116 REPORT 4, UNITED STATES ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
Fig. 44. 
Hexaplasta zigzag .- female from side. 
(After Riley). 
that this parasite does not belong to Aletia, but that it in reality attacks 
Phora aletiw Comstock — the next insect which we discuss — and that Pro- 
fessor Comstock was misled by appearances in considering it a true 
parasite of Aletia. The Hexaplasta 
is certainly a parasite of Phora, as 
the following extracts from Mr. Hub- 
bard's notes plainly show : 
" Centerville, August 21. — In 
one of iny tin boxes, in which I keep 
a supply of Phora larvse feeding upon 
moldy leaves, dead caterpillars, &c, 
I to-day observed a minute chalcid (?) 
fly [H. zigzag] puncturing one after 
another the bodies of a cluster of 
newly-hatched Phoras. I separated 
these maggots and the parasite. The parasite, watched under a lens, 
was seen to insert her ovipositor with a strong, steady motion once into 
the body of each larva and immediately w ithdraw it. The Phora larvae 
were confined in a small vial with crushed Aletia pupae for food. Ex- 
amined October 13. Six parasites are seen walking about the vial. 
They disclosed from six Phora pup 33." 
This fully confirms our own experience, and leaves no doubt that 
Hexaplasta is actually parasitic upon Phora, and this fact being proven 
it is altogether unlikely that it is also a parasite upon Aletia, although 
we have no absolute proof to the contrary.- We introduce the account of 
this insect in this place, a s it was considered, upon Professor Com stock's 
authority, under the head of the true parasites in the first edition. 
Phora aleti^e Comstock (Fig. 45). — Under the head of true parasites 
of Aletia, Professor 
Comstock has given 
detailed descriptions of 
a species of Phora com- 
mon throughout the 
South, as Phora aletia?, 
with, as it seems to us, 
very insufficient reasons 
in support of his view 
that it is a true parasite. 
These reasons were, 
firstly, that it had been 
reared in great numbers 
from chrysalides collect- 
ed by Mr. T release in the 
field, which appeared 
either sound or parasited; and, secondly, that the Ph. incrassata of 
Europe is. according to Packard (American Waturalist, L868),a true par- 
asite of the hive bee. 
Flu. 45.— Phora aletia;, larva, pupa 
highly enlarged. 
female, and male abdomen, 
(Pergande del.) 
