1980] 
Johnson — Review of Coniopterygidae 
261 
enemies of spider mites in Southern California citrus, consuming 
6-15 mites per day of development. Collyer (1951) reported C. 
pineticola Enderlein to consume 15-40 mites per day. Arrow (1917) 
found Conwentzia psociformis Curtis to feed on Phylloxera sp. on 
oak, attacking all stages with “great voracity”. Withycombe (1924) 
found that the main check on populations of Phylloxera punctata 
Light in England was C. psociformis. Henry (1976) stated that A. 
juniperi preys on two species of scale insects: juniper scale, Caru- 
laspis juniperi (Bouche) and the minute cypress scale, Carulaspis 
minima (Targioni-Tozetti). Ward (1970) also reported this species 
feeding on C. juniperi in Great Britain. 
In addition to feeding on live prey, adults have been reported to 
feed on other substances such as honeydew (Withycombe 1923 and 
Arrow 1917), scale secretions and honey water (Henry 1976). 
Several parasites are reported for coniopterygids. Withycombe 
(1923) reported two species of Hymenoptera to parasitize cocoons 
of C. psociformis in Great Britain; the female of Lygocera sp. tears a 
small hole in the cocoons for insertion of the parasite’s eggs. The 
parasite larvae feed on the coniopterygid pupa, then pupate and 
emerge from the host cocoon the following summer. Ceraphron sp. 
have been found to emerge from coniopterygid cocoons during July 
and August. Muma (1967) reported three parasites of the pupae of 
C. vicina: Dendrocerus conwentziae Gah., Camptoptera sp. and 
Cosmoccidea morilli How. 
In view of their predaceous habits and potential for biological 
control of mites and small insects, there is a need for biological 
information on this group. Life histories are known for very few 
species and few species have correlation between males and females 
and between larvae and adults. This present study was undertaken 
to advance the taxonomic status of this very interesting group so 
that life history investigations might be more easily completed. 
Materials and Methods 
All specimens were examined either in glycerol or ethyl alcohol. 
Specimens on pins or points were treated with household cleaner, 
Formula 409®, for 2-24 hours, washed in water and then placed in 
glycerol. The Formula 409 softened the specimens and many times 
returned them to a state indistinguishable from specimens which 
have been stored in alcohol. 
