212 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and America. I believe, with this paper, to have discussed the 

 principal points where Lederer cannot be followed. I may say, in 

 conclusion, that my former use of Parastichtis, liubn., Verz., type 

 suspecta, is warranted, since the other species follow didytna to 

 Apainea, Ochs., iSi6, nee Lederer. 



SOME SPECIES OF DIPTERA INHABITING OR FREQUENT- 

 ING THE WHEAT FIELDS OF THE MIDDLE WEST. 



BY F. M. WEBSTER, WOOSTER, OHIO. 



The swarms of small Diptera that are to be found in the fields of fall 

 wheat in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, during late autumn and in early spring, 

 seldom fail to attract the attention of the entomologist who has occasion 

 to visit these fields at the above mentioned seasons. That some species 

 are attracted to these fields as mere visitants is indicated by the 

 accompanying list, but that many others breed there, either upon the living 

 or the dead portions of the wheat plants, is as clearly apparent. 



It has been my custom each year to sow a small patch of wheat as 

 early as possible, in order to attract the various inhabitants among insects, 

 in order to study them. In August, 1897, a small plat of wheat was sown 

 at the Experiment Station at Wooster, Ohio, and late in the fall, under 

 my direction, a large number of these plants were transferred to a breeding 

 cage in the insectary,and the results of this breeding were carefully watched 

 by my former assistant, Mr. C. W. Mally. Diu'ing the following April 

 the various experiment plats of wheat were swept with an insect net and 

 the results properly preserved. 



From the wheat plants enclosed in a breeding cage, in the insectary, 

 there emerged, during December, the following species of flies : 



Cecidomyia destructor, Say. Oscinis dorsata, Loew. 



Cecidomyia, sp.? Oscinis coxendix, Filch. 



Diplosis, sp.? Oscinis unibrosa, Loew. 



Sciaria, sps.? (2) Oscinis carbofiaria, Loew. 



Phorbia riificeps, Zett. Oscinis trigramma, Loew. 



Phorbia cinerella, Fallen. Ccratomyza dorsalis, Loew. 



Meromyza Americana, Fitch. 



From the same lot of wheat plants there appeared during the follow- 

 ing April : 



Dip/osis, ^\).? Oscinis carbcviaria, l.ocw. 



Chirononius, si).? Bibw pallipes. Say. 



