492 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. VII, No. ii 
RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF SEXES 
The rearings during 1914 consisted of 254 females and 85 males, 74.9 
and 25.1 per cent, respectively. In 1915, 316 females and 100 males 
were reared, 75.9 and 24.1 per cent, respectively. These figures show a 
ratio of about 3 females to each male. 
oviposition 
Age at beginning. —The female chalcids become mature and able to 
deposit eggs within a very short time after emergence, for they have 
been repeatedly observed in the act of oviposition within two days after 
issuing from the seed. 
Age of fruit. —At the time of the heaviest emergence of the chalcids 
apples have grown, depending on the variety, to a diameter of from a 
half inch to somewhat over an inch. The seeds have attained nearly full 
growth, but have not begun to harden. Most of the space within the 
seed is occupied by a jelly-like mass, with the small embryo at one end. 
Between this and the outer seed coat is a rather thick mucilaginous layer. 
Method and time required. —In ovipositing, the female chalcid first 
feels carefully over the surface of the apple with her antennae; then, 
when she has located a place to her liking, she raises the abdomen, at the 
same time releasing the ovipositor from its sheath and lowering it 
until its tip is against the surface of the apple directly beneath the pos¬ 
terior end of the thorax. The abdomen is now perpendicular to its 
normal axis. With pressure accompanied by a slow swinging of the abdo¬ 
men from side to side the ovipositor is forced slowly into the apple until 
inserted to its full length. At the end of this time the abdomen has 
resumed nearly its normal position except that the hypopygidium is 
directed downward with the ovipositor, making a triangular projection 
below the abdomen. Now the ovipositor is several times partially with¬ 
drawn and thrust back until the insect is apparently satisfied that it has 
been properly inserted, when she remains perfectly quiet for a consider¬ 
able period, during which the egg is deposited. When this is finished the 
ovipositor is withdrawn and swung back into its sheath. The whole 
process occupies, on the average, somewhat in excess of five minutes. 
Living chalcids in various phases of the act of oviposition are shown in 
Plate 40, B, C, while in A one is shown attempting oviposition in the 
fruit of Crataegus sp. 
Point of attack. —When oviposition first begins, most of the punc¬ 
tures are made around the middle of the apple, but later in the season the 
attack is shifted nearer to the calyx end. This is apparently made 
necessary by the fact that the growth of the apples makes it impossible 
for the ovipositor to reach the seed from the side. Figure 1 shows the 
position of punctures in fruit and seed. 
