July 29, 1918 
Parasites of the Brown-Tail Moth 
201 
age not parasitized. These factors combine to make A . lacteicolor a para¬ 
site of considerable importance. 
The weak point in the life cycle of the parasite is its evident dependence 
upon the brown-tail moth for hibernation. This species is now on the 
decadence, and with it A. lacteicolor is becoming less abundant, thus 
reducing very materially the parasitism upon the gipsy moth and native 
hosts. 
SECONDARY PARASITISM UPON APANTELES LACTEICOLOR 
Since the cocoons of the first generation of A. lacteicolor occur for 
the most part within the webs of the brown-tail moth, they are pro¬ 
tected from secondary parasitism to a great extent, and a very small 
percentage of these cocoons is parasitized. Those of the later genera¬ 
tions, however, are more accessible to secondaries, and among these 
parasitism runs quite high. The hyperparasitic species reared from 
A . lacteicolor include the following: Monodontomerus aereus Walker, 
Pteromalus egregius Foerster, Dibrachys boucheanus Ratzeburg, Dim- 
mockia sp., Habrocytus sp., Pezomachus sp., and two species of Hemiteles. 
METEORUS VERSICOLOR WESMAEL. 
The species of Meteorus wintering in the hibernating brown-tail-moth 
caterpillars was described by Wesmael in 1835 as “ Meteorus versicolor 
It is an extremely variable form, and a number of varieties, which may or 
may not be good, have been founded on color differences. Following is a 
redescription of the species based on the examination of many specimens 
bred from European as well as from local material. 
Length 3.5-5 mm. General color honey-yellow; however, there is great variation 
in color: Some specimens are entirely yellowish, with no black markings whatever; 
while others have the propodeum and most of the dorsum of the abdomen black; all 
gradations between these forms can be found. 
Head transverse, yellow; antennae yellowish to brownish; eyes bluish to black; 
stemmaticum sometimes black; mandibles yellowish, except the extreme tips, which 
are brownish; palpi yellowish. 
Thorax: Mostly honey-yellow; prothorax, mesothorax, and scutellum yellow, 
except occasionally the lobes of mesothorax dusky; the mesothoracic lobes feebly 
punctate, the parapsidal grooves broad, well marked, and ending posteriorly in a 
broad, depressed, roughened area, which extends to the apex of the mesoscutum; 
suture at base of scutellum deeply foveate. Propodeum variable, but usually at least 
somewhat discolored, and often entirely blackish; metapleurae deep honey-yellow, 
even when propodeum is entirely black; propodeum not sloping from base to apex, the 
posterior declivity abrupt. Wings: Base of the costa brownish, the rest of the veins 
and the stigma pale; cubitus beyond the second cubital cell subobsolete; the sec¬ 
ond cubital cell quadrate; recurrent vein variable, entering the first cubital cell 
or interstitial with the first transverse cubitus. Submedian cell very distinctly 
longer than the median. Legs: Entirely honey-yellow, except sometimes slightly 
dusky on the apex of the hind coxae, the apex of the hind femora, the apex of the hind 
tibiae, and the hind tarsi. 
Abdomen: Not or scarcely longer than the thorax; varying from entirely yellowish 
to largely blackish; segment 1 is longitudinally aciculated on the apical half, and does 
