a7 
gus. These traps contain tips of the abdomens of female moths in a 
solvent, or, in the case of the check traps, living female moths, to 
attract the males. Although these traps were made so that the male moths 
entering them would have difficulty in escaping, the hornets have, in 
general, been able to find their way in and out without much cqifficulty:” 
CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS 
Life history and habits of red harvester ant.--E. V. Walter, who 
has been observing six cages of red harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus 
F. Smith) at San Antonio, Tex., since July 4, reports that "The first 
eggs were found July 7 and the largest number found in any cage at any 
one time was estimated at about 60. * * * The first larvae were found 
on July 17, making a 10-day incubation period. The first pupae were 
found on July 27, giving a 10-day larval period, and the first young 
workers emerged as adults on August 6, making a 10-day pupal period, or 
50 days from egg to adult. When the female constructs the nest she closes 
it behind her and does not come out again for any purpose. It is, there- 
fore, necessary that all food for the developing young be found within 
the nest itself. It has been observed that the first larvae that hatch 
are fed on the unhatched eggs. One nest in which I estimated 60 eggs at 
one time had 4 young workers developed. Another nest in which 55 eggs 
were counted at one time had 6 young workers developed. It, therefore, 
apparently requires about 10 to 12 eggs for the development of each of 
the first workers in a nest. These first workers are extremely small, 
being perhaps about one-fourth normal size. After the first workers have 
matured the queen begins laying eggs again, and the young workers tunnel 
to the outside and begin to forage for their food. The larvae that hatch 
from these later eggs seem to be fed on eggs while quite small, but are 
soon given the kernels of grass seed that have been thoroughly pulver- 
zed." 
Parasitism of range caterpillar by Anastatus semiflavidus Gahan.—— 
"In May, 1932, J. C. Frankenfeld carried over 5,500,000 range caterpillar 
(Hemileuca oliviae Ckll.) eggs that had been parasitized at the Tempe, 
Ariz., laboratory by A. semiflavidus to various localities in the range 
caterpillar territory in northeastern New Mexico, where they were placed 
on wire stakes in several widely distributed colonies." Samples of these 
eggs were taken by 0. L. Barnes during July and August and were sent to 
Tempe for detailed examination. Mr. Barnes noted in collecting these 
eggs that "a large percentage of parasites had emerged and that parasites 
of both sexes were observed in the immediate vicinity of the stakes. * * *" 
On the eggs sent to the Tempe laboratory Mr. Frankenfeld reports as fol- 
lows: "2,134 of these eggs were examined and revealed the following: 
35.4 per cent of parasites had emerged; 23.3 per cent of host eggs con- 
tained living parasite larvae; 8.7 per cent of host eggs contained living 
parasite pupae; 5.6 per cent of host eggs contained dead parasites; 
13.3 per cent of host eggs were not parasitized; 7.3 per cent of para- 
sites were destroyed by some sucking insect; 1.4 per cent of host eggs 
were sterile." 
