70 APPLE LEAVES, APHIS ATTENDANTS TWO-f ANDED STEM-EYE. 



reaches nearly or quite across the wing, the same that it does in 

 bremcornis, whilst the apex of the wing is hyaline, without any 

 vestiges of the dusky spot which occurs at the tip of the wing in Mr. 

 Say's species. This species, wiich I name the Two-banded Stem- 

 eye (Sphyracepkala suh-bifasciata), was swept from grass at the 

 base of the, bluffs of the Illinois river, north of the city of Ottawa^ 

 the middle of last October. The Short-horned Stem-eye I first 

 captured in Saratoga county, upon a cold windy day the latter 

 part of May, between, the leaves of the Skunk's-cabbage (Symplo- 

 carpus fcetidus), where it had probably retired for shelter — this 

 being the same situation in which it was originally discovered by 

 Mr. Say. Near my present residence, upon sunny days in the 

 middle of April several were found associated with other flies and 

 small bees, drinking the sweet sap of a newly cut maple, beside 

 a stream of water at the base of a hill. It was more tame and 

 less inclined to take wing when approached than any of the other 

 flies. It seems limited to low shady situations, for other stumps 

 upon the side and summit of the same hill,. equally frequented by 

 other flies, had none of this species. Near the same spot I once 

 eaptured a specimen the last of October, resting upon a sand bank 

 and basking in the sun. I state these facts thus particularly, as 

 so little is known respecting the habits of ihis tribe of insects. 



The Tvco-banded Stem.eye measures 0.15 to' the tip of its abdomen. It is black 

 and polished, the thorax brownish, the head and antennas tawny yellow and above 

 on the middle of the head is a black spot. The legs also are tawny yellow, and the 

 anterior thighs have a brown cloud-like spot npon each side, the anterior shanks 

 being black. The middle legs have a brown band above ana another below the knee. 

 The hind thighs and shanks each have a brown band at tip. The wings are hyaline- 

 wHh two dusky bands, the inner one short, as already described. 



Prominent among these insects which subsist upon and destroy 

 plant-lice are the Aphis-lions as they have been termed. These 

 are larvEe of the Golden-eyed and Lace- winged flies, insects which 

 form the Family Hemerobiid^e in the Order Neuropteba. In 

 their perfect state they are delicate slender-bodied insects most of 

 them less thaa half an inch long, with four large wings beautifully 

 jeticulated with veins, resembling the finest gauze or lace-work - 

 whence they have received the name of Lace-wings, and with 

 prominent globular eyes, wlich in many of the species have a 



