NOTES ON A FEW SPECIES OF DIPTERA. 189 



Notes on a few species of Diptera bred from the larval stage. 



By H. DONISTHOKPE, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



1. Diptera bred from a small piece of fungus. — On July 31st 

 last, when collecting Coleoptera in fungi at Barkham, I noticed some 

 Dipterous larvae in a fungus — Aiinillaiia mellea — growing on a willow 

 tree. They were similar in shape to some larvae I had taken in a 

 fungus at Otford, in September, 1921 (and from which I bred Platypeza 

 inodesta, Zett.), only instead of being white they were of a pinkish 

 colour with dark bands. A few white larvae also occurred. A little of 

 the fungus was taken home and placed on damp sand in a small glass 

 bowl covered with muslin. Very shortly a number of AJi/cctoiihUa 

 fariijonuii, Dg., hatched out, and these were followed by a dozen 

 Drosophila sp. ? (not yet identified). Early in September a few 

 Phaonia sciitellaris, a Hy with a yellow abdomen, appeared. This 

 species I am informed would be predaceous on some of the other 

 Dipterous larvae. Towards the middle of September a few l''aunia 

 Miaiiicata, Mg., emerged, the adult form of the white larvae. 



Finally, at the end of September, a number of a handsome black 

 velvet fly with red eyes, the g of Platijpeza fau-iata, Mg., put in an 

 appearance, and at the beginning of October some six or eight of its 

 grey $ 2 hatched out. This last species is the imago of the banded 

 larva mentioned above, 



2. Diptera bred from larvae taken in the burrows of Tomicus 

 SEXDENTATus. — When capturing Taiiiicusi se.vdentatns in the Forest of 

 Dean, in August last, a number of Dipterous larvae (large and small) 

 were observed in the burrows of the beetle. These were collected into 

 a small tin filled with frass and refuse from the burrows, and bits of 

 Scots fir bark. From time to time the following species of Diptera 

 have hatched out. Phania Iccta, Fir., the largest of the species bred 

 oat, is probably parasitic on the larvae and pupae of the Tdhucus; 

 L(»tchaea deiitsclii, Zett., the habits of which are unknown ; Sciara sp., 

 lin some numbers. Dr. JMunroe, in his paper on the Genus liylast'^s, 

 V^v. [I'roc. Li. Phij. Sue. KilinI).. 20 (1918)1, writes— " the larvae of 

 bciarid flies are the chief inhabitants of the galleries of 11. jiaUiatiis " ; 

 •and on October last Mi-detcr^s tiistis, Zett. (probably a predaceous 

 species). 



I am indebted to Mr. Edwards, of the British Museum, for the 

 names of these flies. 



Notes on collecting in June, July, and August in Shropshire. 



By Commander J. C. WOODWAKD. 



The following are a few notes on collecting this summer in Shrop- 

 shire, within a few miles of Cleobury Mortimer. 



Until the middle of June the weather was warm and sunny, but 

 afterwards turned cold, the nights especially, with rain nearly every 

 day. From June 6th until about the 15th, most of the usual species 

 were on the wing, but not in such profusion as in most years, but after 

 this Lepidoptera became scarce, on account of the cold sunless weather. 

 At the beginning of June /^'yV/-/.s ;•((;/«(' was common ; Ptuhlo'e cardaiiiints 

 was observed, though it was anything but common, as it is in most 

 years ; ^'aneasa io, one or two worn specimens t Brentlds eiipJiroxynt', 

 ■common, but getting worn about June 8th ; B. selene, very comnn n 

 November 15th, 1922. 



