374 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XI, No. 8, 
TWO SPECIES OF DIPTERA OF THE GENUS DROSOPHILA. 
H. R. Niswonger. 
The minute flies of the genus Drosophila are especially abun- 
dant about decomposing vegetables, and fermented fruit, around 
cider refuse, wine vats, vinegar, etc.; attracted to these substances 
for food and as places of oviposition, since the larvae live in 
decaying organic matter. The two species under consideration are 
Drosophila busckii Coq. and Drosophila funebris Fab. 
The species of this genus are of a dusty red, yellow or black, 
and somewhat plump appearance. The feathered or comb-like 
arista of the antennae, the distinct oral vibrissae, and the peculiar 
venation of the wings are especially characteristic. The arista is 
plumose or feathered on both sides mostly on the upper from the 
middle on. The wings are longer than the abdomen, the distance 
between the anterior and posterior cross-veins less than the third 
segment of the fourth longitudinal vein. The second basal cell 
is united with the discal cell and consequently seeming to be 
absent. The costa reaches to the fourth longitudinal vein. 
Drosophila busckii Coq. This species is recorded as reared 
from rotten potatoes and from the burrows of “Chion cinctus” 
one of the long-horned beetles whose larva tunnel in the solid 
wood of hickory trees. The writer succeeded in having this spe- 
cies oviposit in decayed fruit, but was unable to carry the life 
history any farther than the egg stage. Decaying vegetables 
seem to be the chief breeding places. The exact period of the 
different stages was not determined, but about two weeks are 
required for the development from the egg to the adult. The 
eggs are laid in the decaying matter and the entire larval period 
is passed within this. About the time the larva enters the pupal 
stage it leaves the decaying material and pupates near by within 
the old larval skin. The adult emerges in a few days. 
Description of insect: Egg, Fig. lc. The egg is elongated in 
form and white in color. Near the cephalic end are slender 
appendages varying in number from three to five. The egg with 
appendages is about five-tenths (.5) millimeters in length, and the 
whole surface is ornamented with a net-like pattern. 
Larva. Fig. Id. The larva is a slender white maggot and when 
full grown measures about four (4) millimeters in length. It is 
widest near the middle and tapering toward each end, more 
toward the cephalic end than the caudal. The main trachael 
trunks are visible, the cephalic spiracle prominent, compound, 
consisting of several, usually eight divisions, each division opening 
separately, Fig. If. This compound spiracle may be exerted quite 
a distance or may be withdrawn into the prothoracic segment. Two 
caudal spiracles project prominently backward. Caudal segment 
