THE PICKLED-FRUIT FLY: ITS DESCRIPTION, 217 



As the original description of this species by Dr. Loew is published 

 in Latin, in a Avork to be found in very few of our libraries,* I give 

 herewith its translution : — 



"Drosopliilaampelophila n.sp., $ and ?. From pale yellow to rufescent, antcnncB 

 pn/lid, abdomen marked with black bands, the last two segments in the male, the last 

 one in the female, jet-black, a jet-black anneal point on the anterior metatarsus of the 

 male, wings wholly without spots. Length of body 3-4 to 5-6 line. Length of wing 

 5-0 to 11-12 line. 



" Front pale yellow, opaque. Antennae pallid, the third article sometimes 

 slightly fuscous. The prominent face pale yellow, with several rather stout 

 beard-bristles on each side. The back of the thorax from pale yellow to rufes- 

 cent, uniform in color, moderately shining. Scutellum of the thorax the same 

 color. Pleura more pallid. Abdomen from pale yellow to riifescent, each seg- 

 ment girt with a posterior black band which is sometimes dilated on the middle 

 segments; the last two segments in the male jet black, the last one in the female 

 black or dark fuscous. The feet yellowish ; the anterior metatarsus of the male 

 has a minute jet-black tubercle on the upper side at the apex. Wings short, rather 

 broad, from cinereous to somewhat yellow, wholly unspotted, the transverse veins 

 not distant from each other. (Cuba ; Poey.) 



" Note. — Drosophila ampelophila is very frequent in the southern regions of 

 Europe, nor is it entirely wanting to Middle Europe ; it also inhabits the southern 

 parts of Africa." 



The species will undoubtedly be found to have quite a general dis- 

 tribution over the Western, as in the Eastern Continent. Mr. Bowles 

 has found it in Montreal, Canada. Dr. Williston records it in the 

 New England States in Massachusetts and Connecticut, in great 

 abundance in August, September and October. It occurs in Pennsyl- 

 vania (Bowles), and District of Columbia and Cubaf (Osten-Sacken). 

 It may be expected to be found in South America. 



Attracted by Fermentation. 

 The specific name of this species signifies a lover of the vine. It 

 may have originally been discovered on grapes, J or a more liberal 

 translation of its name might indicate a lover of substances underffoinor 

 a vinous fermentation. As it has already been observed within decay- 

 ing peaches and pears, injured grapes, and pickled plums and rasp- 

 berries, it is probable that it will hereafter be found associated with a 

 largo number of fruits, berries, and perhaps garden vegetables also, un- 

 dergoing fermentation, either through pickling, injury or decay. Dr. 

 Williston (loc. cif.) writes of them: " P(-rfectly sound fruit I have 



*lam indebted to Professor Riley for its transcription from the volume in the Congres- 

 sional Library at Washington. 



+Dr. Lcevv's types, from these two localities, arc in the Museum of Comparative Zoology 

 at Cambridge, Mass. 



ifE.xamples of the fly have been sent to me from Rev. Samuel Lockwood, of Freehold, N. 

 J., with the statement that the insect had infested his ripe grapes during the autumn of 

 1881. An account of its attack and of its life-history is promised. 



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