82 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA. 



The transformations of this insect probably closely 

 resemble those of the next species, and I have often met 

 with larva? and pupae identical in appearance but larger, 

 which would, if they had been successfully reared, most 

 likely have resulted in specimens of H. fimbriata. 



The perfect insect appears in November, December,, 

 and January. It flies at evening dusk in the neighbour- 

 hood of water. It is extremely active and difficult to> 

 catch, captured specimens frequently without the slightest 

 warning dashing out of the box. This activity of habit 

 alone, will suffice to distinguish this species from (E. maori 

 or its allies, which are, in every respect, much more slug- 

 gish insects. 



HYDEOPSYCHE COLONICA. 



Hy dropsy che colon ica, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc.,. 

 vol. 11, p. 131, pi. 4, fig. 16 (1873). 



(Plate XI., fig. 7 2 , 8 larva enlarged.) 



This caddis-fly is very common on the banks of 

 streams in the neighbourhood of Wellington. It has- 

 also occurred at Christchurch and at Ophir. 



The expansion of the wings of the male is about £ inch, of the female' 

 1| inch. General colour "blackish, head and prothorax covered with 

 hoary hairs ; antennae brown, with pale rings. Legs yellow. Abdomen 

 blackish, with a broad whitish line along each side. Anterior wings lon<j 

 and narrow, greyish-yellow, thickly reticulated with dark grey and with 

 several short blackish streaks on the inner margin. Posterior wings smoky, 

 the veins darker. In the male the last abdominal segment bears in its 

 middle a nearly vertical short lobe, which is notched. Appendages 

 testaceous or yellowish, the last joint of the inferior pair short, sub-obtuse, 

 stout. Penis cylindrical, directed upwards, the apex thickened, bifid, 

 bearing beneath two broad claw-shaped acute hooks. Length of the body. 

 <? 7 mm., ? 8 mm. ; expanse of wings, <j 22 mm., ? 28 mm." 

 (Hutton). 



The larva of this insect inhabits the streams through- 

 out the entire year, but is commonest in the early spring, 

 when full-grown individuals are often most abundant. 

 It frequents the most rapid portions of the stream, where 

 the water is clear and bright. It generally lives in a 

 loosely constructed gallery composed of leaves, twigs, 

 and fairly large pebbles, attached by means of fragile 

 silk to the under-surface of a large boulder. This larva 

 is able to cling with great tenacity by means of its strong 

 anal prolegs — a faculty which is no doubt very service- 

 able to the insect, whilst making its way about in the 

 rushing torrents, which it often frequents, and where 



