The Biology of the Parasites of Loxostege sticticalis, L., in North America—Bracon vulgaris (Cress.) (Braconidae, Agathinae)

In a previous paper (Simmonds 1946*) the biology of Phytodietus pulcherrimus (Cress.), a parasite of Loxostege sticticalis , L., the sugar-beet web-worm, has been described. This paper will be devoted to the habits and life-history of another important parasite of Loxostege in North America, Bracon vulgaris (Cress.). This species appears to be confined to the American continent, all of the records being from Canada and the U.S.A. It has been reared only from Loxostege sticticalis , L., and L. commixtalis , Wlk. From the former species it has been recorded by Paddock (1912), Swenk (1918), Jones, Hoerner and Corkins (1921), Pepper and Hastings (1941), and Simmonds (1946); from the latter species by Hoerner (1933). During the present work it has been reared from L. sticticalis , material from both Montana and Alberta.