794 STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN NEUROPTERA, vii., 



about 8 mm. in length, and is very stout. As this instar lias 

 been passed entirely in the summer-months, with an abundance 

 of food and warmth, growth is comparatively rapid, and the 

 second ecdysis usually takes place during February or March of 

 the second year of larval life. This ecdysis does not appear to 

 be such a crisis in the life of the larva as was the first one: pos- 

 sibly because the larvae are more active in the warm weather, 

 and make greater efforts to free themselves from the hard cuticle 

 of the head, which is again the principal cause of any mortality 

 that occurs at this period. 



Third Larval Instar. (Plate Ixxix., fig. 5; Text-figs.4-9), 

 As before, this second ecdysis results in a great increase of 

 the size of the head, which broadens considerably, becoming 

 squarish, as shown in Plate Ixxix., fig.5. The increase in length 

 is only a moderate amount, but in breadth it is more than 50 

 per cent, of the width at the end of the second instar. The 

 labrum broadens with the head, and loses its triangular shape, 

 as may be seen by comparing Text-figs. 3 and 6. The antennae 

 sometimes become ten-jointed, but I have only been able to 

 count nine in several specimens. The labial palps remain five- 

 jointed, and there is no change in the shape of mandibles or 

 maxillae. 



Thorax, legs, and abdomen remain of the same shape as in the 

 second instar. The pattern varies greatly for different indi- 

 viduals, some being brown all over, others brown with grey 

 pruinescence, and others entirely grey, or almost white, and 

 strongly pruinescent all over. The head usually remains a rich 

 dark brown; but I have seen specimens with strong pruinescence 

 upon the head also. 



During March and April of its second year of existence, the 

 larva feeds up rapidly, and many specimens become apparently 

 full-fed by the time winter sets in. None, however, attempt to 

 spin up, but remain dormant in crevices of the bark until the 

 warmer weather of the Spring returns. During this second 

 hibernation, great mortality occurs, many larvae being attacked 

 by some obscure fungoid disease, and others apparently dying of 



