The Instars of a Maggot (Pegohylemyia) Inhabiting White Spruce Cones

Abstract

Maggots of Pegohylemyia sp. have been found inhabiting the cones of white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench.) Voss, in southern Ontario. The species was identified from a single male specimen as probably Pegohylemyia anthracina Czerny by the Swedish authority Dr. O. Ringdahl. Difficulty in rearing the maggots to the adult stage has delayed confirmation of this identification but it is expected that a good series of adults will be available shortly. In this paper, however, the emphasis is placed on the instars with an outline of the life cycle. It is shown that the second- and third-instar larvae are free-living, but the first-instar larvae moult to the second within the egg chorion.