60 G. F. HILL. 



Distribution. This Tabanid is a widely distributed species, having been recorded 

 from S.W. AustraUa, Victoria, New South Wales, South Queensland, North Queensland 

 and the Northern Territory [S. fuliginostis, Taylor). "" 



Although so widely distributed, it would appear to be a rare species in this district, 

 where, apart from those referred to above, only one specimen (the tvpe of 5. psaro- 

 phanes) has been recorded hitherto. Nothing 'is known of its early 'stages and the 

 feeding habits of the larvae and adults. 



Breeding-places and Habits. On 22nd August 1919, while breaking down and 

 sifting the low banks of a small lily-covered pool (Locality No. 3) about 24 Tabanid 

 larvae were found in nearly dry, stiff, loamy soil at depths below the surface varying 

 from 10 to 30 cm. In most cases the larvae lay in a vertical position with the head 

 uppermost, others lay horizontally, and a few vertically with the head downward. At 

 the time the bank was distant 12 feet from the water's edge and six feet from the mud 

 which intervened between it and more or less dry soil. All the larvae were in the lower 

 part of the bank in soil which had been above water-level since about 12th May, and 

 although a search was made in the mud and adjacent dry soil no larvae were found 

 there. The undamaged larvae, 16 in number, were removed to the laboratory and 

 placed in two five-inch flower-pots containing moist soil, in which thev remained undis- 

 turbed until 8th October. From the 22nd August until 22nd September they were 

 very restless and wandered over the surface of the soil at night. These movements 

 ceased on the latter date, and on the 8th October about one inch of the surface soil 

 in one pot was temporarily removed, exposing the head and thorax of three pupae. 

 The colour of the eyes and wing-sheaths indicated that they were then from about 

 three to five days old. The oldest was preserved as a specimen, and the others 

 were placed separately in pots of earth, from which they emerged as flies ( ^ and $) 

 on 13th October after a pupal period of about eight davs. On the same date two 

 males emerged from the second pot. Other flies emerged as follows:—! ^ on 25th 

 October, 1 ^ on 3rd November, 1 $ on 8th November, 1 ^ on 24th November, 

 1 $ on 26th November, 1 $ 30th November, 1 ^ 2nd December (pupal period 14 

 days), 1 $ 12th December. 



On 15th June 1920 two resting larvae were taken from the bank shown in Plate II, 

 fig. 2, and were transferred to small pots of sand, where they still remain in the larval 

 stage (30th September). 



The Larva. The adult larva measures about 33 mm. long by 4 mm. wide and is 

 of a creamy white colour with narrow orange citrine bands at the anterior end of 

 each of the first ten segments. On the first three segments the banding is obscure and 

 on the 11th it is confined to a collar-like expansion of the posterior margin. Each 

 abdominal segment, excepting the last, bears a slightly elevated transverse ridge or 

 tubercle about half as wide as the segment, as well as a pseudopod on either lateral 

 margin and a pair of pseudopods on the ventral surface. Macroscopically the dorsal 

 and ventral surfaces are similar in appearance. The integument is glabrous and 

 bears very distinct longitudinal striae. The first and last segments, and especially 

 the spiracle (figs. 19, 20), differ greatly from those of any species of the genus Tabanus 

 known to me. Grabner's organ has not been made out. 



The Pupa. The pupa measures from 18-20 mm. in length, 3-3-5 mm. in width 

 across the thorax, and 3 •5-4-0 mm. across the widest part of the abdomen. The colour 

 varies, according to age, from chestnut-brown to mars brown, head and apices of 

 wing-sheaths blackish brown, lower surface and sides of first abdominal segment 

 ochraceous tawny. In the male the head is as wide as the thorax, in the female 

 slightly less. The abdomen is nearly cylindrical in both sexes. The thoracic spiracles 

 are large and overlap the posterior margin of the head. The first abdominal segment 

 bears two slender hairs on the tergite and one on each pleurite near the wing-sheath. 

 The second tergite bears an interrupted single row of very short stout and irregular 

 bristles and three or four long bristles, generally towards the sides. The third, fourth 



