THE BIONOMICS OF AUSTRALIAN TABANIDAE. 



55 



and 8th December provided the material from which a determination was 

 subsequently made in comparison witli a series of " wild " larvae, some of which were 

 subsequently bred out. 



The Adult Larva (figs. 11, 12). The full-grown larvae measure from 26 to 29 mm. 

 in length by about 4 mm. in width, and are creamy white in colour, with the faintest 

 indication of darker bands ; the cuticle is glabrous and without striae ; the tufts at 

 the base of the antennae are composed of short stout hairs ; there are no hairs on the 

 anterior margin of the thoracic segments, and those of the dorsal tubercles and 

 pseudopods are very short, slender and dark in colour. 



Fi". 11. 7. rjtfinotatHs, anterior end of adult larva. 



Fig. 12. T. rtifiiiotaius, posterior end of adult larva. 



From this record it will be seen that under laboratory conditions the larval stage 

 was not less than eight and a half months. 



Development of Larvae under Natural Conditions. Larvae were taken on 28th 

 April 1920 in association with the larvae of T. aprepes and T. nigrifarsis (see notes on 

 T. aprepes), and again in a similar bank on 15th June in association with the larvae 

 of Silvius notatus. After securing specimens for examination, the remainder were 

 placed in small earthenware vessels containing sand, which were thereafter kept moist. 

 The flies emerged as follows : — one female on 23rd ]\Iay (after a pupal period of nine 

 days), one male on 2nd June, and one female on 21st July. 



The Pupa. The average length of the pupa is about 15 mm. and the width at the 

 thorax about 4 mm. The eyes are blackish ; the vertex (in the female) and thorax 

 Dresden brown, the latter with faint traces of stripes ; abdomen ochraceous tawny, 

 with Dresden brown stripes corresponding to the black stripes on the abdomen of the 



