626 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 17 
The highest parasitism by this insect was found in a field of growing 
alfalfa at the edge of Hyeres in January and February, 1923. This high 
parasitism, 10 to 30 per cent, was in part due to the fact that the alfalfa 
was allowed to stand untouched during the oviposition period of the 
weevil, which in this locality seems to lie mainly between the middle of 
December and the middle of February. Since the growth of the alfalfa 
was very slow at this time, it permitted the accumulation of a great 
number of eggs of the host upon which the parasite could work. Ordi¬ 
narily at this time the alfalfa is closely grazed by sheep, with unfortunate 
results for both the host and its parasite. 
We have reared this parasite from material taken at Hyeres, Tournon, 
Evires, and near-by localities in France, and from Acerra, Portici, 
Montecorvino, Piedimonte d’Alife, and near-by points in Italy, and from 
Milazzo, Sicily. They were found near Naples, Italy, Milazzo, Sicily, and 
Le Luc, France, in 1913. Small numbers of predatory larvae which were 
not reared to maturity, some of w r hich may represent this species, were 
secured from other localities in France, including Chambery, Annecy, 
Champagnole, and Lons-le-Saunier. 
Spintherus sp. 
This pteromalid parasite proved very rare during the seasons of 1922 
and 1923. Its habits, so far as known, are similar to those of Peridesmia 
phytonomi, its larvae feeding externally upon the egg masses. It seems 
to be the dominant species in all the higher and colder regions of France. 
It was taken during the years mentioned from Evires and Servoz 
(Higher Savoy), from Lons-le-Saunier and Champagnole (Jura), and in 
1913 from Milazzo, Sicily. 
Eupelminus excavatus Dalm. 
The larva of this eupelmid also feeds externally upon the eggs of 
Phytonomus posticus and Hypera punctata. Although it was taken dur¬ 
ing the last two years only from the country around Naples, in 1913 it 
was found in material from Le Luc, France, and Milazzo, Sicily. Nor¬ 
mally the larvae of this species aestivate in the stems of alfalfa and issue 
in the autumn. In the small amount of experimentation done in the 
laboratory with this insect we have not been able to breed it upon eggs 
of Phytonomus. This parasite was more common in the importations of 
1913 than was Spintherus sp. but less so in material examined in Europe 
in 1922 and 1923. 
Other Pteromatids 
At least two other pteromalids have been obtained from alfalfa stems 
and in our own experience they have been associated with Peridesmia 
