THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Vol. XXL] AUGUST, 18f9. [No. 303. 



LA8I0PTERA CEREALIS, Lindeman. 

 By Pkter Inchbald, F.L.S., and R. H. Meade, M.D. 



At the close of May I succeeded in rearing the Cecid that is 

 so destructive to the crops of rye in the broad corn-tracts of 

 Russia. The pupse were sent by Professor Lindeman to Miss 

 E. A. Ormerod, and to Professor Riley, of Washington, United 

 States. Miss Ormerod most kindly shared with me the culms 

 sent to her. The rosy larva, when full fed, pupates either 

 within the culm, or under the shep;.hi:ig leaves of the rye-plant, 

 spinning a slight flossy web as its temporary home. In this 

 web it awaits its next change, which, as I said, occurs at the 

 end of May and the early part of June. Its home is easily 

 recognised by the partial blackening of the culm or sheathing 

 leaves, which thus give external evidence of the tenant within. 



The first gnat appeared about the 25th of May, and a 

 beautiful fly it is, certainly the most beautiful of the Cecido- 

 myiidse I have yet reared. The flecks and snow-white bars on 

 the black ground-colour of the gnat, give an especial character 

 to the otherwise sober nature of its dress. I reared about half- 

 a-dozen examples in all, but they were mostly females. They 

 will live, after emerging, for three or four days, if supplied with 

 moisture. They are more sluggish in their movements than are 

 Cecids generally, so that a fair opportunity is afforded of noticing 

 their magpie-colouring and their habits of life. 



I have very much pleasure in subjoining a diagnosis of the 

 Lasioptcni cerealis, from the pen of the original discoverer, 



ENTOM. — AUGUST, 1888. S 



