176 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Genus Pleuroneura. 



I have elsewhere described the larva of P. aviingrata, with the 

 structure and habits of the preceding, but solitary and coloured to 

 resemble the excrement of birds. 



Genus Manoxvela. 

 Unknown in the larval state, but not improbably similar to the next. 



Genus Xyela. 



The imago of X, minor is found abundantly on the pine [Piniis 

 virginiana) very early m the season, in February and March, in the 

 vicinity of Washington, U. C. The larva (or what I believe to be the 

 larva, as it has not yet been bred) occurs in the staminate aments of this 

 tree, feeding concealed, but not a true internal feeder, as it does not 

 attack the stem or bracts, so far as I can make out, except to form an 

 aperture at emergence. Probably they feed on the young pollen. The 

 larvae leave the aments before they blossom, during April, drop to the 

 ground, which they enter for some distance to form hibernating cells. 

 There is but one brood in the year, the April larvae yielding the imago 

 the following February. 



Larva. — Head small, rounded, nearly white, faintly brownish, 

 especially around the mouth, eye very small, black ; antennae distinct 

 and quite long; width about .4 mm. Body subcylindrical, venter a 

 little flattened ; subventral folds moderately distinct. Thoracic feet short 

 and conic, functionless ; abdominal ones wanting. Segments obscurely 

 3-annulate ; anal plate round, slightly projecting, somewhat cornified 

 and brownish, smooth; joint 13 slightly transversely ridged, sloping 

 posteriorly. Thorax somewhat thickened, the whole body quite robust. 

 All opaque white, waxy, no marks. The skin is transparent, but the 

 alimentary canal lined with fat-granules produces the opacity. 



From the foregoing a definition of the Xyelid larva would read as 

 follows : Sawfly larvae with prominent head and moderately long, distinct 

 antennse. Thoracic feet reduced ; abdominal ones rudimentary or absent, 

 number as in the Tenthredininie. Segments with few annulets (three or 

 four), the tubercles, when present, several haired and situated in two and 

 a half rows transversely on the spiracular and two following annulets ; 

 the half row the most posterior. 



Apparently most nearly allied to the Lydiidre, but without the anal 

 stylets, and spinning little or no silk. 



