134 
Psyche 
[June-September 
Adults 
Adult females (wingspan: 10-13 mm) (Figure 12) are grey with 
one to four black spots on the forewings, and a fringe of scales along 
the posterior margin of the hind wings. Males (wingspan: 7-9 mm) 
are slightly smaller and have a less distinct wing pattern. 
When the adult is at rest, the wings are held tented over the body 
(Figure 13). The antennae, which are almost as long as the wings, 
are held back over the body and vibrated constantly. 
While adults fly fairly well, they spend much of their time resting 
on walls, floor edges, or on the webs of theridiid spiders. Adults 
have reduced mouthparts, and have not been seen to feed. 
Mating 
During late evening, the newly eclosed female protrudes mem¬ 
branous calling organs from the tip of her abdomen. Males are 
attracted to “calling” females; their behavior at this time consists of 
maneuvers for orientation to the female, rather than for courtship. 
A male flies to a “calling” female, lands near her, runs rapidly about 
her, then bumps against her abdomen with his head several times 
before turning suddenly and copulating with her. During copula¬ 
tion, the male ceases antennal vibration, but the female continues it. 
The pair remains coupled for about thirty minutes. 
EGGS 
Within several hours of mating, the female begins to lay eggs, 
cementing them to debris along the bases of walls and in crevices. 
One female may produce as many as 200 eggs over a period of 
several days, before dying about a week after eclosion. Unmated 
females may lay sterile eggs beginning the day after eclosion. Eggs 
are about 0.4 mm in diameter, pale bluish, and very soft. It is 
virtually impossible to move them without rupturing them. After 
ten days, the head of a larva can be seen faintly through the egg wall. 
Braconid Parasitoid 
Last instar larvae may be preyed upon by Apanteles sp. (Hyme- 
noptera: Braconidae). The larva is killed just before pupation; its 
case is full-sized, and in most instances has already been modified 
for pupation. The larval remains can be found inside with the white 
silk cocoon of the wasp (Figure 14). 
