Pomona College, Claremont, California ~ 77 
DIPTERA! 
The common kelp fly, Fwcellia rufitibia Stem, was particularly 
abundant on decaying kelp along the beach during the summer. 
In some instances the flies completely cover the masses of seaweed 
and rise in clouds when disturbed. It would be interesting to know 
the larval habits of this species. 
The lemur syrphid, Baccha lemur O. S., was reared in con- 
siderable numbers from Hrium lichtensioides Ckll. on California 
sage, Artemisia californica Less., which was abundant in the 
Laguna Beach Canyon. 
The small gray leucopis, Leucopis griseola Fall., was reared in 
immense numbers from the leaves of muskmelon vines which were 
severely infested with the melon aphis, Aphis gossypii Glover. The 
small larvae and pupae were abundant on the undersides of the 
leaves. That a large proportion of the muskmelon vines growing 
along the ocean between Laguna Beach and San Juan Capistrano, 
were not entirely destroyed, may be credited to the efficaceous work 
of the larvae of this fly. I have never seen a predaceous maggot so 
numerous. 
LEPIDOPTERA 
The Sycamore borer, Synanthedon (Aegeria) mellinipennis 
(Bdv.).°- The work of the larvae of this moth on the trunks of 
the Western Sycamore or plane tree, Platanus racemosa Nutt., is 
very characteristic, consisting of numerous tunnels in the inner 
bark and the expulsion of quantities of reddish-brown frass which 
collects in the crevices of the bark and around the bases of the 
trees, at once calling attention to the presence of the insect. 
The infestations occured on large trees and was confined to 
the trunks from the ground to a distance of about six feet. Many 
of the trees were infested with great numbers of caterpillars, but 
no evidence of serious injury to the general health of any of the 
infested trees was noticeable. The moths mimic in color, size and 
flight the common yellow jacket, Vespa germanica Linn. Indeed 
so great was the resemblance that the moths hovering about the 
tree trunks were first thought to be yellow jackets until they 
alighted. 
A single grove of western sycamore, comprising some fifty 
trees, in Niguel Canyon was the only one observed to be infested by 
this moth, although there were numerous other trees in the different 
canyons around Laguna Beach. 
The western sycamore is apparently the native host of this 
species, which is recorded from California and Colorado, without 
previous host records. 
* Determined by J M. Aldrich, U. S. National Museum. 
5 Determined by August Busck, U. S. National Museum. 
