ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 15 



On the 24th of July I found full-grown larvae of Zirea Americana, Oresson, feeding 

 upon buck bean, Menynnthes tri/oliala, L. I find this species every season in the same 

 spot, and only in that spot. The larva has the habit of curiing itself round with the 

 head on' the outside. The following is a description of it : — Head black and shining, a 

 lighter shade just above the mandibles. Eyes protuberent, glossy black. The back of 

 the larva is lead colour, inclining to blue. The second segment near the head and the 

 anal segment are paler. Along the back are eleven cross-bars, formed of a central black 

 spot with an obloDg patch of yellow on either side, terminated on either side with another 

 black spot. Between every pair of these birs are two cross lines of smaller black and 

 pale yellow dots. Along the edge of the lead colour on either side is a row of eleven 

 conspicuous black dots. Brdow it is a broid yellowish white spiracular line. The spiracles 

 are small and black. Underneath them is a row of deep yellow warts each surmounted 

 with two black dots. On the underside the larva is yellowish-white. The true legs are 

 tipped with black. 



I do not know the larvse of Ahia Kennicotti, Norton. There are two specimens of 

 the fly in the Provencher collection. The differences between the imago of this species 

 and that of Z. Americana are these : Kennicotti is smaller than Americana. Its colour 

 is black with a tinge of green, whilst that of Americana is bruwn with a tinge of 

 fuscous. Kennicotti has a distinct mark like a reversed Y, extending from the costa to 

 the inner margin of the fore-wing. In Americana this wing mark is confused. The 

 costal line and the venation of the fore-wings in Americana are heavier and more dis- 

 tinct than those of Kennicotti. The abdomen in Americana is somewhat spatulate ; in 

 Kennicotti it is rounded. The underside of the abdomen in Kennicotti is black ; in 

 Americana it is fuscous. 



During the month of August pressing duties and frequent journeys hindered me 

 from giving attention to entomological pursuits. This was unfortunate, for in one of my 

 times of absence I lo>t a brood of young larvse of I/epialus argenteomaculalus, Harris, 

 which had come from eggs sent me by Mr. A F. Winn. These eggs were round and 

 black, and under the microscope resembled grapes. In the hatching they were ruptured 

 irregularly. The young larvae appeared in the last week of August. They were one- 

 tenth of an inch long. The head was disproportionately large — suggestive of a boring 

 habit. It was brown, and there was a brown shield on the second segment. The body 

 was yellowish white, warty, and set with long hairs. The fore-legs were brown. 



In September may be found in the leaves of the Golden Rod (Solidago Canadensis, 

 L.) eye-like spots, yellow in the centre with a surrounding of reddish brown. Osten 

 Sacken made a guess at the insect producing these, and named it Cecydomyia carbonifera, 

 from the black substance, not unlike charcoal that is found in the galls. For several 

 years I endeavored to raise the fly without success — I think for the reason that I did not 

 collect the blistered leaves early enough. I am under the impression that the larvae of 

 the fly abandon the leaves, and undergo the pupal change in the herbage or the soil. 

 The parasites of the species remain in the leaves. I raised two kinds of these in abund- 

 ance, vizi : Torymus Sackenii, Ashmead and folygnotus sulidaginis, Ashmead. The first 

 named, as seen under the microscope, is a marvel of grim beauty — a polished gem, glow- 

 ing with crimson, green and gold. The latter is of more sober hue. lb is admirably 

 described by Mr. Ashmead in his monograph of the Proctotrypidae, p. 307. The cocoons 

 of the species may be found in the blisters, three or four in a cluster. 



This year I think I have succeeded in raising the original cause of the gall. It is 

 a Sciara closely allied to S ocellaris, Conn. The following is a description of it : Expanse 

 of wings, two-tenths of an inch ; length of body, one-tenth ; lengih of antennae, one- 

 twentieth. Hairy, of a uniform light brown ; head rather small ; eyes reniform ; antennae, 

 14 jointed ; mouth organs large ; thorax large, rotund ; abd jmen long, attenuated ; wings 

 rather dusky — a peculiar loop in the venation ; halteres, club shaped. 



While speaking of Hymenopterous parasites, I should like to express my admiration 

 for the work among the Hymenopcera that is done at Washington by Mr. Howard and 

 his confreres. 



