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ON THE HABITS OF THE OSCINID^ AND AGROMYZID^, REARED 
AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
liy 1). W. i'iHlVllA.KTl. 
So little is at present known rejianlinf^ theearly stages of the Diptera 
of this (country that any contribution to this subject must prove of 
interest, not only to students of natural history, but also to persons 
engaged in agricultuie, wliose <(rowing crops are sometimes severely 
injured through the de])redations of these insects. 
FAMILY OSCINID.i:. 
Although the family Oscinida' is of small extent, its members differ 
(piite widely in regard to their food habits, some attacking growing 
plants not previously injured by other insects, some living in burrows 
or cavities in plants made by other insects, while a few feed upon the egg- 
shells and cast-off skins of insects. In the department insectary a large 
number of these insec'ts have been reared, and by authorization of Dr. 
Howard, the entomologist, the records of these rearings are now for the 
first time made public. 
Genus Meromyza Meig. 
The larva' of this genus attack plants of wheat and rye not previously 
injured by other insects; at least two, and i)robably three, broods are 
produced in one season, the last one passing the winter in some of its 
earlier stages. 
Meromyza americana Fitch. — Infested wheat plants were received 
June 19, 1884, from F. M. Webster, Oxford, Ind., and the adult flies 
issued on the 8th of the following month. 
From a second lot of wheat i)lants, comprising the heads and por- 
tions of the stems above the uppermost node, received June 2, 1886, 
from J. G. Barlow, Cadet, ^lo., the flies issued on the 18th of the same 
month. The insects were in the larva state when received. 
In the autumn of 1888 a number of young wheat plants were received 
from F. M. Webster, who collected them at Xew Harmony, Ind., and 
the adult flies issued May 14, 1889. 
A bundle of rye straws containing the larva' of this insect was 
received July G, 189G, from IT. A. Muller, Mailers Lake, Wis., and the 
adults issued on the 18th of the same month. 
Genus Chlorops Meig. 
The larva' of this genus likewise attack ])lants not previously injured 
by other insects. 
Chlora'pa proxima Say. — A number of wheat plants were received 
May 1, ISSO, from K. Schneider, Fairview, Ky., and an examination 
revealed the presence of several puparia of this insect, situated between 
the sheaths of the loaves and the stalk; the adult flies issued on the 
10th of the same month. 
