1918] Leaf Eating Crane Fly 81 



The marked discrepancy between these two sets of figures 

 appears at first sight to be inexpHcable. It is probable, however, 

 that the figures resulting from rearing the adults from the 

 larvas, represent approximately the actual superiority in total 

 numbers of the females over the males. On the date that the 

 collection was made at Westholme, there were comparatively 

 few adults to be seen. When one adds to this the fact that the 

 females emerge in larger numbers before the males and that 

 they die off soon after laying their eggs, the greater proportion 

 of the later-emerging males towards the end of the adult season 

 on June 1, is readily accounted for. It has already been noted 

 that a single male may copulate with several different females. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Egg (Fig. 7) — When first deposited, the egg is sub-translucent, grayish- 

 white, spindle-shaped, partly inserted beneath the slit epiderm of the 

 leaf. The chorion is unornamented. It measures, on an average, about 

 0.840 mm. in length and about 0.303 mm. in breadth at the widest part 

 in the middle. 



Just before hatching, two, dull-red spots corresponding to the eyes 

 of the young larvee are apparent at the anterior end. The black head- 

 capsule of the young larva is also readily distinguishable. 



Full-grown Larva (Figs. 2-6). — Length,'17 mm.; maximimi breadth, 

 2.5 mm.; maximum depth, 1.5 mm. 



The live larva (Fig. 1) chlorophyll green, closely resembHng in 

 color that of the leaves of the food plant, Trantvetteria grandis, except 

 for the sclerites of the head-capsule which are black, the less heavily 

 chitinised parts brown. In bright sunlight, the lateral tubercles and 

 margins of the body almost transparent. Dorsally, the middle region 

 of the body darker green because of the contents of the alimentary canal 

 within. The two, main, tracheal trunks apparent as silvery strands, 

 running laterally and posteriorly to their tennination in the spiracles of 

 the eighth abdominal segment. Some of the tracheal branches also 

 evident. Two irregular, sub-parallel, fuscous, brown bands on each side 

 of the mid-dorsal line extending from the mesothorax to the spiracles of 



Explanation of Figures. 

 Fig. 2. Larva, dorsal aspect, thoracic and first three abdominal segments; 



pro., prothroax; meso., mesothorax; meta., metathorax; abd. 1, first 



abdominal segment. X 14. 

 Fig. 3. Larva, dorsal aspect, last two abdominal segments, sp., spiracle. X 16. 

 Fig. 4. Larva, ventral aspect, head, thoracic and first two abdominal segments, 



labr., labrum; max., maxilla; md., mandibles; lab., labium; c. I., cir- 



cumoral lip. Other lettering as in Fig. 1. X 16. 

 Fig. 5. Larva, ventral aspect, last abdominal segment. X 20. 

 Fig. 6. Spiracle; o. p., outer periphery; i. p., inner peripherv; sp. c, spiracle 



cleft. Camera lucida drawing. X 80. 

 Fig. 7. Eggs deposited in the slit epiderm of leaf of T. grandis. The ruptured 



epiderm partly envelops the egg. X 7. 



