824 Charles Paul Alexander 



ventral side; two blunt tubercles on dorsal surface near base and close to median line (Plate 

 XXVIII, 117). Tergal lobes at outer angles of a flattened plate, very short, triangular, each 

 with two small hairs on caudal face before tip. 



Nepionoiype. — Cascadilla Creek, Ithaca, New York, May 22, 1917. 



Nennotype. — Type locality, June G, 1917. 



Paratijpes. — Abundant larvae and pupae with types, May 22 to June 6, 1917. 



Dicranomyia badia (Walk.) 



1848 Limnohia badia Walk. List Dipt. Brit. Mus., vol. 1, p. 40. 



1859 Dicranomyia humidicola O. S. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 210. 



Dicranomyia badia is a very common species thruoiit eastern North 

 America, occurring in gorges and ravines and along streams. The adult 

 flies may be found resting on perpendicular cliffs near these haunts. In 

 a position of rest they have all six feet on the support, a very different 

 resting position from that of the often-associated genera Oropeza and 

 Dolichopeza. 



The larvae, as is frequent in this genus, live in and beneath moss, 

 especially saturated cushions of moss growing in or near the margins of 

 streams. They are of a clear light pea-green color, and simulate the moss 

 to an astonishing degree. The writer found these larvae in Needham's 

 Glen, Ithaca, New York, on April 16, 1917, beneath wet cushions of 

 Amblystegium irriguum (Hook. & Wils.) B. & S., a moss that covers 

 all the rocks and stones near water. In these moss cushions the larvae 

 were associated with tiny larvae of Tipula ignobilis and pupae of T. 

 collaris. When ready to pupate, the larva spins a small, silken, silt- 

 covered case, which is further protected by a covering of small pieces of 

 moss stems adhering to its outside, this case being hung up in the moss 

 cushion, with the cephalic end of the pupa projecting. The pupal duration 

 is about seven days (April 21 to 28 in the cases observed). The dark- 

 colored pupa, with its contrasting yellow breathing horns, is very 

 handsome. 



Larva. — Length, 10.5 mm. 



Diameter, 0.6-0.65 mm. 



Coloration light pea-green, abdominal welts brown; after death general color fading to 

 very pale greenish white. 



Form slender; body terete, dorsal and ventral transverse welts at base of abdominal seg- 

 ments conspicuous. Spiracular disk (Plate XXVIl, 104) with lobes indistinct, suffused with 

 dusky, lateral lobes very blunt; disk surrounded by a fringe of short, dark-colored hairs. 

 Spiracles very large, ovate, dorsal ends close together. Anal gills long and slender, pale. 



