1168 LARV^ AND LARVA-CASES OF AUSTRALIAN APHROPHORID.E, 



surface in front of the shell. Length 22 to 25 millimetres. 

 Detached from the stem and bent for about 9 millimetres. 



Plate 70, fig, 6, represents the larva of the same enlarged five 

 times, as found in July. This larva shows no plates like those 

 represented figs. 1 to 5. 



Plate 69, fig. 3b, 4(?), 5, 7 and 9, represent a smaller shell much 

 resembling the preceding one, being only from 15 to 18 millimetres 

 in length. The section is generally more distinctly ogival and 

 the shell presents in front a longitudin al angle, but, as well as m 

 the preceding species the mouth is round or nearly so. A peculi- 

 arity which distinguishes this shell is a narrowing which is situated 

 at two or three millimetres from the mouth. From this narrow 

 space to the mouth the shell is dark, nearly black. The general 

 colour is a greyish white. The shell is bent on its upper part and 

 detached from the stem as the preceding one. The larva resembles 

 the one represented fig. 6, plate 70. 



From these I obtained a perfect insect apparently differing from 

 the common species by a lighter shade on the wings. Fig. 7 

 represents an instance of this shell taking a half round. 



Plate 70, fig. 7, represents a hind tibia of larva with three articu- 

 lations, two claws and rings of setee. This figure and the following 

 ones apply to the difiPerent larvae examined, but especially to the 

 common species. 



Fig. 8a, 8b, represent the inferior lip composed of three divisions 

 forming a tube for the setee, which are four in number (mandibles 

 and maxillae.) The maxilla3 are serrated fig. a,b. 



Fig. 9. Antenna) of larva terminating in asingle seta short 

 and stout. 



In conclusion I should say that much remains to be done next 

 year towards the study of these little insects. 



In the dry parts of the interior it is probable that the water 

 contained in these shells is resorted to for drinking by the ants so 

 numerous in Australia, as if it was a specialty among the small 

 homopterous insects to provide during their life for the Formicidce. 



Other insects inhabit the interior of the shell after it has been 

 left by its builder ; small cockroaches take occasional refuge in it. 

 It is often also occupied by a small spider. 



