LIBRARY

642
COLLEGE ENTOMOLOGY
The extensive parasitism of the moths and butterflies places these insects
among the most important checks to many very serious enemies of agriculture
and forestry. The family is a very large one, consisting of some 10,000 species
distributed throughout the world wherever the hosts occur. They are most
abundant in forested areas but are to be encountered in fields, parks, pasturelands,
and orchards. Adults vary in size from the minute apterous Pecomachus
phi/potti Brues of New Zealand, 2 mm. long, to the large North American
Megarhyssa nortoni (Cresson) which, with the ovipositor, may attain a length
of 114 mm. The adults frequently visit flowers, especially the UMBELLIF­
ERiE, and a few (Ophion) are attracted to lights at night.
From so large a group it is extremely difficult to select even a representative
list of the most important genera, but those that are generally considered to be
most effective and beneficial are here arranged alphabetically with their hosts.
Genus Length of Adult Role as Parasite Important Hosts
.lEnoplex Forster 5-8 mm. Secondary and Parasitic HYMENOPprimary
TERA
Al11blyteles Wesmael 8-12 mm. Primary LEPIDOPTERA
Angitla Holmgren 4-Smm. " MICROLEPIDOPTERA
Ba/hypleetes Forster 5-7 mm. " RHYNCHOPHORA
(Hypera)
Campoplex Gravenhorst 5-7 mm. " MICROLEPIDOPTERA
Cremastu5 Gravenhorst 6-8mm. .. "
Diplazon Nees 5-8 mm. .. DIPTERA (SYRPI-IIDtE)
Eremolylus Forster 10-30 mm. .. MACROLEPIDOPTERA
Ep/lialles Gravenhorst 5-16 mm. " "
Epiurus Forster 4-8 mm. .. HYMENOPTERA (TEN-
THREDINIDtE), LEP-
IDOPTERA
Hemiteles Gravenhorst 6-8 mm. Secondary and LEPIDOPTERA, HYMEprimary
NOPTERA, COLE-
OPTERA, DIPTERA
1 chneumon Linmeus 20-28mm. Primary COLEOPTERA
ltopleclis Forster 5-14 mm. " MACROLEPIDOPTERA
Megarltyssa Ashmead 75-114 mm. " HYMENOPTERA (SI-
RICID.tE)
Ophion Fabricius 10-22 mm. " MACROLEPIDOPTERA
(NOCTUID.tE), COLE-
OPTERA (SCARA-
BtEOIDEA)