240 THE DAFFODIL FLY IN ESSEX.
of the Club on the reading of this paper, and afterwards
deposited in the Essex Museum of Natural History. As it
happened, Mr. Boulenger, of the British Museum, requested it
for the National Collection, where it can now be consulted by
those interested.
P.S.—Since this paper was in type, on comparing the
description here given with the preserved specimen in the
British Museum, there is a distinctly appreciable, but rudi-
mentary, condition of dark spot behind the upper part of the
operculum. It consists of some five pigmentary serrations
above, and as many below, the commencement of the lateral
line. Mr. Boulenger remarks that he has previously observed
spirit immersion bring out markings barely visible in the fresh
condition of other kinds of fish.—J.M.
The Daffodil Fly in Essex.—This fly, Merodon equestris,
appears to be spreading in Essex and likely to become a pest of
economic importance in the county as a destroyer of daffodil
bulbs. The fly, a Dipteron, belonging to the Syrphidae, appears
in May, and is exceedingly bee-like, having its abdomen, as a
rule, covered with foxy hair, but very variable both in size and
coloration. When flying it emits a very shrill sound and has the
habit characteristic of many of the Syrphidae of remaining
poised in the air for a time, and then of suddenly darting a
distance of about a yard away. It lays its eggs near the base
of the daffodil leaves, and the grub hatching in July eats its way
into the bulb, afterwards making a hole to the outside through
the side or base of the bulb, through which it can dispose of its
ejectment. The grub, which is legless, and dark gray or
blackish in colour, reaches a length when full grown of about
3/4-inch turns into a black pupa in November, in those
cases I have had an opportunity of examining, outside the bulb
in the soil. The only means of dealing with the pest appears to
be to wait until October is well advanced before planting the
bulbs and then to reject and burn all those that feel soft owing
to the eating away of the interior of the bulb.
Fred. J. Chittenden, Biological Laboratory, Chelmsford.