1 * s V c’ 1 1 1^: 
NOTES ON SOME Dli’TKROUS LARVAE. 
HV CH.\RI,ES \V. JOH.\S(J.V, BO.STO.N, MASS. 
While collecting at Riverton, N. J., on June lo, 1900, I found in a spring, a 
large and very peculiar larva. Ft was placed in an aquarium and for three days 
was quite active and seemed to be doing nicely. Its large size and the time of 
the year were both favorable for bringing it to maturity, but on the morning of 
the fourth day it was dead. .Vs the aquarium was well balanced, I can only ac- 
count for Its death by the change in temperature, as the weather was very warm 
at the time, and the spring from which it was taken quite cool, about 60°. 
W hile It was living I had a good opportunity to observe its habits and make 
several sketches, from which the drawings accompanying this article were made. 
The larva, when e.xtended, was about 45 mm. in length; yellowish white in 
color, translucent, the alimentary tract, etc., being plainly visible, as the larva 
moved by e.xpanding and contracting its body. When e.xtended to its full length 
the posterior portion was elevated almost verticallv, and the two pairs of peculiarly 
ramified appendages e.xtending from the anal prominence were e.xpanded to their 
full size as shown on Plate I, figures i and 2. .Vt other times they were more or less 
contracted. Eigure 2 is made to show the posterior portion vertically extended, 
and showing the ventral surface. The respiratory disk or stigmatal area bears 
three pairs of marginal projections, the lower and lateral ones being much the 
larger; spiracular openings yellow, with a narrow margin of brown and a black 
central spot. Head yellowish, with a short black line above the base of the 
antennae; tips of the antennae and mandibles, reddish brown. 
The specimen preserved in alcohol, but giving very little idea of its appear- 
ance when living, was shown at a meeting of the E'eldman Collecting Social, held 
m June, 1900, and from its size was referred doubtfully to Tipula ab.hminalis 
( Kntom. New.s, xi, p. 578. igoo). Since that time the larva of T. abdominalis 
has been described and hgured by Profes.sor James G. Needham ( see “ .Vquatic 
Insects in the .Vdirondacks : ” N. V. State .Museum, Bull. 47, p. 575, pi. 35, figs. 
1,2. Sept., 1901). 1 his shows a very different larva — more closely related to 
that of Tipiila eluta Loew, described and figured by Mr. C. .V. Hart (Bull. 111 . 
State Lab. Nat. Hist., iv., p. 210, pi. viii., tigs. 32, 33. 1895). 
