THE CRANE-FLIES OF NEW YORK PART II 713 



closely allied Dolichopeza, on the contrary, has the four anterior legs 

 on the support, the hind legs dangling, the wings divaricate. Many of 

 these species as Oropeza, Dolichopeza, Dicranomyia badia, and exotic 

 species of the genera Thrypticomyia and Trentepohlia habitually rest 

 on spider webs (page 982; also, Knab, 1912). During heavy rains, crane- 

 flies rest on the lower side of the broad leaves of deciduous trees or hide 

 Deneath loose flakes of bark. 



Feeding. The adult flies feed but little, the majority of the species 

 whose habits are at all known merely lapping nectar from open flowers. 

 Knuth (1909:579) and Wahlgren (1917) record the plants frequented by 

 a number of European Tipulinae as well as by Ptychoptera. These species 

 are found on Umbelliferae (Aegopodium, Anthriscus, Heracleum, Carum, 

 Anethum, and other genera), on Rosaceae (Spiraea, Rubus, and other 

 genera), and on a few other plants. A few of the local Limnobiinae 

 have the rostrum very greatly elongated an obvious adaptation for 

 sucking the nectar from tubular flowers. The species of Geranomyia 

 feed on various composite, umbelliferous, and lauraceous flowers. 

 Toxorhina frequents composite, rhamnaceous, apocynaceous, and erica- 

 ceous plants. The exact plants frequented are discussed under the 

 descriptions of the respective genera. 



Oviposition. The females lay their eggs in the habitat frequented by 

 the larvae. In the case of aquatic forms as Antocha, Hexatoma, 

 Eriocera, and other genera the eggs are deposited in dipping down to 

 the water surface, one or more eggs being deposited at each descent. 

 Forms that live in mud or moist earth lay their eggs in these situations. 

 Many species with acute ovipositors insert the eggs carefully into the soil 

 or other substance. The oviposition of Limnophila (Eutonid) alleni ^ as 

 noted by the writer may be regarded as typical of this class of species: 



Observations made at Gloversville, New York, June 28, 1916. A female was noted 

 ovipositing in low, wet spots along a small woodland stream. She flew about slowly and 

 silently, just skimming the ground, until a place suitable for egg-laying was found She 

 finally chose a much-decayed log and the eggs were driven home securely by the acicu^r 

 tergal valves of the ovipositor. Much effort is expended to place the eggs firmly and the 

 rate of oviposition is not more than eight or ten a minute, the female often pausing to rest 

 for ssveral seconds. While thus engaged, the fly is entirely unconcerned with oti 

 and may be picked up by hand. 



The females of most crane-flies usually live but a short time after egg- 

 laying is completed. Indeed, the entire duration of life of the adult 

 crane-flies is probably but a few weeks at the most. 



