144 



Tachinidae. 



Remarks: As known, illustris Meig. and splendida Meig. are 

 (besides others) considered as synonyms, but it is impossible to say 

 whether they belong to this or the following species; splendida is 

 mentioned by Zetterstedt as sent from Stæger, and the specimens 

 under this name in our collection (Stæger's) are silvarum, so that 

 ■at all events splendida Zett. may be considered as a synonym. 



2. L. bufonivora Mon. 



1876. Moniez, Bull. Dep. Nord. Lille, VIII, 25 et 1878. IX. — 1914. 

 Villen. Feuille des jeun. Nat. 5, 44, 2, Fig. 1. 



Male. This species is quite similar to silvarum. Head of the 

 same shape and colour. Thorax with only two postsutural acrostichals, 

 very rarely with three. Abdomen as in silvarum 

 with a pair or more of marginal bristles on third 

 segment. Forceps not so long as in silvarum; the upper 

 forceps of about the same shape, the branches 

 truncate at apex; arms of lower forceps much 

 broader, blade-shaped, broadest on the middle, 

 somewhat attenuating towards the rounded end. 

 Legs and wings as in silvarum. Squamulæ less or 

 not fumigated. Halteres black. 



Female. Quite similar; frons about as broad as 

 the eye. 



Length 4,5 — 9 mm. 



L. bufonivora does not seem to be common in 

 Denmark, I have never caught it, all my specimens 

 have been bred; the localities are Donse, Nøddebo 

 and Præstø. It is known to be parasitic on Bufo 

 vulgaris, and my specimens are also bred from this (Stamm, Kryger). 

 Its development has been treated in a number of papers, and also 

 several times in our literature: Meinert: Entom. Medd. II, 1890, 89, 

 only the larva, but no doubt of the present species; it was from Dyre- 

 haven; Mortensen: Naturen og Mennesket, 1891 and Zool. Anz. 

 1892, 193 (as silvarum); the Bufo was found in Johnstrup Vang; 

 Kryger: Vidensk. Medd. fra Dansk Nat. Foren. 72, 1921, 99 (as 

 silvarum). In these papers, especially in the last, a good account of 

 the behavior of the larva is given. The larva goes in the ground to 

 pupate and hibernates as pupa, developing in April and May. The 

 species seems also to attack Rana temporaria (Portschinsky). As 

 the species has so often been bred in the same way it would seem 



Fig. 26. L. bufo- 

 nivora, forceps in 

 profile. 



