clxxxii FAUNA HAWAIIENSIS 



the latter, two specific names have been received from authorities at Washington and 

 a third from the British Museum, so we are doubtful as to which it really belongs. 

 Having no faunistic interest we have not specially inquired into this matter. 



LiMNOBiiDAE. — The species o{ Dicranomyia are endemic, and to the five described, 

 others and perhaps many more will, no doubt, be added. They are common insects, 

 sometimes attracted by light and sometimes observed at rest in the daytime, or on the 

 wing in the dark cavity of some hollow tree. In the latter case a number are usually 

 seen flying together, rising and falling in their flight in the narrow space of a few feet. 

 We have bred one or more species from decayed wood, overgrown with damp moss. 

 These fragile flies are the favourite prey of the endemic predaceous wasps of the family 

 Mimesidae, and some of the Crabronidae likewise gather them. Consequently one may 

 find the females of these wasps investigating damp, dark places, where the Dicrano- 

 myia are likely to be found, but which ordinarily would have but little attraction for 

 such sun-loving insects. 



The single species of Linmobia is common in Honolulu (and elsewhere) and is 

 I suspect introduced. It has been bred from damp moss. The Triviicra is also of 

 doubtful endemicity. Styringomyia didyina^ is extremely common near the coast 

 around Oahu and perhaps on the other islands. It sometimes swarms at night around 

 the electric lights, sitting quietly on the walls and ceilings, with the body pressed 

 closely to the surface, and the front and middle legs extended straight forward in front 

 of the head in a characteristic manner. We have found this or a very closely allied 

 species, as well as a much larger species, in Australia, and should its habits prove it to 

 be liable to be carried by ships, we should consider it an importation into the islands. 



Stratiomyidae. — There are three species, all doubtless introductions by man, 

 though two have not been yet identified from elsewhere. Of the two smaller species 

 one a Sargus was already found in Honolulu 30 years ago, the other, Acanthina, has 

 been evident for only about 1 5 years. 



The conspicuous Neoexaireta spinigera is also of recent introduction, not noticed 

 in 1897, but already common round Honolulu in 1900. It enters the lower forests and 

 the larvae abound beneath the bark of some of the native trees, when in a decaying 

 condition. This fly is now frequently carried off by the endemic fossorial wasps 

 (Crabronidae) for the provisioning of their nests. 



ScENOPiNiDAE. — Like the above family this has no special interest to the student 

 of the fauna. It is represented by only one or two foreign species of domestic habits. 



^ This species was subsequently bred by Mr F. W. Terry and I should consider it to be a probable 

 introduction by man. 



