122 
After the parasite has left it the boll worm usually lives for several 
days, but does not feed at all during that time. Before death it grad- 
ualty shrinks and dries up. Larvt^ which are parasitized almost always 
acquire a pale yellowish color and shriveled appearance, which is quite 
characteristic, even before any other external sign of the parasite is 
evident. 
Some of the specimens bred out in the laboratory were confined 
over night with several bollworms in a breeding jar, and from one of 
these an adult parasite was reared. The life cjxle is about three weeks, 
some nine da3^s of which are spent in the pupal stage. 
At no tinae have we obtained more than a single specimen of Micro- 
plitis from one bollworm. 
DESCRIPTION OF MICEOPLITIS NIGRIPENNIS ASHMEAD. 
Length, 4 to 5 mm. Black, except the abdomen and legs, which are usually red- 
dish yellow. Wings very strongly infuscated. Antennae 17-jointed. Head and 
thorax shining black, metathorax 
coarsely reticulated, with a me- 
dian carina. Abdominal petiole 
black at base and remainder of 
abdomen sometimes much dark- 
ened. Legs reddish, the coxae 
more or less black at base. Wings 
very dark, veins blackish, second 
cubital cell about as high as long, 
subtriangular. 
We have bred over fifty 
specimens of this species, 
mostly from larvBe collected in northern Texas, although the following 
localities are also represented: Montgomery, Ala.; Tupelo, Miss., and 
Pine Bluff, Ark. It was bred from larv« collected on the following 
plants: Cotton, corn, alfalfa, and tobacco. 
The Microplitis is attacked by two species of secondary parasites, 
but fortunately neither of them has been bred in large numbers. 
The first, Perilampiis hyalimts Say, a brilliant metallic blue chalcidid 
fly (see fig. 24), was bred out on two occasions. The first specimen 
came from Pine Bluff, Ark., September 13, 1904, and the second from 
Ladonia, Tex., October 11, 1901. The Perilampus issues by' gnawing 
an irregular hole through the end of the Microplitis cocoon. 
The second, Mesochorus americanus Cress, is a well-known secondary 
parasite, infesting various species of Braconidse. It was bred on only 
one occasion, during August, 1901. 
The little chalcidid fly Euplectriis comstocki Howard, which usually 
preys upon the cotton caterpillar, also attacks the bollworm, according 
to Prof. H. A. Morgan, who has bred the species, « but we have never 
met with it in Texas. 
Fig. 24. — Perilampus hyalinus: adult and cocoon (original). 
« Bul. La. Exp. Sta. No. 48, p. 159. 
