TIPULID2E. 
579 
feeding under water. The more usual type of tail is blunt, with the 
openings (spiracles) of the tracheae surrounded by a ring of stumpy 
processes. They feed usually on decaying vegetable stuff, and are very 
often found in the mess which accumulates in hollow trees. The pupae 
look not unlike those of Butterflies or Moths. They have the legs 
straight, and have breathing horns or tubes at the front end, and 
usually bristles or spines on the abdomen, which enable the pupa 
to work its way free when the insect is about to emerge. They are found 
in or near the place where the larvae lived, in mud, sand, earth, or 
decaying leaf-mould. 
In Europe the larvae of Tipulids often cause great damage to 
grass lands, living just under the surface and eating the roots of the grass. 
Enough is not yet known of the Indian forms, however, to say whether 
or not they are of economic importance in this or any other respect, 
though it is unlikely that in the dry conditions of the plains they 
occur in sufficient numbers to do much damage, except possibly 
on large grass lawns kept well watered throughout the year. 
They are not very common in the dry plains, but abound in the moister 
country of the hills. PI. LX, fig. 1, represents a strikingly-coloured 
species apparently widely spread over India. 
More than a thousand species are known, but only twenty-six have 
till lately been recorded from India, nearly all of them from the hills. 
Van der Wulp lists 16, and the remaining 10 were described by De 
Meijere. Brunetti has, however, recently described a number of addi¬ 
tional species (Indian Museum Records). No habits or life-histories 
seem to have been studied at all. The three main divisions of the 
family are as follows :— 
A. Distinct V-shaped suture on the thorax. 
1. Last joint of palpi shorter or very little longer than 
combined length of preceding joints. Antennae 
6—16 j oints. . Limnobiince. 
2. Last joint much longer than this. Antennae not more 
than 13 joints. ... Tipulince. 
B. No distinct V-mark on the thorax.. . . Ptychopterince . 
