34 
Psyche 
[March - June 
third instar larva — 
prior to spinning cocoon — 4.5 ± O.i days (N = 4) 
post spinning — 6.9 zb 0.4 days (N = 4) 
pupa — 10.7 zb 0.4 days (N = 3) 
Behavioral and ecological notes — The young first instar larva is 
the only stage which is really active in the sense of seeking out prey. 
The older first instar larva and particularly the second and third 
instar larvae tend to remain immobile in some corner of the vial, a 
favored site for this position being between the cotton plug and the 
side of the vial. Aphids which move too close to the larvae are seized 
by a quick upward thrust of the jaws from below. The prey does 
not seem to be sucked as thoroughly as has been observed to occur 
with various species of Hemerobius and Micromus with which the 
author has worked. In these genera the prey is manipulated by the 
larva until the jaws have probed into every available corner of the 
body. The larvae of B. fidelis seem to simply suck the immediately 
available fluids of the prey with only incidental movement of the 
aphid. 
One behavioral trait of the adult deserves some comment because 
of its bearing on the question of the affinities of Boriomyia discussed 
below. When at rest, the adult consistently assumes a distinctive 
position by placing the anterior surface of the head flat against the 
substratum with the antennae directed posteriorly between the legs 
and neatly clasped by both pairs of palpi. In many respects this 
position is reminiscent of the death-feigning position which many 
Neuroptera will assume if startled suddenly by a sharp vibration, 
although in this case the insect drops to the ground and lies on its 
side and even though the antennae are directed posteriorly beneath 
the body, they are not clasped by the palpi. 
The natural ecology of this insect remains almost completely un- 
known as the writer has yet to locate any of the immature stages in 
the field. Of possible interest in terms of the habitat of this species 
is a collection of three males and two females taken in a short time 
in an open pine woods near Charleston, S. C. These were captured 
on April 20, 1957, and I am informed by the collectors. Messers. Ivan 
Explanation of Plate 6 
Fig. 3. First instar larva, dorsal view. 
Fig. 4. Mature third instar larva, dorsal view. The latero-dorsal sclerites 
of the larvae shown in figs. 4 and 5 are depicted as seen by the microscopic 
examination of cleared specimens. In life these sclerites are nearly invisible. 
Figs. 5 and 6. Egg bursters, showing extremes in the number of teeth, 
lateral view. 
