Insects, etc., Injurious to the Fear. 



351 



when mature and pupate in the soil. The midge appears in the 

 spring as a small dark brown fly, about ^^ inch long, with limpid 

 wings and tawny palpi. 



It has never been complained of, but as it has been sent for 

 identification it is mentioned as it might possibly greatly increase 

 at some future date. 



PiEFERENCE. 



(1) Theobald, F. V. 'An Account of British Flies,' vol. I., p. 67 (1892). 



SCIARA MIDGES IN PEARS. 



(Sciara. Spp.) 



Very frequently one notices small black flies settled in pear 

 blossoms when expanded, they are larger than the pear midge l)ut 

 are often mistaken for it. If closely examined they can at once 

 be separated by noting the 

 wings which have quite 

 different veins, as shown in 

 the figure (231). These 

 flies belong to what are 

 called Fungus Gnats {Myce- 

 tophilidcc). They appear to 

 go to the blossoms to obtain 

 the nectar and not for egg- 

 laying. 



Schmidberger, however, 

 bred from rotten pear fruit- 

 lets two species of these 

 flies, and members of the 

 same family were also bred 

 by Inchbald from infested 

 fruitlets sent him by Mr. 

 Bloomfield. These Sciarime 

 have not been identified. 

 Schmidberger called his two, 

 Sciara pyri and S. schmidheryeri. They evidently only breed in the 

 pears which have decayed through the pear midge attack. 



— i;],A(.'K jinxJE. (dic'iitly t'lihirgcd.) 

 (Mistaken for Pear lUdue.) 



