112 



As far as the writer is able to learn from a search through records 

 available at this time, nothing further was gained in regard to the larval 

 habits of the present species until a complaint of injury, by the larva, to 

 the roots and bulbs of Gloxinia plants at South Deer Isle. This report 

 was made by the late F. L. Harvey, in the Eeport of the Maine Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station for 1897 (p. 175). In the report for the 

 following year (p. 127) reference was made to the same species, but 

 the injury was attributed to an unknown species of Thrips. The per- 

 son complaining of the injury placed slices of potato about the infested 

 plants and the Thrips collected on them in great numbers. 



In the September, 1899, number of Entomological News (Vol. X, 

 pp. 201, 202), Mr. Jas. S. Hine published a note on this midge, with 

 illustrations of larva, pupa, and of both sexes of the imago. Con- 

 cerning injury. Mr. Hine says that the carnations in the greenhouse 

 inspected were dying and that no cause was found except numbers of 

 the minute white larvae of this species which were boring inside of all 

 the stems that showed serious injury. From all acquired knowledge 

 of the habits of the Myeetophilida?, Mr. Hine had supposed at first 

 that the plants were killed in some other way and the insects were 

 secondary in the nature of their attack, but by further observation 

 he became convinced that they were feeding upon and injuring the 

 growing plants. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



January 24, 1898, Mr. F. A. Sirrine wrote that the Anthomyiid 

 Ccenosia solita >Valk. , was preying upon the adult gnats, appearing to 

 feed exclusively upon this insect. 



March 2, 1900, Mr. A. B. Eaton called attention to the occurrence 

 of Ccenosia solita in the greenhouses of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, and to the fact that they captured other flies in the same loca- 

 tions. One was observed by Mr. Pratt and the writer having an adult 

 of Dolichqpus sjiectahilis Loew., a biting fly. in its mouth. They were 

 also stated to be fond of the " white fly" {Aleyrodes sp.), and were 

 frequently seen carrying the latter about while still alive. Many adult 

 Sciara inconstans were found dead in the greenhouse, and it was 

 thought that they had not only fallen victims to the Ccenosia. but that 

 the presence of the latter in such numbers in the greenhouse had had 

 considerable to do with keeping the gnats in check, as the gnats were 

 comparatively rare, it being difficult to find living specimens at this 

 time. 



REMEDIES. 



This insect is new as a pest, and we know so little concerning it and 

 its food plants that it is a matter of some difficulty to advise as to the 

 best methods for its treatment. >Ve can, therefore, only suggest rem- 

 edies that have been used with success against related species. AVhat- 



