STRATIOMYID.E. 



165 



species have in life bright yellow or green markings. 

 The eggs, such as have been observed, are laid on the 

 ground, on plants about water, or perhaps on the surface 

 of the water itself. The larvae are carnivorous, or feed 

 upon decaying vegetable material. The larvae of Myio- 

 chrvsa have been found in cow-dung, and under stones; 



those of Geosargus in the 

 flowing sap of elm trees; 

 those of Hcrmctia in priv- 

 ies ; those of Pachygaster 

 and Zabrachia in decaying 

 wood; those of B eris in 

 moss ; those of Stratiomyia , 

 Odontomyia, Nemotelus, 

 etc., in water. The larvse 

 of Stratiomyia have been 

 observed in salt and alka- 

 line water. 



The body is smooth and 

 flattened, the last segment 

 often prolonged into an 

 elongated breathing tube 

 and having a terminal 

 transverse cleft. The pu- 

 pae are inactive, develop- 

 ing within the larval skin, 

 the pupal skin remaining 

 within, or partially within, 

 the larval skin when the 

 fly escapes through a 

 longitudinal or trans- 

 verse rent. 



Fig-. 58. Cyphomyia; 



female, enlarged. 



