88 A A ACCOUNT OF BRITISH FLIES. 



L. carnea, H. Lw. = Cecidogcvia caniea. 



This species has white halteres ; antennae black. Wings with pale 

 veins ; black near costa. Abdomen of V testaceous, also legs (in 

 both sexes) ; tarsi brown. Habits and metamorphosis likewise 

 unknown. PI. ii. (9). 



A third species is recorded in Verrall's list as British, viz., Z. cinerea, 

 Meg., and also described in Walker and Blanchard.* Bergenstamm 

 and Low say it is synonymous with L. leucqpluea, Mg. 



Genus. — Lasioptera. 



The insects in this genus are distinct from the ones we have been 

 discussing. There are three longitudinal veins, although this is not 

 easily seen at first ; the first being very faint and running with the 

 second close to the costa. PI. i. (10). The wings are short and 

 broad. Antennse 16-26-jointed; the joints are sessile and sub-globular. 

 Proboscis very short. They are small and delicate insects. Ocelli 

 absent. Eyes lunate. Tarsi very long ; metatarsus often very short. 



In their habits they resemble the CecidomyidcE, infesting plants 

 much in the same way. The larvte are much the same as in the 

 Cecids, having the same peculiar reddish hue and curious " breast- 

 bone." 



CliiwrJiyncha is considered by some as a sub-genus of Lasioptera, 

 by others as a distinct genus, the chief difference from Lasioptera 

 being the prolongation of the mouth into a rostrum. This sub-genus 

 is not recorded from England, however. 



There only appear to be two verified British species of Lasioptera ; 

 three others recorded in Verrall's list seem to be doubtful, and there 

 are also two reputed forms. 



(L. picta, Mg. 

 Z. argyrosticta, Mg. 



L.fusca, Vallot. 



The larvae live in excrescences on the stems of various Rubi and 

 metamorphose in the galls. They appear in May. 



Imago. — Brownish-black; antennee of $ black, shorter than the 

 head, 20-21-jointed. Palpi yellow; head yellow and brown. 

 Thorax deep black ; "schildchen" white. Abdomen and $ genitalia 

 covered by white hairs. Legs also covered by silvery hairs. Wings 

 clear ; costa thick and dark, in the middle a white spot, root of costa 



* Histoirc Natiirelle des Iiistrtes, iii., 1840, p. 574. 

 t Lin. Ent., vol. viii., p. 306., pi. iv., figs. 11 and 14. 



