THE SYRPHIDAE OF OHIO 71 



sediment and two feet of running water, were believed by Dr. Morrey to 

 be feeding on decaying Confervae growing in the tank. Some of them 

 left the tank to burrow in the soft wet soil and decaying portions of a wil- 

 low log. They did not appear to burrow into the mud at the bottom of 

 the tank. 



Mallota — Lintner, ist N. Y. Report, 211, records the taking of two 

 larvae of M. posticata from a birch tree, 25 rods from the nearest water, 

 about 30 feet from the ground where a limb had been broken off causing 

 a decay in the heart wood. The larvae "were sordid white or flesh colored, 

 with a body of an oval form, about three-eighths of an inch in length, by 

 about one- fourth of an inch when at rest, and about twice as long and of a 

 diminished diameter when in motion. The tail-like projection from the 

 narrower end an inch in length; slightly tapering, transversely wrinkled 

 two-thirds its length; the remainder being a black, cylindrical, bristle-like 

 process susceptible of projection or contraction within the anterior portion. 

 When the grubs were taken from the fine, black mould in which they were 

 buried they extended their front segments like the pushing out of an 

 introverted glove-finger, and progressed moderately by the aid of several 

 pairs of low, flattened, ventral tubercles, bearing on their circumference 

 a number of closely set radiating spinules. 



"The larvae did not pupate for about a month, presumably feeding 

 upon the mould. Several times they" emerged from the mould and traveled 

 restlessly about the jar, finall}" remaining upon the surface. On the 

 i6th of February they had contracted materially in size and become 

 very pointed behind. The front segments assumed a darker shade. The 

 two respiratory horns on the dorsum over the .second pair of leg tubercles 

 had become more prominent and were now about one-twentieth of an inch 

 long. The tube containing the respiratory .setae was dark brown. An 

 irregular-shaped packet of excremental matter was attached to the anal 

 orifice. Pupation was brief — 12 days for a male and 14 for a female. Lat- 

 erally on the puparium, seven .slightly projecting, black spiracles may 

 be seen with a lens, one over each leg tubercle." (If these are reall}- 

 respiratory .spiracles the condition is very anomalous from what is known 

 of Syrphid larvae.) "Ventrally between the tubercles are transverse rows 

 of bristles, and outside of the tubercles are longitudinal rows, evidently 

 of service in locomotion. The puparium is flattened beneath and rounded 

 above. The respirator)- tube is clearly seen to consist of three portions. " 



Merodon — Verrall reports the very interesting habit of the Euro- 

 pean M. equestris of ])as.sing its larval stage in bulbs of Narcissi diWdi allied 

 plants which they devour; apparently becoming serious pests, as will be 



Syrp. tl 



