DIPTERA. 



345 



Cecidomyia (Dasyneura) taxi, Inch. 



This species is found on both the English and Irish varieties 

 of yew. It forms a cone-shaped gall of tufted leaves (fig. 317). 

 There is only one larva in each rosette, and it lives and pupates 

 within the gall. The imago emerges either in the last week of May 

 or first week in June. This species is difficult to rear artificially, 

 therefore it is important to place them in confinement about May 20 

 or so ; and as the galls shrivel up very quickly, it is advisable 

 to gather fresh specimens every two or three days about the date 

 mentioned. So far as this species is concerned, dates are important, 



Fig. 316. Shoot of hawthorn hedge 

 injured by Cecidomyia crataegi. 



Fig. 317. Twig of yew injv/red 

 by Cecidomyia taxi. 



having regard to the difficulty of rearing. I have gathered them for 

 artificial hatching about the middle of May, and they have all 

 shrivelled up so much that they never hatched ; and again I have 

 gone to the trees about June 10, and the "bird had fled," leaving 

 the empty pupa-case on the extreme tip of the rosette. 



Male. Antennas 15-jointed ; joints verticillate pilose; basal joints 

 red, others light -grey. Eyes large, black ; thorax orange beneath, 

 dorsum black. Halteres bright orange ; abdomen light-grey, with 

 dorsal orange streak ; genital armature light-brown ; wings light-grey, 

 slightly hyaline, legs of a uniform light-grey, anterior pair slightly 

 orange-coloured. 



Female. Antennae light uniform grey, very pilose, 18 -jointed. 



