2o8 SECOND KEPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Lipura llmetaria (Linn.). 



(Ord. Neuroptera: Fam. Podurid^). 



Podura fimetaria Linn.: Syst. Nat., 12th edit., 1766, p. 1014. 



Lipuni fimetaria Pack.: in Amer. Naturalist, v, 1871, p. 106, f. 38; in 5th Rept- 



Peab. Acad. Sci., 1873, p. 29. 

 Lipura fimetaria. Murray: Econom. Entomol. — Aptera, p. 412, f. 21. 

 Lipura fimetaria. Lintner: in Count. Gent., xliv, 1879, p. 327; id., xlv, 1880, 



p. 103. 



This little species of the Poduridce, frequently found in damp locali- 

 ties, but scarcely regarded as of economic importance, has in- two in- 

 stances been brought to my notice under circumstances that made it of 

 more than usual interest — in one instance abounding in a cistern, and 

 in the other in a well used for household purposes. 



With the first, the following communication was sent: 



Its Occurrence in a Cistern. 



Please find inclosed some strange insects that I found in my cistern 

 about three weeks since [in January]. The cistern is a large one, with a 

 small, receiving cistern near it, from which the water is filtered into the 

 large one. During the last severe weather the pump froze and broke. 

 I then ordered water to be drawn with pole and bucket. The first 

 bucketful drawn up appeared to have hundreds of these little white in- 

 sects in it, and they continued to come up with every bucketful. These 

 I have had in a glass goblet in a warm room for the last three weeks. 

 The cistern has been built a little over two years, and has a close-fitting 

 iron cover on it. There is no wood in or around it. Where did these 

 insects come from ? 



The insects were alive when received, and although they had been 

 confined for two days, at least, in a homoeopathic vial, they were found 

 quite active upon the surface of the water. Their tenacity of life is 

 somewhat remarkable, for it is recorded of this species that it has been 

 kept in confinement from September until the following June. 



In reply to the communication, assurance was given of their harmless 

 character in the location found, as they could only act as scavengers, 

 serving to remove impurities. In answer to the question where they 

 came from, it was stated that the species occurred under damp sticks or 

 wet pieces of wood. A favorable locality for it would be under the 

 roof shingles projecting over a wooden gutter, through which, washed 

 off by the rains, they could be readily conveyed into a cistern, and, 

 from their fecundity and rapid propagation, soon become greatly multi- 

 plied. As they live upon the surface of the water, their presence would 



