LONG STINGS

Abstract

In the May number of the Canadian Entomologist there is a very interesting paper under this caption, contributed by Mr. Harrington, giving an account of the habits of the Rhyssa atrata and lunator. These Long Stings the past summer were very abundant at Oak Hill, the residence of Mr. Herman T. Livingston, in the township of Livingston, Columbia Co., New York, and furnished me with a good opportunity of studying their habits. While I agree with all that has been so well observed and so cleverly presented by your correspondent, I am somewhat disposed to differ from the commonly accepted opinion that these insects deposit their ova on the larvae of wood-borers. My experience has demonstrated that while it may be a fact that these insects deposit their ova on the larvae of the Uroceridae or other borers, they do not commonly do so. In every case that came under my observation, the long ovipositor, instead of penetrating through the burrow of a Tremex or other wood-borer, entered through wood that had not been previously attacked, and though I failed to discover the egg deposited, I am very much of the opinion that the deposition is oftentimes, if not generally made regardless of the contact with a larva.