1920.] 103 



onion bulbs, in tlie stems and tubers of potatoes, and in Narcissus bulbs. 

 Opinions are divided as to wlietlier the larvae are primarily responsible 

 for the destruction of the bulbs, or whether they only attack those bulbs 

 which have l)eg'un to decay from other causes. It is possible that both 

 opinions may be correct in view of the discovery now brought forward 

 that there are t\Vo species associated with the damage. In Britain the 

 plants chieHy attacked appear to be Narcissi, Iris, and Lilies. Cases of 

 damage to onions in this country are rare, and no records have been 

 traced of damage to potatoes. In 1917, however, some parsnips 

 apparently much injured by Eumerus larvae were sent to the Board of 

 Agi'iculture from the Evesham district of Worcestershire. Mr. J. C. F. 

 Fryer, the Entomologist to the Board, thought that these larvae were 

 somewhat different from those found in Narcissus bulbs, so an attempt 

 Avas made to rear them. This was successful, and towards the end of 

 April 1918 the flies began to appear. An examination of the flies was 

 undertaken by the writer, who found them absolutely identical with the 

 Eumerus strigatns described by Verrall, but a critical examination of 

 the flies bred from Narcissus bulbs resulted in the discovery that two 

 closel}^ allied species were represented, viz., E. tifr/(/afiis Fallen, identical 

 with those bred from parsnips, and the very little known Italian species 

 E. htherciilatus Rondani. 



This latter species was described b}^ liondani in 1857 (Dipt. Ital. 

 Prodr. ii, p. 93), but does not appear to have been recognised or recorded 

 by an}' subsequent writer. It so closely resembles strir/atus that notes 

 on the characters by which it differs will constitute a sufiieient description. 



E. tuherculatus Rondani. 



Heseuihling stiigatus, but hind feonora with a slight rounded projection at 

 the extreme base beneath; basal Joint of hind tarsi also with a rounded, laterally 

 compressed, projection at base beneath, somewhat hidden by the yelloio pubescence. 

 Male genitalia very different. 



cf. Vertical triangle ratlier narrower than in s<m/«^?/s, and not quite so 

 shining-; facial pubescence ratlier yellower; third anteunal joint not so deep 

 and therefore appearing rather longer in proportion to its depth. Thorax and 

 ecutellum not quite so shining, owing to slightly coarser punctuation ; on the 

 other hand, the abdominal punctuation is not quite so coarse or dense as in 

 striyatus. Thoracic and abdominal pubescence slightly shorter. Pubescence 

 on the abdominal sternites shorter and the last visible steruite of somewhat 

 different shape (fig. 1.). Genitalia very distinct from those of strigatus ; 

 in addition to being smaller in proportion to size of insect the various parts are 

 of very diR'ereut shape and armature, as may be seen by a comparison of figs. 

 4-6 with figs. 7-9. Hind femora, in addition to the diagnostic characters 

 illustrated in fig. 3, rather stouter, and shorter haired, this latter character 

 especially applicable to the posteroventral pale hairs. 



