The Biology of Leschenaultia Exul Townsend, a Tachinid Parasite of Malacosoma Americana Fabricius and Malacosoma Disstria Hubner1

The leaf-ovipositing tachinid fly Leschenaultia exul Townsend, included in Group II of Pantel's classification, is a common parasite of Malacosoma americana Fab. and M. disstria Hbn. in the northeastern part of the United States. From a number of collections of these tree-defoliating caterpillars made in the above area during the past twenty years it has been noted that this fly was one of the most prevalent parasitic species upon these pests (Schaffner and Griswold, 11).