A NEW SARCOPHAGID PARASITE OP GRASSHOPPERS 1 
By E. O. G. Kelly. 
Entomological Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology 
INTRODUCTION 
On a bright, sunny afternoon early in September, 1908, near Welling¬ 
ton, Kans., the writer noted hundreds of grasshoppers (Melanoplus 
differentialis Thos. and M. bivittatus Say) upon tall weeds which grew in 
abundance along the sides of the road. They were continually flying in 
front of him, when suddenly his attention was attracted to flies which 
were striking the grasshoppers, causing the latter to drop to the ground 
as if shot. Several of the fallen grasshoppers were examined, but no 
eggs could be found on them, and no attempt was made at that time to 
rear possible parasites. 
On July 31, 1912, the writer caught an individual of Melanoplus dif¬ 
ferentialis as it was being struck by flies, both flies and grasshopper being 
captured, but, as before, a close examination of the grasshopper indicated 
that no eggs had been deposited upon it. 
The flies, which at first were thought by the writer to be tachinids, 
were preserved, and the grasshopper, together with four others that had 
been struck by flies, was caged in an effort to rear the parasites. The 
grasshoppers died on August 4 and 6. Full-grown maggots issued from 
these dead grasshoppers on August 10, pupated from August 12 to 14, 
and adults, identical with those collected on July 31, issued on August 26. 
These flies were determined by Mr. W. R. Walton, of the Bureau of 
Fntomology, as belonging to several species, one of which has since been 
determined as undescribed by Dr. J. M. Aldrich. (See description on 
p. 443-444 as Sarcophaga kellyi.) These rearings seemed to furnish ample 
proof that the species under observation were parasitic, and the writer 
supposed that in striking the grasshoppers the flies were ovipositing. 
The peculiar, quite shrill tone produced by the flying sarcophagids is 
very characteristic, and being so much louder than that of other flies, 
it greatly facilitates observations. 
FIEED STUDIES OF SARCOPHAGIDS 
On September 17,1912, a number of grasshoppers, which had been struck 
by the fly described herein as Sarcophaga kellyi Aldrich, were caught and 
examined closely, but again no eggs could be found on them. A grass¬ 
hopper upon which no eggs were to be found was then caught and released 
in the vicinity of five of these flies, all of which were sitting on a block of 
wood. As soon as the grasshopper was released, the flies darted after and 
struck it, causing it at once to drop to the ground. It was caught again 
for examination, but, as before, no eggs could be found upon it. This 
experiment was repeated several times, always with the same negative 
results. After this continued fruitless searching for eggs, a number of 
1 Description of new species by Dr. J. M. Aldrich, Entomological Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect 
Investigations, Bureau of Entomology. 
Journal of Agricultural Research, 
Dept, of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
Vol. II, No. 6 
Sept. 21, 1914 
K—9 
55442 —14 - 3 
(435). 
