323 



Hermetia Latreille 



I have before me one larva and several ptiparia of a species of 

 this genus. It is probable that the generalization given below will 

 apply to all species of the genus. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS 



Larva and Puparium. — Head long, tapered anteriorly ; antennae 

 distinct but short, rather slender. Body broad, of nearly uniform 

 width except apically, where it becomes slightly broader; surface with 

 many short hairs, and a number of long bristles in almost straight 

 transverse series; lateral bristles long, simple; apical segment very 

 similar to that of Geosargus, the marginal bristles long; respiratory 

 chamber terminal. Abdomen with distinct lateral spiracles on seg- 

 ments 1-7. 



Hermetia ieeucens Linne 



Musca illucens Linne, Syst. Natur., ed. 10, Vol. 2, p. 979. (1758) 



Larva and Puparium (PI. XLVIII, Fig. 13). — Length, 16-18 

 mm. ; greatest width, 5 mm. Dark brown, head yellowish, dorsum 

 unstriped. 



Head long and rather narrow, the surface hairs short, arranged 

 on dorsum as in Figure 10, Plate XLVIII; antennae short and stout, 

 apical joint about as long as basal but much thinner. Body covered 

 with fine short hairs and with long bristles arranged as in Figure 10; 

 spiracles on prothorax much larger than the lateral abdominals ; only 2 

 long bristles on sides of each thoracic segment when seen from above. 

 Abdomen becoming broader posteriorly ; spiracles distinct on segments 

 1-7, segments 2-5 with a small round wart just posterior to each 

 spiracle; apical segment longer than preapical, armature of venter as 

 in Figure 1 1 ; respiratory chamber terminal. 



Described from specimens sent me by L. H. Dunn — which were 

 found in 191 5 feeding upon the dead body of a man in a jungle about 

 three miles from one of the settlements in the Panama Canal Zone — 

 and one specimen taken by C. A. Hart at Galveston, Texas. 



Under the name H. mucens, Riley and Howard recorded the 

 larvae as living upon wax, etc., in beehives*; and larvae supposed to 

 belong to this species are recorded by Morganf as occurring in the 

 alimentary canal of man. He also states that they have been found 



*Insect Life, Vol. 1, 1899, p. 353. 



tBull. 48, sec. ser., Louisiana Agr. Exper. Station, p. 151. (1897) 



