285 



Family Trupaneidse — The Fruit Flies 



]\Iostly rather small flies, usually with pietured wini>s, the auxiliary 

 vein curving forward at a right angle. 



Head hemispherical, usually short; oral vil)rissffi not distinct, the 

 face vertical or somewhat retreating. Front broad, with bristles later- 

 ally, the anterior orbitals situated close to the orbits. Antennae decum- 

 bent, short, rarely elongated. Proboscis of moderate length, rarely 

 elongate and with the labellte folding back, the hihellie usually broad 

 and fleshy. Thorax with bristles although the anterior ones may be 

 absent. Legs of moderate length, the tibia^ without i)reapical bristles. 

 Wings large, usually with dark pattern, the auxiliary vein curving for- 

 ward at right angles and sometimes evanescent at the tip; basal cells and 

 anal cell always present, the latter often drawn out posteriorly into 

 a long point or triangle. Al)domen composed of four or five segments; 

 male genitalia small and only partly exposed; ovipositor segmented, 

 usually exposed. 



The adults are found in various habitats, often upon flowers. The 

 larva? live in the seeds and fruits of plants of various kinds or form 

 galls. One of our commonest species lives in the heads of thistles, several 

 make galls on golden rod, while others, like the fruit maggots, live in 

 apples, cherries, citrus fruits, etc. Still others are leaf miners. The 

 family is of consideral)lc economic importance and has received a great 

 deal of attention during recent years. 



Among the papers essential to a study of the family are those listed 

 ])elow.* Other references will be found given in the key. Unfortunately 

 the cla.ssification of this family is extremely artificial, being based largely 

 upon the type of wing markings. In the key I have, in places, ignored 

 the classification based upon wing maculation and a num1)er of species 

 must be shifted to genera in which they belong structurally, although 

 differing to a certain degree, in wing pattern. Only the fact that 

 I do not have access to all the North American genera prevents a more 

 thorough revision of the genera. Kecognition of many of the described 

 species is difficult because they are not illustrated. 



For many suggestions and the generous loan of material in this 

 familv I am sreatlv indebted to Mr. jMarston Bates. 



* Loew, 1873. Mon. N. A. Dipt., iii, pi>. ill-.-i.il. Phillips. 1P23, Rev. Tvypet. N. E. 

 Amer.. Journ. N. Y. Ent. Soc. xxxi, pp. 119-155. Hendel, 1927, Flies. Palsarkt. Reg.— 

 Trypetida>. 



