AUCHMEROMYIA LUTEOLA 329 



junction of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the larva there is a 

 row of irregular protuberances on each of which there is a small pit 

 and a posteriorly directed spine. At the posterior margin of each 

 segment there is a set of three foot-pads, each covered with small 

 backward!}- directed spines, which aid the creature in its movements. 

 The last segment is larger than the others, and bears the posterior 

 spiracles, which are seen as three brown transverse, parallel lines. The 

 two black mandibles protrude from the anterior segment, and are 

 curved towards the ventral side. There are paired groups of minute 

 spicular teeth around the mandibles, forming a sort of cupping 

 instrument. 



The intestinal canal commences as a short oesophagus, which ends in 

 a proventriculus. A dorsal diverticulum, the food reservoir, opens into 

 the oesophagus near its anterior end, and when the larva is replete with 

 blood it is seen as a bright red area extending from the head to the fifth 

 segment. The mid-gut is short, extending from the proventriculus to the 

 junction of the Malpighian tubes with the gut. The hind-gut is con- 

 siderably coiled, and occupies the greater part of the body cavity. There 

 are two Malpighian tubes, each of which is divided into two branches. 

 There are two salivary glands, each of which consists of a long acinus 

 made up of large granular cells. Each gland ends in a ringed chitinous 

 duct which unites with its fellow of the opposite side to form a common 

 duct, the opening of which is situated near the base of the free portion 

 of the mandible. 



The pupariiim of A. luteola is of the usual muscid type, and of a dark 

 brown colour. The fly is the size of a blue bottle, but is of a tawny 

 colour ; the dorsal surface of the thorax is marked by black and brown 

 stripes. The abdomen is characteristically marked, and has unequal 

 segments. In the male the second segment is about one-third longer 

 than the third, and has a black median longitudinal stripe, and another 

 meeting it at right angles at the posterior border. In the female the 

 second segment is two-thirds longer than the third. The legs are of 

 a buff colour, but the first tarsal joint is black. The fly is found from 

 Nigeria to Natal. 



In a recent paper Rodhain and Bequaert state that A. luteola is 

 widely distributed in the Belgian Congo and occurs all the year 

 round. The fly probably spreads from one village to another, either in 

 the egg or larval stage, in the dirty mats which the natives carry 

 about with them. The fly will appear in newly constructed huts in 

 about three weeks time. 

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