374 Phylum Arthr op oda 



The only species of this group that I have carried through one or more 

 complete life cycles are Nephrotoma suturalis and Tipula oxytona, but 

 the others have been reared from early or mid-stage larvae to adults and 

 would apparently be no more difficult to maintain in cultures than these 

 two. Glass jars or aquaria, about as tall as their diameter and a gallon 

 or more in capacity, form good rearing jars for about a dozen larvae. 

 Soil from the habitat, crumbled in the hands and sifted through a sieve 

 of about 10 meshes to the inch, should be placed in a layer i% to 2 inches 

 deep over an inch layer of coarse, damp sand and lightly tamped. It is 

 advisable to include all leaf fragments and other small bits of decaying 

 vegetation that are found in the sieve. The purpose of the sifting 

 is to remove unaccounted-for larvae and the various predatory ar- 

 thropods that occur in the soil. A few plants (grasses or small herbs) 

 from the habitat should be planted but kept from growing so tall as 

 to fill the space above the soil. For Nephrotoma suturalis centipede 

 grass, small cabbage plants, or young lettuce appeared to serve equally 

 well. The soil should be kept about as damp as or slightly damper than 

 the habitat from which the larvae were taken, but gravitational water 

 should never be present. A small well, formed by a piece of large glass 

 tubing, open at both ends and extending to the bottom of the jar, forms 

 a convenient well from which any surplus (standing) water may be 

 "pumped" with a pipette, and through which required water may be 

 added. 



GROUP IV. IMMATURE STAGES INHABITING ALGAE, MOSSES, AND LIVERWORTS 



Representative species: In algae (including diatomaceous sludges), and 

 mosses on wet cliffs, rocks and piling (Fauna Hygropetrica) — Dactylolabis 

 montana, Elliptera illinoiensis, Limonia humidicola, L. pudicoides, L. stulta, 

 L. canadensis, L. distincta, L. rostrata, L. simulans, Dolichopeza carolus, 

 Tipula caloptera, T. floridensis, T. furca, T. kennicotti, T. iroquois, T. 

 oropezoides. 



In filamentous algae floating in quiet waters (Infraneuston) — Limonia 

 distans, Megistocera longipennis, Tipula caloptera. 



In submerged algae (and mosses) of rocky or gravelly stream bottoms — 

 Limonia gladiator, L. iowensis, Limonia sp., Tipula caloptera. 



In mosses and liverworts on damp earth or logs — Limonia divisa, L. di- 

 versa, Dolichopeza dorsalis, D. obscura, D. sayi, D. subalbipes. 



A number of the species listed are aquatic or semi-aquatic, from the 

 standpoint of an ecological classification, but all may be successfully 

 cultured with no more water than is required to keep their food plants 

 from rapid deterioration. 



The rearing jars should have a thin layer (5-10 mm.) of sand covered 

 with one or two sheets of filter paper, the sand and filter paper being 

 saturated, or barely submerged in water. If algae are to be the food 

 plants, a small quantity of filamentous strands should be spread one (or 



