MUSCID.E. 



411 



the larva state live in decaying vegetable matter and in privies. 

 They are smaller flies than the foregoing genera, with smaller 

 alulae, and the fourth longitudinal vein of the wing is straight, 

 thus leaving the first posterior cell fully open. The larvae are 

 generally much like those of the meat-fly, but are thicker, 

 \vhile others, belonging to the genus Homalomyia, are flat- 

 tened and hairy. 



The Radish-fly, Antliomyia raphani Harris, abounds in the 

 roots of the radish, the fly appearing towards the end of June. 

 Another species, the Onion-fly, Antliomyia ceparum (Fig. 332), 

 causes the leaves of the onion to turn yellow and die from 

 the attacks of the larvse in the roots. The larvae mature in 

 two weeks, transform in the root, and two weeks later disclose 

 the flies. Mr. Walsh 

 suggests that the 

 larvse may be de- 

 stroyed by pouring 

 boiling hot water 

 over the young 

 plants, which, with- 

 out injuring the on- 

 ions, destroys the 

 maggots. The Fig. 332. 



Seed-corn Maggot, the larva of Antliomyia zece Riley (Fig. 344, 

 p. 419, a, larva; &, puparium ; c, kernels eaten), destroys, 

 in New Jersey, the kernels of sprouted corn before it comes up. 

 The Cabbage maggot, the larva of A. brassicce Bouche, a com- 

 mon fly in Europe, has been found in Michigan to be injurious 

 to the cabbage. (Riley.) The hairy maggots of Homalomyia 

 cunicularis live in rotten turnips. (Harris.) The puparium 

 (Plate 3, fig. 5, 5 a) of another species has been found by Mr. 

 F. W. Putnam in the nests of the humble bee. 



In Ortalis the front is quite prominent, the clypeus is greatly 

 developed, the opening of the mouth wide, and the proboscis 

 much thickened. This genus comprises variously banded and 

 spotted flies, which may be seen walking along leaves vibrating 

 their wings. They feed on the leaves, and afterwards the 

 pulpy fruit of the cherry, olive and orange. Another Onion- 

 fly, discovered by Dr. Shinier in Illinois, is the Ortalis flexa 



