64 MR. R. J. TILLYARD : LIFE-HISTORIES AND 



side by a longitudinal row of blackish segmental patches most evident on the 

 basal half of each segment ; also more or less conspicuous lateral dots and 

 bands, segmentally arranged. 



Larval Types: (^ ? , Coll. Tillyard {^, Sydney, bred Oct. 9th, 

 1907; ? , Heathcote, N.S.W., bred Nov. 9th, 1908). 



This larva is easily distinguished from all the preceding ones by the form 

 of its superior appendage ; also by its broader and more strongly toothed 

 lateral labial lobe. In general form it much resembles the nymph of Avax 

 pa'puensis, Burm., but is of smaller size and very different coloration. 



Life-Histor y. — This common species is out on the wing by the end of 

 September, and a continuous succession of individuals appears until well into 

 November. Pairing takes phice up to the end of the year ; after that time 

 one seldom meets ^^ith males of this species at all. The female usually 

 oviposits by herself, inserting her eggs one by one into the tissues of reed- 

 stems or half-rotted twigs or roots projecting from the creek-banks. On 

 sluggish streams oviposition may take place anywhere ; but on swiftly 

 running creeks this species is careful to select only the larger and more 

 stagnant pools. Dirty, muddy, slow-moving creeks and rivers are its 

 favourite haunts. The eggs are of the usual ^schnine form, narrow, 

 olongate-oval, 1*4 mm. long by about 0'3 mm. wide, pale cream or straw- 

 colour. Females captured while ovipositing never exude more than two or 

 three eggs at the most. The best plan to obtain the eggs is to watch the 

 female ovipositing and then to gather the reed-stem and slit it open, when 

 the eo-o-s will be found embedded slantwise in the tissues. 



The young larva is a voracious feeder and very cannibalistic. It grows 

 rapidly, and I have very little doubt that the normal time for reaching 

 complete maturity is only one ye;ir in this species. When dredging in 

 September only full- or nearly full-grown larvse can be obtained. The best 

 places to find these larvse are along the steep banks of pools in slow-running 

 creeks, where they either hide in projecting masses of water-weed or, more 

 frequently, cling to the debris of the sides of the creek. This larva is, as far 

 as I know, never found in water-holes or any quite stagnant water ; but it 

 does not object to foulness and mud, provided there is the slightest current 

 running. Hence it is never found in the favourite haunts of the nymph of 

 Anax papuensis, though occasionally the latter may occur in the same pools 

 of a very slow creek. In such cases the larger Anax nymph inhabits the 

 reed-stems, especially towards the more central parts of the pool, while the 

 ^schna nymph keeps to the sides. 



In the aquaria these nymphs have to be kept apart from other species. 

 Any of the entogenic Australian jEschnine larvse speedily fall a prey to it, 

 not only because of its voracity, but because it is always in a more advanced 

 state of development, being a good two months ahead of any of these species. 

 Libellulid larvse are attacked and bitten into pieces, but not much of them 



