Millkk and Watt. — Study of .\(ir Zealand Entomology. 275 



from a single pupa of Oesctirn.s omnicorus* From this it appears likely 

 that the fly may attack other lepidopterous larvae besides, and also tends 

 to confirm the remarks above regarding oviposition. 



Rah. — Christchurch (Hutton) ; Wanganui. October (M. X. W.). 



No. 5. Psychoda conspicillata Hudson. 

 Psychoda conspicillata Hudson, Man. N.Z. Ent., p. 46, pi. iv, fig. 6. 



This species may be the Psychoda phalaenoides Linn, described by 

 Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 34, p. 179. 



As the adult fly has already been fully described and figured, it is un- 

 necessary to do so again here. The following notes are new : During the 

 last few years this beautiful little fly has been found breeding throughout 

 the year in tins of disused liquid horse-manure. The family Psychodidae 

 is represented by only a few species in New Zealand. Mr. Marshall (Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst., vol. 28. p. 222) says that the larvae live in fungi and rotten 

 wood. Our New Zealand species are, however, very little known. 



Ova and details of oviposition not yet known. 



The larva is aquatic, of an elongate form ; yellowish- white in colour 

 (description from specimens preserved in 3-per-cent. formol solution) ; 

 length when full grown, about | in., but variable ; number of segments, 

 about 25 (?) (fig. 1). 



The terminations consist of a downturned anterior and an upturned 

 posterior chitinous-like process, the former very short and stout when 

 compared with the latter, which is elongate, narrowing apically. On the 



Fig. 1. — Larva of Psychoda conspicillata. ds, ventral 

 hair* ; prv, respiratory vesicle. 



dorsal surface — exclusive of the first five segments — extending on each 

 side to the medio-lateral line is a vestiture of short reclinate hooked 

 bristles, which, below this lateral line, merge into indistinct and minute 

 delicate hairs, except on the two apical segments, where the bristles form 

 a complete covering. The medio-lateral line is a distinct fold of the cuticle, 

 extending from the anterior margin of the 6th to the terminal segment. 

 This fold is thrown into a series of wrinkles by the contractions of the 

 body-wall. 



The respiratory vesicle — the posterior process (fig. 1, prv) — is an elongate 

 brownish structure, darker at the apex, and broadened toward the base. 



* Since writing the above some larvae of the moth Melanchra insignia were being 

 reared from ova sent t< me from Dunedin by Mr. W. G. Howes. At no time during the 

 oval, larval, or pupal stage was it at all possible for flies or other insects to attack the 

 specimens, which were kept in glass dishes with flat glass lids. A fortnight after the 

 pupal stage had been assumed a single larva of P. nefaria emerged from one of the pupae 

 by bursting through the 4th abdominal segment, near the dorsum, and pupated. The 

 only possible way in which the victim could have become infected was by means of an 

 egg, or very young larva, of the fly being conveyed into the breeding-glass along 

 with the leaves of the food plant, in this case the common plantain, on which the 

 egg must have been deposited. It is well known that other Diptera of similar parasitic 

 habits lay their eggs in this way. 



