STONE-FLIES. 7 



Wellington and also at Orepuki, near Invercargill. 

 Although rather a rare insect, it will probably be found 

 to be generally distributed throughout New Zealand. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches. "Black. Head scarcely 

 depressed; antennas with 40 joints, strong, submoniliform, scarcely shorter 

 than the body, the joints sub-ovate. Prothorax sub-transverse, acutely 

 angled, nearly quadrate, not much broader than the head. Caudal setae 

 very short, incurved, 14-jointed. Tibise banded with yellow. Wings 

 blackish, semi-opaque, densely reticulated. 



'• This species is not a Chloroperla nor a truePerla, nor is it a Stenoperla. 

 Probably it belongs to a new genus, but well-preserved specimens are 

 wanting for description. It is easily distinguished by its yellow tibiae " 

 (Hutton). 



The transformations of this insect closely resemble 

 those of the preceding species. The perfect insect 

 appears from November till March, and is occasionally 

 found in the neighbourhood of water. 



Genus LEPTOPERLA, Newman (1839). 



" Exterior portion of the fore-wing with six strong parallel nervures, of 

 which the fourth is forked at the extremity and the fifth unites with the 

 fourth before its furcation ; these longitudinal nervures are intersected by 

 several delicate transverse nervules. Antennas and caudal setae elongated. 

 Legs elongated. 



•• Distribution. — Tasmania and New Zealand" (Hutton). 



LEPTOPEKLA OPPOSITA. 



Perla opposita, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit. Mus. r 

 p. 171 (1852). Leptoperia opposita, McLachlan, Trans. 

 N.Z. Inst., vol. vi., App., p. xcii. (1874). 



This little insect is probably common, and generally 

 distributed throughout the country. 



The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The general colour is black 

 and shining, with the abdomen and legs more or less dull brown. "Pro- 

 thorax minutely punctured, rugulose on the disk, not broader in front, with 

 a rim on each side and along the fore border, sides straight, angles rather 

 sharp ; scutellum with a yellow spot in front. Wings very slightly grey, 

 darker about the transverse nervules ; nervures black " (Hutton). The fore- 

 wings are tinged with grey, with a spot of darker grey on each of the trans- 

 verse veins near the middle and apex. The hind-wings are darker grey, with 

 strong bluish reflections in the living insect. 



The larva of this species inhabits certain rapid-running 

 streams, but is not universally met with. It is full grown 

 very early in the spring, being very abundant in favoured 

 localities. It clings closely and firmly to the stones in 

 the bed of the stream, and its colouring in such situations 

 is extremely protective. It can crawl about in the 



