344 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



upright, and, bringing the abdomen at right angles 

 to the surface of the earth, thrusts the ovipositor 

 into the ground. After placing one or two eggs in 

 the hole thus made, she moves forward a few steps 

 and repeats the operation. ' ' 



FAMILY STRATIOMYIIDiE. 



(Soldier Flies.) 



Some of these are brightly marked, hence the 

 name of ''soldier fly." The body is broad and flat- 

 tened. The antennas vary ; some are elongate, others 

 are short and broad at the base, with a bristle at the 

 apex. 



The larvae vary in habits, some living in water, 

 some in damp soil, and some in decaying wood. 

 Some are vegetable feeders, feeding on decaying 

 vegetable matter; others are carnivorous. 



Tlie pupa is formed within tlie last larval skin 

 or puparium, but the latter does not form a seed- 

 like structure, but retains the ringed appearance of 

 the larva (Plate 40, Fig. 8) 



