MITE 
AKASITKS OF TIIK KGGS. 
135 
Most of th(^ fossorial wasps luivi^ liabits very similar to tins sjx'cics, 
but many of the otlior ^onora provision their nests ^^itll tlic lai-va'of 
J^epidoptera t)r with Orthoptcra or sonuiimcs with the larirei' spidei-s. 
MiTK Tauasiths ok the Imk'.s. 
Of \hc mit(\s found (Mther j)reyiniz; on the ejj;^s of the Cicada or asso- 
ciated with them in such nuinner as to suii:«2:est a ])redaceoiis hahit, 
s(»V(*ral represent species which arc well known to subsist on soft- 
bod icnl insects or other animal food. An almost equal number, how- 
cxcv, b(don*r to a family of mites, tlie Oribatida^, wliich, so far as the 
hal)its of the species are known, comprises, with few exceptions, 
strictly herbivorous mites, 
or such as subsist on vegeta- 
bl(^ d(^cay. A few species, 
how (^ver, of this family pos- 
sess month structures which 
indicate that they usually 
prey on other msects, and 
some of them are known to 
feed on decaying anunal sub- 
stances. In this country- 
two species have been re- 
corded as being true insect 
parasites, namely, Noihrus 
oiyivorus Pack, and Orihata 
aspidioti Ashm., the former 
having been observed to 
suck the eggs of th(^ canker- 
worm, and the latter to feed 
on scale insects in Florida. 
The t}q)es of these two spe- 
cies have not been preserved, 
and there is some doubt as 
to their correct reference. 
All of the mites associated, with the eggs of the Cicada, botli tliose 
of doubtful and those of well-known predaceous habits, were invail- 
ably found in the egg slits, dowTi among the woody fibers, ^\here 
they could have little choice of food, except that supplied by the 
Cicada eggs. In no case were the mites actually observed to be 
feeding on the eggs, but frequently the eggs were more or less shriveled 
and tlie contents extracted. 
All of tlie mites referred to below liave been examined for me by 
Mr. Nathan Banks, a specialist in this group, who has identified and 
described the material as far as its condition, as balsam mounts, i)er- 
mits. The accompanying il 
Fig. 63. 
-Mite egg parasite, Oppia pilom. 
tratioii). 
(.Viithor's \\\\\< 
lustrations are from very careful drawings 
