Notes on Sarcophagids from the New Host Romalea microptera, and from Terrapene carolina carolina

Abstract

grasshopper. A new locality record is given for Cistudinomyia cistudinis (Aldrich). Sarcophagid fly larvae are reported from the new host Romalea microptera (Palisot de Beauvois), a lubber Sarcophagid fly larvae parasitize a wide range of invertebrates and vertebrates (Aldrich 1916; Greene 1925; James 1947; Zumpt 1965). The sarcophagids reported herein were recovered from Romalea microptera (Palisot de Beauvois), a lubber grasshopper, and Terrapene Carolina carolina (Linnaeus), the eastern or common box turtle. One third-instar (8.5 mm long) larval sarcophagid was recovered from the hemocoel of a Romalea microptera collected on the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory grounds on 18 November 1971. Four puparia (8.0, 8.5,9.0,9.5 mm long) were found in the hemocoel of another R. microptera from lab grounds on 5 September 1974. It is not known if the puparia represent the same species as the larva as larvae must be reared to adults to ensure correct specific identification. Two of fourteen (14%) grasshoppers examined were infected (Table I) , both hosts being females. AU sarcophagids plus one example of the host were deposited in the U. S. National Museum. The third instar proved to be quite hardy; it remained alive in 70% ethanol for 20 minutes, then in AFA for about one hour, finally being killed by hot AFA. The four puparia appeared to be alive when removed, and were held on moist filter paper from 5-17 September in order to see if they