218 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



In discussion Mr. Ashmead asked whether, besides the Euro 

 pean Leptoterna dolabrata, any of the species listed by Mr. 

 Heidemann were especially addicted to the plant, or whether 

 they are accidental visitors. Mr. Heidemann replied that some 

 of the other Capsids mentioned may possibly be found to breed 

 on the ox-eye daisy. Prof. Uhler said that the eggs of the Cap 

 sids are very difficult to find, so that it is frequently almost im 

 possible to determine the breeding plant of a species. Mr. 

 Schwarz said that, the ox-eye daisy being an introduced plant, 

 nearly all of the insects mentioned must have other original food- 

 plants. He referred to the European Chenopodiums introduced 

 into this country, which afford breeding places for many of our 

 native insects. Attention was called to the fact that the Phymata 

 listed by Mr. Heidemann seeks yellow flowers for concealment 

 w^hile capturing its prey. 



Dr. H. G. Dyar presented the following communication : 



SOME STRUCTURAL POINTS IN SAW-FLY LARV^. 

 By HARRISON G. DYAR, Ph. D. 



The larvae of the leaf-feeding Hymenoptera are slender, cruci 

 form insects, closely resembling in general character the larvae of 

 the Lepidoptera. The head is round, with a single ocellus on 

 each side, a shield-shaped, not triangular, clypeus without side 

 pieces ; large labium and distinct antennae situated below the 

 ocellus, higher up than in the Lepidopterous larva. The body 

 has the same number of segments as in the Lepidoptera ; thoracic 

 feet usually strong and more distinctly functional than the ab 

 dominal ones. The latter are weak, without terminal retaining 

 hooks or crotchets, and are present in varying number. There 

 are two well-marked series ; one with abdominal feet on segments 

 2 to 7 and 10, the other on segments 2 to 8 and 10. In a few 

 there are no abdominal feet. The body segments are usually 

 marked by a series of transverse creases, forming subsegments or 

 annulets. The primitive number seems to be three, but they may 

 be increased by the folding off of additional annulets, usually at 

 each end of the segment, at the incisure. The original annulets 

 themselves are seldom divided. Below the spiracles there is a 

 longitudinal ridge, usually divided into two portions, an upper 

 anterior and lower posterior. The three original annulets and the 

 subventral ridge bear a series of short setae, about three on each 

 side on each annulet, the exact number varying. These setas are 

 small, simple ones, often greatly reduced, seldom modified. The 



