190 
Psyche 
[Vol. 92 
about aleocharine pupae, and few have been described. Therefore, 
discussions of possible differences in pupal structure or habits of 
pupation are presently based on very incomplete comparative 
information. 
The total rate of development from hatching to fully mature lar- 
vae averaged 7.7 days with a maximum of 10 days at room tempera- 
ture (described above). The pupal stage lasted an average of 4.5 
days. Time required for development from oviposition to emergence 
of adult averaged 15 days. Adults which emerged were active and 
fed well, suggesting that more than one generation per year is 
possible. 
Oviposition rates, fecundity and developmental rates observed for 
M. venustula in the laboratory cultures provide a base line of infor- 
mation about the group. However, average daily temperature under 
natural conditions, especially in the wet detritus where adults were 
collected early in the spring, are almost certainly much lower. It is 
likely that this would lead to much slower developmental rates, and 
perhaps retardation of other physiological functions associated with 
fecundity, than those reported in this study. 
Description: Late Instar Larva of Meronera venustula 
(Figures 2-16) 
(Chaetotaxic nomenclature according to Ashe and Watrous 1984) 
General: Length of mature larva 2. 2-2. 7 mm. Head width about 
.29-.23 mm. Antennal length about .14 mm. General body form 
elongate, more or less flattened, parallel sided and very slightly 
tapered to apex in apical half of abdomen. Color of mature larva 
white with slight greyish cast, especially on head and apical abdom- 
inal segments. Microsculpture absent except for distinctive patches 
of small dome-like microsculpture on frontal and clypial regions of 
head and short rows of microspinules medially on abdominal seg- 
ment VIII. Vestiture of scattered long simple setae. 
Head: (Figures 2, 4) Length to width ratio 0. 9-1.0. Ocellus sin- 
gle on each side, small. Ecdysial sutures distinct, lateral arms attain- 
ing antennal fossae. Chaetotaxy as in Figures 2, 4; frontal region 
with all normal setae present, campaniform sensillae absent; epi- 
cranial region with Edl absent, epicranial lateral row complete with 
setae El 1-3, E 12 much smaller than Ell or El 3, epicranial marginal 
row with Em2-3 absent, epicranial campaniform sensillae Ecl-3 
