Oct. io, 1913 
Serpentine Leaf-Miner 
83 
PREDACEOUS ENEMIES OP THE SERPENTINE LEAF-MINER 
Very few predaceous species are known to feed upon the serpentine 
leaf-miner. This is largely due to the fact that the larvae feed well con¬ 
cealed within the leaf tissue and are thus not open prey. The following 
predatory insects are known to feed on some stage of the leaf-miner: 
Triphleps sp.—These adults are recorded by Mr. E. G. Smyth, recently 
of the Bureau of Entomology, at Tempe, Ariz., to pierce with their 
beaks the Agromyza larvae in their burrows. 
Erythraeus sp.—These red mites are recorded by Mr. Wildermuth at 
Tempe, Ariz., to attack and kill the Agromyza larvae in their tunnels. 
Mr. Nathan Banks determines this as probably a new species. 
REMEDIAL AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES 
The excessive parasitism under which this species exists has so far pre¬ 
vented it from becoming destructively abundant or doing any widespread 
serious injury. In case through any cause it should become more injuri¬ 
ous to alfalfa, doubtless cutting the crop for hay at once as soon as the 
depredations were observed would prevent a recurrence. Its greater 
abundance along ditches, roadsides, and other neglected places indicates 
that frequent cutting of the alfalfa acts as a permanent check upon the 
increase of the insect. East of the arid regions deep fall plowing would 
bury the pupae so deep in the ground as to put them beyond the possibility 
of emerging as adults. This is especially recommended for the annuals, 
such as cowpeas and rape. Throughout the remaining western country 
keeping down volunteer growth along ditch banks and in waste lands 
would greatly diminish the number of pupae which yearly enter hiberna¬ 
tion. Of course, pasturing either clover or alfalfa would destroy all 
larvae mining in the leaves eaten off by the grazing. 
OTHER SPECIES OF THE GENUS AGROMYZA LIKELY TO BE MIS¬ 
TAKEN FOR THE SERPENTINE LEAF-MINER 
The species of Agromyza are for the most part very similar to one 
another in appearance. As a consequence there has been much con¬ 
fusion in their proper classification, and as a further result of this con¬ 
fusion articles have been published relating to one species which in the 
light of our present knowledge clearly belong to another. It is with the 
hope of preventing further errors of this nature that the following species 
of Agromyza—the first of which has in the last year or two been confused 
with the serpentine leaf-miner—are briefly treated in this paper: 
Agromyza angulata Loew.—This leaf-miner (fig. 15) attacks leaves of timothy, 
mining between the membranes in the same manner as the serpentine leaf-miner. 
It was reared from puparia (fig. 16) in leaves of timothy found July 4, 1895, near 
Bladensburg Road, D. C,, by Mr. Theo. Pergande. 
