52 

 The Larva of Chaullodes. 



I have never seen more than two specimens of the larva of 

 the genus Chauliodes ; one was taken in the spring of 1871, 

 tlie other Oct. 21, 1877. The first one was found in an oval 

 cavity under a stone in moist sand, and was ])reparing to pu- 

 pate. It clianged to a pupa two days afterwards ; I therefore 

 liad but httle opportunity to note its habits, but even those two 

 davs in which something might be learned of the habits of an 

 active larva in its native element, availed nothing in this in- 

 stance. The larva was already in a semi-torpid condition, and 

 moved very little. When disturbed, it Avould move by thrust- 

 ino- forward its head and thorax and contracting its abdomen, 

 reminding one of the movements of an earth-worm. I did not 

 suspect that I had a larva whose field for active operation was 

 the water, nor did I know that it was so near its pupal change. 

 I took it to be some sluggish larva that lived on the land, and, 

 after vainly endeavoring to get it to feed, I left it to its own 

 devices, and within the time mentioned it pupated. In the 

 second day of its pupal condition it worked its way into some 

 earth with Avhicli I provided it. It must have done this by 

 wrio-o-lino; and borino; with its head, for the legs, though free, 

 have but very little motion, not enough to be available in such 

 work. On the morning of the twelfth day from its pupation it 

 appeared at the mouth of the gallery which it had made, and 

 before evening the imago was developed, and proved to be 

 Chauliodes pectinicornis. 



I presume that the second specimen is of the same sj)ecies, 

 but possibly it is different. I netted it while dredging for Tri- 

 tons, and have it now alive. Having provided it with suitable 

 quarters I hope to rear it. I have found it an active and inter- 

 esting insect. Its movements in the water, other than by 

 walking, are always backwards, and are performed by a down- 

 ward and forward sweep of the tail. The larva will propel 

 itself in this manner at a good rate of speed. Sometimes when 

 it is resting near the surface of the water, lazily drifting about, 

 or resting upon some object in the water, apjjarently the most 

 sluggish of insects, if a slight stir is given to the water near it, 



