Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. VII, No. 4 
ISO 
The parasite larva in completing its development usually destroys 
the larva of its host with the exception of the head and mandibles. If 
two parasites chance to be upon a single host, one dies before develop¬ 
ment continues for any length of time. 
APPEARANCE OF THE INSECT IN THE FIELDS 
Throughout the Southwestern States the first adults make their 
appearance in the fields as early as March and April, simultaneously 
with the development of seed pods upon the earliest alfalfa plants. Out 
of nearly 100 hibernating larvae kept under observation at the laboratory, 
23 emerged as adults in March, 39 in April, 8 in May, and 4 in June. 
They attack the first generation of larvae of B. funebris infesting the earliest 
isolated plants and increase throughout the summer in accordance with 
the abundance of their host insects. 
OVIPOSITION 
The adult female, frequently seen to be active on the blossoms and soft 
green seed pods in the alfalfa fields, is apparently able to locate the pods 
in which seeds have previously been infested by B . funebris . She selects 
her position upon the green pod directly over an infested seed. During 
oviposition the head is slightly elevated and the antennae are held directly 
forward. The tip of the abdomen is lowered almost to the surface of the 
seed pod. The ovipositor is forced through the soft walls of the pod and 
into the watery seed. It is necessary for the egg of the parasite to be 
placed within the infested seed and upon the larva of its host in order that 
the newly hatched parasitic larva may secure food for its development. 
THE LARVA 
DEVELOPMENT 
For several hours after emerging from the egg, the larva of the parasite 
may move about on its host without feeding, but when it once begins to 
attack its host and take food, its development follows rapidly. The 
writer’s observations show that a growing larva of this species may 
completely destroy its host and become fully developed within a minimum 
period of five or six days after taking its first food. 
DORMANT PERIOD 
When the parasite larva has completed its development and con¬ 
sumed all of its available food, a period of rest frequently follows. The 
occurrence and duration of this resting period depends upon the moisture 
and temperature conditions to which the seed is subjected. A larva of 
H . medicaginis completing its growth within a moist seed of a green and 
growing pod will almost invariably transform to the pupal stage at once 
and emerge as an adult in due time, but if the infested alfalfa seed has 
