Vol. 34, pp. 85-88 June 30, 1921 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ^ 



/c- 



DIPTERA AND FUNGI. 



BY HARRY B. WEISS. ^ 



The object of this paper is to call attention to certain Dipter- 

 ous families which are more or less closely associated with fungi, 

 particularly the fleshy fungi belonging to the families Agarica- 

 ceae and Pohjporaceae. A survey of the general literature 

 dealing with the food habits of dipterous larvae indicates that 

 there are several families whose members in part inhabit fungi. 

 These are shown in the following table in which other larval 

 habits are indicated also. In the Mycetophilidae and Platype- 

 zidae, the fungus habit appears to be most pronounced. In 

 the other families, only a comparatively few species have been 

 found associated with fungi. The families mentioned in the 

 table apparently contain most of the species having the fungus 

 habit although some species of other families may also live in 

 fungi. 



Family General Larval Habits 



Tipulidae In fungi, in earth, decomposing wood, in water. 



Mycetophilidae In fungi, in decaying matter, vegetable mould, under 



dead bark, etc. 

 Itonididae Habits diverse, in fungi, in or on plant tissue usually 



forming galls, in decaying wood, predaceous. 

 Phoridae In fungi, habits diverse, in decaying plant matter, in ants' 



nests, on decaying insects, in nests of burrowing bees, 



etc. 

 Platypezidae Larvae live between lamellae of Agaric fungi. 

 Syrphidae In fungi, in stems of plants, in decaying wood, in animal 



remains, in ants' nests, feeding on aphids. 

 Borboridae In fungi, in algae, diseased potatoes, dung. 



Helomyzidae In fungi, in decaying animal and vegetable substances, 



in bat and rabbit dung, etc. 



.Johannsen in his "Fungus Gnats of North America"' has considerable 

 to say concerning the Mycetophilidae and their relation to fungi. According 



XMe. Agric. Exp. Sta. Bui. 172, 180, 196, 200. 



16— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash., Vol. 34, 1921. (85) 



