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Education Department.

New Zealand.

Presented to the Library

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NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA

v

57 2

NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA,

A POPULAR INTRODUCTION TO THE
LIFE-HISTORIES AND HABITS OF
MAY-FLIES, DRAGON-FLIES, CADDIS-
FLIES AND ALLIED INSECTS INHABIT-
ING NEW ZEALAND -•- + ;
INCLUDING NOTES ON THEIR RELATION
TO ANGLING

WITH ELEVEN COLOURED PLATES

G. V. HUDSON. F.E.S.

AUTHOR OF "AX ELEMENTARY MANUAL OF NEW ZEALAND

ENTOMOLOGY" AND "NEW ZEALAND MOTHS

ami BUTTERFLIES "

■eC$£ - -

LONDON :

WEST, NEWMAN & CO.,

54, HATTON GARDEN.
1904.

PREFACE

The object of this little work is to provide the general
reader with a popular account of the habits and life-
histories of some of the more important and conspicuous
neuropterous insects inhabiting our rivers, streams, and
lakes.

For the general notes on the Neuroptera, and for the
preliminary remarks on the various families, I am much
indebted to Dr. Sharp, from whose volume on " Insects "
these portions of the present work have been largely
compiled.

The technical and descriptive matter, relating to adult
insects, has been obtained from various scattered papers,
chiefly by Mr. R. McLachlan. These descriptions have
been recently summarised, re-arranged, and re-published
by Captain Hutton in volume xxxi. of the Transactions
of the New Zealand Institute, and I have very much
pleasure in acknowledging the great aid I have received
from both of these naturalists.

In addition, I have to express my thanks to many
others, who have kindly supplied me with notes on localities,
and with other valuable information and material.

G. V. HUDSON.
Karori, Wellington, New Zealand, 1903.

INTRODUCTION

The order Neuroptera, although of small extent, comprises
several well-known and beautiful groups of insects, amongst
which may be specially mentioned the Termites, Dragon-
flies, May-flies, Ant-lions, Lacewing-flies, and Caddis-flies.
The habits, structure, and transformations of all these
insects are exceedingly varied, so that if somewhat limited,
so far as the number of actual species is concerned, the
present order cannot be said to be lacking in interest.

The name Neuroptera is derived from the two Greek
words, vevpov, a nerve, and irrepov, a wing, and has reference
to the beautiful network with which the wings of most of
these insects are ornamented. These nervures, or veins,
form a very numerous series of cells, or areolets, and far
exceed in number the cells in the wings of any other
insects.

The Neuroptera may be briefly defined as follows : —

"Imago with biting mouth; with two pairs of wings,
the anterior as well as the posterior membranous, usually
with extensive neuration, consisting of elongate nervures, and
either of short cross-nervules forming numerous cells or of
a complex mesh-work. (One division, Mallophaga, consists
entirely of wingless forms ; in the Termitidce some of the
individuals of each generation become winged, but otJiers do
not : except in these cases adult ivingless forms are few.)
The metamorphosis differs in the several divisions " (Sharp).

The order consists of the following eleven families :—

Family 1. Mallophaga (Bird-lice).
'2. Embiidse.

3. Termitidae (White Ants, Termites).

4. Psocidae (Book-lice, Death Watches).

5. Perlidae (Stone-flies).

6. Odonata (Dragon-flies).

7. Ephemeridae (May-flies).

8. Sialida? (Alder-flies and Snake-flies).

9. Panorpidae (Scorpion-flies).

10. Hemerobiidae (Ant-lions, Lacewing-flies, &c.)

11. Phryganeidae (Caddis-flies).

-viii INTRODUCTION.

These families embrace insects of such diverse structure
and habits, that they have been variously grouped by
different entomologists, and several of the groups have been
constituted distinct orders. The Bird-lice, for instance, are
•often spoken of as forming the small order Mallophaga,
and the Caddis-flies as constituting the order Trichoptera.

The affinities between many of these families and certain
groups of insects, belonging to other orders, are very
remarkable, and appear to indicate that the Neuroptera are
essentially of an archaic and ancestral type ; and this idea
is borne out by the numerous species of gigantic fossil
neuropterous insects which have been recently discovered
.and described.

As illustrating the actual affinities of certain families
of the Neuroptera, to families belonging to other orders
of insects, the following examples may be cited : The
Termitidae, or White Ants, are somewhat allied to the
Hlattidgp, or Cockroaches ; the Perlidse, or Stone-flies, to the
Phasmidae, or Walking-stick Insects ; whilst the Trichoptera,
or Caddis-flies, are unquestionably very closely allied to the
Lepidoptera, being in fact now generally regarded as
the nearest living representatives of the ancestors of that
extensive and important order of insects.

In the present work only the larger and more generally
interesting families of the Neuroptera are dealt with, and
even in the families which are described, very much more
work remains to be done by future naturalists.

The geographical distribution of the various species in
New Zealand is most imperfectly known at present, being
based on the somewhat disconnected observations of a few
isolated naturalists. The conclusions arrived at under this
heading must therefore be regarded as provisional, and, as
knowledge increases, subject to revision.

CONTENTS

PAGE

introduction . . . . . v

termites ...... 1

stone-flies . . . . . . .4

dragon-flies ...... 8

may-flies . . . . • . . .23

alder-flies ...... 45

ant-lions and lacewing-flies . . . .47

caddis-flies ...... 57

Appendix —

notes on the food of trout in new zealand . 93

general index ..... 101
plates and explanations .... 103

NEW ZEALAND NEUKOPTERA.

Family I— MALLOPHAGA- BIRD LICE.
Not dealt with in this volume.

Family II.— EMBIDyE.

No species belonging to this family have been found
in New Zealand at present.

Family III.— TERM ITIDJE -—TERMITES.

"Each species is social, and consists of winged and
wingless individuals. The four icings are, in repose,
laid flat on the back so that the upper one only is seen
except just at the bases ; they are membranous and very
elongate, so that they extend far beyond the apex of
the abdomen; the hind pair is remarkably similar in
size, form, and consistence to the front pair ; near tlie
base of each wing there is a suture, or line of weakness,
along which the wings can be broken off, the stumps
remaining in that case as short, horny flaps reposing
on the back. Ligula channelled but not divided into two
parts. The wingless individuals are very numerous, and
have the head and thirteen body segments distinct ; the
body is terminated by a pair of short cerci. The meta-
morphosis is slight and gradual, and in some individuals
is dispensed with " (Sharp).

The Termitidce is probably one of the most remarkable
families of insects in existence. Its members are social
in their habits, and live together in large communities

* These insects are often popularly known as " white ants," but the
term is an objectionable one as they have no real affinity with the true
ants although the members of both groups live in societies. The best
popular name for these insects is Termites, pronounced as two syllables.

9

2 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA.

which, in some of the tropical species, consist of enor-
mous assemblages of individuals. Their nests also attain
very large dimensions, and many of them are twenty
feet in height, being thus comparable in size to human
dwellings.

So far as the New Zealand species are concerned, these
peculiar features of the Termites are only exhibited in
a very simple manner ; hence any extended account of
the tropical species would be quite out of place in the
present work. Those desiring to learn more of the
singular instincts, habits, and structure of these remark-
able insects are therefore referred to the Cambridge
Natural History, vol. v., p. 356, where Dr. Sharp has
given us a most interesting and concise account of all
the principal facts at present known regarding the
various species of Termites.

Genus CALOTEEMES, Hagen (1853).

"Head rather small, triangular or rounded; eyes large, ocelli small;
antennae as long as the head, 16- to 20-jointed. Prothorax as wide, or
nearly as wide, as the head, transverse, truncate or arcuate in front, with
the sides and apical edge forming a semicircle. Tarsi with plan tula.
Wings with the subcostal nervure narrow, widening out towards the tip,
and connected with the costal by five or six nervules crossing the costal area.

" Soldier* short and stout, with a large cylindrical head, flattened in front
and rugged or truncated before the jaws.

" Distribution. — Warm climates in both hemispheres" (Hutton).*

CALOTERMES BROUNI.

Calotermes broiuii, Froggart, Pro. Linn. Soc. of
N.S.W., 2nd series, vol. xxi., p. 531, pi. 36, figs. 1, la
(1897). C. improbus, Brauer, Eeise der " Novara,"
Neuroptera, p. 45, not of Hagen.

" General colour dark reddish-brown, with the wings fuscous and the
nervines chocolate-brown. Length to tip of wings, 11 mm. ; to end
of the body, G mm. Soldier with the head ochreous, more ferruginous
towards the jaws ; antennae bright-yellow, with the apices of the joints
pale. The rest dull-white. Length, 6 mm. Worker with the head pale-
yellow, the rest dull-white. Length, 4 mm.

" Locality. — Auckland (Broun) " (Hutton).

CALOTERMES INSULARIS.

Termes insularis, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit. Mus.,
part iii., p. 521 (1853); White, Zool. "Erebus" and

* Transactions of New Zealand Institute, xxxi., pp. 208-249. This
reference holds good in the case of all quotations from Captain Hutton given
in this work.

TERMITES. 3

"Terror," Insects, pi. 7, fig. 11 (1874). Calotermes
insularis, Hagen, Cat. Termitina in Brit. Mus., p. 6
(1858) ; Froggart, Pro. Linn. Soc. of N.S.W., 2nd series,
vol. xxi., p. 524, pi. xxxv., fig 4 (1897).

"General colour bright ferruginous; wings hyaline, nervures light
brownish-yellow. Length to tip of wing, 23 mm. ; to end of the body, o mm. ;
expanse of wings, 38-43 mm. The wings are much longer than in the last
species.

" Localities. — New Zealand (British Museum) and Victoria.

" The type specimens were collected in New Zealand by Dr. Sinclair, but
it does not appear to have been taken again by Captain Broun. Mr. Froggart
has determined one specimen from the Melbourne Museum with it on
account of the very long wings. Walker, in his description of the types,
says that the wings are nearly twice the length of the body ; and he gives
the dimensions as length of the body 3J lines (8 mm.), expanse of the wings
19 lines (41 mm.)."

Genus STOLOTEBMES, Hagen (1858).

" Head large, circular ; eyes oval, small, with coarse facets ; ocelli present;
antennae 12- to 14-jointed. Prothorax heart-shaped. Tarsi without plantula ;
the first joint as long as those following. Neuration of the wings as in
( 'alotermes.

" Distribution. — Tasmania and New Zealand " (Hutton).

STOLOTERMES RUFICEPS.

Stolotermes ruficeps, Brauer, Beise der " Novara,"
Neuroptera, p. 46 (1868) ; Froggart, Pro. Linn. Soc. of
N.S.W., 2nd series, vol. xxi., p. 538, pi. 36, figs. 2, la,

(Plate I., fig. 1, fig. 2 soldier, fig. 3 larva, all magnified.)

This species has occurred at Auckland and at Wel-
lington.

The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch, and the length of the body
about | inch. The general colour of the body is dark reddish-brown. The
wings are clouded with blackish-brown with beautiful green reflections.

The full-grown larva is about -fV hich in length. The general colour is
dull yellowish-white, with the mandibles and eyes dark brown. The head
is rather large and round ; the wing-pads are large, the intestinal canal is
indicated by a brownish shading in the middle of the body. The soldier is
barely g inch in length. The head is large, oval, bright yellow, becoming
bright brown towards the mouth ; the jaws very large bright brown with the
tips black. The rest of the body resembles that of the larva, except that
there are no wing-pads.

This species inhabits partially decayed logs, excavating
extensive burrows within. In habits it seems to closely
resemble the European Calotermes Jiavicollis. The males
and females appear in the winged state from January
until May. They are seldom seen flying about, but

4 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

occasionally occur in large numbers in the nests within
the logs. After a couple of these winged insects have
paired, each of them sheds its wings, and the female
subsequently becomes very much distended with eggs.
At this time she is generally situated near the central
portion of the nest, and there are often several soldiers
in her immediate vicinity. As a rule, however, there are
only a few soldiers in any single nest, these individuals-
being sometimes altogether absent. The soldier of S.
ruficeps is undoubtedly an adult form ; but the worker
seems to be nothing more than a larva, which will subse-
quently develop into a winged male or female. The New
Zealand termites have not yet been closely studied, and,
no doubt, there are many other interesting facts to be
ascertained respecting them.

Family IV.— PSOCID^— BOOK LICE.

Not dealt with in this volume.

Family V.—PERLIDiE— STONE-FLIES.

"Insects of moderate or large size, furnished with four
membranous wings; these are usually complexly reticulate ;
the hind pair are much the larger, and have a large anal
area of more simple venation, which becomes plicate when
folded. The coxce are small, the legs widely separated.
The larva are aquatic in habits, the metamorphosis is-
slight " (Sharp).

This family is represented in New Zealand by three
described species of fairly large size. There are, however,
several smaller species, with which I am acquainted, that
are at present undescribed ; and it is probable that when
our insects are better known a considerable number of.
native species will ultimately be found.

Genus STENOPERLA, McLachlan (1866).

"The first two joints of the maxillary palpi are short, equal, broad ; the
others smooth ; the third and fourth are each twice the length of the second ;
the fifth is shorter than the fourth. Antennae short and slender. Wings
when at rest surrounding the body ; the anterior much narrower than the
posterior, elongated ; the transverse nervines are numerous and evenly dis-
tributed ; the posterior wings three times as broad as the anterior, plicated,,
the transverse nervules distributed pretty evenly over the whole surface.

"Distribution. — New Zealand" (Hutton).

STONE-FLIES.

STENOPERLA PRASINA.

Chloropcrla prasina, Newman, Zoologist, vol. 3,
p. 852 (1845). Hermes prasinus, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera
Brit. Mns., p. 206 (1852). Stenoperla prasina, McLachian,
Trans. Ent. Soc, ser. 3, vol. 5, p. 354 (1866).

(Plate I., fig. 4, fig. 5 larva, enlarged.)

This pretty insect is fairly common throughout the
whole of New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings varies from 1^ to '2^ inches. The insect's
general colour is grass-green, with the metathorax and abdomen brown.
The head is hardly broader than the prothorax, the latter being rounded
behind. The rest of the body is very narrow. The fore-wings are narrow
and bright green, especially in the living insect. The hind-wings are very
broad and pale green. The legs are also green.

The larva of this insect is found in rapid-running
rivers and streams, but apparently is not usually very
abundant. It is extremely active in the water, and gene-
rally contrives to secrete itself under a stone immediately
after being exposed to view. Thus it is always very
difficult to capture, which circumstance perhaps gives
rise to an idea, that the larva is less abundant than is
actually the case. The food of this larva consists of
various other aquatic insects, chiefly the larvae of
Ephemeridce, those belonging to the genus Atalophlebia
being probably the favourite prey of this insect. It also
•devours the larva of Ameletus perscitus. The larva of
S. prasina actively pursues its victims amongst the stones
in the bed of the stream, and seizes them by means of
its powerful jaws. It is extremely voracious, and might
perhaps prove destructive to very young trout. On the
other hand, there is no doubt that these larvae must in
turn form an important element in the food supply of the
trout themselves, as the insects are to be found in the
streams throughout the entire year, being, in fact, as
common in midwinter as at any other season.

The length of the full-grown larva, including the terminal appendages, is
about 1^ inches. In general appearance it bears a considerable resemblance
to the perfect insect, except, of course, in the matter of wings. The head
and thorax are dull brownish-green ; the former has three conspicuous
hlack spots on the top, representing the ocelli of the perfect insect. The
meso- and meta-thorax are each furnished with a pair of wing-pads. The
anterior pair are very vivid green in colour, the posterior pair being paler.
The abdomen is purplish-brown with the segmental divisions sharply marked
in white. The first five segments of the abdomen are each furnished with
n pair of gills, one gill on each side. These appendages are cylindrical, and

6 NEW ZEALAND NEUEOPTEBA.

gradually taper from base to apex. They are white in colour, and appear
to be partially articulated. The legs of the larva are very strong.

This larva grows extremely slowly, and it is quite
possible that it occupies more than a year in reaching
maturity. It is capable of travelling considerable dis-
tances on land, especially towards the end of its larval
life. At this period, it is, in fact, quite impossible to con-
fine the insects in a shallow vessel, as they will imme-
diately climb out of the water in order to get away.

When about to change into the imago, this larva
leaves the water and clings firmly to a stone or the stem
of some plant, generally near the edge of the stream.
The skin then dries and cracks open at the back, and the
perfect insect makes its escape, drying and expanding its
wings in the usual manner. The empty skins of the
larvse are often seen after the insect has emerged, and are
then very conspicuous. Sometimes they are met with a.
considerable distance away from the water, showing that
the larva must have travelled a long way from its native
element before emerging. These skins are, in fact, occa-
sionally found clinging to the stems of trees four or five
feet above the ground, the trees themselves being situated
perhaps ten or fifteen yards away from the bank of the
river or stream.

The perfect fly is most abundant in November and
December, but few specimens being found as late as
January. It flies somewhat feebly at evening dusk, when
it is readily seen and captured. It is often extremely
common in the neighbourhood of rivers, especially during
the early part of December. The beautiful green colour
of the fore-wings is very protective to the insect when
resting amongst foliage during the day ; hence specimens
are seldom detected at this time. Unfortunately the
green colour fades very much in the dead insect, a series
of dried specimens giving but a poor idea of the appear-
ance of this interesting species when alive.

STENOPERLA (?) CYRENE.

Chloroperla cyrene, Newman, Zoologist, vol. 3, p. 853
(1845). Perla (?) cyrene, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit.
Mus., p. 168 (1852) ; McLachlan, Trans. N.Z. Inst.,
vol. vi.. App., p. xcii.

(Plate VI., fig. 7.)

This species has occurred in the neighbourhood of

STONE-FLIES. 7

Wellington and also at Orepuki, near Invercargill.
Although rather a rare insect, it will probably be found
to be generally distributed throughout New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches. "Black. Head scarcely
depressed; antennas with 40 joints, strong, submoniliform, scarcely shorter
than the body, the joints sub-ovate. Prothorax sub-transverse, acutely
angled, nearly quadrate, not much broader than the head. Caudal setae
very short, incurved, 14-jointed. Tibise banded with yellow. Wings
blackish, semi-opaque, densely reticulated.

'• This species is not a Chloroperla nor a truePerla, nor is it a Stenoperla.
Probably it belongs to a new genus, but well-preserved specimens are
wanting for description. It is easily distinguished by its yellow tibiae "
(Hutton).

The transformations of this insect closely resemble
those of the preceding species. The perfect insect
appears from November till March, and is occasionally
found in the neighbourhood of water.

Genus LEPTOPERLA, Newman (1839).

" Exterior portion of the fore-wing with six strong parallel nervures, of
which the fourth is forked at the extremity and the fifth unites with the
fourth before its furcation ; these longitudinal nervures are intersected by
several delicate transverse nervules. Antennas and caudal setae elongated.
Legs elongated.

•• Distribution. — Tasmania and New Zealand" (Hutton).

LEPTOPEKLA OPPOSITA.

Perla opposita, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit. Mus. r
p. 171 (1852). Leptoperia opposita, McLachlan, Trans.
N.Z. Inst., vol. vi., App., p. xcii. (1874).

This little insect is probably common, and generally
distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is about 1 inch. The general colour is black
and shining, with the abdomen and legs more or less dull brown. "Pro-
thorax minutely punctured, rugulose on the disk, not broader in front, with
a rim on each side and along the fore border, sides straight, angles rather
sharp ; scutellum with a yellow spot in front. Wings very slightly grey,
darker about the transverse nervules ; nervures black " (Hutton). The fore-
wings are tinged with grey, with a spot of darker grey on each of the trans-
verse veins near the middle and apex. The hind-wings are darker grey, with
strong bluish reflections in the living insect.

The larva of this species inhabits certain rapid-running
streams, but is not universally met with. It is full grown
very early in the spring, being very abundant in favoured
localities. It clings closely and firmly to the stones in
the bed of the stream, and its colouring in such situations
is extremely protective. It can crawl about in the

8 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

strongest currents with considerable agility by means of
its long legs, which are very powerful.

The length of the larva, when full grown, is about \ inch. The general
colour is dull greenish-brown, spotted and striped with dull grey. The head
is small and narrow, with the eyes black and prominent. The prothorax is
broader than the head and nearly oval in shape ; the meso- and meta-thorax
are very large and the wing-pads very prominent, and considerably ex-
tended. The abdomen is slender, with ten visible segments. The two
terminal appendages are nearly as long as the body ; they are very divergent
and strongly curved outwards. Between the origins of these appendages is
situated a retractile tuft of rather short and very stout bristles, which
appears to be the only respiratory organ possessed by the larva. The legs
are stout and rather long. The antennae are about three-quarters the length
of the body. The basal joint is very stout, the second joint cylindrical, and
the remaining joints very numerous, gradually tapering towards the apex.

This larva is specially adapted for living in streams
with very rapid and powerful currents, and its appearance
during the late winter and early spring, when all water-
courses are more or less swollen, renders its special struc-
ture in this respect highly necessary to its well-being.
When full grown it leaves the water, usually crawling on
to an exposed stone, where the fly makes its escape in
the usual manner.

The perfect insect appears early in September, and
may be found until the middle or end of December. It
is generally discovered resting amongst boulders at the
edges of the streams, very seldom flying or venturing any
distance from its native element.

The present species also occurs in Tasmania, but Mr.
McLachlan is of opinion that our insect is not the true
L. opposita, therefore not identical with the Tasmanian
insect.

Family VI.— ODON ATA— DRAGON-FLIES.

" Elongate insects with very mobile head and large eyes,
with small and inconspicuous antenna ending in a bristle;
with four elongate wings sub-equal in size and similar in
texture, of papyraceous consistency and having 'many
■veinlets, so that there exists a large number of small
cells. All the legs placed more anteriorly than the wings.
The earlier stages of the life are aquatic ; there is great
change in the appearance of the individual at the final
ecdysis, but there is no pupal instar" (Sharp).

The following are some of the principal terms employed by systematists
in describing the neuration of dragon-flies.

" On the anterior margin, about midway between the pterostigma and the

DRAGON-FLIES. 9

base, there is a short, thick, transverse nervule called the 'nodus,' which
stops the sub-costal nervure. The nervules between the nodus and the base
of the wing are called ' ante-nodals ' or ' ante-cubitals,' while those
between the nodus and the pterostigma are called ' post-nodals ' or ' post-
cubitals.' All the nervines which cross the wing obliquely are called
' sectors.' That which starts from the nodus is the ' nodal sector,' the one
next behind it is the ' sub-nodal sector.' Below the sub-costal nervure comes
the ' median nervure,' and then the ' sub-median.' The first cross-nervule
uniting the median with the sub-median is the ' arculus,' which sends off
two sectors. The upper one of these branches, and that branch next to the
median nervure is called the ' principal sector,' while the posterior branch
forms the 'median sector.' The 'triangle' is an easily recognised area
which lies just below the sub-median nervure and a little outside the
arculus " (Hutton).

The dragon-flies are well known to every one, and con-
stitute one of the most distinct and easily recognised
families of insects, their elegant structure, beautiful
colours, and wonderful powers of flight render them of
exceptional interest, even to the most casual observer of
natural objects. In addition to the special characters
above summarised, dragon-flies exhibit many remarkable
peculiarities, when compared with other insects. The
structure of the thorax is, for instance, quite unique.
The prothorax is small, and often partially concealed in
the concavity at the back of the head. The meso- and
meta-thorax are very intimately combined, and their
relations are such, that the former is placed much above
the latter. This peculiarity is carried to its greatest
extent in some of the Agrionince where, not only are the
wings placed at a considerable distance behind the three
pairs of legs, but also the fore- wings are placed almost
directly above the hind pair. In the Anisopterides these
peculiarities are much less marked ; but even in them the
three pairs of legs are placed quite in front of the wings.
The legs are slender, and are chiefly remarkable for the
beautiful series of hair-like spines, with which they are
armed. Their position in relation to other parts of the
body is peculiar to the dragon-flies ; the legs seem unlit
for walking, the insects never using them for that
purpose ; but it is probable that they are of great im-
portance in capturing the prey.

Perhaps the most striking anatomical peculiarity of
the dragon-flies is to be found in the structure of the
male organs of reproduction. The ejaculatory duct opens
on the ventral plate of the penultimate segment, but the
organs of intromission are, however, placed on the under
side of the second segment. The precise mode in which
the fertilising fluid is transferred from the ninth to the

10 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOI'TEBA.

second segment is not well understood, but the insect
may be often seen bending its body inwards and upwards,
thus bringing the ninth ventral plate into contact with
the second. There is, therefore, little doubt that the
transference of the seminal fluid is effected during these
movements.

The food of dragon-flies consists of living insects,
which they capture on the wing by their own superior
powers of flight. The exact mode of capture is not
known with absolute certainty, owing to the extreme
rapidity of the dragon-fly's movements. It is certain,
however, that they capture flying insects, and it seems
most probable that this is done by means of the legs.
These are inserted so as to be close to the mouth ; they
are directed forwards, and are held bent at right angles
so as to form a sort of net, and are armed with a beau-
tiful system of fine spines ; it is probable that if the
dragon-fly pursue an insect on the wing and strike it
with the trap formed by its six legs, then these im-
mediately come together under the mouth, so that the
victim, directly it is captured by the leg trap of its pursuer,
finds itself in the jaws of its destroyer. The excessive
mobility of the head permits the victim to be instantly
secured by the mouth, and the captured fly is turned
about by this and the front pair of legs, and is nipped
rapidly, so that the wings and drier parts fall off, the
more juicy parts of the prey are speedily squeezed into a
little ball which is then swallowed or further compressed
by the mouth for the extraction of the juices.*

The wonderfully rapid and perfect flight of the dragon-
fly has led Amanst to suggest that its mechanism would
form a suitable model for a flying machine to be propelled
by electricity. From observations which have been made
on European dragon-flies it is considered probable that
the life of the perfect insect may endure for several
weeks if not months. Single individuals of many of
the larger species appear to have a domain as it were
of their own. Westwood mentions, for instance, that
he has seen what he believed to be the same specimen
of a rare dragon-fly hawking daily, for several weeks
together, over a small pond.

The larvae of dragon-flies, or nymphs as they are often
termed, are always strictly aquatic in their habits, and

* Sharp, luc. fit. 415.

t Rev. Sei. Nat. Montpellier (3), ii., p. 470.

DRAGON-FLIES. 11

although carnivorous like the perfect insect, they are
very sluggish in their movements. They lurk amongst
water- weeds or mud in stagnant pools, and capture their
prey by means of a peculiar structure termed the mask.
This organ is apparently formed by a backward growth
of the bases of the labium and lingua, a hinge being
formed between the two, at the most posterior point of
their growth. The prolonged portions of these parts are
free ; usually the mask is folded under the head, but it
can be unfolded and thrust forward with great rapidity.
The front parts of the labium form a prehensile appa-
ratus armed with sharp teeth, so that the structures
make altogether a very effectual trap, that can be ex-
tended in order to secure the prey (see Plate III., figs. 3-
and 6).

The respiratory organs of dragon-fly larvae are very
remarkable. In the nymphs of the Anisopterides a large
number of minute gills is situated in the rectum, and these
gills obtain air from water admitted into the rectum for
the purpose. The extremity of the body is armed with pro-
jections of variable form that can be separated to allow
ingress and egress of the fluid, or brought together so as
to close the orifice. The water, so taken in, can, by some
species, be ejected with force, and is used occasionally as
a means of locomotion. These rectal gills can absorb
free air, as well as air dissolved in water ; if the water in
which the creatures are placed does not contain sufficient
air the nymphs thrust the extremity of the body above
the surface and thus obtain a supply.

In the larvae of the Zygopterides rectal branchiae do
not exist and respiration seems to be partly effected by
means of three mobile processes at the extremity of the
body, and partly by ordinary spiracles.

Ten species of dragon-flies are at present known in
New Zealand, but of these only four can be called at all
common.

The number of insects killed by dragon-flies, in places
where they are abundant, must be enormous ; the nymphs,
too, are very destructive in the waters they inhabit, so
that dragon-flies have no doubt been no mean factor in
maintaining that important and delicate balance of life
which it is so difficult to appreciate. The nymphs are no
doubt cannibals ; and this may perhaps be an advantage
to the species, as the eggs are sometimes deposited in
large numbers in a limited body of water where all must
perish if the nymphs did not, after exhausting other food r

12 NEW ZEALAND NEUliOPTEEA.

attack one another. De Selys found that from a pond
filled with carp, roach, perch, and eels, several of the
dragon-fly denizens disappeared directly the bream was
introduced. On the other hand, there can be little doubt
that the nymphs are sometimes injurious to fish ; it has
been recorded that in a piscicultural establishment in
Hungary 50,000 young fishes were put into a pond
in spring ; in the following autumn only fifty-four fish
could be found, but there were present an enormous
quantity of dragon-fly nymphs.*

It has been observed that certain European species of
dragon-flies form swarms and migrate ; it will therefore
be of interest to ascertain if the migratory instinct exists
in any of our New Zealand species. In past years I have
noticed swarms, but not distinct migrations. Of late all
our dragon-flies appear much scarcer than in former times,
though this apparent decline in numbers may be due to
temporary causes only.

The fossil remains of a huge dragon-fly have been
discovered in the carboniferous strata at Commentry.
From the restoration which has been made of this giant
it would appear to have measured over two feet across
the expanded wings.

Sub-Family I.— ANISOPTERIDES.

Dragon-flies having the hinder wings slightly larger than the anterior
pair.

Tribe LIBELLULINA.

" Eyes large and contiguous, without any tubercle behind. The first
ante-nodal nervule of the fore-wings is not always continuous across the
lower costal space; the hind-wings are rounded at the anal angle in both
sexes ; the triangles of the fore- and hind-wing differ in shape ; sectors of
the arculus united at the base.

Genus SYMPETEUM, Newman (1855).

" Frontal tubercle slightly truncate ; posterior lobe of the prothorax
elevated. Pterostigma generally short or moderate ; sectors of the arculus
petiolate ; one cross-nervule in the lower basal or median space. Fore-wings
•with 7 or 8 (rarely 9 or 10) ante-nodal and or 7 post-nodal nervules, the
last ante-nodal very rarely and the first two or three post-nodals never con-
tinuous across the lower costal space ; triangle rather broad, free, on a level

Sharp, loc cit. 425.

DBAGON-FLIES. 13

with that of the hind-wing, three or four rows of post-triangular cells ;
nodal sector undulated beyond the middle. Hind-wings with 5 ante-nodal
and !> to 8 post-nodal nervules, the first three post-nodais not continuous
across the lower costal space ; triangle free.
"Distribution. — Cosmopolitan " (Hutton).

SYMPETRUM BIPUNCTATUM.

Libellula (Dlplax) bipunctata, Brauer, Reise der
" Novara," Neuroptera, p. 26 (1868).

(Plate II., fig. 1).

" Head with the lips reddish, the front rather golden, with a narrow
black line to the base of the antennae ; vertex yellow, the occipital triangle
reddish. Thorax reddish, the sides yellowish, with black spots. Basal
segment of the abdomen with a black spot on each side, the second or thin)
with a black spot in the middle. Wings hyaline, the posterior pair yellowish
at the base ; costa yellow at the base ; pterostigma margined with black.

"Male with the legs black, the coxae reddish, femora and tibiae yellow
on the outside. Pterostigma reddish ; 9 or 10 ante-nodals.

'• Female with the legs yellowish, the femora black on the outside and
the tibiae on the inside ; tarsi black. Pterostigma yellow ; 8 or 9 ante-
nodals.

" Length of the body, 1J inches ; expanse of wings 2 J inches.

" Locality. — New Caledonia.

" Variety nova-zealandiee, McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag., 1894, p. 271.

Differs from the type chiefiy in the greater extension of yellow at the base
of the wings and its deeper tint. In the anterior wings of the female this
colour extends to the second ante-nodal, to the arculus, and to near the end
of the lower basal cell ; and in the posterior wings it forms a triangular
basal space reaching the triangle and continued in an oblique manner to
the anal margin, some distance below the end of the membranule "
(Hutton).

This very pretty dragon-fly may easily be distinguished
from any of our other red species by its larger size and
stouter build. The yellow colouring at the base of the
wings is also a good distinctive character. It is very
uncertain in its appearance, but has been recorded from
the following localities in the North Island, i.e., Auckland,
RiOtorua, Lake Papaitonga (near Ohau, Manawatu) and
Paikakariki. In February, 1887, I observed it in swarms
at the last-named locality, and although on numerous
subsequent visits I have specially looked for it, I have
never a^ain seen it.

Tribe GOMPHINA.

" Eyes large, separated ; apices of the triangles of the wings directed
outwards ; the quadrangle without nervules ; wings unequal, the hinder
pair broader.

14 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

Genus UROPETALA, Selys (1857).

"The lower lip notched in the centre; occiput without any horns;
eyes elongated ; bristle of the antennas articulated. Sides of the thorax
without any salient points. Pterostigma long ; all the triangles of the
wings divided, the basiliar space not divided. Discoidal triangle of the fore-
wings with the superior side as long as or longer than the interior side, and
divided into three cellules. Superior anal appendages of the male flattened,
narrowed at the base ; inferior appendages rather shorter, not sloped.

•'Distribution. — New Zealand" (Hutton).

UROPETALA CAROVEI.

Petalura carovei, White, Zool. "Erebus" and
" Terror," Insects, pi. 6, fig. 1. Uropetala carovei, Selys,
Mon. Gomphines, p. 370, pi. 19, fig. 2 (1857).

(Plate II. , fig. 3 ; fig. 2 nymph.)

This very handsome insect is the largest dragon-fly
we have in New Zealand. It is generally distributed
throughout the country, but is commonest in the North
Island.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 4£ inches, of the female
-if inches. The general colour is shining blackish-brown, with bright yellow
markings. The markings, however, fade into dingy-white in old specimens
which have been long on the wing, and in dried specimens the colours also
lose much of their brilliancy.

The male insect has two small leaf-like appendages at the extremity of
the abdomen, which are spread out during night, so that the sexes of this
dragon-fly are always easily distinguishable.

The nymph of this insect inhabits mud in stagnant
streams, but is very seldom observed.

Its length when full grown is about 2| inches. The head is furnished
with a very large and powerful " mask," armed with two very sharp, strong
forceps for seizing its prey. The antennas have six unequal joints; the
eyes are rather large, oval, and shining black. The prothorax is very
small ; the rest of the thorax is of moderate size. The wing-pads are very
conspicuous and dark brownish-black in colour. The legs are long, stout,
and strongly fringed with yellowish hair. The general colour of the larva is
dull brown, with a few obscure greyish-white patches on the head, thorax,
and legs.

This larva is no doubt carnivorous, but no details are
at present known respecting its habits. When mature
it leaves the mud and clings to the stem of a tree, or
some other firm object, after which the winged insect
escapes as usual through a rent in the back. The empty
nymph-case of this insect may sometimes be found
attached to trees growing in swampy places near the
banks of streams, but they are not of frequent
occurrence.

DRAGON-FLIES. 15

The perfect insect appears in December and January.
It flies with great rapidity, and is often observed far
away from any water. It also frequents very elevated
situations, and I have seen it in the Nelson province on
the Tableland of Mount Arthur, no less than 3,600 feet
above the level of the sea. This is an extremely bold
insect, and, although powerful on the wing, is very
easily caught. In fact, it is so fearless that I have some-
times captured a specimen, when perched, by means of the
thumb and forefinger only. According to my observa-
tions, male specimens of this species are commoner than
the females, in the proportion of about three to one.

Tribe CORDULIINA.

" Resembles Libellulina, but the eyes have a slight homy tubercle behind,
the triangles of the wings are generally wider, the sectors of the arculus are
often completely separated, the last ante-nodal nervule is always continuous,
there is only a small number of post-nodal nervules, the nodal sector is never
undulated beyond the middle, and the males usually have the anal angle of
the wings angulated.

Genus SOMATOCHLORA, Selys (1878).

" Tubercles behind the eyes slight. Pterostigma rather short. Fore-wings
with 7 or 8 ante-nodal and 6 to 8 post-nodal nervules ; hind-wings with 5 (or
rarely 6) ante-nodals and 8 to. 10 post-nodals. Sectors of the arculus united
at their bases, but not petiolate. Basal and hypotrigonal areas undivided ;
lower basal (or median) area with one cross-nervule in both wings. Internal
triangle of the fore-wings with three cells ; triangle of the hind-wings followed
by two cells. Superior anal appendages of the male long, sub-cylindrical,
rather thicker in the middle ; the inferior pair short, sub-triangular. Those
of the female long, sub-cylindrical, slightly curved upwards, and pointed
at the apex.

" Distribution. — North America and other places " (Hutton).

SOMATOCHLOKA SMITHII.

Conhrfia smithii, White, Zool. " Erebus " and
" Terror," Insects, pi. vi., fig. 2 (no description) ; C. novce-
zealandice, Brauer, Reise der " Novara," Neuroptera,
p. 78, tab. ii., fig. 3-36 (1868).

(Plate III., fig. 1 S , 2 nymph, 6 head of ditto magnified,
showing mask extended).

This dragon-fly is common and generally distributed
throughout New Zealand, and has also occurred at the
Chatham Islands. It appears, however, to be decreasing
in numbers in those localities, which are in the vicinity of
settlement.

16 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

The expansion of the wings is about 2^ inches, and the length of the body
about 2 inches. In the living insect the head is bronzy green in front with
the sides yellow ; the eyes are dark reddish-brown, in the female with
metallic green reflections ; in the male they are the most brilliant metallic
green. The thorax is metallic bronzy green, brighter in the male. The legs
are black ; the anterior femora wholly pale brown. In the female the wings
are often shaded with pale orange-brown just before the pterostigma. The
abdomen is black with bronzy-green reflections, the sides are marked with"
bright orange-brown, almost interrupted with black at each articulation. In
the male the abdomen is narrower at base and apex than in middle. The
superior anal appendages of the male are black, long, acute at the apex, and
bent upwards in the middle, converging and sub-dilated, angled exteriorily.
The inferior appendages are simple, half the length, triangular and yellow.
The anal appendages of the female are cylindrical, incurved, and acute.

The nymph inhabits the mud at the bottom of stagnant
streams and ponds, feeding on the smaller insects which
frequent those situations.

Its length when full grown is about 1 inch. The head is broad and some-
' what triangular in shape when the mask is closed. The eyes are prominent
and black in colour. The antennae are seven-jointed, the two basal joints-
being considerably stouter than the remainder. The prothorax is small and
has a blunt protuberance at each of its anterior angles, the rest of the thorax
is of moderate size. The posterior wing-pads are larger than the anterior.
The abdomen is rather large. There is a crest of horny spines on the back
and the edges of several of the posterior segments are produced into horny
rlanges at the sides. The legs are long and slender and are very sparingly
clothed with minute bristles. The general colour is dull brown, with a row
of black dots on each side of the abdomen.

This larva is extremely hard to find, and I spent at
least two hours carefully examining the mud from
a stagnant pool in the Hutt Kiver before I succeeded in
discovering a single specimen. When enveloped in the
mud, as the insect always is in a state of nature, it is quite
impossible to detect except by means of its movements,,
which are very deliberate. When full grown this nymph
leaves the water and ascends the stem of a neighbouring
plant, after which the w T inged insect escapes in the usual
way.

The perfect dragon-fly is an extremely swift and
powerful flier. In fact its movements are so rapid that it
appears to vanish in one spot and reappear some yards
distant. It often occurs many miles away from water,
and I have observed it flying around mountain crags over
5,000 feet above the sea-level. Although so much smaller
in size it is far more difficult to capture than Uropetala
carovei, as it is so very timid, and when at rest it can
only be approached with the utmost caution. During the
last eighteen years its steady decline in numbers in the
vicinity of Wellington has been very noticeable, and it is
now quite a rare insect here. I conjecture that its dis-

DE AGON-FLIES. 17

appearance is due to the trout eating the nymphs, though
it would seem difficult for the fish to discover an insect so
retired in its habits. The female dragon-fly deposits her
eggs in the water, beating her body violently on the sur-
face whilst doing so. It is therefore possible that, when
thus engaged, she is often captured and devoured by
the trout.

This dragon-fly varies considerably in colour as well
as in the number of the " ante-nodal nervures " in the
fore- wing.

SOMATOCHLORA GRAYI.

Epitheca grayi, de Selys, Synopsis Cordulines,
p. 49 (1871).

" Male. — Head with the lips yellowish, the face pale brown, the upper part
of the front metallic green. Thorax brown, with metallic-green reflections.
Wings slightly tinged, the extreme base ochraceous, especially in the hind-
wings, where the colours expand along the membranule ; neuration black,
including the costa ; pterostigma small, reddish ; triangle traversed by a
nervule in the fore-wing, free in the hind-wing ; three post-trigonal cellules
followed by two rows ; the anal margin excavated, but almost filled in by the
membranule, which is brownish-grey, paler at the base ; 8 ante-nodals in the
fore-wing. Legs black, the anterior femora and an external band on the
intermediate yellowish. Abdomen inflated at the base, a little constricted at
the third segment, then broadening and flattening to the eighth, afterwards
attenuated ; oreillettes prominent. It is blackish above, excepting the first
and second segments, which are yellowish, and the third to the tenth have
on each side a broad yellow spot occupying their basal half. Superior anal
appendages blackish, almost double the length of the tenth segment, villose,
cylindrical and straight in their first three-quarters, the apex expanding and
forming a sort of club curved suddenly outwards almost at a right angle to
the inner edge, the outer edge simply inclined, the extremity blunt, almost
truncate. Seen in profile the upper side has a small point, directed in front.
Inferior appendages shorter, yellowish, sub-triangular, slightly curved up-
wards, with a blunt point. Length of the abdomen, 39 mm. ; of the hind-
wing, 33 mm.

•'Female unknown.

" Locality. — New Zealand " (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this species.

SOMATOCHLORA BRAUERI.

Epitheca braueri, de Selys, Synopsis Cordulines,
p. 50 (1871).

" Male. — Head brown, rhinarium yellow, upper side of the front greenish,
base of the eyes yellowish-brown. Thorax brown, the upper portions and
sides bronzy green. Wings tinged, slightly ochraceous at the extreme
base ; the posterior with the anal margin excavated, membranule large,
blackish, paler at the base; pterostigma small, reddish- brown ; triangles
divided in all the wings ; 8 ante-nodal nervules in the fore-wings and 6 in the
hind ; 7 or 8 post-nodals. Legs brown, the tarsi blackish. Abdomen slender,
brown, with bronzy reflections, with a sinuated dorsal blackish bronzy band,
not well defined, prolonged over all the segments, the articulations blackish ;

3

18 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

oreillettes scarcely evident. Superior anal appendages sub-cylindrical, dark
brown, double the length of the tenth segment, without any tooth, slightly
bent inwardly and curved outwardly in the second half, where there is
a slight dilatation outwardly, the apex blunt. Inferior appendage one-
quarter shorter, regularly attenuated, the extremity slender, truncated,
slightly elevated. Length of the abdomen, 40 mm. ; of the hind-wings,.
36 mm.

" Female differs from the male in having a broad spot of yellowish-white
below the pterostigma ; 7 or 8 ante-nodals in the fore-wing and 5 or (5 in the
hind, (5 or 7 post-nodals in the fore-wing and 8 or 9 in the hind (the right and
left wings often different). Legs black, the proximal halves of the femora
brown below. Anal appendages as in S. smithii. Length, .50 mm. ; of
abdomen, 36 mm. ; of fore-wing, 37 mm. ; of hind-wing, 3(> mm.

" Locality. —Canterbury " (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this species.

Tribe ^SCHNINA.

" Eyes large and contiguous. Apices of the triangles of all the wings,
directed outwards ; the quadrangle with transverse nervules."

Genus ^ESCHNA, Fabricius.

" Eyes sinuated behind. The inferior appendage generally entire, some-
times quadrifid. Anal margin of the hind-wings of the male generally pro-
jecting, with the posterior margin sinuated.

"Distribution. — Widely spread in both hemispheres " (Hutton).

.ESCHNA BEEYISTYLA.

xEschna brevistyla, Rambur, Hist. Nevropteres,.
p. 205 (1842).

(Plate IV., fig. 5.)

This handsome dragon-fly has occurred at Auckland,.
Kawhia, Rotorua, and Levin in the North Island, and in
the Canterbury District in the South Island. It is, how-
ever, a very rare species in New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is 3| inches, and the length of the body
2| inches.

The general colour of the body is dark reddish-brown with bright yellow
and blue markings. There is a broad yellow stripe on each side of the thorax,
and two fine oblique stripes on the back of the mesothorax ; there is a
number of small blue marks at the base of the wings. The abdomen is much
inflated at the base and then constricted ; the inflated portion has one central
and two lateral yellow marks, and a very broad bright blue band, followed by
a black band just before the constriction. The rest of the abdomen is reddish-
brown with numerous yellow stripes and spots. The wings are slightly
tinged with reddish, the veins are brown and the pterostigma is black. The
superior anal appendages are narrow in the male, those of the female are.
very short.

DRAGON-FLIES. 19

The perfect insect appears about February. This
dragon-fly also occurs in Eastern Australia.

Sub-family ZYGOPTE RIDES :— Dragon-flies having the wings of
the two pairs equal in size, or the hinder a little the smaller.

Tribe AGKIONINA.

" Eyes small and distant ; wings equal, attenuated at their bases.

Genus LESTES, Leach (1817).

" Wings horizontal in repose. Nodal sector arising three to five cells
behind the nodus ; the sub-nodal not angulated or hardly undulated ; the
ultra-nodal sector interposed and the short sector angular under the nodus ;
two supplementary sectors interposed between the sub-nodal and the median
sectors. Pterostigma three or four times as long as broad, surmounting
2 to 4 cellules. Two ante-nodals in all the wings. Quadrilateral with the
internal side a third or a fourth of the interior. Anal appendages of the
female cylindrical, subulate, shorter than the last segment.

" Distribution. — Cosmopolitan.

Second Section.

"External inferior angle of the quadrilateral much pointed. Colour
blackish-bronze, mixed with blue or clear red. Inferior appendages of the
male short.

"Distribution. — Asia, Australasia, Oceania"' (Hutton).

LESTES COLENSONIS.

Agrion colensonis, White, Zool. "Erebus" and
"Terror," Insects, pi. 6, fig. 3. Lestes colensonis, Selys r
Synopsis Agrionines, p. 44 (1862).

(Plate III., fig. 4 <?, 5 ? .)

This pretty dragon-fly is very common, and generally
distributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is 2J inches, and the length of the body
1^ inches.

The general colour of the male is dark purplish-black, with brilliant
blue markings. The front of the labium, the pronotum, two broad stripes
on the mesonotum, the articulations of the wings and the articulations of
the abdomen are brilliant blue. The legs are black above and yellowish-
brown beneath. The superior appendages of the male are like pincers
toothed inside and having a tubercle at the base inside, which is the
commencement of a dilatation, terminated towards the middle by a very
sharp tooth ; the end inclined downwards and curved slightly outwards.
The inferior appendages are not half the length of the superior ; they are
brown, thick, approximated, and slightly attenuated.

In the female the head and pronotum are dull slaty black, the central
portions of the mesonotum brilliant green-edged, first with a narrow band of
white and then broadly with black. The abdomen is bright green at the

20 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

base, becoming dull purple towards the tip ; the end of each segment is
marked with a shaded ring of black, and the beginning of the succeeding
segment with a sharp, fine ring of white. The anal appendages are
separated, sub-cylindrical, yellowish, shorter than the last segment, the
valves slightly toothed at the tips.

The transformations of this dragon-fly probably closely
resemble those of the next species, but the nymphs are
very rarely met with, and have not } T et, I think, been
closely observed. The perfect insect first appears in
December and becomes steadily commoner until about
the middle of February, when its numbers then begin
to decline. The males first appear and seem to be
gradually supplanted by the females ; stragglers of both
sexes are, however, occasionally observed as late as the
beginning of May, and, in fact, this dragon-fly is often
one of the last insects to leave us in the autumn.

Genus XANTHAGRION, de Selys (1876).

" Head, thorax, and abdomen medium. The post-ocular rays clear,
united by an occipital line. Lower sector of the triangle arising from the
basal nervule of the post-costal ; pterostigma lozenge-shaped, short on all
the wings ; post-nodal nervules 11 to 15. No spine on the vulva of the
female.

" Distribution. — Australia and New Zealand.

" The New Zealand species differ from those of Australia in having the
basal post-costal nervule placed between the first and second ante-nodals
instead of below the first " (Hutton).

XANTHAGKION ZEALANDICUM.

Telebasis zealandica, McLachlan, Ann. Mag. Nat.
His., ser. 4, vol. 12, p. 35 (1873); Trans. N.Z. Inst.,
vol. vi., App., p. xciii. Xanthagrion zealandlcum, de
Selys, Synopsis Agrionines, p. 232 (1876).

(Plate IV., fig. 1 ? variety, 2 ? , 3 $ , 4 nymph
magnified ; Plate III., fig. 3 head of nymph with
mask extended (much magnified).

This beautiful little dragon-fly is extremely common
throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings of the male is If inches, and the length of
the body 1£ inches. The abdomen is brilliant red with black rings at the
sutures. The head and thorax are black above, with long brownish hairs;
there is a large red spot behind each eye, the two connected by a transverse
red line. The prothorax is black, its borders and three discal spots are
red ; the posterior lobe is rounded and but little projecting. The thorax
has two bright-red lines ; the sides are reddish, with two black lines. The
legs are bright-red, with black spines. The superior anal appendages are
short, sub-triangular, with an obscure tubercle inside. The inferior

DR AGON-FLIES. 21

appendages are hooked, as long as the 10th segment. The pterostigma
surmounts one cellule.

In the female the expansion of the wings is 1| inches, and the length of
the body 1J inches. The red colouring is replaced by yellow on the head
and thorax ; the abdomen is bronzy black above and pale yellowish beneath.

There are 13-14 post-nodal nervules and three cells between the
quadrilateral and the nodus.

There is a variety of the female about the same size
as the male, and much resembling an individual of that
sex, except that the abdomen is of a duller red with
broader black rings, and the general colour of the legs
and thorax is darker (see Plate IV., fig. 1). This form
is unquestionably a true female, although some doubts
have been expressed regarding this, by those who have
not had an opportunity of seeing the living insects. I
have, however, often captured specimens of this variety
connected with specimens of the typical male, and have
also observed them depositing eggs. The variety is very
much rarer than the ordinary form of the female, although
I have usually succeeded in obtaining one or two speci-
mens, wherever the dragon-flies were to be found in large
numbers. The larva of this insect inhabits most stagnant
pools and slow-running streams. It lives concealed
amongst various water- weeds, and captures and devours
small insects, which it readily seizes by means of its well-
developed mask.

The length of the full-grown nymph including the terminal appendages-,
is about | inch. The head is rather broad, somewhat heart-shaped, with
the eyes prominent and shining black. The antennas are six-jointed and
very slender ; the first joint is short and rather stout, the second slightly
longer and thinner, the third joint very slender and the longest of the series,
the remaining three joints are also slender and gradually decrease in length.
The thorax is not so broad as the head, its central portion is somewhat,
elevated. The wing-pads are elongate and conspicuous. The terminal
appendages are slightly more than half the length of the abdomen, very
broad, and traversed with numerous tracheae ; viewed from above they
appear very narrow as their edges only are then visible. The legs are long,
rather slender, with the tarsi three-jointed. The general colour of the
mature larva is dull greenish-brown, but younger larvae are light green.

The perfect insect appears about the middle of
November, and continues increasing in numbers during
the whole of December, but becomes much rarer towards
the end of the summer. It is very common in all
situations which are well watered, but only flies in the
hottest sunshine, and few specimens are to be seen on
dull days, even in places where the insect is most
abundant during bright sunny weather.

I have on several occasions observed this dragon-fly
engaged in pairing and subsequently depositing its eggs,

22 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

and its habits, when thus occupied, are very interesting
and remarkable.

In the first place the male insect seized the female
round her neck by means of his anal forceps, the two
dragon-flies flying about for some time connected in this
way and forming together a straight line. Later on the
pair settled on a firm object, the male still holding the
female in the same manner as before. Finally the male
drew the female slightly towards him, by arching his
abdomen, and the female at the same time bent her
body downwards and forwards, its extremity coming in
contact with the special organ situated on the second
segment of the male's abdomen. A connection is un-
doubtedly thus established, and I have not the slightest
doubt that the true copulative organs of the male are
actually situated on the second segment of the abdomen,
as is now generally stated by naturalists. The insects
remained connected in this way for five or ten minutes,
and I observed several pairs thus engaged.

When pairing was accomplished the process of egg-
laying at once began. During this operation the male
still retained hold of the female by means of his anal
claspers, the two insects resuming the "straight line"
position. After selecting the stem of some water-plant,
or similar object extending downwards beneath the
water, the female slowly moved backwards along the
stem towards the water, pulling the male after her.
First the extremity of her body came in contact with the
w y ater ; afterwards both insects continued to move back-
wards, until the whole of the female was submerged except
her thorax and the tips of her wings. At this time the
female frequently struck the extremity of her body against
the stems and leaves of the submerged portions of the
plant. This action was no doubt actual oviposition, though
I was unable to positively prove it. The female still
continued to move backwards until she was at last wholly
submerged and the male's abdomen half in the water.
At this stage the male loosened his hold and the female
went still deeper into the water alone, and did not return
to the surface for at least thirty minutes. After remaining
out of the water for a few minutes, the female climbed
down below the surface by herself, and in about fifteen
minutes I lost sight of her amongst the watercress in the
bed of the stream. I saw, however, several other pairs
in which the female was egg-laying and partially sub-
merged, but was not able to watch these for a very

MAY -FLIES. 23

lengthened period, as they were disturbed during the
process.

Whilst submerged the female is covered with a
coating of air, which of course looks silvery-white
below the water. This air is, no doubt, retained by
the integument, assisted by the numerous bristles and
hairs which are situated thereon.

XANTHAGRION ANTIPODUM.

Xanthagrion antipodum, de Selys, Synopsis Agrionines,
p. 239 (1876).

"Differs from X. zealandicum in having no spots behind the eyes, but
a yellow occipital line only, and no yellow spots on the prothorax ; the first
abdominal segment has no yellow spot ; the femora have a black ray on the
outside. There are only 11 post-nodal nervules. The pterostigma is rather
shorter than the opposite cell. Length of the abdomen, 24 mm. ; of the
hind-wing, 17 mm.

" Locality. — New Zealand.

"Described from a single female specimen" (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this species. It appears to
be very closely allied to Xanthagrion zealandicum.

XANTHAGRION SOBRINUM.

Telebasis sobrina, McLachlan, Ann. Nat. Hist., ser. 4,
vol. 12, p. 36 (1873). Xanthagrion sobrinum, de Selys,
Synopsis Agrionines, p. '234 (1876).

"Very like X. zealandicum, but larger; the basal spot on the first
segment of the abdomen is divided ; the superior anal appendages are
much exserted, scarcely half the length of the inferior, sub-triangular,
the lower edge concave. Four cellules between the quadrilateral and the
nodus in all the wings ; 'pterostigma surmounting fully two cellules; anterior
wings with 15 post-nodal nervules. Length, 39 mm. ; of abdomen, 31 mm.;
of hind-wing, 22 mm. ; expanse, 56 mm.

" Locality. — New Zealand and Chatham Islands.

"In Chatham Island specimens the basal black spot on the first
abdominal segment is not divided, and there are 15 to 18 post-nodal
nervules" (Hutton).

Family VII.— EPHEMERIDiE- MAY-FLIES.

" Delicate insects with atrophied month and small,
short antenna; with four membranous wings having
much minute cross-veining ; the hinder pair very much
smaller than the other pair, sometimes entirely absent :
the body terminated by three or two very elongate slender
tails. The earlier stages are passed through in the water,
and the individual then differs greatly in appearance from

24 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEEA.

the winged insect ; the passage between the two forms is
sudden ; the creature in its first winged state is a sub-
imago, which by shedding a delicate shin reveals the
final form of the individual " (Sharp).

The following are some of the principal terms employed by systematists.
in describing the neuration of these insects : —

" The anterior margin of the wing is called the 'costal' nervure, and
immediately below it is the 'sub-costal'; and below that is the 'radius':
none of these are branched. Next comes a nervure which branches very
near the base of the wing into an upper, called the ' sector,' and a lower,
called the ' prebrachial ' ; further on the sector sends out a second lower
branch, the 'cubitus,' which thus lies between the sector and the pre-
brachial. Starting again from the base, three longitudinal nervures
branch off together, the upper of which is called the ' pobrachial,' the
middle the 'anal,' and the lower the 'axillary' nervure" (Hutton).

The Ephemeridce is one of the most interesting-
families of the Neuroptera whether we regard it from
the standpoint of the entomologist, the angler, or the
general observer of nature. In a purely popular sense
the May-flies are probably best known as the types of brief
and ineffective life, the name Ephemera being derived
from the Greek E^ri/uepog — diurnal — and having allusion
to the extremely short space of time which they occupy
as perfect insects. If, however, the duration of the
preparatory stages of the May-fly is taken into account
the total life of the individual is really quite as long as
that of most other insects.

The earlier stages of the May-flies are of great interest
and importance ; but the perfect insects shrivel so much
in the process of drying that the study of the structure
of preserved specimens is not altogether satisfactory.
The discrimination between many of the species of
May-flies, when in their final condition, is attended
with much difficulty to any one but a specialist in the
group, whilst in most cases the same insects, in their
earlier stages, could be readily distinguished even by an
amateur naturalist.

It is probable that May-fly larvae are more modified for
an aquatic life than any other insects. They poassess
complex series of tracheal gills, which differ very much
in structure amongst the various species (see Plate XL,
figs. 14-18). The internal anatomy of the larvae also
shows some points of extreme interest. The long tails
of the insect serve as auxiliary organs of respiration, and
there is a special modification of the great dorsal vessel,
by means of which the blood is forced into these appen-
dages for respiratory purposes. Owing to the almost.

MAY-FLIES. 25

complete transparency of many of these larvae the entire
circulation of the blood may be easily seen if the insect
be placed in a shallow vessel of water and viewed under
a magnifier of moderate power.

The food of these larvae is apparently very varied. The
Rev. E. A. Eaton, who is probably one of the greatest
British authorities on the EpJiemeridce, says that though
sometimes the stronger larvae devour the weaker, yet
the diet is even in these cases partly vegetable. The
alimentary canal frequently contains much mud ; very
small organisms, such as diatoms and confervae, are
thought to form a large part of the bill of fare of
Ephemerid larvae. Although the mouth is atrophied
in the imago, it is highly developed in the larva. As
soon as the May-fly larva attains maturity the winged
insect escapes through an opening in the back, slowly
flies ashore, and afterwards rests for a variable period,
according to the species, amongst the vegetation on the
bank of the stream. In this condition the insect is
termed the sub-imago, as a further transformation after-
wards takes place, i.e., the shedding of another and
extremely delicate skin from the entire body and appen-
dages of the insect. After this second change the wings
are more transparent, the legs and tails considerably
longer than before, and the insect is then in its final,
or imago, condition. The sub-imago is an extra phase
of life peculiar to the May-flies, and, so far as is known,
does not occur in any other family of insects. In most
insects, however, an extremely delicate inner membrane
can be detected inside the ordinary skin of the nymph,
or pupa, this membrane being no doubt analogous to
that which invests the sub-imago of the May-fly. There
is, however, this remarkable difference — in the May-fly
the inner skin is retained for a considerable period after
the insect has left the nymph, that is during the sub-
imago state ; in other insects the two skins are shed
simultaneously, one within the other, and in these no-
such stage occurs.

In localities where May-flies are abundant, numerous
specimens of the sub-imago may be seen flying away from
the water in almost a straight line, with a slow and steady
flight, generally about fourteen feet above the ground.
This flight occurs during the early twilight, and is so
characteristic that when once recognised it cannot be
mistaken. It is very distinct from the peculiar up-and-
down flight of the imago about to be described.

■26 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTERA.

The perfect May-fly takes no food ; its alimentary canal
gradually becomes distended with air, afterwards acting as
a kind of balloon, whilst the insects are performing their
well-known aerial dances. During these flights the May-
flies rise and fall in the air, almost in perpendicular lines,
and it is at this time that the pairing of the sexes takes
place. Of these remarkable dances it has been well said *
that to the May-flies themselves, the movements may, by
the number of the separate eyes, by their curved surfaces,
and by the innumerable facets composing them, be
multiplied and correlated in a manner of which our own
sense of sight allows us to form no conception. We can
see on a summer's evening how beautifully and gracefully
a crowd of May-flies dance, and we may well believe that
to the marvellous ocular organs of the flies themselves,
these movements form a veritable ballet. It has already
been explained that during these dances the stomach of
the May-fly becomes distended with air, and it is further
believed that the contents of the sexual glands are driven
along their simple and direct canals f by the expansion of
the balloon-like stomach. During these dances the
momentary conjugation of the sexes occurs, and imme-
diately thereafter the female, according to Eaton, resorts to
the waters for the appropriate deposition of her eggs. As
regards this, Eaton says : " Some short-lived species
discharge the contents of their ovaries completely
en masse, and the pair of egg clusters laid upon the water
rapidly disintegrate, so as to let the eggs sink broadcast
upon the river-bed. The less perishable species extrude
their eggs gradually, part at a time, and deposit them in
one or other of the following manners : Either the
mother alights upon the water at intervals to wash off the
eggs that have issued from the mouths of the oviducts
during her flight, or else she creeps down into the water
to lay her eggs upon the under side of stones, disposing
them in rounded patches, in a single layer evenly spread,
and in mutual contiguity." The eggs are very numerous,
and it is thought may sometimes remain in the water as
long as six or seven months before they hatch. The
number of individuals produced by some kinds of May-

* Sharp, " Insects," 440 et seq.

t The sexual organs of the Ephemeridee are remarkable for their simplicity,
and for the fact that the ducts by which they communicate with the exterior
continue as a pair to the extremity of the body and do not, as in other
insects, unite into a common duct. This extraordinary structure exists in
both sexes.

MAY-FLIES. 27

flies is remarkable. Swarms consisting of millions of
individuals are occasionally witnessed. In the perfect
state these insects are a favourite food of fishes, and most
of the "duns" and "spinners" of the angler are rude
representations of Ephemeridee. Ronald says * that the
term " dun " refers to the sub-imago condition, " spinner "
to the perfect insect.

These sensitive creatures are unable to resist the
attractions of artificial light ; and since the introduction
•of the electric light, accounts often appear of myriads
being lured by it to destruction. Their dances may
frequently be observed to take place in peculiar states of
light and shade, in twilight or where the sinking sun has
its light rendered broken by bushes or trees ; possibly the
broken lights are enhanced in effect by the ocular
structures of the insects.

That insects so fragile, so highly organised, with a host
■of powerful enemies, but themselves destitute of the
means of attack or defence, should contrive to exist at all
is remarkable ; and it appears still more unlikely that such
•delicate insects as Ephemeridce should leave implanted in
the rocks their traces in such a manner that they can be
recognised ; nevertheless such is the case, and the May-fly
palaeontological record is both rich and remarkable.
From the great variety and large size of many of the fossil
May-flies, Scudder considers that the fragile, short-lived
May-flies of the present day must be regarded as the
lingering fragments of an expiring group.

Genus ICHTHYBOTUS, Eaton (1899).

"A genus of the sectional type of Ephemera, resembling Pentagenia in
style of wing-neuration, and in having the median caudal seta abortive in
the male imago, but either not much shorter than or subequal in length to
the outer setae in the female. Legs as in Ephemera, excepting the claws of
the fore-tarsus of the male, the outer claw being hooked and the inner obtuse.
Distinguished from the other genera of this sectional type by the male genital
forceps, resembling in pattern those of a Siphlurus (cf. -S'. lacustris), the
forceps-basis sub-quadrate with the posterior angles obliquely truncate for the
insertion of the limbs, the first joint in which is shorter than the basis. The
name in Greek means fed on by fish." f

ICHTHYBOTUS HUDSONI.
Ephemera hudsoni, McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag., 1894,

* " Fly-Fisher's Entomology," 4th ed., 1849, p. 49.
f Trans. Ent. Society of London. 1899, p. 285.

28 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

p. 270; Iclithybotus hudsoni, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc.
Lond., 1899, p. 285.

(Plate V., fig. 4 <? , 5 ? , 6 3 sub-imago, 7 ? ditto r
8 nymph, magnified.)

Hitherto this fine May-fly has been taken only in the
neighbourhood of Wellington, but it is not at all likely
that the insect is restricted to this locality alone. It is
probably generally distributed throughout the North
Island, and most likely it occurs in parts of the South
Island also.

The expansion of the wings of the male is lg inches, of the female
1£ inches. In the male the general colour of the body is dark reddish-
brown. The costal margin of the fore-wings is edged with dull red between
the first two longitudinal veins. The remainder of the wings is transparent.
There are two tails which are nearly twice the length of the body. The
anterior legs are as long as the body, the other two pairs being stouter and
very much shorter. The female is stouter than the male ; the general colour
of the body is bright orange-brown, the wings are bright yellow, fading some-
what after death. The costal margin is bordered with dull red as in the
male. The anterior pair of legs are less than half the length of the body,
and rather stout. There are three tails, the two outer ones are not quite so
long as the body, and the middle tail is slightly shorter than the others.

The larva of this insect inhabits the soft, sandy mud
near the margins of rivers and streams. It lives in a
cylindrical barrow dug out of the mud, and in order to
keep a supply of fresh water in its dwelling it is constantly
waving its abdomen up and down. The gills are almost
incessantly moving. They vibrate with a peculiar wavy
motion, which appears to start near the thorax and pass
downwards along the insect. The food of the larva
apparently consists of mud, the vegetable particles
existing therein probably affording it the necessary
nourishment.

The length of the larva when full grown is about 1£ inches. The-
head is dull reddish-brown. The mandibles are rather long and but
slightly curved at the tips. The anterior legs are very strong, and appa-
rently used for digging. The other legs are stout and short. The antennas
are rather long and very thin. The thorax and wing-pads are dark brown ;.
the abdomen is dingy white. Gills are present on each side of the first
six segments of the abdomen. Each gill is double, and is fringed with
numerous long blackish hairs (see Plate XI., fig. 14). There are three
moderately long anal appendages, each of which is broadly fringed with
hair. The whole larva is also covered with short hair.

This larva is difficult to find, as it is nearly always so
enveloped in mud as to be quite unrecognisable. Hence
specimens can only be obtained by carefully examining

MAY-FLIES. 29

the mud, and washing any suspicious-looking moving
object in a small net. When a larva is thus found and
afterwards liberated in the open water, it swims rapidly
for a few seconds, and then immediately begins to again
bury itself in the sand or mud. This is done by means
of the powerful head, jaws, and anterior legs. One
specimen I watched whilst thus engaged completely con-
cealed itself in less than five minutes. As these larvae
spend nearly all their time underground, they can be
devoured by fish only during emergence or as perfect
insects. It is therefore probable that the permanent
preservation of this May-fly larva in our rivers and
streams is fully assured.

Unlike most other May-fly larvae, this insect is
extremely hardy, and can endure severe vicissitudes.
On one occasion a specimen was accidentally left for
a month in a tightly corked bottle with a little sand and
water, but when it was liberated it appeared none the
worse for its long imprisonment.

Although difficult to find, this larva evidently occurs
in great profusion in certain localities. For instance, in
the Wainui-o-mata Kiver, about Christmas-time, the
nymph skins may be seen in hundreds, and the perfect
insect is very common there also.

I once observed a larva of this insect just about to
emerge. It appeared very sluggish, and a large quantity
•of air was visible under the skin. The insect allowed
itself to float slowly down the stream just below the
surface, its gills working as rapidly as usual. Suddenly
the skin of the thorax broke open at the back, and in
two or three seconds a beautiful female sub-imago was
standing on the water alongside the empty floating pupa
skin. The rapidity of the transformation was marvel-
lous, the May-fly only appearing to shake its wings once
before they attained their full size.

The sub-imago of the male of J. hudsoni differs from the perfect insect
in the following respects : The body is dull brown, the anterior legs are
very much shorter and stouter, and the tails are not quite so long as the
body. There are two conspicuous dusky transverse bands on the fore- and
hind-wings. The female sub-imago has the body pale yellowish-red, with
the tip of the abdomen blackish. The three tails ai'e equal in length, but
very short. The fore-wings have two conspicuous broken blackish, trans-
verse bands ; the hind-wings have a narrow blackish band near the base,
followed by two broad blotches near the edge of the wing.

The sub-imago rests amongst foliage on the banks of
the stream for about thirty-six hours before changing.

30 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

If disturbed, however, it flies with considerable rapidity,,
and at this time the female especially is very con-
spicuous ; its bright yellow wings, with black bands,
giving it, when flying, a most striking appearance. As
a rule the sub-imago is seldom seen in a state of nature,
and can only be obtained with any degree of certainty
by rearing individuals from the larva. The perfect
insect appears from the beginning of December until
the end of January. In some localities it is very
common at evening dusk, and its large size and cha-
racteristic vertical flight render it a conspicuous object
when projected against the bright background of the
evening sk} r . At such times the long tails of the males
can clearly be seen hanging downwards from the insect,,
thus presenting a most graceful appearance. The
females are not nearly so common. They fly much
closer to the ground than the males, and on this account
alone they are much more difficult to obtain. This
May-fly is not often found in the daytime, although,.
on rare occasions, I have dislodged male specimens from
amongst foliage on the margins of streams.

In the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine for December, 1894, page 271,
Mr. McLachlan thus alluded to the peculiarities exhibited by this insect :
"A very remarkable species in coloration, and still more remarkable for
the condition of the median caudal seta as exhibited in the male and female
sub-imago in my collection ; such a condition, if constant, being probably
sufficient for generic separation, showing relationship with Heptagenia on
the one hand, and Pentagenia on the other." Subsequently (in 1899) the
genus Ichthybotus was founded for its reception by Mr. Eaton.

Genus ATALOPHLEBIA, Eaton (1881).

Imago. — Pronotum of the female with a longitudinal median ridge..
Hind tibiae generally longer than the femora and longer than the tarsus ;
tarsal claws all narrow and hooked. Middle caudal seta generally deve-
loped. Hind-wings more or less obtusely ovate, with costal and sub-costal
nervures much arched, the radius nearly straight ; transverse nervules
abundant in the fore-wing ; those in the marginal area, before the bulla,
well defined. Forceps basis of male either entire or at most merely
emarginate in the middle of its apical edge.

Sub-imago. — Quiescent during many hours, standing upon all its feet,
with the wings erect, and with the lateral caudal setae spreading.

Distribution. — Australasia, Japan, Ceylon, South Africa, South America..

ATALOPHLEBIA VERSICOLOR.

(Atalophlebia versicolor, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc.
Lond., 1899, p. 286.)

This species is common in the Wellington district, but
has not been recorded from any other locality at present.

MAY-FLIES. 31

The expansion of the wings of the male is about 1 inch, of the female
about 1| inches.

Sub-imago (dried, and perhaps partly reddened }>ost mortem in the killing-
bottle). — Fore-wings, in the marginal and sub-marginal areas, tinted with
dull reddish-purple, but elsewhere marbled with blackish-grey ; the cross-
veinlets in the lighter spaces bordered more or less narrowly with this same
colouring.

Imago <? (dried). — Notum and legs raw umber or light pitch-brown,
opaque at the extreme tips of the fore-femur and fore-tibia ; the fore-tarsus
matches the tibia in tint. Abdomen and forceps dark pitch or bistre-
brown ; the markings faded. Setse medium warm, sepia brown, with the
distinct joinings blackish ; some of the alternate joinings indistinct or
not coloured. Basal joint in the forceps limbs compressed, narrowed
somewhat suddenly after the acute end of the inferior dilatation. Penis
lobes contiguous to each other, concave beneath towards the line of contact,
up-curved, narrowed, and sloped off towards their truncate tips. Wings
vitreous with black neuration ; fore-wing, in the marginal and sub-marginal
ureas, tinted with transparent raw umber or brown amber; cross-veinlets
of the same areas, narrowly set off with black, showing strongly, and a
few of them (both near the sub-costal node, and again midway beyond
these towards the apex), suffused by a small dark-greyish cloud that
extends from the costa to just below the radius. The cross-veinlets of the
marginal area, all simple, number about six before and sixteen beyond the
bulla " (Eaton).

Superficially this May-fly appears to be mainly distin-
guished from A. dentata by the marbled wings of the
sub-imago and by the less vivid red colour of costal region
of the fore- wings of the imago. In its general habits
and transformations it closely resembles that species.

ATALOPHLEBIA DENTATA.

Leptophlebia dentata, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc.
Lond., 1871, p. 80, pi. 4, fig. 18. Atalophlebia
dentata, Eaton, Trans. Linn. Soc, 2nd series, Zool.,
vol. hi., p. 88 (1884). Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1899,

p. 287.

(Plate VI., fig. 4 ? , 5 nymph magnified, 6 3 sub-imago.)

This pretty May-fly is very common in the neigh-
bourhood of Wellington, and although it has not yet
been recorded from any other locality it is probably a
generally distributed species.

The expansion of the wings in both sexes is about 1J inches. The
general colour of the body and legs is bright reddish- brown. The costal
margin of the fore-wings is bordered with bright red, stronger in the female.
There are three tails, each of which is nearly twice the length of the body,
the tails and anterior legs of the male being, as usual, considerably longer
than those of the female.

• The larvae of this insect are extremely abundant under
stones in the streams, a dozen specimens or more, often

32 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA.

being discovered under a single boulder. They are
seldom seen swimming in the open, or walking on the
upper surfaces of the stones, and it is probable that, but
for their secretive habits, their numerous enemies would
speedily exterminate them. These larvae are equally
common throughout the entire year, and are always to
be found in all stages of growth ; mature individuals are,
however, most abundant during the summer months.
The larvae of this species, and, in fact, those of the
genus Atalophlebia generally, constitute one of the
most important of the various food supplies afforded to
trout by our native Neuroptera. Although individually
small, these larvae are so numerous that they are prob-
ably far more valuable as fish food than the larvae of
many of the larger but rarer species, and the fact that
they are plentiful at all seasons is a great additional
advantage. The importance of these insects in their
relation to the cultivation of trout in our streams will,
I think, be fully appreciated after an examination of the
tables, showing the various species of insects devoured
by trout, given in the Appendix.

The full-grown larva of A. dentata measures about i inch in length,
exclusive of any appendages. The head is large, somewhat quadrangular,
with the eyes black and very prominent ; the prothorax is very broad and
almost rectangular. The remaining segments of the thorax taper some-
what, and the wing-pads are rather small. There are seven double pairs
of gills on the abdomen, which are kept almost continuously in motion by
the larva. Each gill is oval in shape and very pointed at the apex (see
Plate XL, fig. 18). The femora of all the legs are oval and very stout. The
tails are very slender, considerably longer than the body, the middle tail
being the longest. The general colour of the insect is dull brown with
black markings.

When about to emerge, this larva crawls out of the
water on to a dry stone, and the winged insect escapes
in the usual manner.

The sub-imago is very much paler and duller in colour
than the imago. The wings are uniformly shaded with
dull brown, with the neuration blackish. The insect
remains in this state for about two days, during which
time it is usually completely quiescent.

The perfect May-fly is found in thousands over the
streams during the entire summer, but is most abundant
during October and November. It flies in groups of a
dozen or more with the characteristic up-and-down flight.
These groups can readily be seen projected against the
bright evening sky, but are generally out of reach of the
net. Occasionally, however, a group will descend a little

MAY-FLIES. m

lower than usual, when quite a number of specimens
may often be secured together.

ATALOPHLEBIA CRUENTATA, n. sp.
(Plate I., fig. 6 nymph magnified.)

The imago of this species very closely resembles that
of A. dentata, but is generally rather smaller, the colour-
ing is paler and the costal shading of the fore-wings is.
orange-yellow in place of red.

The nymph of this insect is found commonly in all!
the streams in the vicinity of AVellington, but is not
nearly so abundant as those of either of the two preceding
species. It lives amongst the sandy debris in the bed
of the stream, and is therefore often rather difficult to>
obtain. On lifting up a large stone this larva either
immediately secretes itself amongst the smaller stones
underneath, or else clings so closely to the surface of the
large stone that it is very difficult to detect, and thus
frequently escapes capture. By adopting these tactics
it must very often elude fish and other enemies, and on
this account alone, apart from its comparative rarity, I
do not think that it forms at all an important article of
food so far as the trout are concerned.

The length of the nymph when full grown is about J inch. Its general
colour is bright orange-red. The head and prothorax are rather small and
narrow. The wing-pads are of moderate size and black in colour. The
legs are rather long and slender, and the anterior pair have two black bands.
The abdomen has a dark line down the middle ; it is furnished with six
pairs of small double gills, which are constantly vibrated by the larva for
respiratory purposes.

This larva usually frequents rather slow-running
portions of the stream, generally near the bank. It is
very hardy in an aquarium. In fact, a constant supply
of swift-running water does not seem so essential to its
welfare as it does in the case of nymphs belonging to
the other members of the genus.

The sub-imago of this species very closely resembles
that of A. dentata, but the brown colouring of the wings
is slightly darker. As a matter of fact, neither the
imago nor the sub-imago of these two May-flies can be
separated with certainty, unless a very careful and special
examination is made of them, but the obvious differences,
which are exhibited by their respective nymphs, ensure
their immediate and certain recognition during that stage
of their existence.

4

34 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA.

ATALOPHLEBIA NODULARIS.

Leptophlebia nodularis, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, 1871, p. 81, pi. 4, fig. 20. Atalopklebia nodu-
laris, Eaton, Trans. Linn. Soc, Zool., vol. iii., p. 89,
pi. x., fig. 16e.

" Imago. — Reddish -black, with translucent spaces on segments 2 to 5 of
the abdomen, one on each side of a dark median longitudinal line. Caudal
setae annulated. Wings vitreous, with the marginal and sub-marginal areas
reddish-brown. Legs reddish, the fore- and hind-femora with a black band
in the middle. Length, 9 mm. ; of the wing, 10-12 mm. ; of the setae, 16 mm.

" Sub-imago. — Wings light grey, with dark neuration, with an ill-defined
irregular dark cloud enclosing a light space.

" Localities. — Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington " (Hutton).

I have been unable to identify this species with
certainty.

ATALOPHLEBIA SCITA.

Baetis scita, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera in Brit. Mus.,
p. 570 (1853). Leptophlebia scita, Eaton, Trans. Ent.
Soc. London, 1871, p. 81, pi. 4, fig. 21. Atalopklebia
scita, Eaton, Trans. Linn. Soc, Zool., vol. iii., p. 90,
pi. x., fig. 16/.

" Imago. — Dark brown, the segments of the abdomen broadly tipped with
black, the third to the sixth with a pair of translucent yellowish spots.
Setse annulated. Wings vitreous ; the fore-wings with a brown spot at
the base of the costa, and with less distinct ones in the marginal area at
the bulla, and in the pterostigmatic space. In the marginal area there are,
in the male, 7-8 cross-nervules before the bulla and 11-13 beyond it ; in
the female there are 9 before and 18 beyond the bulla. Length of body,
S C mm., ? 9 mm. ; of the wings, $ 7-8 mm., ? 11 mm.

" Sub-imago. — Wings dark grey, with black neuration, the nervules of the
fore-wings edged with darker ; their scarcity behind the sub-costal in the
middle of the front of the disk gives rise to the appearance of a pale spot,
whilst the mutual approximation of three or four about the bulla, and
again in the midst of the pterostigmatic space, produces frequently two
dark spots.

" Locality. — Christchurch " (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this species, which appears
to very closely resemble Deleatidium lillii in superficial
appearance.

Genus DELEATIDIUM, Eaton (1899).

"Distinguished as a genus from Leptophlebia by the 3 imago having
genitalia conformable in pattern to those of an Atalopklebia and by the
nymph having tracheal branchiae in the form of single, ovate, acute, penni-
veined, foliaceous lamellae. The cross-veinlets of the fore-wing, in the
typical species, are in two of the specimens widely spaced in places ; but
in the other specimens of the same and of the other sex the blanks are less
noticeable or are filled up. The name in Greek signifies a little bait "
(Eaton).

MAY-FLIES. 35

DELEATIDIUM LILLII.

Deleatidiicm lillii, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
1899, p. 289, pi. x., fig. 4.

This little May-fly has occurred at Wellington and at
Dunedin. It is probably a common and generally dis-
tributed species.

" Sub-imago (in fluid). — Wings uniformly light grey with opaque neura-
tion. Setae grey ; their joinings towards their tips evenly defined.

"Imago (dried). — $ body pitch-brown, the thorax polished above.
Femora and fore-tibiae raw umber-brown ; fore-tarsus and hinder tibiae
lighter in tint; hinder tarsi somewhat of a sepia-grey throughout. Wings
vitreous with pitch-black neuration, except in the fore-wing, the finer cross-
veinlets of the marginal and sub-marginal areas that precede the pterostig-
matic region (which are deficient in colouring), and the roots of the stronger
nervures interior to the humeral cross-vein, which are raw umber-brown ;
the membrane at the extreme roots is almost imperceptibly tinted raw umber
or greenish. In the marginal area of the fore-wing, before the bulla, are
usually about 6 faint cross-veinlets, and beyond that 2-4 faint and 8-11
stronger veinlets, all simple. Setae light sepia-grey with blackish joinings,
of which some in the basal quarter are alternately distinct and faint. In
the abdomen, segments 3-6 are sometimes transparent and whitish to a
variable extent at the base.

" ? very like the z , but the colouring at the fore- wing roots, interior to
the humeral cross-vein, is rather darker in tint. The marginal area of the
fore-wing contains about 3—5 faint cross-veinlets before the bulla and 2
faint and 13 stronger beyond that, all simple. Ventral lobe of the
ninth abdominal segment slightly (not deeply) emarginate, with acute
points " (Eaton).

The transformations of this species closely resemble
those of Atalophlebia dentata.

The length of the nymph when full grown is about g inch. The head
is large, somewhat square with rounded angles; the eyes are very pro-
minent ; the antennae are two and half times the length of the head. The
prothorax is very small ; the meso- and meta-thorax and the wing-pads are
large and well developed dark brownish-black, the wing-pads being almost
black. The abdomen is rather narrow and tapering, dull brown ; there are
two pale spots on segments 2, 3, and 4. The gills are acutely oval, single
with a central trachea emitting numerous branches. The anal setae are about
the same length as the entire insect. Younger larvae are semi-transparent
with numerous fine black markings.

The perfect insect appears from October till January,
and is often found in enormous numbers flying over
streams and rivers at evening dusk.

Genus COLOBUTUSCUS, Eaton (1887).

Imago. — Legs all functional; hind-tibia longer than the femur or the
tarsus; tarsi 5-jointed, the fifth joint rather indistinct; first joint of the
hind-tarsus shorter than the second ; ungues in all the tarsi dissimilar.
Posterior wings well developed, oblong-oval, with the dilatation of the mar-

36 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

ginal area acute in front and with relatively scanty neuration in the narrow
axillar region. Median caudal seta rudimentary.
Distribution. — Australia and North America.

COLOBURISCUS HUMERALIS.

Palingenia humeralis, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera in
Brit. Mus., p. 552 (1853) ; and Baetis remota, Walker,
I.e., p. 564 (1853). Coloburus humeralis, Eaton, Trans.
Ent. Soc. London, 1871, p. 132, pi. 3, fig. 1, and pi. 6 r
fig. 6; and Trans. Linn. Soc, Zool., vol. iii., p. 202,
pi. 18, fig. 32a. Coloburiscus humeralis, Hutton, Trans.
N. Z., Inst., xxxi., 217. Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc,
London, 1899, p. 290.

(Plate VI., fig. 8 3\ 9 $ , 11 sub-imago $ , 10 nymph
magnified).

In the North Island this May-fly occurs at W^anganui
and is very common in the neighbourhood of Wellington.
It has also been taken in Canterbury and Otago in the
South Island.

The expansion of the wings of the male is \\ inches, of the female
li inches. The body of both sexes is blackish-brown ; the anterior legs are
black, much longer in the male than in the female ; the middle and bind
legs are dull yellow with the tarsi blackish. There is a small dull yellow-
patch near the base of the fore-wings, and a brown patch on the costa near
the apex. The central tail is very short, and the two outer tails are about
one and a half times as long as the body.

The larva of this insect inhabits rapids in swift-
running streams during the entire year, mature in-
dividuals being, most frequently met with in early
spring.

The length of the nymph, when full grown, is a little more than \ inch.
The head is of moderate size ; the antenna? are very slender and about two
and a half times as long as the head. The thorax is very large, oval, and
convex, the wing-pads closely envelop the hinder portions of the thorax,
and are rather inconspicuous. There are six pairs of gills on each side of
the abdomen. Each gill is attached by a narrow footstalk ; it becomes broad
in the middle and terminates in a widely divergent fork. The entire gill
is armed with numerous short stout spines (see Plate XL, fig. 17). The two-
outer tails, which are rather stout, are about two-thirds as long as the body,
and the central one is very short. The colour of the larva is rich brownish-
black and very shining. It is paler on the under surface and at the bases
of the limbs. Younger larvte are entirely reddish -brown, becoming gradually
darker in colour as they grow older.

The food of the larva probably consists of decaying
vegetable matter.

These larvae inhabit only the most rapid portions of
the stream. They cling very firmly to the stones and

MAY-FLIES. 37

twigs amongst the rapids, where they are often found
in large groups. When thus congregated they have a
very close resemblance to a bunch of small black twigs,
or some other kind of submerged vegetable refuse. Their
ability to hold on in the swiftest currents is most remark-
able, but they are very feeble swimmers, and are seldom
seen in sufficiently calm water to admit of this method
of progression. They are very often found in great
numbers underneath large boulders in the rapids of
the river, where they must be comparatively safe from
the attacks of their numerous enemies. This nymph is, in
fact, solely adapted for living in extremely agitated water.
Its gills are not vibrated like those of most other May-
fly larvae, but are held erect and immovable over the
creature's back. In this position they are most efficiently
aerated by means of a rapid current of running water
passing immediately over the nymph. Owing to these
peculiarities this May-fly is extremely difficult to rear in
captivity, and larvae can only be kept alive for a few hours,
even if confined in very shallow vessels of water. In
deep vessels they almost immediately perish. This insect
can, in fact, only be reared by selecting a large number
of the mature nymphs, when it will sometimes chance
that one or two of them may be within a few hours
of their transformation, and these perhaps will have
sufficient vitality left to emerge. Unless the larvae
are actually mature they invariably all perish, usually
within less than thirty-six hours after they have been
removed from their native stream.

Before emergence this larva crawls out of the water
on to a dry stone, and the May-fly escapes through a
large hole in the back of the thorax. During the latter
end of the spring and most of the summer, great numbers
of these empty nymph skins are to be found on all the
stones just above the level of the water.

The sub-imago has the body dull grey in colour. The legs and tails are
considerably shorter than in the imago. The veins of the wings are clouded
with grey, and there is no brown mark on the costa near the apex.

This period of the insect's life lasts about two and a
half days, and during the whole of the time it rests quietly
amongst the foliage on the bank of the stream.

The perfect insect appears about the end of October ;
it is extremely abundant throughout the whole of Novem-
ber, and specimens may be taken as late as the middle or
end of January. It flies in groups over streams during

38 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

the late afternoon, generally between five and seven
o'clock. Each individual rises and falls in its flight,
after the usual manner of May-flies, and in favourable
localities the insects are often seen in very great numbers.
It is consequently an important species to the angler, as
its nymph must furnish an abundant food supply for trout
throughout the entire year, the perfect flies also con-
tributing a liberal supply of food during the three
months they are more or less abundant.

Genus AMELETUS, Eaton (1899).

"Hind-tibia sub-equal in length to (hardly if at all longer than) the
tarsus ; basal joint in this tarsus measured along the sole, equal to the next
joint, and also dorsally sub-equal thereto, the breadth of the colouring of the
tibio-tarsal boundary making it difficult to ascertain their exact proportions
dorsally. In every tarsus the outer or posterior claw is narrow and hooked,
the inner broad and obtuse, costal shoulder of the hind-wing obtuse." *

AMELETUS ORNATUS.

Chirotonetes (/) ornatus, Eaton, Trans. Linn. Soc,
2nd series, Zoology, vol. hi., pp. 208 and 321, pi. 19,
fig. 33c (1888) ; Hutton, Trans. N. Z. Inst., xxxi., p. 217.
Ameletus ornatus, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1899,
p. 291.

(Plate VI., fig. 1 c? subimago, 2 ? ditto, 3 nymph
magnified.)

This insect has been found at various localities in
the vicinity of Wellington. It is very common in the
Wainui-o-mata Valley.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 1 inch, of the female 1J inches.
In general appearance the imago of this May-fly very closely resembles that
of Coloburiscits humeralis, but the brown patch on the costa near the apex
is not nearly so pronounced in the present insect, and it is mainly formed
by a darkening of the veins only, the membrane of the wing being but
slightly shaded with brown. The femur of the anterior legs in the male is-
also considerably longer than it is in the corresponding sex of C. humeralis.

The larva of this insect inhabits only swift clear
streams, and frequents the most rapid portions of these,
where the current dashes over a stony bottom. It is
extremely active, and swims with great rapidity, hence
being very difficult to capture. Its colouring is also pro-
tective when it is resting on the stones, which is its

* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1899, 290.

MAY-FLIES. 39

habit ; and although the nymph is often very common in
favourable localities it is very hard to see.

The food of the larva probably consists of minute
particles of vegetable matter, which it finds among the
stones. The best method of obtaining specimens of this
larva is to carefully sweep with a small net against the
current over the shallow rapids, which the insects fre-
quent. In this way two or three specimens may often be
secured at once in a stream, where perhaps the presence
of the insect was never suspected. Whilst sweeping, half
of the net should be kept above the surface of the water,
as I have noticed that if. a larva is approached in deep
water it invariably rises upwards and darts away with
great rapidity above the net. This habit would, no doubt,
often enable it to escape when pursued by a fish, as a
sudden movement above the fish would be very difficult
for the pursuer to quickly follow.

The greatest number of mature larvae are found in the
streams during December and January. In February
there are still a few full-grown specimens, but in June I
observed that the nymphs of this May-fly were all very
small, measuring about £ inch in length. They are,
however, equally active at that season, although of course
the water is very much colder than in summer.

The length of the full-grown larva, including the tails, is | inch. Its
general colour is obscure grey, mottled with darker, mature specimens being
almost slaty black, but young larvae are nearly transparent. The head is
small, the thorax rather broad, with the wing-pads large and conspicuous.
There are seven pairs of small oval gills, situated on the sides of the
abdomen, the insertion of each gill being marked by a black dot. The tails
are about two-thirds the length of the abdomen. They are fringed with
strong hair throughout, and their colour is pale greyish-ochreous, except the
middle half of each tail, which is black. The legs are rather short, and are
striped with black.

The emergence takes place in the usual manner, the
nymph selecting for this purpose a dry stone close to the
edge of the stream. During December and January very
large numbers of the empty nymph skins may be observed
on the stones, showing that the insect actually exists in
large numbers, although not often observed.

The sub-imago has the body rather stout, the two outer tails about the
same length as the abdomen, the central tail very short, and the wings are
prettily marbled with black in the male and dull green in the female. It
will thus be seen that the close resemblance of this insect to C. humeralis
exists during the final condition only, the insect's characters in its prepara-
tory stages, including the sub-imago, being very different to the correspond-
ing stages of that species.

40 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTERA.

The duration of the sub-imago state of Ameletas ornatus
is about two days. When at large the perfect insect so
closely resembles C. humeralis that it is of course difficult
to estimate their relative abundance, or to describe their
individual habits. The present species is not, however,
so common as C. humeralis, although, judging from the
number of its larval skins which we see on the stones, it
must still be an abundant insect in many localities.

AMELETUS PERSCITUS.

Ameletus perscitus, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
1899, 291.

<Plate V., rig. 1 $ , 2 nymph magnified, 3 2 sub-imago.)

This very pretty May-fly is fairly common in the
neighbourhood of Wellington. It has not at present
been recorded from any other locality.

The expansion of the wings is about 1$ inches, and the length of the
body § inch. The body is pale ochreous, with a series of pale brown mark-
ings and black dots on the back. The wings are bright clear yellow and
very shining. The central tail is very short. In the male the two other
tails are half as long again as the body, but in the female they are consider-
ably shorter.

The larva of this insect is found under stones in rapid
streams throughout the entire year. It is generally full
grown about the end of December, but some specimens
do not reach maturity until the beginning of March.
This larva is a very rapid swimmer, and cannot readily
be captured without the aid of a small net. Unlike most
May-fly nymphs it is carnivorous, and feeds on the larvae
of various smaller species (Atalophebia and Deleatidium),
which it captures by means of its powerful jaws.

The length of the mature larva is rather less than 1 inch. The head is
nearly round and very large. The eyes and ocelli are black and very con-
spicuous. The organs of the mouth are well developed ; the mandibles and
maxillre are long, slender, and sickle-shaped. The thorax is rather long
and narrow, and the wing-pads do not project beyond the parallel sides of
the thorax. The abdomen is furnished with seven pairs of very large leaf-
like gills (see Plate XL, tig. 16), which are frequently simultaneously vibrated
by the larva. There are three stout tails at the end of the body, each of
which is strongly fringed with long hair. The legs are rather short and
slender, pale yellowish-brown striped with black. The general colour of the
larva is dull greenish-ochreous, with dark brown or blackish markings.
Younger specimens are usually much paler and yellower in colour.

This larva may be at once recognised by its very large
head and conspicuous eyes, no other May-fly nymph with

MAY-FLIES. 41

which I am acquainted approaching it in this respect.
The general colour of the larva is very protective, which
renders its detection a matter of considerable difficulty
when it is resting on stones in the water. These nymphs
are very common in some streams, and as they are always
to be found, they must provide the trout with a certain
amount of food, especially during the winter. On the
other hand, being carnivorous and very rapacious, they
destroy large numbers of the larvse of the smaller Ephe-
meridse, which are equally, if not more, serviceable as
food to the trout, than themselves, so that it is doubtful
whether the angler has much cause to thank this insect.

When full grown this nymph crawls out of the stream
and clings tightly to the surface of a dry stone, the
winged insect afterwards emerging through a large rent
in the back of the thorax. In one specimen I observed
the process of exclusion lasted about eight minutes, but
the wings expanded to their full size almost as soon as
they were withdrawn from their cases. The May-fly
appears to give them one shake, and then places them in
the usual vertical position over its back.

The sub-imago is a most beautiful insect. Its wings are semi-opaque
and of the most brilliant yellow, with a few faint blackish markings. The
legs and tails are considerably shorter than in the imago. The eyes are
bright green in colour.

The insect remains in this condition for about three
days, during which interval of time it quietly rests
amongst the vegetation on the bank of the stream. The
colouring of the sub-imago is no doubt protective, the
beautiful yellow tint of the wings closely resembling the
hue of certain faded leaves. This resemblance is espe-
cially noticeable when the sub-imago is resting just after
emergence on the surface of the water. At this critical
moment the May-fly is in great danger of attack both
from fish beneath the water and from birds above it,
these creatures being only too ready to seize and devour
the helpless insect. It is therefore probable that a special
protective resemblance, such as the present species enjoys,
would be most efficient in preserving it from destruction
at this time ; and such a resemblance w T ould readily be
produced by natural selection continually preserving
those variations, which conformed in the closest possible
manner to the leaf -like pattern.

The perfect insect appears in January, February, and
March. It is about for a much longer interval than most

42 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA.

of the other May-flies, and its beautiful sub-imago is also
more frequently seen by casual observers. The imago is
seldom seen, and I have not yet observed it flying at
night.

This May-fly is not nearly so common as Ichthybotus
hudsoni, although its nymphs are much more frequently
observed, probably owing to their inhabiting the clear
portions of the streams, instead of secreting themselves in
burrows in the banks.

Genus ONISCIGASTEK, McLachlan (1873).

Imago. — Legs all functional ; hind tibite much shorter than the tarsus ;
claws dissimilar in each tarsus. Hind-wings well developed, obtusely sub-
ovate, the dilatation of the marginal area obtuse in front ; axillar region
well developed, largely occupied by numerous long anastomosing nervules.
from the inner margin. Median caudal seta shorter than the outer pair.
Abdomen very robust.

Distribution. — New Zealand.

This is a very interesting genus, and is probably
rapidly approaching extinction.

ONISCIGASTEK WAKEF1ELDI.

Oniscigaster wakefieldi, McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag.,
vol. 10, p. 108 (1873) • Journ. Linn. Soc, vol. 12, p. 139,
pi. 5, figs. 1-5 ; Eaton, Trans. Linn. Soc, 2nd series,.
Zool., vol. hi., p. 224, pi. 21, fig. 3(3 (details imago) and
pi. li. (nymph) ; Sharp, in Cambridge Natural History,,
vol. v., Insects, p. 442, fig. 284; Hutton, Trans. N. Z.
Inst., xxxi., 218; Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1899,
292.

This remarkable species has occurred in the Canter-
bury and Nelson districts, but appears now to be an
extremely rare insect.

The expansion of the wings of the male is about 1£ inches, of the female
If inches. " The general colour of the imago is dark brown, rather lighter
in the male. The wings are vitreous, faintly tinged with light brown ;
nervules dark edged. The legs are light brown, banded with darker.
Length, 10-21 mm. ; wing, <s 1(5 mm., ? 19-21 mm. ; setae, 17 and 5 mm.
Expanse of the wings, $ 35 mm., ? 40 mm.

" The sub-imago has the body greyish. The wings are sub-opaque, smoky
grey ; nervules of the anterior portion of the fore-wing broadly edged with
dark brown. Length of the setae, 13 and 7 mm." (Hutton).

" In this species the female has three dorsal segments, viz., the seventh
to ninth, sinuate somewhat deeply on each side at the posterior margin, and
dilated laterally into thin expansions, that are rounded off to the base in
front and acute behind, so as to form broad serratures like coxse of Oniscus
murarius. Above these the back, in dried specimens, is somewhat fornicate,
with a median longitudinal depression. The first and second of the lateral

MAY-FLIES. 43

serratures are broader, and are rather more produced at the point than the
third " (Eaton).

Respecting the extreme rarity of this insect at the
present time, Captain Hutton remarks as follows : —

"In 1874 this insect was common in the neighbour-
hood of Christchurch. I have lived there during the
last nineteen years without seeing a single specimen.
Whether they have been killed off by the trout or by the
sparrows I cannot say."

I am unacquainted with this interesting insect.

ONISCIGASTER INTERMEDIUS.

Oniscigaster intermedins, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc.
Lond., 1899, 292, pi. x., 6a detail.

In the North Island this species occurs in a certain
restricted spot near Wellington, and I once captured a
single specimen on the Tableland of Mount Arthur in
the South Island, at an elevation of 3,600 feet above the
sea-level.

Concerning the specific character of this May-fly
Eaton says : — ■

" A single female imago differs from 0. wakefieldi in having only two
dorsal segments, viz., the eighth and ninth, dilated laterally, and this only
moderately ; back sub-fornicate above the dilatation. Lateral borders of
eighth segment almost straight, except where they gently curve inwards
near the base, and very nearly parallel, diverging only to a very small
extent posteriorly ; back transverse at the posterior margin ; the postero-
lateral angles obtuse. Ninth segment as broad or perhaps a little broader
than the eighth ; its lateral margins saliently curved, and bordered each by
a linear flange terminating posteriorly in a minute point ; the posterior
margin of the dorsum transverse between these points. Wings marked as-
in 0. wakefieldi."

The transformations of this insect closely resemble
those of the next species.

ONISCIGASTER DISTANS.

Oniscigaster distans, Eaton, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,.
1899, 293, pi. x., (jb and 6c.

(Plate I., fig. 9 ? , 10 ditto, sub-imago, 11 nymph
enlarged.)

This handsome species has been found at Wainui-o-
mata, near Wellington.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 1$ inches, of the female
1J inches. The general colour in both sexes is blackish-brown and very

44 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA.

shining. The cross-veins? on the costa near the base of the wing are very
thick, especially in the female. The costa of the fore-wing is shaded with
brown near the apex. The length of the body is about J inch. In this
species none of the abdominal segments are produced into lateral flanges.

The nymph inhabits the rapid rocky stream which
flows into the Upper Wainui-o-mata Eiver on its eastern
side above the reservoir, locally known as George's
Creek.* It is not very active, and, owing to its large
size, is easily seen and captured by means of the hand
only. Hence its speedy extinction by trout appears
inevitable ; and it is noteworthy that in the lower por-
tions of the Wainui-o-mata, where trout have been abun-
dant for many years, none of these insects occur.

The length of the full-grown larva, including the terminal appendages,
is nearly 1J inches. The head is rather small, with the eyes black and very
prominent. The thorax is rather narrow with the wing-pads small. The
abdomen is broad ; the edges of each segment are produced into distinct
flanges, which project backwards like teeth. There are six pairs of gills,
which do not ordinarily extend beyond the sides of the abdomen, but in the
living insect are usually held somewhat above the back. (See Plate XL,
fig. 15, single gill much magnified.) They are almost continuously in
motion. A very pronounced row of projections exists on the dorsal surface
of the abdomen, which forms a very characteristic, serrated, horny crest.
The tails are stout and strongly fringed ; the ends of the two outer tails are
often curved ; the central tail is straight and slightly shorter than the other
two. The legs are rather short and moderately slender. The general
colour of the larva is dull slaty brown marked with black, and sometimes
slightly tinged with dull reddish. Younger larvae are very much paler, with
the black markings darker ; occasionally they have in addition several
irregular white patches on the body.

The food of this insect appears to consist of vegetable
matter, probably contained in the earthy matter com-
posing the bed of the stream. It is found in the streams
throughout the entire year. Very small specimens are
most abundant in autumn and winter, the nymph be-
coming full grown about November. At this season the
larva leaves the water and ascends a dry boulder, generally
near the middle of the stream. The May-fly then escapes
through a rent in the back of the nymph.

The sub-imago of this species is extremely handsome
when alive, a dried specimen giving but a feeble idea of
its real appearance. The general colour of the wings is
deep purplish-black, beautifully mottled with darker
black. All the appendages are, as usual, shorter and
stouter than in the imago. The insect remains in the
sub-imago state for three or four days. During a con-

* I have also found this insect in the Mangatariri Eiver, at the foot of
Mount Holdsworth.

ALDEB-FLIES. 45

siderable portion of this time it rests on the boulders with
its wings erect, and specimens may then easily be picked
up by hand. Whilst thus resting it is no doubt often
devoured by birds, and the insect's early extermination,
through this cause alone, would appear probable.

As yet I have not observed the perfect May-fly in a
state of nature, having reared all the specimens at present
obtained from the sub-imago.

Family VIII.—SIALID^— ALDER-FLIES.

11 Four wings of moderate size, meeting in repose over
the back at an angle; the hinder of the two pairs slightly
the smaller ; the anal area small or nearly absent, not
plicate. Nervures moderately numerous, transverse veinlets
moderately numerous, forming irregularly disposed cells.
The metamorphosis is great; there is a quiescent pupa.
The larva has the mandibles formed for biting, armed with
strong teeth " (Sharp).

Genus CHAULIODES, Latreille (1805).

" Prothorax as large as the head. Three ocelli close together. Antennas
pectinated or serrated. Neuration moderate, the nervules slender. Joints
of the tarsi cylindrical. Caudal appendages of the male conical and simple.

" Distribution. — Asia, Africa, America, Australia" (Hutton).

CHAULIODES DIVERSUS.

Hermes diversus, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera in Brit.
Mus., p. 205 (1852). H. dubitatus, Walker, I.e., p. 204.
Chauliodes diversus, McLachlan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.,,
ser. 4, vol. 4, pp. 37 and 39.

(Plate VII., fig. 1 3 , 2 ? , 3 larva, 4 pupa).

This large and conspicuous insect has been found
abundantly in the North Island, and at Nelson in the
South Island. It is probably generally distributed
throughout New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings of the male is about 2 inches, of the female
fully 3j inches. The head is considerably broader than the thorax, with
very prominent eyes, and three conspicuous ocelli on the crown. The thorax
and abdomen are slender in the male, but rather stout in the female. The
general coiour of the body of both sexes is dull reddish-brown, irregularly
clothed with numerous minute whitish hairs. The antenna? of the male are
rather longer than the body ; in the female they are considerably shorter.
The wings in both sexes are elliptical, very pale brown with numerous dusky
dots on the veins, especially near the costa.

46 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

The larvae of this insect are very familiar to anglers
and are generally called " Black Creepers." They are
strictly aquatic in their habits, and dwell under the stones
in the beds of rivers and streams, where they are often
very abundant. These larvae are found in the streams
throughout the entire year, but are most numerous during
the late spring. Their food consists chiefly of the larvae
of Ephemeridae (May-flies), but they prey on aquatic
insects generally, which they capture and devour whilst
lurking beneath the stones in the bed of the stream.

The growth of these larvae is probably very slow, and
I should imagine that at least a twelvemonth would be
occupied by the insect in reaching its full size ; but, as larvae
of all ages are found in the streams during the entire
year, it is a difficult matter to ascertain precisely the length
of time taken by a single individual in attaining maturity.
I have, however, observed that small specimens are
commonest in the autumn, winter, and early spring, and
have also noticed that very small specimens are of com-
paratively rare occurrence. It may thus be fairly assume!
that larvae, resulting from eggs deposited by the female
insect about December, do not mature, at the earliest,
until the following October or November. This is cor-
roborated by the fact that we do not find any larvae
preparing to undergo their transformation during the
winter ; but larvae about to change are very abundant in
December and January.

The full-grown larva of C. diversus measures from 1^ to lb inches in
length. The head is broad, nearly round, highly polished, black and
extremely hard. It is furnished with the usual mouth organs, which are
well developed, the maxillae and mandibles being especially powerful ; the
latter are furnished with several teeth. The antennas are three-jointed and
very minute. The prothorax is oblong-oval, black, extremely hard, and
highly polished on its upper surface. Themeso- and meta-thorax each have
a pair of horny dorsal plates. The legs are rather short, moderately stout,
and furnished with two-jointed tarsi. The visible segments of the abdomen
are nine in number, each of which, except the last, is furnished with a pair
of cylindrical pointed processes, fully as long as the segment is wide. These
processes spring from the sides of the insect, and are the gills ; but as they
have a certain superficial resemblance to legs, the larva is sometimes regarded
by the uninitiated as a kind of water centipede. The last segment of the
abdomen is destitute of gills, but possesses two appendages projecting back-
wards, each of which terminates in a pair of very strong, horny hooks.
These hooks are very serviceable to the larva for locomotive purposes,
especially when it is engaged in climbing about the rocky bed of a rapid
torrent.

When full grown this larva leaves the water and
secretes itself under a large stone, immediately on the
edge of the stream. Here it excavates an oval cell in the

ANT-LIONS, LACEWING-FLIES, dx. 47

soft, wet mud, or sand, beneath the stone, and carefully
smooths it within. During the course of a few days the
larva becomes somewhat shrivelled, and after a week or so
sheds its skin and appears as a pupa. This habit of
leaving the water, just at the time when the shrinkage in
the volume of the rivers occurs, is no doubt very beneficial
to the insect as, unlike many other neuropterous pupae,
it is able to imbibe air and thus escape destruction by
drought.

The pupa of C. dire is us, in its natural curved position, measures about
1 inch in length. Its limbs closely resemble those of the perfect insect,
except the wings which are, of course, rudimentary. The larval gills are
replaced by a series of wart-like projections, situated on each side of the
first eight segments of the abdomen.

This pupa is not endowed with the power of locomo-
tion until shortly before it undergoes its final transforma-
tion. About this time the legs are gradually stretched
out, and in a few days are sufficiently powerful to enable
the insect to leave its prison in the earth and walk about.
Shortly afterwards the skin is cast off, and the perfect fly
ascends the stem of some plant, and dries and expands
its wings.

The imago appears from the middle of November until
the middle of January. It is seldom seen in the daytime,
but is usually observed at evening dusk, flying in rather
a slow and laborious manner. It is sometimes fairly
abundant, especially in the neighbourhood of rivers.
When on the wing this large insect is not conspicuous,
unless seen against the bright glow of the evening sky ;
and it is still less noticeable in the daytime whilst resting
on tree-trunks or amongst foliage.

Family IX.— PANORPIDiE— SCORPION-FLIES.

No species belonging to this family have been found
in New Zealand at present.

Family X.— HEMEROBTIDvE— ANT-LIONS,
LACEWING-FLIES, &c.

" Head vertical ; maxilla free with five-jointed palpi ;
labial palpi three-jointed. Wings sub-equal in size, with
much reticulation, without anal area. Tarsi five-jointed.
Metamorphosis great; the larvce with mandibles and

48 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

maxilla co-adapted to form spear-like organs that are
suctorial in function. Pupa similar in general form to
the imago, enclosed in a cocoon " (Sharp).

" The Hemerobiidae are an extremely varied assemblage
of Neuroptera ; the perfect insects of the various sub-
families are very different in appearance ; but the family
as a whole is naturally defined by the very peculiar
structure of the mouth organs of the larvae. These insects
have, in fact, a suctorial mouth in their early life, and one
of the ordinary biting type in adult life.

" This is a very unusual condition, being the reverse of
what we find in the Lepidoptera and some other of the
large orders, where the mouth is mandibulate in the
young, and suctorial in the adult. The suctorial condition
is in the Hemerobiidae chiefly due to modification of the
mandibles ; but this is never the case in the insects that
have a suctorial mouth in the imaginal instar. Nearly all
the Hemerobiidae are terrestrial insects in all their stages ;
a small number of them are, to a certain extent, am-
phibious in the larval life, whilst one or two genera
possess truly aquatic larvae. The metamorphosis is, so
far as the changes of external form are concerned, quite
complete. There are no wingless forms in the adult
stage." *

The classification of the Hemerobiida, given by Hagen
and generally adopted, recognises seven sub-families, of
which only two are at present known to occur in New
Zealand.

Sub-family I.— MYRMELEONIDES, or ANT-LIONS.

Antennae short, clubbed, the apical space of the wing with regular oblong

cellules.

Genus MYRMELEON, Linne (1748).

Antennae short, clavate or sub-clavate. Abdomen long and slender.
Distribution. — Widely spread in warm latitudes.

MYRMELEON ACUTUS.

Myrmeleon acutus, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit.
Mus., p. 377 (1853). M. novce-zealandice, Colenso, Trans..
N. Z. Inst., vol. 17, p. 156 (1885).

(Plate I., fig 7.)

* Sharp, loc. cit. 453.

ANT-LIONS, LACE WING-FLIES, <(-c. 49

This beautiful insect appears to be common in most
sandy localities in the North Island.

In the South Island it has been found at Nelson, and
occasionally as far south as Christchurch.

The expansion of the wings of the male is 2J inches, of the female
3 inches. " Black, slender, slightly tinged with grey; head yellow towards
the mouth, with a yellow spot on each side of the face and a yellow streak
by the base of each antenna ; palpi tawny ; antennae wanting. Abdomen
much shorter than the wings ; legs black, femora beneath towards the base,
and hind-tibiae yellow. Wings slightly grey, long, very narrow, slightly
pointed ; pterostigma pale yellow ; veins black with yellow bands ; sub-
costal areolets simple, their veins forked at intervals from one-third of the
length of the wing to the pterostigma, where there is a dark-brown spot ;
rows of dark-brown spots along the radius and its sector, and along the
cubitus and its fork ; small brown spots on the forks of the marginal veins
and on the gradate veinlets towards the tip of the wing and along the hind
border ; a larger brown spot at the tip of the fork of the cubitus and
another by the last of the quadrate areolets between the first sector of the
radius and the cubitus ; hind-wings a little shorter and narrower than the
fore-wings, with a few brown dots towards the tip and along the hind
border. Length of the body, 30 mm. ; expanse of the wings, 71 mm "
(Walker).

The perfect insect appears in January and February,
and frequents many sandy situations. It is not often
observed at large, but is frequently found in houses, having
been attracted thither by the lights at night.

Sub-family II.— HEMEROBIIDES, or LACEWING-

FLIES.

" Wings in repose forming an angular roof over the body ; the antennae
moniliform or pectinate, not clavate " (Sharp).

Genus STENOSMYLUS, McLachlan (1867).

" Prothorax elongated, sub-cylindrical. Wings long and narrow, rounded
or acute at the apex, sub-falcate with the apical margin excised in the New
Zealand species. Sub-costal nervules numerous, those in the disk very
numerous. Tarsal plantulae bifid or deeply excised.

" Distribution. — Australia and New Zealand " (Hutton).

At present this extremely interesting genus is only
represented in New Zealand by four species. Two of
these were discovered comparatively recently, and it may
therefore reasonably be anticipated that others still
remain to be found. This is especially probable amongst
the densely wooded ranges and valleys of the west coast
of the South Island, which have been, as yet, but little
explored by entomologists.

50 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTERA.

STENOSMYLUS INCISUS.

OsmijlusU) incisus, McLachlan, Journ. of Entomology,
vol 2, p. 112, pi. 6, fig. 1 (1863). Stenosmylus incisus,
McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. 6, p. 195.

(Plate VIII., fig. 2, 3 larva magnified, 4 pupa magnified.)

This very beautiful insect appears to be fairly common
in the forests of the North Island. In the South Island
it has occurred in the Nelson and Otago districts.

The expansion of the wings is 2£ inches. The fore-wings are very
narrow near the base, with the apex much rounded and the termen rather
deeply excised. In colour the body is brownish-black ; the wings are
tinged with very pale brown, and are clouded with darker brown. There
are three irregular blotches on the dorsum, and a somewhat lunate mark
near the apex, besides a very large number of more or less distinct smaller
markings. The hind-wings are more or less elliptical in shape; their
markings closely resemble those of the fore-wings, but are less distinct.
These markings vary very much in strength in different individuals. One
rather uncommon variety has nearly all the smaller markings absent, and
the larger ones are merged almost insensibly into the ground colour of the
wing, which is considerably darker than usual. On the other hand, many
specimens have the wings almost transparent, and in these the darker
markings are proportionally fainter.

The larva of this insect lives under stones close to the
edges of streams, in densely wooded valleys. Although
it does not frequent situations which are submerged for
long periods, it is only to be found in very wet places.

The length of this larva when full grown is nearly § inch. Its general
colour is black and very shining. The head is round and very horny ; the
mandibles and maxillae are closely pressed together, extremely long, and
form in conjunction two lance-like organs, which project forwards and
upwards. They are considerably more than one-third of the length of the
body of the insect. The labial palpi are very long, and consist of six
joints. The first is rather long and slender, the second stouter, short, and
round, the third very long and slender, and the remaining three much
shorter, of equal length and very slender. The legs are short and not very
stout. The prothorax is rather narrow, and is longer than the other two
segments of the thorax. Each division is furnished with two large
metallic dorsal plates. The abdomen gradually tapers towards its ex-
tremity, which is furnished with a strong proleg. There are several shining
metallic tubercles on each segment of the abdomen. Each tubercle emits
three or four long, stout bristles.

This larva is unquestionably carnivorous, but I have
not yet ascertained the precise nature of its food.
Numerous small insects and crustaceans are found in
the situations frequented by the larva, and it is probable
that it preys upon these small creatures. When full
grown the larva of this insect constructs a thin, white,
silken cocoon, which is usually attached to a small stone

ANT-LIONS, LACEWING-FLIES, dc. 51

underneath a large boulder, and within which it changes
into a pupa. In general structure the pupa closely
resembles the perfect insect ; but its limbs are incapable
of any definite movements until shortly before its final
transformation.

The perfect insect appears about November, and con-
tinues on the wing until about the middle, of March. It
frequents densely wooded forest ravines, and is generally
dislodged by beating the profuse growth of ferns, which
fringe the edges of the streams in such situations. As it
flies with considerable rapidity, it is often difficult to
capture, a lengthy pursuit being, as a rule, quite imprac-
ticable on account of the extremely rough nature of the
ground.

When resting amongst foliage or in the bed of the
stream this insect is very hard to detect, the general
shape and colour of the creature's wings causing it to
resemble, in the closest possible manner, a dead, or
partially skeletonised, leaf. Seeing that hundreds of
such leaves are always found where the insects occur r
the value of such a protective resemblance is obvious.

STENOSMYLUS CITRINUS.

Stenosmylus citrinus, McLachlan, Ann. Mag. Nat.
Hist., ser. 4, vol. 12, p. 38 (1873) ; Trans. N. Z. Inst.,
vol. 6, App., p. xcvi.

(Plate VIII., fig. 6 type, 5 variety.)

This extremely beautiful insect has occurred at
Waitara, near New Plymouth and in the neighbour-
hood of Wellington. In the latter locality it is fairly
common, though somewhat scarcer than the preceding
species.

The expansion of the wings is from 2 to 2J inches, and the length of
the body about § inch.

" The whole insect is of a delicate citron colour, excepting the abdomen,
which is infuscate ; but the colour of this part is probably changed in dry
examples. On the face the colour becomes obscured, and below the base of
the antennas it is blackish. On the pronotum anteriorly there is a trace
of a black median longitudinal line, and the sides are broadly black, with
black hairs ; the meso- and meta-nota have the sides broadly infuscate,.
bordered by a black line. The anterior and intermediate tibiae have a black
spot at each end and in the middle ; the posterior femora are somewhat in-
fuscate, darker at each end, and with a trace of a black spot in the middle ;
all the legs are clothed with citron-coloured hairs. The anterior wings have
many small black dots, those below the radius, and two discal ones, larger
than the others ; at the end of the first branch of the sector and the upper

52 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEEA.

cubital vein, before the apex, is a conspicuous irregular whitish spot mar-
gined with black, and along the excised apical margin and on the inner
margin are smaller whitish spots, margined with blackish internally, or with
a blackish dot on each side ; the sector has sixteen principal branches ; the
inner series of gradate nervules is rudimentary. The posterior wings are
paler than the anterior, without whitish spots ; and the black dots are only
faintly indicated on the costal margin." *

This species varies very much in colour. The wings
are much brighter in some specimens than in others.
The dull forms somewhat approach very pale specimens
of S. incisus, but are quite distinct therefrom. Some of
the bright forms are very beautiful, and almost golden
when the insect is alive. One very striking and rare
variety has the black spots on the wings very large, and
the ground colour less golden and more yellow than
usual (see fig. 5). The transformations of this insect
appear to closely resemble those of 8. incisus. The
larva is, however, softer, larger, stouter, and of a pale
brownish colour in place of black. Its jaws are also
shorter, but in other respects it appears identical with
the same stage in S. incisus. It constructs a cocoon
exactly like that insect, but the enclosed pupa is pale
yellowish-brown.

The perfect insect appears at the end of November,
and may be met with until about the middle of March.
It frequents the banks of streams in deep, forest-clad
valleys, where it may often be taken in company with
S. incisus.

STENOSMYLUS STELLA.

Stenosmylus stellce, McLachlan, Ent. Mon. Mag.
Second Series, vol. x. 259.

(Plate VIII., fig. 8 type, 7 variety obliteratus.)

This pretty little species appears to be extremely
local, though it is sometimes very abundant in certain
favoured spots which it frequents.

I first met with the insect in January, 1889, when I
captured a single specimen of the variety obliteratus,
at the source of the River Pearse, near Mount Arthur,
Nelson, at an elevation of about 3,600 feet above the
sea-level. From that time I believe no other specimens
were found until November, 1898, when I re-discovered
the insect at Wainui-o-mata. Here it occurred in the
greatest profusion resting on the fuchsia bushes,

* McLachlan, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., July, 1873.

ANT-LIONS, LACEWING-FLIES, dc. 53

fringing three of the eastern tributaries of the main
river above the Wellington Eeservoir; subsequent ex-
perience has proved these streams to be unfailing
localities for this insect. Although I have not heard
of its occurrence elsewhere, I think there is little doubt
that this species will be found in other places when the
country has been more thoroughly explored by entomolo-
gists. It is evidently a very local insect, and one that
should be specially looked for by collectors, when working
in little-known districts.

The expansion of the wings ranges from 1£ to 1J inches ; the length
of the body is about g inch. The insect is thus described by Mr.
McLachlan : — *

" Of the form and structure of S. incisus, McL., and S. citnnus, McL. r
but nearly one-half smaller.

"Head and thorax (including antennae and palpi) dull reddish-brown
varying to fuscescent, the face and basal portion of the antennae often paler.
Pronotum usually darker on the sides, about one-half longer than broad,
narrower than the head, the lateral margins nearly parallel, a deep trans-
verse sulcus shortly before the posterior end ; it is rather sparingly clothed
with somewhat bristly yellowish hairs. Legs yellowish, somewhat dingy,
with pale hairs ; occasionally (especially in the ? ?) the base and apex of
the femora and of the tibiae, and the tips of the tarsal joints, are brownish
or fuscescent. Abdomen blackish in the dry insect : in one sex (probably
the ? ) at the ventral apex there is a pair of closely applied geniculated and
articulated valves clothed with pale hairs ; the rest of the abdomen with
only a few scattered hairs on the sutures.

" Wings — in the anterior the ground colour may be termed pale brownish-
yellow (varying much in intensity), in which are large whitish spaces, viz.,
three large subquadrate spots on the inner margin ; a large, badly limited,
and very irregular discal space beyond the middle of the wing, usually con-
nected with the third spot on the inner margin ; and a nearly circular spot
below, and slightly beyond, the pterostigma ; the spots on the inner margin
are separated by dark smoky-brown spaces, and the other pale markings are
margined with dark smoky-brown ; the inner margin narrowly dark smoky-
brown, with whitish interruptions in the excised apical portion ; the costal
edge is also alternately whitish and dark brown ; the pterostigma very dark
brown, with a paler spot near its inner end (these markings give the wings
a prettily variegated appearance) : neuration mostly pale, but whitish in
the pale spaces, and with the gradate nervules, and some other portions,
blackish ; costal nervules mostly simple ; sector with about nine branches.
Posterior wings pale brownish-yellow, without darker markings (except the
pterostigma), but with three large whitish spaces, one at the anal angle, one
discal beyond the middle, and one below the pterostigma.

" I have examined four examples. Named (by request)
after Mr. Hudson's little daughter Stella.

" Var. coxnexus var. nor.

" Differs from the type form in the whitish markings of the anterior
wings being absent, but their position is indicated by the dark markings
which remain. The posterior wings are wholly pale brownish-yellow,
excepting the dark-brown pterostigma.

* Ent. Mon. Mag. Sec. Series, vol. x. 251).

54 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

" Hab. As in the type form. I have examined two
examples.

" VaV. OBLITERATUS VUV. 1WV.

" In this form both whitish and dark markings have practically disap-
peared from the wings (the dark pterostigma always excepted), which are
nearly uniformly brownish-yellow (or rice verm), the posterior paler. But
on the anterior there is usually a faint trace of the pale markings (if
examined in a good light), and the excised apical margin is narrowly
darker with paler interspaces.

"Hab. As in the type form. I have examined four
examples. In uniformity of coloration this form might
be likened to a very diminutive S. cit rimes."

There is no doubt that these varieties all belong to
the same species, Mr. McLachlan also being of that
opinion. The forms above described represent extreme
and intermediate conditions, and in a long series can be
completely connected.

" In the falcate wings, and the character of the
markings in the type form, there is some resemblance
to the North Indian Osmylus Langii, McLach., and
allied species of Osmylus from the same region."

The early stages of this insect evidently closely
resemble those of S. incisus. ' I have bred two speci-
mens from small silken cocoons found under wet
stones, near the edge of one of the streams above
mentioned, and these cocoons were very similar to
those constructed by the larva of S. incisus.

The perfect insect appears about the middle of
November, and is most abundant during the first
week in December. After that time it rapidly de-
creases in numbers.

STENOSMYLUS LATIUSCULUS.

Stenosmylus latiusculus, McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag.,
ser. 2, vol. 5, p. 241 (1894).

(Plate VIII. , fig. 1.)

So far as is at present known, this is the rarest species
of Stenosmylus found in New Zealand, and is represented
in collections by only three specimens. Two of these are
in Mr. McLachlan's collection. One w T as taken at a
lighted window in the Otira Gorge and the other one at
Greymouth (?), both these localities being on the west
coast of the South Island. The third specimen is in my
collection and was captured on the banks of the Oronga-

ANT-LIONS, LACEWING-FLIES, d-c. 55

ronga Kiver, about ten miles to the eastward of Wellington
Harbour.

The expansion of the wings is slightly over 1$ inches, and the length of
the body about ^ inch.

" Head above and pronotum yellowish ; ocelli large but not prominent,
approximate ; antennae pale-brown, the two basal joints and the base of the
third joint yellow. Meso- and meta-nota yellowish, clouded with fuscescent.
Anterior legs pale yellow, the tips of the tibise and tarsal joints brownish,
plantula brownish ; posterior legs mostly fuscescent. Abdomen ( ? ) fuscous
above, dull yellowish beneath ; apex obtuse, provided beneath with an
ovipositor (?), which appears to consist of two closely applied 2-jointed
pieces, the second joint directed backward from the first ; the posterior
margin of the seventh ventral segment produced in its middle into a
quadrate valve, from within which a cylindrical process, broad at its base,
is directed between the basal joints of the above-described apparatus.
Wings long-oval, sub-acute at the apex, with a very slight sub-apical
excision, ground colour pale grey ; anterior wings with the neuration
blackish and whitish irregularly alternate, giving a faint irregular tes-
selated appearance; pterostigmatic region long but ill-defined, whitish-
testaceous ; posterior wings almost without markings. Length of body,
13 mm. ; of anterior wing, 26 mm. ; its greatest breadth, i) mm. ; expanse
of wings, 54 mm.

" Locality. — Otira Gorge.

" Variety. — The head above and the pronotum more dusky, and the
black margins of the latter rather broader. Posterior legs wholly yellowish.
The anterior wings rather more strongly marked. Smaller. Expanse of
wings, ? 45 mm.

"Locality. — Greymouth (?)." *

This species may be easily recognised by its size,
which is intermediate between S. incisus (or citrinus)
and S. stella, also by its very slightly excised wings, and
their peculiarly dull tesselated appearance. The perfect
insect appears in January. It will probably be found to
frequent the edges of clear mountain torrents, in valleys
densely wooded with black birch (Fagus cliffortioides) ;
each of the three specimens at present taken appears
to have been found in a locality of this description.

Genus DREPANEPTERYX, Leach (1835).

"Antennae rather shorter than the body, moniliform, the basal joint very
robust ; maxillary palpi long and slender, labial palpi very short ; ocelli
wanting. Thorax broad. Wings broad; anterior pair much dilated and
rounded at the base, very numerous dichotomoin nervures united by two
longitudinal series on the costal area, and three somewhat irregularly placed
oblique series on the disk, exclusive of the pair common to all the family ;
the apical margin excised, and with a recurved apex ; the base of the inner
margin with a mucronated process. Posterior wings shorter, with fewer
nervures, somewhat lanceolate-acute, the hinder margin waved. Abdomen
compressed. Legs long and slender.

" Distribution. — Europe, Asia, c&c." (Hutton).

We have two species in New Zealand.

* Hutton, Trans. N. Z. Inst., xxxi. 231.

56 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

DREPANEPTERYX INSTABILIS.

Drepanepterijx instabilis, McLachlan, Journ. of
Entomology, vol. 2, p. 115, pi. 6, fig. 4 (1863).

This pretty little insect has occurred at Palmerston
North and Wellington in the North Island, and at Nelson
and Otago in the South Island. It is not a very common
species, though apparently generally distributed.

The expansion of the wings is from \ to ^ inch. " Reddish-fuscous ;
antennae pale greyish-ochreous, annulated with brown ; prothorax black at
the sides ; legs very pale greyish-ochreous. Anterior wings deeply excised
below the apex, greyish subhyaline, clouded and irrorated with greyish-
brown, forming transverse streaks on the costal margin ; six sectors radii,
ten gradate \einlets in the inner series, fourteen in the outer, the latter
deeply margined with blackish ; longitudinal veins dotted with greyish-brown.
Posterior wings whitish-hyaline, interruptedly margined with grey ; some of
the veins blackish.

"A variety has both series of gradate veinlets in the anterior wings.
margined with blackish ; between them, on the costa, is a large subhyaline
space without markings, and a somewhat conspicuous black spot near
the base " (Hutton).

This species is very variable in size, as well as in the
colouring of the wings. In some specimens they are
nearly transparent throughout, whilst in others they are
almost entirely brown, with a large transparent patch in
the middle of each.

The larva of this insect probably feeds on aphides, but
has not yet been observed. The imago appears from
October till March. Single specimens are frequently
disturbed from amongst foliage, but I have never met with
the species in large numbers. It is very sluggish, and
when captured usually drops to the bottom of the net, or
rests quietly on the side. The wings are carried over the
back, forming, when closed together, an extremely acute
angle.

DREPANEPTERYX HUMILIS.

Drepan&pteryx humilis, McLachlan, Journ of Ento-
mology, vol. 2, p. 110, pi. 6, fig. 5 (1863).

" Ochreous, slightly pilose ; antennas pale ochreous; eyes lurid. Pro-
and meso-thorax somewhat fuscous at the sides. Legs pale ochreous, tarsi
fuscescent. Anterior wings slightly excised at the apical margin, subhyaline,
clouded with greyish-ochreous, and with a few scattered black dots, most
numerous along the costal margin ; apical and inner margins narrowly fus-
cous, spotted with white ; longitudinal veins with fuscous points ; nine
veinlets in the inner gradate series, some of which are fuscous, thirteen in
the outer. Posterior wings hyaline, pterostigma ochreous. Length of the
body, 6 mm. ; expanse of the wings, 15 mm.

" Locality. — Auckland and Otago. Found also in Queensland.

CADDIS-FLIES. 57

" In the New Zealand examples the posterior wings have a fuscous dash at
the anal angle, but they do not sufficiently differ from the Australian to
warrant their separation specifically " (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this insect.

Genus MICKOMUS, Eambur (1866).

The base of the costal area of the fore-wing narrowed and without a
recurrent nervure. Sub-costal area with one basal cell.
Distribution. — Tasmania and New Zealand.

MICKOMUS TASMANIA.

Hemerobius tasmanice, Walker, Trans. Ent. Soc. of
London, ser. 2, vol. 5, p. 186.

This extremely delicate and beautiful little insect has
occurred at Wellington, but at present no other precise
locality is recorded for it in New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is from ^ to \^ inch.

" Dull red ; head tawny, with a band, a stripe, and a point on each side,
hindward dull red. Thorax with some tawny marks. Legs whitish. Wings
narrow, almost vitreous ; the veins whitish ; fore-wings pubescent ; veins
rather few, with brown points."

This species may be recognised by its very small size
and brilliantly clear wings, without excisions, which are
frequently ornamented with numerous sharply denned
black dots.

The larva of this insect probably feeds on aphides, but.
is unknown at present.

The perfect insect may be met with throughout the
year, but is never common. It is sometimes disturbed
from amongst foliage ; but it is more frequently observed
on the lower surfaces of objects resting partially on the
ground. I have often met with it in the depth of winter.

This species was originally described from specimens,
taken in Tasmania.

Family XI.— PHRYGANEIDiE- CADDIS-FLIES.

(Trichoptera of many Authors.)

" Wings more or less clothed with hair, nervures divid-
ing at very acute angles, very few transverse nervules ; hind
pair larger than the front, with an anal area, which is
frequently large and, in repose, pi icately folded. Antenna'

-58 NEW ZEALAND NEUEOPTERA.

thread-like, porrect, of many indistinct joints. Mandibles
absent or obsolete. Coxm elongate and free, but contiguous.
Metamorphosis great; larva caterpillar-like, usually in-
habiting cases of their own construction. Pupa resembling
the perfect insect in general form, becoming active previous
to the last ecdysis. Wingless forms of the imago excessively
rare " (Sharp).

The following remarks will explain the principal terms employed by
systematists in classifying and describing these insects: —

" The maxillary palpi vary much, but are always 5-jointed in the female.
The less are long and slender, and the tibiae are often furnished with spines
in addition to the movable spurs which are found at the apex and sometimes
near the middle of each tibia. These spurs usually differ in colour and in
appearance from the spines, and are important characters in classification.
The formula "2.4.4. means that the fore-tibia has a pair of apical spurs, while
the middle and hind-tibiae have median pairs in addition to the apical
pairs.

" The neuration of the anterior wings is also very important in classifica-
tion, and the following remarks — taken from Mr. McLachlan — may help the
student. The anterior margin is called the ' costa. ' Parallel to the costa is
a nervine called the ' sub-costa. ' At the base of the wing the sub-costa emits
the ' radius,' which runs parallel to it. Near its base the radius emits the
' sector,' which divides into two branches, each of which again divides. The
space between the two principal branches of the sector is closed by a trans-
verse nervule, and is called the ' discoidal cell.' Turning now again to the
base of the wing we find another longitudinal nervure below the radius.
This is the ' superior cubitus,' which almost immediately divides into two
branches, which again divide. At the first furcation of the upper branch
there is generally a semi-transparent whitish spot without any hairs, called the
'thyridium.' The 'inferior cubitus' is always fine and does not branch.
At the point of its termination on the inner margin of the wing there is
another transparent whitish spot, called the 'arculus.' The apical forks of
the sector and superior cubitus divide the extremity of the wing into a
number of apical cells, which are numbered from before backwards "
(Hutton).

In their final condition the caddis-flies are not insects
■of very special interest, being generally dull coloured, of
moth-like appearance, and rarely of large size. The
distinctions between the various species and genera
are, moreover, only to be appreciated by means of a very
minute examination of the flies, which can seldom be
successfully undertaken except by a specialist in the group.
Hence the family has been much neglected by general
•entomologists, and it is only through the labours of Mr.
McLachlan, and a few others, that a precise systematic
knowledge of these insects has been obtained.

The Phryganeidse form the division or series Trichop-
tera; the two terms are therefore synonymous; those
entomologists, who consider these insects to form a distinct
-order, use the latter appellation for it.

In striking contrast to the imagines, the earlier stages

CADDIS-FLIES. 59

of the Phryganeidae are of very great and general interest.
The larvae are aquatic and are well known to all anglers
under the name of Caddis-worms. They construct for
themselves cases of a great variety of materials, some
species selecting sand, others stones, and others again
twigs or various vegetable fragments floating in the water.
These cases are, in some of the groups (Sericostomatides,
Leptocerides and Hydroptilides) tubular and movable ;
whilst in others (Hydropsychides and Rhyacophilides)
they are permanently fixed to the stones in the bed of the
stream. When removed from their cases, caddis-worms
bear a considerable resemblance to the caterpillars
of moths : in order to move about they must put their
head, and the three pairs of legs at the front of the body,
out of their tube or case, and they then look very like
case-bearing caterpillars. The part of the body that usually
remains under cover is different in texture and colour, and
frequently bears outstanding processes, or filaments, con-
taining tracheae for the purpose of extracting air from the
water. Some peculiar spaces of a different texture may
be seen on certain larvae, and these may possibly be also
connected with respiration. On each side of the extremity
•of the body there is a rather large hook, by which the
creature attaches its dwelling to its body, and there are
also frequently present on the anterior abdominal segment
three large bosses, which are supposed to assist towards
the same end. The hold it thus obtains is so firm that it
cannot be dragged out by pulling from the front ; fisher-
men have, however, discovered a way of extracting it by
a strategic operation : the cases are, as a rule, partially open
behind, and by putting a blunt object in and annoying the
larva, it is induced to relax the hold of its hooks and
advance forwards in the case, or even leave it altogether.
The firm hold of the larva is maintained in spite of the
fact that the body does not fill the case. It is necessary
that water should pass freely into and out of the case, and
that there should be some space for the respiratory fila-
ments to move in. The mouth of the case is open, and
the posterior extremity is arranged by the larva in such a
maimer as to allow a passage for the water; various
ingenious devices are adopted by different species of larvae,
with the object of protecting the hind end of the body, and
at the same time of permitting water to pass through the
case.

The mode of changing the skin, or the frequency with
which this occurs in the larval state of the caddis-flies,

60 NEW ZEALAND NEUB.OPTERA.

has not yet been recorded. The duration of life in this,
stage is usually considerable, extending over several
months. In New Zealand all the species seem to pass
the winter as larvae, completing their metamorphosis-
during the following spring or summer ; and as one
generation each year appears to be the rule, it is evident
that the larval condition, in such cases, lasts from seven
to ten months. During" this stage the insects are chiefly
vegetable feeders, some being said to feed on minute
alga? ; animal diet is not, however, entirely avoided,
and it is said by Pictet that not only do some of the
Phryganeida? eat other insects, but that they also some-
times devour their companions.

At the end of the larval period of existence, the
creature closes its case by a light web spun at each end,
taking care not to prevent the ingress and egress of the
water ; it sometimes adds a stone or piece of stick, and
having thus protected itself changes to a pupa. During
the first part of this metamorphosis the creature is
completely helpless, for there is so great a difference
between the external structures of the larva and the pupa,
as to make the latter a new being, so far as these organs
are concerned. The changes take place in the interior of
the larval skin, and as they are completed, this latter -is
shed piecemeal. The resulting pupa greatly resembles-
the perfect insect, differing consequently very much from
the larva. The head of the pupa is armed in front with
two curious projections that are, in fact, enormously
developed mandibles ; they serve as cutting implements
to enable the pupa to effect its escape from its prison ;
they are cast off with the pupa skin, the perfect insect
being thus destitute of these organs. The abdomen of
the pupa differs from that of the perfect insect in
possessing external respiratory filaments ; the pupa? of
some species have also the middle legs provided with
swimming hairs, which do not exist in the imago. The
skin of the pupa is at first very soft, but it soon hardens,
and when about fifteen or twenty days have elapsed, the
pupa opens its case by means of the mandibular processes,
and swims through the water for some hours with its-
back downwards, finally ascending to the air by the help
of some solid object ; the pupa skin then swells and
splits, and the thorax of the imago protrudes ; this is
soon followed by the disengagement of the head and other
parts; and the imago, having thus escaped, the pupa skin
remains, floating on the surface of the water, a complete

CADDIS-FLIES. 61

model of the external structure of the pupa, and contains
a considerable number of tracheae.

The eggs of caddis-flies are deposited in a singular
manner ; they are extruded in a mass surrounded by
jelly ; there may be as many as one hundred eggs in
such a mass. This is sometimes carried about by the
female after its extrusion from the interior of the body,
but is finally confided to a suitable place in the stream
or pool.

The Phryganeidae are frequently regarded as the
nearest existing allies to the great order Lepidoptera ;
moths and butterflies are thus supposed to have originally
descended from some ancient form of insect, closely
resembling our existing caddis-flies. Although not at
present borne out by the discovery of fossil remains,
there are no doubt many facts in connection with the
structure and habits of these insects which strongly
support the above idea, and the subject has been
•discussed at some length in several modern works on the
Lepidoptera.

The Phryganeidae are at present represented in New
-Zealand by the following five sub-families only : —

1. Sericostomatides. 3. Hydropsychides.

2. Leptocerides. 4. Rhyacophilides.

5. Hydroptilides.

Sub-Family 1.— SERICOSTOMATIDES.

" Maxillary palpi of the male 2- or 3-jointed, ordinarily very pubescent
or pilose, and always formed in quite a different manner from those of the
female ; varying greatly according to the genus. Larva with non-fasciculate
respiratory filaments ; the case free" (Hutton).

In this group the larvae mostly inhabit streams.
They construct movable cases out of sand and stones
in preference to vegetable matter. The respiratory
filaments are filiform.

Genus GECONESUS, McLachlan (1862).

" Male. — Head quadrate ; antennae about the length of the wings, basal
joint short and rather thick, not so long as the head. Maxillary palpi oval-
elongate, much swollen, curved up in front of the head, their apices when
viewed from above appearing as two rounded tubercles between the antennse,
moderately hairy. Labial palpi with the basal joints short, the second and
third of equal length, long. Anterior tibiae with two short spurs ; inter-
mediate and posterior, each with four long unequal spurs. Anterior wings
rather short and broad, very slightly hairy, the costa much arched, apical

62 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

margin almost straight ; the costa from the base to the pterostigma is nar-
rowly folded inwards ; discoidal cell long and narrow ; the superior cubitus
does not fork before the anastomosis, and from this cause there are only
eight apical cells ; the anastomosis is complete and very oblique from the
third apical cell ; the lower part is not connected with the inner margin by
a transverse nervule, and the last apical cell is continued from the apex
to near the base of the wing, the apical portion being very broad ; near the
base of the third apical cell in all four wings is a small round hyaline spot.
Posterior wings broad, folded, the discoidal cell short and triangular.

" Female. — The maxillary palpi are 5-jointed, the basal joint very short,
the second slightly longer, the third to the fifth still longer and nearly equal.
The neuration of the anterior wings is regular, and in the posterior wings
there are two additional apical forks.

" Distribution. — New Zealand" (Hutton).

(ECONESUS MAORI.

CEconesus maori, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.,
London, 1862, p. 3; Jour. Linn. Soc, vol. 10, pi. 2,
fig. 1 ; Entom. Mo. Mag., 1894, 239.

This species is recorded from Auckland, and I have
captured a few specimens in the vicinity of Wellington.
It has also occurred at Ophir in the South Island, but
does not seem to be generally common.

The expansion of the wings is 1^ inches.

" Male. — Antennae pale-ochreous ; eyes blackish, slightly reticulated with
brassy; head, thorax, and abdomen reddish-brown; legs reddish-ochreous;
anterior wings rusty-brown, thickly irrorated with whitish spots, which are
larger towards the base ; on the inner margin are three elongated whitish
spots, alternating with others of the dark ground-colour. Posterior wings
subhyaline, tinged with brownish. Length of the body, 8 mm. ; expanse
of wings, 21 mm.

" Female. — Larger, the expanse of the wings being 30 mm.

" This insect, at first sight, has a somewhat deceptive resemblance to>
Hydropsyche fimbriata " (Hutton).

The perfect insect appears from October till April,
and frequents the foliage on the margins of rivers and
streams. It is sometimes attracted by light.

Genus PSEUDCECONESUS, McLachlan (1891).

" Male. — Antennae, palpi, and legs practically the same as in (Econesus.
Anterior wings without any costal fold, and no defined groove ; the radius
is confluent with the first apical sector (in both sexes and in both pairs as in
(Econesus) ; upper edge of the discoidal cell excised (straight in CEconesus) ;
apical forks Nos. 1, 2, and 3 present, the others irregular ; the sixth apical cell
very much dilated at its base in a nearly circular manner. Posterior wings
with the apical forks Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 present, the neuration apparently
regular.

" Female. — The joints of the labial palpi shorter and broader, the ter-
minal joint almost spoon-shaped. In both pairs of wings the apical forks
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 are present, and the neuration appears to be normal and
regular.

" Distribution. — New Zealand" (Hutton).

CADDIS-FLIES. 63-

PSEUDCECONESUS MIMUS.

Pseudceconesus mimus, McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag.,.
1894, p. 289.

(Plate X., fig. 10.)

This species is fairly common on the banks of many
of the tributary streams of the Wainui-o-mata River, near
Wellington.

The expansion of the wings is 1£ inches.

"Female. — Much like the same sex in (E. maori, but slightly smaller ;
the pale irrorations are larger and less regular ; near the base of the third
apical cell is a rather large, rounded, pale spot, on each side of which is a
somewhat conspicuous brown spot. On the antepenultimate ventral segment
is a very strong triangular tooth. The end of the abdomen in dried specimens
is very similar to that of (E. maori" (Hutton).

The perfect insect appears in November, and frequents
streams running through dense forests.

PSEUDCECONESUS STEAMINEUS.

Pseudceconesus stramineus, McLachlan, Ent. Mo. Mag.,.
1894, p. 240.

This species was described from specimens found on
the Tableland of Mount Arthur, near Nelson, at elevations-
ranging between 2,800 and 4,500 feet above the sea-level.

The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches.

" Male. — Stramineous or pale testaceous. Anterior wings pale greyish,
stramineous, closely irrorated with small whitish spots, apical margin nar-
rowly interruptedly fuscescent, inner margin with four or five long fuscous
lines alternating with long pale spaces. Posterior wings whitish-stramineous,
the apical portion yellowish, fringes concolorous. Penultimate and ante-
penultimate ventral segments of the abdomen each with an acute tooth ;
superior appendages lateral, quadrate, furnished with long hairs. Inter-
mediate appendages (or penis-cover?), viewed from above, consolidated into
a broad elongate plate, canaliculate above, deeply notched at the apex, fur-
nished with very long hairs. Inferior appendages 2-branched, the branches
distant, stout and cylindrical, curved so as to leave a semicircular space
between them. Length of body, 7 mm. ; expanse of wings, 28 mm.

"Localities. — Wellington and Nelson.

" Female. — Like the male, but the body darker, and the anterior wings
yellower. A sharp, broad, triangular tooth on the antepenultimate ventral'
segment. Margin of the last dorsal segment nearly straight and slightly
excised in its middle. Tubular piece forming two small, broad, triangular.
obtuse lobes, if viewed laterally, but open above and beneath. Length of
body, 10 mm. ; expanse of wings, 33 mm." (Hutton).

The perfect insect appears in January. It frequents
the margins of mountain torrents.

As the transformations of the three foregoing species
are at present unknown to me, I am unable to discrimi-
nate between them with certainty.

64 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTERA.

'? AGILIS, n. sp.

(Plate II., fig. 4, 5 larva removed from case enlarged.)

So far as I am aware at present, this handsome
species has only occurred in the valley of the first
eastern tributary of the Wainui-o-mata River, above the
Wellington Reservoir, locally known as George's Creek.

The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches. The antennas are rather
stout, and about the same length as the fore-wings. Spurs 2.4.4. The
fore-wings have the costa slightly arched at the base, and much arched
before the apex ; the termen is sharply excavated near the middle. The
general colour of the fore-wings is pale brown, paler in the middle with
a large almost white patch towards the tornus, partially bordered by a
number of dark chocolate brown markings. The hind-wings are yellowish-
brown, darker towards the apex. The body is dark brown.

The larva constructs a stout, cylindrical, and slightly
curved case about f inch long, composed entirely of large
pebbles firmly fastened together with silk. These cases
are rather scarce, and are only found in the central and
most rapid portions of the river, where the beautiful
bright water dashes over the large boulders, resting on
a clean and shingly bottom.

The length of the larva when full grown is about f inch. The first
three segments are pale brown, the third being scarcely horny. The rest
of the body is dull white, very large, soft, and fat. The sides of all but the
last two segments are furnished with a row of extremely short, fine hairs.
There is a bunch of very fine respiratory filaments on each segment above
and below this line, making four rows in all ; but no filaments are present
on the last two segments. The anal segment is abruptly truncated, the
upper portion is furnished with numerous spines, and the lower with two
small, but very strong, clasping hooks.

Apart from the contained larva the case of this insect
can always be distinguished from that of Pseudonema
amabilis by its larger size, and by the very much larger
stones of which it is composed. When mature, this larva
firmly fastens its case by its posterior end to a boulder,
closes each of the apertures with a large pebble, but leaves
sufficient space to admit of a free circulation of the water
through its dwelling. As usual with these insects, the
pupa swims about for some hours before emergence ; and
when the caddis-fly finally makes its escape the pupa
skin may be found close by, and generally floating on
the surface of the water.

The perfect insect appears early in December. It
•delights to rest on overhanging twigs, situated close
to the most rapid-running waters. Whilst thus resting
it is extremely difficult to see, the antennae being placed

CADDIS-FLIES. 65

close together and thrust straight in front of the insect,,
whilst the wings are closely folded around the body.
When in this position the creature much resembles a
small stick, but if it be too closely approached it dashes
with amazing rapidity into the water, floats down the
stream for a considerable distance, and eventually seizes
hold of some similar twig at the water's edge, where it
reposes as before. These peculiar habits are no doubt
protective, and certainly render both the detection and
capture of the insect a most difficult matter. Its move-
ments are, in fact, of such a sudden and bewildering
nature, that the collector is often taken by surprise and
loses his quest. The periodical submersions which this
caddis-fly undergoes do not appear in any way to harm
it, as the water runs off its hairy wings and back
immediately it reappears above the surface.

Genus OLINGA, McLachlan (1894).

"Instead of Olinx (1870), which is preoccupied.

"Antennae slightly shorter than the wings, stout, the basal joint very-
long and thick, fringed beneath with long and strong hairs ; vertex small,
with very long hairs at the sides, turned upwards ; maxillary palpi apparently
2-jointed, curved over the face, short and subcylindrical ; labial palpi long.
Prothorax hidden, meso- and meta-thorax scarcely hairy, shining ; the
former long, narrowed posteriorly, with a broad concave space in the middle
above ; the metathorax is much narrower, also with a concave median
space, in the centre of the posterior portion of which is a triangular meta-
scutellum. Legs moderately long and slender, pubescent, the tibise with
stronger and spine-like hairs, spurs 2.2.4, furnished with spine-like
adpressed hairs similar to those on the tibia, the two pairs on the posterior
tibiae very long and near together ; tarsi long. Anterior wings narrow at the
base, the apex widely dilated, the apical margin oblique ; neuration indistinct,
sub-costa straight, the radius parallel, the two branches of the sector ending
in long forks, which are connected by a transverse nervule, the whole
membrane thickly coated with scales above. Posterior wings shorter,
obtusely rounded at the apex, broad, the dorsal margin with a long fringe
near the base, the membrane with procumbent hairs. Abdomen short and
slender ; a forked lobe proceeds from the middle of the last segment above ;
the penultimate segment is furnished beneath with a broad and obtuse lobe,
extending beyond the apex in the male.
"Distribution. — New Zealand " (Hutton).

OLINGA FEREDAYI.

Olinx feredayi, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc, vol. 10 r
p. 198, pi. 2, fig. 2 (1870).

(Plate IX., fig. 1 $ , 2 ? , 3 larva withdrawn from its case,.
4 larva in its case ; figs. 3 and 4 are magnified.)

This insect has occurred abundantlv at AVellington,.

6

«6 NEW ZEALAND NEVROPTEBA.

in the North Island, and at Nelson and Christchurch in
the South Island. It is probably common and generally
distributed throughout New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is 1 inch. The fore-wings in the male are
•dull yellowish-brown ; there is a chitinous fold running from the base along
the dorsum, and curving upwards parallel to the termen ; the hind-wings are
dusky. The female has the fore-wings golden-yellow without any chitinous
fold.

The larva of this insect is extremely abundant in most
running streams. It constructs a perfectly smooth, light
brown, semi-transparent, and slightly curved cylindrical
case, made entirely of a glutinous material secreted by the
insect. These cases are to be found in the streams during
the entire year, but many of those taken about December
are very small, apparently indicating that the larva
chiefly grows during the late summer, autumn, and winter,
usually becoming mature in the spring. Some full-sized
cases are, however, always to be found, and prolonged
investigations prove that the successive broods of this
insect must overlap one another to a very great extent.
A glance at the table on p. 98 will show how largely these
larva? contribute towards the food supply of our trout, and
as both the case and the contained larva are devoured,
no difficulty is experienced in identifying with absolute
certainty the numerous specimens, which are found
during an examination of the contents of the stomachs
of those fish.

The length of the larva, when full grown, is about g inch, that of its case
being about h, inch. The head and first segment of the thorax are very
horny, and bright reddish-brown in colour. The anterior legs are short and
very stout, the two other pairs are rather long and much slenderer. The
remaining segments of the body are very large, soft, and bright green in
colour. The two terminal segments are slightly paler. The last segment
has two very large protuberances fringed with bristles and furnished with a
pair of very small claspers.

This. larva is very active, climbing amongst the stones
in rapid streams with great agility. When full grown it
fastens the posterior extremity of its case firmty to a
stone, and closes the free end with a tight-fitting lid.
These fixed cases are usually found in groups, comprising
twenty or thirty individuals, attached close together on
the under side of a single boulder. This habit of congre-
gating in groups for purposes of pupation is very remark-
able, and probably serves some useful purpose, though at
present it is difficult to say in what way it is beneficial to
the insect.

CADDIS-FLIES. 67

During the early summer most streams become very
much smaller in volume, and owing to this circumstance
many of these groups of fixed cases are left high and
dry, and their inmates must consequently meet with an
untimely death. In fact, the mortality experienced by
the insect from this cause alone must be very considerable.

The pupa leaves the case by forcing open the lid,
which closes its free end. After this is accomplished, it
swims about for many hours before the final emergence
of the caddis-fly takes place.

The length of the pupa is about § inch. The head and thorax are pale
green, the abdomen bright green. The eyes are prominent, dark reddish-
brown ; the mandibles are short, slender, horny, and much curved at the
tips. The legs and wings are very delicate in structure, elongate, and semi-
transparent. The abdomen has a pair of brown chitinous spots on the back
of segments 2, ;3, 4, and 5, and a double pair of such spots on segment 6.
The dorsal appendages are slightly chitinous and brown ; the ventral ones
semi-transparent. There is an extremely fine black line extending down the
side of the abdomen.

The perfect insect appears from the beginning of
November until the end of February. It flies freely at
evening dusk, when specimens may often be obtained in
considerable numbers. It sometimes happens that females
thus captured are found to be carrying their eggs, which
are attached to the end of the body, and form a bright
green globular mass.

Genus PYCNOCENTRIA, McLachlan (1866).

"Head transversely sub-quadrate, with an elongated tubercle on each
side. Antennas slender, about the length of the wings ; basal joint thick,
hairy, longer than the head. Maxillary palpi in the male 2-jointed, the
basal joint very small and concealed, the second long and thick, curved up
and furnished with long and strong hairs ; those of the female 5-jointed, the
basal joint short, the second long and stout, third equal to the second but
thinner, the fourth and fifth shorter, equal. Anterior wings with dense
pubescence, dilated before the apex ; in the male there is a longitudinal fold
furnished with coarse hairs extending nearly the whole length, and oblitera-
ting the discoidal cell ; in the female this fold is absent. Posterior wings
shorter and about as broad, obtuse at the apex ; in the male with a longitu-
dinal fold. Legs moderately long and slightly hairy ; spurs 2.2. 4, those of
the anterior and intermediate tibiae moderately long and unequal, both pairs
of the posterior tibiae nearly equal and close together.

" Distribution. — New Zealand" (Hutton).

PYCNOCENTRIA FUNEREA.

Pycnocentria funerea, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, 1866, p. 252.

This little caddis-fly has occurred at Auckland,

-68 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOFTEBA.

Wellington, and Nelson, and is probably generally dis-
tributed throughout New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is about -y^ inch.

" Antennae blackish-fuscous ; head and thorax dark chestnut, clothed
with blackish hairs. Wings dark fuscous, the folds in the male conspicuously
darker ; a small whitish spot at the anal angles of the anterior pair.
Anterior legs greyish-ochreous, the intermediate and posterior femora and
tibise fuscous, the tarsi ochreous. Abdomen blackish-fuscous, the divisions
of the segments paler ; in the male the upper margin of the last segment is
produced in the middle into a long flattened lobe dilated at the base, then
attenuated and obtuse at the apex, from under it project the curved points
of the intermediate appendages ; inferior appendages consisting of two
branches, the upper obtuse and shorter than the lower ; ventral surface of
the antepenultimate segment of the female with a short obtuse lobe. Length,
of the body, 4 mm. ; expanse of the wings, 13 mm." (Hutton).

The perfect insect appears from October till March,
and is easily recognised by its very dark colouring. It
usually frequents the margins of streams in rather open
country, and is often fairty common in such situations.

PYCNOCENTEIA EYECTA.

Pijcnocentria evecta, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, p. 199, pi. % fig. 3 (1870).

(Plate IX., fig. 5, fig. 6 larva in its case enlarged.)

This little species seems to be fairly common and
generally distributed. It has been taken at Wellington.
Christchurch, Lake Pukaki, and Ophir.

The expansion of the wings is about § inch.

" Head with blackish and golden hairs. Prothorax with golden hairs;
meso- and meta-thorax nearly hairless, blackish-fuscous. Wings greyish,
the anterior with short golden hairs. Legs yellow, the tibiae and tarsi with
blackish hairs. Abdomen reddish-brown, the appendages yellow. In the
male the antepenultimate ventral segment bears a broad flattened obtuse
lobe, and from the last dorsal segment protrudes a small elongately
triangular sub-obtuse yellow lobe. Length of the body, 4 mm. ; expanse of
the wings, 16-17 mm." (Hutton).

The larva is very abundant in many rivers and streams,
but appears to prefer those flowing through open country,
with a rather sluggish current and muddy bottom. It
constructs a small, cylindrical and slightly curved case of
secreted material, entirely covered with extremely minute
stones and particles of sand. This case is usually greyish-
green in colour, the greenish tinge being no doubt due to
the presence of a certain amount of living vegetable
matter amongst the sand grains attached to it. These
cases occur in the streams throughout the year. In the

CADDIS-FLIES. 69-

late autumn and winter they are very small ; cases taken
in June being less than ^ inch in length, although they are
quite as numerous then as at any other time. During the
spring the larvae gradually increase in size, and enlarge their
•cases accordingly, about the end of November; when most
of the streams have very much diminished in volume and in
rapidity of current, these insects speedily develop. They
probably feed on vegetable matter, and the green slime-
weed, which always grows profusely in slow-running
streams, forms, no doubt, their chief article of diet. This
•caddis-worm constitutes an extremely important item in
the food supply of trout, very large numbers of the cases
and their contained larva being found in the stomachs of
these fish. (See tables on pages 93 to 98.)

The length of the larva of this insect, when extended, is about -^ inch.
The head is large, very broad, but short, blackish-green, with a few irregular
paler green marks. The prothorax is elongate, pale olive-green, with four
round black dorsal spots. The rest of the body is very pale olive-green,
marbled with darker olive-green, especially on the back. The surface is
much wrinkled. Anterior legs short, moderately stout, with a very sharp
single claw ; middle and posterior legs much longer and slenderer, apparently
employed exclusively in walking. Anal eminences very obtuse, each
furnished with about nine very stout bristles, and a minute but very stout claw.
Usual dorsal hump very small ; lateral humps also small. There are traces
of a few irregular, branching, white filaments.

As soon as this larva is mature it firmly fastens its
•case to a large rock or stone in the stream, and, when
possible, always selects for this purpose a crevice in the
stone. A large number of larvae will frequently attach
their cases very close together in such a situation, and it
is most difficult either to detect or remove the cases when
they are thus protected by the overhanging edges of the
•crevice. Both ends of the case are, of course, closed with
the usual network, so that the enclosed pupa is securely
protected from all enemies.

The perfect insect appears from November till
February. It must be very common, although it is not
often seen, owing no doubt to its small size, inconspicuous
appearance, and nocturnal habits. I observed it very
abundant on the banks of Lake Pukaki at evening dusk,
and further investigation will probably reveal its presence
in most places situated in the vicinity of water.

PYCNOCENTRIA AUREOLA.

Pijcnocentria aureola, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, p. 200, pi. 2, fig. 4 (1870).

70 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

This species is very closely allied to the last, from
which it can only be distinguished by a special examina-
tion of the male insect. At present it is only recorded
from Wellington, Christchurch and Ophir, but is pro-
bably generally distributed throughout New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is about \^ inch.

"Like P. evecta, but the male has no abdominal lobes. Length of the
body, 4-5 mm. ; expanse of the wings, 12-19 mm." (Hutton).

In its transformations this species no doubt closely
resembles P. evecta.

The perfect insect appears from November till March.
It frequents the same situations as P. evecta.

Genus HELICOPSYCHE, Hagen (1866).

" Spurs 2.2.4, long, but the exterior spur on the anterior tibia is
minute, and that on the other pairs is slightly shorter than the internal ;
the sub-apical pair on the posterior tibiae near the apical.

" This genus was founded originally to include the
remarkable heliciform larvae- cases made of grains of sand,
which have only lately been hatched out in North America
and Europe" (Hutton).

HELICOPSYCHE ZEALANDICA, n. sp.

(Plate XL, fig. 4 imago, 5 larva removed from case, &
larva in case, all magnified.)

This very inconspicuous little insect must be quite
common in the neighbourhood of Wellington, and is,
in fact, probably generally abundant throughout New
Zealand. It is, however, seldom seen, and but for the
extremely interesting nature of the case constructed by
its larva, the mature caddis-fly would probably have long
remained unnoticed hy entomologists.

The expansion of the wings is about ^inch. The general colour is dusky
black, with a paler spot a little beyond the middle of the fore-wings. All
the wings are fringed with long hairs. This insect has a strong superficial
resemblance to Pycnocentria funerea, but apart from structural differences
may readily be distinguished from that species by its smaller size and more
transparent wings.

The larva of Helicopsychc is very abundant in most
running streams in the Wellington District. It constructs
a spiral case so closely resembling a small snail-shell, that
similar cases found in Europe have deceived concholo-

CADDIS-FLIES. 71

gists, and led them to describe the cases as actual shells.
The case constructed by the New Zealand insect is about
f$ inch in diameter. The whorls are rather flattened,,
and the inner portion of the spiral is smooth, and com-
posed of extremely minute sand grains ; further out the
sand grains become coarser, and near the orifice of the
case they are much larger, and give that portion of the
structure a somewhat irregular appearance.

The enclosed larva is very elongate, curved and specially adapted for
inhabiting a spiral tube. Its length when full grown is about f g inch. The
head is rather large, oval, light reddish-brown. The prothorax is also-
reddish-brown, horny, and highly polished. The meso- and meta-thorax
are dull green tinged with reddish-brown, and clothed with a few isolated
bristles, the sides of the latter segment being furnished with hair-bearing
tubercles. The abdomen is bright green and very shining. The first
abdominal segment is furnished with an extremely large dorsal hump.
The anterior legs are very short, the intermediate and posterior pair of
moderate length. There are no visible respiratory filaments. The seg-
ments of the abdomen are very cylindrical. The terminal segment has
two rather feeble claws.

These larvae are found in the streams throughout the
entire year. In mid-winter they are very abundant, but
so minute are the cases that it requires a very close
scrutiny to discover them. They are often secreted in
the depressions on some of the larger stones in the bed of
the stream, and in these situations we may sometimes-
find clusters of fifty or a hundred cases. As the season
advances the cases become larger, and in warm weather
the larvae are very active, pulling their cases after them
in all directions. On the approach of any moving object
they may be observed detaching themselves from the
stones with great celerity, and drifting down-stream like
so many small pebbles. These tactics would no doubt
preserve them from many enemies, but nevertheless large
numbers of the larvae are devoured by trout, as we find
their heliciform cases very numerous in the stomachs of
fish taken in streams, where the insects are abundant.
The mature larva fixes its case very firmly to a large
stone in the bed of the stream, generally selecting for
this purpose a depression in the rock or stone. When
finally anchored, the larva, after having closed the orifices
of the case, changes into a pupa inside.

The pupa has the head small, pale brown, with the eyes prominent and
yellowish-brown. The thorax is dull green. The wings are elongate, bright
green, and curved upwards towards their extremities. The abdomen is
elongate, pale green, with nine visible segments, curved upwards towards
the tip ; there is a slender black line on each side. The antenna? and legs
are also curved in the same way as the wings and abdomen, so that the
whole insect fits perfectly into its heliciform case.

72 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

The pupa leaves the case and swims about in the
water for some hours before emergence. The perfect
insect appears in December and January.

Sub-Family 2— LEPTOCERIDES.

" Maxillary palpi 5-jointecl in the male as well as in the female, strongly
hairy, ordinarily ascending, and with the last joint usually long but simple,
although often flexible. Wings very pubescent, and for the most part
narrow. Antennse, as a rule, very long and slender. The larva has the
respiratory filaments short, and ordinarily few in number, placed in tufts on
the sides of the abdomen ; the case tubular and free.

Genus PSEUDONEMA, McLachlan (1862).
Tetracentron, Brauer (1865).

" Antennas much longer than the wings, joints cylindrical, the basal joint
long and thick. Maxillary palpi hairy; the basal joint short; second and
third long, equal; fourth scarcely as long as the third, and less robust; fifth
joint as long as the third and fourth together, flexible. Labial palpi with
the terminal joint long and thin. Head sub-triangular, the eyes prominent.
Abdomen robust. Spurs of the tibiae 2.2.4. Anterior wings rather thickly
clothed with short hairs, long, narrow, slightly dilated at the apex, which is
elongated ; discoidal cell broad ; first apical cell much longer than the others,
the second short, scarcely reaching half-way to the anastomosis, the fifth
narrow and very acute, barely reaching the anastomosis. Posterior wings
folded.

"Distribution. — New Zealand" (Hutton).

PSEUDONEMA OBSOLETA.

Pseudonema obsoleta, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, ser. 3, vol. 1, p. 305 (1862). Tetracentron saro-
thropus, Brauer, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges., in Wien, 1865,
p. 418 ; Keise der " Novara," Neuroptera, p. 12, tab. i.,
fig. 5. Pseudonema obsoleta, Hutton, Trans. N. Z. Inst.,
xxxi., 240.

(Plate X., fig. 1 ? imago, 2 larva withdrawn from case
magnified. Larvae in cases composed of — fig. 3 wood
fragments and liverworts, 4 fragments of tree-fern
fronds, 5 fragment of wood, 6 long slender twig,
7 pupa magnified.)

This extremely interesting insect has occurred at
Auckland and Wellington in the North Island, and at
Nelson, Christchurch, Ophir, and Invercargill in the
South Island.

The expansion of the wings varies from 1J inches to If inches. The
fore-wings are dull grey, speckled and banded with black, and white spots ;

( 'ADDIS-FLIES. 73

the hind-wings are pale brown, paler near the base. The two anterior pairs
of legs have the tarsi and tips of the tibia black. The posterior pair are
pale yellowish-brown throughout. The antennae are twice the length of the
anterior wings. The maxillary palpi are very hairy, and about £ the length
of the antennae.

The transformations of this peculiar insect are very
interesting. The larva, which is found in clear, dashing,
forest streams, usually inhabits a piece of twig, through
the centre of which it has tunnelled out a cylindrical hole.
In this simple habitation it is enabled to live secure from
all enemies, as the stick is always long enough to allow
the insect to retreat a considerable distance from the
opening at either end. In fact, I have found small larva?
inhabiting twigs nearly five inches long. If menaced in
any way the larva always remains thus concealed in the
middle of the twig, consequently its habitation cannot be
distinguished from any other fragment of twig, of which
there are usually hundreds floating about in the streams,
where the insects abound. When the larva is not appre-
hensive of any danger it projects its head and thorax from
the opening, and proceeds to walk about dragging the
stick after it. The presence of a number of these ani-
mated twigs, of various shapes and sizes, in a basin of
water has a most remarkable appearance. The enclosed
insects are not readily seen, and it is thus often difficult
to account for the singularly rapid movements with which
the sticks are endowed. Although this larva usually in-
habits a plain stick, hollowed out in the middle, more
complicated dwellings are not infrequently constructed
by the insect. Fragments of the stems of fern fronds
(see Plate X., fig. 4), the green liverworts, which grow so
plentifully on the stony banks of many of these forest
streams (fig. 3) , as well as many other kinds of vegetable
remains, are built up by the larva into the most fantastic
cases imaginable. In addition, the insect frequently
employs ordinary fragments of wood from forest trees,
which it hollows out in a similar manner to the sticks
(fig. 5). This last-named habit proves, I think, that the
larva does not select twigs already hollowed out, as I at
first supposed, but bores them out itself to suit its own
requirements.

The food of these larva? consists chiefly of fallen leaves
and sodden wood, both of which are present in great
quantities in all forest streams. I have actually seen
captive specimens feeding on the leaves of Melicytus
ramiflorus, and on the berries of Aristotelia racemosa.

74 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

This insect is, in fact, very hardy, and can easily be kept
in a shallow vessel of water, if it is supplied with a few
leaves and twigs from its native stream. The larva may
be found in the streams throughout the entire year, but it
is most abundant about midsummer.

When extracted from its singular habitation the larva of P. obsoleta is
not found to differ widely from many other caddis-worms (fig. 2). The head
and first two thoracic segments are rather small, horny, and dark brown in
colour ; the two anterior pairs of legs are short, pale yellow barred with dark
brown ; the posterior legs are very long and are chiefly instrumental in
moving the larva and its case. They project forwards from the case, and
act somewhat as a pair of grappling-hooks. The last thoracic segment is of
large size, and has four horny dorsal plates. The first segment of the
abdomen is furnished with a very large dorsal hump. All the segments
of the abdomen are very large, soft, and yellowish-white in colour. There
are seven pairs of respiratory filaments on each side of the larva. The
anal hooks are small, and each is situated on a moderately large protu-
berance. There is a number of stout bristles on the last two segments
of the insect.

As soon as this larva has attained its full size, it
fastens one end of its habitation securely to a log or
other firm object, and closes both of the orifices with a
loosely spun silken lid, means being thus provided for the
free circulation of fresh water through the case for the
use of the enclosed insect whilst it is in the pupa state.

The pupa is a most beautiful object. Its length is about § inch. The
jaws are small and prominent, the eyes very conspicuous ; the head and
thorax are brown, the abdomen ochreous-yellow. Legs and palpi brown.
Eespiratory filaments are situated on all the segments of the abdomen,
except the last three. The extremely long antennse are carried in two spirals
beyond the end of the body.

The pupa is enclosed in a thin, tough cocoon inside
the hollow stick or wooden case, which is firmly attached
to a sunken log in the stream.

The insect remains in this condition for three or four
weeks. About twenty-four hours before its final trans-
formation the pupa leaves its old habitation and swims
about in the water with considerable rapidity. After this
the emergence of the imago takes place, but the insect's
exact procedure during this operation is not quite clear.
Probably the pupa does not leave its native element
before emergence, as the empty pupa skin is always
found floating on the surface of the water. The perfect
insect appears from November till March. It is often
common in the vicinity of forest streams, and may be
captured at evening dusk. It flies with a peculiar zigzag"
flight, but in this respect it is not nearly so remarkable
as the next species. It is also attracted by light. I have

CADDIS-FLIES. 75

taken P. obsoleta on the Tableland of Mount Arthur, at
an elevation of no less than 3,600 feet above the sea-level.
It is, I think, generally distributed throughout New
Zealand, and probably occurs wherever there are dense
forests and swift-running streams.

PSEUDONEMA AMABILIS.

Tetracentron amabile, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc.,.
vol. 10, p. 20, pi. 2, fig. 5 (1870). Pseudonema amabilis,.
Hutton, Trans. N. Z. Inst, xxxi., 241.

(Plate X., fig. 8, 9 larva in its case magnified.)

This delicate little insect is probably common, and
generally distributed throughout New Zealand. It has
occurred at Wellington, Christchurch, Lake Pukaki,
Ophir, and Invercargill.

The expansion of the wings is about 1J inches. The fore-wings are very
elongate and narrow, with the termen oblique ; their colour is pale greyish-
brown, dotted with darker brown ; there is a rather conspicuous, oblique,
white spot before the apex, and a very much smaller spot on the termen.
The hind-wings are much broader, and uniform pale greyish-brown. The
body is brown with grey hairs. The superior appendages of the male are
triangular, fimbriated ; the inferior appendages thick, directed upwards.

The larva of this insect inhabits clear, running streams.
It constructs a strong cylindrical, slightly tapering case
made entirely of small stones, thus differing in a remark-
able manner from the case of the preceding insect, which
is exclusively composed of vegetable detritus. The length
of this case, when the larva is mature, is about an inch.
In structure the larva itself appears to closely resemble
that of P. obsoleta, but is of course much smaller. It is
very active in its habits, and may often be seen travelling
with great rapidity across sandy patches in the river-bed.
It frequents the edges of rivers and streams, where the
current is less rapid. Here there is usually a fair deposit
of sandy or fine shingly material, which it certainly
prefers to a river-bed entirely composed of rocks or large
boulders. In these situations the larvae are often very
common, especially during the first fortnight in November,
when they are full grown and the cases fairly conspicuous,
owing to their comparatively large size.

When mature this insect closes both the orifices of
its case by fastening a small stone to each end. Hence
the case rests loosely on the river-bed, and is not attached
to a firm object. The enclosed pupa closely resembles

76 NEW ZEALAND NEUEOPTERA.

that of P. obsoleta, but is of course considerably smaller.
Its extremely long and delicate antennae are very remark-
able. The emergence of the imago occurs in the usual
manner, and the pupa skin, with its exquisitely delicate
antennal coverings, may be seen floating on the water
after the escape of the caddis-fly.

The perfect insect appears about the middle of
November, and is very abundant until the end of
December. It flies in swarms at evening dusk, and
may at once be recognised by its extremely rapid zigzag
flight. When seen projected on the bright sky of sunset,
its long fine antennae are clearly visible, being held out
straight in front of the insect, whilst it is on the wing. I
noticed great numbers of these insects flying in this way
around the margins of Lake Pukaki, and I expect that it
will be found to frequent many other treeless situations
of similar character. The larva of P. amabilis apparently
takes the place of that of P. obsoleta in streams, where
there is no forest detritus, and I consider that the
differences in habit between these two insects, as regards
the material and construction of their respective cases, is
•of unusual interest. The discovery of such a striking
divergence of habit between two species so closely allied
greatly surprised me. In fact, I fully expected to find
the larva of P. amabilis inhabiting fragmentary grass
stems, and on this assumption I made many unsuccessful
examinations of submerged grass fragments in the streams.
It is well, therefore, to bear in mind that conjectural
.analogies occasionally mislead, when applied to the
supposed larval habits of little-known species of insects.

Genus NOTANATOLICA, McLachlan (1866).

"Antennae very fine, nearly thrice the length of the wing, longer in the
male than in the female, maxillary palpi very hairy, the first and fourth
joints moderately long, nearly equal ; the second, third, and fifth equal,
each about thrice the length of the fourth. Anterior wings long and narrow,
slightly hairy, costal and dorsal margins nearly parallel, discoidal cell closed ;
upper branch of the superior cubitus forked in the male, twice forked in the
female.* Posterior wings broad, subtriangular, shorter than the anterior.
Legs long ; spurs 2.2.2, each tibia being provided with two small and
equal apical spurs. Abdomen robust, depressed in the female. Anal
appendages well developed in the male, the inferior pair biarticulate ; in the
female the apex of the abdomen is obtuse, with two rounded superior valves.

" Distribution. — Australasia and the Malay Archipelago " (Hutton).

* For the neuration of Notanatolira , see Trans. Ent. Hoc. London, ser. 3,
vol. 5, pi. 1!), fig. 3.

CADDIS-FLIES. 77

NOTANATOLICA COGNATA.

Leptocerus cognatus, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, ser. 3, vol. 1, p. 6 (1862). Notanatolica cognata,.
McLachlan, I.e., vol. 5, p. 258 (1866) ; Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, pi. 2, fig. 6.

" Antenna? dark brown, with white tips to the joints ; basal joint testa-
ceous ; palpi black, clothed with long grey hairs. Head and thorax
testaceous. Abdomen brown. Legs pale greyish-ochreous. Anterior wings
grey, sparingly clothed with heavy pubescence. Posterior wings hyaline,
with coppery iridescence. Length of tbe body, 10 mm. ; expanse of the
wings, 30 mm.

" Locality. — Auckland " (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this insect.

NOTANATOLICA CEPHALOTUS.

Leptocerus cephalotus, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit.
Mus., p. 73 (1852). Notanatolica cephalotus, McLachlan r
Journ. Linn. Soc, vol. x., p. 213.

" Ferruginous, testaceous beneath. Head broader than the thorax - r
palpi slightly hairy ; antenna? testaceous, more than four times the length
of the body, with a black ring on each joint. Thorax with three brownish
stripes. Legs testaceous. Wings sub-hyaline, the veins testaceous. Length
of the body, 8 mm. ; expanse of wings, 30 mm. (Walker).

" Locality. — Auckland.

" Mr. Walker remarks that the wings of the specimen are much rubbed,
and Mr. McLachlan calls it a doubtful species " (Hutton).

I am unacquainted with this species.

Genus LEPTOCEEUS, Leach (1815).

•' Antenna? very long and slender. Maxillary palpi very long and strongly
hairy. Labial palpi very small. Legs long and slender, the anterior pair
much shorter than the others. Spurs 2.2. 2, those on the anterior tibia?
very short, the others long. Neuration of the anterior wings differing in the
sexes. In the male the upper branch of the superior cubitus is once forked
at the apex, while in the female it is twice forked. Apical cells Nos. 1 and 4
not reaching the anastomosis. Posterior wings usually much broader than
the anterior ; apical forks Nos. 1 and 5 present.

" Distribution. — Northern Hemisphere, in cold and temperate regions "
(Hutton).

LEPTOCERUS (?) ALIENUS.

Leplocenis (.') alienus, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, p. 202(1870).

" Brown, with long dark-grey hairs ; antenna? white, with black rings.
Anterior wings elongate, narrow, slightly dilated at the apex, rounded, dark
grey, the longitudinal nervures with brown dots. Posterior wings sooty ;
in the female the superior cubitus is twice forked at the end. Length of the
body, 8 mm. ; expanse of the wings, 23 mm.

78 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTEBA.

" Locality. — Christchurch.

"It is uncertain to what genus this insect should be referred. So far as
the general characters and the neuration of the anterior wings are concerned,
it presents no apparent generic difference from the European species of
Leptocerus, but the neuration of the posterior wings is somewhat aberrant "
(McLachlan).

I am unacquainted with this insect.

Genus SETODES, Kambur (1842).

" Antennas and maxillary palpi varying. Legs long and slender, the
anterior pair much shorter than the others ; spurs of the tibias 0.2. 2.
Neuration of the wings similar in both sexes. Anterior wings very long and
narrow, lanceolate, not dilated, almost always acute, clothed with dense
pubescence and with long fringes. Posterior wings still narrower than the
anterior, always acute, often subfalcate at the tips. Abdomen slender.

" Distribution. — Europe" (Hutton).

SETODES UNICOLOE.

Setodes unicolor, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, p. 203, pi. 2, fig. 7 (1870).

This insect has occurred at Lake Horowhenua, at
Wellington, at Christchurch, and at Lake Wakatipu.
It does not, however, appear to be a common species.

The expansion of the wings is about £ inch. The general colour is
greyish-brown ; antennas greyish-ochreous. Anterior wings greyish-yellow,
with some brown dots. Posterior wings pale grey, sub-hyaline, iridescent.
Legs greyish-ochreous. Abdomen greyish-ochreous, the last segment in the
male with a pale fringe of hairs ; superior appendages small, broad ; the
inferior pair approximated, elongato-triangular. Length of the body, 5 mm.;
expanse of wings, 20-23 mm.

The perfect insect appears from November till
February, and is often attracted by light.

Genus PHILANISCUS, Walker (1852).

" Maxillary palpi with the fifth joint long and filiform.
Antennae nearly filiform, rather stout, almost as long as
the wings. Fore-tibiae with two very short spurs at the
apex ; middle tibiae with a pair of long spurs at the apex ;
hmd-tibiae with two pairs of long spurs, one at three-
fourths of the length, the other at the apex.

"Distribution. — New Zealand and New South AVales.

" The larvae are marine, and live among seaweed, in
rock-pools, between tide marks. (See Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 16, p. 117 (1882) ; and Ent. Mo. Mag., vol. 18,
p. 278 ; vol. 19. p. 46 ; vol. 24, p. 154 ; also N. Z. Journ.
of Science, vol. 1, p. 307.)

" The position of this genus is doubtful " (Hutton).

CADDIS-FLIES. 79

PHILANISCUS PLEBEJUS.

Philaniscus plebejus, Walker, Cat. Neuroptera Brit.
Mus., p. 116 (1852). Anomalostoma alloneura, Brauer,
Reise der "Novara," Neuroptera, p. 16, pi. 1, fig. 6

(1865).

(Plate IX., fig. 10, 7 larva removed from case, 9 larva
in its case, 8 pupa ; all magnified.)

Although this little caddis-fly is neither interesting
nor attractive in its final condition, the strictly marine
hahits of its larva render it unique amongst caddis-flies,
and most remarkable amongst insects generally. To
Captain Hutton, of Christchurch, belongs the credit of
first discovering the transformations of this species, and
subsequent observations have in every way verified his
original statements, regarding the exclusively marine
habits of the larva.

This insect is probably generally distributed along the
sea-coast throughout the whole of New Zealand, but at
present actual specimens have only been taken at Auck-
land, Wellington, and Lyttelton.

The expansion of the wings is slightly more than ^ inch. The general
colour of the body is " dull-red with the sides of the thorax greyish. The
antennas are thick, pale tawny, ringed with grey, the apices dark grey; the
clypeus is clothed with golden hairs ; the head has four narrow lines of red
hairs. The legs are dull red. The anterior wings are grey, subhyaline,
tessellated with pale chestnut, with a thin, yellow, woolly coating. The
posterior wings are hyaline, the veins reddish, the dorsal margin near the
base clothed with black hairs. The inferior appendages in the male are
large, curved upwards, with the apices bent downwards ; in the female they
are acute" (Brauer).

The larva inhabits rock-pools on the sea-beach, and is
commonest near low- water mark, where it is completely
outside the influence of any fresh water. It constructs a
cylindrical case of coralline seaweed, a few minute stones,
&c, being occasionally incorporated with the weed in the
walls of the case. The length of a case belonging to a
full-grown larva is generally about ^ inch. In
addition to the small fragments of seaweed, which form
the body of the case and are mostly arranged transversely
on its surface, long branching fragments are also fre-
quently attached. These accessories undoubtedly very
much increase the protective value of the case, and render
its discovery, amongst large clumps of seaweed, a task of

80 NEW ZEALAND NEVBOl'TERA.

the utmost difficulty. In fact, the smaller cases are quite
impossible to detect, and this circumstance no doubt
often prevents the enclosed larva from being destroyed
by the numerous and rapacious enemies, to which a
minute marine form must be constantly exposed. As I
have found cases of all sizes in considerable numbers both
in October and also in January, it may, I think, be fairly
assumed that the larvae lives in the sea during the winter
months, and in fact throughout the entire year.

The length of a full-grown larva is about jV inch. The head is rounded,
oval in form, blackish with a pale spot on the top ; the prothorax is also
black, the meso- and meta-thorax are green with two black, horny, dorsal
plates. Both head and thorax are furnished with strong black bristles.
The anterior legs are rather short and stout, the two other pairs somewhat
long, rather slender. They are furnished with numerous short bristles.
There is a pair of respiratory organs on each of the first eight segments of
the abdomen. Each gill consists of a bundle of five filaments on a single
footstalk. These gills are largest near the thorax, and become smaller
towards the posterior extremity of the larva. The abdomen itself is pale
green and very soft. There is a small hump on the back of the first segment,
and a protuberance on each side ; there are two humps on the back of the
second segment. The last segment has two short curved claws, each seated
on a moderately large protuberance. The last two segments are also fur-
nished with a few strong black bristles.

When full grown the larva firmly fixes its case to the
coralline seaweed, and closes up both ends with a
loose network of silk, after which the enclosed insect is
transformed into a pupa. This pupa has very strong
mandibles, which are no doubt serviceable to the creature
when escaping from the case. As is usual with caddises,
the pupa swims about for some hours before the final
transformation takes place.

The perfect insect appears about January. It frequents
rocks on the sea-beach, and is sometimes extremely
abundant. I have met with it in great numbers on the
open coast, near the entrance to Wellington Harbour,
where I also obtained many of the larvae. Although I
made a very careful search amongst the seaweed in rock-
pools inside the harbour, I was unable to find a single
specimen. I understand from Captain Hutton that the
same, or a very similar marine caddis-fly, has been found
in Sydney Harbour ; and seeing that the insect is
evidently most at home in the open sea, there appears to
be no reason why this adventurous little species should
not be widely distributed throughout the whole of the
South Pacific Ocean.

CADDIS-FLIES. 81

Sub Family 3— HYDROPSYCHIDES.

"•Maxillary palpi 5-jointed in both sexes, long, more or less deflexed, the
last joint whip-shaped, and composed of numerous minute jointlets, slightly
pubescent. Wings pubescent. Antennas variable. Larvae without any
prominent hump on the first abdominal segment, external respiratory fila-
ments present or absent, when present usually fasciculate " (Hutton).

" An extensive group in which the larvae are believed
to be chiefly of carnivorous habits. They vary, according
to the species, as to the nature of the respiratory fila-
ments, and live in fixed abodes ; these are less tubular
than is the rule in the portable cases, and are formed from
pieces of sand and stone, spun together and fixed to
large" stones under water. Sometimes several larvae live
together in loosely compacted structures of this kind, and
only form true cases when about to undergo their meta-
morphosis " (Sharp).

Genus HYDKOPSYCHE, Pictet (1834).

■' Antennae very slender, the basal joint short and bulbose, the others
after the second elongate, each slightly thickened within. Maxillary palpi
with the second joint long, the third and fourth shorter, almost triangular,
the fifth as long as the others united. Anterior wings narrow and elongate,
obliquely truncated at the apex ; anal lobe scarcely indicated ; discoidal cell
closed. Posterior wings much shorter, broader, folded, obtuse, usually with
a long closed median cell.

" Distribution. — Cosmopolitan."

HYDROPSYCHE FIMBRIATA.

Hydropst/che fimbriata, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, 1862, p. 9.

This species has been found at Wellington, and at
Auckland.

The expansion of the wings of the male is about j£ inch, of the female
from 1| to 1J inches. " Antennae pale-ochreous, annulated with dark
brown ; eyes varied with brown and black. Head and thorax reddish-
brown. Abdomen blackish above. Legs ochreous. Anterior wings tawny-
ochreous, much darker towards the apex, with numerous small pale spots ;
several of these are larger towards the base ; on the inner margin elongate
pale spots alternate with the dark ground-colour; fringe of the apical margin
conspicuously yellowish-white. Posterior wings clothed with clay-coloured
hairs. Inferior anal appendages in the male with very long terminal joints,
which are pointed and curved upwards, approximating at the tips. Penis
pale, with a callosity before the apex beneath; apex dark-red, tumid.
Length of the body, 8 mm. ; expanse of the wings, 22 mm." (Hutton).

This insect has a deceptive resemblance to OEconesus maori, but, apart
from special structural characters, may be distinguished by its slightly
excised wings.

7

82 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

The transformations of this insect probably closely
resemble those of the next species, and I have often met
with larva? and pupae identical in appearance but larger,
which would, if they had been successfully reared, most
likely have resulted in specimens of H. fimbriata.

The perfect insect appears in November, December,,
and January. It flies at evening dusk in the neighbour-
hood of water. It is extremely active and difficult to>
catch, captured specimens frequently without the slightest
warning dashing out of the box. This activity of habit
alone, will suffice to distinguish this species from (E. maori
or its allies, which are, in every respect, much more slug-
gish insects.

HYDEOPSYCHE COLONICA.

Hy dropsy che colon ica, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc.,.
vol. 11, p. 131, pi. 4, fig. 16 (1873).

(Plate XI., fig. 7 2 , 8 larva enlarged.)

This caddis-fly is very common on the banks of
streams in the neighbourhood of Wellington. It has-
also occurred at Christchurch and at Ophir.

The expansion of the wings of the male is about £ inch, of the female'
1| inch. General colour "blackish, head and prothorax covered with
hoary hairs ; antennae brown, with pale rings. Legs yellow. Abdomen
blackish, with a broad whitish line along each side. Anterior wings lon<j
and narrow, greyish-yellow, thickly reticulated with dark grey and with
several short blackish streaks on the inner margin. Posterior wings smoky,
the veins darker. In the male the last abdominal segment bears in its
middle a nearly vertical short lobe, which is notched. Appendages
testaceous or yellowish, the last joint of the inferior pair short, sub-obtuse,
stout. Penis cylindrical, directed upwards, the apex thickened, bifid,
bearing beneath two broad claw-shaped acute hooks. Length of the body.
<? 7 mm., ? 8 mm. ; expanse of wings, <j 22 mm., ? 28 mm."
(Hutton).

The larva of this insect inhabits the streams through-
out the entire year, but is commonest in the early spring,
when full-grown individuals are often most abundant.
It frequents the most rapid portions of the stream, where
the water is clear and bright. It generally lives in a
loosely constructed gallery composed of leaves, twigs,
and fairly large pebbles, attached by means of fragile
silk to the under-surface of a large boulder. This larva
is able to cling with great tenacity by means of its strong
anal prolegs — a faculty which is no doubt very service-
able to the insect, whilst making its way about in the
rushing torrents, which it often frequents, and where

CADDIS-FLIES. 83

it is sometimes found crawling about without any
protection.

The length of the larva when full grown is about J inch. The head is
round, much flattened above, dark brown and horny with the surface very
rough. The prothorax is small, cylindrical, and horny throughout. The
meso- and meta-thorax are slightly larger, and furnished with dark-brown
horny plates on the dorsal surface. The segments of the abdomen are
stout, rather soft, and dull greenish-brown in colour. There are two
rather elongate appendages at the posterior extremity of the larva, each
furnished with a very strong hook, and a conspicuous tuft of long brown
bristles. The under-side of the mesothorax is furnished with two branching
white filaments. The metathorax and the first seven segments of the
abdomen are each furnished, on the under surface, with four branching
white filaments. The last segment but one has two filaments, and the
terminal segment two brushes of brown bristles, in addition to the above
described terminal appendages. The anterior pair of legs are very short
and stout ; the two other pairs also short and rather slender.

This larva is a favourite article of food with the trout
(see tables pages 93-98), and as it occurs in large numbers
during the winter, and is full grown in very early
spring, it must be an important item in the dietary
of that fish.

When full grown this larva constructs a cocoon of
rather large stones, loosely joined together with silk r
but firmly attached to a boulder in the bed of the stream.
The pupa is simply enclosed in this cocoon, and is not
encased in any inner horny case. The perfect insect
appears in December and January, and is often ex-
tremely abundant after dark, when large numbers may
be observed either flying over the stream or running
with great agility over the stones and herbage near
the banks.

Genus POLYCENTKOPUS, Curtis (1835).

"Antennse strong, the joints short, the first bulbose. Maxillary palpi
with the first and second joints very short, stout, almost transverse ; the
third and fourth cylindrical ; the fifth as long as the others united, stout at
the base. Anterior wings elongate-oval, densely pubescent, with short
fringes. Posterior wings shorter, much broader, with obtuse apices ; apical
fringes short, those on the anal border longer ; anal lobe well developed ;
discoidal cell open, and the two first costulae generally connected near their
middle by a small nervule.

" Distribution. — Europe, America, Ceylon" (Hutton).

POLYCENTROPUS PUERILIS.

Polycentropus puerilis, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, p. 204, pi. 2, fig. 8 (1870).

(Plate XL, fig. 9, 10 larva enlarged.)

This pretty and easily recognised caddis-fly has been

84 NEW ZEALAND NEUROPTERA.

taken at Auckland and Wellington, in the North Island,
and at Christchurch and Lake Pukaki, in the South
Island. It is probably generally distributed throughout
New Zealand.

The expansion of the wings is about if inch.

"Fuscous, clothed with blackish and golden hairs intermingled.
Antennae yellow, with narrow brown rings. Anterior wings rather broad,
the apices broadly elliptical ; brown, thinly sprinkled with brownish-
yellow dots. Posterior wings smoky-grey ; apical forks 2 and 5 present,
the first two costulse not connected by a nervule. Legs dirty testaceous.
Abdomen brown. In the male there is a narrow, elongate, testaceous lobe
from the apical margin of the last dorsal segment, curved downwards ;
intermediate appendages needle-shaped ; the superior broad and spoon-
shaped ; the inferior elongated. Length of the body, 5 mm. ; expanse of
the wings, 15 mm." (Hutton).

This insect may be recognised by its dark brown fore-
wings, with conspicuous cream-coloured patches on the
dorsum.

The larva is found in the streams throughout the year,
but is very scarce in the winter and early spring. It is
full grown about January.

When mature it measures about ^ hich in length. The head is large,
oval, pale yellow speckled with black ; the three thoracic segments are dull
green ; the anterior legs are short, slender, and not specially prehensile in
structure; the other two pairs of legs are also slender, and of moderate
length. The abdomen is pinkish-brown, elongate, composed of nine uniform
and simple segments, gradually tapering towards the posterior extremity.
There is a number of very slender hairs or filaments on the sides of the
body. The anal claspers are elongate and very strong. They are composed
of three joints ; the first is stout and cylindrical, the second is much
shorter and slenderer, and the third consists of a very strong and horny hook.

This larva inhabits very slow-running streams, and is
usually found where the "green slime" weed is abundant,
amongst which it forms extensive tubular galleries com-
posed entirely of the weed interwoven with its own silk.
These galleries often meander over the surfaces of rocks
and boulders. They are very difficult to detect, except
when distended by the larva as it wriggles to and fro
inside the tube. It is, however, generally difficult to find
the larva, as it always has to be disengaged from its
slimy habitation, and very often escapes during the
process. This caddis-worm is not full-grown until the
middle or end of January ; consequently it inhabits
the streams when they are almost at their lowest level,
and thus full of the " green slime," amongst which the
insect is specially adapted to live.

This larva is carnivorous, feeding chiefly on smaller
insects, which it captures whilst lurking in its secret

CADDIS-FLIES. 85

galleries. When full grown it constructs a large and
extremely tough silken cocoon, covered on the outside
with very numerous minute stones. It is generally
situated on the side of a large boulder, just at the point
where the stone is embedded in the sandy detritus of the
river-bed. These cocoons are extremely difficult to
remove without destroying the contained pupa?, and it
is quite impossible to extract the insect without injury,
owing to the tough, but very elastic, nature of the cocoon,
which when pulled in one direction stretches and con-
tracts in the other, thus compressing and injuring the
enclosed insect. The cocoons are often very abundant
in February, but I have only succeeded in getting one
specimen as far as the swimming pupa stage, from which
I was able to identify the insect as P. puerilis. Both
larva and pupa very speedily die in confinement, the insect
being apparently especially susceptible to the ill-effects of
the imperfectly aerated water of the ordinary aquarium.
The perfect insect appears from November till April. It
is nocturnal in its habits and is often attracted by light.
The specimens taken in November appear to emerge from
pupae, which have passed the entire winter in their cocoons
in the streams ; this appears to be a frequent habit with
P. puerilis, as I have several times found the pupae in
streams during the winter.

Sub-Family 4.— RHYACOPHILIDES.

In this group the larval habitations are fixed. The
pupa is enclosed in an inner cocoon, lying inside the
original habitation of the larva.

Genus HYDROBIOSIS, McLachlan (1870).

"Antennae slender, the basal joint shorter than the head, and stout.
Maxillary palpi long and pubescent, the two basal joints short and stouter
than the others, fifth not so long as the third and fourth together.
Anterior wings elongate, the costal and dorsal margins nearly parallel ;
the apex longly elliptical, clothed with woolly pubescence and longer hairs
on the veins ; fringes short ; neuration not very distinct. Posterior wings
shorter and broader, folded, rounded at the apex; fringes long on the
dorsal margin ; pubescence slight ; no closed discoidal cell ; a transverse
vein unites the upper branch of the sector with the radius ; a second
unites the lower branch of the sector with the superior cubitus, and a
third is placed below this, much nearer the base of the wing. Spurs
2.4.4; those on the anterior tibiae small, on the others long and
straight.

" Distribution. --New Zealand" (Hutton).

86 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOFTEBA.

HYDROBIOSIS FRATER.

Hijdrobiosis f rater, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc,
vol. 10, p. 207, 'pi. 2, figs. 9a, 96 (1870).

This species has occurred at Nelson and at Christ-
church.

The expansion of the wings is about j| inch.

"Brown; antennae brown with narrow yellowish rings ; vertex blackish,
with dark-grey hairs ; ocelli large, yellowish. Anterior wings with long-
woolly black and grey hairs ; pterostigma elongate, brown ; a space on the
middle of the dorsal margin pale grey, tufts of longer black hairs along
the dorsal margin of the male only. Posterior wings sub-hyaline, the
fringes blackish. Legs dull-red ; anterior and intermediate tibia? with a
narrow median pale ring. Abdomen brown, yellowish beneath ; the male
with three ventral teeth. Length of the body, <? 5 mm., $ 7 mm. ; expanse
of the wings, g 18 mm., ? 23 mm." (Hutton).

In February, 1892, I found this insect in great
abundance on the banks of the Buller River, where it
flows out of Lake Rotoiti.

HYDROBIOSIS UMBRIPENNIS.

Hijdrobiosis umbripcnnis, McLachlan, Journ. Linn.
Soc, vol. 10, p. 208, pi. 2, figs. 9c, 9d (1870).

(Plate XL, fig. 11, 12 larva, enlarged; 13 pupa enclosed
in its inner cocoon, enlarged.)

At present specimens of this insect are only recorded
from Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch ; but future
investigation will probably prove that it is generally dis-
tributed throughout the country.

The expansion of the wings is from ^ to 1 inch.

"Brown; antennae yellow, with indistinct brown rings; ocelli large and
conspicuous, yellow. Anterior wings brown, with blackish and whitish hairs;
pterostigma darker, elongate; neuration pale yellowish-testaceous, apical
fringe with yellowish dots and tufts of black hairs along the cubitus near
the base. Legs pale testaceous ; the anterior tibia? and tarsi rather brownish
externally, with paler rings. Abdomen brown above, yellowish beneath ; the
male with but one ventral tooth, which is long, on the apical margin of the
penultimate segment. Length of the body, g 8 mm., ? 11 mm.; expanse
of the wings, <? 32 mm., ? 27 mm." (Hutton).

The larva of this insect inhabits clear, rapid streams,
and swims with great activity amongst the stones. It is
carnivorous, chiefly feeding on small May-fly larva?. The
larva? of H. umbripennis are found in the streams during
the entire year, but are commonest in the spring and early
summer, only very small specimens occurring in the
autumn and early winter.

CADDIS-FLIES. 87

The length of the larva when full grown is a little less than J inch. The
head and prothorax are very horny, narrow, and pale brown in colour. The
rest of the insect is dull green, and very soft. The segments of the abdomen
gradually decrease in size towards the posterior extremity. The terminal
appendages are slender, and are each furnished with a pair of strong hooks.
The anterior legs are very stout, the tibia and tarsus being modified into
two prehensile claws, which are employed by the larva in capturing its prey.
I have been unable to detect any traces of external gills in this larva.

Unlike most of the caddis-fly larvae, this insect does
not live in any kind of case, but swims about the streams
entirely unprotected, during the whole of its larval life.
When full grown, however, it constructs a compact, oval
•cocoon of rather small stones, which is firmly affixed to
the surface of a boulder in the bed of the stream. These
■cocoons are very hard so long as they remain intact, but
when once they are injured in any way they immediately
•collapse. Inside the stone cocoon the larva invests itself
in an oval, semi-transparent envelope, somewhat resem-
bling in appearance thin horn or gelatine. Through this
inner cocoon the enclosed insect may be readily seen, and
may at once be identified by means of its long, narrow
head, which is curved downwards and laid upon the
breast of the insect. The creature remains in this
transition state for many days, during which time it
frequently turns itself round inside the gelatine cocoon.
Finally, however, it is transformed into a light green
pupa of extreme delicacy. In fact, this pupa is so fragile
and soft that it is seldom possible to extract it from the
inner cocoon without inflicting the most serious injuries.
As the enclosed insect develops, the gelatine cocoon
becomes more and more opaque ; thus the final stages
of the pupa are not clearly discernible. The mature pupa
emerges through an opening in one end of the inner
cocoon, but practically leaves no visible sign of its
means of exit from the outer stone cocoon. When
free the pupa always swims about in the water for
several hours before it gives rise to the winged fly.

The perfect insect is fairly common in the vicinity of
streams, and may sometimes be taken at light.

During the late spring and early summer I have
observed that large numbers of the stone cocoons, con-
structed by the larvae of this species and its allies, are
invariably left high and dry on the boulders situated at
the edges of rivers. This circumstance is due to the
shrinkage in the volume of water, which nearly always
takes place at that season, leading of course to the
destruction of very large numbers of the living pupae,

88 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

which are then within the dried-up cocoons. It is,.
however, somewhat remarkable that this extensive and
constantly recurring destruction has not led to the
exclusive preservation of larvae endowed with an instinct
to fix their cocoons in deep water some distance from the
edge of the stream, but such a beneficial instinct does not
yet appear to have been universally produced. These
remarks will apply with equal force to Olinga feredayi, the
extensive annual mortality of which insect from the same
cause has already been noticed.

Genus PSILOCHOKEMA, McLachlan (186(3).

"Antenna? very slender, slightly longer than the wings. Head trans-
verse, produced in front between the antennae, rugose, the hinder portion
forming a raised collar. Ocelli very distinct. Maxillary palpi slender,,
slightly hairy, the two basal joints short and broad, the third longer and
slender, the fourth shorter than the third, the fifth longer than the third.
Mesothorax ovate, with a raised tuft of hairs in the middle in the male.
Legs moderately long, alike in both sexes ; spurs 2.4.4. Anterior wings
narrow, the margins nearly parallel, hairy clothing short and dense ; the
apex somewhat dilated ; on the cubital veins in the male are tufts of raised
hairs ; discoidal cell closed, with a smaller cell below it ; apical cells long
and narrow: apical forks present in all five veins. Posterior wings rather
shorter and broader; pubescence scanty; apical forks present in all five
veins. Abdomen moderately robust.

"Distribution. — New Zealand.

" In this genus the wings are nearly flat when in repose " (Hutton).

PSILOCHOKEMA MIMICUM.

Psilochorema mimicum, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, ser. 3, vol. 5, p. 274 (1866).

This species has occurred at Auckland, Wellington r
and Christchurch. It is fairly common in most situations
in the vicinity of water, and is a very pretty little insect
when alive.

The expansion of the wings is about f inch.

"Antennae fuscous, annulated with yellow, the apical portion wholly
fuscous. Head and mesothorax dark chestnut. Anterior wings smoky,
with pale golden and whitish markings ; a whitish indented fascia a little
below the apex ; several raised tufts of blackish hairs along the dorsal
margin towards the base. Posterior wings greyish-hyaline. Legs greyish-
ochreous, the tips of the tarsal joints annulated with pale yellowish. Ab-
domen blackish-fuscous, the appendages testaceous. In the male the
superior ajmendages are very small, slender at the base and clavate, hairy ;
inferior appendages very large and broad, concave and furnished with
numerous minute blackish teeth internally, the outer margin broadly
emarginate. Between the inferior appendages, on the superior portion,
arises a long flattened and obtuse piece, probably the upper penis-cover.
Length of the body, G$ mm. ; expanse of wings, 1(5 mm." (Hutton).

CADDIS-FLIES. 89-

The transformations of this species appear to closely
resemble those of H. umbripennis.

The perfect insect appears about midsummer, and is
often attracted by light, but single individuals are occasion-
ally seen at all times in the year.

PSILOCHOREMA CONFUSUM.

Psilochorema confusum, McLachlan, Journ. Linn. Soc.,.
vol. 10, p. 210, pi. 2, fig. 10 (1870).

The expansion of the wings is about J inch.

"Brown; antennas yellow, indistinctly ringed with brown; basal joint
with golden hairs. Anterior wings pale brown, with pale yellow woolly
clothing mixed with black ; an indistinct whitish wavy band before the
apex and some pale markings on the disk. Neuration very irregular in
the male. Posterior wings grey, sub-hyaline, iridescent, fringes grey. Legs
pale yellow ; anterior and intermediate tibiae and tarsi rather brownish
externally. Abdomen brown, the apical margin of each ventral segment
broadly dingy yellowish. Inferior appendages in the male elongated and
slender, bent in the middle almost at right angles. In the female the penul-
timate ventral segment bears a tuft of hairs in the middle. Length of the
body, 4 mm.; expanse of the wings, 15 mm." (Hutton).

Localities. — Auckland and Wellington.

In its metamorphosis this species closely resembles H.
umbripennis ; the larva is, however, much smaller, with
the head proportionately narrow. The inner cocoon is
more transparent and much smaller; the outer cocoon
is also smaller. I have observed that the larva remains
in its cocoon for many days before manifesting any
change.

The perfect insect appears from November till March,
and is much attracted by light. It is commonest about
midsummer.

Sub-family 5.— HYDROPTILIDES.

" Very minute, strongly pubescent and hairy, the wings with numerous
erect hairs. Palpi very hairy, simple in structure, alike in both sexes.
Antennae short and stout. The larvae are without any external respiratory
filaments, and make cases usually movable (fixed in a Brazilian species),
formed of silk, to the exterior of which are sometimes attached minute
grains of sand. The cases have a slit at each end, and the larvae present
their heads at either indiscriminately" (Hutton).

The members of this family comprise the most minute
of the caddis-flies, and the perfect insects bear an extreme
resemblance to small moths of the group Tineina.

90 NEW ZEALAND NEUEOPTEBA.

Genus OXYETHIKA, Eaton (1873).

" Antennas stout, the joints somewhat cup-shaped, slightly longer than
broad, the basal joint much longer than the others. Maxillary palpi
slender, the third to fifth joints long. Ocelli present. Spurs 0.3.4.
Anterior wings extremely long and slender, the apices narrowly acumi-
nate, clothing very dense, costal fringes long ; neuration simple, the sector
ends in a long simple fork, as also does the upper branch of the .superior
cubitus ; few, if any, transverse nervules. Posterior wings exceedingly long
and narrow, the apex longly acuminate as in the anterior, very acute;
the costal margin strongly elbowed near the base ; sector simple, superior
cubitus apparently with a small fork at the apex, a distinct median trans-
verse nervule.

" Distribution. — Europe " (Hutton).

OXYETHIKA ALBICEPS.

Hydroptila albiceps, McLachlan, Trans. Ent. Soc.
London, 1862, p. 4. Oxyethira albiceps, Eaton, Trans.
Ent. Soc. London, 1873, p. 145 (?) ; Hudson, Trans. N. Z.
Inst., vol. 18, p. 213.

(Plate XL, fig. 1, 2 larva, 3 pupa, all much magnified.)

This minute insect must be very common in the
neighbourhood of Wellington, but, owing to its small
size and inconspicuous appearance, is, no doubt, con-
stantly overlooked.

The expansion of the wings is about ^ inch.

" Male. — Antenna? grey, faintly annulated with darker ; head clothed
with dense greyish-white pubescence. Thorax fuscous. Abdomen brown
above, silvery beneath. Legs pale-grey. Anterior wings dark greyish-
fuscous, irrorated with pale grey, the extreme apex conspicuously whitish.
Posterior wings pale grey, the cilia concolorous. Length of the body,
2 mm. ; expanse of wings, 5 mm." (Hutton).

The larva of this species, although, of course, very
small in size, is extremely interesting. On examination
with the microscope the case will first arrest attention,
being of unique structure. Its shape is best described
as closely resembling that of a minute flask, very much
flattened at the lower end, with sloping shoulders and
almost transparent ; its surface is slightly corrugated,
and the neck of the flask composed of much denser
material than the rest. It is open at both ends, the
posterior end being perforated by a long, shallow slit,
which extends for nearly the whole width of the case,
thus admitting a free circulation of water around the
enclosed insect. The larva is also able to turn round
and project its head and anterior segments through the
lower aperture of the case, when it occupies the reverse

CADDIS-FLIES. 91

position to that shown in the figure. It is, however,
prevented from actually leaving the case by its abdomen,
which is too large to be withdrawn from either end.

The larva has the head and thorax horny, and pale brown in colour ;
the two anterior legs are rather short, and apparently prehensible in
function ; the other two pairs are very long and slender, and employed
exclusively in walking. The abdomen is very large, soft, dark green in
colour, with the segments very deeply excised. At the extremity of the
body there are two large breathing orifices, surrounded by a number of
long bristles. Two convoluted tracheas are plainly visible extending up-
wards from these organs, and ramifying through the body of the insect
in all directions.

This larva is very active, pulling its comparatively
large and heavy case through the green slime weed,
amongst which it always lives, and no doubt feeds upon.
When alarmed, the insect can entirely retreat into its
case, which is very roomy, and enables the occupant not
only to turn round and project its head and anterior
segments through the lower aperture, but also to move
about quite freely, whilst entirely within the case.

The methods, followed by the larva in the construc-
tion and subsequent enlargement of its case, are not
known at present ; but there is no doubt that the case is
made of a viscous fluid, which hardens when exposed to
the water. This material is secreted by the larva, and is
analogous to silk.

When about to change into a pupa, the insect fixes
its case down by four ligaments, two at each end, the
extremities of these being firmly fastened to a stone ;
the small aperture is then closed, and after this the larva
constructs an arch-shaped partition of dense material
inside the case, a short distance from its broad end. In
about a week the insect is transformed into a pupa,
having the limbs free from the body, but incapable
of motion. The fixing down of the case prior to the
change is easily performed by the larva through each of
the apertures, which are, for that purpose, left open until
the last. When mature, the pupa breaks through the
partition at the broad end of the case, and wriggles to the
surface, the imago ascending a blade of grass to dry
and expand its wings. The little skins of the pupa^ may
often be noticed floating on the water, and the empty
cases are very conspicuous on the sides of a glass
aquarium, where the insects generally fix them down
when in captivit}'. These fixed cases may often be
found in thousands attached to the stones in the streams.

92 NEW ZEALAND NEUBOPTEBA.

They are usually commonest in the late summer, when
the rivers are generally very low, and in consequence a
luxuriant growth of the green slime weed is present.

This caddis-fly must be tolerably common during the
summer, but owing to its small size would not be likely
to attract attention. I have seldom observed it in a
state of nature, my specimens having been reared from
the larva.

Another larva, closely related to the above insect,
which feeds on the same green weed, is figured, much
magnified, on Plate IX., fig. 11. This species constructs
an oval case, which is always kept in an erect position.
Both of its apertures are identical in size and shape, and
are employed quite indifferently by the larva, which
projects itself sometimes from one end of its abode and
sometimes from the other. When mature this larva
fixes its case to a stone by its edge, always keeping it in
a vertical position, and employing for this purpose two
strong bands of viscous material. Whilst engaged in
thus anchoring its dwelling, the larva extends itself from
the case' through each of the above-described orifices.

The caddis-fly, which results from this larva, is
undescribed at present, but as it is very inconspicuous
and closely resembles O. albiceps in general appearance,,
the chief interest of the insect will always centre in its
preparatory stages.

APPENDIX.

NOTES ON THE FOOD OF TROUT IN NEW ZEALAND.

The following tables have been prepared to assist anglers
and others interested in the culture of trout in this
country to determine on the precise species of insects,
&c, which form the staple food-supply of these fish in
•our New Zealand streams and rivers. Although not by
any means exhaustive, the results arrived at are probably
of fair average value. It must, however, be remembered,
when consulting these tables, that the importance of the
caddis- worms as food is probably slightly exaggerated,
•owing to their easy identification when found in the
trout's stomach. This is chiefly due to the fact that the
fish always swallows the case, as well as the contained
larva. On the other hand, the value of May-fly nymphs
as trout food is probably understated, these insects having
no cases and being so exceedingly fragile, that they
soon dissolve after passing into the trout's stomach.

Results of the examination of the contents of five
stomachs taken from trout captured in the South Karori
Stream in September, 1901.

1. Neuroptera.

/Larvae of ling a fereclayi 77

,, Pycnocentria evecta or aureola 12

■97 Caddises-; ,, Hydropsyelic colonica 6

,, Hydrolnosis umbripennis 1

v Pupa of ,, ,, 1

1 " Black creeper," larva of C haul lodes dive is us 1

Total 98

2. Other Orders of Insects.
Diptera (1 larva of Stratiomid.ee, 1 LuciKa ceesar) 2

117 Caddises -i

94 APPENDIX.

Contents of seven stomachs taken from trout captured
in the same stream by Mr. A. E. Waterson during
December, 1899.

1. Netjroptera.

oap tvt a i I Larvae of Atalophlebia 306

807 May-fly nymphs 1 r, i i ■ i t i

J J " L ,, uolobunscus naineralis 1

1 Stone-fly larva ,, Stenoperla prasina 1

^ Larvae of Olinga feredayi 48

, Pycnoeentria evecta or aureola 47

Pseudonema amabilis 4

, Hydropsy cite colon ica 14

I ,, Hydrobiosis umbripennis 2

,, Helicopsyche 2

2 " Black creepers,*' larvae of CliauHodes diver sus 2

Total 427

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (1 Elater, 1 P. /estiva,* 1 small beetle) 3

Diptera (5 CalUphora,\ 2 Pliora, 2 Eurigaster, 1 Sapro-

myza, 1 pupa Tipula, 1 larva Hemophilus) 12.

Hemiptera (1 Cicada, 1 Aplirophora) 2

8. Xot Insects.

1 Snail, 1 Spider 2

Total 19

Contents of seven trout stomachs taken from fish
captured from the same stream in January and February,
1902 (Mr. A. E. Waterson).

1. Neuropteka.

00 T,r j i I Larvae of Atalophlebia 30'

33 May-fly nymphs-, n i if • i i- o

J J d x ( ,, Loloburiscus fmmerafas &

i Larvae of Hydropsy ch e colon ica 4

,, Hydrobiosis umbripennis 2

,, Olinga feredayi 80

,, Pycnoeentria evecta or aureola 48

,, Pycnoeentria ? 35

,, Helicopsyclic 8

1 Stone-fly, larva of Stenoperla prasina 1

3 " Black creepers," larvae of Chaidiodes diversus 8

172 Caddises

Total 209

Small green beetle. f Blow-flies.

APPENDIX. 95

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (Pyronota f estiva) 1

Diptera (larva of Stratiomidce) 1

3. Not Insects.

1 Crustacean, 12 Snails, 2 Spiders 1 5

Total 17

Contents of three trout stomachs taken from fish
captured in the Mungaroa Stream on April 1, 1902
(Mr. A. E. Waterson).

1. Neuroptera.

1 May-fly nymph, larva of Coloburiscus humeraUs 1

/ Larvae of Olinga feredayi 51

Pycnocentria evecta or aureola 17

102 Caddises J

Pycnocentria ? 7

Psendoncnia amabilis 14

Hijdropsyche colonica 9*

Hclicopsi/cJtc 4

1 " Black creeper," CJiauUodes diversus 1

Total 104

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera {Elater 1) 1

3. Not Insects.

Snails 5 5

Total 6

Contents of eight stomachs taken from trout captured
in the Waikanae River by Mr. A. J. Eutherfurd,
October, 1900.

1. Neuroptera.

j Larvae of Pycnocentria evecta 1,825

Pycnocentria ? 83

,, Pycnocentria '.' 21

Olinga feredayi 404

Helicopsyche 100

Pscudonema obsolcta 7

Stenojperla prasina 8

10 Stone-flies-! ,, Lcpiopcda oppozita 1

( Imago of ,, „ 1

2,440 Caddises

-96 APPENDIX.

7 " Black creepers," larvae of Chauliodes diversus 7

1 May-fly nymph, larva of Ichthybotus hudsoni 1

Total 2,458

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (Navomorplia Uneatum 2) 2

Diptera (Larva of Stratiomidce 2) 2

Total 4

Contents of nine stomachs of trout captured in South
Canterbury, October 12, 1901. Eeceived from Captain
Hutton, F.E.S.

1. Neuroptera.

58 May-fly nymphs, larvae of Coloburiscus humeralis 58

(Larvae of OUnga feredayi 122

221 Caddises \ " Pycnocentria evecta or aureola 84

,, tLyaropsyche eolomca 2

I ,, HeUcopsyche 13

1 " Black creeper," larva of Chauliodes cUversus 1

Total 280

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (Beetles) 8

Hymenoptera {Ichneumon-fly 2, ant 1) 3

Hemiptera (Corixa zealandica 13) 13

Diptera ( Tip ula) 1

3. Not Insects.

1 Fish, 1 Spider, 2 Snails 4

Total 29

A considerable amount of unrecognisable material

occurred in these stomachs, and probably consisted of

the residuum of the larvae of atalophlebia or allied
May-flies.

APPENDIX. 97

Contents of twelve stomachs taken from trout captured
in the Upper Selwyn Kiver, Canterbury, by Mr. H. F.
Wigram, November 23, 1901.

1. Neuroptera.

5 May-fly nymphs, larvae of Atalophlebia 5

/Larvae of Olinga feredayi 115

,, Pycnocentria evecta or aureola 5

245 Caddises ] ,, Hy dropsy che colonica* 39

Pupae of „ „ 81

V, . , Hydrobiosis umbripennis 5

3 " Black creepers," larvae of Chauliodes diversus 3

1 Sfcone-fly, larva of Stenoperla prasina 1

Total 254

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (Pyronota f estiva 15, Pterosticlius antarcticus 1,

Elaters 3, Anchomenus 1) 20

Diptera (Larva of Stratiomys 2) 2

Total 22

Contents of seven stomachs taken from trout captured

by Mr. David Thompson at Wainui-o-mata, December 22,
1901.

1. Neuroptera.

, Larvae of Pycnocentria evecta or aureola 780

., Hydropsy die colonica 35

,, Olinga feredayi 26

847 Caddises ■/ ,, Hydrobiosis umbripennis 1

Pupae of ,, ,, 1

Imagines of „ ,, 2

,, Hydropsyche colonica 2

j Larvae of Atalophlebia, 66

88 May-fly nymphs - ,, Coloburiscus humeralis 21

( . , Ameletus ornatus 1

., , u - I ,, Stenoperla prasina 2

o btone-nies , T * r> i o i

I Imago of Per la I 1

Total 938

Or allied species.
8

98 APPENDIX.

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (Hijdora :;: 500, P. /estiva 12, Colaspis 4,

Beetles, undetermined, 12, Odontria 12) 540

Diptera (Empis 20, larva of Stratiomys 2) 22

3. Not Insects.

1 Fish, 1 Snail 2

Total 564

Contents of two stomachs taken from trout captured
high up the river in the Waingawa Gorge Tararua
Eanges by Mr. A. J. Eutherfurd, March, 1902.

1. Neuroptera.
36 May-fly nymphs, larvae of A talophtebia 36

2. Other Orders of Insects.

Coleoptera (P. /estiva 15) 15

Hymenoptera (Ant 1) 1

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers 3) 3

Hemiptera (Cicadas, Melampsalta 8) 8

Total 27

'■'■'■ A small water-beetle occasionally found in swarms on stones in
rivers.

GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE FOREGOING
TABLES.

Being a Statement of the Contents of Sixty Trout Stomachs.

4,241 Caddises

Larvae of Pycnocentria evecta or aureola 2,813

-? 146

923

192

127

15

529 May-fly nymphs-

18 " Black creepers"
16 Stone-flies ]

Unga feredayi

Hydropsyche cqlonica

Helicopsych e

Hijdrobiosis u mbripennis

Pseudonema obsoleta

,, amabilis

Atalophlebia (various species)

Coloburiscus humeralis

Ameletus ornatus

Ichthybotits hudsoni

Chauliodes diversus

Stenoperla prasina

Leptoperla opponita

18
443

84
1
1

18

13
3

Total Neuroptera 4,804

Coleoptera (Beetles), including 44 P. f estiva and 500

specimens of Hydora 590

Diptera (Flies, &c.) 42

Hymenoptera (Ichneumon-flies, Ants, &c.) 4

Orthoptera (Grasshoppers, &c. ) 3

Hemiptera (Cicadas, &c.) 23

Total other insects 662

Snails 21

Spiders ...

Fish

Crustacea

Total not insects.

28

INDEX.

acutus, 4B
/Eschna, 18
/Esohnina, 18
agilis, 64
Agrionina, 19
albiceps, 90
alder-flies, 45
alienus, 77
dlloneura, 79
amabilis, 75
Ameletus, 38
Anisopterides, 12
antipodum, 23
ant-lions, 48
Atalophlebia, 30
aureola, 69

B

bipunctatum, 13
" black creeper," 46
braueri, 17
brevistyla, 18
brouni, 2

caddis-flies, 57
Calotermes, 2
carovei, 14
cephalotus, 77
Chauliodes, 45
citrinus, 51
" creeper," 46
cognata, 77
Coloburiscus, 35
colonica, 82
colensonis, 19
confusum, 89
Corduliina, 15
cruentata, 33
cyrene, 6

D

Deleatidium, 34
dentata, 31
distans, 43

diversus, 45

dragonliies, 8

,, and bream, 12
,, and young fish, 12
,, migrations of, 12
,, pairing of, 21
,, oviposition of, 22

Drepanepteryx, 55

dubitatus, 45

"dun," 27

E

Ephemera (see Ichthybo-

tus)
EPHEMERID^E, 23

evecta, 68

feredayi, 65
fimbriata, 81
f rater, 86
funerea, 67

G

Gomphina, 13
grayi, 17

H

Helicopsyche, 70
HEMEROBIIDjE, 47
Hemerobiides, 49
hudsoni, 27
humeralis, 36
humilis, 56
Hydrobiosis, 85
Hydropsyche, 82
Hydbopsychides, 81
Hydroptilides, 89

I

Ichthybotus, 27
improbus, 2

incisus, 50
instabilis, 56
insularis, 2
intermedius, 43
101

lacewing-flies, 49
latiusculus, 54
Leptocerides, 72
Leptocerus, 77
Leptoperla, 7
Lestes, 19
Libel lu Una, 12

mm, 35

M

maori, 62

marine caddis, 79

mask, 11

mayflies, 23

,, flight of, 26
,, pairing of, 26
,, oviposition of, 25

micromus, 57

mimicum, 88

mimus, 63

Myrmeleon, 48

Myrmeleonides, 48

N

nodularis, 34

notanatolica, 76

novce-zealandicc (Cor-
dulia), 15

novce-zealamVuc (Myrme-
leon), 48

nymphs, 10

O

obsoleta, 72
(Econesus, 61
ODONATA, 8
Olinga, 65
Olinx (see Olinga)
Oniscigaster, 42
opposita, 7
ornatus, 38
Oxythira, 90

P

PANORPIDjE, 47
PEKLID^E, 4
perscitus, 40

102

INDEX.

Petalura, nee Uropetala
Philaniscus, 78
PHRYGANEID.E, 57
plebejus, 79
Polycentropus, 83
prasina, 5
Pseudoeconesus, 62
Pseudonema, 72
Psilochorema, 88
puerilis, 83
Pycnocentria, 67

R

rectal gills, 11
rei)iota, 36
Rhyacophilides, 85
ruficeps, 3

S
sarothropus, 72
Sericostomatides, 61
Setodes, 78
scita, 34
scorpion-flies, 47

SIALID.E, 45
smithii, 15
sobrinum, 23
Somatochlora, 15
" spinner," 27
Stolotermes, 3
stone-flies, 4
stellee, 52
Stenoperla, 4
Stenosmylus, 49
stramineus, 63
sub-imago, 25

flight of, 25
Sympetrum, 12

tasmaniffi, 57

Telebasis, 20

termites, 1

TERMITID.E, 1

Tetracentron, tec Pseu-
donema

TRICHOPTERA, see
Phyganeidse

Trout & neuroptera, .see
Appendix

U

umbripennis, 86
unicolor, 78
Uropetala, 14

V

versicolor, 30

W

wakefieldi, 42
white ants, 1

X

Xanthagrion, 20

zealandica, 70
zealandicum, 20
Zygopterides, 19

PLATES AND EXPLANATIONS.

PLATE I.

TERMITES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Stolotermes ruficeps (magnified) 3

2. ,, ,, soldier (magnified) 3

3. ,, ,, worker (magnified) 3

STONE-FLIES.

4. Stenoperla prasina 5

5. ,, ,, larva (magnified) 5

ANT-LION.

7. Myrmeleon acutus 48

MAY-FLIES.

6. Atalophlebia cruentata, n. sp., nymph (magnified) 33

9. Oniscigaster distans, imago 43

10. ,, ,, sub-imago 44

11. ,, ,, nymph (magnified) 44

Plate I.

G.VHdel

West.Newmaii chromo.

PLATE II.

DRAGONFLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Sympetrum bipunctatum 13

2. XJropetala carovei, nymph 14

3. ,, ,, $ imago 14

CADDIS-FLIES.

4. ? agilis, n. sp 64

5. ,, ,, larva removed from case (mag-

nified) 64

Plate II.

West, Newman chromo.

PLATE III.

DKAGONFLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Somatochlora smithii ? 15

2. „ ,, nymph 16

6. ,, ,, head of nyruph showing " mask "

(much magnified) 1G

4. Lestes colensonis $ 19

5. „ „ ? 19

3. Head of nymph of Xanthac/rion zealandicum showing

"mask" (much magnified) 20

Plate III.

GV.H.dd.

West.,N«wmaii chrome

PLATE IV.

DKAGONFLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Xanthagrion zealandicum $ variety 21

2. „ „ $ 20

3. „ „ $ 20

4. ,, ,, nymph (magnified) 21

5. JEschna brevistyla 18

Plate IV..

n

«y

■P i

G.VHdel

"Wbst.Newman chramo.

PLATE V.

MAY-FLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Avieletus perscitus $ imago 40

2. ,, ., nymph (magnified) 40

3. ,, ,, $■ sub-imago 41

4. Ichthybotus hudsoni $ imago 28

5. ,, ., J imago 28

6. ,, ,, $ sub-imago 29

7. ,, ,, 2 sub-imago 29

8. ,, ,, nymph (magnified) 28

Plate V.

j.V.H.del.

West, Newman chrc

PLATE VI.

MAY-FLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Ameletus ornatus $ sub-imago 39

2. ,, ,, $ sub-imago 39

3. ,, „ nymph (magnified) 38

4. Atalopldebia dentata $ imago 31

5. ,, ,, nymph (magnified) 32

6. ,, ,, 5 sub-imago 32

8. Coloburiscits humeralis $ imago 30

9. ,, ,, J imago 36

11. ,, ,, 2 sub-imago 37

10. ,, ,, nymph (magnified) 36

STONE-FLY.

7. Perla cyrene 6

Plate "VI

G.VH.del

Wast, 'Ne'wma.Ti chromo

PLATE VII.

ALDEE-FLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Chauliodes divcrsus $ 45

2. „ „ ? 45

3. ,, ,, larva (the " Black Creeper " of anglers) 46

4. ,, ,, pupa 4G

Plate VII.

4

West Newman caromo.

PLATE VIII.

LACEWING-FLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Stenosmylus latiusculus 54

2. ,, incisus 50

3. ,, ,, larva (magnified) 50

4. ,, ,, pupa (magnified) 50

5. ,, citrinus, variety 51

6. ,, ,, typical form 51

7. ,, stellce, variety obliteratus 52

8. ,, „ typical form 52

Plate VIII.

,'.' " - •-

Q* « ' #' '„•

.o

w.-

«*

GYHdel

West, Newman cirromo.

PLATE IX.

CADDIS-FLIES.

FIG. PAGE

1. Olinga feredayi $ 65

2. ,. „ J 65

3. ,, ,, larva withdrawn frorn case (magnified) 66

4. ,, ,, larva in case (magnified) 66

5. Pycnoceutria evecta 68

6. ,, ,, larva in case (magnified) 69

7. Philaniscus plebejus, larva withdrawn from case (mag-

nified) 79

8. ,, ,, pupa (magnified) 80

9. ,, ,, larva in case (magnified) 79

10. ,, ,, imago (magnified) 79

11. Oxyethira, larva in case (much magnified) 92

Plate IX.

\

10

G.VH.del.

^

West, Newman chromo

PLATE X.

CADDIS-FLIES.

F IG- PAGE

1. Pseudonema obsoleta 72

2. ,, ,, larva withdrawn from case (rnag- 73

nified)

3. ,, ,, larva in case constrncted of wood

fragments and liverworts 73
4- ,, ,, larva in case constructed of frag-

ments of tree fern-fronds 73

5. ,, ,, larva in case constructed of frag-

ment of wood 73

6. ,, ,, larva in case constructed of long

slender twig 73

7. ,, ,, pupa (magnified) 74

8. Pseudonema amabilis 75

9- ii „ larva in its case (magnified) 75

10. Pseudceconesus mimus 63

Plate X.

%*

GV.K.del

West .Newman ckromo.

PLATE XL

CADDIS-FLIES, &c.

FIG. PAGE

1. Oxythira albiceps (magnified) 90

2. ,, ,, larva in case (magnified) 90

3. ,, ,, pupa in case (magnified) 91

4. Helicopsyche (magnified) 70

5. „ larva withdrawn from case (magnified)... 70
0. ,, larva in case (magnified) 70

7. Hydropsyche colonica g- 82

8. ,, ,, larva (magnified) 82

9. Poly centr opus puerilis 83

10. ,, ,, larva (magnified) 84

11. Hydrobiosis umbripennis 86

12. ,, ,, larva (magnified) 86

13. ,, ,, pupa in inner cocoon (magnified) 87

14. Gill of Ichthybotus Imdsoni (highly magnified) 28

15. ,, Oniscigaster distans (highly magnified) 43

16. ,', Ameletus perscitus (highly magnified) 40

17. ,, Goloburiscus humeralis (highly magnified) 36

18. ,, Atalophlebia dentata (highly magnified) 31

Plate XI

G.VH.del.

\/Vest .Newman chromo

S"'™SONIAN INSTITUTION

LIBRARIES

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New Zealand Neuroma.