Sept., 19 16.] Felt: New Western Gall Midges. 181 



1 8 segments, the fifth with a length about three-fourths its diameter; dorsum 

 of the abdomen black, with white markings as follows ; the basal segment 

 with the distal third white, laterally, the white extending to the basal half of 

 the segment and interrupted mesially by a moderately broad, black, median 

 line, the second to the fifth abdominal segments with lunate, submedian white 

 markings and conspicuous triangular ones laterally ; the sixth with the sub- 

 median markings extending and confluent with the lateral ones, and the seventh 

 white, except for an oval, median, black spot. Ovipositor about one-half the 

 length of the abdomen, the terminal lobes broadly oval. Otherwise nearly as 

 in the male. Colors after Tiniberlake. Cecid. 1639. 



It is possible that the species infesting G. cuneifolia is distinct, 

 though the probabilities are against this, and for the present we have 

 tentatively referred it to the above named form. It is desirable to 

 rear a goodly series of midges from both host plants in order that 

 more careful comparisons can be made. 



Lasioptera echinochloa new species. 



The midges described below were reared in August and Septem- 

 ber, 191 5, by Mr. C. N. Ainslie from injured or infested stems of 

 crippled plants, Echinochloa crusgalli collected at Elk Point, S. D. 

 The larvae are usually found in numbers in fibrous, somewhat decayed 

 stubbs in the crown and were also taken from lower normal portions 

 of the stem. The species is allied ^o L. lactuccc Felt, from which it 

 may be easily distinguished by the almost total lack of scales upon 

 the mesonotum. Mr. Ainslie reared a species of Polyniccus from 

 this midge. 



Larva. — Length 2.5 mm., moderately stout, pale salmon, the head mod- 

 erately large, tapering to a narrowly rounded apex ; antennae biarticulate ; 

 breastbone tridentate, the median tooth slightly shorter, the posterior ex- 

 tremitj-^ broadly rounded ; skin coarsely shagreened. 



Puparium. — Length 3 mm., a pale brownish straw, somewhat fusiform, 

 both extremities rounded. 



Exuvium. — Length 2.5 mm., whitish transparent; antennal cases hardly ex- 

 tending to the base of the abdomen, the wing cases to the base of the third 

 abdominal segment, and the leg cases of the first, second and third pair of 

 legs to the fourth, sixth and seventh abdominal segments, respectively ; the 

 basal two-thirds of the dorsum of each abdominal segment thickly set with 

 minute, chitinous points. 



Female. Length 1.5 mm. Antennae extending to the base of the abdomen, 

 sparsely haired, dark brown; 20 segments, the fifth with a length about equal 

 to its diameter ; terminal segment reduced, narrowly oval. Palpi ; first seg- 

 ment irregular, subquadrate, the second narrowly oval, the third one-half 



