Upon DIPTERA, Lygus Idownloads.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/1913/082506.pdf · 1913] Frost--Peculiar Habits of Small Diptera tively phototropic. Thoseproducedduringthe endof the season

1913] Frost--Peculiar Habits of Small Diptera

tively phototropic. Those produced during the end of the seasonbecome strongly negatively phototropic and after entering into astate of partial hibernation, no longer react phototropically butinstead become positively thigmotropic and negatively geotropic.Upon the approach of spring they become positively phototropicup to a low intensity and normally negatively phototropic and inaddition positively chemotropic to certain stimuli. Herein is in-cluded the instinctive action of hibernation dependent upon orinduced by several tropic stimuli.

PECULIAR HABITS OF SMALL DIPTERA,DESMOMETOPA LATIPES MEIG.

While collecting bees on the flowers of the wild aster on Septem-ber 15, 191, I noticed a small fly make a dash at a spider that wasresting on a milkweed leaf. Closer examination showed that thespider was feeding on a plant bug, Lygus pratensis L., which waswholly hidden beneath the body of the spider. There were alsothree of the flies on the leaf an inch or so away, and occasionally oneor all of them would rush in under the forelegs of the spider andcling to the body of the victim. They did not seem to mind theconstantly moving forelegs and were only disturbed when thespider moved itself and prey bodily. Possibly they had to moveto escape being jammed gainst the leaf. I was not able to makesure that they were lapping up the juices of the bug but I have nodoubt that this is the reason for their actions.The fearlessness of these small insects, barely equal to the head

of the spider, was stonishing to me and I can but wonder at theequisition of such a habit of robbery from so formidable an

enemy.All the specimens were captured and submitted to Mr. C. W.

Johnson who very kindly furnished the names of them. Thespider is a female Phidippus multiformis Emerton, and the fliesare Desmometopa latipes Meigen.

C. A. FROST.

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Upon DIPTERA, Lygus Idownloads.hindawi.com/journals/psyche/1913/082506.pdf · 1913] Frost--Peculiar Habits of Small Diptera tively phototropic. Thoseproducedduringthe endof the season