PEAR GNAT MIDGE. 89 



through the opening available at the calyx end of the Pear. The power 

 of the larvae of skipping about like Cheese Maggots is also noticed. 



The midge which causes the mischief is a very small two-winged 

 gnat-like fly, only about one line (the twelfth of an inch) or a little 

 more in length of body ; the general appearance greyish or black. 

 More in detail, when seen much magnified, and as described by Mr. 

 Meade from his own very complete observations, the head is black, with 

 a patch of yellow hairs, on the top of which some come forward over 

 the eyes. Antenna (horns) yellowish brown, in the male about one- 

 fifth longer than the whole length of the insect, in the female " about 

 two lengths of the insect without the oviduct." Thorax (body between 

 the wings) black, and, like the face, with grey reflections ; and seen 

 " from before, the hind part looks ash-grey, while the front part appears 

 divided into three wide black stripes or patches, of which the middle 

 one is triangular in shape, with a broad base in front, and tapering to 

 a point behind where it joins the scutellum." On each side between 

 the central and side black patches is a row of bright yellow hairs ; but 

 " viewed from behind, the whole thorax 

 looks grey." A long tuft of yellow hairs is 

 placed above and in front of the root of 

 each of the wings, and the front edge of the 

 thorax is covered with short yellowish hairs. 

 Abdomen dark brown, clothed with long ^°^magnifiedV^°™' 



whitish hairs. Halteres (poisers) with yel- 

 lowish stalks and clear white knobs. Wings dusky, clothed and deeply 

 fringed on the hind margins with black hair. Legs brown, clothed 

 with white hairs, more dense on the under surface.''' 



The method of egg-laynag is stated to be that when the Pear 

 blossom-buds are so far advanced as for a single petal to show itself, 

 the Pear Midges deposit their eggs within by piercing the petal with 

 the ovipositor, and laying their white longish eggs, up to as many as 

 ten or twelve in number, on the anthers within the still unopened 

 blossom-bud ; but, as noted at p. 88, they have been recorded by one 

 observer as egg-laying in the open blossom. The eggs are stated to 

 be so quickly hatched in warm weather that the little larvae from them 

 may be found on the fourth day after deposit. They bore into the 

 core of the embryo Pear, where they separate and devour in different 

 directions. 



• For full and very clear description of the imago or perfect Gnat Midge of 

 D. pyrivora, from which I have, with many thanks, extracted the above few points, 

 see paper on ^' Diplosis pyrivora,^' by R. H. Meade, in the 'Entomologist,' vol. xxi. 

 I have already given the above abstract of Mr. Meade's description at p. 122 of my 

 ' Handbook of Orchard and Bush Fruits ' ; but it seems desirable for convenience 

 of reference to repeat it here. — E. A. 0. 



