THE SORGHUM MIDGE. 47 



The above measurements are taken from average-sized adults 

 and, while these latter vary considerably, especially in the male, the 

 measurements given represent with a fair degree of accuracy the 

 average comparisons between the two sexes. 



THE EGG. 



(Fig. 25, c.) 



The egg is a delicate, elongated, cylindrical structure. One end 

 tapers to a fine hairlike point, which before oviposition is often twice 

 the length of the egg proper. The color is pale pink or yellow. 

 This tapering end of the egg appears to be a special construction, 

 the purpose of which is, at this writing, unknown. The end of 

 the egg proper is capped with a ferrule-like appendage from which, 

 in gradually diminishing diameter, this projection extends. This 

 appendage is not dissolved in xylol, alcohol, or any fluid in which 

 the egg proper is dissolved, and does not appear to be the same 

 material as eggshell. When examined within the abdomen of 

 the female, the eggs are found in an unbroken chain of groups of 

 three or four, the threadlike appendages projecting toward the 

 distal end of the ovipositor and apparently loosely joined at their 

 extremities, so that the appearance suggests small bunches of eggs 

 attached to a common point by the ends of their delicate append- 

 ages. When laid, the appendage gradually shrivels and dries until 

 it contracts to a third of its original length or less. The egg is 

 about 0.15 mm. in length. 



THE LARVA. 



(Fig. 25, d, e.) 



The newly hatched larva closely resembles the egg in appear- 

 ance, it often being difficult to determine just when the egg stage 

 ceases and the larval stage begins. In color the newly hatched 

 larva runs between a pale yellow and a pale pink. It is uniformly 

 broad throughout the entire body length. As growth continues 

 the color changes from a pale pink to pink, then red. and when full 

 grown it is often deep red. The body to superficial examination 

 appears uniformly cylindrical, but under the microscope is seen 

 to taper perceptibly at the head and posterior extremity. Only 

 after the last molt can the characteristic cecidomyiid "breastbone" 

 (fig. 25, d) be distinguished. 



Repeated measurements of larvae in different stages o( growth 

 give uniformly regular figures. Table 11 gives the measurements of 

 a number of larvae taken from seed at different stages o( growth 

 from newly hatched to full grown. 



