. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. 46 FAUNA OF MAYFIELD'S FIG, 10.—Pupa of Limosina tenebrarum, Ventral view, x 20. very rapidly. This brings about a great increase in their number near the mouth of the cave and to some extent as far back as "11," but beyond that or at least beyond the mound, where the passage is subject to very little change in temperature, they breed in about equal abundance at all seasons and their number remains about constant throughout the year. In the spring the earth from "4" to "6" where not too hard becomes worked u


. Carnegie Institution of Washington publication. 46 FAUNA OF MAYFIELD'S FIG, 10.—Pupa of Limosina tenebrarum, Ventral view, x 20. very rapidly. This brings about a great increase in their number near the mouth of the cave and to some extent as far back as "11," but beyond that or at least beyond the mound, where the passage is subject to very little change in temperature, they breed in about equal abundance at all seasons and their number remains about constant throughout the year. In the spring the earth from "4" to "6" where not too hard becomes worked up and the pupal cases of this species are abundant in the soil, on the wall above, on rocks, and everywhere about. The flies themselves are extremely abundant, crawling through the loose soil and over the walls. During June, 1905, an estimate of the numbers of these _____ _ flies on the wall near the floor at "6," where they were about equally abundant for considerable areas, placed their number at 75 to 100 to the square foot. This is the extreme in abundance. But at any season and in any part of the cave, except near the mouth in winter when the temperature is low, these flies congregate in numbers and are observed pairing near any organic matter as soon as putrefaction begins. The larva? appear very soon and in immense numbers upon any organic matter left in the cave. The larvse pupate in about two weeks. The pupae are embedded in the decaying matter usually, but sometimes are seen on the sur- face or fastened to a rock or other object if quite near where the larvae feed. The adults emerge from the pupae in about a week. Figs. 10,11, and 12 represent pupae of this species. As Blatchley (1896,190) observed, these insects leap rather than fly when disturbed. In escaping they crawl and leap a few inches, using their wings to aid them, but never take an extended flight, even when tor- mented and continually disturbed for some time. They do not move very rapidly, but


Size: 1733px × 1442px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., bookauthorcarnegieinstitutionof, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900