56 NEW ZEALAND ENTOMOLOGY. 



siderable time and is finally transformed into the blunt- 

 looking pupa, drawn at Fig. 4b, without having previously 

 constructed any cocoon. From this the perfect insect 

 emerges in a month or six weeks' time, commencing its 

 work of destruction as soon as its wings are hardened, 

 which takes place within a few hours. 



Family STRATIOMID.-E. 



Exaireta spiniger (Plate VI., fig. 5). 



Abundant during November, when it may be taken in 

 great numbers in the vicinity of water. The larva is 

 probably aquatic, but I have not yet observed it, although 

 its habits would, no doubt, be very interesting. The perfect 

 insects frequent flowers, and are generally very sluggish in 

 their movements. 



Family ACROCERID/E. 

 Acrocera longirostris, n.s. (Plate VII., fig. 4). 

 An extraordinary and very rare species, occurring 

 amongst white rata T blossoms in February. At present 

 I have only taken three specimens, via., two in Wellington 

 and one in Nelson. The transformations of all the 

 Acroceridae are as yet unknown. 



Family SYRPHID.E. 



Syrphus ortas (Plate VII., fig. 3, 3a larva, 3b pupa). 



Very common everywhere from September till May, 

 or even later, when specimens may be often seen basking in 

 the winter sunshine. The larva (3a) is a most useful insect 

 to gardeners as it destroys an immense number of aphides, 

 those noxious little insects that commit such fearful 

 ravages on many valuable plants (see Hemiptera, page 



1 Metrosideros scandens. 



