220 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Larva, stage I. Head elliptical, a little longer than wide, smooth, a 

 distinct offset on each side bearing the antennae, which are very long, 

 slender, a small hair at basal third, two smaller ones before tip and two 

 terminal spines; two spines at the mouth; brushes very small and of few 

 hairs; eves round, blackish; a small black button on the center of the 

 upper surface with a clear space before it. All darkly infuscated except 

 the basal insertion of the antennae, which are paler toward the tips. 

 Thorax broader than long; abdomen submoniliform, normal. Thoracic 

 hairs fine, not long, in groups on the sides as usual. Abdominal hairs 

 moderate, the large lateral ones double on the first two segments, then 

 single, less developed posteriorly. Comb of the 8th segment a single 

 row of short, pointed spines. Air tube constricted at the outer third, the 

 terminal portion linear and ending in a bunch of stout recurved hooks, 

 the basal portion slightly constricted centrally, bearing a long hair on 

 each side, but no pecten ; heavily infuscated to base. Anal segment longer 

 than wide, an elongate dorsal plate, slightly infuscated; dorsal tufts of 

 two hairs on each side, a smaller lateral hair, no ventral brush. Anal 

 processes four, small, very slender, uniform with rounded tips, containing 

 small tracheae. Body tracheae slender, uniform, nearly straight, trace 

 able from head to air fube distinctly. Body transparent with many small 

 yellow spots of pigment, irregularly scattered. 



This larva has hitherto escaped observation. It is the last one 

 of the common Atlantic Coast forms to be discovered, and is 

 really not discovered yet, since we are unaware of its natural 

 habits and places of occurrence. The larvae refused to feed. 

 They did not use the small mouth brushes perceptibly, but lay 

 at the bottom of the water absolutely motionless for hours and 

 days together. Some specimens we thought dead; but on trans 

 ferring them to a slide, they wriggled in a fairly lively manner, 

 pushing the curiously shaped air tube as if to fasten it in some 

 object. This tube is obviously of a prehensile nature, being 

 furnished with hooks like the cremaster of a moth pupa. It can 

 scarcely serve to pierce the water film ; but whether the larvae 

 live in hollow trees and attach themselves by the air tube to the 

 soft wood within, or whether their life history is of an even more 

 complex nature, we can only surmise at present. They do not 

 seem active enough to be predaceous, and they are not ordinary 

 vegetable feeders. If they are parasites, we cannot yet surmise 

 in what manner, nor on what host. 



