THE DIPTERA. 51 



drilling deep into the wood, where its burrows are seldom 

 noticed, as they are filled up with refuse almost as soon as 

 they are made. The pupa resembles that of Tipula holo- 

 thlora, but is rather more attenuated in the body, and the 

 thoracic horns are slightly thicker. It is not enclosed in 

 any cocoon, but lies amongst the powdery wood, wriggling 

 to the surface when about to emerge. The illustration 

 represents the male insect, the female having a much 

 -stouter body, with short thick legs ; she also differs in her 

 antennae, which are much less branched than those of the 

 male. 



Family 



Rhyphus neozealandicus (Plate V., fig. 4, 43. larva, 4b 



pupa). 



A most abundant species occurring in most damp situa- 

 tions throughout the year. Its larva (Fig. 4a) closely 

 resembles a small worm, being of an elongate form attenu- 

 ated at each end. The skin is very hard and of a dull yellow 

 colour, with black markings. The food of this insect con- 

 sists of decaying vegetable matter, which it procures by 

 means of two small appendages, situated on each side of 

 the mouth, and which it is continually moving about in 

 search of suitable materials. The pupa is a curious object 

 (Fig. 4b), the two little respiratory horns having a singular 

 resemblance to a pair of ears. It is enclosed in a small 

 oval cell about one inch below the surface of the earth, the 

 insect working its way to the air before emergence. The 

 perfect Rhyphus may be almost regarded as one of our 

 domestic insects, and is seldom found in the open country, 

 but frequents cowhouses and other farm buildings in great 

 numbers, the larvae feeding on the manure in these 

 situations. It is often mistaken by ignorant people for 

 the mosquito and at once destroyed, but quite unfairly, 

 as the species is in reality perfectly harmless, frequently 



