120 THE EARLY STAGES OF TABANID^ 



The eggs are usually deposited after June 10, and the specimens 

 from which larvae for rearing hatched were taken in Medina County, 

 Ohio, on a common sedge found growing near the outlet of a small 

 spring. They were collected June 28 and hatched the next day and 

 the day after. As Hine had not been successful up to this time in 

 keeping very young larvae for any length of time, it was decided to 

 try different methods of treatment in order to find out, if possible, 

 that which is best suited to their requirements. Some were placed 

 in a jar containing water only (No. 1) ; others in a jar containing water 

 with a couple of inches of sand in the bottom (No. 2). A third jar 

 (No. 3), in which larvae were placed, contained wet muck, while the 

 fourth lot (No. 4) was placed in a jar containing moist sand to the 

 depth of about 3 inches, covered over the top with a quantity of fine 

 leaves of water plants. In all the breeding jars were placed plenty 

 of small crustaceans and other minute invertebrates procured from 

 water by means of a finely-meshed sieve. 



It was soon observed that the larvae in breeding jar No. 4 fed on 

 the crustaceans, and at the end of a few days showed a distinct in- 

 crease in size. Those in the jars containing water soon died, and jar 

 No. 3 did not appear to be a success, so all but No. 4 were aban- 

 doned. The larvae in this last, however, were separated, and placed 

 in similar jars, one specimen in each, and reared to full size, the 

 adult fly being procured the following spring. 



Since, as stated, three of the four jars started were soon abandoned, 

 what is said hereafter regarding the method used in rearing pertains 

 to the single one retained. A glass jar was selected so that the 

 actions of the larvae could be observed; a small jar seemed desirable 

 because the larvae are predacious and eat their own kind as readily 

 as anything else, for which reason it is necessary after a short time 

 to place only a single specimen in a jar; also, even a small receptacle 

 furnishes plenty of room and the long series which it is desirable to 

 have takes as much space in the insectary as one cares to give to a 

 single species. Only the quantity of sand and other material neces- 

 sary to success should be placed in the breeding jar, as it is desirable 

 once in a while to look this material over carefully in order to locate 

 the very small specimens and find out what they are doing. 



