112 THE EARLY STAGES OF TABANID^ 



to the Bombyliidae, should be of more pronounced parasitic habits. 

 In Tahanus glaucopis we have probably to deal with an occasional 

 parasitism, not typical for the species. 



Tahanus gratus Loew. — An African species, and, according to Neave, 

 a very common one and one of the earliest on the wing in southern 

 Nyasaland, occurring sometimes in August. 



Larvse and pupae were collected 'n this month, the first individual 

 emerging in the laboratory on September 1. The larva (Plate 3, 

 Fig. 51) is moderately pigmented, though compared with that of 

 Tahanus insignis the pigmented areas are nearly confined to the edges 

 of the segments and are not nearly so dark in color. The syphon is 

 somewhat longer than in that species. A few larvae were obtained 

 in the stream beds near Mt. Mlanje and a small series in Portuguese 

 territory to the east of the mountain early in October. 



The pupal aster (Plate 15, Fig. 186, a-d) is of the normal type, 

 being regular in outline. The spines of the dorsolateral comb are 

 much reduced, especially in the male. 



Tahanus hilaris Walker, — A species of Bengal, Assam, and South 

 India, on the early stages of which we have some notes by Patton and 

 Cragg (1913). According to these authors its habits of oviposition 

 are the same as in Tahanus striatus, that is, it oviposits as a general 

 rule on blades of grass, pieces of stick, etc., at the edge of a river, 

 stream, or pond. The eggs when deposited are brownish white. 

 No figures or descriptions are given. 



Tahanus ignotus Rossi. — A species not listed in Schiner's Fauna 

 Austriaca, and, according to del Guercio, synonymous with Tahanus 

 alhipes Fabr. Del Guercio has given a somewhat unsatisfactory 

 account of its life history, and its early stages. The species has 

 appeared, according to del Guercio, in extraordinary numbers, in 

 company with tipulids, in the rice fields of the region of Bologna 

 (Italy), and the larva is said by him to have caused considerable dam- 

 age to the rice fields. 



The species, of which del Guercio furnishes a brief description, 

 not stating, however, on whose authority the insects were identified, 

 appeared in the region (Molinella) from the first ten to twenty days 



