38 



MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



Abdomen (fig. 4). — When viewed from certain points the abdomen appears- 

 to possess shimmering white patches, this being of course due to the arrange- 

 ment of the tiny hairs. Ventrally the colour is pale yellow, there being only a. 

 faint brownish tint around the genital opening. 



Breeding Habits. — The breeding habits of this fly resemble those of the 

 preceding species, the small white eggs, which measure approximately the same 

 as those of 31. terra' regime, being laid in cowdung or horsedung. The successive 

 instars occupy about the same periods. The posterior spiracles of the second 

 and third instars are quite typical (figs. 46, 47). The anterior spiracles contain 

 from 4 to 7 processes (fig. 48). The mature larva measures from 10 to 12 mm. 

 The larval stage occupies from 5 to 6 days, the pupal 6 to 9 days — a total of 11 

 -to 15 days (January and February, Eidsvold and Brisbane). The puparium 

 is red-brown to deep chocolate and measures about 6 mm. in length by 2-7 mm. 

 in breadth. The female genitalia are very like those of the preceding species 

 (fig. 41), the maximum number of follicles observed in each ovary being, how- 

 ever, slightly larger, viz., about 40. 



jm m 



Text-fig. 31, Aristae of females, M. terrce-regincB ; 32, M. liilU. 



Text-fig. 32, Palps (all to same scale) drawn from mounted specimens, M. australis 

 male (fig. 33) and female (34) ; M. vetustissima male (fig. 35) and female (fig. 36) ; 

 M. terrcB-regincB male (fig. 37) and female (fig. 38) ; M. hilli male (fig. 39) and female- 

 (fig. 40). 



The fly can be readily distinguished from Musca pumila by the coloura- 

 tion of its abdomen (Macquart, Dipt. Exot. Suppl. 3, 1847, p. 58). It appears tO' 

 be more closely related to Musca yninor (Macquart, I.e. Suppl. 4, 1850, p. 253)' 



