Report of the State Entomologist 235 



described and recorded as occurring in immense assemblies for their 

 hibernation within buildings in different countries of Europe, as in 

 England, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Russia. The flies had 

 usually assembled during the month of September, and collected in a 

 particular room or limited portion of a building where they passed 

 the winter for the most part in a torpid state and in concealment, 

 and departed in the early spring (March) for their unknown breeding 

 grounds. 



These gatherings had been deemed of such interest, from their 

 immense numbers, amounting to many millions, the unusual features 

 displayed in their hibernation, and the inability to trace them to their 

 source in any of the cereal crops in which they were believed to 

 breed, that, whenever brought to the notice of scientific men, they 

 have always been deemed worthy of attention, and of record some- 

 times quite detailed. 



Three Known Localities in the United States. 



Another late summer gathering and winter hibernation of the same 

 fly, in addition to the New Hampshire locality, was reported during 

 the same year, at Alfred Center, N. Y., which is also noticed in the 

 report above cited. 



The present year, a third of these interesting occurrences, scien- 

 tifically viewed, has been brought to light, which is also of the same 

 insect, Ghloropisca prolifica. As these three are the only ones of the 

 kind recorded from the United States in our literature, it seems not 

 improbable that future studies will show the fly to be a comparatively 

 recent introduction, and identical with some of those that have long 

 been known in Europe as possessing similar habits, but of which, 

 although some have been referred to Ghlorops and given specific des- 

 ignation, their identifications, according to Baron Osten Sacken, were 

 not made by competent persons, and are therefore of no value 

 whatever. 



The third locality is at Ausable Forks, in northern New York, 

 where a large company of the fly has, for the last few years, been 

 making an annual visit to, and finding winter quarters in, the resi- 

 dence of Mr. H. D. Graves. For the interesting account which I am 

 able to present of the visits of this insect, I am indebted to the kind- 

 ness and courtesy of Mrs. Graves, as shown in her readiness to give 

 me any desired information, and to extend aid in endeavoring to dis- 

 cover the source of her intrusive and unwelcome guests. 



The following account is compiled from the several letters received 

 from her upon the subject. 



