THe CRANE-FLIES oF NEw York — Part II 829 
Wing sheaths ending opposite middle of third abdominal segment. Leg sheaths ending 
opposite base of fiith abdominal segment, the tarsi terminating on a level or nearly so. 
Abdominal tergites and sternites each with four transverse rows of microscopic setae; lateral 
spiracles on segments 2 to 7; no apparent spiracles on dorsum of segment 8. 
Dicranoptycha is a principally Holarctic genus including twelve known 
species, six of which occur in the United States. The flies are of medium 
size and of a dull, inconspicuous appearance, and are rather difficult of 
taxonomic separation. The life histories of members of this genus have 
only recently been ascertained. The following notes are taken from 
more detailed accounts in earlier papers by the writer (Alexander, 1919, 
a and b). 
The habits of the immature stages of Dicranoptycha may be briefly 
summarized as follows: The larvae and the pupae live in rich humous 
soil overlain with a cover of leaf mold and other vegetable débris. They 
frequent open woods where there is more or less shubbery and tall herbage. 
Running streams or rills are not necessary for the development of the 
immature stages. The larvae live in the uppermost zone of the soil, where 
they are associated with a rather characteristic group of animal forms, 
such as dipterous larvae (Sciara), beetle larvae, and centipedes. They 
are characterized by the exceedingly long, slender body and the shiny 
glabrous skin, and may be confused with no other dipterous larva yet 
made known. The glassy appearance of the body suggests the shiny 
shell of a small univalve snail, the dead fragments of which occurred in 
some numbers in the same situations. The larvae of Dicranoptycha 
winnemana Alex., an Austral species, attain a length of from 20 to 22 
millimeters, with an average diameter of only 1 millimeter. The larvae 
of the genus are herbivores. When ready to pupate they incase them- 
selves in compact earthen cells, which are 10 x 3.5 millimeters in size, 
firm in texture, and rather thick-walled but apparently without silk. 
There is a small opening at either end. The pupal period is abeut ten 
days or possibly a little less. Pupation takes place in the relatively dry 
soil that forms the larval haunt. 
The pupa of Dzcranoptycha winnemana measures from 9.1 to 12.8 
millimeters in total length. The width at the wing pad is about 1.7 
millimeters. The diagnostic features are given above at some length 
for the genus and need not be repeated here. For other notes the reader 
is referred to the papers already cited. 
