SYNTOMASPIS DRUPARUM, THE APPLE-SEED CHALCID 
By R. A. Cushman, 
Entomological Assistant , Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations , Bureau of Entomology 
INTRODUCTION 
Since the publication by Crosby (7 *, p. 369) of his paper on the apple- 
seed chalcid (Syntomaspis druparum Boh.) this insect has attracted more 
and more attention among those associated with the apple industry, and 
numerous letters relating to it have been received at the Bureau of Ento¬ 
mology. The frequency and wide distribution of these inquiries and com¬ 
plaints seemed to warrant a rather detailed investigation of the insect, 
and the writer has spent portions of the past two seasons (1914 and 1915) 
in such an investigation. The biological work was done at the field 
laboratory for the investigation of deciduous-fruit insects of the Bureau 
of Entomology at North East, Pa., while the field observations have been 
conducted throughout the northern tier of States from Vermont to 
Michigan. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE ADULT INSECT 
The adult insect is somewhat wasplike in appearance, bright green, 
with coppery or bronzy metallic reflections, brownish yellow legs, and 
clear hyalin wings. The female (PI. 37, A) is normally about 4 mm. in 
length and is provided with a slender ovipositor slightly longer than the 
body. The male (PI. 37, B) is somewhat smaller than the female. 
DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 
The apple-seed chalcid apparently occurs throughout the northern tier 
of States, at least from Vermont to Michigan. It has not been found in 
Ohio or Indiana. At the time of the writer's visit to those States there 
was a very small crop of apples, and none especially suitable for the attack 
of the insect were found. But in the same season the chalcid was found 
in the seeds of a wild seedling at Benton Harbor, Mich. The writer has also 
found it as far south as Clearfield, Pa., and some years earlier what was 
almost undoubtedly the larva of this species was found in a crab apple 
(Malus sp.) at Vienna, Va. It is probably distributed throughout the 
eastern part of the country wherever small seedling apples (Malus sylvestris) 
are to be found. 
HISTORICAL REVIEW 
Crosby (7, p. 369; 9) has given a nearly complete r£sum£ of the his¬ 
tory of the apple-seed chalcid in Europe, where it has been well treated 
1 Reference is made by number to “literature cited," p. 501. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. VII, No. n 
Dept, of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Dec. ir, 1916 
go K—47 
66847°—16 - 3 
(487) 
