116 



PAPERS EEAD. 



Notes on Moth.Flies. [Psychodidae, Diptera] 



BY MRS. OTTO H. SWEZEY. 



During the past month these came in swarms to our lights 

 at night, to be swept up bj thousands the following morning. 

 They made us very uncomfortable, as we were very apt to 

 inhale them thru the nose, or swallow them while talking or 

 eating. They persisted in coming for so many nights that I 

 became curious to learn why they so suddenly appeared to 

 spoil our peaceful evenings. Not only were we personally 

 annoyed but they persisted in falling into the food, getting 

 into the refrigerator by the dozens and into any food there 

 which remained uncovered. 



They were finally discovered in all stages in a jar containing 

 rotting vegetation and "frass" left from the rearing of cater- 

 pillars.* An examination of the larvae and pupae makes an 

 interesting comparison with the same stages of other species 

 of the same family. Little is known of the life history of the 

 Psychodidae, the familv to which the moth-flies belong. They 

 are of the smallest of the Diptera. They are called moth-flies 

 on account of a slight resemblance to minute moths. This is 

 due to the hairiness of the wings, which have a fringe of hair 

 all around and also on the veins. The wings at rest are usually 

 held over the back in a roof-like manner. They are nearly 

 related to the midges, etc. 



In the "Fauna Hawaiiensis," but two species of Psychodidae 

 are recorded : Psyclioda aUemata Say, and P^ychoda inornata 

 Grimshaw, both from Kona, Hawaii. Our species is the 

 latter or an unrecorded one. 



Description of larvae — about 2.5 mm. long; blackish in 

 color; flattish, head narrower than rest of body; an elongate 

 respiratory tube at posterior end; a row of spiracles on each 

 side ; dorsal segments have several decumbent hairs ; a series 

 of narrow transverse dorsal plates, two per segment. Head 

 well developed, has mandibles, a pair of eyes wide apart. Min- 

 utely pubescent. 



* Later they were found breeding in abundance in cow manure, which 

 was probably the source of the numerous swarms which appeared. 



