206 FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



the larvge matured, they left their mines and entered the earth for 

 pupation, except in a few instances in which the puparia were formed 

 between the leaves. On the 26th of August, ten flies were found in the 

 jar, some of which were dead. It had not been possible to note the 

 earliest date of their emergence, and the period of their pupation was 

 therefore not ascertained. It will probably be found not to vary much 

 from two weeks. 



Successive Broods, 

 There are two or more broods of these flies annually, for at the date 

 of leaving the locality Avhere the above observations were made — 

 September 6th, — the eggs were still numerous upon the leaves, al- 

 though less so than in July. Their examination showed, however, 

 that the larger number had been destroyed, perhaps by some insect 

 puncturing them and feeding upon their contents. Of some, the en- 

 tire flattened shell remained, while of others, portions had disappeared. 

 It is possible that towai'd the close of the season, many of the eggs may 

 be deposited without fertilization. 



Three Species of Flies. 



While rearing and collecting the above flies, I believed them to be 

 but a single species. From the food-plant on which they occurred, 

 and from reference to the very limited Dipteralogical literature acces- 

 sible at the time, I thought them identical with the European species, 

 AntJiomyia betce, of Curtis.* It seemed an interesting coincidence 

 that while the past year had developed extensive injuries to the 

 beet-crop in England, from the attack of this species which had re- 

 mained almost unknown since its publication in 1860,f it should at 

 the same time first present itself to us in this country. 



Later, upon closer observation and critical comparison, I discovered 

 material differences among my examples, which appeared to indicate 

 three species. Knowing the worth lessness of determinations between 

 the closely allied species of this family not based on special study, I 



*Anthomtia (Pegomtia) bet.e. The waZfs are only known at present; they are much 

 smaller than the Onion-fly, being only 2 2-3 lines long, and expanding about five lines: 

 they are of an ashy-gray color, clothed with black bristly hairs ; head semi-orbicular; eyes 

 large, brown, nearly contignons above, with three minute ocelli on the crown ; face 

 satiny-white, with a bright chestnut-colored line down the middle, in the center of which 

 are placed the little black drooping horns, the third joint being the largest, elliptical, and 

 producing a naked bristle on the back; the protruding lips and palpi are also black; on 

 the trunk are three or five indistinct longitudinal stripes ; the six-jointed abdomen is liuean 

 with a dorsal, black triangular spot at the base of four of the segments ; the two wings are 

 ample and transparent, a little tinted with tawny at the base; the nervures are pitchy ; 

 poisers ochreous; six legs, longish, bristly and pitchy, the shanks with a tawny tinge. 

 {Farvi Insects, 1860, p. S97.) 



X Canadian Entomologist, xiv, 1882, p. 96. 



