76 H. C. EFFLATOUN. 



Verrall who considers tbat ail atteinj^ls to split up'tbe European 

 or Palaearctic species into distinct gênera hâve been failures. 



DESCRIPTION: — The larva, as described by Lundbeck bas a 

 cylindrical body,a little attenuated behind before it goes over into the 

 long, thin, tail-shaped part ; the body consists of twelve segments, the 

 head included, this latter being smali and retracted; above the roouth 

 opening are two small, two-jointed organs, the antenna-like papillae 

 or so-cailed antennae, the last joint bearing two small papillae; there 

 are no mouth-hooks but a pharyngeal skeleton ; at each side of the 

 inouth below is a small wart witb spines. The body is somewhat 

 transversely corrugated above, and the prothoracal segment bas 

 some longitudinal furrows. The dermis is tough and densely beset 

 with small spinules; besides thèse clothing spinules there are above 

 on the corrugations some rather larger spines or small warts but 

 they are very siightly pronouuced; they are présent in the same 

 nu/Jiber and arranged quite in the same way as in other Syrphid 

 larvse so that there are some on the prothoracal segment, a trans- 

 verse row of six on the second and third thoracal segments and on 

 the first abdominal segment; on the other segments there are two 

 in the middle on one corrugation and two towards each side on 

 the next corrugation; on tbe sides there are three on each segment 

 and one quite below on the ventral surface. On tbe ventral side 

 there are a pair of proleg-like warts^ beset with spines, on the 

 I^rotboracal segment, and then six pairs of prolegs on tbe six first 

 abdominal segments; thèse are beset witli curved spines at the end, 

 especially along tbe hind margin. The last segment terminâtes in 

 the long tail-shaped part Vv'ith the postorior spiracular tube which 

 is telescopically pro-and retractile and able to be stretched out to 

 a very great length. The tail consists of three divisions, the fore- 

 most is a prolongation of tbe last segment ; it is transversely 

 wrinkled and like the other dermis beset with fine spines ; at the 

 sides of it are four small bunches of hairs at intervais, one at each 

 side at the base, one at the ajiex and two intermediate, but the 

 distances between them are dépendent on tbe contractions; tbe 

 next division is thinner, longitudinally striated and with fine, 

 ncarly microscopical sjjines in rows; finally tîie third division is 

 still thinner, more firnily chitinized and brown; it is very finely 

 transversely striated, tbe end part sjuootli, and it bears at i\\e apex 

 the spiraclcs surrounded by eiglit plumose hairs. The length of the 

 Ihroe divisions are dépendent on the degree of extension, only 

 when fully extended, they are seen in fuU length, and wlien fully 

 retracted the intermediate part is quite hiddcn in the basai divi- 

 sion and only the end of the third part is seen protruding from 

 the first or basai part, and also this latter part may be somewhat 



