Syrphidae. 29 



Melanostoma, feeds on larvæ of Microlepidoptera. The larva of Meso- 

 grapta., a genus allied to Sphaerophoria, is recorded to live on pollen 

 and tissues of corn (Riley and Howard: Ins. Life I, 5—8, II, 115). 

 The larvæ of Platychirus and Pyrophaena have been foimd among 

 old leaves and in flood refuse, no doubt however living on Aphides 

 or carnivorous in some other way ; the larva and pupa of these 

 genera quite resemble those of the other allied genera, only the pupa 

 has anterior spiracular tubes, but these are exceedingly small. The 

 larvæ of Xanthogramma and Doros have been found in the earlh 

 under moss or turf, probably they are also carnivorous; these larvæ 

 are somewhat leech-like, with a short posterior spiracular process; the 

 pupa has no anterior spiracular tubes, The larva of Neoascia has 

 been found in flood refuse of vegetables, probably likewise carnivorous, 

 perhaps on microorganisms; it is not leech-like, elongated, with a short 

 tail ending in a telescopically retractile spiracular process; the pupa 

 has anterior spiracular tubes. The larva of Brachyopa lives in exuding 

 sap on ulcerated trees; it has a somewhat long posterior spiracular 

 process ; the pupa has anterior spiracular tubes. Ehingia was recorded 

 by Reaumur to have been bred from cow-dung, but the observation 

 has never since been confirmed. The larvæ of Chilosia are internal 

 feeders in root, stalk or leaves of various piants, and in fungi ; they 

 have a not long posterior spiracular process; the pupa has anterior 

 spiracular tubes. Finally the larvæ of Chrysogaster (s. 1.) have been 

 found in mud and flood refuse; they have a short tail with a tele- 

 scopical posterior spiracular process; the pupa has long anterior spira- 

 cular tubes. — The larvæ of the Volucellinae (at all events of the 

 European species) live in nests of Bomhus and Vespa, no doubt not 

 as parasites but as scavengers; they are flat, with a short posterior 

 spiracular process; the pupa has anterior spiracular tubes. — The 

 larvæ of the Eristalinae live nearly all in putrid water, perhaps of 

 microorganisms or of the organic matters dissolved in the water, those 

 of Myiatropa and Mallota live in water or humidity in hollow trees; 

 the larvæ belong to the rat-tailed type; they are more or less cylin- 

 drical with a very long, telescopical tail with apical spiracles sur- 

 rounded by stellately arranged threads; the pupa has rather long an- 

 terior spiracular tubes. Merodon is differing, its larva lives in bulbs 

 of Narcissus and allied piants; it is not rat-tailed but somewhat like 

 a Syrphus-\avYSi, with a short posterior spiracular process; the pupa 

 has anterior spiracular tubes. — The larvæ of the Milesiinae seem 

 generally to live in exuding sap or decaying trees; this is known for 

 Myiolepta, Criorrhina, Pocota, Brachypaipus, Xylota, Ferdinandea, 

 Temnostoma and Calliprobola ; that of Tropidia has been found in 



