8 4 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



with a slight ash-coloured down. Its forehead is silvery at the front 

 and sides ; the abdomen is edged with black ; the wings hyaline, and 

 yellow at the base. 



Section of the Anthomyides. The section of Anthomyides com- 

 prises insects which appear to be Creophili whose organisation has 

 become weakened by almost insensible degrees. Their colours vary 

 very much black, grey, and iron-colour are everlastingly shaded and 

 blended together. To that may be added reflections which are 

 above the ground colour, and which change the hues of the little 

 animal according to the incidence of the rays of light. The Antho- 

 myides resemble the genus Musca very closely 

 in their habits as well as in their organisation. 

 In this group of Diptera we will first say 

 a few words about the Anthomia. These 

 flies are to be found in most gardens, and on 

 all flowers, particularly on the heads of Com- 

 positae and Umbelliferas. They often unite 

 in numerous bands in the air, and indulge in 

 the joyous dances to which love invites them. 

 The females deposit their eggs in the ground, 

 and their larvae are there quickly developed. 

 The latter suspend themselves to certain 

 bodies, the same as some lepidopterous chry- 

 salides, in order to transform themselves into 

 pupse. 



The Anthomyta pluvialis (Fig. 63) is from 

 two to four lines in length, and of a whitish 

 ash-colour. Its wings are hyaline, the thorax 

 has five black spots, and the abdomen three 

 rows of similar spots. 



We will stop a moment with the Pego- 

 myia, which are very interesting in the larva 

 Fig. 6 3 . Amhomyia pluvialis. state, and which excited the interest and 



sagacity of Reaumur. 



The cradle of these Diptera is the interior of leaves. They work 

 as the miners of the vegetable world, in the parenchyma or cellular 

 tissue of the leaf, between the two epidermal membranes. The 

 henbane, the sorrel, and the thistle, especially nourish them. If one 

 holds a leaf in which one of these miners has established itself against 

 the light, one sees the workman boring the vegetable membrane. 

 Its head is armed with a hook, formed of two horny pieces, and 



leaf. The 



with this hook it digs into the parenchyma of the leaf. 



effect of 



