486 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



slender kinds of Laphria; but these are easily distinguished 

 from every species of Asihis by their antennae, which are not, 

 as in the latter, tipped with a slender point, but are blunt at 

 the end. 



Besides the foregoing, there are many other rapacious flies, 

 some of which are of great size. The largest one found here 

 is the orange-banded INIidas (Midas filatus*), specimens of 

 which are sometimes found measuring an inch and a quarter 

 in length, with wings expanding two inches and a quarter. It 

 is black, with an orange-colored band on the second ring of 

 the hind body; and the wings are smoky brown, with a metal- 

 lic lustre. It receives its scientific name, fdatus, signifying 

 threadlike, from its antennae, which are long and slender, but 

 they end with an oblong oval knob. Its generical name was 

 also given to it on account of its long antennae; Midas, in 

 Mythology, being the name of a person fabled to have had the 

 long ears of an ass. The orange-banded Midas may often be 

 seen flying in the woods in July and August, or resting and 

 basking in the sun upon fallen trees. Its transformations have 

 never been described. Its larva and pupa almost exactly re- 

 semble those of the rapacious Asilians. The larva is a cylin- 

 drical, whitish maggot, tapering before, and almost rounded 

 behind; it has only two breathing-holes, which are placed in 

 the last ring but one; and it grows to the length of two inches. 

 It lives and undergoes its transformations in decayed logs and 

 stumps. The pupa measures about an inch and a quarter in 

 length; it is of a brown color, and nearly cylindrical shape; 

 its tail is forked; there are eight thorns on the fore part of its 

 body; and each ring of the abdomen is edged with numerous 

 sharp teeth, like a saw, all these teeth pointing backwards 

 except those on the back of the first ring, which are directed 

 forwards. The pupa pushes itself half way out of the stump 

 when the fly is about to come forth, and the latter makes its 

 escape by splitting open the back of the pupa-skin. 



In the month of June, there may sometimes be seen, resting 

 on the grass or on rotten stumps, in open woods, a large, light- 



* Incorrectly named Mydas Jilata, by Fabricius. 



