— 229 — 



The breastbone of the larva of Cecidomyia 

 homologous to the labium. 



By Dr. H. A. Hagen. 



The gall o^ Cec. [C<J/yae) tubicola Sacken, is solid at the darker tip; 

 the two basal thirds possess an elongated cavity, filled but not densely with 

 some irregular webbing, the threads being very fine. The comparatively 

 very small larva has an amber-yellow breastbone; its free part resembles 

 a small tooth of a shark, which joins somewhat abruptly a longer and 

 broader basal ovoid part. Near this part are situated saussage-like 

 vessels; two of them connected with the larger part of the breastbone, just 

 before the free pointed apical part. These vessels have a dull ashy-gray 

 appearance, similar to spinning vessels, are 0,003 mill, thick, with a 

 thinner end attached nearly together on the ventral side. The ventral 

 side of the free part of the breastbone is concave at its base, where it is 

 included in the body, and even on the not included part some fine striae 

 are to be seen. If this is, as I believe it to be, an organ for spinning, the 

 breastbone is homologous with the labium. I should remark that C. 

 iubicola is till now the only species, known to me, to spin; but probably 

 there exist many more. 



Society News. 



Brooklyn Entomological Society. February 2, 1885. — Twenty persons 

 present, the president in the chair. Mr. Hulst gave some general notes on the 

 classification of the Geometridas, based on the studies thus far made by him, and 

 urged the collection of larvae and the breeding of the species, as the only way to 

 obtain a thorough knowledge of the geometrid fauna of any locality. Mr. Weeks 

 gave some of his experiences with the larvae of this family, noting that the larva 

 of Endropia marginaria hibernated without making special efforts to secure com- 

 fortable or warm quarters for the winter. 



A discussion on methods of collecting and raising larvx- in which severa 

 members took part, closed the evening. 



Entomological Society of Washington. February 11, 1886. Mr. Howard 

 read a note from Prof. Riley in relation to the food habits of the larva of Fenesico 

 tarquinius, in which he stated that he had for some time had in his notes, the 

 records of observations by Mr. Pergande, who had found the larva actually feed- 

 ing on the following species of Aphididae: Pemphigus fraxinifoUi, Schizoneura 

 teaseleata, and Pemphigus imbricator. The last named species is the species re- 

 ferred to by Mr. Johnson and Mr. Lugger at the last meeting. 



Mr. Howard read a paper on the Chalcid f^enim Podagri on, peciiliar, becausf 

 it unites the characters of several families, and is parasitic on Mantis eggs. H«' 

 particularly described the method of ovi position through the hard covering of 

 the egg masses. Mr. Lugger states that at one period of its development th»' 

 embryo of Mantis shows 4 pairs of legs. Mr. Howard also mentioned that a 



RNTOMOLOr.ICA AMERICANA 35 



