Sciaridae 



401 



damp blotting paper with black paper coverings. As many as 600 eggs 

 were taken from the cage at one time. 



These methods proved successful for 5. coprophila and S. pauciseta. 



Reference 

 For the culture of Neosciara (=Sciara) pauciseta see also p. 266. 



6..../ 



\ 



A LABORATORY METHOD FOR REARING SCIARA 

 AND PHORID FLIES* 



REARINGS have been carried on of certain dipterous pests of cul- 

 ^ tivated mushrooms, mainly Sciara spp. and some Phoridae. The 

 method described below has been used successfully over a long period 

 of time with Sciara, notably 5. jenestralis. These 

 comparatively small flies were collected as pairs in 

 copulo from an infested mushroom house. 



The rearing tubes consist of convenient lengths 

 of glass tubing (about 8 cm.) with a diameter of 

 10 mm., open at both ends. (Fig. 70.) At one 

 end sterilized stable manure is introduced and 

 packed from the other end by means of a glass 

 rod, care being taken to avoid soiling the inner 

 surface of the tube. It is important to obtain a 

 level surface on the manure, in order to ensure that 

 the female, when ovipositing, will lay her eggs on 

 the surface of the manure and not too deeply 

 within it. The manure is packed to a depth of 

 about 1 cm. and, from below, a plug of cotton is 

 inserted and the manure plug is then pushed up 

 so that its surface is now at a distance of 2 cm. from 

 the base of the tube. The tube is then ready for 

 the introduction of the pair of flies. 



The tube, manure plug downwards, is placed in 

 a convenient receptacle in a darkened situation. 

 With Sciara oviposition usually takes place on the 

 manure. About a week elapses between copulation 

 and the death of the female following oviposition. During this period it is 

 sometimes necessary to add moisture, and this is easily done by damping 

 the manure from below after removing the cotton-wool plug, or by 

 wetting this plug itself. Placed with the plug end in a shallow film of 

 water, the manure may take up moisture. If this happens, a vigorous 

 growth of molds may appear, which inhibits development of the ova. 



♦Abstracted from an article in Ent. Mo. Mag. 72:12. 1936, by M. D. Austin and 

 R. S. Pitcher. 



c 



D 



Fig. 70. — Rearing 

 tube for Sciara and 

 phorid flies. A, rub- 

 ber bands; B, cel- 

 lophane cap; C, 

 manure; D, cotton. 



