THE DIPTEROUS PARASITES OF ALETIA. 
107 
struction of the worms. This species — oomstodkii — is by no means 
confined in its attacks to Aletia larva?, but Las been bred from or 
Fig. 35. — Eupltetnu <■••>■• tU: female. (After Comstock.) 
found upon Prodenia lincattlht and LapliipjmafriHjipvrda. From the La- 
phygma twenty-five parasites were reared from a single larva. 
Tin: common Flesh-fly. — Several species of flies belonging to well- 
known parasitic genera have been found to infest the worm. One of 
these is the common Flesh-fly, and a male specimen bred from Aletia 
does not differ 34 materially from small specimens obtained from the 
insects found in the pitchers of the spotted pitcher-plant 
[Sartaeenia variolaris)^ and to which 
w e have given the name of Saroophaga 
sarmcenhr. 
These flies (Fig. 36) lay elongate and 
delicate eggs, which hatch very quickly. 
/*£Ui**H> ^'V* < \ t £U*' They sometimes hatch, in fact, within 
~" : y /M 1 / " \ J - the oviduct, so that the fly gives birth 
to living maggots. {The maggot pen- 
decaying 
t 
Fir.. 3G 
Saroophaga tarraotniai : <i, larva; 
i OTg ?U t rJ?Tnl.T?JhSd^ e SS etrate* the skin oftlie worm or the 
{^!5aSS2S^WSrtS - Inysalis. as the case may be, and feeds 
ot same, showing stigmata \f\ ind ferolega nnnn HwWittv Hbrhaa within n/uiniriner 
and rent; /<. tarsal clawa of By with protet i u P OD im I,in ^ WBSUCfl wiium, uoquiriug 
Sfftw&y.) 1Ite, ^ a 0< sa "' ( '' AU enl * Tg * L tul1 growth and issuing sometimes be- 
fore but usually after its victim has 
transformed to the chrysalis state. Dropping to the ground, it burrows 
beneath the surface; and rapidly contracts to the pupa state, from which 
the perfect fly in due time issues. The species has been obtained from 
the Cotton Worm in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, and is indeed wide- 
spread over the country. It is most abundant in autumn, and passes 
