8o AN ACCOUNT OF BRITISH FLIES. 



D. callida, Wtz. 



The larvce live in the seed-capsules of various poppies, and are said 

 to be found in company with Cecidomyia papaveris, according to 

 Walker. Verrall, however, only considers Papaveris a reputed 

 British species. 



The imago of this " Poppy Gnat " is tawny ; the thorax has three 

 dark brown stripes, pectus shining ; antennae brown, base yellow. 

 Wings brown ; veins also brown. Transverse veinlet joining the first 

 longitudinal beyond its middle. Legs brown, moderately long. In 

 the $ the antennae are very long, nearly twice the length of the body, 

 the double joints as long as their petioles. In $ antennae are shorter 

 than the body ; joints and petioles of equal length. Oviduct short, 

 and composed of two lamella. The wings have dark violet 

 markings, which are especially characterized by two rows and a 

 pointed spot. 



D. centralis., "Wtz. = Cec. atinulipcs, Mg. 



The life history of this gnat seems uncertaiji ; if it is the same as 

 Cecidomyia annul ipes of Meigen ■"''" it inhabits beech- trees, but the 

 synonym seems doubtful. 



Centralis is described by Schiner as follows : " Reddish-yellow 

 thorax, with three chestnut-brown streaks ; the hairs of the whole 

 body pale reddish-yellow. Antennse brown, much shorter than 

 body ; joints six times length of petioles, the end joint with bud-like 

 protuberance. Legs whitish. Wings clear as glass, with three blue- 

 violet cross rows and similar spots ; fifth venation starting violet, bent 

 down in a right angle to the hind margin ; the third joining the edge 

 rather behind the wing-point." 



I believe Meigen's description of anmdipes is the same as that 

 given by Walker under Centralis, viz. : " ? tawny^ Antennte brown, a 

 litde more than half the length of body ; joints six times the length 

 of their petioles. Thorax with three chestnut-brown stripes. Pectus 

 blackish. Wings limpid, with three brown bands ; veins brown ; 

 transverse veinlet situated before the middle of the sub-costal (first 

 longitudinal vein), anal (third and fourth) and its second branch 

 forming an almost right angle. Halteres white. Oviduct as long as 

 the abdomen, with two somewhat rounded valves. Legs whitish, 

 with black bands. "t 



* Syst. Beschr., vi., 1130, p. 268 V- Schiner evidently does not consider them 

 the sanae species. 



f Walker, Ins. Brit., vii:., p. 115. 



