Notes on Habrocytus Cerealellae, Parasite of the Angoumois Grain Moth1

During the early part of 1932 the writer became interested in studying the life history and habits of a Chalcoid parasite of the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). The species was identified by C. F. W. Muesebeck as Habrocytus cerealellae (Ashmead). Later in the year an excellent study of the same species was published by Norman S. Noble (1). Mter reading over Noble's work, the writer decided to prepare the present paper giving briefly a part of the life history work and devoting the remainder to a discussion of certain habits of the adult. The remarkable process of oviposition seems to be specially worthy of greater emphasis. The habits of both host and parasite make them ideal material for the study of all the activities associated with oviposition.