LX. FAMILY 



Head of moderate size, with a freely movable neck. 

 Eyes, when present, small, unfacetted, or with very few 

 facets. Ocelli wanting. Antennae inserted in a pit, two- 

 jointed, the second joint with a bristle. Proboscis short, 

 not protrusible, thickened at base. Palpi broader than 

 long, not forming a sheath for the proboscis, projecting , 

 leaf like hi front of the head. Abdomen with a distinct basal 

 segment, the other segments rarely distinguishable, the 

 first segment with peculiar bristles fcr the protection of 

 the wings when at rest. Hind coxae always enlarged; fifth 

 joint of tarsi usually enlarged and elongate. Claws 

 never distinctly toothed; pulvilli present. Wings some- 

 times wanting or vestigial; when present the surface 

 pubescent and the veins rather stout. 



Fig. 161. Megistopoda {Pter ellipsis} aramcr, enlarged (Speiser). 



The members of this small family of cosmopolitan dip- 

 tera, are, with the exception of one reported case, exclu- 



3*4 



