154 [December, 



A MAEINE CADDIS-FLY IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 



BY ROBERT McLACHLAN, F.R.S., <tc. 



More than five years ago I published in this Magazine (vol. 

 xviii, p. 278, May, 1882) some notes on a marine caddis-fly in New 

 Zealand, and in the Journal of the Linnean Society, Zoology, vol. xvi, 

 pp. 417 — 422, a more detailed account was given, with figures, the 

 insect apparently being Philanisus plebejus. Walker. 



Some time ago, Mr. A. Sidney OUiff, of the Australian Museum, 

 Sydney, N.S.W., informed me that caddis-worms had been found 

 between high and low water-marks in Sydney Harbour. More 

 recentl}^ he forwarded two cases with larvse, and stated that they were 

 from shallow rock-pools at Chowder Bay, Port Jackson, in January, 

 between high and low water-marks, and that no fresh water sti-eam 

 exists in the locality. He said, furthermore, that the cases are 

 familiar to shell collectors. 



These cases are cylindrical tubes, 7 and 9 ram. long respectively, by about 2 

 mm. in diameter ; the smaller one is very slightly curved, and somewhat attenuated 

 gradually to the tail-end ; the larger is nearly straight, and of nearly equal diameter 

 throughout. The material consists of small irregular vegetable fragments arranged 

 en mosaique. 



The larva from the larger case is 7 mm. long, greyish -vrhite in colour, but the 

 head and pronotum slightly yellowish. The head is cut squarely in front, and the 

 anal segment ends somewhat squarely, with very short anal claws. The division 

 between meso- and meta-notum faintly indicated. No protuberances on the first 

 abdominal segment. As the larva is only slightly attenuated posteriorly, the sides 

 are nearly parallel, and the form is sub-cylindric , at present I can detect no trace 

 of respiratory filaments. Anterior-legs very short, posterior rather long ; the femora 

 much thickened ; terminal claw long and stout. (Mouth parts not at present 

 examined ; the mandibles are very short.) Altogether there is very much general 

 resemblance to the New Zealand larva believed to be that of Philanisus. 



The last remark is significant. After writing it, I proceeded to 

 look over a beautiful series of Trichoptera given me by Mr. E. 

 Meyrick. Amongst them is a specimen of P. plebejus, from Lyttleton, 

 N. Z., and immediately below this (as placed by Mr. Meyrick) is a 

 series of eight examples of a Philanisus from " Sydney, N. S. W., 

 21/8/84." This is very important ; it proves that Philanisus exists 

 also in Australia ; and it tends to prove that the marine larvse found 

 in Sydney Harbour are those of the Philanisus* taken by Mr. Meyrick 

 at Sydney. 



* Mr. Meyrick has kindly supplied the following particulars concerning this species : — " It 

 "was common on the rock-faces in the Government Domain, Sydney, where there is a rocky 

 "point jutting out into the sea, called 'Mrs. Macquarie's Chair.' I particularly noticed these 

 " Caddisflies from their position, because there is no fresh water near, save that after wet 

 " weather the rock-faces become wet from the drainage through the stone from above. I there- 

 " fore thought it quite possible they might be marine." 



