Ixxxi 



uncertain whether they availed themselves of it. It was 

 certain that they are not cannibals, for all were kept in 

 the same small tube and one was much smaller than the 

 others.* The remarkable jerky movements of the long " neck " 

 probably enabled the larva to pick up living food in a wide 

 circle round its body, which was itself invisible against the dust. 

 Mr. Willmer had written the following interesting account 

 of the habits of these insects and the conditions in which they 

 are found : — 



" Three larvae found in caves in the steep banks of the 

 * wadis ' or desert valleys. The larvae are to be found walking 

 over the surface of a fine dust which covers all the rock ledges 

 in the caves. They are rendered conspicuous by blowing on 

 the dust and causing them to move. 



" The larvae can sometimes be found under shelves of rock 

 in the open, but they only appear to live where there is that 

 fine dust which is so characteristic of the caves. Their food 

 probably consists of other small insects and mites. 



" The adult insect flies in the entrances to the caves just 

 before sunset, and with its long hind-wings much resembles 

 the spiders' webs which drape the walls of all the caves. 

 They appear to be most common during August, but a few 

 may be obtained in September. The larvae appeared to be 

 in all stages of growth, but probably all were young. 



" It is interesting to note that they appear to be far more 

 common in the desert caves than in the Pyramids, where they 

 were apparently first discovered; in fact, a search in the 

 Pyramids proved entirely unproductive." 



Mr. E. E. Green and Dr. Imms gave some account of the 

 habits of a somewhat similar species foilnd in India and Ceylon, 

 and Mr. Blair said that he had received the same or an allied 

 species from Palestine. 



* The above sentence was premature. About the middle of 

 November the small larva was sucked dry by one of the others. The 

 empty skin remained in a perfect condition. — E. B. P., November 28th, 

 1922. 



PROC. ENT. SOO. LOND., V, 1922. 



