THE RASPBERRF SA W-FLT 273 



screen of muslin, netting or paper, as affording certain immunity 

 from attack on small patches where available. 



THE RASPBERRY SAW-FLY 



Monophadnus rubi (Harris.) Order Hymenoptera : Family 

 Tenthredinidro 



Selandria rubi, Harris. 



Saunders, Ins. Inj. Frts. 311. 

 Thomas, 111. Rep. 6: 61. 10: 67. 

 Webster, Bull. Ohio Exp. Sta. 45: 154. 

 Norton, Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 1: 249. 



This is a four -winged fly which appears soon after the rasp- 

 berry leaves unfold. It is thus described by Professor Saunders: 



"The wings, which are transparent, with a shining surface and 

 metallic hue, measure, when expanded, about half an inch across : 

 the veins are black, and there is also a streak of black along the 

 front margin extending more than half way towards the tip of the 

 wing. The anterior part of the body is black, the abdomen dark 

 reddish. In common with some other species of Selandria, these 

 flies have a habit of falling to the ground when disturbed, espe- 

 cially in the cool of the morning, and remaining inactive long 

 enough to enable one to catch them ; but with the increasing heat 

 of the day they are much more lively, and take wing readily when 

 approached. 



" The eggs are buried beneath the skin of the leaf, close along- 

 side of the ribs and veins, placed there by means of the saw-like 

 apparatus with which the female is provided, where it swells some- 

 what and produces a slight discoloration of the cuticle on the 

 upper surface. The skin covering the surface of the swelling is 

 so thin and semi-transparent that the movements of the larva may 

 be observed a day or two before hatching, by the black spots on 

 the side of the head showing through. The larva escapes through 

 an irregular hole made on one side of the swelling. 



"The young larva is about one-twelfth of an inch long, with a 

 large greenish white head, having a black eye -like spot on each 

 B 



