NOTES. [109] 



respects similar to 9. Described from 1 c? 5 9 specimens, bred from Eupleotrus 

 comstockii at Selma, Ala. >vx> H V 5^ H 

 This species seems to belong to Thomson's third section of the genus Elachistus. 



Note 34 (p. 107). — Except in lacking the two bristles at the apex of the third seg- 

 ment of the abdomen which are prominent in sarracenice (type), and in oth§r species, 

 the specimen differs in no respect from those found to infest the Rocky Mountain 

 Locust and Caloptenus differeniialis (Locust Plague, &c., pp. 135, 136; and First Ann. 

 Rep. U. S. Ent. Comm., p. 324). Although in the works here cited sarracenice is con- 

 sidered a variety of the coimmon European S. carnaria it seems best to maintain it as 

 a distinct species in accordance with the characters given by Mr. R. H. Meade, who, 

 in his '' Monograph upon the British species of Sarcophaga or Flesh-fly " (Ent. Mo. 

 Mag., vol. xii, p. 216 ff., Febr.-May, 1*^76), separates the species into two principal 

 divisions, according as the tip of the abdomen is red or is black or gray. In a note 

 published in Baron Osten Sacken's Catalogue of the described Diptera of N. A., 2d 

 ed., p. 257, Mr. Meade says: ''There is no specimen in your collection, however, ex- 

 actly like the true S. carnaria so common in Europe. There are some striking points 

 of difference between the Sarcophagcs of America and Europe generally, the chief of 

 which is that in the former species with one or both anal segments red or yellow pre- 

 dominate, while among the latter, those with the anal segments black or gray are 

 more numerous than those with the red." 



The following additional specific characters may be added : Thorax with four bris- 

 tles behind the suture in the two dorsal rows, the two anterior bristles small, the two 

 posterior strong ; in front of the suture are two small bristles alternating with two 

 of slightly larger size. There are no minute spines on the second longitudinal vein 

 similar to those on the fourth. The posterior tibiae of the ^ are loosely bearded on 

 the inner side with long soft hairs. The second abdominal joint is not armed with 

 strong central spines, and the spines at the apex of the third joint are short and weak. 



Note 35 (p. 109). — Tachina axeti^ Riley {Can. Ent, vol. xi, p. 162). — Length 

 gmm^ Black ; head golden, facial depression silvery, space between the eyes and the 

 frontal stiipe about equal to the breadth of the stripe, bristles of the head black, the 

 pubescence behind and beneath the eyes white ; antennae blackish, palpi testaceous. 

 Eyes at a moderate distance apart, thinly pubescent; front moderately prominent; 

 third joint of the antennae three or four times the length of the second joint. Thorax 

 and the second and following abdominal joints more or less ashy, the thorax with 

 four or five longitudinal black stripes. Wings subhyaline. Legs black, with a 

 piceous tinge ; tarsal cushions yellowish. Scutellum and the sides of the first, sec- 

 ond, and third abdominal joints sometimes tinged with reddish-brown. No strong 

 bristles on the first and second abdominal joints above. 



Note 36 (p. 109). Tachina fraterna Comstock (Annual Report of Commissioner 

 of Agriculture, 1879, p. 303).— Color : General effect nearly black ; head, face, and facial 

 depression silvery white, inclining slightly to golden on occiput ; antennae, first and 

 third joints black, second joint testaceous; palpi testaceous ; pubescence behind the 

 head blackish ; thorax, second and following abdominal joints ashy ; thorax with two 

 plain longitudinal black stripes and two indistinct ; first abdominal joint black above, 

 ashy beneath ; femora piceous ; tibiae and tarsi nearly black. Eyes finely pubescent. 

 In other respects resembling T. aletice Riley. Described from two specimens. 



Note 37 (p. 110). — ^The Tachinid larva differs from that of Sarcophaga in the follow- 

 ing characters : It is of a paler whitish color, the skin being softer or less chitinized ; 

 the body is less narrowed anteriorly; the prothoracic spiracles are less apparent; a 

 pair of spiracles are present on the posterior border of the fourth joint behind the 

 head, which are not discoverable in Sarcophaga ; the joints are not conspicuously 

 wrinkled transversely and there are no lateral prominences, the anterior portion of 

 each joint beiiig prominent and roughened with minute points; the spiracular cavity 

 at the end of the body is more shallow, the spiracles being exposed upon the obliquely 

 truncated area, and there are no anal prolegs. The Tachinid puparium may be readily 



