312 INSECTS 



Yorkshire fog, Holcus lanatus; Timothy, Phleum pratense, Triticum 

 repens, Agropyrum repens, Elytnus americanus and Bromus ciliatus^. 



Family Psychodidje 



Psychoda phalanoides, Latr. 



This fly, introduced from Europe, was first recorded by Hutton 

 as being common in Christchurch in 1901 ; and was also found by 

 Suter in Auckland. Mr W. W. Smith (April, 1919) says it is common 

 in Taranaki. 



Family Bibionid^e 



Scatopse notata, Meig 



Hutton records in 1901 that : " In a letter to Mr Skuse, Baron von 

 Osten-Sacken says that he has received numerous specimens from 

 New Zealand. No doubt it has been introduced from Europe." 



Oligotropus alopecuri, Reuter. Meadow-foxtail Midge 



This species, which is found generally amongst meadow-foxtail 

 pastures, originated in Scandinavia, and is also found in Great Britain. 

 It appeared first in N.Z.-grown seed during 1910, but by 1914 had 

 so increased as to become dangerous. In 1915 ten per cent, of the 

 Manawatu crop of meadow-foxtail was infested, and in the following 

 year the precentage was higher, so that the local production of this 

 seed had to be abandoned. Meadow-foxtail seed was harvested only 

 in two districts— Manawatu and Tauranga. Up till 1917 the Tauranga 

 crop was not seriously infected. The larvae are frequently found in 

 seed imported from Europe. 



Contarinia tritici, Kirby. Wheat Midge 



Mr A. H. Cockayne states that this species occurs at Timaru 

 and at Gore. 



Dasyneura pyri, Bouche {Perrisia pyri). Pear Midge 



This midge was first recorded from Avondale, Auckland, in 1918. 

 The larvse attack the young shoots of pear trees. It spread over the 

 whole of Auckland Province within a year of its discovery; it was 

 probably established for some years previously. It only attacks pear 

 trees under (about) eight years of age. 



It is very destructive to young trees. 



' Mr A. Philpott, writing on 23rd April, 1917, says: "A few years ago some 

 pods of Phormium tenax, attacked by the larva of a Cecidomyia, were sent to me. 

 The pods were distorted and small, and the seeds less than the usual size. I do not 

 think that the fly was C. destructor, but I was not successful in rearing the mature 

 insect. Probably it was an undescribed native species." 



