Meigenia. 283 



the dates are ^/y — ^jg. It is especially seen at outskirts of woods on 

 umbellifers and in low herbage. The species is known as parasitic 

 on larvæ of Melasoma populi and tremulae, Agelastica alni, Phyto- 

 decta rufipes and var. sexpunctatus, Phaedon cochleariae, Chrysomela 

 varians and some other large forms, Crioceris asparagi and quatuorde- 

 cimpunctata and Gastrophysa viridula; f urther on Stenobothrus paral- 

 lelus and on Athalia colibri and Lophyrus pini and is also recorded 

 from Ly mantria dispar and Salebria semirubella. Nielsen has (Vidensk. 

 Medd. fra Dansk Naturh. Foren. 1911, 23) treated its biology {floralis) ; 

 he bred it from Gastrophysa viridula on Rumex; only one parasite 

 developed in each host. It is curious that the parasite often was 

 destroyed by moulting of the host before the larva had bored in. In 

 Stenobothrus a number of parasites develop in one host. The whole 

 development from Q^^g to imago takes generally short time, about 

 twenty days. 



Geographical distribution: — Europe; towards the north to 

 middle Sweden, and in Finland. It has been introduced to North 

 America. 



Remarks: As seen the species varies in size, breadth of the 

 frons and markings on abdomen; the varieties have been considered 

 as two species: bisignata Meig., the larger form with broader frons 

 and generally spots only on third segment, and floralis Fall., the 

 smaller form with frons narrower and spots also on fourth segment. 

 As, however, all intermediates are found, they are no doubt only 

 one species. — I have examined the Danish specimens of bisignata 

 mentioned by Zetterstedt, and I have also examined specimens of 

 discolor sent from Zetterstedt to Stæger. 



2. M. incana Fall. 



1810. Fall. Vet. Acad. Handl. XXXI, 282 et 1820. Dipt. Suec. Muse. 

 20, 40 (Tachina). — 1824. Meig. Syst. Beschr. IV, 385, 253 et 1838. VII, 191, 

 64 {Twhina). — 1844. Zett. Dipt. Scand. III, 1062, 55 {Tachina). — 1901. 

 Hendel, Verh. zool. hot. Gesell. Wien, LI, 209, 4. — 1907. Kat. palåarkt. 

 Dipt. III, 325. — 1924. Stein. Arch. f. Naturgesch. 90, 6, 112, 1. — Masicera 

 egens Egg. 1861. Verh. zool. bot. Gesell. Wien, XI, 213. — 1862. Schin. F. A. I, 

 484. — 1891. B. B. Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, LVIII, 310 {Meigenia). — 

 Peteina dispacta Pand. 1896. Rev. Entom. XV, 106, 11. — 1907. Villen. Ann. 

 Soc. Ent. de Fr. LXXVI, 391. 



Male. Frons above about as broad as the eye or a little narrower, 

 rather protruding downwards. Orbits grey or yellowish grey; cheeks 



