affcctinri Carrots and P(irsin'j>s\ 
193 
14. P. Smara2:clinus.* It is only 1], line long, and scarcely 
expands 3 linos: it is of a charmins: green colour, thickly punc- 
tured: the 3Ialc has bright ochreous horns, composed of 13 joints, 
the basal one very long, the 3rd and 4th exceedingly minute ; the 
maxillary feelers are terminated by a large oval orange joint : f 
the head is broad, the compound eyes are black, with 3 little 
simple eyes in triangle on the crown : the trunk is obovate and 
not so broad: the body is still narrower, small, oval, and of a 
metallic lustre ; the base is contracted, and at the extremity is a 
curved horny sexual organ ; the 4 wings are transparent ; superior 
ample, nerveless, excepting a costal nervure, which forms a short 
capitate branch beyond the middle : G legs clear-ochreous, coxae 
green; feet 5-jointed, tipped with brown. Female larger, blue- 
green ; horns black ; feelers not incrassated : abdomen larger, with 
an oviduct concealed beneath: legs ochreous white; thighs green, 
exce})ting their tips ; middle of shanks brown ; tips of feet black. 
I have frequently bred these splendid little flies the end of April, 
in May, and October, from the pupae of the Tepliritis Onopordinis, 
but whether the Pachi/Jartliriis is a direct parasite, and punctures 
the larva of the Tepliritis, or lays its eggs in the pupae already 
occupied by the Alysia, which in all probability is the case, has 
not been ascertained. 
The Alysia is undoubtedly a natural check, which is provided 
to arrest the excessive multiplication of the celery and parsnip- 
flies ; and the Pachijlartlirus maybe the agent to regulate the 
multiplication of the Alysia, in order that the Tepliritis may not 
be exterminated. It is not, however, difficult to free a crop from 
the maggots, and although they have not been detected in affect- 
ing the j)arsnlps materially, they have entirely destroyed the most 
promising crops of celery, and there is one, if not more wild 
plants in whose leaves the eggs are also deposited, for I have 
bred the flies from blisters in the foliage of an umbellate species 
called " Alexanders," the Sinyrnium Olusatruin. 
A top-dressing of gas-lime, soot, wood-ashes, or lime, when the 
blisters are discovered, might be useful in destroying the maggots 
as they fall from the leaves to bury themselves, so that the pupjE 
would not hatch ; or, if given immediately on the appearance of 
the first blisters, in all probability it would deter the flies from 
laying their eggs, and thus the evil might be evaded: but the 
most simple and certain remedy is the operation of pinching the 
blisters, which must destroy the maggots at once, and this could 
* Curtis's 'Guide,' Genus 631, No. 1. Phagonia smaragdina: 'Brit. 
Eiit.,' fol. and pi. 427. 
■|' Ibid. fig. iv. and other dissections. 
VOL. IX. O 
