Nov., '04] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 2QI 



July. The fly is mostly yellow, with a brown tip to the abdo- 

 men, and the tip of the antennae likewise brown ; the legs 

 are yellow, except the front tibue and tarsi, and the apical 

 part of the middle and hind tarsi are blackish. The hind 

 tibiae are also sometimes black in part. The wings have a 

 faintly yellowish tinge on the base, with a brown stigmal 

 mark, and the apex beyond end of second longitudinal vein 

 blackish. The eyes in death, are green, with blue bands ; one 

 near the hind margin, another parallel to it across middle of 

 eye, and giving off a branch forward to the anterior corner of 

 the eye, near the callosity. 



According to local statements this fly is supposed to breed 

 in the juniper tree, but probably does in the w^ater. It appears 

 about the first of July and remains about one month, disap- 

 pearing after a heavy rain near the first of August. They arc- 

 most vicious at and near twilight, and rarely noticed during 

 the hot part of the day. It is stated that they do not attack 

 horses or cattle, but sometimes assail dogs ; the human species, 

 at rest after the day's labor, seems, however, to be their par- 

 ticular hobby. They do not fly far, and houses one half mile 

 away from an infested locality may be exempt from their in- 

 vasions. 



They settle on the hands or face, insert the lancets of their 

 beak, and suck up the blood. If allowed to suck their fill in 

 peace, the spot is not very painful, and does not remain long. 

 But if they are disturbed, as is usually the case, the spot 

 swells, becomes inflamed, and itches fearfully, according to 

 reports. I have seen the red, swollen spots upon the hand of 

 a person twelve days after being bitten. It would seem that 

 when inserting the lancets they inject a small quantity of saliva 

 or some poisonous fluid ; that if disturbed, they leave this 

 liquid in the bite to cause trouble ; but if allowed to suck their 

 fill most of this fluid or inflammatory matter is sucked out 

 with the blood. This of course is a natural inducement for 

 the host to leave the fly undisturbed, resulting in greater 

 benefit to the fly, and lesser pain to the host. 



Much remains to be learned regarding the " Yellow- fly," 

 but its name is now known. 



