The trichogramma egg-parasite of aletia. 
103 
according to Mr. Hubbard it is very abundant in Florida. The obser- 
vations of the latter are interesting and well illustrate the importance 
of the species. lie found that this little egg-parasite, unaided and 
alone, almost completely annihilated the tilth brood. At the beginning 
of the fourth brood less than half the eggs of Aletia were destroyed. 
July 1*7, when the eggs of this brood had nearly all been deposited, 
about 7.1 per cent, were found to have been parasitized, the proportion in 
some parts of the field reaching 00 per cent. About the middle of Au- 
gust, while the eggs of the fifth brood were being laid, the proportion 
destroyed by the Trichogramma exceeded 90 per cent, in all parts of 
the fields, while, at the brood centers, careful estimates showed that but 
three or four eggs out of a hundred escaped. lie gives the following 
account of the eggs of the species: 
u The mother works chiefly by day, depositing two ova in each egg of 
Aletia or Ileliothis. The eggs of the parasite hatch in forty-eight hours, 
while that of their host darkens, and in a tew days turns almost black. 
On the seventh day after being stung it is vacated by the parasites, 
which issue through an irregular hole gnawed in the side, each making its 
own opening. Frequently alter the inclosed parasites have formed their 
pupa the shell of the Aletia egg shrinks about them, leaving two little 
oval cells indicating the positions of the parasites within. A day or 
Fl6. Z2.—Aj>antelesali tirr : a, female flj : outline of head of larva in position to show tho chitinized 
parts of the mouth, the mandibles not visible, being withdrawn ; c, one of its mandibles as seen within 
the head of a mounted specimen ; t/, cocoon ; $, joint of antenna — all enlarged : uat. size of a and d in 
hair line (after Kilev). 
two before they issue the ruby-colored pupae of the parasites can be 
plainly distinguished through the translucent shell of the destroyed 
egg. I have invariably obtained two Chalcids from each discolored 
egg of Aletia or Ileliothis collected." 
