41 
breeding cages. I have also seen Gnathocerus cornutus , another 
mill pest, attack and devour the flour-moth larvae in mills in 
California. 
Parasitic Insects. —The larva of the flour moth is attacked by 
several species of very small hymenopterous parasites. They are deli¬ 
cate wasp-like creatures, which take advantage of the full-grown 
larva of the flour moth during its migratory period just prior to 
its pupation. While the delicate larva is thus exposed the winged 
parasite lays her eggs, usually upon its body. Jn one instance at 
least, that of Bracon hebetor Say*, the parent insect paralyzes the 
larva, reducing it to a helpless condition before the eggs are de¬ 
posited. 
The first true parasite of the flour-moth observed, Bracon bre- 
vicornis Wesm., was discovered by Mr. Sidney T. Klein in 
August, 1887, in a London waielicuse. He describes the attack 
as follows: “I held an inspection in August, and brought away 
several of the full fed larvae for examination, as I noted some 
irregular markings which had not been noticed before. These 
larvae seemed to pupate quite regularly, and I did not suspect the 
state of* the case until 1 went down again at the beginning of 
September. No sooner had I entered the warehouse than I 
noticed a most extraordinary change in the appearance of the 
large piles of flour. On closer examination I found this appear¬ 
ance was caused by enormous numbers of a small black fly * * *; 
and, upon examining several of the larvae, the majority of which 
had markings on their backs, the startling fact was established 
that nature had come to the rescue and provided a remedy her¬ 
self. It is very rarely that such a striking example of nature’s 
wonderful c mnterbalancing powers is discovered.” 
Mr. Wm. H. Ashmead, of Washington, D. 0., who is our best 
authority on this group, informs me that Bracon brevicornis is 
not found in North America so far as he knows. 
Specimens of Chremylus rabiginosus were bred from Ephestia■ 
kuehniella and sent to Mr. J. B. Bridgman, of Norwich, England, 
who records the fact in a communication to the editors of “Insect 
Life” (Yol. II., p. 260). In a letter from Mr. Ashmead, dated 
September 21, 1895, he says: “I know this species only by Euro¬ 
pean specimens. It is not yet recorded from North America.” 
The present economic relationship of Bracon hebetor Say 
to the flour moth was discovered by me September 2, 1895. 
The insect was first described by Thomas Say in February, 1835,f and 
is therefore an old-time species. Mr. Ashmead, who kindly de¬ 
termined it for me, says: “I have seen specimens from California, 
Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, District of Columbia, Virginia, New York, 
Massachusetts, and other New England States. It is therefore a 
widely distributed species. It comes very close to my Bracon 
getechice, reared by yourself from Canarsia hammondi , in color and 
general facies, but differs in sculpture and antennal characters.” 
* Belongs to Mr. Ashmead's new subgenus Habrobracon. 
Best. Jour. Xat. Hist., Vol. 1, 1835, p. 252. 
