts to insert the ovi- 

 positor failed but on the fourth she succeeded (Fig, 4, pi. 11). It took 

 two and one-half minutes to lay the egg. After an interval of four 

 minutes, she returned to the hole and upon the second trial inserted the 

 ovipositor and laid an egg. After this the wound was sealed by means 

 of the proboscis. The lenticels are normally light colored but after 

 being injured by the process of oviposition, they appear reddish brown. 

 By this means one soon learns to locate those containing eggs. The 

 normal number of eggs laid in a lenticel is two but in seven cases only 

 one egg was found (Fig. 7, pi. 11). The eggs are placed in the cambium 

 at such an angle that the lower ends may rest on solid wood and their 

 tips be 1.5 mm. apart. 



