442 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol, II, No. 6 
Comstock (1879) reports having reared Sarcophaga sarraceniae from 
Alabama ( Aletia) argillacea , and gives some interesting data regarding 
the biology of the Sarcophagidae. 
Coquillett (1892) observed sarcophagids attacking locusts in California 
during the summer of 1891, and, although he did not succeed in rearing 
the adult flies, his observations as to the method of attack agree quite 
closely with those of the writer. 
Lugger (1896) observed a species of Sarcophaga, erroneously deter¬ 
mined as 5 . carnaria, striking grasshoppers, but erred in stating that it 
deposited an elongated white egg upon the body of the locust. 
S. J. Hunter (1899) has expressed the opinion that species of Sarcoph¬ 
aga which he observed deposited their eggs upon the soft body of the 
locust immediately after molting had occurred. 
H. A. Morgan (1901) has published a list of Sarcophagidae reared from 
grasshoppers in 1900. 
Lahille (1907) states that he has reared a lot of sarcophagids from 
grasshoppers and thus has recognized them to be parasitic. He did not, 
however, make any observation on the method of larviposition of the 
sarcophagids. 
Kunckel d’Herculais (1893-1905) has described the method of larvi¬ 
position of Sarcophaga clathrata Meigen. His observations were as 
follows: 
We saw swarms of flies on the ground, flying in the neighborhood of the grasshoppers. 
We were surprised to see them introducing a tiny larva into the abdominal segments 
of the grasshoppers (Stauronotus maroccamis ), but observing patiently and scrupu¬ 
lously they finished the attempt before we were able to seize them. (Translation.) 
D’Herculais reared large numbers of Sarcophaga clathrata from dead 
grasshoppers collected in Algiers, and stated that the parasites materially 
reduced the numbers of the grasshoppers. 
It appears from the statements made by the observers quoted herein 
that sarcophagids have really been known to be parasitic on grasshoppers 
for a number of years, and yet each of the observers, with the exception 
of D’Herculais and Lahille, seemed to doubt this fact, on account of the 
supposedly well-known carrion-feeding habits of the genus. However, 
the observations by Lugger, Coquillett, and C. N. Ainslie substantiate 
those of the writer as to the parasitic habit, and if the flies observed by 
Lugger and Coquillett had been collected they would very likely have 
proved to be Sarcophaga kellyi , since this species predominates in the 
rearings of Ainslie and the writer. 
It is hoped that the facts stated herein will place these species on their 
correct footing as parasites and will eliminate all doubt as to their habits. 
PARASITES OF THE SARCOPHAGIDS 
From the puparia of Sarcophaga were reared Perilampus hyalinus 
Say, only one specimen issuing from each puparium. This species, 
however, has been fully discussed by H. S. Smith (1912). 
Chalcis coloradensis Cress, was also reared from a number of the 
puparia of Sarcophaga kellyi , only one adult issuing from each puparium. 
A few specimens of this species have been collected in eastern Colorado, 
and on July 27, 1900, Mr. George W. Martin, of Sterling, Colo., sent a 
number of grasshoppers to Washington which were heavily infested 
with sarcophagid larvae. On August 10 adults of Sarcophaga sarraceniae 
issued, and on August 14 two secondary parasites ( Chalcis coloradensis) 
issued from puparia of the Sarcophaga. 
