Marshall. — On Neio Zealand Diptera. 259 



Genus Brachydicrania, Sk. 



Auxiliary veiu iucomplete, very short, bent posteriorly. 

 Apex of the inner marginal cell lying over the base of the 

 second submarginal cell Fork of the third longitudinal vein 

 with a very short petiole. Second posterior cell small, its 

 base situated far beyond the base of the second submarginal 

 cell. Branches of the fourth longitudinal fork divergent. 

 Fifth longitudinal incomplete, long, ending just before the 

 base of the second posterior cell. Sixth longitudinal vein 

 longer. Abdomen of the male with six segments. 



Genus Brevicormo, nov. gen. 



This genus is separated from Mycetophila by the character 

 of the antennaB. 



CHAEACTERS OF THE FAMILY. 



The larvae of the IMiicetophilidce. are generally cylindrical, 

 iittenuated towards both extremiti.es, soft, fleshy, smooth or 

 a little wrinkled, moist, often viscous, more or less translu- 

 cent, with twelve more or less clearl}^ determinable segments 

 in addition to the head. Stigmata placed — one pair on the 

 first segment of the thoracic region, and one pair on each of 

 the abdominal segments from the first to the seventh inclusive. 

 Head horny. Short mandibles and palpi occasionally present, 

 and also rudimentary antennae. The larvte dilier very much 

 in appearance and form, not only in the different genera, but 

 also in different species of the same genera. 



The only observations that have hitherto been published are 

 some notes by Mr. G. V. Hudson on the larva of Bolitopliila 

 luminosa (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxiii., p. 47). Tiiis larva is 

 abundant in all damp and dark bush-gullies in many parts of 

 the colony. It lives suspended in a glutinous web, formed of 

 material which is probably secreted by the salivary glands, 

 though it seems to cover the whole surface of the body. It 

 is wdiitish and transparent, about fin. in length, with short 

 rudimentary antennae. It emits a brilliant phosphorescent 

 light, and hence has obtained the popular name of the " New 

 Zealand glow^-w'orm." I have not been able to ascertain 

 what the larva feeds on, but probably on small mould and 

 other fungi that abound in the localities where the larvas are 

 found. The only other species whose larvae are known to me 

 is Ceroplahis dendyi. Professor Dendy found numerous speci- 

 mens under logs in beech-forest on Mount Alford. One of the 

 larvae that he gave me pupated in due time, and the imago 

 escaped from the pupa- skin in February ; one other pupated, 

 but did not hatch. The larvae are about lin. or 1-^in. in 

 length ; in general shape like those of Bolitopliila luminosa, but 

 more cylindrical, and marked with rings of ferruginous brown. 



