NO. 3569 SOLDIER FLY LARVAE — McFADDEN 25 



Biology. — Larvae of this species have been collected from a corn 

 compost pile, from decaying tomatoes, decaying garbage, rotting 

 paper, decaying fruit, and from watermelon rinds. Larvae have also 

 been collected from a fungus (Laetiporus speciosus). 



Material examined. — Georgia: Silver Lake, Bradley, 7 larvae 

 from decaying garbage and rotting paper, CU. Illinois: Urbana, 

 Aug. 3, 1942, H. H. Ross, 14 larvae, INHS. Maryland: Cabin John 

 Bridge, July 31, 1913, Barber and Shannon, 11 larvae from fungus 

 {Laetiporus speciosus), USNM. North CaroUna: Faison, Aug. 25, 

 1950, P. O. Richter, 5 larvae from watermelon, NCS; Faison, Oct. 14, 

 1952, Dogger and Howden, 1 larva from decaying vegetables, NCS; 

 McCulley's, Jan. 20, 1951, Weisman, 3 larvae from watermelon rinds, 

 NCS. Ohio: O.A.E.S., dump, Aug. 22, 1943, 17 larvae from decaying 

 tomatoes, OSU. 



Ptecticus sackenii Williston, 1885 



Description. — Mature larva: length 11 mm; width 4.5 mm. 



Biology. — No data available. 



Material examined.— Mexico: No other data, 2 larvae collected 

 by A. Herrana, AMNH. 



Discussion. — According to W. W. Wirth of the U.S. Department 

 of Agriculture, this species does not occur in Mexico. The 2 larvae 

 examined by the author were indistinguishable from the antepenulti- 

 mate instar of P. trivittatus. The identification is made less creditable 

 by the fact that both larvae were neither reared nor associated with 

 adult flies in the collection. 



Genus Microchrysa Loew, 1855 



James (pers. comm.) lists 2 species for this genus but only the 

 larvae of Microchrysa polita (Linnaeus) have been collected to date. 

 Generic characters. — As given in key to genera. 



Microchrysa polita (Linnaeus), 1758 



Figures 42, 44, 46 



Description. — Mature larva: length 5.2-7.1 mm, mean 6.68 mm; 

 width 1.6-2.0 mm, mean 1.84 mm; width of head at eye prominence 

 0.45-0.50 mm, mean 0.47 mm; width of head at neck 0.32-0.42 mm, 

 mean 0.36 mm; mean ratio of -wddth of head at eye prominence to 

 width at neck 1.32; venter of sixth abdominal segment mth the setae 

 on each side of the sternal patch reduced; anal spines lacking. 



Biology. — Larvae of this species have been collected from cow 

 manure and from decaying vegetation. 



Material examined. — Colorado: Woodland Park, Station 4, Aug. 

 4, 1943, J.A.R. and H. H. Ross, 3 larvae from cattle droppings, UC. 

 Massachusetts: Amherst, July 10, 1942, M. E. Smith, 15 larvae, 2 



