The Crane-Flies of New York — Part II 935 



the fully grown larva is slightly over 30 millimeters. It is subcylindrical, 

 considerably flattened. Oval warts armed with minute teeth are situated 

 on both surfaces of abdominal segments 2 to 7. The larva is very dark 

 slaty gray in color, darker toward the extremities. The spiracular disk 

 as shown by Hudson's colored figure is very small. Apparently only 

 one larva inhabits the space between the two sheathing leaves of the 

 Astelia, and only those leaves which are full of a thick, brown, coffee- 

 like liquid are frequented. The pupa is inclosed in a rather tough, 

 extremely elongate, silken tube situated between the sheathing leaves. 

 It rests in an upright position in the midst of the semi-liquid mass. The 

 pupa measures about 38 millimeters in length, being very elongate with 

 the head and the thorax unusually small. The two pronotal breathing 

 horns are shaped somewhat like a bivalve shell. Abdominal segments 

 3 to 6 at the base on the dorsal side have finely-toothed warts; the ventral 

 surface has plain ridges. It is probable that the present species is not a 

 true Gnophomj'ia, but until more is known of this species and its relatives 

 it should be referred to this genus. 



The Gnophomyia pilipes referred to by Beling (1879:42) and by Gerbig 

 (1913:161-163) pertains to Trimicra (page 932). 



G. tristissi7n.ah.SiS been recorded by Malloch (1915-17b: 230-231) as living 

 in wet mud, but this is an error. The writer has material from exactly 

 the same source as Malloch's, received from James A. Hyslop, and this 

 shows that the haunt of the larvae is beneath the decaying bark of trees — 

 an unusual habitat for one of the Eriopterini, which for the most part 

 live in damp sand or earth near water. The rearing of this species in 

 New York (by Young), Massachusetts (by Johnson), Maryland (by 

 Hyslop), Virginia (by Shannon), Kansas (by Alexander), Illinois (by 

 Malloch and Alexander), and Texas (by Mitchell), leaves no question 

 that the immature stages are to be found beneath the decaying bark of 

 the larger hardwood trees, the tuUp tree, Liriodendron Tulipifera Linn., 

 being often preferred. 



CnophoTnyia iristissima O. S. 



1859 Gnophomyia tristissima 0. S. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., p. 224. 



Gnophomyia tristissima is an interesting 1)1 ack fly with conspicuous 

 vellow halteres. It is common and widely distril)uted thruout the eastern 



