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279 Indian Museum Notes. , [Vol. IV.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW PARASITIC TACHINID
FLY FROM CEYLON.
BY D. W. COQUILLETT.

vit

COMMUNICATED BY E. E. GREEN, F.E.S.
Plate No. XVIII, fig. 1.
Exorista heterusice,' Coquillett, new species.

3 @ black, the apical two-thirds of the palpi and a spot on sides of the
second and third abdominal segments, yellowish. Front in the male two-
fifths, in the female three-fifths, as wide as either eye, the sides gray polli-
nose, orbital bristles present in the female, wanting in the male, frontal
bristles descending to base of third antennal joint, face whitish pollinose,
vibrissze on a level with the front edge of the oral margin, four or five bristles
above each, cheeks one-seventh as broad as the eye-height; antennz nearly
as long as the face, the third joint two and [one-half times as long as the
second, arista thickened on the basal third, its penultimate joint scarcely
longer than broad, palpi greatly thickened apically. Thorax gray pollinose,
marked with four black vitte; four postsutural and three sternopleural
macrochete, but the lowest of the latter sometimes very small; scutellum
bearing four marginal pairs, of which the hindmost pair is cruciate and
directed obliquely backward. Abdomen subshining, broadly whitish pollinose
on the bases of the last three segments, except a black dorsal vitta, macro-
cheetee of the first three segments only marginal. Hind tibie outwardly
ciliate, middle tibize each bearing a single macrochzta on the front side near
the middle, front pulvilli of male as long as the last tarsal joint. Wings
hyaline, slightly gray at the base, third vein bearing two or three bristles
at its base, bend of fourth vein destitute of an appendage; calypteres whitish.
Length 6 tog mm. One male and three females. §Pussellawa, Ceylon.
Bred from Heserusia cingala,* Moore, by Mr. E. E. Green, F.E.S., Honorary
Government Entomologist, Ceylon. ‘

1 This Tachinid fly is said to have done good service in checking the ravages of the tea
pest Heterusia cingala, Moore, in Ceylon. Specimens received from the Pussellawa district,
were found to be so thoroughly infested by it that from over one hundred of the caterpillars not
more than half a dozen moths were reared by Mr.Green. In some cases as Many as ten pupz
of the fly were found in the dead cocoons.

2 The caterpillar of this moth periodically occurs in very large numbers, and sometimes
completely defoliates the tea bushes over a large acreage in Ceylon (for an illustration of the
pest, See Plate XVIII jig. 2.)

G. 1. C. P. O.—No, P. 291 R. & A,--21-9-99.—D. R.—25

ne

—
G.C.Chuckraburtty, del. Photo-etching- Survey of India Offices, Calcutta,February 1899.
EXORISTA HETERUSIAE CO QUILLETT WV. Sp.
a. HE

TERUSIA CINGALA MOORE

ri.

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