132 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [May, '19 



frequently reared from all sorts of decaying material, the 

 mud-inhabiting larvae of the Tabanidae have received but 

 scanty attention from entomologists. Yet the Tabanidae con- 

 stitute a family of wide distribution, rich in species and abun- 

 dant in individuals. They are therefore entirely worthy of 

 the attention of the scientific dipterist. Moreover, the Tabani- 

 dae represent a considerable source of trouble to cattle and 

 live stock, -being so numerous in some localities as to be 

 seriously disturbing. 



The large black horseflies have been noticed by most of us. 

 The *'greenheaded" flies are a serious and well-known pest, 

 especially in the region of the shore. In certain regions in 

 the South Tabanidae are so numerous that they are especially 

 mentioned by travelers, and particular regions have their par- 

 ticular flies. Some species, for instance those of Chrysops and 

 Diachlorus (**the yellow fly of the Dismal Swamp") will at- 

 tack man freely and inflict painful bites. These flies are also 

 very common in New Jersey, sixty-five species having been 

 listed. 



The reason why apparently the larval stages of these flies 

 have been very generally overlooked lies in the fact that they 

 inhabit the wet soil in the immediate neighborhood of water. 

 In other words, they are not taken by the ordinary collecting 

 methods of the fresh-water-exploring entomologist, since, for 

 the purpose of taking water insects, usually a net is employed, 

 and the taking of much mud into the net is carefully avoided. 

 The Tabanid larvae are never, or only in very yotmg stages, 

 found submerged under water, hence they are never taken with 

 the fishing net.^ On the other hand, the land-collector will 



1 This statement apparently has to be modified. That Tabanid larvae 

 may be found occasionally submerged, at least in the fall, possibly in 

 preparation for passing the winter, is a fact which I owe to Dr. Robert 

 J. Leavitt in Trenton who, in October, 1918, took three half-sized larvae 

 of T. atratus in mud (or water), while dredging with a net for tad- 

 poles and sunfish in water eight or ten inches deep, over mud in which 

 grows a characteristic mud vegetation. The locality was a pond on a 

 dairy farm near Trenton Junction, The three larvae were taken in 



